Disney closes LucasArts, cancels current projects
Disney has shut down publisher LucasArts and canceled current projects, moving into a licensed model for future Star Wars game development.
Disney has shut down LucasArts and canceled all current projects, as part of a move toward licensing out the Star Wars brand to other publishers. This would impact Star Wars 1313 and Star Wars: First Assault.
Kotaku reports that approximately 150 people were laid off. Meanwhile, GameInformer has published the statement from LucasArts:
"After evaluating our position in the games market, we've decided to shift LucasArts from an internal development to a licensing model, minimizing the company's risk while achieving a broader portfolio of quality Star Wars games. As a result of this change, we've had layoffs across the organization. We are incredibly appreciative and proud of the talented teams who have been developing our new titles."
This aligns with a recent rumor that Star Wars 1313 had been put on hold after the Disney acquisition. This story is developing, and Shacknews will update with more information as it becomes available.
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replySteve Watts posted a new article, Disney closes LucasArts, cancels current projects.
Disney has shut down publisher LucasArts and canceled current projects, moving into a licensed model for future Star Wars game development.-
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Loom.
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I guess none of these were good then http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_LucasArts_games
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I hate it that folks got laid off, couldn't they relocate the talent? This seems pretty crappy: "..As a result of this change, we've had layoffs across the organization. We are incredibly appreciative and proud of the talented teams who have been developing our new titles."
We appreciate what you did, now gtfo.
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What's so hard to make a good star wars game? Stop this crap with the new star wars and do a remake of the first starwars, that's what I want.. Sad to see more and more companies closing it's making anyone wanting to get into the game industry a scary venture.
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:'(
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Seriously! How dare they let us have one good memory without making a huge turd to tarnish it's name.
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So what is to become of the Adventure IPs? Monkey Island? Grim Fandango? Tentacles?
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I hear you on Grim Fandango but at this rate it's better off leaving those great titles to be examples how to make a good game instead of ruining it with a remake...
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The Disney vault :(
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here I had my fingers crossed for a disney production of Monkey Island one day.
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Not that I expected Lucasarts to do anything good any time soon but this is still shitty news. They used to be my favorite game developer.
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Back in... like 1996. They've been little more than a nerdy version of EA for years, in-so-far as EA churns out Madden titles... LucasArts churned out Star Wars titles. Over. And over.
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Good riddance. They really haven't made any good games since the 90s. Hopefully some of their non star wars ip's get sold off to more capable developers.
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Not gonna happen.
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Yea i know... Disney is like that :-(
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Exactly. At least with Disney being interested in licensing out properties, we may get developers bidding on some classic franchises and the possibility of them being made.
LucasArts, when it was Lucas-ran, seemed to just squander their properties.
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I doubt very much it'll work that way.
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So, Star Wars: 1313 is dead. Bummer :(
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it was put on hold well before the merger. Disney had nothing to do with that one dying.
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I honestly think this is a good thing. We may finally get some really good SW games by farming the IP out to different developers. I think LucasArts got tunnel vision. Maybe Disney will license some of the other LA IP's to small developers.
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I'd like to know who ends up doing Battlefront 3, because you know some lucky developer is going to end up with it.
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Is it wrong that I kind of want Dice to do it? I'd love to see a Battlefront game powered by frostbite.
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Surely they'd be one of the best developers to do it?
Battlefront is kind of like a Battlefield game so it could work really well.
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:O
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Great news... On the licensing. This opens the door for Double Fine / Gilbert / whoever to pony up the cash for Monkey Island ideas. Also X-Wing? More likely to happen if someone passionate can organise and license.
Terrible news for families involved, wishing them new roles at better organisations plus decent severance. -
LucasArts logos over the years:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KniAHS2siRs&feature=youtu.be-
Apparently this is Tim Schafer in the back of the truck:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Tk3XpvDs0Kc#t=57s
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Lucas Arts, Finally Free from Starwars Hell!
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Now I'm never going to know what happened to Sev.
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Come on, Totally Games, time for a X-Wing / TIE Fighter game Kickstarter...
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I've not invested in a kickstarter yet, but if they said they were gonna update TIE Fighter, I'd go out and buy a new Cyborg right now, then pay top dollar for that kickstarter shism!
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LucasArts was my favorite studio during their golden age. This kicked me right in the nads, where I coincidentally suppress and hide all of my feelings. For sheer nostalgia factor alone, I'm sad to see it close. I will meet you again Bernard, Hoagie, Laverne and Dr. Edison... one day.
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It's sad but it makes sense and in the end it'll (probably) lead to a larger amount of better games and with a better variety. Maybe going forward we'll even get decent PC ports of their games, too. So I'm not terribly broken up about it though I feel sad for those who were laid-off (odds are quite good, though, that most, if not all, of them will land on their feet.)
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RIP LucasArt game :*(
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In all honesty, despite their track record this generation, I'm somewhat sad to see LucasArts go. From the 90s up until Republic Commando they were in their prime. This is what happens when you start having buyouts of this and that, management changes, etc. I know at the end of the day it's all part of the business and it's what "helps" the business grow, but also remember HOW you got to be where you are today.....the games and the consumers.
That is whats lacking from many of the bigger studios these days and is why Indie developers, developers using kickstart programs, etc. are kicking a$$ and taking names - because they have the freedom of creativity, the will to do what they want to make a great product. Now I'm not saying that LucasArts amongst many other developers don't have any talented employees, but their talents are wasted by decisions made by greedy executives who care more for profit than product.
I just hope that the Star Wars license is handled and treated with care from here on. We need a GOOD star wars game to come out. Whether it be another Tie Fighter, Battlefront, etc. just something that deserves to be noteworthy to the majority of the Star Wars fan base.
