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 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Blockbuster UK finds buyer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/25/blockbuster-uk-finds-buyer/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/25/blockbuster-uk-finds-buyer/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/25/blockbuster-uk-finds-buyer/#comments Restructuring and investment firm Gordon Brothers Europe bought Blockbuster UK over the weekend. The multimedia rental and sales chain entered administration in January, a month which also saw Blockbuster's US arm close a further 300 stores. Gordon Brothers Europe acquired the retailer's 264 UK stores, with the BBC reporting 2000 jobs may be saved as a result. How much the sale cost remains undisclosed.

With GAME's troubles of last year, the demises of Blockbuster and HMV left UK high street games retail with worryingly threadbare prospects. The administration process leaves Blockbuster with just over half of the 500 stores it had before, while HMV's high street presence is facing a similar level of cutback. However, both the Telegraph and the Financial Times are reporting restructuring specialist Hilco is close to securing a deal to buy HMV, having taken control of the retail chain's debt.

JoystiqBlockbuster UK finds buyer originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 25 Mar 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>administrationblockbusterblockbuster-ukhmvukMon, 25 Mar 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: HMV to be saved as restructurer Hilco acquires debt]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/22/report-hmv-to-be-saved-as-restructurer-hilco-acquires-debt/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/22/report-hmv-to-be-saved-as-restructurer-hilco-acquires-debt/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/22/report-hmv-to-be-saved-as-restructurer-hilco-acquires-debt/#comments Business restructuring company Hilco is set to acquire HMV after reportedly taking control of the struggling British retailer's debt . According to the Financial Times, people familiar with the situation report Hilco took on the debt today, estimated three months ago to be around $279 million. If the reports are accurate, Hilco, already appointed yesterday as advisors to administrators Deloitte, have effective control of the ailing company.

HMV went into administration last week after failing to secure $483 million in additional financing against debt, leaving the company in need of a buyer, with around 4350 jobs in the balance. HMV's troubles headline a sorry month for British game retail after Play.com announced the closure of its retail arm, and Blockbuster UK also went bust, with 160 of its stores being closed as it too seeks a buyer.

JoystiqReport: HMV to be saved as restructurer Hilco acquires debt originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 22 Jan 2013 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>administrationbankruptcybuyouthilcohmvlayoffsukTue, 22 Jan 2013 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Blockbuster closures in UK hit 160 stores]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/20/blockbuster-closures-in-uk-hit-160-stores/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/20/blockbuster-closures-in-uk-hit-160-stores/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/20/blockbuster-closures-in-uk-hit-160-stores/#comments Deloitte, the group handling the administration of Blockbuster UK, will close 160 of the retailer's 500 stores. Blockbuster UK went into administration Wednesday, appointing Deloitte to the task of handling the bankruptcy proceedings and finding a buyer for the company.

Lee Manning, an administrator with the group, told GamesIndustry International, "Having reviewed the portfolio with management, the store closure plan is an inevitable consequence of having to restructure the Company to a profitable core which is capable of being sold." Deloitte noted that more store closings may hit in the coming weeks.

JoystiqBlockbuster closures in UK hit 160 stores originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 20 Jan 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>administrationBlockbusterBlockbuster-UKclosingDeloittestore-closingsSun, 20 Jan 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blockbuster UK enters administration]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/16/blockbuster-uk-enters-administration/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/16/blockbuster-uk-enters-administration/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/16/blockbuster-uk-enters-administration/#comments Blockbuster UK enters administrationBlockbuster UK has entered administration (UK bankruptcy), with 500 stores and 4,190 jobs hanging in the balance. ITV reports Deloitte, which is also handling the administration of HMV, has been appointed to handle the bankruptcy proceedings and find a buyer. The HMV situation involves 239 stores and 4350 jobs in the region.

Although neither HMV nor Blockbuster are wholly game retailers, these latest events push forward the idea that the ecosystem of UK brick-and-mortar video game retail is collapsing. GAME, the UK's biggest games retailer hasn't been immune, dealing with its own bout of bankruptcy. GameStop, a company that globally dominates game retail, removed itself from the physical UK market in early 2012.

Hope you like buying your physical games at Tesco. Then again, you can buy physical games online from online retailers. So, hope you like buying physical games physically at... oh, we give up.

