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[CrunchinJelly]

Definitely deserves its own thread:

http://www.developmag.com/news/29700/Codemasters-confirms-Sega-Racing-Studio-swoop

Britsoft firm buys Solihull-based studio, offering jobs to over 40 developers

Codemasters has confirmed to Develop that it is to take over Sega's UK Racing Studio, as we revealed earlier this week.

In a statement, the firm described the move to step in and save the studio - the closure of which we reported just over two weeks ago - as 'an agreement that facilitates accelerated growth' for Codemasters' work in the racing genre.

At its HQ in Southam, close to the Sega Racing team in Solihull, Codemasters already hosts a large development studio responsible for the likes of Colin McRae and Race Driver.

It also has a new studio in Guildford, opened last year, and an art outsourcing team in Kuala Lumpur which was established in 2006.

The acquisition means Codemasters will add 40 staff to its payroll, taking the total headcount for Codemasters Studios past the 300 mark.

“In seizing this opportunity, we have created additional resources to escalate our plans in the racing segment,” said Rod Cousens, CEO of Codemasters.

“We hope to welcome more than 40 people to the company and we have enjoyed the full co-operation of our friends at Sega in making this happen. It is good business for Codemasters, an exciting prospect and there will be more to come as we are not content to stand still.”

Wonder what they will be developing, as Codies already have teams for DiRT and GRiD.

 

[Prime crotch]

So, this was already planned somehow when Sega let them go? Either way great news.

 

[Teknopathetic]

Somebody rescue the Warthog guys and make a new Richard Burns (RIP) Rally. Or at least a game in the same vein but with a different name.

 

[JonathanEx]

Despite the fact I'm not sure we need more racing from Codies, it's great to see them do this, stepping in and saving a fellow UK dev team.

 

[Ceb]

I wonder if Guy Wilday will leave Codemasters again. :lol

 

[Mr. Pointy]

Wonder what they will be developing, as Codies already have teams for DiRT and GRiD.

DAyTONA?

 

[CrunchinJelly]

I wonder if Guy Wilday will leave Codemasters again. :lol

:lol

 

[Burai]

DAyTONA?

Colin McRaytona.

 

[GrayFoxPL]

Micromachines Rebirth!

 

[VNZ]

Somebody rescue the Warthog guys and make a new Richard Burns (RIP) Rally. Or at least a game in the same vein but with a different name.

That studio, formerly ATOD (based in Helsingborg, Sweden, developed games since the eighties for pretty much any platform (from ZX Spectrum to Sega Saturn) was bought by Gizmondo after some years as Warthog Sweden. When Gizmondo went down the studio (or what was left of it) was bought by Eidos forming Eidos Sweden. I believe they're doing some mobile gaming development now.

 

[Bust Nak]

Hmm, Sega opens new office, buy PC and devkits, form team from ex-codemasters members, gets one game out of said team, then hands the whole thing back to codemasters? Codemasters can probably negotiate quite aggressively with their wages and gets to play hero on the internet for bailing people out. Sounds like a great deal!

 

[Zedsdeadbaby]

Hmm, Sega opens new office, buy PC and devkits, form team from ex-codemasters members, gets one game out of said team, then hands the whole thing back to codemasters? Codemasters can probably negotiate quite aggressively with their wages and gets to play hero on the internet for bailing people out. Sounds like a great deal!

Well either way we look at it, no job losses. This is the most important thing here.

 

[Timedog]

i want a return to racing games where you are a log, and you're racing other triangles with like 14 onscreen polygons.

Was that new sega rally game any good?

 

[Visualante]

Was that new sega rally game any good?

It was good for what it was, a Sega Rally game. But it's just not what the market wants anymore.

 

[godisturbed]

wish Ninty had bought them and given the Wii a proper racer. But its good news for the folks there.

 

[Segata Sanshiro]

Best news I've heard all day!

You're going to regret handing these guys away, SEGA, mark my words.

 

[Sulaco]

This is fantastic news. Although the recent Sega Rally could have done with more tracks its still a fantastic racer in all other respects and certainly looked better than the Colin McRae game. A good move by codies!

 

[AgentOtaku]

Best news I've heard all day!

You're going to regret handing these guys away, SEGA, mark my words.

this !

 

[Link Man]

Micromachines Rebirth!

First thing I thought of when I saw Codemasters.

 

[Another_visitor]

Codemasters can probably negotiate quite aggressively with their wages

If they did then the staff would simply move on. there's no shortage of racing studios in the UK. Then what would they be left with?

 

[Troidal]

Track deformation in next Codemaster racer? ooooooohhhh.....one can imagine.

 

[dalin80]

ToCa remake?

pleasepleasepleaseplease.

 

[plagiarize]

yay Codies!

 

[a.wd]

Somebody rescue the Warthog guys and make a new Richard Burns (RIP) Rally. Or at least a game in the same vein but with a different name.

