| |
As of September 21st, 1999, the Babylon 5: Into the Fire Space Combat Simulator
was cancelled by Sierra. Since that time, we have been engaged in a valiant
battle to have this game picked up by another publisher. We have gone to great
ends to see that this happens, and almost all that is left to do is sit back and
wait for news.
Current State Of Affairs
It can be best summed up by Rick Brewer, who is working to save the game:
“If you go to Z’ha’dum, you will die...”
“You can’t save them all...”
“Babylon will fall. This place will be destroyed...”
Most of you will undoubtedly recognize those phrases. Some may even be able to quote the episodes. All three share a common thread. Sheriden proved them all wrong.
I thought that now would be the best time to come forth and talk about “Into the Fire,” what has happened, what may happen, and what all of you, the precious fans of this wonderful world jms gave us, can do to help.
My name is Rick. I’ve been working with the ItF team since but a few days after the incident last September. Together Dan, Marc, Randy, Byrt, the ItF team and I gave our best to find a new home for this game. Out of respect to my wishes, they kept my involvement in this process silent. To this day, I consider the ItF team to be one of the best pools of talent I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet.
While I cannot talk about the details of the arrangements we worked upon, I can say this: the gaming industry is filled with wonderful, understanding people—you just have to have the good fortune to find them. I’m very glad to count Dan and Marc as two very good friends.
There were two publishers we were working with. Both of them gave solid, compelling offers. The team picked Codemasters. Over the past few days I’ve heard some disturbingly negative comments about Codemasters—I feel compelled to say that no one could have foreseen the events that transpired. Ken, Craig, and the entire CM team gave it a good shot...but tragedy is commonplace in this industry...things just did not work out.
And so, here we are, today, that proverbial, “shining beacon in space...all alone in the night...”
Which leaves you with this question: “What about ItF?”
I believe in Babylon 5. I’ve spent the better part of the last 6 months ferreting over market segmentation data, Gantt charts, production schedules, artwork, business plans, completion plans, recovery schedules, conference calls, road trips, NDAs, demos-- basically pasting everything together in an effort to get someone to pick up this game and let the team dive in and make it happen. There are times I wake up in the night wondering, “what did I do wrong? Could I have done more?”
It took allot of time and soul-searching to realize we did all we could.
All that is left to do now is something different.
I do not want to be excessively optimistic and mislead you. The facts are simple. The programming department is all but gone, and the art department is close behind. What we are looking at here is rebuilding the staff from the ground up. The game itself may even take a new form. All I can say is that I have an undying loyalty to the design concept, and deep friendships with the people that came up with it. It would be an utter shame to see ItF die, and I would rather not let it pass into the “Greatest Games Never Made” category.
Randy and I have discussed, at great length, what needs to be done to finish this game, and he has kindly offered his support and assistance in making one last try. Some of the original staff has offered to do the same.
This is Coriana 6. Do or die.
For my part, I have offered to piece together completion and business plans and present the plans to potential investors to see where that leads.
Please keep in mind that there are now five hurdles, as opposed to the four we faced before:
1. Raise the capital
2. Purchase the assets
3. Obtain a license
4. Rebuild the team
5. Find a publisher
If it can happen, it will happen. We will launch a new studio with ItF as its flagship. However, this is not going to be an easy task. It may even be impossible.
Time will tell.
The remnants of the team have allot to do right now. We will do our best to keep you updated and in the loop, either directly, or through Drazi Guy and Grinner. Please understand that there are just some things we cannot talk about, either out of professional courtesy or due to the NDAs we must honor.
In closing, I offer these words to you, that in them you will find the inspiration that jms gave so many of us, the courage to look beyond what we are, and to see what we truly can be...
“Though we are not now that strength which in old days moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are—One equal temper of heroic hearts, made weak by time and fate, but strong in will—to strive, to seek, to find...and not to yield.”
Best Regards,
-Rick
|
|
