http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-02-11-soe-looked-multiple-times-at-buying-project-copernicus
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/...for_38_Studios_downfall_says_SOEs_Smedley.php
Sony Online Entertainment looked into purchasing Project Copernicus (MMO based on the world of Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning) several times before declining due to costs.
John Smedley of SOE also posts his opinions on the matter regarding RI government making the poor decision in funding the project in the first place with government money.
As someone who loved Kingdoms of Amalur, it really sucks to see what seems like the end of the franchise go this way, and I might not have gotten to play KoA at all had RI not funded it. Its just disappointing how the whole situation went down.
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/...for_38_Studios_downfall_says_SOEs_Smedley.php
Sony Online Entertainment looked into purchasing Project Copernicus (MMO based on the world of Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning) several times before declining due to costs.
EverQuest maker Sony Online Entertainment looked more than once at buying Project Copernicus, the MMO follow-up to Kingdoms of Amalur that sunk along with the 38 Studios ship. SOE president John Smedley said on Twitter (via VG247) that Copernicus had been "gorgeous", its "quality undeniable" and he "really wanted to play that game".
"It was just too expensive is all."
"At various times we looked at it," he revealed. "Always impressed. But the economics were too tough to make work for us. This is a business where risks are large. We had enough balls in the air. More risk was too much for us.
John Smedley of SOE also posts his opinions on the matter regarding RI government making the poor decision in funding the project in the first place with government money.
In the end, says Smedley, Rhode Island should never have funded the game -- but Chafee's comments did far more harm than good, and actually ended up making the situation worse for both 38 Studios and Rhode Island.
"That 38 Studios deal just never should have been," he tweeted. "Public funds shouldn't be backing risky things like online games. If the fact that no other VCs were investing wasn't enough of a clue, then you damn well shouldn't be surprised by failure. Anyone with a brain could have told them no one would buy it. They contacted us and I told them so."
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"Curt put every dime he had into it," he added. "That's the part that people are missing. He put his own money where his mouth was, but that's ultimately what undid it. Unqualified people at that Rhode Island economic council should have seen the fact that no one else would get in as a sign and they failed. That's not Curt's fault."
"Curt's only crime was believing in his own ability to will things to be better. He busted ass trying to get funding... Curt is an honest guy with good intentions."
As someone who loved Kingdoms of Amalur, it really sucks to see what seems like the end of the franchise go this way, and I might not have gotten to play KoA at all had RI not funded it. Its just disappointing how the whole situation went down.