Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Hellgate open beta starts next Thursday]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/25/hellgate-open-beta-starts-next-thursday/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/25/hellgate-open-beta-starts-next-thursday/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/25/hellgate-open-beta-starts-next-thursday/#comments Hellgate, T3 Entertainment and HanBitSoft's free-to-play relaunch of Flagship Studios' doomed MMO, will open up its doors to any and all interested evil-smiting parties starting next week. The game's public beta will launch in North America and Europe next Thursday, June 30, giving new volunteers the opportunity to try out the beta's limited suite of features. You can sign up to try out the relaunched title on the official Hellgate website.

According to a HanBitSoft press release, the arrival of the open beta will bring two new game modes to the client: A PvP arena, and the "Cow Room," which tasks players with surviving waves of attacking zombies -- and notably lacks any bovine aggressors. You may be wondering, "Why is called the Cow Room?" It's almost worth checking out the beta to find out.

JoystiqHellgate open beta starts next Thursday originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 25 Jun 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betaflagship-studioshanbitsofthellgatemmoopen-betapct3-entertainmentSat, 25 Jun 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Hellgate closed beta keys now available]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/23/hellgate-closed-beta-keys-now-available/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/23/hellgate-closed-beta-keys-now-available/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/23/hellgate-closed-beta-keys-now-available/#comments After announcing that Hellgate would soon rise from the ashes, T3 Entertainment has now revealed that keys for the upcoming closed beta are now available. Keys can be obtained on the official Hellgate site or on "popular online game destinations." A list of participating sites can be found here.

Sadly, Joystiq's Massively already ran out of keys, so we suggest you track one down through one of those other "destinations" as quickly as possible.

JoystiqHellgate closed beta keys now available originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 23 May 2011 12:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betahanbitsofthellgatehellgate-londonpct3-entertainmentMon, 23 May 2011 12:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Flagship lost Bill Roper friends and loved ones]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/18/flagship-lost-bill-roper-friends-and-loved-ones/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/18/flagship-lost-bill-roper-friends-and-loved-ones/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/18/flagship-lost-bill-roper-friends-and-loved-ones/#comments
Every day we ponder if now is the time to stuff our credibility into a rocket, shoot it into the sun and become the world's most irreverent and depressingly unqualified development studio. But we have to admit, interviews like Gamasutra's new one with Bill Roper, in which he details how the downfall of Flagship turned games into a business for him, give us pause.

At one point, he says, "It was a really dark time. It cost me a lot more than just the money we'd put into the company and things like that. It cost me a lot on a personal level with friends and loved ones that I wasn't able to keep in the process." ... So, wait, it's not just drawing pictures of gigantic guns and space babes while you tighten up the graphics on level three? Looks like we'll be keeping our day jobs.

JoystiqFlagship lost Bill Roper friends and loved ones originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 18 May 2009 20:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bill-roperflagshiphellgatehellgate-londonMon, 18 May 2009 20:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Hellgate: London staying open as free-to-play game]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/26/hellgate-london-staying-open-as-free-to-play/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/26/hellgate-london-staying-open-as-free-to-play/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/26/hellgate-london-staying-open-as-free-to-play/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Hellgate: London will apparently continue on as a free-to-play title according to IP owner HanbitSoft, reports Gamasutra. Namco Bandai planned to pull the plug on the servers January 31, but HanbitSoft asserts the game will push forward. Forward and upward, allegedly, as the Korean publisher plans to update the game and strengthen community features.

The first patch HanbitSoft plans to release "soon" will combine the game's two modes, along with balancing game and class issues. Could the title that helped bring down Flagship Studios find an audience in the nurturing arms of the Korean developer?

JoystiqHellgate: London staying open as free-to-play game originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 26 Jan 2009 18:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flagship-studioshanbitsofthellgatehellgate-londonPCMon, 26 Jan 2009 18:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Former Flagship exec swims back into law to defend games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/22/former-flagship-exec-swims-back-into-law-to-defend-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/22/former-flagship-exec-swims-back-into-law-to-defend-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/22/former-flagship-exec-swims-back-into-law-to-defend-games/#commentsFiled under: ,


When former Flagshiper Steve Goldstein came up for air, his lungs weren't filled with the dank stink of failed game design. Leaving behind his role as business development director and general counsel for the Hellgate: London developer, Goldstein resurfaced as senior counsel at the law offices of Stubbs Alderton & Markiles LLP.

