Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Editorial: Learning from the 38 Studios disaster]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/25/editorial-learning-from-the-38-studios-disaster/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/25/editorial-learning-from-the-38-studios-disaster/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/25/editorial-learning-from-the-38-studios-disaster/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Curt Schilling getting tattooed
The closure of 38 Studios and Big Huge Games yesterday sparked a series of interesting events that make me both sad and proud to be a part of the greater gamer community. Job offers were overflowing from current game companies looking to snatch up some of 38's talented designers and a Twitter hash tag was even created to spread the word and get new jobs for those affected by the layoffs. I am proud of the outreach and camaraderie of the game development community, but the hate being thrown at Curt Schilling isn't going to solve anything.

The most important thing we can do at this point is to tape off the crime scene, look at the evidence, and figure out what went wrong.

Continue reading Editorial: Learning from the 38 Studios disaster

MassivelyEditorial: Learning from the 38 Studios disaster originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 May 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>38-studiosbig-huge-gamescurt-schillingeditorialopinionr-a-salvatoretodd-mcFarlanetravis-mcgeathyFri, 25 May 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[38 Studios lays off entire staff, sells Big Huge Games [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/rumor-38-studios-lays-off-entire-staff-sells-big-huge-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/rumor-38-studios-lays-off-entire-staff-sells-big-huge-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/rumor-38-studios-lays-off-entire-staff-sells-big-huge-games/#commentsFiled under: , ,

38 Studios / Big Huge Games
The 38 Studios disaster continues to unfold today, as the troubled studio laid off its entire staff and may be selling off its Big Huge Games division in Boston. Boston's Fox 25 News speculates that the studio may close by this weekend.

38 Studios CM Charles Dane confirmed being laid off on Twitter: "Now on the market. I had an awesome run with 38 Studios, but this dream is now ending."

Word is that the company is also selling its subsidiary, Big Huge Games. Big Huge Games is the maker of Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, 38 Studios' single-player prequel to its Copernicus MMO. This would not be the first time that Big Huge Games was sold by its parent company, as the studio experienced the same event back in 2009.

Oh his Facebook page, Curt Schilling stressed that Reckoning did quite well in sales. "I wanted to clear up some misinformation around 38 Studios' first product, Reckoning. Sales of Reckoning outperformed EA's expectations and sold more than 1.2 million units in the game's first 90 days in the market."

[Update]: Developer Ryan Shwayder has also confirmed the layoffs via his personal blog.

Massively38 Studios lays off entire staff, sells Big Huge Games [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 May 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>38-studiosbig-huge-gamesblack-thursdaycharles-danecloseclosurecopernicuscurt-schillingeafinancialkingdoms-of-amalur-reckoninglayoffslegalproject-copernicusreckoningsoldThu, 24 May 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Guild Counsel: An interview with The Syndicate's Sean Stalzer on his new book]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/16/the-guild-counsel-an-interview-with-the-syndicates-sean-stalze/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/16/the-guild-counsel-an-interview-with-the-syndicates-sean-stalze/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/16/the-guild-counsel-an-interview-with-the-syndicates-sean-stalze/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

As you pack your bags for that trip to the beach (or that annual fan gathering) and you toss in that bottle of sunblock (or aspirin), you might want to make some space in your bags for some summer reading as well. Fortunately, there is a growing number of titles, such as Adam Trzonkowski's Guild Leader's Companion, that examine the methods and lessons of running guilds and online communities. To that list we can add Sean "Dragons" Stalzer's sequel, The Syndicate: Beyond the Legend, which is now available at Lulu and soon to be sold at Amazon.

In the book, guild leader Sean Stalzer picks up from where his first book left off and gives us even more insight into the MMO industry and his guild leadership philosophy. The book is divided into three parts. The first covers The Syndicate's recent history and continued relationship with several MMO studios as well its job writing guides for Prima Games. In the second part, Sean explains his time-tested philosophy for running a guild, dubbed S.U.C.C.E.S.S. And the last section of the book looks at where MMOs are headed and what's needed down the road.

Sean took the time to talk to Massively about his new book, and there was so much to discuss that this interview is split into two parts. In this week's Guild Counsel, Sean talks about the lessons he's learned from his work with MMO studios. He looks back at how it's influenced his leadership approach, and he gives a glimpse of why he's excited about his current work with 38 Studios. Read on for the interview!

Continue reading The Guild Counsel: An interview with The Syndicate's Sean Stalzer on his new book

MassivelyThe Guild Counsel: An interview with The Syndicate's Sean Stalzer on his new book originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Jun 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>38-studiosBig-Huge-Gamescodemasterscopernicuscurt-schillingfeaturedguild-counselguild-leadershipguild-managementguildsreckoningsean-stalzersoeSony-Online-Entertainmentthe-syndicateUltima-OnlineWorld-of-WarcraftThu, 16 Jun 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC10: Copernicus' Project Mercury being published by EA]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/09/gdc10-copernicus-project-mercury-being-published-by-ea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/09/gdc10-copernicus-project-mercury-being-published-by-ea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/09/gdc10-copernicus-project-mercury-being-published-by-ea/#commentsFiled under:

If you have been eagerly awaiting news on the top-secret Copernicus over at 38 Studios, you'll be pleased to hear that 38 Studios broke the silence today. "Project Mercury," a single-player title set in the Copernicus universe, will be coming to the PC, XBox 360 and PS3. 38 Studios signed a publishing deal with EA to bring the game to market.

"Project Mercury" is described as "an epic single-player role-playing game," and is being developed by 38 Studios-owned Big Huge Games under the guiding hand of Ken Rolston (Morrowind and Oblivion). This will be the first Copernicus project launched by Curt Schilling's team after years of anticipation and heavy speculation. As NASA's Project Mercury set out to test the boundaries of space by putting a man into orbit, "Project Mercury" looks to be testing the waters of single-player RPGs before diving into the realm of MMOs, similar to the approach of fan-favorite Torchlight.

Stay tuned to Massively, as we meet with Copernicus' R. A. Salvatore later this week at GDC to pick his brain.

MassivelyGDC10: Copernicus' Project Mercury being published by EA originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Curt Schilling is out on the field again -- the investing field, that is. The former baseball star turned game developer is looking for more investors to back 38 Studios and their first game, the title codenamed Copernicus. The company's estimates for their game requires 50 to 100 million more in funding for the staff, all with their tentative December 2010 launch in mind.

Keep in mind, of course, that 38 Studios has acquired Maryland developer Big Huge Games, the company known for Rise of Nations, Rise of Legends, and Xbox Arcade's version of Catan. That acquisition doubled the company's headcount and has possibly driven operating costs into the 15 to 20 million a year range, according to the Boston Globe.

So far Schilling hasn't had any luck with potential investors. However, as he said to the Boston Globe, "I'm not going to complain about the economy. It's like pitching on a rainy day. The other guy has to pitch in it, too."

[Via Cuppycake]

Massively38 Studios estimates it will take 50 to 100 million to finish Copernicus, Schilling looking for investors originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Jul 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>38-studiosacquisitionbig-huge-gamesboston-globebreakingbudgetcatancopernicuscopernicus-mmofundinginvestorskurt-schillingr-a-salvatorerise-of-legendsrise-of-nationsTue, 28 Jul 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[38 Studios CEO Brett Close on the Big Huge Games acquisition and the Copernicus IP]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/28/38-studios-ceo-brett-close-on-the-big-huge-games-acquisition-and/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/28/38-studios-ceo-brett-close-on-the-big-huge-games-acquisition-and/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/28/38-studios-ceo-brett-close-on-the-big-huge-games-acquisition-and/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Joystiq's fearless leader Chris Grant recently caught up with 38 Studios CEO Brett Close to discuss their recent acquisition of Big Huge Games, and what this might mean for the "Copernicus" MMO. Massively has mentioned Copernicus at a few points in the past, but unfortunately in terms more vague than we'd like. We know it's a fantasy MMO project that draws upon notables like R.A. Salvatore and Todd McFarlane, but Joystiq turned up some more info about Copernicus.

Close stresses that Copernicus is an IP that will exist in several channels; there will be books, graphic novels, and of course an MMO that draws upon these elements. "Rather than drilling into details about why this is going to give people something they have never experienced before... what I will tell you is that it's simply based on that talent [R.A. Salvatore and Todd McFarlane] and based on our approach and our experience in building these products. There's nothing like it out there right now. And I don't believe there's anybody working on anything like this right now."

Continue reading 38 Studios CEO Brett Close on the Big Huge Games acquisition and the Copernicus IP

Massively38 Studios CEO Brett Close on the Big Huge Games acquisition and the Copernicus IP originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 28 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>38-studiosbig-huge-gamesbrett-closebusiness-modelschris-grantcopernicusfantasyinterviewsjoystiqmercury-enginemmo-industrynew-titlesr.a.-salvatorethe-mercury-enginetodd-mcfarlaneSun, 28 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EST