Pandemic Studios Shuts Down

[Vern]

So they didn't make games that made money, so they shut the studio down. Where's the hatred coming from? EA paid them to make games, paid to publish and distribute them, and assumed they would make money from the games. Everyone jokes about 3D Realms flushing money down a toilet, but if the games don't make a profit to cover costs, why pay the developers to make the games? If you haven't read a single news article in the last two years you may be oblivious, but this is not a time to be taking risks. They may have made great games, but the games didn't make money. I can certainly understand EA's point of view on the issue. If Heaven smiles, then the developers who were fired will find financing for future games. If not, you can't expect a company to sink money into something with no return. Despite how evil you may think a company is, if they don't make money, then all of the games/dev teams you like that they publish will be gone. So some missed memories, versus everyone getting fired and all the IP's being sold off.

 

[dalek sec]

Damn, sorry to see them go.

 

[Ocelot GT]

Oh noes! No more terribad B grade games :'(

Actually I did like Battlefront I & II :3

 

[DrunkWithPower]

I heard taps playing in the background while I read this.

 

[TitsMcGee1804]

EA has bitten off more than it can chew with all these aquisitions

its a prime example of a company who tries to expand inorganically in order to corner the market, unfortunately the market demands quality instead of quantity and now EA are paying the price

I for one cant wait for the forced consolidation and for EA to become a 'back to basics' company, and actually come out with some good games with their IP's

who knows, they own so many bloody IP's they might have to sell em for some extra cash! then someone might actually develop them instead of sitting on them

*prays* cmoooon dungeon keeper

 

[TitsMcGee1804]

So they didn't make games that made money, so they shut the studio down. Where's the hatred coming from? EA paid them to make games, paid to publish and distribute them, and assumed they would make money from the games. Everyone jokes about 3D Realms flushing money down a toilet, but if the games don't make a profit to cover costs, why pay the developers to make the games? If you haven't read a single news article in the last two years you may be oblivious, but this is not a time to be taking risks. They may have made great games, but the games didn't make money. I can certainly understand EA's point of view on the issue. If Heaven smiles, then the developers who were fired will find financing for future games. If not, you can't expect a company to sink money into something with no return. Despite how evil you may think a company is, if they don't make money, then all of the games/dev teams you like that they publish will be gone. So some missed memories, versus everyone getting fired and all the IP's being sold off.

There is alot of truth in this, afterall, this is peoples money we are talking about, and ethics go out of the window when you are losing so much money

Its just EA seems to be spreading its influence like a disease, its losing money and all the old studio's that used to be independent are paying the price

I think EA are becoming detrimental to the market

 

[Samurai Goomba]

Eh, it's EA. You sell out to them, you can expect to get canned if you don't produce sports titles every year.

EA are the GM of the games industry. They're flailing, and they're going to take down a bunch of excellent developers with them when they die.

 

[Samurai Goomba]

EA has bitten off more than it can chew with all these aquisitions

its a prime example of a company who tries to expand inorganically in order to corner the market, unfortunately the market demands quality instead of quantity and now EA are paying the price

I for one cant wait for the forced consolidation and for EA to become a 'back to basics' company, and actually come out with some good games with their IP's

who knows, they own so many bloody IP's they might have to sell em for some extra cash! then someone might actually develop them instead of sitting on them

*prays* cmoooon dungeon keeper

I think it's more likely EA will choose to close down the studios and keep the IPs. EA are like a leech that feeds on the creativity of others.

And they know they can always just release buggy sequels every year with big names (Battlefront 3: Crap Edition) and get people to buy them.

 

[Samurai Goomba]

From Wikipedia:

Completed games

* Battlezone II (1999)
* Dark Reign 2 (2000)
* Triple Play 2002 (2002)
* Army Men RTS (2002)
* Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2002)
* Full Spectrum Warrior (2004)
* Star Wars: Battlefront (2004)
* Star Wars: Battlefront II (2005)
* Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction (2005)
* Destroy All Humans! (2005)
* Full Spectrum Warrior: Ten Hammers (2006)
* Destroy All Humans! 2 (2006)
* Mercenaries 2: World in Flames (2008)
* The Lord of the Rings: Conquest (2009)

Hmm...

