Sony Shuts Down Wipeout Developer

[Mike Kayatta]

Sony Shuts Down Wipeout Developer

After thirty years of development, Studio Liverpool closes to let Sony focus on other projects.

Following other recent industry shakeups at both PopCap [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/119144-Update-OnLive-Transitions-Into-New-Company], Sony has officially shut down Studio Liverpool, formally known as Psygnosis, in an attempt to focus its attention and resources toward the projects of other studios currently under its umbrella. Studio Liverpool, perhaps best known for its work on popular racing series Wipeout, closes after 28 years since its founding, and 19 years since its acquisition by Sony.

"As part of SCE Worldwide Studios, we do regular reviews to ensure that the resources we have can create and produce high quality, innovative and commercially viable projects in an increasingly competitive market place," Sony explained in an official response to the closure. "As part of this process, we have reviewed and assessed all current and planned projects for the short and medium term and have decided to make some changes to our European Studios.

"It has been decided that Liverpool Studio should be closed. Liverpool Studio has been an important part of SCE Worldwide Studios since the outset of PlayStation, and have contributed greatly to PlayStation over the years. Everyone connected with Liverpool Studio, past and present, can be very proud of their achievements."

Prior to the decision, Psygnosis/Studio Liverpool had been responsible for numerous popular games spanning back to the 1980s, including Commodore 64 hit Barbarian, Amiga puzzler Lemmings, and PlayStation 2 racer Formula One.

Sony has confirmed that while the Studio Liverpool team has been disbanded, the rest of the studio (focusing primarily on software, localization, and administrative tasks) will remain intact.

Source: Gamasutra [http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/176340/Sony_closes_Wipeouts_Studio_Liverpool.php]

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[suitepee7]

well that sucks... i loved the wipeout games, and i have very fond memories of lemmings =[

 

[Fasckira]

They were also behind the excellent Discworld point and click, if I recall rightly.

Good luck to the devs, hope they find work quickly.

 

[Squilookle]

I never got into Wipeout much- I always wanted to take off and fly around

That said, I recognise it's influence, and it's sad to see it go.

 

[Jack and Calumon]

Rest in peace you magnificent bastards. Know that you made some damn awesome games.

Calumon: ...I'll never go really fast with airbrakes again... : (

 

[legendp]

This is sad news, blur devolopers (Bizarre Creations) shut down and now the wipeout developers shut down (or atleast divided), why do they always have to divide up the cool racing genre stdious, and I can't remeber if the split second developers (black rock) got shut down too, if so then WHYYYY? (that is more of a rhetorical question by the way)

 

[MailOrderClone]

This is very disappointing, and I hope that the cut development staff find work in other places, because they are certainly capable of creating a fantastic gameplay experience. Word is that a few of the folks on the Assassin's Creed team are trying to help them out via twitter and other similar internet communication means, which is lovely to hear.

 

[GenGenners]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Please..............be a nightmare, not real

 

[Fasckira]

They were also behind the excellent Discworld point and click, if I recall rightly.

Good luck to the devs, hope they find work quickly.

They'll be assimilated into the larger Sony body.

You make it sound so.... clinical.

 

[Korten12]

This is very disappointing, and I hope that the cut development staff find work in other places, because they are certainly capable of creating a fantastic gameplay experience. Word is that a few of the folks on the Assassin's Creed team are trying to help them out via twitter and other similar internet communication means, which is lovely to hear.

They aren't being fired, they're just assimilating into the larger Sony body like Boudica said.

 

[Desworks]

It's a sad day, I always liked Psygnosis. I guess my dreams of a new Colony Wars or G-Police will never come to pass.

 

[BloodRed Pixel]

Wipeout 2097 made me buy a PSX and Wipeout Pure made me buy a PSP1000.

Another chapter in software history is closed.
Never change a winning team.

 

[WhiteTigerShiro]

Prior to the decision, Psygnonis/Studio Liverpool had been responsible for numerous popular games spanning back to the 1980s, including Commodore 64 hit Barbarian, Amiga puzzler Lemmings, and PlayStation 2 racer Formula One.

How could you run a list of notable Psygnosis (btw, it's Psygnosis, you misspelled it both times in the article) titles without mentioned Colony Wars? Granted that it'd be quite daunting to give credit to every game on their impressive resume [http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/company/72468.html] but Colony Wars was easily one of their most noteworthy titles outside of Wipeout in the PS-X days.

 

[tautologico]

Wow, I didn't even know Psygnosis still existed in some form. Brings back memories. The old Psygnosis games on the Amiga were often remarkable, even if not always good to play (Shadow of the Beast, I'm looking at you). I played a lot of their games, though, and many many hours of Lemmings.

 

[Bob_F_It]

This is sad news, blur devolopers (Bizarre Creations) shut down and now the wipeout developers shut down (or atleast divided), why do they always have to divide up the cool racing genre stdious, and I can't remeber if the split second developers (black rock) got shut down too, if so then WHYYYY? (that is more of a rhetorical question by the way)

Disney did shut down Black Rock, right in the middle of doing S/S2 as well, primarily because Disney wanted to slim down its gaming corner.

I guess all we've got left is Criterion (NFS/Burnout) and Evolution (MotorStorm).