NEWS: "MicroPROSE Is No More"

[DanQ]

From our news centre:

One of the longest-running development houses in the PC gaming era, and one which is indeed close to the hearts of Civilization fans, closed today. MicroPROSE`s (MPS) 20-year lifespan has ended, the result of a decision of its France-based owner, Infogrames (IG). IG bought the company and its parent Hasbro Interactive from Hasbro in December of 2000 and the deal was finalized the following month.

The story of MPS` demise was brokered today by Gamer.tv and picked up by The Wargamer (WG). Since being purchased by Hasbro Interactive, MPS` involvement in the PC market declined and several offices -- save the one in Hunt Valley, Maryland where much work on the first two Civilization titles were completed -- were subsequently closed. According to Gamer.tv, who learned of the closure from a source within IG, all employees at the one remaining studio have accepted redundancy terms and left. Neither Gamer.tv or WG have yet been able to reach either IG or MPS to confirm the details of the closure.

MicroPROSE was owned by Spectrum Holobyte when it released Civilization, expansion pack CivNet, and Civilization II and its expansions Conflicts in Civilization Scenario Collection, Fantasic Worlds and Multiplayer Gold Edition. Test of Time, the fourth and final add-on for CivII, hit store shelves under the Hasbro Interactive label, only months after becoming apart of its network. A year-and-a-half before being sold to Infogrames, Hasbro acquired MPS from Spectrum.

Other popular titles MPS spawned during its two illustrious decades were the X-COM, Worms and Master of Orion series, and Falcon 4.0.

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Dan; Apolyton CS

[Q Classic]

so yeah, i officially hate Hasbro, and Infogrames.

wait, didn't i say that before? well, to banish all doubt.

i hate Hasbro, and i hate Infogrames.

[Nubclear]

....Infogrames is just proving itself in my mind again.

[Ming]

Typical...

[Colonâ„¢]

To be fair, Microprose wasn't the company it used to be, they haven't released anything innovative like Civilization, Railroad Tycoon or X-com in years, so I can understand Infogrames decision. But I regret the demise of this company never the less...

[Tuberski]

They practically created the TBS market, and now they are gone.....figures.

[Case]

That's really sad - MPS was my favorite games developer for many happy years.

[ixnay]

That really is too bad.

[Rasbelin]

In Memoriam MicroPROSE.

Made Civilization, Civilization II, Civilization II Ultimate Classic Collection, CivNet, Railroad Tycoon, Railroad Tycoon Deluxe, Transport Tycoon, Transport Tycoon Deluxe and many other great games that I haven't played.

Well, it's true that they haven't done anything decent for years now. IMO they fell back after Sid and several others left the company. But it's still the end of one of the great players in the PC game sector. At least 10 years ago they almost owned the field with a few other competitors.

Luckily I have now FiRAHxis and PopTop Software.

[Gatekeeper]

An era comes to an end ...

[Zopperoni]

--"the result of a decision of its France-based owner, Infogrames (IG)."

Bah...French companies, bah!

[Gramphos]

It's a sad day. I remember most of my favorite games in the past (okay, I do still play them) started with the Mircoprose screen. It's so sad to know that you never will see it in a new game

[Jay Bee]

Civilization Scenario Collection

what? Microprose had nothing to do with that. Allard and I had

[Galvatron]

Yes, it's really really sad. I grew up with Microprose and Civ was my first contact with strategy games. I was fascinated from the first moment I played the game. And don't forget Colonization. People tend to remember the Civ-series but almost all time forget Col. Actually it's a classic too, still on my HD and always will be. For some time I played it day and night and occasionally today.

[Skanky Burns]

'Tis a sad day.