Richard burns rally doesnt need ressurecting. at least not on consoles.

 

[megashock5]

wish Ninty had bought them and given the Wii a proper racer. But its good news for the folks there.

Seriously, what it is with the lack of racers on Nintendo consoles? You'd think the lack of a first party GT/Forza would be an enticement to some of these third parties.

 

[Stop It]

Hmm, a nice move by Codies, I wonder what games they could make, as stated, Micro Machines? or a joint effort for their next Rally game?

 

[bee]

dirt game and graphics with sega rally handling please

 

[santouras]

Somebody rescue the Warthog guys and make a new Richard Burns (RIP) Rally. Or at least a game in the same vein but with a different name.

there is that F1 game coming with the same physics guy from RBR but otherwise I could not agree with you more. After experiencing the joy of RBR I was devestated to find out gizmondo bought them out. I imagine the main RBR guys are all over the place now unfortunately

 

[diffusionx]

I like this, hopefully Codies will give SRS the breathing room Sega clearly did not, and let them use their excellent engine on something original.

 

[∀ Narayan]

Quick! Someone rescue the Rallisport Challenge 2 team from Electronic Arts!

 

[op_ivy]

Somebody rescue the Warthog guys and make a new Richard Burns (RIP) Rally. Or at least a game in the same vein but with a different name.

i'll keep dreaming this dream (and alteranating one in which dice makes rsc3)

 

[Oneself]

Maybe there will be a good "current gen" racer from Codemasters then. Because so far,

PS2/XB Colin McRae games>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>DIRT

and from what I've seen

TOCA3>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>GRID

 

[Willy Wanka]

Great news. I hope they are a lot more successful at Codemasters than they were at Sega as they are obviously a talented bunch of people.

 

[NeonBlade]

Maybe there will be a good "current gen" racer from Codemasters then. Because so far,

PS2/XB Colin McRae games>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>DIRT

WTF!!!!

 

[FirewalkR]

Awesome news.

 

[nli10]

Definitely deserves its own thread:

Wonder what they will be developing, as Codies already have teams for DiRT and GRiD.

Sure does!!

Solihull now home to Codies instead of SEGA eh? Fine with me!

Hopefully they will take on any racing projects that SEGA might have been planning for the Wii.

 

[FightyF]

YESS!!!!!

Awesome news!

Though it's dissappointing that they won't be working on new SEGA franchises, it's good to see such a talented team stick together, and pump out more racing titles.

I wonder if Guy Wilday will leave Codemasters again. :lol

:lol

 

[Desi]

if only this was the Demon Stone team getting back on their feet.

 

[ram]

dirt game and graphics with sega rally handling please

HELL NO! at least colin mcrae games are playable...

 

[CrunchinJelly]

HELL NO! at least colin mcrae games are playable...

Sega Rally is fine, so long as you use the bumper cam.

The biggest design decision I had with Sega Rally is that I honestly think they should have dumped the track deformation and provided 60fps.

That, and the fact that the loading times are horrendous.

 

[RiotPelaaja]

That studio, formerly ATOD (based in Helsingborg, Sweden, developed games since the eighties for pretty much any platform (from ZX Spectrum to Sega Saturn) was bought by Gizmondo after some years as Warthog Sweden. When Gizmondo went down the studio (or what was left of it) was bought by Eidos forming Eidos Sweden. I believe they're doing some mobile gaming development now.

I visited the old ATOD studio in Helsingborg. They had some fucking killer coders there, with one of the lead guys having worked at Probe in the UK for a longtime. Then they got snapped up by Warthog and then Gizmondo...glad to hear they are actually still around.

 

[JonathanEx]

Sega Rally is fine, so long as you use the bumper cam.

The biggest design decision I had with Sega Rally is that I honestly think they should have dumped the track deformation and provided 60fps.

That, and the fact that the loading times are horrendous.

what what

Track deformation and the feel of the different surfaces is one of the best bits of Rally!

 

[Barkley's Justice]

how much money do these guys have

 

[FightyF]

Sega Rally is fine, so long as you use the bumper cam.

The biggest design decision I had with Sega Rally is that I honestly think they should have dumped the track deformation and provided 60fps.

That, and the fact that the loading times are horrendous.

I don't know why you're banned, just saw your post history...I hope you didn't ask for one (if you have finals coming up or something), but I want to write up what I would have done to tweak SEGA Rally Revo...I think there were some crucial elements where the game fell short, and so despite it being a great game overall, some of these key points turned off many (for example, there wasn't a 3rd person camera that followed the car's direction, rather just the direction you were going).

 

[D-X]

Good decision, Sega treated these guys pretty badly.

 

[-viper-]

I don't know why you're banned, just saw your post history...I hope you didn't ask for one (if you have finals coming up or something)

What a superb idea.

I'd like to be banned until 1st June please, since I've got exams coming up. I'm spending too much time on GAF :|