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ThomasMahler
04-06-2006, 11:19 AM
Well. After the layoffs...

Microsoft Game Studios Acquires Video Game Luminary Peter Molyneux's Lionhead Studios

REDMOND, Wash., April 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Microsoft Game Studios
(MGS) today announced it has purchased U.K.-based Lionhead Studios, one of the
world's leading and most innovative video game developers and creators of
"Fable(R)," the hit Xbox(R) and Windows(R) franchise.

Lionhead Studios will immediately begin creating content exclusively for
the Xbox 360(TM) and Microsoft(R) Windows platforms. The companies previously
worked together on the popular role-playing games "Fable" for Xbox and "Fable:
The Lost Chapters" for Xbox and Windows, which have collectively surpassed the
2 million global unit sales milestone, making "Fable" the best-selling role-
playing franchise on the Xbox platform. "Fable" and "Fable: The Lost Chapters"
enable players to make decisions that affect their character's skills,
appearances and morality and the world around them.

"At Microsoft Game Studios we have worked hard to become the best partner
for the best creative talent in our industry, and this acquisition underscores
our commitment to excellence," said Shane Kim, general manager of Microsoft
Game Studios. "Peter Molyneux is one of the few true visionaries in our
industry, and his joining us is incredibly important to the future of both
interactive entertainment and MGS. Lionhead is a shining example of the
innovative and creative talent that has delivered some of the most influential
and unique games experiences to date, and I am honored to welcome Peter and
the incredible people at Lionhead Studios."

"We could not be more excited about being part of MGS. They have long
supported our creative vision, and this teamwork resulted in the hugely
successful 'Fable' franchise," said Molyneux, managing director of Lionhead
Studios. "This acquisition gives Lionhead the stability and opportunity to
focus on creating world-class next-generation titles. We are joining some of
the most incredible game creators in the industry, the combined talent of
which will truly take next-generation gaming to a new level."

With today's announcement, Lionhead Studios becomes the latest member of
MGS, joining such prestigious and globally recognized game creators as Bungie
Studios, Ensemble Studios, FASA Studio and Rare Ltd. on a team whose charter
is to create exclusive entertainment experiences that differentiate Xbox 360
and Windows from other gaming platforms.

http://www.prnewswire.com/
DrFx
04-06-2006, 12:25 PM
Ooo, this is pretty cool! I must say, though MS gets a lot of hate, their games are generally pretty cool! Plus,I'm playing the Movies right now, so great!
Slurry
04-06-2006, 12:36 PM
Hopefully that means LHS staff getting their jobs back. Good news for Lionhead.


Art
FallenSwordsman
04-06-2006, 01:10 PM
Maybe this is history repeating itself and maybe someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Peter Molyneux have his previous company, Bullfrog, also bought up but at that time by Electronic Arts? Once that had occurred, didn't Peter and a few of his merry men just go off and found Lionhead Studios?
leach
04-06-2006, 02:35 PM
I work down the road from lionhead, and have a good mate who works there.

He never mentioned anything about this....useless he is! grumble grumble, so much for a little insider knowledge! :p
CupOWonton
04-06-2006, 03:17 PM
Ugh, so, I take it theyll do the same thing to Lionhead and start keeping all their games on X360 and giving cruddy support for much later released PC versions like Bungie has done?
pogonip
04-06-2006, 10:07 PM
Good news for Lionhead ...MS treats there game developers really well :thumbsup:
DevilHacker
04-06-2006, 10:20 PM
Good news for Lionhead ...MS treats there game developers really well :thumbsup:Yep. Now maybe they will finally get some funding to continue innovating in the PC and Console genres
:thumbsup:
ThE_JacO
04-06-2006, 11:45 PM
Good news for Lionhead ...MS treats there game developers really well :thumbsup:

so did lionhead even before being bought as far as I know, I have a couple of friends in their central technology group and they've always been very happy with LHS.
not every games company is EA's canadian offices you know :)
L.Rawlins
04-07-2006, 12:03 AM
Ooo, this is pretty cool! I must say, though MS gets a lot of hate, their games are generally pretty cool! Plus,I'm playing the Movies right now, so great!

My housemate recently picked that up. A totally engrossing game. Good stuff. :)
DirtROBOT
04-07-2006, 04:44 AM
Well maybe now they'll release a finished game, instead of an unfinished-rushed-kindaneat-but-buggy toy.

Ok, I semi-retract that, the Movies is pretty nifty - but it's no Syndicate!
leigh
04-07-2006, 04:51 AM
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.... what made Lionhead special was that they were a nice little renegade unit that was producing original, creative and imaginative games. Being bought out by a large corporate beast will probably kill that :hmm:
albedo4800hp
04-07-2006, 07:57 AM
Good news for Lionhead ...MS treats there game developers really well :thumbsup:
Oh yes they do by for example by closing down a studio as soon as they have finished the game (happened with the guys who did the Links successor for Xbox)
Wabit
04-07-2006, 08:18 AM
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.... what made Lionhead special was that they were a nice little renegade unit that was producing original, creative and imaginative games. Being bought out by a large corporate beast will probably kill that :hmm:

I dont think you got much to worry about Leigh, MS are looking to broaden their games so they bought lion-head to help them do that.
rakmaya
04-07-2006, 11:26 AM
I dont think you got much to worry about Leigh, MS are looking to broaden their games so they bought lion-head to help them do that.



No, actually Leigh is right. You can see what happened to all of the studios that EA bought in the last 2 years. Once the current project the studio was in during the purchase is complete, either the team is spread out to work on EA's reroll of 100th Madden or are layed off.

However in the case of MS, they are looking to get more variety in the games for Xbox. So splitting the teams would not happen. BUT, now the small studios who worked at their pace and comfort will be more pressured to meet the company deadlines and stock related events that most games will loose the inherent quality that the manager and producers initially had control over.
Wabit
04-07-2006, 02:11 PM
No, actually Leigh is right. You can see what happened to all of the studios that EA bought in the last 2 years. Once the current project the studio was in during the purchase is complete, either the team is spread out to work on EA's reroll of 100th Madden or are layed off.

However in the case of MS, they are looking to get more variety in the games for Xbox. So splitting the teams would not happen. BUT, now the small studios who worked at their pace and comfort will be more pressured to meet the company deadlines and stock related events that most games will loose the inherent quality that the manager and producers initially had control over.

I can only speak of the experience I have had since our studio was purchased by Microsoft. Every place has its hick-ups of course, but in all honesty it was a good move forward for us. The financial security MS brings has given us more room to be experimental.
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