On another note entirely, when I was at MPRS in 1995-1996 and they had that big spike in their price, the rumor was they had almost sold the company for 20+ bucks a share, but turned it down. Sounds pretty good now, doesn't it. Since all my options became worthless when they didn't sell, it sure sounded good to me. What a heartbreaker.
Have these guys got anything left to sell or hock? I doubt it. Toast for sure, I think. All their great developers and designers have split or been driven off, including Sid (Civilisation) Meyers, so anybody who wanted games out of them could contract with them directly. This company always paid less than market for technical talent and so depended on great title efforts to attract people. Between the reputation for brutish development management in the past and todays great market wages how could these folks attract many good developers?
Most of their brands are tired, too, including Falcon and Civ. Games are kinda anaemic now in general. And after all those bonds and preferred stock they sold, what equity could be left? Somebody enlighten me.
Of course there might be a 'sale of the company', where the creditors get some of their money back, I suppose. I just can't figure out why they haven't gone chapter 11.
Naturally, this is all speculation on my part. I could be wrong about all of it. JMHO. Though it ought to be noted that the SF Chronicle business section more or less predicted all this in 1995-1996, when they ran several articles that implied the company was extremely flakey if not worse.
They have been in business for a surprising number of years for a company that never makes any money. However they do that, maybe the same rabbit will come out of the hat again. I just have the feeling that this time, the rabbit died of old age and overwork.
Ciao,
Chaz
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