JoystiqBlockbuster UK enters administration originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 16 Jan 2013 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>administrationBlockbusterblockbuster-mediablockbuster-videoWed, 16 Jan 2013 10:15:00 EST<![CDATA[HMV entering administration [update]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/14/report-hmv-entering-administration/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/14/report-hmv-entering-administration/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/14/report-hmv-entering-administration/#comments Report HMV entering administration on TuesdayUpdate: HMV confirmed it's filing notice to appoint Deloitte as administrators to the company. As the BBC reports, HMV is suspending trading on the London Stock Exchange from Tuesday, January 15. HMV's 239 stores across the UK and Republic of Ireland are to remain open while Deloitte seeks a purchaser. If a new buyer isn't found, around 4350 people will lose their jobs.

UK retailer HMV will reportedly enter administration (i.e. bankruptcy), after it was unable to obtain £300 million ($483M) in additional financing against debt. The Financial Times and Channel 4 both report the struggling brick and mortar franchise will announce the news tomorrow morning, making it the latest casualty to affect the UK games retail market.

Other prominent game retail victims in recent times include Play.com, which will alter its operation by March. Then there's the saga of GAME, which has also struggled and dealt with bankruptcy.

GameStop removed itself from the UK retail market in early 2012 to become an "e-commerce only operation."

JoystiqHMV entering administration [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 Jan 2013 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>administrationbankruptcyhmvlayoffsukMon, 14 Jan 2013 17:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Game Australia to close all of its stores in the coming weeks]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/20/game-australia-to-close-all-of-its-stores-in-the-coming-weeks/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/20/game-australia-to-close-all-of-its-stores-in-the-coming-weeks/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/20/game-australia-to-close-all-of-its-stores-in-the-coming-weeks/#comments GAME Australia now in the process of shutting stores downRetailer Game Australia will shut down all 31 of its remaining stores over the coming weeks, its administrator PricewaterhouseCoopers announced today. Game will close 16 Australian stores immediately and the remaining 15 within a few weeks.

In May, Game Australia entered voluntary administration; it shuttered 60 stores, affecting 264 employees, and cut 17 head office positions. Before any closures, Game had an estimated 500 employees in Australia.

"This is a difficult time for employees, and closing the stores was not a decision we made easily," Warwick said of Game Australia's complete closure (and the ones in May). "Despite exploring available opportunities for continued trading, the ongoing trading performance and absence of viable offers for the purchase of the business has resulted in these closures."

Game Australia is running discounts in a final closing-down sale online and in its remaining stores.

JoystiqGame Australia to close all of its stores in the coming weeks originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsadministrationclosuredsgamegame-australiakinectmicrosoftmovenintendoplaystationplaystation-vitaPricewaterhouseCoopersps3pspPWCsonyvitawiixboxWed, 20 Jun 2012 01:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Investment company buys Game, halting closures, firings, bankruptcy]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/01/investment-company-buys-game-halting-closures-firings-bankrup/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/01/investment-company-buys-game-halting-closures-firings-bankrup/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/01/investment-company-buys-game-halting-closures-firings-bankrup/#comments This has been a quick time coming -- Game, the UK games retailer, slipped into a downward spiral early this year, and since the first public announcement of its money troubles in February, Game has closed almost 300 stores, stopped stocking major titles, cut 40 percent of its workforce and entered "administration," the equivalent of filing for bankruptcy.

The best outcome of these events would be for someone to step in and buy Game outright -- which is exactly what happened. Private investment company OpCapita's Baker Acquisitions Unlimited has purchased Game, bringing it out of administration and saving 3,200 jobs across a remaining 333 stores and administrative positions, Eurogamer reports.

Baker will provide Game with "the capital it needs to trade on a normalised basis" and will re-hire a small number of people fired from the Game head office last week. There are no plans to close more stores in the future, Baker said.

Game may have been bought for £1, after paying off an £85 million debt to Game's lenders, Eurogamer said.

