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Rumour: Junction Point Closed Down (Epic Mickey Games, Warren Spector's Studio)
- Thread starter V_Ben
- Start date
It's called "going concern" not "ongoing concern". I'm sure the company is done with how poorly Epic Mickey 2 has performed. It's sad but the game wasn't very good.
Devilgunman
Member
I always think Epic Mickey could have been more successful if it were 2D platformer.
They likely will, some former Retro Studios people were involved with Epic Mickey.
SneakyStephan
Banned
Someone link that quarter gamespeed epic mickey 2 wii U video.
That was quite shameful (or weren't these guys responsible for the wii U version?)
That was quite shameful (or weren't these guys responsible for the wii U version?)
Clay Davis
Member
or a steampunk game developed with the hd twins / pc in mind instead of what we got and wii...
Stumpokapow
listen to the mad man
they weren't, but it's also worth noting that the devs who are responsible for bad ports are almost always talented, hard-working devs being placed under impossible development time and resource constraints.
Hero of Legend
Member
Power of Illusion says hi.
Captain Smoker
Member
Epic Mickey 2 for Wii U was certainly one of those cases. Still, that bit during the Wii U Launch Quick Look...man.
Avalanche is still around. Disney Infinity is on consoles but not exclusively.
Captain Smoker
Member
LucasArts?
SkylineRKR
Member
Epic Mickey 2 proved to be their Epic Fail.
Nope.
Father_Brain
Banned
My condolences to those who are now out of jobs. Hope they manage to land on their feet.
Sadly, this is a very early candidate for Most Predictable Studio Closure of 2013; I called it before EM2 was even officially announced, based solely on how frontloaded EM1's sales were. I didn't expect EM2 to be as badly reviewed as it was, but I don't think the series was ever savable, due to toxic word of mouth from the first one.
Sadly, this is a very early candidate for Most Predictable Studio Closure of 2013; I called it before EM2 was even officially announced, based solely on how frontloaded EM1's sales were. I didn't expect EM2 to be as badly reviewed as it was, but I don't think the series was ever savable, due to toxic word of mouth from the first one.
Oh brother, not this argument again.
Gamer @ Heart
Member
The Wii U version was outsourced as i think was the 360/PS3 and PC version
Skiesofwonder
Walruses, camels, bears, rabbits, tigers and badgers.
Don't get me wrong, I am sorry to hear that people are losing their jobs, but I can't help but chuckle when I think back to Epic Mickey being hyped up to be a "Mario-killer" by Warren Spector himself.
Yeah, Spector outright denied that it was coming to Wii U only a few months before it was announced... and I strongly suspect he was telling the truth. I mean, it's a Wii up-port (hardly the most technically demanding of the Wii U launch titles), and yet it had the worst performance of any of them.
Gamer @ Heart
Member
The budget on this game must have been insane considering how much was outsourced to get it out this past Christmas.
That is not healthy for a new IP.
Hopefully everyone lands someplace nice. Are they located in a hotspot for development or no?
That is not healthy for a new IP.
Hopefully everyone lands someplace nice. Are they located in a hotspot for development or no?
Skiesofwonder
Walruses, camels, bears, rabbits, tigers and badgers.
Yeah, you either would have gotten pretty HD shit or ugly SD shit. Though the HD versions would probably have been even worse considering pointer control for Mickey's paint/thinner was the only compelling part of the first game (have yet to play EM2).
Kazuma Kiryu
Member
man, what a shame. i mean, everyone got really hyped for epic mickey, seeing the artwork and reading how the game was gonna be pretty dark and stuff like that. then we got the real pictures and footage and everything went down the drain.
Samurai-Don
Banned
If some former Retro Studio were involved in Epic Mickey. Then why was the game so boring to play?
God I hated that show.
dirtywhirlwind
Member
Was the PC version of Epic Mickey 2 ever released? Last word seems to be it was scheduled for January, but since Disney doesn't really have any present in the digital distribution space for whatever reason you never know what the hell is up with their PC versions.
Clay Davis
Member
madness. a dark steampunk mickey game in hd would have sold millions. fact. no doubt about it.
