Radical Entertainment, the Activision owned studio behind Prototype, The Simpsons Hit & Run and Scarface: The World Is Yours, has been closed.
(Activision, Industry, Radical Entertainment)
It's too bad because the Prototype IP was a good one, having had played and enjoyed both games. It's all about the money when it comes to Activision, nothing else; and there's currently one cow that generates most of it: Call of Duty. If they know they can double CoD $ales next year and they had to kill off a few cool promising IPs to get there, they'll do it.
It just sucks!! Hopefully the prototype IP will come again in the future?
Activision kills yet another studio. Sometimes I wonder why don't they sell studio or IP rights. At least that way they could get some money rather than no money.
Prototype vs InFAMOUS both Radical and Sucker Punch improved both games a lot in their 2nd iterations.
Sucker Punched acquired by Sony while Radical is now closed! it's really clear now who's really thinking about GAMES and GAMERS and who only cares about MONEY 1st gamers 10th! (2nd - 9th are also money btw!)
It's not like Activision didn't try to make the Prototype games succeed. They marketed the heck out of them both. The simple fact is that despite the marketing push, not enough gamers cared.
Usually people complain when a publisher sends a game out to fail without spending anything to market it. This definitely wasn't one of those cases.
Prototype was a crap franchise...sorry to be blunt but it was nothing "amazing" was it. I mean the second one didn't really feel like a sequel...more of an expansion.
If the games don't sell then why keep a studio around
I never liked the prototype series...only cause there are so many other sandbox games that are superior. Prototype is worth a playthrough, especially if you only own a 360. But it really doesnt bring anything extraordinary to the genre. I hope the talent in the studio is able to create new projects in the future.
I have to disagree with you. Prototype was a good franchise, it just couldn't compare to the waves of games releasing every year. IMO Prototype is comparable to a good movie game. They're enjoyable and worth the playthrough, but no one wants to pay $60 for it.
It's sad, but in Activision's eyes if you're not selling 5 million+ you're dead weight. The first Prototype sold over 2 million copies, and the second is on it's way to 1 million, so obviously people like the franchise.
Not mentioning the Hulk:UD is downright disrespectful. It was the first superhero game done right and led the evolution into the superhero games of today.
Seriously, no. Spiderman 2 came out the year before that, largely regarded as the best Superhero game of that generation. Not to mention MvsC, Freedom Force and TMNT (arcade).
They made a good game, which was in the upper echelons of superhero games, then made that game 2 more times with out the license (Prototype). Before that, their track record was nothing to write home about. Honestly, much better studios have gone under (Clover) to considerably less fanfare and coverage.
That said, it's always terrible when people lose their jobs, so if that's the outcome of all this, my sympathies go out to everyone.
I think they brought this upon themselves. Making a sequel to that game after the first one selling so poorly, and having such a bad reputation, was a huge mistake. And from the results we can see that no matter how much money Activision poured on marketing for this game, it's bad reputation preceded it. Maybe they should have worked on something better with a new name, that could have saved them from this sad outcome.
can't say the same thing about Europe then I'm afraid. I seen some ads on the internet (although only a couple), but on british and italian tv not that much.
@nyc gamer ground breaking software and activison shouldn't be in the same sentence ever, if you think otherwise i pity you.
Did prototype 1 and 2 do enough in sales to cover their development and marketing budget, if it did why close the studio.
This isn't tiny atlus or nis as a publisher it's fucking 20-25 million+ copies of cod sold every year and 6 million copies of diablo 3 sold recently. If anyone can take a hit with a bad game it's certainly activison. Still sounds like simple greed to me.
And yet people consider ea to be the worst company in gaming, go figure.
Hulk:UD was pretty good, but had some balance issues. I remember (I don't remember the difficulty levels, but I played normal, for sure, if that was how it worked) parts of the game towards the end where I'd be getting smacked left and right by robots without opportunity to do anything.
