August was another slow month as the birds chirruped in the trees and retail operatives stared at passing short-skirted crumpet moseying into Top Shop to examine 20’s print bikinis. The month began with something of an ill-advised job advertisement from Climax Studios. The firm began looking for staff for the never to be announced Sudeki 2.
Day two on the month and Manhunt (somewhat distastefully) re-enters the UK charts at number 23. Although a low position, this is a re-entry in an unfavourable environment that had seen the game pulled from most chain stores. SPOnG finds it difficult not to imagine Rockstar laughing all the way to the bank at the news.
Meanwhile a fresh Sega blunder. Or is it a blunder? The reaction of Sega’s super-loyal fans to the announcement of Shenmue Online would certainly point towards this. "Sega Corporation and JC Entertainment Corporation today announced a business alliance to co-develop and co-publish Shenmue Online, a massively multi-player online game (MMOG) for PC platform. Also Sega has the basic agreement with T2 Technology Holdings Inc. to allow T2 Technology to license China online game operation of Shenmue Online."
Whatever the game may comprise, one thing is for sure. This isn’t Shenmue 3 and that’s what was needed to underline Sega’s continued commitment to its bigger franchises. The simple fact that the game represents the biggest and most ambitious gaming project of all time turning into an outsourced generic online RPG is disheartening in the extreme. One observer dubs Shenmue 3 "Animal Crossing with sailors". The moniker sticks like glue.
The BBC runs a report claiming that 50,000 versions of Doom III are being downloaded at any one time via peer-to-peer file sharing networks. Although accurate estimates of the total file shares are inherently vague, the BBC decides to stamp value of between $1 million and $2.75 million on the activity. Everyone just kind of stares at each other before moving on…
Bill gates decides to throw down the gauntlet to Nintendo overlord Hiroshi Yamauchi on the 4th. Speaking to assembled press, Displaying a profound operational understanding of entry-level telecommunications technology, “Gates was quoted as saying "If Hiroshi Yamauchi phones me up, I will pick up at once...".
The next day and Nintendo shares leap by almost 4%. Analysts are made to look foolish as throwaway comment falls screaming into the language gap.
The 5th sees Sony Computer Entertainment announce Blu-Ray technology for use within the still very much mystical PlayStation 3. The first Blu-Ray video players are intended for release before March 2005, and once this technology has been launched Sony sates it will confirm further PS3 technical specifications.
SPOnG reveals that Toby Gard, creator of the Tomb Raider series, has been signed by Crystal Dynamics for work on the update. No one really seems to care. The fruits of this collaboration are still eagerly awaited however.
Microsoft reveals that there will bo no X0 event this year. The key European briefing had been the highlight of the Xbox push for three years and had gained something of a reputation for the booze-addled de-closeting of various industry queens. Everyone is secretly relieved. The news is also seen as an indicator that the relevance of a possible event is undermined by the predicted closeness of the Xenon’s launch.
Rare looks manages to make itself look even more ridiculous, revealing that the game nobody wanted, It’s Mr Pants, a self-serving take on the firm’s own mascot, will actually be a rework of the terrible, and subsequently canned Donkey Kong Coconut Crackers. Someone posts “Does anyone remember back before Rare got arrogant when it was exciting?” It kind of sums up wider feelings.
By the 17th, Sony’s new studio Guerrilla reveals that work on Killzone 2 is already underway. The original game’s hype train is still managing to cling to its rails at this point, but only just…
Later than day the script for Half-Life 2 is leaked. SPOnG wonders if there’s anything left of the game not already within the public domain. Aside from a final release date naturally.
Next day and Sony is expecting a warm reception to the new PS2 price tag of £104.99. Microsoft predictably attempted to take the wind out of Sony’s sales by jumping in and announcing a price of £99.99 its Xbox. Consoles become cheap and everyone is rather pleased. But not surprised - SPOnG has ong been predicting the free Xbox in a packet of cornflakes as Micrsoft stops at nothing to gain control of media distribution.
The 19th comes and PJ McNealy re-iterated concerns first voiced back in February over PSP release dates. "We have maintained that it has been at best a 50-50 proposition that Sony will make its scheduled holiday 2004 launch, and any delay in the Japan launch would likely push the North American launch out of the March quarter." Sony, however, disputed this, with SCEA’s PR director Molly Smith stating, "We have not discussed or given any indication that an adjustment to the PSP launch window is on the horizon".
Meanwhile, it emerges that Tracks from Daytona USA 2 and SCUD Race will feature in the Xbox version of Outrun 2. SPOnG just days later would publish the world’s first screenshots of the additional content.
