Posts tagged Gearbox
TimeGate Studios shuts down for good
May 14th
TimeGate Studios, the development team at least partly responsible for Aliens: Colonial Marines, has fired all of its staff and has effectively disappeared. This news comes a week after we reported the troubled firm filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
After losing its credibility following the release of the diabolical Aliens: Colonial Marines, losing a lawsuit against Section 8 publisher SouthPeak Interactive and owing money to over 50 individual creditors, this news is hardly shocking.
Even so, it’s never nice to read about job losses and our thoughts go out to all those affected.
TimeGate Studios file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection
May 7th
Developer TimeGate Studios has filed a petition for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, according to a recent report by Polygon. Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code permits an organisation to stay in possession on its properties while the repayment of money to creditors is overseen by the court.
TimeGate, mostly known on Sega Addicts for its undetermined amount of work on Aliens: Colonial Marines, has suffered major job losses as well as the loss of a law suit resulting in $7.35 worth of damages being paid out to Section 8 publisher SouthPeak Interactive. Polygon claim that they have attained a court document that lists roughly 50 creditors including Epic Games, Agora Games, SouthPeak, and even a local take-away.
Aliens: Colonial Marines isn’t leaving the front page of Sega Addicts any time soon it seems.
The Sega Addicts Speak!: Does Sega deserve to be punished for Aliens: Colonial Marines?
May 4th
The release and aftermath of Aliens: Colonial Marines has been one of the biggest video game industry fiascos for some time. There’s been plenty of rumours circulating regarding the alleged friction between Sega and developer Gearbox which may have resulted in the poor quality of the final product. But there are precious little facts.
This may all change due to the news of American law firm Edelson LLC’s filing of a class action lawsuit against Sega and Gearbox for the false advertising of Aliens: Colonial Marines before launch.
There’s no doubt that Aliens: Colonial Marines was an absolute travesty that betrayed the trust of everyone that was willing to pre-order it. But does Sega deserve to be punished for letting this happen in the first place? Hit the jump to find out what we think.
Sega consider the Aliens: Colonial Marines lawsuit to be “without merit”
May 3rd
Sega have commented on the Aliens: Colonial Marines lawsuit in a statement made to Kotaku in which they consider the suit to be “without merit”. Gerbox went one step further in their statement, claiming that the lawsuit is “beyond meritless”. Polygon later reported that Sega and Gearbox provided them with the exact same statements when asked about the lawsuit.
Polygon also claim to have obtained two court documents which show that federal magistrate judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of California Maria-Elena James has been assigned the case. Polygon also say that the judge has ordered all parties involved to engage in an ”Alternate Dispute Resolution” in which non-binding, early settlement options will be discussed.
We originally reported that American law firm Edelson LLC has filed a class action lawsuit against Sega and Gearbox on behalf of Damion Perrine over the misguiding Aliens: Colonial Marines demo footage. Stay with Sega Addicts for all future updates on this riveting story.
Hit the jump to see Sega and Gearbox’s comments in full, and let us know what you think in the comments section below.
[Source: Kotaku & Polygon] [Image Source: Game Hounds]
Sega and Gearbox are the defendants in a class action lawsuit
May 1st
A class action lawsuit was filled on April 29th 2013 Northern District of California court by law firm Edelson LLC. The lawsuit was filled on behalf of plaintiff Damion Perrine who seeks damages for all those who bought Aliens: Colonial Marines on or before its launch day on the basis of the misguiding gameplay demos.
Aliens: Colonial Marines is without a doubt one of the greatest video game scandals of recent years with rumours of developer Gearbox stealing money from Sega, Gearbox outsourcing the majority of development to TimeGate, and the nature of the WiiU version’s cancellation being hot topics on Sega Addicts and across the gaming press.
Aliens: Colonial Marines was not only a non-functioning product at launch, but it is also considered by many to represent the deceptive business practices of many large video game publishers. It was only a matter of time before someone made a stand, and as a result both Sega and Gearbox may have a hefty price to pay.
Hit the jump to get more details on the case as well as quotes from the lawsuit and from Edelson LLC.