Captain Smoker
Member
Disney Interactive (Operating Income):
FY10 2008: - 258.000.000 $
FY10 2009: - 295.000.000 $
FY10 2010: - 234.000.000 $
FY10 2011: - 308.000.000 $
FY10 2012: - 216.000.000 $
Total loss in the last few years: 1.311.000.000 $
Their interactive segment is a joke (business wise).
FY10 2008: - 258.000.000 $
FY10 2009: - 295.000.000 $
FY10 2010: - 234.000.000 $
FY10 2011: - 308.000.000 $
FY10 2012: - 216.000.000 $
Total loss in the last few years: 1.311.000.000 $
Their interactive segment is a joke (business wise).
The original Epic Mickey concept art was very hype worthy, it's just the final game couldn't live to that, especially since Disney is very protective of their IP's, Mickey Mouse being the most.
StalkerUKCG
Banned
So we are never getting that Xbox port of Epic Mickey then 
I grabbed the Epic Mickey 2 CE because I loved what I played of the first on the Wii. Looks like ill have to turn to Dolphin now to play it in HD.
Sad to see them go.
I grabbed the Epic Mickey 2 CE because I loved what I played of the first on the Wii. Looks like ill have to turn to Dolphin now to play it in HD.
Sad to see them go.
Kaiser Dämmerung
Member
*siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh*
Yeah, because a consoles power is clearly responsible for developers putting out shitty games with high budgets that no one wants.
Lets judge all games in comparison to the potential of concept art that could possibly be brought to life. The industry is sitting on trillions of dolllars and they don't even know it!
I guess the blame has to go to Warren Spector. He was the one responsible and it was clear there was some mismanagement with this project. They got basic things wrong and went way overboard with the number of people needed to complete the game. A lot of outsourcing was involved I think.
I guess the blame has to go to Warren Spector. He was the one responsible and it was clear there was some mismanagement with this project. They got basic things wrong and went way overboard with the number of people needed to complete the game. A lot of outsourcing was involved I think.
The unfortunate thing is that the original rumor of "Mario by way of Disney" with all the bright aesthetics and such sounded like an insanely commercial concept. I'm surprised they couldn't find a place for JP within their current Infinity strategy, given that Spector seemed pretty open to the changing market.
the outsorcing is for asset creation, by and large. the problem is not taking the time to prototype the game systems and things. the game didn't control well. it was rushed out the door to hit the christmas season. they should have pushed it back a year and really got it right.
Hero of Legend
Member
There's a person from Rare at JP, he was shown in a video about the development of the first game, he worked on DKC3.
Now THAT is one Retro needs to pick up, if there's a Rare employee from the golden-era, straight to Retro I say. We only know of one person from Rare who was a programmer on Banjo-Kazooie that's at Retro, this person was at NA working at Edge of Reality, so this person at Junction Point if still there and will be job-less, that makes it all the easier for Retro to scoop up.
Still mad that they didn't accept Kirkhope when he was practically at their front door. :'(
Now THAT is one Retro needs to pick up, if there's a Rare employee from the golden-era, straight to Retro I say. We only know of one person from Rare who was a programmer on Banjo-Kazooie that's at Retro, this person was at NA working at Edge of Reality, so this person at Junction Point if still there and will be job-less, that makes it all the easier for Retro to scoop up.
Still mad that they didn't accept Kirkhope when he was practically at their front door. :'(
grandjedi6
Master of the Google Search
And Austin, TX continues to be a bloodbath
SloaneRisette
Member
The idea behind Epic Mickey (at least one, never played two) was always kinda nifty, but execution was definitely kind of spotty.
Nonetheless, sad to hear another studio is closing down, hopefully all the employees can land on their feet soon.
Nonetheless, sad to hear another studio is closing down, hopefully all the employees can land on their feet soon.
Hot Coldman
Banned
Remember when Epic Mickey sounded so fucking exciting? Remember that, guys?
:/
Still, I hope all goes well for the guys there.
:/
Still, I hope all goes well for the guys there.
wastedyears
Member
Sad to see Specter fall so far. Makes me wonder who the real Warren Specter is, the man who made System Shock, or Disney Schlock?
Sola Scriptura
Member
Bit unfair to Spector, there. If you've read any of the interviews he did for Epic Mickey and Epic Mickey 2, you'll see that those games were made out of his love for all things Disney rather than thrown-together, profit-grubbing shlock.
Zeouterlimits
Member
Heart goes out to them, but been expecting it for a while.