By the 25th one of the better viral marketing campaigns of the year, I Love Bees captures the imagination. “TRANSMITTING. Authorised personnel can check rendezvous info here. Unauthorised personnel should know that I have full license to use any means to protect the security of these new transmissions. I believe that punishing even minor transgressions with shockingly excessive force is the best deterrent. I am relentless and I have absolutely no conscience when it comes to executing my mission. Make your decisions accordingly.” Well, it sounded good at the time. Halo 2 goes on to shatter sales records.
Acclaim’s downward spiral continues apace. NASDAQ begins delisting procedures on the basis of Acclaim’s “inability to meet the minimum market capitalization continued listing requirements of the NASDAQ Small Cap Market” and also its "...failure to file its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 27, 2004”. The firm asserts all is well.
The 26th and the first of several port-release traumas for Fable as IGN, the world’s biggest game site, claims the game lasts a mere nine hours.
SPOnG follows the final demise of Acclaim through the day of the 27th of August. A transcript of which is reproduced below in full:
We are getting reports that Acclaim is seeing massive redundancies across its entire operation, with one source close to the ailing publisher claiming “This is now the end.”
We began taking calls on the subject this morning, with various credible sources calling to make claims that the once-mighty publisher had delivered news of almost total shutdown to its staff.
Calling Acclaim this morning sees the phones at head office switched to out-of-hours mode, hinting that this is indeed the end.
Stay tuned for updates on this story as the day unfolds.
UPDATE:
We have received further unconfirmed reports that around 130 staff from Acclaim’s Manchester studio have been made redundant, with suggestions that these unfortunate staff members have not been paid for what was described as a ‘considerable amount of time.’ Reports that the rent for the office is outstanding have also reached us.
However, one Acclaim staffer has contacted us to say that until further notice, everyone is still employed by Acclaim, returning to work on Tuesday.
Acclaim’s Texas office was closed yesterday, with the loss of almost all employees there.
However, Acclaim is keeping its New York head office open and operational at this time.
We’ll bring you more as we get it.
UPDATE:
We can reveal at this juncture that Acclaim will be filing for bankruptcy on Monday 30th August 2004 under Chapter 11. This news derives from the most credible of sources and will be officially announced in New York on the above stated morning.
And that, as they say, is that. We’ll promise no more updates: as this would appear to be the conclusion of Acclaim’s sorry decadency from publishing giant to ruined failure.
The dissection of exactly how the firm fell from grace so conclusively will have to wait for another day.
SPOnG would like to wish everyone at Acclaim whose lives were so adversely effected by the decision-making processes of their superiors the very best of luck in finding future employment.
Day two on the month and Manhunt (somewhat distastefully) re-enters the UK charts at number 23. Although a low position, this is a re-entry in an unfavourable environment that had seen the game pulled from most chain stores. SPOnG finds it difficult not to imagine Rockstar laughing all the way to the bank at the news.
Meanwhile a fresh Sega blunder. Or is it a blunder? The reaction of Sega’s super-loyal fans to the announcement of Shenmue Online would certainly point towards this. "Sega Corporation and JC Entertainment Corporation today announced a business alliance to co-develop and co-publish Shenmue Online, a massively multi-player online game (MMOG) for PC platform. Also Sega has the basic agreement with T2 Technology Holdings Inc. to allow T2 Technology to license China online game operation of Shenmue Online."
Whatever the game may comprise, one thing is for sure. This isn’t Shenmue 3 and that’s what was needed to underline Sega’s continued commitment to its bigger franchises. The simple fact that the game represents the biggest and most ambitious gaming project of all time turning into an outsourced generic online RPG is disheartening in the extreme. One observer dubs Shenmue 3 "Animal Crossing with sailors". The moniker sticks like glue.
The BBC runs a report claiming that 50,000 versions of Doom III are being downloaded at any one time via peer-to-peer file sharing networks. Although accurate estimates of the total file shares are inherently vague, the BBC decides to stamp value of between $1 million and $2.75 million on the activity. Everyone just kind of stares at each other before moving on…
Bill gates decides to throw down the gauntlet to Nintendo overlord Hiroshi Yamauchi on the 4th. Speaking to assembled press, Displaying a profound operational understanding of entry-level telecommunications technology, “Gates was quoted as saying "If Hiroshi Yamauchi phones me up, I will pick up at once...".
The next day and Nintendo shares leap by almost 4%. Analysts are made to look foolish as throwaway comment falls screaming into the language gap.
The 5th sees Sony Computer Entertainment announce Blu-Ray technology for use within the still very much mystical PlayStation 3. The first Blu-Ray video players are intended for release before March 2005, and once this technology has been launched Sony sates it will confirm further PS3 technical specifications.
SPOnG reveals that Toby Gard, creator of the Tomb Raider series, has been signed by Crystal Dynamics for work on the update. No one really seems to care. The fruits of this collaboration are still eagerly awaited however.