The move may not be as big of a leap as you might think. Goldstein used to work as an associate for the LA-based law firm, which specializes in corporate, securities and IP cases. In his new role, he will work to grow the firm's video game and interactive media practice and expand the organization's list of game industry clients. We imagine the money is better, and the grinding much much less.

JoystiqFormer Flagship exec swims back into law to defend games originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 22 Jan 2009 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hellgatehellgate-londonlawThu, 22 Jan 2009 05:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Former Flagshipers form Gravity Bear ]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/02/former-flagshipers-form-gravity-bear/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/02/former-flagshipers-form-gravity-bear/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/02/former-flagshipers-form-gravity-bear/#commentsFiled under:


Phil Shenk has become the latest to row ashore following the sinking of Flagship Studios, announcing the launch of a new development studio awesomely named Gravity Bear. Shenk will serve as the CEO, while according to Shacknews another Flagship survivor, former Hellgate: London senior software engineer Kevin Klemmick, has climbed aboard the dense grizzly as technical director.

The studio is the third to emerge from Flagship's splintered remains, following the founding of Runic Games and Turbine's new Redwood City, CA branch in recent months. Nothing yet has been revealed regarding Gravity Bear's focus or future projects, though we have to wonder if the experience of being sucked into Flagship's financial hellgate was enough to sour the company on dabbling once more in anything remotely MMO.

JoystiqFormer Flagshipers form Gravity Bear originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 02 Dec 2008 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flagshipflagship-studiosflagshipstudiosgravity-beargravitybearhellgatehellgate-londonhellgatelondonTue, 02 Dec 2008 18:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Flagship taking time on Mythos, admits Hellgate mistakes]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/07/flagship-taking-time-on-mythos-admits-hellgate-mistakes/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/07/flagship-taking-time-on-mythos-admits-hellgate-mistakes/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/07/flagship-taking-time-on-mythos-admits-hellgate-mistakes/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Max Schaefer, co-founder of Flagship Studios, admits that things didn't go exactly as planned with its first title Hellgate: London; however, he believes the developer's sophomore effort, Mythos, is coming together much better. Schaefer tells Eurogamer (via GI.biz) that Flagship was "probably biting off too much" as a new developer with Hellgate and was rushed at the end, but with Mythos it's focusing on core features and taking time to polish.

Schaefer hopes Mythos can "put a dent" into some of the big MMOs out there and he believes the free-to-download-and-play model of the game -- with item sales bringing in money -- gives the developer a chance against the boxed subscription-based MMOs.

Gallery: The Mythos Overworld

The Overworld loading screenA kindly vicarThere are no walls in the OverworldAn AnchorshrineA Seaside Cliff

JoystiqFlagship taking time on Mythos, admits Hellgate mistakes originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 07 Jul 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flagshipflagship-studioshellgatehellgate-londonmythosPCMon, 07 Jul 2008 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Hellgate: London programmer claims staff leaving 'in droves']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/11/hellgate-london-programmer-claims-staff-leaving-in-droves/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/11/hellgate-london-programmer-claims-staff-leaving-in-droves/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/11/hellgate-london-programmer-claims-staff-leaving-in-droves/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Things are not well at Hellgate: London developer Flagship Studios according to Guy Somberg, an audio and gameplay programmer at the fledgling studio. Somberg wrote on his personal blog a month ago - which was recently dug up by GI.biz - that people are leaving the company "in droves" following the poor sales and negative feedback of its post-apocalyptic jaunt.

Somberg does have some hope for the future (wait, isn't London occupied by demons in 2038?), saying that the game is doing well in Korea and has yet to start in China. He concludes that he likes the job, but that all the artists and programmers leaving the company is taking a toll on the future of Hellgate: London and Flagship as a studio. Well, we're hearing good things about Mythos ...

JoystiqHellgate: London programmer claims staff leaving 'in droves' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 11 Jun 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flagshipflagship-studiosflagshipstudiosguy-somberghellgatehellgate-londonhellgatelondonPCsombergWed, 11 Jun 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hellgate: London finds success in Korea]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/11/hellgate-london-finds-success-in-korea/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/11/hellgate-london-finds-success-in-korea/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/11/hellgate-london-finds-success-in-korea/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Last year's launch of Flagship Studios' Hellgate: London was not exactly what we'd call a family album moment, its release plagued by client crashes and enough bugs to have the Orkin man calling for backup. Still, one person's trash is another's treasure, as Bill Roper and company have announced that in the two weeks since the Korean launch of the Hellgate beta more than a million accounts have been registered. According to Flagship, this makes the MMO the most successful online game launch in Korea in the past three years.

