The public auction held Tuesday at 38 Studios' former headquarters in Providence, Rhode Island, grossed approximately $650,000. The official number comes from the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation, which held an auction last week at the former site of 38 Studios' Big Huge Games division in Maryland. That auction brought in $180,000.
Why do game studios keep imploding?
Dysfunction is baked into the video game production process, as it currently exists. The big-budget games industry is dominated by a few large companies, the publishers. Like book publishers, they are responsible for distributing and marketing games (much but not all of this is entirely digital now, but most of the publishers established themselves when game distribution meant getting physical discs and cartridges on retail store shelves). Games are actually made by studios, which are generally either owned directly by the publishers or independent. Making big-budget video games takes an enormous amount of highly specialized labor. It is possible for one person to make a game, and even for that game to be a hit, but the biggest, most profitable games released each year are nearly always made by enormous teams of people, working directly or indirectly for those publishers.
Create their own studio ala Activision but never forget where they came from ala Activision
Unions breed garbage product no matter what’s being made. Passion and drive to make awesome stuff goes out the window and it’s replaced by laziness, seniority over skill, office politics and all around horseshit. As a welder of 23 years, I’ve seen it first hand, over and over again.
I’d say there’s a time and a place for unions. If work conditions have gotten so bad because the company is run by tyrants, unions will help.
But, on the contrary, I work for one of those rare companies that is better for the employee than a union is. Family owned, we purchased a new facility in Jersey and the workers voted the union out based on the offer (pay, hours, benefits, etc). Now we have UNION scabs, hired by the union, to protest against us at various locations.
The 4-year investigation of video game developer 38 Studios comes to an anti-climatic conclusion.
The Rhode Island Attorney General announced today that it would not be filing charges against individuals involved in the failed 38 Studios loan in Rhode Island.
Great game, but I stopped playing due to a major glitch before a boss fight.
It was a fight inside a cave and I placed all my saves inside the cave...approaching the boss would start a cut scene but my game glitched and the scene never starter. I could not exit the cave too... :(
Was probably 3/4 done the game too.
Ugh '...and the remainder of the bill following the IP sale will be swallowed by state tax-payers.'
To make this clear, a indie game studio somehow managed to spend 150 MILLION dollars and did nothing with it.....
The state now has to pay 150 million dollars, and has yet to make 1 million back....So anyone hoping their state would create business with video games can kiss the dream goodbye, thanks a lot Schilling. i think he should be forced to pay some of the bill.
In my opinion he should have started with iPhone games.
The state took a gamble and gave Curt an awesome loan. It was a terrible decision, but looked great at the time because the unemployed was/is bad here. He said they were going to hire 500 people. Little did we know it was like 500 people from other states. He also spend the money like a retard. He bought unnecessary crap. Like another studio. At-least the state pulled out before he spend all the money.
I still believe gaming will return to RI.We are surrounded by awesome schools with smart kids who love games. One day somebody will start a game studio again.
@Soldierone
RI is investigating. A lawsuit will cost a lot more tax money and might not be worth it.
Hopefully they will find a scam within all this! :) Brings back some hope, you know?
A disaster all round. Financially for the state, the company, the employees who lost their livelihoods and the gamers who enjoyed what was an outstanding first - and last game from 38 studios.
I really hope the IP is picked up by soneone who can take it forward. as it promised so much.