The only game here I've had any interest in was Battlezone II, only because I was having so much fun with the original (for the PC) on multiplayer at the time. But reviews back then were pretty tepid, so I skipped it.

Full Spectrum Warrior owns. You might say it's unforgiving, but that's only because you're not enough of an AMERICAN SOLDIER to appreciate a game made for REAL AMERICANS who live in AMERICA and EAT APPLE PIE while SALUTING THE FLAG!

I found Mercs lackluster, but the Destroy All Humans games on the PS2/Xbox were good. I really need to play the Battlefront games one of these days.

 

[TitsMcGee1804]

EA has bitten off more than it can chew with all these aquisitions

its a prime example of a company who tries to expand inorganically in order to corner the market, unfortunately the market demands quality instead of quantity and now EA are paying the price

I for one cant wait for the forced consolidation and for EA to become a 'back to basics' company, and actually come out with some good games with their IP's

who knows, they own so many bloody IP's they might have to sell em for some extra cash! then someone might actually develop them instead of sitting on them

*prays* cmoooon dungeon keeper

I think it's more likely EA will choose to close down the studios and keep the IPs. EA are like a leech that feeds on the creativity of others.

And they know they can always just release buggy sequels every year with big names (Battlefront 3: Crap Edition) and get people to buy them.

i hate to say it, its true, they are a little virus like

but that is the market, if ppl are going to buy it, they will make it...but is that a sustainable attitude? EA is proof = NO

 

[Generic_Dave]

Damn, one of the few studios who's mere attachment to a game gave me enough warm feelings to go out and buy it, and I was never disappointed, and if I was I've forgotten about it now.

Fare thee well, thine slumber in the abyss be quiet and restful. We shall miss you.

 

[DTWolfwood]

This is what happens when you let a giant publisher buy you out! They can you after a year or two. o wells RIP Pandemic Studios.

Curious to know how many years b4 every development studio belongs to these giant publishing companies.

 

[PedroSteckecilo]

Guess that means no Battlefront 3... About the only thing of theirs I liked, but it was GOOD!

Battlefront 3 had been picked up by Free Radical (Time Splitters Series, HAZE) before they went under, as I recall it hasn't been picked up since then.

 

[Fearzone]

Full Spectrum Warrior owns. You might say it's unforgiving, but that's only because you're not enough of an AMERICAN SOLDIER to appreciate a game made for REAL AMERICANS who live in AMERICA and EAT APPLE PIE while SALUTING THE FLAG!

Cool I'll check it out.

 

[BehattedWanderer]

Well, I guess it happens to us all from time to time...Sucks about no more Mercs/Battlefront/Destroy All Humans. Sure, they weren't the greatest, but they were at least fun! I think what hurts the most is that there will be fewer opportunities to hear more of those marvelous advertising songs, like the "Oh No You Didn't" ad that was made into a full song.

Spoiler: See the Glory Here

 

[Aesir23]

WHAT THE

MY BELOVED DARK REIGN 2
MY BELOVED BATTLEZONE 2

I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

They're making fucking SABOTEUR [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Saboteur_%282009_video_game%29].

HOW CAN YOU SHUT DOWN A COMPANY MAKING A GAME AS BADASS AS THIS, I DO NOT COMPREHEND.

Waitaminute! Pandemic was makes Saboteur? O_O Nooooooo!!!!!

 

[Supreme Unleaded]

Isnt it clear now, can't we all agree, that BOTH Activision AND EA are now evil.

 

[Energylegzz]

At least they can leave like Gangsta's
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFmbGWeZrAM

/www.youtube.comv=BFmbGWeZrAM
I dont think that worked