Hellgate's beta officially kicked off in Korea on January 15, and according to Korean online game tracking service Gametrics, the game quickly found an audiences with gamers in PC Cafes, ranking ninth among online games, fifth among RPGs, and was the most popular beta being played. This was followed by a commercial release on February 22, a launch that Flagship boasts achieved "record sales," though it's a record that we're pretty sure will be broken soon enough.

JoystiqHellgate: London finds success in Korea originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 11 Apr 2008 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betaflagshipflagship-studiosflagshipstudioshellgatehellgate-londonhellgatelondonkoreammoPCFri, 11 Apr 2008 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Hellgate: London balances, Stonehenge coming today]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/21/hellgate-london-balances-stonehenge-coming-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/21/hellgate-london-balances-stonehenge-coming-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/21/hellgate-london-balances-stonehenge-coming-today/#commentsFiled under: ,

Do you still care about Hellgate: London? We don't ask out of an attempt at snarkiness, we're asking with genuine curiosity. We ask because there's a big update for subscribers dropping today and we just want to know if that describes any of you. Or maybe you're a former player and just want to keep up with changes. For example, even though out brief fling with the game ended months ago, we were still interested to hear that the game was adding Stonehenge, a large outdoor hub designed to break up some of the monotony of city living. There's also some balance tweaks to the character classes and a new Dueling Arena.

But do you care? Have you played? Are you still? Do you want to know what's going on in the world of Hellgate? Does this update pique your interest? Because we get the feeling that most of you have moved on or were never that interested to begin with. We look forward to hearing if that's right or off-base.

JoystiqHellgate: London balances, Stonehenge coming today originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 21 Jan 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hellgatehellgate-londonhellgatelondonpatchesPCMon, 21 Jan 2008 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Metareview: Hellgate: London]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/03/metareview-hellgate-london/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/03/metareview-hellgate-london/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/03/metareview-hellgate-london/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Hellgate: London sprang forth on Wednesday and, well, reviews have been skewing average. Hellgate changed a bit over the years. Then there's the details of its optional subscription program and what it means for the game in the long term. Hellgate is now out there for the consumers to vote with their wallets during this cluttered holiday season. As for the reviewers, they don't seem to hate the game, but do get hung up on pesky flaws that pile up.
  • EuroGamer (70/100): "Our reservations are balanced out against the obvious talent and effort that has been ploughed into the game - and the simple fact that every time we put Hellgate down, either during its extended beta period or while reviewing it, we were itching to get back to it within hours. It's compulsive, it's good fun and it's certainly addictive; perhaps as the online service evolves, it'll even be worth coming back to for a further evaluation. For now, though, this is a game too deeply flawed to deserve the masterpiece status we'd all hoped for."
  • Game Daily (70/100): "It's easy to write Hellgate off as a mediocre game, but the truth is it's not altogether bad. In fact, it has some truly excellent innovations, like the item augmentation system that can imbue common items with special properties. Hellgate also has a machine that increases the level of an item, so players don't have to ditch useful armor or weapons because they outgrew them. Additionally, the game has a fantastically wicked sense of humor that comes out in the NPC dialogue. The problem is, the game tries to be a little bit of everything, but no one aspect gets fully developed."
  • GameSpy (60/100): "Sadly, nothing says that Hellgate: London was pushed out the door too early better than the buggy state of the game's multiplayer. Since the game was pushed live on October 30, the multiplayer servers have been plagued by registration problems and downtime (which, naturally, results in the official site and forums getting overloaded and crashing). More problematic are a couple of nasty bugs including frequent crashes to desktop, slowdown and lag during combat and a weird display bug that makes all the character models on screen disappear, leaving the player as just a disembodied weapon floating in mid-air. GameSpy editor Fargo ran into a reproducible bug where he'd actually lose one of his weapons every time he was dual-wielding and logged off, which, as bugs go, is an inexplicable gamebreaker."

JoystiqMetareview: Hellgate: London originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 03 Nov 2007 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hellgatehellgatelondonmetareviewPCSat, 03 Nov 2007 11:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Double Agent audio duo partner again for Hellgate soundtrack]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/01/double-agent-audio-duo-partner-again-for-hellgate-soundtrack/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/01/double-agent-audio-duo-partner-again-for-hellgate-soundtrack/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/01/double-agent-audio-duo-partner-again-for-hellgate-soundtrack/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


PC gamers eager to clean London's streets and sewers of demonic infestation this Halloween can expect to do so against a backdrop of "orchestral, rock, and ambient" music as Splinter Cell: Double Agent composers Cris Velasco and Sascha Dikiciyan have once again partnered for Hellgate:London's apparently eclectic soundtrack. Additionally, those who pick up the game's obligatory 'collector's edition' will also find the soundtrack CD neatly tucked away inside.

