In urma recentelor evenimente care au avut loc (desfiintarea echipei care lucra la Duke Nukem Forever, procesul intentat de Take Two Interactive impotriva 3D Realms), managementul studioului texan a oferit in sfarsit un comunicat de presa oficial referitor la aceasta situatie. Pe scurt, 3D Realms afirma ca nu au primit niciun ban de pe urma tranzactiei de 12 milioane de dolari in urma careia Infogrames a vandut drepturile de publicare a jocului Duke Nukem Forever celor de la Take Two Interactive. Pe parcursul perioadei de dezvoltare, costurile au fost asigurate exclusiv de 3D Realms, acestia investind nu mai putin de 20 de milioane de dolari pentru realizarea lui Duke Nukem Forever.

Abia la sfarsitul anului trecut, 3D Realms si Take Two au inceput negocierile pentru finantarea perioadei de finalizare a jocului, fiind stabilite de comun acord o serie de milestone-uri pe care echipa producatoare ar fi trebuit sa le atinga pentru a primi fondurile respective. Desi acordul nu fusese inca parafat, 3D Realms a reusit sa indeplineasca toate aceste sarcini, ajungand intr-un punct unde finantarea suplimentara a echipei era necesara pentru a continua. Oficialii Take Two au schimbat termenii intelegerii in ultimul moment, desi stiau de situatia financiara in care se afla 3D Realms. Astfel, oferta facuta implica achizitionarea intregii francize Duke Nukem, precum si a studioului care se ocupa de dezvoltarea lui Duke Nukem Forever, fara a se oferi insa garantii financiare sau asigurarea ca jocul va fi finalizat. Aceste conditii nu au fost acceptate de 3D Realms, care au considerat ca inchiderea studioului de productie era singura optiune viabila la care puteau apela.

La mai putin de o saptamana de la concedierea echipei de productie, Take Two a intentat un proces celor de la 3D Realms, acuzandu-i de nerespectarea termenului de predare al jocului si cerand instituirea unui ordin de sechestru asupra produsului neterminat inca de 3D Realms (toate datele folosite de joc si sursele acestora, incluzand codul sursa al lui Duke Nukem Forever). Studioul texan declara ca toata aceasta serie de evenimente nu constituie decat un plan murdar al celor de la Take Two, care incearca sa puna mana pe IP-ul Duke Nukem cu orice pret. De altfel, cererea de sechestru temporar depusa de Take Two a fost deja respinsa de curtea de judecata. De asemenea, in ciuda concedierii echipei care lucra la Duke Nukem Forever, 3D Realms nu se va inchide si va continua sa opereze legal, sub forma unei companii cu acte in regula. 3D Realms urmeaza sa continue licentierea brandului Duke Nukem catre alte studiouri, precum si co-producerea de jocuri care-l vor avea in prima plan pe musculosul erou blond.

In light of recent press articles and statements by Take-Two (to the media and in a lawsuit), we want to set the record straight on some issues.

Despite rumors and statements to the contrary, 3D Realms (3DR) has not closed and is not closing. 3DR retains ownership of the Duke Nukem franchise. Due to lack of funding, however, we are saddened to confirm that we let the Duke Nukem Forever (DNF) development team go on May 6th, while we regroup as a company. While 3DR is a much smaller studio now, we will continue to operate as a company and continue to license and co-create games based upon the Duke Nukem franchise.

As some of you may know, Take-Two filed a lawsuit last week containing various accusations and claims against 3DR and the uncompleted DNF game. Take-Two never paid 3DR advances or any signing bonus or any other funds related to DNF, up until July 2008, at which time they paid $2.5m in connection with another agreement for an unannounced game. This is the sum total Take-Two has paid 3DR in connection with DNF. Take-Two claims that they paid $12m to GT Interactive/Infogrames to acquire the publishing rights for the DNF game. To be clear, 3DR was not a party to that transaction and did not receive any money from it. When the DNF game was originally signed with GT Interactive in 1998, GT paid 3DR a $400,000 signing bonus. Up until July 2008, this was the only publisher money we received for the DNF game. Meanwhile, 3DR put over $20m into the production of DNF.

