Looks like we won't be getting a multiplayer Evil Genius

[schild]

005.1> Elixir press

ELIXIR STUDIOS BEGINS WINDING DOWN OPERATIONS.

It is with great sadness that Elixir Studios today announced it is to cease day-to-day operations, effective immediately, and will seek the orderly sale and re-use of all its remaining assets and IP.

Following the successful release of Evil Genius in October 2004, the Company has been working on a very innovative game for a major US software and games publisher for the past couple of years. This project was recently cancelled due to the perceived high-risk profile of the endeavour. Elixir also has a number of promising original prototypes at various stages of development but the Board of Directors feel that the current risk averse publishing climate, in the run up to the launch of next generation platforms, virtually precludes the signing of any original IP (which is not already part of a well-established franchise or license), without an unreasonably large strategic investment in the project by the developer themselves.

In light of the above, and the current financial and market conditions, the Directors have taken the decision to use a part of the cash resources held by the Company to treat its employees in a professional manner by paying redundancy packages to everyone and to allow an orderly wind-down of operations.

Mark Hewitt, CEO: "It is clearly a disappointing day for the team here, and for British independent developers in general, but we were extremely keen to wind things down on our terms and treat our employees and creditors properly and in a professional manner. It has been a real privilege working with such incredibly talented people, and I have nothing but admiration for our backers and the team here. We have a fantastic collection of people working at Elixir and other developers would be crazy not to snap them up immediately!"

Demis Hassabis, founder and Chairman: "It has been an amazing roller-coaster ride. It's hard to believe that 7 years have flown by. I'm very proud of what all the staff at Elixir have achieved and the games we produced. We gave it everything we had but ultimately it wasn't quite enough. It seems that today's games industry no longer has room for small independent developers wanting to work on innovative and original ideas. Perhaps there is no longer any need for them. However, this was the sole purpose of setting up Elixir and something we could never compromise on by going down the licensing route."

Damn.

[Bunk]

That is sad. Its nice to know that at least the employees aren't going to get treated to the locked company doors on Monday morning scenario.

[Samwise]

Although Evil Genius was a bold experiment, it had 100% reproducible crashing bugs (with no real workaround) that their patch didn't address.  Maybe it's for the best (as with Troika).

[HaemishM]

Hmmm, they sell a successful game, and yet can't keep their doors open without publisher milestone check money. I think I've highlighted this problem already.

Seriously, bugs or not, something is totally fucked in this industry when the development company of a successful title cannot keep its doors open. The money spigot is directed the wrong fucking way.

[Strazos]

The money is being shunted to whoever is doing the next Matrix game. DUH!

[stray]

Weren't they working on a MMO or something?

edit: Ah yes, Republic Dawn

[Yoru]

Pity, I enjoyed Evil Genius. However, I'm failing to be wholly outraged at this because Elixir sunk so much time, money and hype into Republic: The Revolution only to deliver a pretty crappy real-time board game.

As for Republic Dawn, whoever thought it was a good idea to put the word 'Dawn' anywhere near an MMO title needs to be shot.

[Trippy]

Sad news indeed. While I had issues with Evil Genius and quit playing before I got my second island base setup you could tell the game was created by creative people passionate about their work. We need more of those kinds of people in the gaming industry, not less.