Support NeoGAF

[DarienA]

David Perry, president of Atari-owned Shiny Entertainment, has resigned in order to find a buyer for the studio.

The news of the resignation comes just after last week's announcement that Atari will be cutting 20 percent of its workforce and selling off its internal development studios - one of which is Shiny.

Perry, who founded Shiny in 1993, believes that he could help facilitate the sale of his studio by "hitting the streets" himself.

"If I'm an employee of Atari, then I'd be stepping all over them," he told the Orange County Register. "This way, I'm representing a buyer. I can act swiftly and get buyers on the table. I pitched Shiny last time and got $47 million."

While he cannot make the decision to sell Shiny himself, he does think that he can create a decent stir or even a "bidding war" amongst potential buyers. Atari bought Shiny from Interplay in 2002 for the aforemention $47 million price tag.

Perry actually resigned last Thursday, one day before Atari officially announced its widespread layoffs. He claims that he has already generated "a lot of interest" amongst his contacts regarding the sale.

Shiny is responsible for Earthworm Jim, MDK, Wild9, Enter the Matrix and The Matrix: Path of New, among other titles.

Next Gen

old?

Holy shit?

Lol?

 

[Ghost]

I will give him $5.

 

[LakeEarth]

Tomorrow's Press Release : Shiny announces first good game in 8 years

 

[Shinobi]

Maybe Tommy Tallrico will buy them.

 

[koam]

Tomorrow's Press Release : Shiny announces first good game in 8 years

New Earthworm Jim? Sweet!

 

[Dr_Cogent]

I can't think of one Shiny game I give a crap about.

Not one single one.

 

[Waku]

<3

<3 <3

<3 <3 <3

 

[Kolgar]

Sure, Earthworm Jim was good. But was that really a product of Dave Perry himself?

And it must be said: those two Matrix games were troubled. The latest was a travesty.

This industry needs better product than that.

 

[DarienA]

Sure, Earthworm Jim was good. But was that really a product of Dave Perry himself?

And it must be said: those two Matrix games were troubled. The latest was a travesty.

This industry needs better product than that.

Wait are you saying Path of Neo was worse than Enter the Matrix? In what reality? That's not to say Path was some great game...

 

[Deadly Monk]

Good news.

I wonder how much Perry is worth?

 

[jarosh]

 

[gofreak]

Why would Perry himself be courting suitors for Shiny? I don't really understand this.

 

[PhoenixDark]

I await Perry's arrival at GAF.

 

[Dr_Cogent]

Why would Perry himself be courting suitors for Shiny? I don't really understand this.

Couldn't he make money off the deal if it was bought out?

 

[Boards of Canada]

:lol :lol :lol

 

[NG_Kris]

MDK will always hold a special place in my heart... *tear*

I'm mean c'mon... you've got a friggin' sniper rifle attached to your head. That's even cooler than a shark with a laser attached to its head.

 

[gofreak]

Couldn't he make money off the deal if it was bought out?

I thought Atari bought Shiny off him (and whomever else where the owners?). Or does he still have some stake?

If not, I guess if he arranged a buyout he could take a fee for consultancy or something, but that seems like a very odd move to make.

 

[Dr_Cogent]

I thought Atari bought Shiny off him (and whomever else where the owners?).

I guess if he arranged a buyout he could take a fee for consultancy or something, but that seems like a very odd move to make.

Well, since I'm figuring everyone in this world is motivated by money, I figured money had to be some sort of a factor somehow.

 

[SolidSnakex]

"I pitched Shiny last time and got $47 million."

Heh I wonder if he'll manage to even get that for them now.

 

[tralfazz]

That's my Jpg of the year right there. :lol :lol :lol

 

[Dr. Kitty Muffins]

Maybe he is planning on getting a group of investors together, own a small percentage of Shiny when they buy it and take back his spot as head of the company he founded?



Um, duh.

 

[Duckhuntdog]

Doug Tenaple has a huge smile on his face after hearing this.

 

[guise]

Excellent!

 

[Kung Fu Jedi]

Shiney use to be a good developer who made some fun games. But I can't think of anything from them that I have enjoyed in years. Is Perry still considered an important person in the industry? Back in the old days, he had some influence and was a respected developer, but I have to believe those days are long gone now.

 

[SnakeXs]

I care...

Spoiler

No, I don't...

...

Spoiler

Thread made it worth it. Thanks GAF.

 

[Stench]

 

[I <3 Katamari]

Sure, Earthworm Jim was good. But was that really a product of Dave Perry himself?

And it must be said: those two Matrix games were troubled. The latest was a travesty.

This industry needs better product than that.

Uh dude, not that the new Matrix game is all that great, but it's without question better than EtM.

 

[BobJustBob]

 

[Kung Fu Jedi]

Messiah had Molyneaux-esgue levels of Hype behind it!

