Login:  Password:   Remember?  
Show Quick Gamelist
Games:397  Guilds:2,005
Members:1,145,206  Online:0
Guests:0  Posts:3,120,266
<a href="http://www.gameads.com/" target=_blank>Game Ads</a> banner requires iframes.
Recent forum postsRSS
Active threads
Cloud view
List all forums
General Forums
Developers Corner General Discussion
Popular Game Forums
Click a status to find game forum
Game Forums
Click a letter to find game forum

MMORPG.com Discussion Forums

General Discussion

General Discussion 

News Discussion  » General: Atari Acquires Cryptic

2 Pages 1 2 » Search
38 posts found
Szark

News Manager

Joined: 5/02/06
Posts: 4423

 
12/09/08 10:53:53 AM#1

Atari is reported to have acquired Cryptic Studios, the developer which created City of Heroes, and who is currently working on Champions Online, Star Trek Online, and a third unannounced project, $28 Million plus an extra $20 Million in potential sales incentives.

LYON, FRANCE – 9 December 2008 – Infogrames Entertainment, the parent company of Atari, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to fully acquire Cryptic Studios Inc., one of the world’s leading developers, publishers and operators of Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) games.

The transaction encompasses all of Cryptic’s proprietary IP, tools, technology and work-in-progress and integrates all members of the leadership team and employees into Infogrames. This acquisition is a critical step in the implementation of Atari’s strategy to become a leading online game developer and publisher.

Cryptic is currently developing three unique MMO franchises, planned for release over the next three years on PC and next-generation consoles, including Champions Online to be released in 2009 and Star Trek Online to be released in 2010. A third game currently in development will be announced in the near future.

Established in 2000 and headquartered in Los Gatos, California, USA, Cryptic has a proven track record of delivering successful MMO franchises (City of Heroes and City of Villains sold to NCSoft) generating over USD 100 million in lifetime revenues and up to 180,000 peak subscribers.

Read more here.

tigris67

Smart-Alek

Joined: 9/18/05
Posts: 1768

"You know what happened to the man that got everything he ever wanted? He lived happily ever after"

12/09/08 10:56:27 AM#2

 Hey news guy! =). Thanks for keeping us posted on the latest events, but should Aguire be Acquire?

Hi! My name is paper. Nerf scissors, rock is fine.
EQ nostalgist if thats a word =P
MMORPG = Mostly Men Online Roleplaying Girls

http://www.hardtdesigns.com

Lobotomist

Advanced Member

Joined: 5/20/07
Posts: 2044

I got so much
trouble on my mind
Refuse to lose.

12/09/08 11:13:41 AM#3

Funny , though Atari (the new Atari..not the olden days one) is considered failing company. I can help but feel that most games i buy ,play and enjoy are published by Atari....

28 mil is not much money compared to gigantic Bioware deals , etc ...

But Cryptic is great developer, and let see what all this Atari deal means ?

Remember Atari is owner of D&D property ;)

 


todeswulf

Apprentice Member

Joined: 10/23/07
Posts: 746

12/09/08 11:22:15 AM#4

Atari/Infrogrames has a nasty hit it and forget it Philosophy twoards the games they launch, this does not bode well for STO or Champions.

Robbgobb

Apprentice Member

Joined: 8/03/03
Posts: 318

12/09/08 1:09:11 PM#5

Hopefully the deal allows Cryptic to stay in charge of their games because if not then I think this is a deal that leads to failure. I don't trust Atari.

Zeroxin

Elite Member

Joined: 6/21/06
Posts: 315

My words are not here to sway you,they are here to make you understand.

12/09/08 1:12:33 PM#6

Yea I'm a bit scared for cryptic but I love Atari and what they've been doing with DDO hasn't been bad so...this might actually be a good thing for both Atari and Cryptic.

This is not a game.

BabykittenTS

Novice Member

Joined: 9/01/07
Posts: 4

12/09/08 3:21:36 PM#7

Bye Bye Champions Online..

User Deleted
12/09/08 3:49:57 PM#8

Because of waiting for Infogrames ( they don't deserve the moniker Atari ) to finish their "Oh so spectacular" DRM, a finished pack for NWN2 has been sitting for over a year after it was supposed to be released ( pretty much screwing the indy devs, Ossian, who made the adventure pack, ). Go to the NWN2 official boards and see how people feel about "Atari". Even better, go to "Atari"s own boards and see.

Or how about Alone in the Dark, which was so unfinished and unplayable that they can't sell it in bargain bins.

Infogrames doesn't care one iota about game quality or their customers, they care about money. And considering they are pretty much BANKRUPT, I find it amusing that they buy another company when they can't even keep themselves in the black.

At least with NWN2, they were paired with a developer almost as inept as them ( Obsidian ). Now they get to drag Cryptic down into the mire with them also.

And if you think there will be ANY customer service with Infogrames, you might as well get that thought out of your head right now. Again, go look at the "Atari" forums and see their level of "customer service".

