Free Radical Going Bye-Bye? - Blu-ray Forum

toef · 12-18-2008, 04:02 PM

I love using Kotaku as a source, but here goes:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kotaku

UK developer Free Radical Design, the team behind Haze and the Time Splitters franchise, have closed their doors, apparently permanently, according to a number of inside sources.

....

Free Radical's last game, Haze, was widely received as a mediocre game, but the company was working on a follow up for their popular TimeSplitters franchise and rumored to be working on a Star Wars: Battlefront game for LucasArts.

Sources say that the company recently lost the development deal for the LucasArts project, something that could have led to this end of year shut down.

Source: http://kotaku.com/5113037/free-radical-shuts-down

Darkhawk9587 · 12-18-2008, 04:09 PM

Sadness if true. I loved the Timesplitters series and was looking forward to the next installment.

prankster · 12-18-2008, 04:17 PM

terrible news. ts2 was great.

Simplayer · 12-18-2008, 04:17 PM

Nope.
http://www.gamezine.co.uk/news/game-...n-$1255683.htm

dk3dknight · 12-18-2008, 04:22 PM

PS3 fanboy speculates the lucasarts project was star wars battlefront 3..

Those are 2 games I didn't want to lose, I hope this rumor is false...

bajor27 · 12-18-2008, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simplayer

Nope.
http://www.gamezine.co.uk/news/game-...n-$1255683.htm

2nd update on that site seems to indicate that they are still closing.

With the rising cost of producing games on these next gen systems, it doesn't surprise me to see a developer closing down - especially after a Haze size disappointment

dk3dknight · 12-18-2008, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simplayer

Nope.
http://www.gamezine.co.uk/news/game-...n-$1255683.htm

Check your article again..

"Later on Thursday, our source updated us with more inside information from the Free Radical staff meeting that took place at a hotel near the studio. Apparently, Free Radical knew the urgency of its situation six months ago.

Co-founder Ellis was "visibly upset" when he talked to the staff, the source said. "[He] told staff how very sorry he was and they'd been doing all they could, working flat-out to either find a publisher or a buyer over the past six months, but no offers were made. There have been several visits to the States, but to no avail."

About 20 staff members were offered positions with Ellis' new venture, Pumpkin Beach, while the rest of the employees were told in a separate room that they would be laid off.

Staff had reportedly been paid to the end of December, but are not expected to receive any further compensation "as there was nothing left to give."

Reps from U.K. game makers Codemasters and Monumental Games were at the hotel after the meeting asking for CVs and applications from former Free Radical staffers. "

Its over...

ngkf7 · 12-18-2008, 04:30 PM

Noooooooo. I love Timesplitters. Oh well, I guess EA will just buy up the franchise and I won't be purchasing it.

Simplayer · 12-18-2008, 04:30 PM

Ah, boo then.

Hedchekr · 12-18-2008, 04:47 PM

Thats sucks! I loved Timesplitters. Mutiplayer with bots that were monkeys, classic. Haze wasn't total garbage it just didn't live up to the hype, although I just played the demo.

Nerdkiller likes BD · 12-18-2008, 04:56 PM

Awww man. I wanted to see what Timesplitters was like online. I never had broadband the time Future Perfect was out. Hopefully the team will go to a new developer soon and continue on with Timesplitters 4. C'mon.

dk3dknight · 12-18-2008, 04:59 PM

Pumpkin Beach will be a name to follow now...

Icemage · 12-18-2008, 05:01 PM

No TimeSplitters 4?? Say it ain't so, Mack.

dk3dknight · 12-18-2008, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Icemage

No TimeSplitters 4?? Say it ain't so, Mack.

Unless this pumpkin beach the co founder started is a video game company.. regains a small fragment of hope.

DaMexiRican · 12-18-2008, 05:20 PM

You never know. Maybe some other company will pick up some of the workers and rights and work on it.

dk3dknight · 12-18-2008, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MiguelitoDaMexiRican

You never know. Maybe some other company will pick up some of the workers and rights and work on it.

That would only be the recipe to ruin it..