 

[jamesb23]

Not surprisingly, that NextGen article leaves out one very important detail: Perry said that he plans to rejoin Shiny after he helps Atari find the right buyer for the studio.

 

[Agent Icebeezy]

The Next-Gen Mag cover to this game is one of the coolest ever.

 

[callous]

I kinda liked Messiah, but dear god was it buggy.

Does this mean we don't have to listen to any more of his marvelous industry predictions and insights?

 

[Mario]

Why would Perry himself be courting suitors for Shiny? I don't really understand this.

He explained that at a talk at GDC last year (he has actually already sold Shiny twice).

Can't remember the exact reasons but was something to do with increasing his own individual value (through brokering the deal) and adding value to those who still had minor shareholdings from memory.

 

[Dr_Cogent]

Messiah had Molyneaux-esgue levels of Hype behind it!

:lol

 

[Mejilan]

Shiny is an overrated mess of a studio that ceased to be relevant almost a decade ago. IMHO, of course.

 

[masud]

Bidding war?
:lol :lol :lol

 

[NordicWally1C]

Dave was brought over from the UK by Virgin Games, back in the 7th Guest era of 1991. That's where he got is rep, on Virgin's Aladdin (and to a smaller extent, Cool Spot). Dave started Shiny in 1993 - as I recall, several of the Virgin folks he'd worked with joined Shiny.

I believe the creative force behind the EWJ games was Doug TenNapel.

As far as I can recall, Shiny's only been sold once - to Atari in 2002 for $47 million (a lot of that went to pay off debts).

I'm not too surprised he left. Most companies, when bought out, contractually bind the officers of the company to staying around 3-5 years - that would have been April, 2005.

As an Atari employee, he could not go out and drum up investors to buy Atari unless Atari asked/told him to. That would be a vioation of his employment contract, I'm sure. As a free agent, he can do what he wants.

 

[Mario]

As far as I can recall, Shiny's only been sold once - to Atari in 2002 for $47 million (a lot of that went to pay off debts).

Shiny has been sold twice.

From gamasutra.com

"Dave Perry. Mr. Perry is a well known developer and founder Shiny Studios (now part of Atari), creator of Earthworm Jim, MDK, and most recently, The Matrix. His company was originally sold to Interplay in 1995, and then re-sold to Atari in April 2002."

 

[jooey]

you guys nintendo should buy them

think of what reggie could do for them

he's a great motivator

 

[Merlin]

Does he still have his bandana?

 

[Rhindle]

Shiny has been sold twice.

From gamasutra.com

"Dave Perry. Mr. Perry is a well known developer and founder Shiny Studios (now part of Atari), creator of Earthworm Jim, MDK, and most recently, The Matrix. His company was originally sold to Interplay in 1995, and then re-sold to Atari in April 2002."

Yeah, it sounds like he's angling to buy the company back from Atari.

It should go for a lot less than $47 million. What Atari paid for in 2002 was mostly the exclusively Matrix license. That's worth little if anything today.

 

[GDJustin]

Not surprisingly, that NextGen article leaves out one very important detail: Perry said that he plans to rejoin Shiny after he helps Atari find the right buyer for the studio.

.

And there you have it.

This is non news.

 

[choplifter]

Shiny is an overrated mess of a studio that ceased to be relevant almost a decade ago. IMHO, of course.

IAWTP

 

[GDGF]

I guess he finally figured out that he was a hack.

 

[krypt0nian]

Shiny lol.

 

[GDGF]

I actually thought that the talent from Shiny left when that one guy went out on his own to startup Neversoft (or was it Neverhood?)

 

[No.1]

Wish him the best. I've meet the guy on numerious occasions, and he just loves his job. So if he's trying to put out his neck for the sake of the company then I wish him the best.

I just hope he finds a better buyer that'll let the company do their own work rather than work on stupid franchisers such as The Matrix. They are a creative company but with the restriction of The Matrix franchise it's a little hard to expand on such a shitty concept.

 

[krypt0nian]

I just hope he finds a better buyer that'll let the company do their own work rather than work on stupid franchisers such as The Matrix. They are a creative company but with the restriction of The Matrix franchise it's a little hard to expand on such a shitty concept.

Both games were BROKEN. Had nothing to do with the license. Only sloppy unprefessional money grubbing coding.

Expand on good gameplay first. :lol

 

[Mario]

I just hope he finds a better buyer that'll let the company do their own work rather than work on stupid franchisers such as The Matrix. They are a creative company but with the restriction of The Matrix franchise it's a little hard to expand on such a shitty concept.

As far as I am aware Dave hooked up the Matrix license in the first place. Certainly Shiny was working with the Matrix license before Atari bought them.

http://ps2.ign.com/articles/358/358019p1.html

 

[sonikokaruto]

the only good game was earthworm jim deluxe (Sega cd).