Word to the wise: Don't put "dawn" into any part of your MMO's name, or else it will get hit by the curse of breaking dawn. Just ask Dawntide, DAWN, and now, Stellar Dawn.
Yes, unfortunately it's true. Jagex announced that it's suspending development on Stellar Dawn to make sure the company is in the best position possible by concentrating on Transformers Universe and RuneScape. While the studio was able to shuffle most of Stellar Dawn's team around to new positions, the decision still resulted in the loss of 12 jobs.
In a prepared statement, CEO Mark Gerhard was highly complimentary of Stellar Dawn's team and progress. "Jagex has always been committed to developing the highest quality games and services. This is not a decision we have taken lightly; the Stellar Dawn team has achieved a great deal developing the game and should rightly be proud of their achievements so far."
Stellar Dawn fans might find hope in the language being used by the team in the forum announcement, as the title's development is described as being "paused" and a "temporary move" instead of being outright cancelled.
Reader Comments (10)
Posted: Mar 2nd 2012 3:15PM dudes said
Understandable. In these austere times company's will have to keep to their strengths.
Posted: Mar 2nd 2012 3:20PM Joshua Przygocki said
Nice tags Justin.
Any word on how DAWN of Fantasy is doing? I was kinda enjoying it until a bug happened that wouldn't me build anymore. After the devs not doing anything about it I went back worn and wary a week later and decided to start a new city... Still couldn't do anything.
Any word on how DAWN of Fantasy is doing? I was kinda enjoying it until a bug happened that wouldn't me build anymore. After the devs not doing anything about it I went back worn and wary a week later and decided to start a new city... Still couldn't do anything.
Posted: Mar 2nd 2012 3:26PM koolaroo said
This anoyes me to no end I have been waiting for this game forever but jagex choses to focus on some dumb transformers tie-in instead. Stupid jagex.
Posted: Mar 2nd 2012 3:45PM Joaquin Crowe said
@koolaroo at least is doesn't look like it's based on bayformers. That would be a complete tragedy.
Reply
Posted: Mar 2nd 2012 3:45PM PhelimReagh said
Just so folks know, about 2-3 years ago development costs on Stellar Dawn, when it was last "cancelled/paused" were listed in the "10s of million of pounds". That puts development costs circa 2009 at around $30+ million US. Fast forward 2-3 years of development, and they've got to be well above $50 million USD for a browser-based Java game that would be "Stellar Dawn".
For a small studio, that's a helluva lot of money to piss away. Explains why RuneScape subscription fees jumped from $6 to $8 per month.
Seems like Jagex is in quite a bit of trouble at the moment.
All of this because Jagex can't fit their vision of the game into a browser-based Java game. Yet they'll keep trying, instead of opting for a more robust proprietary client.
For a small studio, that's a helluva lot of money to piss away. Explains why RuneScape subscription fees jumped from $6 to $8 per month.
Seems like Jagex is in quite a bit of trouble at the moment.
All of this because Jagex can't fit their vision of the game into a browser-based Java game. Yet they'll keep trying, instead of opting for a more robust proprietary client.
Posted: Mar 2nd 2012 8:05PM (Unverified) said
@PhelimReagh
i can't wait and hope they do it. just so people like you eat crow.
Reply
i can't wait and hope they do it. just so people like you eat crow.
Posted: Mar 3rd 2012 12:16AM PhelimReagh said
@(Unverified)
This game has been under development since 2007. 5 years. Go ahead and hold your breath.
Reply
This game has been under development since 2007. 5 years. Go ahead and hold your breath.
Posted: Mar 2nd 2012 4:29PM Catsar said
Any coincidence that a couple of months jagex sold out to a US investment firm. Now they are dropping their new IP to focus on a transformers browser based, film tie in.
Looks like the bean counters have taken firm control of the reins
Looks like the bean counters have taken firm control of the reins
Posted: Mar 2nd 2012 5:10PM PhelimReagh said
@Catsar
Jagex's original owners finalized selling the controlling stake in Jagex to American investors over a year ago.
I would guess that the Gower brothers sold the investors on the fact that Stellar Dawn was further along development-wise and more viable than it clearly was. If not for the investor's infusion of cash a year ago, I'm guessing Stellar Dawn would have been shelved back then. That's why the Americans paid over $100 million for their stake in the company.
If I was the investors, I'd be pretty pissed off that I bought into a gaming company and that the next game in the pipeline is so obviously effed up after $50 million+ in development it's been shelved until the company can claw back into the black financially.
Reply
Jagex's original owners finalized selling the controlling stake in Jagex to American investors over a year ago.
I would guess that the Gower brothers sold the investors on the fact that Stellar Dawn was further along development-wise and more viable than it clearly was. If not for the investor's infusion of cash a year ago, I'm guessing Stellar Dawn would have been shelved back then. That's why the Americans paid over $100 million for their stake in the company.
If I was the investors, I'd be pretty pissed off that I bought into a gaming company and that the next game in the pipeline is so obviously effed up after $50 million+ in development it's been shelved until the company can claw back into the black financially.
Posted: Mar 2nd 2012 10:34PM J45neoboy said
Soo.....they canceled Mechscape for this and are pretty much cancelling this game?
Such a shame. I'd have played this game too if it wasn't as grindy as Runescape(It was a fun game though). Oh well.
Such a shame. I'd have played this game too if it wasn't as grindy as Runescape(It was a fun game though). Oh well.