I found it to be better then the first game as well. More overall polish to the graphics and the city design. I wasn't expecting some completely new game but everything about it felt better over the original.
I played it for like an hour or so and it sucked so bad that I could not bear playing it anymore. I'm not gonna waste more of my time playing a game that utterly fails to engage me. So to me I definitely didn't lose anything, but instead gained when switched to a game I actually enjoyed (Infamous) instead of forcing myself into playing that Prototype junk
You have to be totally ignorant to trash talk this developer or say it doesn't matter. Look around gamers, its another studio that is closing down. Say what you will about Prototype 1 and 2, but they were pretty solid games and they were pretty original.
THIS is why bigger companies aren't pushing new IP's or taking very many risks, at some point those risks are going to either pay off or kill you. In this case it killed the studio.
They did competitive open world games, until open world mission design and/or production values started to evolve.
Their games were still too much "go there kill that", and unlike Infamous (which is just as mind numbingly repetitive), they didn't manage to build any proper mythology or sense of style around it to make people look past these design shortcomings.
Exactly. They are (Radical) the true pioneers of the superhero game. Rocksteady recognizes this, I wish more people around here would. Oh well, I come here expecting to be disappointed most of the time.
I think this says alot about the state of console gaming. The media can say and act however they want, but studios are dropping like flies. Digital distribution and free to play is where things have to go, consoles can't just drag their feet. also, hate to say it but prototype had almost every aspect of what is ruining console gaming. Too many stupid cutscenes, slaps the player in the face with a stupid story, mind numbing combat so broken that they just make it it so easy you can't lose, and open world just for the sake of being open world.
And yet another studio chopped by Activision...SMH, is that how its gonna work, shut down studios until they're down to SledgeHammer, Treyarch and Infinity Ward...
Ms should pick them up as I think there games would fit well in there family of studios. Ms has 20 studios now but only few of them cater to the core and I think they should get rid of a few studios and bring in free radical for the next xbox. Its nt like they can't afford it. Help the community ms and gain a established dev team on the xbox.
I really didn't care for either of the prototype games but it is sad that the studio is closing. It just shows you how the game industry really is. It is either do or die when it comes to games.
Damn! Damn! Damn! Damn! I love both Prototype games....now I lose this franchise along with Socom, and the Mercenaries series....I pray some company makes Prototype 3 some day...now I will be buying all the DLC for both games!!!!!
the wont make it unless its called CoD:Prototype Warfare 3 sadly.......I hate this gen sometimes It took years to get a new SSX and I wont ever get a Bloodrayne 3 Prince of Persia lost its way no new jak and daxter and Zelda I have to wave my hands like an idiot....this gen sucks!
it is sad to see these companies go....i loved the Mercenaries series (even though many didnt) i never would have thought the Prototype series would die....damn it....but, i wouldnt say this gen is dying, just too many developers not supporting their games lately....thank god for Bethesda...and others....
Prototype was a good game idea, but the first one could have been done better and I don't know anything about the 2nd one. Well besides alot of my friends on PS3/360 didn't pick it up.
It looked good but with some many huge titles out their, its hard for one to stay alive.
I think Activision did this purposely actually, they need as many people as they can working on COD to accomplish what a team of around 60 people did with COD4(give or take ten people). Soon they will have 1,000 people working on COD and that's no BS.
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I really think people are forgetting that Radical were only good before Activision aquired them.
It just sucks!! Hopefully the prototype IP will come again in the future?
both Radical and Sucker Punch improved both games a lot in their 2nd iterations.
Sucker Punched acquired by Sony while Radical is now closed! it's really clear now who's really thinking about GAMES and GAMERS and who only cares about MONEY 1st gamers 10th! (2nd - 9th are also money btw!)
good job there Activision! /s
Usually people complain when a publisher sends a game out to fail without spending anything to market it. This definitely wasn't one of those cases.
