Joystiq

Wargaming purchases Gas Powered Games

Alexander Sliwinski — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 09:08:00 EST

Struggling developer Gas Powered Games has been purchased by Wargaming, the developer and publisher of free-to-play games World of Warplanes and World of Tanks. This is the company's second US acquisition this year, purchasing formerly independent developer Day 1 Studios (Fracture, Fear 3) for $20 million, putting them to work on an "unannounced console title." The financial terms of the GPG acquisition were not disclosed.

"Gas Powered Games has a long track record of providing incredibly engaging AAA gaming experiences and we can't wait to start working with them," said Wargaming CEO Victor Kislyi.

Gas Powered Game canceled its Wildman Kickstarter on Monday. GPG CEO Chris Taylor, who will stay on board after the Wargaming purchase, said at the time, "At this point, it makes sense for us to focus our attention on other ways to keep Gas Powered Games running. Unfortunately, we are unable to share any specifics in public."

We've reached out to Wargaming regarding its plans for the newly acquired Seattle-based developer.

Update: Wargaming is not currently providing any information on its plans for GPG. In a statement provided to Joystiq, a company representative said, "Currently, Wargaming doesn't have any information to share other than that we're extremely excited to welcome Chris [Taylor] and his team to our family and look forward to sharing more about what they'll be working on at a later date."

Continue reading Wargaming purchases Gas Powered Games

Wargaming purchases Gas Powered Games originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 14 Feb 2013 09:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

'Wildman' Kickstarter canceled by Gas Powered Games

Alexander Sliwinski — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 16:55:00 EST

Gas Powered Games canceled its Kickstarter for Wildman today, with four days and another half-million dollars in funding required to reach its goal.

"At this point, it makes sense for us to focus our attention on other ways to keep Gas Powered Games running. Unfortunately, we are unable to share any specifics in public," an update reads on the Wildman Kickstarter page. "We are profoundly grateful to those of you who backed this project and Gas Powered Games. Your passion and hard work put us in a position to write this exciting new chapter in the history of GPG."

GPG studio head Chris Taylor (along with Star Citizen's Chris Roberts) joined us on the Super Joystiq Podcast during last week's DICE conference to discuss his experience with crowdfunding.

'Wildman' Kickstarter canceled by Gas Powered Games originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 11 Feb 2013 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Around 40 employees laid off at Gas Powered Games [Update: Chris Taylor explains timing]

Jordan Mallory — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 18:45:00 EST

Gas Powered Games, the development studio responsible for the Dungeon Siege series and one that has recently launched an ambitious Kickstarter campaign, is undergoing a round of layoffs, Kotaku reports.

While anonymous sources claim that virtually the entire company has been let go, save for CEO Chris Taylor and a small handful of others, the only official word is that layoffs are indeed underway, and that more information will be posted to the Wildman Kickstarter soon. We've reached out to Gas Powered Games to learn more about the severity of the situation, as well as what these layoffs may mean for the studio's future projects.

Update: Gas Powered Games boss Chris Taylor tells Joystiq about 40 employees have been affected by layoffs. Taylor says it was a "Very tough decision, but an important one such that I could properly pay severance and remaining [paid-time off]."

Taylor wouldn't go into specifics about his studio's future, but he further clarified that those affected understood the timing of the decision, despite how sudden it may have appeared in the press.

"I think everyone agrees better to have a few bucks to find the next job that run this train to the end and have nothing left to work with. It's one thing for me to bet the company, but I can't bet their last severance money, that's not cool," he said. In a recent interview with Gamasutra, Taylor said he was betting his company on the success of the studios' first Kickstarter project, Wildman.

Around 40 employees laid off at Gas Powered Games [Update: Chris Taylor explains timing] originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 18 Jan 2013 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Gas Powered Games reveals Wildman, CEO says he's betting the company

Alexander Sliwinski — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 12:20:00 EST

Gas Powerered Games is launching a $1.1 million Kickstarter for Wildman, an action RPG/real-time strategy game/MOBA hybrid. CEO Chris Taylor tells Gamasutra it's not a good thing if they come up short on this.

"We spent all the last dough that we've had, and the last several months working on it. So we're betting the company on it," Taylor told the site.

Taylor says the game is a risk, but it's not the first time he's done it, noting he bet the company on Dungeon Siege and Supreme Commander. He also mentions that with the normalcy of the Kickstarter culture, it's easier to ask people for $15 than to ask a publisher for $1.1 million. We'll update this post with a Kickstarter link when it apparently launches in a couple hours.

Update: Kickstarter is now live.

Gallery: Wildman (Concept Art)

Gas Powered Games reveals Wildman, CEO says he's betting the company originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 Jan 2013 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments