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[Draugoth]

American McGee says they were "emotionally quite destroyed" by EA canceling Alice Asylum, and now they can't touch the IP "for the rest of [their] life

The developer has asked fans to "move on" from Alice Asylum

www.gamesradar.com

In a YouTube video titled "Asylum: Final Word," McGee reveals that he felt "emotionally quite destroyed" after EA turned down the team's proposal for a third Alice game, which would've been Alice Asylum.

In April 2023, McGee posted to Patreon, explaining that after presenting the team at EA with a design bible full of story bits, artwork, concepts, and more, the publisher declined the proposal - meaning we wouldn't be seeing a third Alice game.

[EA] have ultimately decided to pass on the project based on an internal analysis of the IP, market conditions, and details of the production proposa. n the question of licensing, they replied that 'Alice' is an important part of EA’s overall game catalog, and selling or licensing it isn’t something they’re prepared to do right now.

In McGee's new video, the developer added:

I was emotionally quite destroyed by the fact that our proposal was rejected. Not only because we had invested so much into it as a community, and as creators, but also because I felt quite strongly that it presented a vision for something that was not only achievable but would have been quite beautiful if we had been allowed to pursue it.

"At the end of it all," McGee continues in the video, "the owners of the IP, Electronic Arts, made clear that they have no desire to see the Alice franchise continued by me or anyone else." The developer urges fans to "please just move on" and send any future questions, thoughts, or complaints to EA instead, as it's completely out of their control now.

 

[BennyBlanco]

I never played these games but they always looked cool. Also American McGee is the wildest name I’ve ever heard.

 

[Joshmyersbv]

Yeah EA was probably thinking the game wasn't going to make money.

 

[struggler_guts]

They said no to a sequel AND to selling the IP? So which is it EA, is it a deadend franchise or no?

 

[Soltype]

Wow, barely recognized him, also didn't know he was in china.

 

[jshackles]

They said no to a sequel AND to selling the IP? So which is it EA, is it a deadend franchise or no?

The older game sells on Steam and EA still for $20. It's also included in their EA Play subscription bundle on PCs and consoles. Hence, the "important part of EAs overall catalog" statement. I imagine that selling or licensing the IP would put their gravy train in jeopardy.

 

[FeralEcho]

Oh fuck off EA,if you don't want to continue the franchise just sell the IP to people that would do something with it instead of bullshitting everyone that it's an important IP when you've done jack shit with it for the past 12 fucking years.

 

[The Cockatrice]

Yeah EA was probably thinking the game wasn't going to make money.

So they just ransom the IP forever until someone with big bucks buys it. Shame.

 

[Oddvintagechap]

They said no to a sequel AND to selling the IP? So which is it EA, is it a deadend franchise or no?

idk depends, do they have full game rights to the Alice in Wonderland games?

 

[SlimeGooGoo]

.

 

[Mownoc]

idk depends, do they have full game rights to the Alice in Wonderland games?

They have the rights to American's Alice. Alice in Wonderland itself is public domain and anyone can make them. Though American signed something at EA which means he's not allowed to make any game related to Alice in Wonderland outside of them. So he's basically the only one in the world that can't.

 

[Mownoc]

They said no to a sequel AND to selling the IP? So which is it EA, is it a deadend franchise or no?

Yes this is what annoys me. They don't want to make a game... But they also won't let him buy the rights from them either.

If you don't want it sell it instead of killing it.

 

[Oddvintagechap]

They have the rights to American's Alice. Alice in Wonderland itself is public domain and anyone can make them. Though American signed something at EA which means he's not allowed to make any game related to Alice in Wonderland outside of them. So he's basically the only one in the world that can't.

sounds like he should make another dark version of another fairy tale.

 

[Sleepwalker]

Maybe, just maybe, the proposal was shit.