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Title: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: UnSub on December 09, 2008, 05:35:27 AM Did not see this coming. (http://www.massively.com/2008/12/09/atari-acquires-cryptic-studios/)
EDIT: Did wonder where Cryptic was getting their money from; wondered how they were seriously going to self-publish two MMO titles within the space of 12 months or so. EDIT 2: The Cryptic Studios site hasn't been updated at this point. All Cryptic game sites - ChampO, STO - are offline to me. Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: Trippy on December 09, 2008, 05:47:24 AM It's not out of nowhere but you had to be plugged into the VC scene to have known something was coming. Cryptic was looking for money from VCs in the Fall after they got a new CEO but then suddenly stopped looking in October. A couple months later and this is the result.
Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: UnSub on December 09, 2008, 06:17:32 AM I was pretty sure Cryptic needed money. There is no way that NCsoft paid them enough for the CoH/V IP that meant the costs of developing ChampO and STO and a third secret title was covered. Or even enough that, without a good investment environment, Cryptic would have enough money to get ChampO out the door in Q2 2009 (I was 95% sure that they weren't going to miss this date, even if ChampO was a buggy mess - they just wouldn't have had to money to keep going) through self-publishing. But I thought they were would probably go into a deal with an existing publisher, not sell out completely.
My predictions (so I can look really, really stupid when they turn out false): 1) ChampO's launch date gets bumped from Q2 2009 to probably Q4 2009. Atari would want an Xmas bump and Cryptic will want more time on ChampO (because polish, polish, polish will make the title better). 2) A PR statement will go out saying how nothing changes. Things will change. Not key people, or some of Cryptic's aims, but they've got $20 million in performance bonuses to go for and things change when you are part of a big studio vs. an independent. Hopefully no-one they hired to do customer service (for ChampO's launch in Q2 2009) gets fired, but that is a possibility. Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: Venkman on December 09, 2008, 08:02:59 AM I would say ChampO goes away entirely in favor of focusing all resources on STO. This is not a cool hip studio-driven publisher we're talking about. They're going to wonder about ChampO against DC MMO, or at the very least wonder about "splitting" (to them) resources to make two mediocre titles when they combine themselves to make one better one... btw around which a more compelling publishing and marketing campaign can be wrapped.
I'd also wager heavily that in whatever state STO exists, they're going to look for a way to draft off of the JJ Abrams flick (which provides a unique opportunity there in how it spans two different ages). Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: SnakeCharmer on December 09, 2008, 08:07:18 AM Cryptic was also working on (what looked like) a survival horror :cthulu: thing.
I :heart: me some :cthulu: stuffs. Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: Montague on December 09, 2008, 08:09:16 AM Wasn't Atari on the verge of bankruptcy a year or so ago? How the hell did this happen?
Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: tazelbain on December 09, 2008, 08:14:02 AM This is Infogrames who has taken over the Atari identity.
Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: schild on December 09, 2008, 08:46:41 AM Yea, this isn't Atari Atari. This is the new Atari.
Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: SnakeCharmer on December 09, 2008, 08:48:00 AM So the new boss isn't the same as the old boss?
Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: Pendan on December 09, 2008, 09:27:47 AM Maybe the new new new Atari but hard to follow the company name changes
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari Quote Atari is a corporate and brand name owned by several entities since its inception in 1972. It is currently owned by Atari Interactive, a wholly owned subsidiary of the French publisher Infogrames Entertainment SA (IESA). Atari Interactive has in turn licensed the brand name and assets to Atari, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATAR), a 51% majority owned subsidiary of Infogrames Entertainment SA (IESA), encompassing its North American operations. The original Atari Inc. was founded in 1972 by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney. It was a pioneer in arcade games, home video game consoles, and home computers. The company's products, such as Pong and the Atari 2600, helped define the computer entertainment industry from the 1970s to the mid 1980s. In 1984, the original Atari Inc. was split, and the arcade division was turned into Atari Games Inc.. Atari Games received the rights to use the logo and brand name with appended text "Games" on arcade games, as well as rights to the original 1972 - 1984 arcade hardware properties. The Atari Consumer Electronics Division properties were in turn sold to Jack Tramiel's Tramel Technology Ltd., which then renamed itself to Atari Corporation. In 1996, Atari Corporation reverse merged with disk drive manufacturer JT Storage (JTS), becoming a division within the company. Atari Interactive started as a subsidiary of Hasbro Interactive, after Hasbro Interactive acquired all Atari Corporation related properties from JTS in 1998. IESA in turn acquired Hasbro Interactive in 2001, and proceeded to rename it to Infogrames Interactive. In 2003, IESA then changed the company name entirely to Atari Interactive. The company that currently bears the name Atari Inc. was founded in 1993 under the name GT Interactive. IESA acquired a 62% controlling interest in GT Interactive in 1999, and proceeded to rename it Infogrames, Inc. After IESA's acquirement of Hasbro Interactive and its related Atari properties in 2001, Infogrames, Inc. intermittently published Atari branded titles for Infogrames Interactive. In 2003, Infogrames Inc. licensed the Atari name and logo from Atari Interactive and changed its name to Atari Inc. On October 11th, Infogrames completed its acquisition of Atari, Inc., making it a wholly owned subsidiary. Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: Ghambit on December 09, 2008, 01:29:32 PM I want to die :heartbreak:
Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: Soln on December 09, 2008, 01:45:39 PM this may not be a bad thing. Keeps Cryptic going. And they can execute.
Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: UnSub on December 09, 2008, 04:40:10 PM Cryptic was also working on (what looked like) a survival horror :cthulu: thing. I :heart: me some :cthulu: stuffs. That's my hope too - that their third, incredibly unannounced title is a dark modern world title. I don't think The Secret World is going to emerge from Funcom, it is pretty unlikely I'd play CCP's World of Darkness MMO (I'd try it, but I think it would be EvE's drama ^ 200) and Cryptic have tended to make titles I've enjoyed. Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: Modern Angel on December 09, 2008, 05:15:04 PM The problem with it is going to be the same thing as The Secret World: you're on a timetable to release at pretty much the same time as a WoD IP with a couple million built in fans. Not all will buy WoD, of course, but they're going to be a beast with that niche. It smacks of suicide.
Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: UnSub on December 09, 2008, 05:36:15 PM I don't think it is suicide for several dark modern MMOs to co-exist. For WoD, it is likely going to feature a bunch of emo vampires backstabbing each other over control of territory. That'll be fun for some, but there will also be those who just want to go out and set fire to monsters. That is where I think Cryptic would fit in.
Also (http://forums.champions-online.com/showpost.php?p=292567&postcount=62): Quote As referenced previously, Cryptic will continue to develop, operate and service the game and retain complete development and operation control, which would include managing the community sites, customer service, and the game data center. We have no plans for and do not foresee any staffing or management changes. So a lot of things Cryptic planned to do solo seem to be what they still (publicly) plan to do, just backed up by Atari's money. Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: Venkman on December 09, 2008, 05:45:54 PM I don't think it is suicide for several dark modern MMOs to co-exist. Considering there's, what, zero right now? I think we're ok :-)Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: SnakeCharmer on December 09, 2008, 06:17:53 PM Also, it's not like the gazillion fantasy MMOs aren't coexisting (ignoring that WoW is eating everybody's lunch right now).
And UnSub, I think TSW is going to be ok. There's going to be some stuff coming out about it very soon, and not soon(tm). Can't say much beyond that at this point. Not that I'm bound by an NDA (I'm not), but I've got a couple pretty good sources that in so far I've got no reason not to believe what they say. Granted, that can change, but I don't think it will. Hope not anyway. Out of the 3 horror MMOs, I think the Funcom has the potential to be the best one of them all. Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: UnSub on December 09, 2008, 06:44:30 PM I like TSW. But Funcom is looking a bit shaky. And what is going to be released? Another screenshot? Some more puzzles that get the TSW forum fanbois all wound up? A load of promises about how awesome it will be ala AoC? I'll sign up for any beta for TSW, but thus far TSW really is vapour.