Both gentlemen seem to be making a habit of working together, as in addition to the aforementioned Double Agent, the pair has also tag-teamed on other titles, including the TMNT movie tie-in and Spyhunter: Nowhere to Run. Individually, Velasco has lent his musical touch to such games as God of War as well as a Castlevania arrangement for the Video Games Live concert series, while Dikiciyan's credits include titles like Stranglehold and Marvel Ultimate Alliance.

[Via press release]

JoystiqDouble Agent audio duo partner again for Hellgate soundtrack originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 01 Oct 2007 15:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaElectronic-ArtsflagshiphellgatelondonPCsoundtrackMon, 01 Oct 2007 15:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Hellgate: London release date set for Halloween]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/06/hellgate-london-release-date-set-for-halloween/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/06/hellgate-london-release-date-set-for-halloween/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/06/hellgate-london-release-date-set-for-halloween/#commentsFiled under: ,


Clever! What immediately springs to mind when you hear the word "hellgate"? Simple: it's a gate leading, ostensibly, straight to Hell where all sorts of freakish ghoulies live. Tack "London" on the tail end of that and you've got one scary-ass video game title. What better day to unleash Hellgate: London upon an unsuspecting world than October 31st, All Hallows Eve, Halloween! Unfortunately, despite having one of Europe's premier cities right there in the title, Europeans will have to wait until November 2nd (oh, that's not so bad) to play Flagship Studios debut title.

That date is all they're sharing for now. If you're looking for details about that $10/month optional subscription-based service - featuring "huge amounts of content on an ongoing basis in the form of quests, character classes, demons, items, etc." - you'll have to wait some more. That information is "coming soon."

JoystiqHellgate: London release date set for Halloween originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 Aug 2007 12:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EAElectronic-ArtsFlagshipStudiosHellgateHellgateLondonNamcoBandaiPCMon, 06 Aug 2007 12:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Optional Hellgate: London subcriptions set at $9.95 per month]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/09/optional-hellgate-london-subcriptions-set-at-9-95-per-month/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/09/optional-hellgate-london-subcriptions-set-at-9-95-per-month/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/09/optional-hellgate-london-subcriptions-set-at-9-95-per-month/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Games for Windows Magazine (via Hellgate Guru) reports that the optional MMO mode in Hellgate: London will cost players $9.95 per month. The subscription service, provided in addition to a single-player campaign and basic online functionality, will benefit from a continuous stream of content from developer, Flagship Studios, as well as several other features.

Compared to the once-off package, these include round-the-clock support services, a lack of server queues, four times the amount of characters allotted to each player, increased item storage, guild functionality and other typical MMO offerings. In essence, the monthly fee acts as a gateway to a different business model, netting you an "elite" version of the post-apocalyptic RPG.

The absurdly lucrative business model that powers an MMO like World of Warcraft must be the ultimate temptation and source of envy to those publishing games in the more traditional vein. Whereas most transactions end once the game is purchased, consistent online universes have the player not only buy the game, but continue sending money month after month. Much like slipping on a patch of oil deposited on the driveway by your neighbor's recently discovered geyser, it's not a financial prospect you can easily ignore.

JoystiqOptional Hellgate: London subcriptions set at $9.95 per month originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 09 May 2007 08:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Bill RoperBillRoperFlagship StudiosFlagshipStudiosHellgateHellgate LondonHellgateLondonMMOMMORPGPCWorld of WarcraftWorldOfWarcraftWed, 09 May 2007 08:34:00 EST<![CDATA[The top 5 "secret" games coming to 360]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/13/the-top-5-secret-games-coming-to-360/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/13/the-top-5-secret-games-coming-to-360/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/13/the-top-5-secret-games-coming-to-360/#commentsFiled under:


According to Planet Xbox 360, the latest Official Xbox Magazine dishes out what its editors believe to be the top 5 games being secretly made for the Xbox 360. More or less the list is a wish list of games that most of us would like to see make an appearance on our beloved console. Many of them have been rumored for quite some time, but it's a nice list nevertheless. Check it out after the break.