Take-Two retains publishing rights for the DNF game, although 3DR retains certain rights to sell the game directly to the public. Late last year, 3DR began negotiations with Take-Two to provide funding to complete the DNF game. In the meantime, 3DR was hitting mutually-agreed milestones, despite not having a new agreement finalized. Take-Two was well aware that 3DR needed the funding to continue the DNF game development. Suddenly, after months of negotiations, Take-Two materially changed the parameters of the proposed funding agreement. 3DR informed Take-Two that it could not financially afford the changes Take-Two was suggesting and would be forced to release the team if an agreement was not reached. Take-Two made a last minute proposal to acquire the Duke Nukem franchise and the 3DR development team. Take-Twos proposal was unacceptable to 3DR for many reasons, including no upfront money, no guarantee minimum payment, and no guarantee to complete the DNF game. From 3DRs perspective, we viewed Take-Two as trying to acquire the Duke Nukem franchise in a “fire sale.” Those negotiations fell through on May 4th, a deal never materialized, and the DNF team was sadly released a few days later.

Less than a week after the DNF team was released, Take-Two filed its lawsuit in New York, seeking immediate temporary injunctive relief. The court denied Take-Twos request for a temporary restraining order. While we cannot comment on the details of the ongoing lawsuit, we believe Take-Twos lawsuit is without merit and merely a bully tactic to obtain ownership of the Duke Nukem franchise. We will vigorously defend ourselves against this publisher.

3D Realms inchis? DNF mort?

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3D Realms continua

In urma recentelor evenimente care au avut loc (desfiintarea echipei care lucra la Duke Nukem Forever, procesul intentat de Take Two Interactive impotriva 3D Realms), managementul studioului texan a oferit in sfarsit un comunicat de presa oficial referitor la aceasta situatie. Pe scurt, 3D Realms afirma ca nu au primit niciun ban de pe urma tranzactiei de 12 milioane de dolari in urma careia Infogrames a vandut drepturile de publicare a jocului Duke Nukem Forever celor de la Take Two Interactive. Pe parcursul perioadei de dezvoltare, costurile au fost asigurate exclusiv de 3D Realms, acestia investind nu mai putin de 20 de milioane de dolari pentru realizarea lui Duke Nukem Forever.

Abia la sfarsitul anului trecut, 3D Realms si Take Two au inceput negocierile pentru finantarea perioadei de finalizare a jocului, fiind stabilite de comun acord o serie de milestone-uri pe care echipa producatoare ar fi trebuit sa le atinga pentru a primi fondurile respective. Desi acordul nu fusese inca parafat, 3D Realms a reusit sa indeplineasca toate aceste sarcini, ajungand intr-un punct unde finantarea suplimentara a echipei era necesara pentru a continua. Oficialii Take Two au schimbat termenii intelegerii in ultimul moment, desi stiau de situatia financiara in care se afla 3D Realms. Astfel, oferta facuta implica achizitionarea intregii francize Duke Nukem, precum si a studioului care se ocupa de dezvoltarea lui Duke Nukem Forever, fara a se oferi insa garantii financiare sau asigurarea ca jocul va fi finalizat. Aceste conditii nu au fost acceptate de 3D Realms, care au considerat ca inchiderea studioului de productie era singura optiune viabila la care puteau apela.

La mai putin de o saptamana de la concedierea echipei de productie, Take Two a intentat un proces celor de la 3D Realms, acuzandu-i de nerespectarea termenului de predare al jocului si cerand instituirea unui ordin de sechestru asupra produsului neterminat inca de 3D Realms (toate datele folosite de joc si sursele acestora, incluzand codul sursa al lui Duke Nukem Forever). Studioul texan declara ca toata aceasta serie de evenimente nu constituie decat un plan murdar al celor de la Take Two, care incearca sa puna mana pe IP-ul Duke Nukem cu orice pret. De altfel, cererea de sechestru temporar depusa de Take Two a fost deja respinsa de curtea de judecata. De asemenea, in ciuda concedierii echipei care lucra la Duke Nukem Forever, 3D Realms nu se va inchide si va continua sa opereze legal, sub forma unei companii cu acte in regula. 3D Realms urmeaza sa continue licentierea brandului Duke Nukem catre alte studiouri, precum si co-producerea de jocuri care-l vor avea in prima plan pe musculosul erou blond.

