Factor 5 going down (?)

[robotriot]

I haven't seen this posted yet ...

http://gonintendo.com/?p=67019

That would really suck if it turns out to be true

[Tupin]

Great. NOW who's going to make a new Kid Icarus?

[heybtbm]

I blame Sony's ridiculous Sixaxis bullshit and the subsequent fallout over it ruining Lair on release. It's amazing that one shitty game can topple such a (seemingly) successful studio these days. It's a damn shame.

P.S.

Rogue Squadron is still the BEST Star Wars game ever.

[swlovinist]

This is the sign of the times. I fear that this year is going to be espically brutal year for medium to small game companies. If this is true, then I will mourn a great game company that took some risks and overall made some quality products. We are now in an age in which a game not selling is more than a financial setback, it is certain death to small and medium companies. I will remember them for all the great games that they made, and fire up a game of Rogue Squadron II in memory of them. I hope that the big N can have some of their projects saved, as seeing a new Icarus game would be sweet.

[ProgrammingAce]

I blame Sony's ridiculous Sixaxis bullshit and the subsequent fallout over it ruining Lair on release. It's amazing that one shitty game can topple such a (seemingly) successful studio these days. It's a damn shame.

Out of curiosity, why do you think sony has anything to do with the control scheme for Lair?

From Phil Harrison:

[It] was definitely not mandated by us. We've always said all along that the use of the Sixaxis is something that should be decided by the developer in tune with their creative vision for the game, so it's not something we would mandate.

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/25649.html


If you only make a new game every 2 years or so, and your last game sucked, how do you expect to stay in business? The game industry isn't for the faint of heart. I'm amazed that Double Fine has stayed afloat this long.

[Half Japanese]

For small/independent developers and publishers, the key to success seems to be establishing a cult audience that will reliably buy your products. It's what's kept Treasure and Atlus in business. Factor 5, Midway, and Free Radical all developed mainly products that were aiming for the mainstream and fell far short of the expectations required to consider a mainstream title a success.

[Trumpman]

Rogue Squadron is still the BEST Star Wars game ever.

This is the truth. I bought my Gamecube on release day with Rogue Squadron II and it is not only in my top five Gamecube games, but THE best Star Wars game I've ever played. III was decent, but I was hoping they'd make a fourth one someday without the ground missions.

RIP Factor 5

[Icarus Moonsight]

Should have made Rogue Squadron IV rather then Lair... Might not have been very appealing to them at the time, but I'm sure they wish they did so now. Those walking type stages from III would have gone over better with the aiming (blaster) and waggle (lightsaber) stick than they did with the conventional pad.

I heard they laid off half the staff. Guess if they were to partner up with an industry biggie maybe they can retain their operational output and hang in there. Kid Icarus with Nintendo backing would be ideal IMO. Could still happen, I guess.

[j_factor]

Isn't Free Radical in the process of bankruptcy too? The industry has gotten to the point where one big-budget flop will bury a company. I'm amazed that independent studios roll the dice so much, when they could easily put out a game for DS or something.

[G-Boobie]

I blame Sony's ridiculous Sixaxis bullshit and the subsequent fallout over it ruining Lair on release. It's amazing that one shitty game can topple such a (seemingly) successful studio these days. It's a damn shame.

Actually, I gather that they had been working on a couple games for that shady-ass start up publisher 'Brash Entertainment', which recently died unmourned. When brash went belly up, so did Factor 5's income, and there you go. When you only have enough bandwidth for one or two games and your publisher stops sending checks...

It sucks, because I wanted another Turrican, but what are you going to do. I wish the best for the staff; hopefully they find a new home soon.

[chicnstu]

Maybe Nintendo can do something about this? Hopefully...?

[PapaStu]

Isn't Free Radical in the process of bankruptcy too? The industry has gotten to the point where one big-budget flop will bury a company. I'm amazed that independent studios roll the dice so much, when they could easily put out a game for DS or something.

Of course one big budget flop will kill one of these smallish companies. Development costs on the PS3 and 360 are pretty damn high. You can obviously tell when the games budget is small, because the game tends to be crap. One big flop and say good bye to a huge chunk of their leverage to get a production company to be willing to front the costs for another game.

[geneshifter]

I blame LAIR and Sony.

[j_factor]

I blame the internet... and the return of swing music.