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Breaking: CryTek in trouble?

Discussion in 'Entropia News' started by NotAdmin, Jun 23, 2014.

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  1. Jun 23, 2014 #1
    NotAdmin

    NotAdmin Administrator

    Rumours on the Interwebs are reporting that Crytek, the studio behind CryEngine might be in trouble. The word bankruptcy is being tossed around.

    As everyone will know, CryEngine is the engine powering EU, so this might have an impact on MindArk and the Entropia Universe.

    Link:

    http://www.tweaktown.com/news/38606...any-developers-are-using-cryengine/index.html
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Jun 23, 2014 #2
    HoloSquad

    HoloSquad

    CryEngine is on steam for a subscription $6 a month some thing like that.
     
  3. Jun 23, 2014 #3
    NotAdmin

    NotAdmin Administrator

    9 usd. Apparently that price did not manage to attract enough customers, though.

    Disclosure: I work for a competitor of CryEngine.
     
  4. Jun 23, 2014 #4
    Tass

    Tass Administrator

    Obviously German Gamestar magazine is the main source of this news. They got bits of information from one of the co-founders of Crytek, mentioning that Crytek was close to bankruptcy in April but got a financial injection securing the company's future. Now the speculation is how long that future will last given Crytek's portfolio and position in a rapidly changing market.

    Imo it will be difficult for Crytek to survive as a whole. They have Homefront, an Asian-style arena battle game and a classical L4D coop shooter and probably a couple of other games in development. One of Crytek's issues is the absolute emphasis on extremely high end graphics, neglecting really innovative gameplay and concepts, consequently leading to costly games with "classic" gameplay that face a market driven by innovation more than ever (this innovation is partially promoted by the mere availability of the newest generation of development tools to a greater number of people, another trend that Crytek might have jumped on too late).

    The reason for that again is probably the enthusiasm of Crytek's founders for high end graphics and their rootedness in Hollywood action movie culture of the past, promoting such scenarios like "American super-soldiers with ridiculous high-tech battle Aliens/North Koreans" - just as the movies those kind of games have a chance to become "blockbusters" but also the high risk to flop completely (for my taste they should all flop :devilish: ). Also the concept of the oh so good unbeatable action hero fighting the eternal evil is not very multiplayer friendly.

    And so the 3rd iteration of Crysis installment of the Crysis series didn't do very well... And yes, while Ryse does look great and probably would have been really interesting with the original plans for using Kinect, its potential success is unfortunately quite limited by being Xbox One-exclusive.

    Also it probably didn't help the long-term fundamental economic situation that Crytek went on extensive shopping tour after the initial success of Crysis and CryEngine, buying up IPs and other studios that partially have been in financial trouble already and one might conclude that they have been for good reasons...

    However, I don't think there will be much of an impact on CryEngine even in the worst case. Crytek nowadays is a bunch of different studios and IPs, probably rather easy to sell in bits and pieces, and CryEngine is probably quite a wanted piece. I'm not sure whether this would have an impact on Entropia Universe at all since the EUPDK is based on the CE 2.x path and must be extremely customized. The game I'm most concerned about is actually Star Citizen because it's completely crowd-funded, midway through initial development and designed for long term expansion with new features.

    Let's hope the best for Crytek and for CryEngine users, would be really unfortunate if a large player like Crytek would fail. They still have great potential and could put out more games with really innovative concepts and gameplay.
     
  5. Jun 23, 2014 #5
    Nor Alien

    Nor Alien Wisker Fish

    Less people buying high end gaming machines, and more people buying tablets and other mobile devices! :cool:
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  6. Jun 25, 2014 #6
    EwoK

    EwoK Southern Fortress Engineering

    isn't Far Cry 4 about to release?
     
    • Like Like x 1
  7. Jun 25, 2014 #7
    Nor Alien

    Nor Alien Wisker Fish

    • Like Like x 1
  8. Jun 29, 2014 #8
    Tass

    Tass Administrator

    Only the first FarCry was developed by Crytek, rest of series by Ubisoft.

    Currently in development by Crytek:

    Homefront:Revolution:
    (FPS, similarities with the latest Crysis, no aliens though...)