In light of recent press articles and statements by Take-Two (to the media and in a lawsuit), we want to set the record straight on some issues.

Despite rumors and statements to the contrary, 3D Realms (3DR) has not closed and is not closing. 3DR retains ownership of the Duke Nukem franchise. Due to lack of funding, however, we are saddened to confirm that we let the Duke Nukem Forever (DNF) development team go on May 6th, while we regroup as a company. While 3DR is a much smaller studio now, we will continue to operate as a company and continue to license and co-create games based upon the Duke Nukem franchise.

As some of you may know, Take-Two filed a lawsuit last week containing various accusations and claims against 3DR and the uncompleted DNF game. Take-Two never paid 3DR advances or any signing bonus or any other funds related to DNF, up until July 2008, at which time they paid $2.5m in connection with another agreement for an unannounced game. This is the sum total Take-Two has paid 3DR in connection with DNF. Take-Two claims that they paid $12m to GT Interactive/Infogrames to acquire the publishing rights for the DNF game. To be clear, 3DR was not a party to that transaction and did not receive any money from it. When the DNF game was originally signed with GT Interactive in 1998, GT paid 3DR a $400,000 signing bonus. Up until July 2008, this was the only publisher money we received for the DNF game. Meanwhile, 3DR put over $20m into the production of DNF.

Take-Two retains publishing rights for the DNF game, although 3DR retains certain rights to sell the game directly to the public. Late last year, 3DR began negotiations with Take-Two to provide funding to complete the DNF game. In the meantime, 3DR was hitting mutually-agreed milestones, despite not having a new agreement finalized. Take-Two was well aware that 3DR needed the funding to continue the DNF game development. Suddenly, after months of negotiations, Take-Two materially changed the parameters of the proposed funding agreement. 3DR informed Take-Two that it could not financially afford the changes Take-Two was suggesting and would be forced to release the team if an agreement was not reached. Take-Two made a last minute proposal to acquire the Duke Nukem franchise and the 3DR development team. Take-Twos proposal was unacceptable to 3DR for many reasons, including no upfront money, no guarantee minimum payment, and no guarantee to complete the DNF game. From 3DRs perspective, we viewed Take-Two as trying to acquire the Duke Nukem franchise in a “fire sale.” Those negotiations fell through on May 4th, a deal never materialized, and the DNF team was sadly released a few days later.

Less than a week after the DNF team was released, Take-Two filed its lawsuit in New York, seeking immediate temporary injunctive relief. The court denied Take-Twos request for a temporary restraining order. While we cannot comment on the details of the ongoing lawsuit, we believe Take-Twos lawsuit is without merit and merely a bully tactic to obtain ownership of the Duke Nukem franchise. We will vigorously defend ourselves against this publisher.

3D Realms inchis? DNF mort?

Deja toata lumea cunoaste tragicomedia procesului de dezvoltare a jocului Duke Nukem Forever. Anuntat initial in 1997 drept sequel al…

Intr-o ploioasa zi de miercuri, pe 13 mai, s-a desfasurat, in cadrul complexului Baneasa Shopping City, Cupa Presei la Wii…

Rezumat: In 1982, Commodore lansa C-64, care ramane si in ziua de azi cel mai bine vandut home computer din…

Rezumat: Anii `80 reprezinta apogeul jocurilor arcade, intr-o industrie aflata pe val, atat din punct de vedere creativ, cat si…

Rezumat Atari pune bazele pietei jocurilor video cu senzationalul PONG si continua sa aiba succes cu Tank si alte titluri…

PONG, Magnavox, sistemul Odyssey sunt doar cateva dintre numele asociate cu zorii computerelor si al jocurilor in acelasi timp. Inainte,…

Citeste articolul pe: XtremPC

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