Continue reading The top 5 "secret" games coming to 360

JoystiqThe top 5 "secret" games coming to 360 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 Mar 2007 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crimson skies 2CrimsonSkies2duke nukemduke nukem foreverDukeNukemDukeNukemForeverhellgatehellgate londonHellgateLondonkotor 3Kotor3official xbox magazineOfficialXboxMagazineoxmstar wars knights of the old republic iiiStarWarsKnightsOfTheOldRepublicIiitop 5Top5world of warcraftWorldOfWarcraftwowTue, 13 Mar 2007 14:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Hellgate: London bound for 360?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/19/hellgate-london-bound-for-360/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/19/hellgate-london-bound-for-360/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/19/hellgate-london-bound-for-360/#commentsFiled under:


During an interview with Next Gen, Namco Bandai's Zach Karlsson speaks to the possibility of Hellgate: London arriving on the Xbox 360. Hellgate, for those who don't know, is sort of a hybrid shooter/MMO for PC. First of all, Karlsson notes that Namco Bandai is looking for a good multiplayer game to bring to consoles like the Xbox 360 and PS3. He notes that the online space is essentially a platform in and of itself, thanks to the ease of portability between PC and 360. Next Gen then asks Karlsson if a 360 version of Hellgate is forthcoming. He doesn't confirm it, but states that it is very likely. Given the company's focus on the "online platform" and that EA -- the game's co-publisher -- typically extends its franchises as far as possible, it's definitely looking good.

[Thanks, Jonah Falcon]

JoystiqHellgate: London bound for 360? originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 19 Jan 2007 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bandaieaelectronic artsElectronicArtshellgatehellgate londonHellgateLondonnamconamco bandaiNamcoBandaiFri, 19 Jan 2007 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hellgate London 'might' be subscription-based [update 1]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/10/hellgate-london-to-be-subscription-based/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/10/hellgate-london-to-be-subscription-based/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/10/hellgate-london-to-be-subscription-based/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

stop! don't shoot!Flagship Studios' Hellgate: London will share many similarities with the typical MMO, including a subscription fee. Make no mistake, Hellgate's online component won't be a string of PvP deathmatch servers, no, included in the multiplayer experience will be an expansive social system that includes guilds and raid-type gameplay.

Online, Hellgate will feature all of the single-player missions, plus additional modes, primarily focusing on group PvE instances -- limited PvP gameplay will be available at launch. Additional content will be continually provided by a dedicated team of developers. Sure sounds like an MMO, no?

Update: Co-publisher EA has stated that the online pricing model has not been officially decided (more here).

JoystiqHellgate London 'might' be subscription-based [update 1] originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 10 Jan 2007 13:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EAElectronic ArtsElectronic-ArtsElectronicArtsFlagship StudiosFlagshipStudiosFPSHellgateHellgate: LondonHellgate:LondonMMORPGMultiplayerNamco BandaiNamcoBandaiPvEPvPSubcriptionWed, 10 Jan 2007 13:12:00 EST<![CDATA[Hellgate: London source code lifted?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/10/hellgate-london-source-code-lifted/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/10/hellgate-london-source-code-lifted/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/10/hellgate-london-source-code-lifted/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Gamers With Jobs Press Pass passed along their scoop that the source code for Flagship Studios upcoming spiritual Diablo sequel, Hellgate: London, has been hacked right out of their network, like meat from the bone. Ex-Blizzard developer, and co-founder of Flagship Studios, Bill Roper stated "that while they have heard the same rumors they cannot confirm or deny that any code has been lifted from their servers." Can't he check? We'll wait ...

... anyways, according to Press Pass' sources -- sources we can only imagine exist in the shadowy, illicit corners of the internet that our library filters won't let us anywhere near -- "the virtual break-in was conducted by a Chinese individual who is currently attempting to sell the code from a personal website." See, shadowy contraband getting pushed on the black markets of the internet ... it reads like a hackneyed beach thriller, but nerdier and not mass-marketable.

Let's hope the team at Flagship doesn't follow the historical antecedent that Valve set when the source code for Half Life 2 was stolen in 2003: the already delayed title suffered another year of delays before being released in the fall of 2004. Then again, that delay ended with the release of a fantastic game, so we'll take that back. Half Life 2 is fine company to be in, delay or not.

[Thanks, Shawn]

JoystiqHellgate: London source code lifted? originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 10 Jul 2006 22:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>FlagshipFlagship StudiosFlagshipStudiosHellgateHellgate: LondonHellgate:LondonNamcoPCSource codeSourceCodeStolenTheftMon, 10 Jul 2006 22:15:00 EST