Batmanlives

Novice Member

Joined: 12/03/08
Posts: 15

12/09/08 4:04:06 PM#9

Please go to the Champions site http://www.champions-online.com/

All Cryptic staff are being kept on as well as all those in management and Atari has announced they will not interfere in the development of the game.

It seems after this was anounced at the champions site alot of people were starting to get nervous about this buy out and what it could mean for the champions game.So one of the Admins had to respond to all the questions being asked.Go to the web site and check out the forums on this topic.

 

User Deleted
12/09/08 4:10:50 PM#10
Originally posted by Batmanlives

Please go to the Champions site http://www.champions-online.com/

All Cryptic staff are being kept on as well as all those in management and Atari has announced they will not interfere in the development of the game.

It seems after this was anounced at the champions site alot of people were starting to get nervous about this buy out and what it could mean for the champions game.So one of the Admins had to respond to all the questions being asked.Go to the web site and check out the forums on this topic.

 


 

Every publisher swears they won't interfere. Whether they keep their word or not is something else altogether. And frankly, Infogrames is not known for their honesty or forthrightness. I would still say a high level of caution should now be observed when it comes to Champions Online and Star Trek Online.

Don't grab any pre-orders for these games. Definitely wait until after release and the reviews come out.

Roosevelt

Novice Member

Joined: 8/23/08
Posts: 348

12/09/08 4:20:31 PM#11
Originally posted by Zorvan
Originally posted by Batmanlives

Please go to the Champions site http://www.champions-online.com/

All Cryptic staff are being kept on as well as all those in management and Atari has announced they will not interfere in the development of the game.

It seems after this was anounced at the champions site alot of people were starting to get nervous about this buy out and what it could mean for the champions game.So one of the Admins had to respond to all the questions being asked.Go to the web site and check out the forums on this topic.

 


 

Every publisher swears they won't interfere. Whether they keep their word or not is something else altogether. And frankly, Infogrames is not known for their honesty or forthrightness. I would still say a high level of caution should now be observed when it comes to Champions Online and Star Trek Online.

Don't grab any pre-orders for these games. Definitely wait until after release and the reviews come out.

 

Name one instance were a publisher said they would not interfere with a company and then broke that promise. Even the fiasco that happened with Vanguard was all about Sigil, and had nothing to do with SOE.

_____________________________
At the turn of the century...
In 2008...
Cracked.com voted Roosevelt as the most badass President of all time.

This is his story....

Koolaider

Novice Member

Joined: 1/06/07
Posts: 460

"FIGHT THE MAN...Harness the power of Breakfast Cereals"

12/09/08 4:25:02 PM#12

Well, hopefully Atari will make things more stable.

User Deleted
12/09/08 4:28:22 PM#13
Originally posted by Roosevelt
Originally posted by Zorvan
Originally posted by Batmanlives

Please go to the Champions site http://www.champions-online.com/

All Cryptic staff are being kept on as well as all those in management and Atari has announced they will not interfere in the development of the game.

It seems after this was anounced at the champions site alot of people were starting to get nervous about this buy out and what it could mean for the champions game.So one of the Admins had to respond to all the questions being asked.Go to the web site and check out the forums on this topic.

 


 

Every publisher swears they won't interfere. Whether they keep their word or not is something else altogether. And frankly, Infogrames is not known for their honesty or forthrightness. I would still say a high level of caution should now be observed when it comes to Champions Online and Star Trek Online.

Don't grab any pre-orders for these games. Definitely wait until after release and the reviews come out.

 

Name one instance were a publisher said they would not interfere with a company and then broke that promise. Even the fiasco that happened with Vanguard was all about Sigil, and had nothing to do with SOE.

How about Infogrames saying Obsidian had full development control over games, but then Infogrames forced out both KotOR 2 and NWN 2? How about making a deal with Ossian ( indy devs ) to make an adventure pack for NWN 2, and then forcing the game to be  pushed back over a year from release date because they decided it would have to have a brand new type of DRM. And now that the newest Obsidian expansion pack has been released, Ossian is STILL waiting for theirs to come out.

Gee, only needed one example to show Infogrames may not stick to their word.

How about that?
 

ste2000

Hard Core Member

Joined: 2/28/04
Posts: 2759

12/09/08 5:55:00 PM#14

OMG no, another one bite the dust...............

CastorHoS

Novice Member

Joined: 3/20/04
Posts: 46

12/09/08 6:30:21 PM#15
Originally posted by Roosevelt
Originally posted by Zorvan
Originally posted by Batmanlives

Please go to the Champions site http://www.champions-online.com/

All Cryptic staff are being kept on as well as all those in management and Atari has announced they will not interfere in the development of the game.

It seems after this was anounced at the champions site alot of people were starting to get nervous about this buy out and what it could mean for the champions game.So one of the Admins had to respond to all the questions being asked.Go to the web site and check out the forums on this topic.

 


 

Every publisher swears they won't interfere. Whether they keep their word or not is something else altogether. And frankly, Infogrames is not known for their honesty or forthrightness. I would still say a high level of caution should now be observed when it comes to Champions Online and Star Trek Online.