JoystiqInvestment company buys Game, halting closures, firings, bankruptcy originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 01 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsadministrationBaker-Acquisitions-Unlimitedbankruptcyboughtdsgamemicrosoftnintendoplaystationplaystation-vitaps3pspretailersonystorevitawiixboxSun, 01 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bobby Kotick joins Coca-Cola board, will advise on digital media]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/18/bobby-kotick-joins-coca-cola-board-will-advise-on-digital-media/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/18/bobby-kotick-joins-coca-cola-board-will-advise-on-digital-media/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/18/bobby-kotick-joins-coca-cola-board-will-advise-on-digital-media/#comments Shortly after appearing in a cameo for Moneyball, Activision Blizzard CEO has picked up another choice role: He's joined The Coca Cola Company's board of directors. Kotick will help oversee the classic sugar water giant, and advise the company on its entries into digital media. Kotick also serves on a few educational institution boards, the board of directors at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and as the founder of the Call of Duty Endowment, Activision's nonprofit arm, built to support US armed forces veterans and their families. Kotick also served on Yahoo!'s board of directors previously.

In completely unrelated news, Coca Cola also announced an "online pass" for its sodas going forward: You'll get all the water and carbonation of your soda with the initial purchase, but the actual syrup flavoring will require an extra charge. Ice will require a complete subscription.

JoystiqBobby Kotick joins Coca-Cola board, will advise on digital media originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 18 Feb 2012 17:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionadministrationboardboard-of-directorsbobby-kotickcoca-colacokecompanydirectorsSat, 18 Feb 2012 17:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: LA Noire dev Team Bondi enters administration]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/01/report-la-noire-dev-team-bondi-enters-administration/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/01/report-la-noire-dev-team-bondi-enters-administration/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/01/report-la-noire-dev-team-bondi-enters-administration/#comments You don't normally expect a company to release a well-reviewed hit in May and then enter administration three months later, but L.A. Noire maker Team Bondi is following a strange, tumultuous timeline. SmartCompany reports that the Sydney-based studio has been placed into administration, with accounting firm de Vries Tayeh handling the ongoing process.

A company in turmoil can be placed into administration to help facilitate payments to creditors, possibly through sale of assets or parts of the company. It's not known how exactly administration will proceed with Team Bondi, but earlier reports suggested that company assets were acquired by Kennedy Miller Mitchell (KMM), an Australian production company thought to be working on a Mad Max game. Staff at Team Bondi were reportedly offered jobs at KMM if they did not take severance pay.

If you're looking for further developments regarding the L.A. Noire franchise, it will be have to be at Rockstar -- the publisher owns the rights to what is likely to be the last game from Team Bondi as we knew it.

JoystiqReport: LA Noire dev Team Bondi enters administration originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>administrationde-vries-tayehkmmLA-Noiremicrosoftpcplaystationps3rockstarteam-bondixboxThu, 01 Sep 2011 04:28:00 EST<![CDATA[APB has 130K registered players, high average playtime and revenue per user]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/25/apb-has-130k-registered-players-high-average-playtime-and-reven/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/25/apb-has-130k-registered-players-high-average-playtime-and-reven/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/25/apb-has-130k-registered-players-high-average-playtime-and-reven/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Realtime Worlds as a company has been suffering from all kinds of problems lately, but how's the game doing? With a very short press release, the company (currently "in administration," which is the British version of bankruptcy) has announced that APB is hosting 130,000 registered players. That's actually not too bad for a brand new MMO -- while real population numbers are often hard to come by, the most recent estimates would have the game beating Star Trek Online's current active base. And STO has actually done pretty well, considering how tough it is to start up a new MMO.

Realtime Worlds still isn't home and dry, though. At 130K players, APB is just barely doing better than Tabula Rasa at its peak, and we all know how well that turned out. And APB's model means player registrations isn't necessarily a sign of good health. While the press release claims that the average player is playing four hours a day and the average paying player is spending $28 a month, APB's unlimited free social hours and the ability to "spend" in-game points rather than real money could be twisting those figures upwards a bit. Our colleagues at Massively also point out that while Star Trek Online was created relatively cheaply, APB's creation was reportedly much messier and more costly.

Still, with a dark cloud over the rest of Realtime Worlds' affairs, they might as well grab a silver lining where they can. If the company survives this launch, APB could have enough of a player base to make itself profitable.

Continue reading APB has 130K registered players, high average playtime and revenue per user

JoystiqAPB has 130K registered players, high average playtime and revenue per user originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 25 Aug 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>administrationAPBdatammopcplayerspopulationrealtime-worldsrevenueusersWed, 25 Aug 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Realtime Worlds courting multiple buyers, staff reduced by 75%]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/18/realtime-worlds-courting-multiple-buyers-staff-reduced-by-75/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/18/realtime-worlds-courting-multiple-buyers-staff-reduced-by-75/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/18/realtime-worlds-courting-multiple-buyers-staff-reduced-by-75/#commentsFiled under: , ,

As Realtime Worlds enters administration (read: dire straits), the ailing APB developer is reaching out to potential buyers "in both the UK and US," according to statements made by the company's administration consultant Begbies Traynor Group. "We are actively pursuing all these expressions of interest," Begbies Traynor joint administrator Paul Dounis told Edge.

