Hey...what funny irony that I brought up Apocalypse today...
Here's a news story from Next-generation online
Activision Facing Obstacles
November 12, 1997
According to sources, recent lay-offs and problems with a
flagship console title have presented some obstacles for
Activision.
Sources close to Activision have indicated that there have been some lay-offs and
major project set-backs recently. Among the first and least distressing actions is that
an unknown number of positions in Activision's accounting department have been
eliminated. Personnel shifting of this nature is not unusual in administrative
departments. Activision's spokesperson stated: "there have been no substantial
layoffs due to financial difficulty in the accounting department".
Somewhat more upsetting is the news from inside sources that the entire
Apocalypse team has been disbanded and that the project is in a state of flux.
According to these same sources, the game has shown little improvement in past
months and due to delay after delay, the project is now seeking an outside company
with a new engine to pick up the project where the internal team left off. To this end,
it was said that Activision approached ASC Games about using some of the
technology behind its promising title of the same genre, One. Supposedly, ASC
was amiable to the deal but because it knew it had the upper hand in the deal, was
asking a huge sum of cash which Activision has supposedly declined. According to
sources right now, Apocalypse is in limbo until some sort of outside contract can
be worked out to finish the game. Among the developers said to be in the running
for the contract are: Iguana West (formerly Sculptured), Smoking Car (or former
members of it) and Stormfront Studios.
A spokesperson for Activision denied that the development team has left. "The
Apocalypse project is moving right along. It has been pushed back but it is still
happening."
For those unfamiliar with the project, the game is a third person shooter which
features the voice talents and motion capture data of Bruce Willis. Musician Poe,
was also featured in the game for her voice and musical talents.
Some industry pundits have looked at Activision's recent actions as 'getting its
house in order', thereby making them ripe for such activities as a merger or
acquisition. |
