Hard Light Productions Forums

General FreeSpace => FreeSpace Discussion => Topic started by: Tahna Los on September 05, 2004, 01:16:15 am

Title: Interplay gone down?
Post by: Tahna Los on September 05, 2004, 01:16:15 am

Both the Interplay site at interplay.com and the Interplay Store site at interplay-store.com have been down for several days now since I tried to check to see if the special edition Freespace 2 was still in stock.  Searches from Yahoo don't reveal what happened to their main site, nor is it on any of the searches.

Has Interplay bitten the dust?  What does this mean for the future of Freespace?

Ideas?

Title: Interplay gone down?
Post by: StratComm on September 05, 2004, 01:40:33 am

Interplay has been down for quite some time.  Search for Derek Smart and Freespace 3 in the main forum and see what you come up with.

Title: Interplay gone down?
Post by: HeX on September 05, 2004, 03:41:22 am

Interplay bought it. Bankruptcy I believe was what the news I read said. Quite some time ago too.

Title: Interplay gone down?
Post by: karajorma on September 05, 2004, 03:51:55 am

Actually I think they're still holding on by their fingernails. Selling the Fallout3 licence gave them a little cash to play with.

Title: Interplay gone down?
Post by: HeX on September 05, 2004, 03:53:49 am

Eh...considering Interplay's latest track record, I don't think their fingernails will hold them for too long.

Title: Interplay gone down?
Post by: Ransom on September 05, 2004, 03:56:07 am

Hmm. This has probably been answered in one of the other threads about this, but what would happen to the FS license if Interplay went down completely?

Title: Interplay gone down?
Post by: HeX on September 05, 2004, 04:01:24 am

It would probably go up for auction to pay off their debts. Liquidation of all assets and all that.

If you REALLY wanna know, look up the name Derek Smart and any threads concerning him in the last while. They should be in Hard Light I believe.

Title: Interplay gone down?
Post by: HeX on September 05, 2004, 04:03:43 am

*EDIT*

Eh..nevermind. Probably shouldn't bring that up.

Title: Interplay gone down?
Post by: kode on September 05, 2004, 04:58:02 am

bah, you just tried to HeXplain it to him :D

it's in the wiki under freespace 3 too.

Title: Interplay gone down?
Post by: Gloriano on September 05, 2004, 10:41:12 am

It's shame that interplay died and shame that they losted "By gamers for gamers" in end

Title: Interplay gone down?
Post by: redmenace on September 05, 2004, 12:20:41 pm

someone is looking into their remaining copies of the 20th anniverary edition of FS2

Title: Interplay gone down?
Post by: Swamp_Thing on September 05, 2004, 07:55:45 pm

I wonder how much the FS license would cost... Can´t be too much, i suspect. Maybe some $US 25.000 dollars, perhaps?

Title: Interplay gone down?
Post by: redmenace on September 05, 2004, 08:11:18 pm

HA

daveb estimated it at $600,000 US

Title: Interplay gone down?
Post by: Swamp_Thing on September 06, 2004, 07:57:49 am

Considering how FS was a commercial flop, and Interplay is on the virge of goind under, i don´t see how the license would cost that much. It´s not like anyone s going to buy extra copies of the game, is it? It is basicly freeware now, anyway...
:rolleyes:

Title: Interplay gone down?
Post by: magatsu1 on September 06, 2004, 01:36:52 pm

it's the rights to use the FS universe in FS3 were interested in.

Title: Interplay gone down?
Post by: Hippo on September 06, 2004, 01:44:31 pm

I'm sorry Swamp_Thing, where have you been for the last few months? :rolleyes: indeed...

Title: Interplay gone down?
Post by: Gloriano on September 06, 2004, 01:49:09 pm

Quote

Originally posted by redmenace
HA

daveb estimated it at $600,000 US

most likely something like 100,000-300,000$

Title: Interplay gone down?
Post by: Black Wolf on September 06, 2004, 02:41:55 pm

Put simply:

Title: Interplay gone down?
Post by: Swamp_Thing on September 06, 2004, 02:52:59 pm

Quote

Originally posted by magatsu1
it's the rights to use the FS universe in FS3 were interested in.

When you buy the license, it includes the royalty rights to the sale and distribution of the FS trademark. It includes the permission to make  FS3, the sale of publicity items, t-shirsts, whatever.
Since the game was a flop, it has no commercial demand. The costs and prices are set by the universal guidelines of supply and demand. If there is no demand for FS3 or the sale of FS2 related items (the game itself), the cost of said license drops considerably.
Try comparing the licenses of the Half Life franchise and the FS franchise, and you´ll see the diference. It´s all based in profits. No profits means cheaper licenses.

@Hippo

What do you mean?

Title: Interplay gone down?
Post by: Cyker on September 06, 2004, 02:57:34 pm

Unfortunately, well, for better or for worse, people have been expressing interest in the FS licence which will pump the price up a bit...

That said, I have no idea what kinda money licences normally go for...