He also put a finer point on the staff count at the Dundee, Scotland and Boulder, Colorado offices, pinning the remaining employee number at just 67 in total out of an original 252 -- an approximately 75 percent reduction in staff. The studio apparently owes around £3 million ($4.6 million) to debtors in the UK. Dounis also pointed out that "The game [APB] will continue and that is something we want all customers to be aware of." Meanwhile, no one has mentioned what happened to that poor "Human Avatar" fella. He could be anywhere.

JoystiqRealtime Worlds courting multiple buyers, staff reduced by 75% originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 18 Aug 2010 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>administrationAPBbegbies-traynor-grouplayoffspaul-dounispcrealtime-worldsWed, 18 Aug 2010 16:20:00 EST<![CDATA[APB developer Realtime Worlds entering administration]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/17/apb-developer-realtime-worlds-entering-administration/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/17/apb-developer-realtime-worlds-entering-administration/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/17/apb-developer-realtime-worlds-entering-administration/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Things weren't looking great for APB and Crackdown developer Realtime Worlds last week, as the company underwent some layoffs in the "Art, Audio, Coding, Design, Production, and QA departments." According to GamesIndustry, things didn't improve over the weekend: Realtime Worlds is reportedly entering administration, a status somewhat similar to a U.S. company's decision to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

The Scottish developer has named the Begbies Traynor Group as its administrator -- a third-party who attempts to rescue an insolvent company while still acting in the interests of its creditors. Much like with bankruptcy, this move isn't exactly a nail in the developer's coffin, but it could mean some radical reorganization is right around the corner.

JoystiqAPB developer Realtime Worlds entering administration originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>administrationAPBbankruptcypcrealtime-worldsscotlandukTue, 17 Aug 2010 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Empire Interactive's catalog sold to Zoo]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/07/empire-interactives-catalog-sold-to-zoo/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/07/empire-interactives-catalog-sold-to-zoo/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/07/empire-interactives-catalog-sold-to-zoo/#comments
Following the publisher's descent into administration earlier this week, Empire Interactive's games catalog and intellectual property rights have been sold to Zoo Publishing, Edge Online reports. As a result of the purchase, US-based Zoo can re-release titles, port them to other platforms and create new titles based on the fallen Empire's original properties.

Given this news, would it be too much to ask for a Big Mutha Truckers MMO? Or, perhaps, an M-rated Pipe Mania? We can't can wait to see what Zoo does with its "going out of business sale" bargains!

JoystiqEmpire Interactive's catalog sold to Zoo originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 May 2009 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>administrationbankruptcyempire-interactivezoo-publishingThu, 07 May 2009 17:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Empire Interactive officially in administration]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/05/empire-interactive-officially-in-administration/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/05/empire-interactive-officially-in-administration/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/05/empire-interactive-officially-in-administration/#comments
Twenty-year-old UK publisher Empire Interactive has confirmed that the company has entered into administration (which is like bankruptcy, if bankruptcy put vinegar on its french fries and called them chips). Forty-nine members of the staff will be let go while six will stay on to help administrator KPMG with the process.

The company isn't a household name in the states, but you might be familiar with some of the recent titles they've had a hand in, like Pipe Mania, Jackass: The Game and FlatOut.

JoystiqEmpire Interactive officially in administration originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 05 May 2009 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>administrationbankruptcyempire-interactiveTue, 05 May 2009 14:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Empire Interactive discusses closure in internal email]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/28/empire-interactive-discusses-closure-in-internal-email/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/28/empire-interactive-discusses-closure-in-internal-email/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/28/empire-interactive-discusses-closure-in-internal-email/#comments
Empire Interactive owner Silverstar Holdings has informed employees today that they'll be found "redundant" and the company is going into "administration." Translation in American: Workers best be findin' some new McJobs to put cheddar on their burgers. MCV reports that an email circulated earlier today within the company states that "administrators will move to make all the staff redundant."

It appears, given this latest information, that the company may not be saved through a buyout, which had been the hope. Seems that titles like Pipe Mania, Jackass: The Game and FlatOut weren't enough to save the company.

JoystiqEmpire Interactive discusses closure in internal email originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 28 Apr 2009 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>administrationbusinessempireempire-interactivelayoffsTue, 28 Apr 2009 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Capcom reassures Australia]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/21/capcom-reassures-australia/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/21/capcom-reassures-australia/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/21/capcom-reassures-australia/#commentsFiled under:

Here, Australia and New Zealand, take a few long, hard breaths into this paper bag, because everything's going to be okay. Capcom has moved to quash fears that the collapse of Red Ant, Capcom's distributor down under, would delay Capcom releases in the region.

The good folks from Capcom PR just mailed us to say that Dead Rising: Chop Till You Drop wouldn't be moved from its original Aussie and Kiwi release date of February 27, and that future Wii titles such as MotoGP and Neopets Puzzle Adventure would still be released "in line" with other PAL territories.


[Via press release]

JoystiqCapcom reassures Australia originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 21 Jan 2009 21:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>administrationaustraliacapcomdead-risingmotogpneopetsred-antWed, 21 Jan 2009 21:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Capcom's Aussie distributor going under]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/20/capcoms-aussie-distributor-going-under/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/20/capcoms-aussie-distributor-going-under/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/20/capcoms-aussie-distributor-going-under/#commentsFiled under:

The distributor of Capcom, Konami, Midway, and (arguably less relevantly for Wii owners) Bethesda games in Australia has officially gone into receivership.

According to this page at the Australian Securities and Investments Commission website, Red Ant has been crushed underfoot by the giant, hulking boot that is the ongoing global economic crisis.

Sad news indeed, and a development that casts doubt over the speedy arrival of future Aussie releases from the aforementioned companies, unless somebody else steps in. It's not as though Australian gamers have it easy to begin with!

JoystiqCapcom's Aussie distributor going under originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 20 Jan 2009 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>administrationaustraliabethesdabusinesscapcomdead-risingkonamimidwayred-antTue, 20 Jan 2009 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA['Significant interest' shown in purchasing Free Radical]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/21/free-radical-not-quite-ready-to-call-it-quits/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/21/free-radical-not-quite-ready-to-call-it-quits/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/21/free-radical-not-quite-ready-to-call-it-quits/#commentsFiled under:


Though we heard a number of reports on Thursday stating otherwise, it seems that TimeSplitters and Haze developer Free Radical has yet to shuffle off this mortal coil. Things are apparently not as grim as the initial reports suggested -- well, okay, they were recently refused entry into their office, and have officially gone into "administration", which many would consider quite grim indeed. However, if the most recent report on the matter is to be believed, all hope is not lost for the once-Rad developer.

According to an employee at ReSolve, the administrator for Free Radical, there's already been a great deal of interest shown from publishers who want to purchase the developer, acquiring their assets and (remaining) employees. This interest largely stems from two undisclosed projects the developer had under their wing during their collapse, which many believe to be new entries into the Timesplitters and Star Wars Battlefront franchises. The rumored involvement of Battlefront is enough for us to hold out hope for an old-fashioned Christmas miracle.

Joystiq'Significant interest' shown in purchasing Free Radical originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 21 Dec 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>administrationfree-radicalhazestar-wars-battlefronttimesplittersSun, 21 Dec 2008 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fury developer Auran shuts down]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/13/fury-developer-auran-shuts-down/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/13/fury-developer-auran-shuts-down/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/13/fury-developer-auran-shuts-down/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Fury developer Auran has reportedly entered voluntary administration after closing shop and laying employees off yesterday afternoon. Gamespot AU reports via an insider that the company will meet with creditors in a month to decide whether it will fully liquidate or restructure. Fury, which allegedly cost $13.2 million USD to make, has met with weak sales and reviews. Just yesterday, Auran announced the game would become free to download and play through an overhauled subscription model. Expect an official statement statement to be made in the near future.

Auran seems to be a classic example of what happens when a small developer dreams big and delivers a product that gets lost in the shuffle. Even if Auran does get dismantled, Gamespot's source claims Fury will live on and that the servers won't be shut down.

JoystiqFury developer Auran shuts down originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 13 Dec 2007 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>administrationauranbankruptfuryPCThu, 13 Dec 2007 10:30:00 EST