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[MechWarrior 4 free release 'held up' by Microsoft]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/02/mechwarrior-4-free-release-held-up-by-microsoft/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/02/mechwarrior-4-free-release-held-up-by-microsoft/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/02/mechwarrior-4-free-release-held-up-by-microsoft/#comments Way back in July 2009, Smith & Tinker announced that it was going to authorize MekTek to release MechWarrior 4 and all its expansions for free "soon" -- likely to drum up interest for the upcoming MechWarrior reboot. After nearly a year, the game remains unreleased. The reason for the delay, according to MekTek, lies with Microsoft. The group claims that the project is "held up at Microsoft" and it's currently "unknown" when the release will receive its "final go ahead."

The studio adds the unfortunate revelation that it's now in dire financial straights thanks to the delay. "Due to the demands placed upon us by industry lawyers to release the Mechwarrior 4 Free release we were forced to insure our Studio at a premium rate to meet the Microsoft standard," reads the announcement, adding that group's server fund has "run dry" and is currently being paid directly by staff. MekTek is asking for donations from players that download its MekPak 3.1 expansion. According to the announcement, MekTek would be able to keep the servers running for an entire year if all those who downloaded the expansion were to donate $5.

[Via Big Download]

JoystiqMechWarrior 4 free release 'held up' by Microsoft originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 17:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fasafasa-studiosMechWarriormechwarrior-4mektekmektek-studiosmicrosoftsmith-and-tinkerFri, 02 Apr 2010 17:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: Footage of canned Shadowrun reboot]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/04/rumor-footage-of-canned-shadowrun-reboot/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/04/rumor-footage-of-canned-shadowrun-reboot/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/04/rumor-footage-of-canned-shadowrun-reboot/#comments Before 2007's Shadowrun released and Microsoft subsequently closed the doors on FASA, the studio was apparently working on Shadowrun: The Awakening -- a game with a full single-player campaign and unique 3D gameplay engine developed in-house. Some footage (teleport past the break to give it a look-see) managed to make its way online over at Unseen64, showing off a few environments and some character animations. As Unseen64 would tell it, the story goes: FASA brought a new art director in which, through a series of unknown events, lead to an eventual cancellation in favor of the multiplayer-driven experience that was the 2007 game.

As it stands now, Jordan Weisman managed to snag the rights to the Shadowrun IP (among others), so the possibility of seeing this resurface as an actual thing isn't entirely impossible -- though Weisman is trying to let some of the negativity surrounding the brand die down a bit before revisiting it.

[Via StrategyInformer]

Continue reading Rumor: Footage of canned Shadowrun reboot

JoystiqRumor: Footage of canned Shadowrun reboot originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fasafasa-studiosfasastudiosjordan-weismanmicrosoftmicrosoft-game-studiosshadowrunsmith-and-tinkerXbox-360Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Crimson Skies may, one day, fly again]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/22/crimson-skies-may-one-day-fly-again/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/22/crimson-skies-may-one-day-fly-again/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/22/crimson-skies-may-one-day-fly-again/#commentsFiled under:

1UP posted a pretty interesting recap of one of the original Xbox's golden childen, Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge, what it was, what it ended up being and (most importantly) if we'll be seeing a sequel anytime soon. And before you get too excited, know that if a sequel were developed, it'd be a long, long while before we see it.

Long story short, after High Road to Revenge was shipped, the team started to develop yet another Crimson Skies sequel before Microsoft decided to scrap the entire project and focus on other things. Later, through an interesting turn of circumstances, the Crimson Skies franchise was purchased by the ex-Microsoft employee founded company Smith & Tinker where it currently resides. A company who admittiedly loves the Crimson Skies franchise, but is currently busy with the Capcom published Dark Void.

All said, Crimson Skies is in loving hands with Smith & Tinker, but a sequel isn't high priority right now. Though, they do leave the door open to developing more airplane funnery, admitting that they have "a lot of Crimson Skies fans around here, and if the stars aligned, it'd be something we'd definitely be willing to explore again." Our fingers are crossed.

[Via Joystiq]

JoystiqCrimson Skies may, one day, fly again originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 22 May 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crimson-skiesdark-voidfasa-studioshigh-road-to-revengemicrosoftsmith-and-tinkerThu, 22 May 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Plug is being pulled on Shadowrun forums]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/03/plug-is-being-pulled-on-shadowrun-forums/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/03/plug-is-being-pulled-on-shadowrun-forums/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/03/plug-is-being-pulled-on-shadowrun-forums/#commentsFiled under:

Depressing news fellow Shadowrun fanboys. The official Shadowrun forums are being shut down soon due to the fact that most of the original FASA employees have moved on to other roles within' Microsoft and there isn't enough staff to keep watch. As a result, we advise quickly make your way to the forums and posting until your Shadowrun heart is content. Though, there is a semi-silver lining to the forum shutdown. Shadowrun.com and its contents will be transferred over to the new Shadowrun IP owners Smith & Tinker, so they'll have free range to do whatever they wish with the Shadowrun.com name. You had a good run fellow friend, but now it's time to move on to a brighter future.

[Via Shadowrun the blog]

JoystiqPlug is being pulled on Shadowrun forums originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 03 Jan 2008 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fasafasa-studiosshadowrunsmith-and-tinkerThu, 03 Jan 2008 13:45:00 EST<![CDATA[FASA founder buys Shadowrun and other IPs]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/08/fasa-founder-buys-shadowrun-and-other-ips/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/08/fasa-founder-buys-shadowrun-and-other-ips/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/08/fasa-founder-buys-shadowrun-and-other-ips/#commentsFiled under:

When FASA Studios closed its doors a few months back, we thought it was the end of Shadowrun and FASA games as we knew them. But today we find it's not. FASA founder Jordan Weisman has been busy lately, he just created a new game studio called Smith & Tinker and (get this) bought up all of FASA's original IPs from Microsoft. Yup. Weisman and Smith & Tinker now own the Shadowrun IP as well as MechWarrior and Crimson Skies. What will they be doing with these oldy, but golden IPs? They're not ready to show us their hand just yet, but they do promise to "surprise and delight old fans, while welcoming new fans to these fantastic worlds". Anyone up for an Xbox 360 Crimson Skies sequel in 2010?

[Via IGN]

JoystiqFASA founder buys Shadowrun and other IPs originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 08 Dec 2007 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fasafasa-studiosmicrosoftshadowrunSat, 08 Dec 2007 12:45:00 EST<![CDATA[FASA Studio closes its doors]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/13/fasa-studio-closes-its-doors/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/13/fasa-studio-closes-its-doors/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/13/fasa-studio-closes-its-doors/#commentsFiled under:

Some sad news hit the internets late last night with the revelation that FASA Studio, the team behind the recently released Shadowrun, has closed their doors. Mitch Gitelman posted the news on the official Shadowrun forums saying that the entire crew has known about FASA Studio's sad fate for a while, but they held off announcing their shutdown so it wouldn't affect Shadowrun's release or the perception of the game. The good news is that all of FASA's employees are being dissolved into Microsoft Game Studios and should be able to find projects that they can get excited about and support. Rest in peace FASA Studio, you will always hold a dear place in our hearts, will forever be missed and know that your work will always live on.

[Via Hushed Casket]

JoystiqFASA Studio closes its doors originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 13 Sep 2007 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fasa-studiosshadowrunThu, 13 Sep 2007 11:00:00 EST