    Hunt: Horros of the Gilded Age:
    (Co-op survival horror shooter)


    Arena of Fate:
    (looks like a LoL/Dota clone)
     
  9. Jun 30, 2014 #9
    Nor Alien

    Nor Alien Wisker Fish

    NO Aliens!! :cautious: I'll fix that! :sneaky:
     
  10. Jun 30, 2014 #10
    Wistrel

    Wistrel Kick Ass Elf

    I read a few of the articles on that day too.... was kinda surprised it only came out now cause of the German games mag. Didn't know there was a secured cash injection though. Interesting... very interesting
     
  11. Jul 3, 2014 #11
    Wistrel

    Wistrel Kick Ass Elf

    • Informative Informative x 1
  12. Jul 3, 2014 #12
    Nor Alien

    Nor Alien Wisker Fish

    Very sad.... From the comments below, seems a lot of people don't know what they want in a game. That makes it hard for any game designer to come up with one.

    More and more so people are switching to mobile platforms. Other then the new surface 3, and consoles, I don't see the need for high end graphic engines. This kind of reminds me of how music went as well. After going to mp3 format, with lower quality of sound, the music industry stopped moving the sound format to higher def to mid quality. Since no-one was using it any way. Sad if you ask me.

    Part of this was due to the world economics as well. Who could afford a high end PC when your out on the street looking for work. You did however, need to be reach for interviews so a cell was a necessary evil. ;) While you waited to hear back from potential employers, why not download a shit low quality game to pass the time. O.o Just my opinion of course. ;)

    Edit: posted via iPad mini! :cautious::biggrin:
     
  13. Jul 3, 2014 #13
    dalewj

    dalewj StoryTeller/Nerd/Gamer

    Ya game companies tend to lack big company rules/logic about money. Even on your good days you have to make rules that will sustain you in your bad times. sadly sounds like the company is run by a few people who never hired the right people to control the company....
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  14. Jul 4, 2014 #14
    Wistrel

    Wistrel Kick Ass Elf

    Well fingers crossed really. I have friends there who I really don't want to see loose their jobs plus Crytek is in my home city of Nottingham so are good for the local economy. They also tend to have involvement in our annual game city festival here http://gamecity.org/ which I think is good especially for teenagers who get to see and interact with a familiar big league player in the industry. For many this will be an inspirational thing that may aspire them to feel a career in games or programming is within their grasp.
     
  15. Jul 6, 2014 #15
    McCormick

    McCormick

    Crytek = 800 employees - trys to sell licenses to the military and releases repetetive "fun"

    Epic = 150-400 employees - never above - pushes the unreal engine everywhere
     
    • Informative Informative x 1
  16. Jul 30, 2014 #16
    McCormick

    McCormick

    Crytek Austin people now need to apply at Crytek Germany. Else they will be left behind (fired).

    Rare, ahem, Free Radical...no, Crytek UK going to continue working at Deep Silver UK now, if I read right, to start again on their lost product "Homefront"...werent your friend(s) working there, Wistrel ?
     
    • Informative Informative x 1
  17. Jul 31, 2014 #17
    DCB-Trading-Co

    DCB-Trading-Co

    Good Morning,
    In the news from - While you were sleeping.

    Deep Silver Buys Homefront From Crytek
     
    Last edited: Jul 31, 2014
  18. Jul 31, 2014 #18
    Wistrel

    Wistrel Kick Ass Elf

    Yup, was chatting about it tonight before planet of the apes (which is excellent btw, you should go see) they are happy to have been paid (at last) and that their jobs are safe. Going to be interesting to see how things pan out for everyone moving forward.
     
  19. Jul 31, 2014 #19
    McCormick

    McCormick

    Okidoki.
    I watched pre-volution not long ago for the very 1st time and yea it was hell-a-good :'D
     
  20. Aug 3, 2014 #20
    Wistrel

    Wistrel Kick Ass Elf

    Yeh I watched it for the first time last monday before going to see Dawn of the Sequel to the Prequel to the reboot of the planet of the apes at the cinema ;)

    I really liked it too! Good story, believably plausible ish, the end got a little daft but the americans have to have their explosions/big finishes ;) Interesting on the CG. It was SO good it was bang in the middle of the uncanny valley for me which was I admit a little offputting at first. I got used to it though as I suspect I mentally pushed it back up to the CG side of the valley. I really enjoyed the film. As always for me and CG is isn't the image that gives it away its the movement.

    The new one, on the CG. Spot on, really they've nailed it, for apes at least and my recognition of them they stormed the uncanny valley now and are up the other side making tea and sandwiches. There were very few moments when I was reminded I was looking at CG things and one of them was when a girder fell down from a building and twisted up in a really weird way (again, movement/physics were wrong hence giving the game away).

    Storyline, a little contrived but workable. More plot holes I'd say than the last one but hey they needed to make a film here. I won't complain. Some nice moments. Also even though I knew what would happen (roughly) I was tense like mad the whole way through. Not had that with a film for a long time

    All in all, great stuff, go see
    Wistrel
     
    • Like Like x 1
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