It was not a traded company so the Cofounders I guess remain in ownership of it, if im correct unless the banks get hold of it, and then you can just forget it..

EvanX · 12-18-2008, 07:08 PM

This is the worst news I've heard all year.

dk3dknight · 12-18-2008, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EvanX

This is the worst news I've heard all year.

I was looking foward to a next gen map maker for ps3 that is now crushed...

VHS4Ever · 12-18-2008, 08:47 PM

Their games weren't that great. So it is not such a big blow to the gaming community.

dk3dknight · 12-18-2008, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VHS4Ever

Their games weren't that great. So it is not such a big blow to the gaming community.

... Big blow Time splitters is a very loved game...

For some folks very devastating im sorry if you don't understand that, they made other games then haze..

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12-18-2008, 04:09 PM	#2
Darkhawk9587 Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Nov 2008 Location:Wisconsin 4K collection:66 Blu-ray collection:487 Trading Score:30	Sadness if true. I loved the Timesplitters series and was looking forward to the next installment.

12-18-2008, 04:17 PM	#3
prankster Expert Member Member since:Feb 2008 Location:LA/OC, California Blu-ray collection:408	terrible news. ts2 was great.

12-18-2008, 04:17 PM	#4
Simplayer Special Member Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Windsor, Ontario	Nope. http://www.gamezine.co.uk/news/game-...n-$1255683.htm

12-18-2008, 04:22 PM	#5
dk3dknight Blu-ray Ninja Member since:May 2007 Location:Arlington, Texas PSNetwork: dk3dknight PostCount: 0001 Blu-ray collection:44 Blu-ray reviews: 2	PS3 fanboy speculates the lucasarts project was star wars battlefront 3.. Those are 2 games I didn't want to lose, I hope this rumor is false...

12-18-2008, 04:30 PM	#8
ngkf7 Special Member Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Baltimore, MD 4K collection:4 Blu-ray collection:161 MA collection:104 iTunes collection:1 Blu-ray reviews: 54	Noooooooo. I love Timesplitters. Oh well, I guess EA will just buy up the franchise and I won't be purchasing it.

12-18-2008, 04:47 PM	#10
Hedchekr Special Member Member since:Apr 2008 Location:Orcutt, Cali Blu-ray collection:120 Trading Score:5	Thats sucks! I loved Timesplitters. Mutiplayer with bots that were monkeys, classic. Haze wasn't total garbage it just didn't live up to the hype, although I just played the demo.

12-18-2008, 04:56 PM	#11
Nerdkiller likes BD Blu-ray Knight Top contributor Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Wrestling in Ireland. PSNetwork: Nerdkiller316PSN Nerds beaten up: Loads 4K collection:75 Blu-ray collection:880 Trading Score:1	Awww man. I wanted to see what Timesplitters was like online. I never had broadband the time Future Perfect was out. Hopefully the team will go to a new developer soon and continue on with Timesplitters 4. C'mon.

12-18-2008, 04:59 PM	#12
dk3dknight Blu-ray Ninja Member since:May 2007 Location:Arlington, Texas PSNetwork: dk3dknight PostCount: 0001 Blu-ray collection:44 Blu-ray reviews: 2	Pumpkin Beach will be a name to follow now...

12-18-2008, 05:01 PM	#13
Icemage Blu-ray Ninja Top contributor Member since:Jul 2007	No TimeSplitters 4?? Say it ain't so, Mack.

12-18-2008, 05:20 PM	#15
DaMexiRican Power Member Member since:Feb 2008 Location:Tracy, CA Blu-ray collection:40	You never know. Maybe some other company will pick up some of the workers and rights and work on it.

12-18-2008, 07:08 PM	#17
EvanX Expert Member Member since:Jan 2007 Location:Michigan Blu-ray collection:47	This is the worst news I've heard all year.

12-18-2008, 08:47 PM	#19
VHS4Ever Senior Member Member since:Sep 2008 Blu-ray collection:224 Blu-ray reviews:61 Trading Score:16	Their games weren't that great. So it is not such a big blow to the gaming community.

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