Also, if WoD is EvE but with vampires / werewolves / mages oh my, it will be a hit among certain groups of players. Both WoD and TSW have potential. But, as has been shown time and time again, potential means nothing without execution. Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: UnSub on December 10, 2008, 05:21:03 PM As a result of the sale, Cryptic is in a better financial position; Emmert gets to buy a Prowler. (http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/50989)
Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: Ghambit on December 10, 2008, 05:49:29 PM Shouldnt this headline be more like "Cryptic saves Atari?"
or "Cryptic cashes in chips..." Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: simonh on December 11, 2008, 06:32:18 AM Plenty of hints from Cryptic that they may develop an MMO based on Atari IP. Emmert seems to want to do D&D (or Godzilla??). I'd rather br playing Alone in the Dark Online. Only, if it was an MMO then then it would be hard to be 'Alone'. And if its persistent, they probably need to have a day/night cycle in the game, so its only going to be 'Dark' half the time. Which Atari IP makes the best MMO? Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: raydeen on December 11, 2008, 07:02:28 AM Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: tazelbain on December 11, 2008, 07:17:39 AM ET
Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: Miscreant on December 11, 2008, 07:23:36 AM Freaking Forgotten Realms MMO. Slam dunk. Homerun. Touchdown. Gooooooooooal.
Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: schild on December 11, 2008, 08:28:10 AM I hate to be a dick to Atari, it's too easy. But they don't have any IPs worth making an MMOG out of. Not a single one.
Unless you really want to stretch it and say Highlander. In which case, Cryptic would be working on not only 1, but two MMOGs that were pretty much doomed. Who knows, maybe they'll bat STO out of the park. Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: Ghambit on December 11, 2008, 09:16:51 AM If I had to make a guess they'd simply be making a newer version of DDO using the new 4.0 system (which I think is better, especially for an MMO). If they could hash out a fluid, non-instanced ('cept for dungeons and encounters) version of FR or Eberron (preferably FR since DDO is Eberron already) they'd have a hit. One with whom the Force is strong would suggest they sink WotC's Insider system into the game ala Ryzom Ring for budding GMs.
Speaking of which, why the hell doesnt someone come out with a DRAGONLANCE MMO? As if jousting on dragons wasnt cool. Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: schild on December 11, 2008, 09:18:06 AM Quote DRAGONLANCE MMO? Uh. Why would anyone want to make an MMOG out of the one D&D setting that was truly only about the heroes and their story? Doing crappy licenses like that is already half the problem of the genre. Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: Trippy on December 11, 2008, 09:20:43 AM Cause people want to fly around on dragons?
Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: schild on December 11, 2008, 09:23:12 AM Cause people want to fly around on dragons? Yea, because there's a dev company out there that can make that and not have it play like ass. (The other half of the problem) Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: Ghambit on December 11, 2008, 09:26:34 AM Quote DRAGONLANCE MMO? Uh. Why would anyone want to make an MMOG out of the one D&D setting that was truly only about the heroes and their story? Doing crappy licenses like that is already half the problem of the genre. Isnt EVERY DnD setting about that though? I guess if I personally had a choice between Eberron, FR, or DL... I'd choose DL (and make sure it includes Top Gun style Dragonrider Jousting), but that's just me and I've been told I'm a nutbar more than once. Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: Venkman on December 11, 2008, 10:37:15 AM Cause people want to fly around on dragons? Yea, because there's a dev company out there that can make that and not have it play like ass. (The other half of the problem) From the standpoint of adding fun flying, I'd actually put Cryptic pretty high on the list. That doesn't mean I think a Dragonlance MMO is a good idea, but making flying fun is the lesser of the worries. Also, Phil Harrison talks about purchase (http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/features/ataris-phil-harrison-talks-cryptic-and-online-strategy/?biz=1&page=2). I am somewhat undecided. This could turn into another Mythic purchase thing. Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: raydeen on December 11, 2008, 11:15:29 AM Cause people want to fly around on dragons? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpIvn4tMqKQ&eurl=http://video.google.com/videosearch?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=jOr&q=dra (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpIvn4tMqKQ&eurl=http://video.google.com/videosearch?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=jOr&q=dra) :awesome_for_real: Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: schild on December 11, 2008, 11:17:25 AM Cause people want to fly around on dragons? Yea, because there's a dev company out there that can make that and not have it play like ass. (The other half of the problem) Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: Trippy on December 11, 2008, 12:08:53 PM Cause people want to fly around on dragons? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpIvn4tMqKQ&eurl=http://video.google.com/videosearch?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=jOr&q=dra (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpIvn4tMqKQ&eurl=http://video.google.com/videosearch?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=jOr&q=dra) :awesome_for_real:Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: Miscreant on December 11, 2008, 12:11:25 PM Putting an object in the air and having it move fast isn't that impressive a feat. Having it feel right to the player while looking good to observers...priceless. Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: Velorath on December 11, 2008, 12:20:57 PM Quote DRAGONLANCE MMO? Uh. Why would anyone want to make an MMOG out of the one D&D setting that was truly only about the heroes and their story? Doing crappy licenses like that is already half the problem of the genre. It's the one D&D IP I can think of that has a very focused good faction vs. evil faction conflict, and would probably be the most ideal setting if you're doing a game with PVP/RVR. Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: sidereal on December 11, 2008, 12:34:57 PM Speaking of which, why the hell doesnt someone come out with a DRAGONLANCE MMO? As if jousting on dragons wasnt cool. Getting mid-air corpse camped by XxxN00blerMaster1996xxX on his black dragon **CHICKENCHOKER** isn't nearly as fun as you're imagining it to be. If it were, you'd already be in the beta for the Pern MMO. Other players will ruin everything good about your favorite game. Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: raydeen on December 11, 2008, 01:12:22 PM Cause people want to fly around on dragons? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpIvn4tMqKQ&eurl=http://video.google.com/videosearch?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=jOr&q=dra (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpIvn4tMqKQ&eurl=http://video.google.com/videosearch?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=jOr&q=dra) :awesome_for_real:I had fun too. Or as much fun as a 486/DX 33 would let me. Hmmm....might just have to try it again on ye olde DosBox.... Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: Ghambit on December 11, 2008, 01:55:59 PM Speaking of which, why the hell doesnt someone come out with a DRAGONLANCE MMO? As if jousting on dragons wasnt cool. Getting mid-air corpse camped by XxxN00blerMaster1996xxX on his black dragon **CHICKENCHOKER** isn't nearly as fun as you're imagining it to be. If it were, you'd already be in the beta for the Pern MMO. Other players will ruin everything good about your favorite game. Quite true... but just think of it, a Wing Commanderish Dragonlance MMO. All those people that shun Sci-Fi games and giz themselves over Fantasy would camp out at the local Gamestop for a medievel version of Wing Commander (errr Jumpgate, err Ace Online), complete with landgrabbing, rts resource, dungeon running, DnD lore-enabled RvR and plenty of taverns. Instead of adding a "power pack" to your "G-Gear", you'd add ruby-studded mithril ass-chaps to your custom Dragon; just after you turncoat respec from a Red Wizard to a full-on Black Mage and stab your fellows in the back, so you can lay with a voluptuous evil demigod with a penchant for ruling the World. Cmon now, you know you want it. (the game that is, not the ass-chaps) Shoot... I'm about to go beg someone to build me an FSX/CFS Dragon addon. Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: Fordel on December 11, 2008, 03:24:02 PM I'm all for it if I can be a Draconian Engineer. :grin:
Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: Ingmar on December 11, 2008, 03:27:42 PM You will never get a D&D MMO, regardless of setting, without D&D mechanics unless the pnp game itself dies. So stop dreaming about this game; it will not, could not, be what you want it to be.
Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: Venkman on December 11, 2008, 04:09:49 PM Putting an object in the air and having it move fast isn't that impressive a feat. CoH is right behind Planetside for fun flying. And unlike just about every other avatar-based MMO, you actually fight in the air. Even WoW with all its cash only occasionally bothers using flight for anything more interesting than a flying horse for travel (and then lost their will again by making it a new [old] achievement 7 levels after you already got used to using it :roll: ). Yea, I'm sure you can rattle off a hundred games nobody else has played from six different genres with superior systems. And yes, even old shit like XvT was better. But I'm thinking within just what this genre has done so far when I talk about the scale of fun flight. Because nobody's making Freespace 3 and I'm not into flight sims as the only game experience. Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: UnSub on December 11, 2008, 04:49:04 PM In the dragon-oriented MMO I can see in my head: firstly, dump the D&D angle. Next: have dragon breeding (done tastefully, of course :awesome_for_real:), dragon raising, dragons as ground battle mounts and as flying battle mounts. Dragon duelling. Different colour dragons too, so that you can make them specialise in other ways. Add in keep / castle building, territory control and troop management. Could be fun and something different.
EDIT: meant to throw in that Ubisoft was apparently also in talks with Cryptic. (http://kotaku.com/5107119/ubisoft-wanted-city-of-heroes-devs-too) So Cryptic must have been able to wring some nice concessions out of Atari to go with them, given that Atari are a much riskier company to go with. Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: Ghambit on December 11, 2008, 04:53:30 PM In the dragon-oriented MMO I can see in my head: firstly, dump the D&D angle. Next: have dragon breeding (done tastefully, of course :awesome_for_real:), dragon raising, dragons as ground battle mounts and as flying battle mounts. Dragon duelling. Different colour dragons too, so that you can make them specialise in other ways. Add in keep / castle building, territory control and troop management. Could be fun and something different. So dragon breeding (the real focus here)... we're talkin scaley-armored dominatrix dragon femmes in human form right? Being able to transform is a common dragon trait. Watching 2 flying monitor lizards breed is not my thing though. But, I get the feeling you're lookin for Dragon Pokemon Online. Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: UnSub on December 11, 2008, 04:56:11 PM But, I get the feeling you're lookin for Dragon Pokemon Online. Pokemon can breed? DO NOT LINK PICTURES, KTHX. Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: sidereal on December 11, 2008, 05:01:40 PM He's confusing Pokemon with Monster Farm Online (http://www.mf-online.jp/)
Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: Lantyssa on December 11, 2008, 09:21:33 PM Drakan was pretty fun for fighting while flying. But it's not (thankfully) Dragon Lance.
Pokemon can breed? Awww. I've seen a great one of Victory Bell...DO NOT LINK PICTURES, KTHX. Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: raydeen on December 12, 2008, 06:06:19 AM Sounds like we're talking about Dragonriders of Pern Online.
Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: Lantyssa on December 12, 2008, 08:06:31 AM I imagine it would get boring killing Thread after a while.
Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: Merusk on December 12, 2008, 08:28:53 AM Drakan was pretty fun for fighting while flying. But it's not (thankfully) Dragon Lance. Pokemon can breed? Awww. I've seen a great one of Victory Bell...DO NOT LINK PICTURES, KTHX. There used to be a whole newsfeed under .erotica that was dedicated to pokemon porn. Oh my it was some bizarre shit. Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: sidereal on December 12, 2008, 09:42:53 AM I imagine it would get boring killing Thread after a while. Unless you could roll a Thread toon. "Oh, I'm falling! Yay, I leveled up my Falling skill! Oh, I hit a guy and burned him! Oh, I'm dead. . :(" Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: HaemishM on December 12, 2008, 11:21:06 AM There used to be a whole newsfeed under .erotica that was dedicated to pokemon porn. Oh my it was some bizarre shit. :ye_gods: Just thinking about it... my mind is borken. Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: Lantyssa on December 12, 2008, 12:02:07 PM I imagine it would get boring killing Thread after a while. Unless you could roll a Thread toon. "Oh, I'm falling! Yay, I leveled up my Falling skill! Oh, I hit a guy and burned him! Oh, I'm dead. . :(" Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: Draegan on December 12, 2008, 12:16:06 PM In the dragon-oriented MMO I can see in my head: firstly, dump the D&D angle. Next: have dragon breeding (done tastefully, of course :awesome_for_real:), dragon raising, dragons as ground battle mounts and as flying battle mounts. Dragon duelling. Different colour dragons too, so that you can make them specialise in other ways. Add in keep / castle building, territory control and troop management. Could be fun and something different. AutoAssault with a dragon skin? Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: UnSub on December 17, 2008, 11:12:16 PM As an unsurprising update: 2K drops ChampO as a title they will publish (http://au.gamespot.com/news/6202462.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=newstop&tag=newstop;title;2).
Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: Ghambit on December 18, 2008, 08:50:18 AM As an unsurprising update: 2K drops ChampO as a title they will publish (http://au.gamespot.com/news/6202462.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=newstop&tag=newstop;title;2). And there goes the Spring release schedule. Not that they would've made it anyways. Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: UnSub on December 18, 2008, 04:24:46 PM Cryptic say their plans haven't changed at this point.
I do think they'll want to push it back a bit, but mainly because every bit of polish counts. Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: Venkman on December 18, 2008, 04:57:09 PM They don't need to change their development plans. But getting that on shelf, yea, that's going to be the problem now.
Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: Goreschach on December 18, 2008, 05:04:16 PM They don't need to change their development plans. But getting that on shelf, yea, that's going to be the problem now. Why do MMO's even need shelf space? They aren't exactly an impulse buy, and most people who plan on picking one up at launch have already downloaded the majority of the software through some kind of beta. I'd much prefer they just switch to an online distribution model. Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: Venkman on December 18, 2008, 05:20:32 PM That is not the case for a new game's launch unless it's a big enough game to have started its marketing and PR campaign well before even beta began. And for that you need recognition and a big IP, neither of which ChampO has.
Someday down the road we'll all be jacked-in over FiOS, but we're a ways away from that :-) Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: Trippy on December 18, 2008, 05:35:18 PM They don't need to change their development plans. But getting that on shelf, yea, that's going to be the problem now. How's that a problem? Atari will publish it now.Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: Venkman on December 18, 2008, 05:38:24 PM Forgot the part that was, like, the thread title :grin:
Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: UnSub on December 18, 2008, 06:20:58 PM Most PC gamers still buy off the shelf. Some blanch at downloading several gigabytes, especially on a shared connection.
Also, ChampO is meant to be on the Xbox 360. They'll definitely need physical distribution for that. Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: Ghambit on December 18, 2008, 06:56:45 PM There's no way they can restructure a distro deal and have the box ready in 1 quarter, for both PC and 360. The legal BS alone would take that long and even if the dev. was done they'd have to delay. Same crap happened to PotBS.
Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: Trippy on December 18, 2008, 09:51:12 PM What the hell are you babbling about?
Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: UnSub on December 18, 2008, 10:00:56 PM If ChampO launches Q2 2009, as has been their target, Atari have plenty of time to sort out distribution.
Game needs to go gold what? 30 days? 20 days? before launch to have the required time to print the DVDs and boxes. This is not a late nor surprising switch given the Atari purchase. Title: Re: Atari buys Cryptic Post by: Venkman on December 19, 2008, 05:42:02 AM Depends on how quickly you can move the suppliers and distributors over from 2K to Atari, or how quickly Atari can get this into their own queue. It might be as easy as telling the retailers to expect the same game just from a different publisher, but I'm just guessing there.
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