Has Factor 5 Closed Its Doors For Good?

[Logan Westbrook]

Has Factor 5 Closed Its Doors For Good?

Has the Lair and Rogue Squadron developer given up the ghost? Inside sources are apparently saying yes.

Only a handful of hours after Factor 5 was rumored to have made half of its staff redundant, new rumours are saying that the studio has actually closed down.

IGN's Matt Casamassina [http://boards.ign.com/nintendo_wii_general_board/b8263/175069162/p1/?1] has received an e-mail from a currently unnamed source, apparently from within Factor 5. The e-mail reads,

"[Redacted] wanted me to contact you with some late breaking news. We just learned from inside sources that developer Factor 5 has officially closed their doors as of today. That's some pretty big news considering that those guys have been around for quite a while. It's definitely a real shame! I hope that this information is helpful to you."

Nothing is official at the moment, but with Free Radical allegedly ceasing operations and the lay-offs at EA, it looks like gaming might not be as recession proof as some have been saying.

(via Kotaku [http://kotaku.com/5114990/rumor-factor-5-goes-ker+plop])



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[klc0100]

One by one they fall

 

[gmer412]

*sigh* It seems that the video game industry is finally feeling the effects of the economic crisis...

 

[Teachingaddict]

Personally, I think it may turn out to be a good thing, how many "big" devellopers pour out trash year in and year out, this is a great opportunity for small independent developers to start brining out games which could be great and also for hidden gems (for past example Beyond good and evil, Psychonauts) to get the success they deserve. Out with the old and in with the new is what I say.

 

[xitel]

Well, after the flop that was Lair, and the fact that I don't remember any good games coming out from them other than Rogue Squadron for who knows how long, this isn't all that unexpected.

 

[L.B. Jeffries]

Man...I really wanted to like Lair. Loved the Rogue Squadron games. I tried so hard, but that freaking sixaxis setup just didn't work.

 

[sturryz]

*Sigh* I guess that means no Turrican 4 then...

 

[SMOKEMNHALO2001]

Gaming is a business as well, I never really thought game developers were safe from stock crashes.

 

[pigeon_of_doom]

Personally, I think it may turn out to be a good thing, how many "big" devellopers pour out trash year in and year out, this is a great opportunity for small independent developers to start brining out games which could be great and also for hidden gems (for past example Beyond good and evil, Psychonauts) to get the success they deserve. Out with the old and in with the new is what I say.

I think thats far from how things will work out. Big franchises like the EA sports brands, Final Fantasy and the Nintendo stalwarts won't be the ones to suffer as a consequence of the times. What publisher will take a risk on an untested concept now? (credit to EA for Mirrors Edge and Brutal legend). Some of the Wii shovelware companies must be making money while Free Radical go under. Inventive games won't see the light of day if they aren't in the shade of a decent publisher, or some personal funding (looking at you Johnathon Blow).

Not too fussed about Factor 5s demise. They haven't made a game I've cared for since 2003.

 

[Uros tha hustla sesum]

(R.I.P)factor five.This shows how bad the stock market is now.I hope that epic games isnt next.

 

[bodyklok]

And so it begins the great gaming depression I just hope that 1)EA's CEO is eaten by a pack of hungry gamers and 2) Insomniac survives.

 

[AceDiamond]

What's that? EA having a psuedo-monopoly (actually more an oligopoly when you put it up there with Activision-Blizzard) was bad for the industry? You don't say!

 

[SimuLord]

Someone get me Stardock, Paradox, and CDProjekt's financial numbers. I get the feeling quality and good customer service are what's really recession-proof.

 

[Vlane]

Who's next? Midway? Probably.

 

[AceDiamond]

Who's next? Midway? Probably.

Yes but they deserve it. Oh boy do they EVER deserve it.

 

[Avatar Roku]

Think Silicon Knights will be next for the chopping block?

They made Too Human, right?

Anyway, so long as Valve, Bioware, and Infinity Ward stay up I don't care much (besides it being bad that people lost their jobs).