[Source: Polygon]
Sega ignores Aliens: Colonial Marines fan’s plea for modding tools and SDK
Apr 23rd
A fan of the Steam version of the controversial first person shooter Aliens: Colonial Marines has been given the cold shoulder by Sega after asking for modding tools and the game’s software development kit (SDK). Forum member athlondude of the official Gearbox Aliens: Colonial Marines forum sent an e-mail to Sega in which he highlighted the fact that many players have already modified the notorious game to make it look as good as the infamous preview demo, using the video above as an example. Athlondude claims if Sega put modding tools and SDKs into the hands of the fans, then they can make Aliens: Colonial Marines something worth playing, as it always should have been.
This was Sega’s responce:
Hello,
Thank you for the input, but unfortunately it is not in out policy to release these tools for our games.
Regards,
Nico B.
SEGA of America
Customer Support
Athlondude may have been hopeful to think that he’d even get a response from Sega’s customer support team, but his point is a valid one; if Aliens: Colonial Marines fans are capable of making the game look and run better without any sort of modding tools, imagine what they could do with a bit of cooperation from Sega.
Athlondude’s email can be read in full after the jump. Let us know what you think in the comments section below.
[Source: Gearbox Forums]
It’s official – Aliens: Colonial Marines Wii U has been cancelled
Apr 5th
After keeping quiet about the Wii U version of Aliens: Colonial Marines since the release of its console and PC counterpart, a Sega rep has finally spilt the beans to Kotaku.
Aliens: Colonial Marines Wii U has been officially cancelled.
We are constantly looking at all areas of our business and in this case have made the decision to not continue development of the Wii U version. Rest assured that we have some fantastic developments for Wii U in the pipeline which we will announce at a later date.
This is hardly surprising news considering the intense negative attention both Sega and developer Gearbox have received over both what was a broken game and the scandal surrounding it. The missed release date really gave it away, however this statement is the final nail in the coffin.
Good night sweet prince: And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest!
-Shakespeare on Aliens: Colonial Marines Wii U
[Source: Destructoid]
Sega respond to Aliens: Colonial Marines’ deceptive trailers
Apr 4th
For the most part, all parties involved in the Aliens: Colonial Marines mess have tried their utmost to keep their mouths zipped but following a complaint upheld by the Advertising Standards Agency (UK) submitted by this Reddit user, Sega have finally commented on the criticism that trailers and demo footage did not accurately represent the final product’s quality. This is what the ASA responded:
SEGA Europe acknowledged your objection that the trailers did not accurately reflect the final content of the game…They agreed to add a disclaimer, both on their website and in all relevant YouTube videos, which explains that the trailers depict footage of the demo versions of the game. The disclaimer will be visible when each online trailer is played.
Too little, too late? Probably – the game has already been released to strong sales, and this change only affects Europe. Check out our review by Josh Newey on why you probably shouldn’t buy it, just in case you’re tempted by deceitful advertising.
[Source: Destructoid]
Sega refuses to comment on Aliens: Colonial Marines for Wii U
Mar 23rd
Many rumors have surfaced the internet about Aliens: Colonial Marines, but one of the more popular ones was that a Wii U version was worked on, but ultimately cancelled. Many have contacted Sega, Gearbox, and Demiurge for an answer or proof of this rumor being true, but all of them have given the same answer in that they can’t comment on the subject.
If this were true, could they have cancelled the game due to time restraints, or maybe they knew it wouldn’t have sold well in the first place? Some game retailers, such as GameStop, even have a pre-order option for a Wii U version.
Would you have bought a Wii U version if it came out?
[Source: TSSZ]
Review: Aliens: Colonial Marines (360)
Mar 23rd
Also available on PS3 and PC
Please note that the following review is for the pre-patch version of Aliens: Colonial Marines. Since those who are still not online will be saddled with the version they originally purchased no matter what, I feel it’s important to be honest about the game that was initially shipped. For a brief addendum discussing my feelings on the post-patch experience, check out the end of the review.
Since its premature reveal, the legacy of Aliens: Colonial Marines has been one of boastful promises. Finally, we were going to have an Aliens shooter that truly lived up to the atmosphere and nerve-jangling tension of its well-loved source material. Finally, we were going to see Sega back on the top, wielding a formidable shooter with a real potential for longevity. Finally, we’d get our hands on a nearly forgotten title that’s been fading in and out of existence for years. Finally, the plot of Aliens 3 would be justified.
Perhaps that’s why the final product hurts so badly.
