Civilization Rights Sold by Infogrames

[Traelin]

Wow it's been awhile since I posted here, but check this tidbit out... Hopefully it doesn't affect the future of the franchise.

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/civilizationiv/news_6113971.html

[Daddy-O]

or maybe the powers that be at Apolyton put all that subscription money to good use and bought the franchise.

[vmxa1]

Maybe Firaxis got it.

[Daddy-O]

That's what the article said. Maybe Sid bought it back. With the recent sale I guess that means that a Q4 2004 release date is out.

[Traelin]

It is possible that Firaxis bought back the rights to the franchise. Per their website (link: http://www.firaxis.com/company_about.cfm), they bought back the rights of other games, so who knows?

"In 2003, FIRAXIS took significant steps to further strengthen its' foundation by gaining the intellectual property rights to a collection of Sid Meier games including: CPU Bach®, Colonization®, Covert Action®, Gunship®, Pirates!®, Silent Service®, F19 Stealth Fighter®, and F15 Strike Eagle®. These titles are some of the most revered gaming properties of all-time. Immediately following this acquisition, FIRAXIS announced plans to remake the legendary groundbreaking classic, Sid Meier's Pirates!®, with a planned release at the end of 2004."

[Robert]

Re: Civilization Rights Sold by Infogrames

Originally posted by Traelin
Hopefully it doesn't affect the future of the franchise.

Well, if someone / some company pays $22,5 million for civilization that most obviously means that the future of civ is long but gone.

Who would buy it for that much money and kill the future?
I guess it's Firaxis indeed who bought it. Who else would buy it, while Firaxis is working on cIV?

[Jaybe]

If anyone other than Firaxis DID buy it, it would mean a substantial disruption of the design/production process.
Similar to Brian Reynolds' defection in 2000 and the consequences for Civ3.

I sure HOPE Firaxis bought it. AND that the price wasn't too high.

[vmxa1]

Probably so, but a company could buy the rights and have Firaxis do the work. Either way it means we will see at least one more version.

[Traelin]

My guess is that the same exact thing with Pirates! will happen with Civ IV: that they bought back the rights, and within a week or two after publicly announcing it, they will then announce they are officially producing Civ IV.

[vmxa1]

Except they already anncounced Civ IV.

[icett]

PARADOX has bought the rights!!!

Let me inform you. The franchise has been bought by PARADOX, the maker of Europa Universalis, Hearts of Iron, Crusader Kings, Victoria and which recently bought "Diplomacy" and "Squad Leader" rights too.

[vmxa1]

You may be right, but they have not mentioned it on their website.

[Alex]

http://apolyton.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=125820

http://apolyton.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=125808

[Gramphos]

Re: Re: Civilization Rights Sold by Infogrames

Originally posted by CyberShy
Who would buy it for that much money and kill the future?
I guess it's Firaxis indeed who bought it. Who else would buy it, while Firaxis is working on cIV?

Someone who wants Civ out of the comptetition for their own games, and has a lot of spare change...

... Microsoft

[player1]

Exempt there is no game in the market of Civ genre to compete with.