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Harry Tuttle is offline Harry Tuttle

Prince
of the Hoople Heads
Mar 2003
time: 00:16
  Old Post 25-11-2004 01:46
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Civ - Infogrames sells rights Support Apolyton, pre-order Civilization IV

http://apolyton.net/forums/showthre...threadid=125808

It could include Civ2, who knows.

CapTVK is offline CapTVK
King
Voorburg, the Netherlands, Europe
Jan 1970
time: 05:16
  Old Post 25-11-2004 02:00 Visit CapTVK's homepage!
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Any real info about this will eventually be available at the Edgar database. There's a good reason why Infogrames sold off those rights. They've got some substantial debt that needs to be paid off soon.

http://www.sec.gov/

CapTVK is offline CapTVK
King
Voorburg, the Netherlands, Europe
Jan 1970
time: 05:16
  Old Post 25-11-2004 02:06 Visit CapTVK's homepage!
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Hmmm....

http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/d...y68481e10vq.htm


quote:

IESA Liquidity

IESA has incurred significant continuing losses from operations and is highly leveraged. IESA owns, directly and indirectly, approximately 59% of our stock, distributes our products in Europe, Asia, and certain other regions, and pays us royalties in this respect. IESA also develops products which we distribute in the U.S., Canada, and their territories and possessions, and for which we pay royalties to IESA. As at September 30, 2004, royalty payments due and payable to us by IESA under our existing distribution agreement for the period then ended amounted to approximately $15.7 million. In addition, as at that same date, amounts due and payable to us by Atari Interactive and Paradigm, respectively, amounted to approximately $4.8 million and to $0.8 million, in respect of promissory notes.

On November 3, 2004, we entered into an agreement with IESA and several of its subsidiaries under which, in lieu of receiving payment on the above past due amounts, we transferred the amounts due to us from IESA and Paradigm to Atari Interactive in exchange for a secured promissory note (the “Secured Note”) from Atari Interactive that also includes in the initial principal amount the sums currently due to us from Atari Interactive and a $1.6 million note payment that would have been due from Atari Interactive on December 31, 2004, and interest on those amounts of approximately $0.1 million. Specifically, the Secured Note has a principal amount of approximately $23.1 million, will mature on March 31, 2005, bears annual interest at the prime rate plus 3.25%, and is secured by 2,000,000 shares of our common stock owned and pledged by Atari Interactive and by the rights, as owner, to the “Atari” trademark and the Fuji logo in North America (collectively, the “Collateral”). The “Atari” trademark and “Fuji” logo currently are owned by Atari Interactive and licensed to us through 2013 under the terms of the Trademark License Agreement, dated September 4, 2003.

If Atari Interactive fails to pay all outstanding principal and interest it owes to us in respect of the Secured Note when due on March 31, 2005, or if Atari Interactive otherwise defaults on its obligations to us thereunder, we will have the contractual right to foreclose on the Collateral. We have the right to apply royalties we will owe to Atari Interactive or to IESA or other if its subsidiaries in reduction of the Secured Note, instead of paying the royalties. Based on our projected royalty obligations to Atari Interactive, IESA and its other subsidiaries, we anticipate that by March 31, 2005, we will have applied most if not all of those amounts against amounts owed to us under the Secured Note.

In October 2004, IESA entered into an agreement with certain of its bank lenders under which it restructured the repayment terms of its debt obligations to those banks, extending the maturity dates thereof. IESA also entered into arrangements with certain of its banks in order to finance its operations through the upcoming holiday season.

rmsharpe is offline rmsharpe
Warlord
Minneapolis
Aug 2001
time: 23:16
  Old Post 25-11-2004 08:26
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Could this possibly mean release of the Civ2 source?

Harry Tuttle is offline Harry Tuttle

Prince
of the Hoople Heads
Mar 2003
time: 00:16
  Old Post 25-11-2004 08:44
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quote:
Originally posted by rmsharpe
Could this possibly mean release of the Civ2 source?