I never saw any marketing for Prototype 2 anywhere. They must have marketed it around my viewing channels
There were ads on most major gaming sites, along with video ads on sites such as GameTrailers and IGN (mostly "preoder at GameStop" ads).
Prototype 2 definitely had a decent advertising budget, so I don't think we can blame Activision for not getting behind it.
http://www.mgsvancouver.com...
lot of talent on the market...
Prototype was a crap franchise...sorry to be blunt but it was nothing "amazing" was it. I mean the second one didn't really feel like a sequel...more of an expansion.
If the games don't sell then why keep a studio around
I have to disagree with you. Prototype was a good franchise, it just couldn't compare to the waves of games releasing every year. IMO Prototype is comparable to a good movie game. They're enjoyable and worth the playthrough, but no one wants to pay $60 for it.
It's sad, but in Activision's eyes if you're not selling 5 million+ you're dead weight. The first Prototype sold over 2 million copies, and the second is on it's way to 1 million, so obviously people like the franchise.
especially niche type genres
its a shame really
You know what this means......
Radical gets to make Call of Duty games now!!!
They made a good game, which was in the upper echelons of superhero games, then made that game 2 more times with out the license (Prototype). Before that, their track record was nothing to write home about. Honestly, much better studios have gone under (Clover) to considerably less fanfare and coverage.
That said, it's always terrible when people lose their jobs, so if that's the outcome of all this, my sympathies go out to everyone.
No, they are either fighting, or adventure games with characters that happen to be superheroes.
I don't know about that; here in the US, I saw an ad pretty every day for a week from a little before and after launch of Prototype 2.
are you serious? that game was marketed well, with the Johnny Cash live action ads coming on TV all the time.
I've seen worse advertising for AAA Sony exclusives trust me.
can't say the same thing about Europe then I'm afraid. I seen some ads on the internet (although only a couple), but on british and italian tv not that much.
Did prototype 1 and 2 do enough in sales to cover their development and marketing budget, if it did why close the studio.
This isn't tiny atlus or nis as a publisher it's fucking 20-25 million+ copies of cod sold every year and 6 million copies of diablo 3 sold recently. If anyone can take a hit with a bad game it's certainly activison. Still sounds like simple greed to me.
And yet people consider ea to be the worst company in gaming, go figure.
Hulk:UD was pretty good, but had some balance issues. I remember (I don't remember the difficulty levels, but I played normal, for sure, if that was how it worked) parts of the game towards the end where I'd be getting smacked left and right by robots without opportunity to do anything.
Besides some balance issues, it was a solid game.
<3
Best.
Simpsons.
Game.
Ever.
Period.
really...?
anyways Simpsons Hit N Run was awesome!!
Prototype/2 was a 7 ratings game at best.
the new character turned everyone I know who loved part 1 off.
Not getting all the "crap franchise that didn't sell" comments above. Everyone I know that played it loved it and recommended it to all my friends.
THIS is why bigger companies aren't pushing new IP's or taking very many risks, at some point those risks are going to either pay off or kill you. In this case it killed the studio.
Their games were still too much "go there kill that", and unlike Infamous (which is just as mind numbingly repetitive), they didn't manage to build any proper mythology or sense of style around it to make people look past these design shortcomings.
So long...
Sarah Wellock @rikkusarah
Anyone at Radical who wants to come to the Uk and work at Rocksteady Studios holler at me!We would love to have you:D
1) People getting new jobs.
2) People living in Canada get to move to the UK instead of potentially having to settle for the US (I'm American btw).
Way to go Rocksteady!
people just lost their jobs and we lost a franchise
also, hate to say it but prototype had almost every aspect of what is ruining console gaming. Too many stupid cutscenes, slaps the player in the face with a stupid story, mind numbing combat so broken that they just make it it so easy you can't lose, and open world just for the sake of being open world.
By other projects they mean Call of Duty no doubt.
It looked good but with some many huge titles out their, its hard for one to stay alive.