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Take2 acquires Firaxis

www.gamasutra.com

November 7, 2005

Take-Two Acquires Firaxis Games
Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. has announced the acquisition of Maryland-headquartered Firaxis Games, home of industry icon Sid Meier and developer of the Civilization franchise, which Take-Two has recently been publishing, as well as Sid Meier’s Pirates! and other titles.

Firaxis Games joins the 2K Games publishing label of Take-Two Interactive, and financial details of the deal were not initially disclosed. Firaxis itself was founded in 1996 by Jeff Briggs, with Jeff taking the role as Company President and CEO and Sid Meier as Director of Creative Development – continuing a creative partnership that began at MicroProse Software in 1990. The company's full range of published titles include Sid Meier's Civilization series, Sid Meier's SimGolf, the Sid Meier's Civil War series!, and the Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri series.

“Firaxis Games, founded and led by industry executive Jeff Briggs, and inspired by the genius of Sid Meier, is among the most innovative and successful development studios in the industry,” said Christoph Hartmann, Managing Director of 2K Games. "The Firaxis and 2K Games union is a strong fusion of creativity and vision that will continue to result in the development of innovative games with mass appeal. We’re excited to welcome Jeff, Sid and the entire Firaxis team to the 2K family.”

“This is a tremendous opportunity for Firaxis,” said Jeff Briggs, Founder, President and CEO of Firaxis Games. “2K Games is an energetic label that shares our goals and vision for making great games that stand the test of time. We are pleased to be associated with the energy and commitment to quality work that 2K represents, and look forward to a great future together.”

"2K Games has already been a tremendous partner to Firaxis in the marketing and release of Sid Meier’s Pirates! and Sid Meier’s Civilization IV. We’re excited about all of the possibilities ahead of us as we work together to explore new ideas, new products and new consumer markets,” said Sid Meier, Director of Creative Development at Firaxis Games.
 
Saw that coming. The last year firaxis was with atari, they never received a check and pirates pc/xbox didnt do so hot. Prolly for the best.
 
Mashing said:
If 2K games was responsible for the QA in Civ IV, then I fear for the future.
it was a direct result of 2k pushing the date up 2-3 weeks, virtually cutting all post-asset lock QA testing...that and the fact that the game was buggy to begin with.
 
Saw this happening, but not this soon. Though it is another case of a publisher/developer relationship reaching its logical conclusion. (The Activison Effect)
 
jamesinclair said:
Damnit.

2K rushed the game out, and theyll do that next time as well.

Infogrames rushed Civ3 out as well. The problems with Civ4 isn't as severe was the problems Firaxis had with Civ3, but then agian, Firaxis wasn't bought right after Civ3 was released. The final Civ3 patch that came out in early 2002 more or less 'completed' the game.

My concern now is Take2 is going to come in and impose some sort of patching dealine that is going to screw up Civ4 vanilla version for another year until of course the XP comes out when it fixes the vanilla version buygs but adds its own bugs and problems.
 
Deku said:
Infogrames rushed Civ3 out as well. The problems with Civ4 isn't as severe was the problems Firaxis had with Civ3, but then agian, Firaxis wasn't bought right after Civ3 was released. The final Civ3 patch that came out in early 2002 more or less 'completed' the game.

My concern now is Take2 is going to come in and impose some sort of patching dealine that is going to screw up Civ4 vanilla version for another year until of course the XP comes out when it fixes the vanilla version buygs but adds its own bugs and problems.

I didnt find Civ 3 to be that buggy, and I bought it a few weeks after it came out.
 
jamesinclair said:
I didnt find Civ 3 to be that buggy, and I bought it a few weeks after it came out.

Trust me it was. There was 1 crush bug, but most of its bugs were gameplay, including major AI problems.
 
Yusaku said:
EA IS SCREWING US AGAIN.

oh wai

Sure they are, if EA wouldn't keep acquiring developers at breakneak pace, Take Two wouldn't have to follow suit.

fucking EA... everything leads back to those EA bastards.
 
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