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Ichingcarpenter

(36,988 posts)
Wed Apr 3, 2013, 02:22 PM Apr 2013

Disney shuts down Lucas Arts

Disney has laid off the staff of LucasArts and cancelled all current projects.


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Staff were informed of the shutdown this morning, according to a reliable Kotaku source. Some 150 people were laid off, and both of the studio's current projects—Star Wars: First Assault and Star Wars 1313—were cancelled. Disney will still use the LucasArts name to license games, but the studio is no more.

Staff were informed of the shutdown this morning, according to a reliable Kotaku source. Some 150 people were laid off, and both of the studio's current projects—Star Wars: First Assault and Star Wars 1313—were cancelled. Disney will still use the LucasArts name to license games, but the studio is no more.

Publicly, Disney is saying their current games could be licensed out to a different publisher or developer, but according to our source, that's unlikely. Our source says Lucas has pursued the option for "one or both games," but nothing happened. "With the teams now basically being dispersed I think both games are effectively dead forever," our source said.

“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," LucasArts parent company LucasFilm said in a statement. "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.

http://kotaku.com/disney-shuts-down-lucasarts-468473749?utm_campaign=Socialflow_Kotaku_Twitter&utm_source=Kotaku_Twitter&utm_medium=Socialflow


Never bought a Disney game for myself or my kids but we sure played a lot of Lucas Arts games.


Did I tell you I really don't like Disney?

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Disney shuts down Lucas Arts (Original Post) Ichingcarpenter Apr 2013 OP
I see they're following the EA model: Fire the studio, whore the brand they built! Poll_Blind Apr 2013 #1
What they did to Bioware Aerows Apr 2013 #2
While I have enjoyed some Lucas Arts titles Puzzledtraveller Apr 2013 #3
SW: Knights of the Old Republic Aerows Apr 2013 #4
KoToR is awesome Puzzledtraveller Apr 2013 #6
They were great - it was just a long time ago el_bryanto Apr 2013 #8
*Deep breath* Hayabusa Apr 2013 #9
I can't tell you how much I loathe Disney in its modern iteration. Skidmore Apr 2013 #5
Holy shit - Hell Hath No Fury Apr 2013 #7

Poll_Blind

(23,864 posts)
1. I see they're following the EA model: Fire the studio, whore the brand they built!
Wed Apr 3, 2013, 02:27 PM
Apr 2013

You're going to see that LucasArts brand whored into the ground. EA did/is doing the same thing with the Bioware brand.

PB

 

Aerows

(39,961 posts)
2. What they did to Bioware
Wed Apr 3, 2013, 02:30 PM
Apr 2013

which is was one of the best game companies out there, is appalling. But look at what Activision is doing to Blizzard. Diablo 3 turned out to be a disaster, and you can tell it was because they cared more about making money than providing decent gameplay.

Smaller studios are the only way to go for quality games - provided they don't get sucked up by the behemoths.

Puzzledtraveller

(5,937 posts)
3. While I have enjoyed some Lucas Arts titles
Wed Apr 3, 2013, 02:37 PM
Apr 2013

they were never great. I think any new projects will benefit from being picked up by other outfits.

Puzzledtraveller

(5,937 posts)
6. KoToR is awesome
Wed Apr 3, 2013, 02:44 PM
Apr 2013

But that's where it gets tricky, KoToR was published by Lucas Arts but developed by Bioware. You can see the difference in quality between KoToR and a Lucas Arts developed title for example.

el_bryanto

(11,804 posts)
8. They were great - it was just a long time ago
Wed Apr 3, 2013, 03:23 PM
Apr 2013

But they undeniably have some great games in their catalog - the Monkey Island Games, Grim Fandango, Maniac Mansion, the X-Wing and Tie Fighter games - all classic.

But all a really long time ago.

Bryant

Hayabusa

(2,135 posts)
9. *Deep breath*
Wed Apr 3, 2013, 03:33 PM
Apr 2013

Monkey Island
Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis
Maniac Mansion
Grim Fandango
Sam & Max
Dark Forces
X-Wing
TIE Fighter
Zombies At My Neighbors
Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe
The Dig...

Skidmore

(37,364 posts)
5. I can't tell you how much I loathe Disney in its modern iteration.
Wed Apr 3, 2013, 02:40 PM
Apr 2013

I categorically refuse to buy any of their products. Disney princesses in particular make me feel queasy.

 

Hell Hath No Fury

(16,327 posts)
7. Holy shit -
Wed Apr 3, 2013, 03:17 PM
Apr 2013

I know a bunch of those people. Crap crap crap.

"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..."

Lemme guess: "licensing" = offshoring opportunities. 150 good paying Bay Area jobs just got flushed down the toilet.

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