Microsoft reveals that there will bo no X0 event this year. The key European briefing had been the highlight of the Xbox push for three years and had gained something of a reputation for the booze-addled de-closeting of various industry queens. Everyone is secretly relieved. The news is also seen as an indicator that the relevance of a possible event is undermined by the predicted closeness of the Xenon’s launch.
Rare looks manages to make itself look even more ridiculous, revealing that the game nobody wanted, It’s Mr Pants, a self-serving take on the firm’s own mascot, will actually be a rework of the terrible, and subsequently canned Donkey Kong Coconut Crackers. Someone posts “Does anyone remember back before Rare got arrogant when it was exciting?” It kind of sums up wider feelings.
By the 17th, Sony’s new studio Guerrilla reveals that work on Killzone 2 is already underway. The original game’s hype train is still managing to cling to its rails at this point, but only just…
Later than day the script for Half-Life 2 is leaked. SPOnG wonders if there’s anything left of the game not already within the public domain. Aside from a final release date naturally.
Next day and Sony is expecting a warm reception to the new PS2 price tag of £104.99. Microsoft predictably attempted to take the wind out of Sony’s sales by jumping in and announcing a price of £99.99 its Xbox. Consoles become cheap and everyone is rather pleased. But not surprised - SPOnG has ong been predicting the free Xbox in a packet of cornflakes as Micrsoft stops at nothing to gain control of media distribution.
The 19th comes and PJ McNealy re-iterated concerns first voiced back in February over PSP release dates. "We have maintained that it has been at best a 50-50 proposition that Sony will make its scheduled holiday 2004 launch, and any delay in the Japan launch would likely push the North American launch out of the March quarter." Sony, however, disputed this, with SCEA’s PR director Molly Smith stating, "We have not discussed or given any indication that an adjustment to the PSP launch window is on the horizon".
Meanwhile, it emerges that Tracks from Daytona USA 2 and SCUD Race will feature in the Xbox version of Outrun 2. SPOnG just days later would publish the world’s first screenshots of the additional content.
By the 25th one of the better viral marketing campaigns of the year, I Love Bees captures the imagination. “TRANSMITTING. Authorised personnel can check rendezvous info here. Unauthorised personnel should know that I have full license to use any means to protect the security of these new transmissions. I believe that punishing even minor transgressions with shockingly excessive force is the best deterrent. I am relentless and I have absolutely no conscience when it comes to executing my mission. Make your decisions accordingly.” Well, it sounded good at the time. Halo 2 goes on to shatter sales records.
Acclaim’s downward spiral continues apace. NASDAQ begins delisting procedures on the basis of Acclaim’s “inability to meet the minimum market capitalization continued listing requirements of the NASDAQ Small Cap Market” and also its "...failure to file its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 27, 2004”. The firm asserts all is well.
The 26th and the first of several port-release traumas for Fable as IGN, the world’s biggest game site, claims the game lasts a mere nine hours.
SPOnG follows the final demise of Acclaim through the day of the 27th of August. A transcript of which is reproduced below in full:
We are getting reports that Acclaim is seeing massive redundancies across its entire operation, with one source close to the ailing publisher claiming “This is now the end.”
We began taking calls on the subject this morning, with various credible sources calling to make claims that the once-mighty publisher had delivered news of almost total shutdown to its staff.
Calling Acclaim this morning sees the phones at head office switched to out-of-hours mode, hinting that this is indeed the end.
Stay tuned for updates on this story as the day unfolds.
UPDATE:
We have received further unconfirmed reports that around 130 staff from Acclaim’s Manchester studio have been made redundant, with suggestions that these unfortunate staff members have not been paid for what was described as a ‘considerable amount of time.’ Reports that the rent for the office is outstanding have also reached us.
However, one Acclaim staffer has contacted us to say that until further notice, everyone is still employed by Acclaim, returning to work on Tuesday.
Acclaim’s Texas office was closed yesterday, with the loss of almost all employees there.
However, Acclaim is keeping its New York head office open and operational at this time.
We’ll bring you more as we get it.
UPDATE:
We can reveal at this juncture that Acclaim will be filing for bankruptcy on Monday 30th August 2004 under Chapter 11. This news derives from the most credible of sources and will be officially announced in New York on the above stated morning.
And that, as they say, is that. We’ll promise no more updates: as this would appear to be the conclusion of Acclaim’s sorry decadency from publishing giant to ruined failure.
The dissection of exactly how the firm fell from grace so conclusively will have to wait for another day.
SPOnG would like to wish everyone at Acclaim whose lives were so adversely effected by the decision-making processes of their superiors the very best of luck in finding future employment.