20°

SEC subpoenas R.I. Commerce Corp. for 38 Studios loan information

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has subpoenaed the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation for information related to the state's failed $75-million investment in the 38 Studios video-game company, two lawyers confirmed on Thursday.

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providencejournal.com
80°

Video Games Are a Labor Disaster

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.

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newrepublic.com
isarai1084d ago

Devs really need to unionize asap

Minute Man 7211083d ago

Create their own studio ala Activision but never forget where they came from ala Activision

Dixiedevil1083d ago

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.

lipton1011082d ago

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.

franwex1083d ago

An interesting case study. I thought it was worth a read.

30°

No Charges in 38 Studios Criminal Investigation

The 4-year investigation of video game developer 38 Studios comes to an anti-climatic conclusion.

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gameranx.com
kbozz712873d ago

Really would have loved having Kingdoms of Amalur 2 :(

110°

No criminal charges to be filed in 38 Studios investigation

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.

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gamasutra.com
NukaCola2875d ago

Kingdom of Amular was a gem. Sad there isnt a sequel or remastering.

indyano2875d ago

One of the best flexible RPGs on last gen

rezzah2874d ago

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.

ApolloTheBoss2875d ago

Good game. Awesome ending. Damn shame it won't get a sequel.