Don't grab any pre-orders for these games. Definitely wait until after release and the reviews come out.

 

Name one instance were a publisher said they would not interfere with a company and then broke that promise. Even the fiasco that happened with Vanguard was all about Sigil, and had nothing to do with SOE.

 

LOL name one developer EA has bought out that they have not done that to. Here is a hint; The first online game company, I can think of, that was bought out and this done to was Kesmai/Gamestorm.

Ozmodan

Hard Core Member

Joined: 2/27/07
Posts: 2790

12/09/08 7:00:12 PM#16

While mergers are a business reality, the fact of the matter is rarely anything good comes from them.

omni40

Novice Member

Joined: 11/03/05
Posts: 22

12/09/08 7:02:35 PM#17
Originally posted by Batmanlives

Please go to the Champions site http://www.champions-online.com/

All Cryptic staff are being kept on as well as all those in management and Atari has announced they will not interfere in the development of the game.

It seems after this was anounced at the champions site alot of people were starting to get nervous about this buy out and what it could mean for the champions game.So one of the Admins had to respond to all the questions being asked.Go to the web site and check out the forums on this topic.

 

what you say is true, and i have read the information on it and it sounds good. but the style of manigment will be the life or death of cryptic. i hope im wrong. i hope cryptic can survive the buyout. but i fear we are seeing the end of a great game maker .
 

enzyme

Novice Member

Joined: 2/03/04
Posts: 420

earth is full, go home

12/09/08 7:09:56 PM#18

Atari has the publishing and distribution channels that Cryptic doesn't have, and Cryptic has products being cooked up that Atari doesn't have.


it's a win-win for both. Atari probably will not have a say in the development at all, this is probably just a publishing /distribution deal.

Current Games: Fallen Earth, Warhammer Online, Champions Online

Batmanlives

Novice Member

Joined: 12/03/08
Posts: 15

12/09/08 7:11:47 PM#19

Hey is worst comes to worst with this we still have DC online

Speaking of DC i wonder what they think about this

ZDPhoenix

Novice Member

Joined: 11/30/07
Posts: 180

12/10/08 1:49:58 AM#20

So much for Champions Online being successful. Thanks alot for selling out guys. :(

Lobotomist

Advanced Member

Joined: 5/20/07
Posts: 2044

I got so much
trouble on my mind
Refuse to lose.

12/10/08 3:23:54 AM#21

Good thing i can see comming from all this is the fact that Atari holds right to D&D , Faerun , and Baldurs Gate !

Baldurs Gate MMO by Cryptic , anyone ?


User Deleted
12/10/08 5:16:03 AM#22
Originally posted by Lobotomist

Good thing i can see comming from all this is the fact that Atari holds right to D&D , Faerun , and Baldurs Gate !

Baldurs Gate MMO by Cryptic , anyone ?


 

After seeing the atrocious sequels to Bioware games made by another company under Infogrames wings ( could you imagine an mmo by Obsidian? ), I'd rather not. The sad thing is, with the sad direction SW:TOR is currently taking with micro-transaction payment schemes and whatnot, I'm not sure I even want an mmo done by Bioware itself nowadays.

winter

Apprentice Member

Joined: 8/08/03
Posts: 1115

12/10/08 5:22:49 AM#23
Originally posted by Zorvan
Originally posted by Lobotomist

Good thing i can see comming from all this is the fact that Atari holds right to D&D , Faerun , and Baldurs Gate !

Baldurs Gate MMO by Cryptic , anyone ?


 

After seeing the atrocious sequels to Bioware games made by another company under Infogrames wings ( could you imagine an mmo by Obsidian? ), I'd rather not. The sad thing is, with the sad direction SW:TOR is currently taking with micro-transaction payment schemes and whatnot, I'm not sure I even want an mmo done by Bioware itself nowadays.

   

 Pretty sure Atari is behind Obsidian always pushing out crappy half finished buggy games. I really feel sorry for cryptic.

  With EA and Atari behind the scences of pretty much every new MMO these days things are looking pretty damn dark. 
 

 

winter

Apprentice Member

Joined: 8/08/03
Posts: 1115

12/10/08 5:27:02 AM#24
Originally posted by Lobotomist

Good thing i can see comming from all this is the fact that Atari holds right to D&D , Faerun , and Baldurs Gate !

Baldurs Gate MMO by Cryptic , anyone ?


 

 Atari would just make sure it would be rushed and pushed out the dorr buggy and half finished. Sorry thanks but no thanks, better to have good memories of the old games, then modern junk and frustration with a Atari version of Balders Gate MMO.

winter

Apprentice Member

Joined: 8/08/03
Posts: 1115

12/10/08 5:39:42 AM#25
Originally posted by Koolaider

Well, hopefully Atari will make things more stable.


 

 Oh really? with their 200+ million dollar debt how do you figure that?

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6157491.html

 You can bet Atari will force anything half playable out the door the min they can figure they'll make a profit on thier investment

2 Pages 1 2 » Search