I dunno, but I did just update the letter. Please read it in the source code thread.

conmcb25 is offline conmcb25

Emperor
Angmar
Aug 2002
time: 23:16
  Old Post 25-11-2004 17:11 Visit conmcb25<br><a href=/members><img src=/forums/images/inmate-icon.gif border=0></a><BR>'s homepage!
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So who exactly did the CIV "rights" get sold too?

curtsibling is offline curtsibling
King
of the Kill!
May 2002
time: 05:16
  Old Post 25-11-2004 17:56 Visit curtsibling's homepage!
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I bought them!

(I wish...)

I hope this situation leads to the CIV2 source code being easier to attain...

Leonidas is offline Leonidas
King

May 2000
time: 05:16
  Old Post 25-11-2004 19:50
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THE CIVILIZATION SERIES HAS BEEN SOLD!


Industry News : Civilization Franchise Sold
Posted by Chris Abele @ 00:52 EST


Atari has sold the famed franchise to an unnamed buyer.


Blue's News directed our attention to today to a minor financial release with major news on an established franchise. Games publisher Atari quitely announced it had sold the rights to the Civilization franchise, the strategy game series it had owned since 1996. According to the release, Civilization was sold for 15.5 million euros, or about $20.1 million USD.

It is worth mentioning that Atari reported a net loss in its first six months of operations this year, from a loss of 9.8 million euros last year to 42.2 million in the most recent six months.

No buyer was noted in the transaction, but expect this to have a significant impact on the next Civilization game, which has been rumored to be in development at Firaxis, the longtime developer behind the series. For more on the Civilization series, consult our review of Civilization II or Civilization III.

CapTVK is offline CapTVK
King
Voorburg, the Netherlands, Europe
Jan 1970
time: 05:16
  Old Post 26-11-2004 01:41 Visit CapTVK's homepage!
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Ouch! Atari seems well on its way to becoming a penny stock.

Attachment: atari-4y.png
This has been downloaded 119 time(s).

CapTVK is offline CapTVK
King
Voorburg, the Netherlands, Europe
Jan 1970
time: 05:16
  Old Post 26-11-2004 01:49 Visit CapTVK's homepage!
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More news! Seems Atari/Infogrames still owns the rights to the older titles.

quote:


Civilization Sold
Infogrames unloads the franchise -- but to whom?
November 24, 2004 - European developer and publisher Infogrames mentioned in its first-half 2004/2005 financial report that the company sold the Civilization franchise. The sale resulted in a capital gain of 15.5 million euros (in excess of 20 million USD) for Infogrames.

The Civilization series of turn-based strategy games, created by Sid Meier, is one of the most recognized and acclaimed PC gaming franchises. The next title in the series, Civilization IV, is under development at Firaxis Games, Sid Meier's development company.

Though the identity of the franchise's new owner has not yet been disclosed, our sources were able to clarify the situation somewhat:


"Infogrames (parent company for Atari) has sold the rights to Civ IV. Atari however will continue to hold the publishing and distribution rights to all previously released Civilization games and expansion packs through October 2005."


No release date for Civilization IV has been announced, and it is unclear how the sale may affect the sequel's release. As more information emerges, rest assured we'll be back to let you know.
-- David Adams


curtsibling is offline curtsibling
King
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May 2002
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  Old Post 26-11-2004 02:08 Visit curtsibling's homepage!
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If Atari nosedive into liquidation -

I wonder what will become of all the old software code?

.....

CapTVK is offline CapTVK
King
Voorburg, the Netherlands, Europe
Jan 1970
time: 05:16
  Old Post 26-11-2004 02:15 Visit CapTVK's homepage!
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quote:
Originally posted by curtsibling
If Atari nosedive into liquidation -

I wonder what will become of all the old software code?

.....


Old titles do have some value attached (not much because the game itself is really dated and won't run as well on modern OS's). Companies seem more aware of retaining sourcecode these days so they'll probably be transferred to the new owner. Then again, weird stuff can happen in these sorts of situations.


We better get a move on before the vultures fly in and start pecking!

Skanky Burns is offline Skanky Burns
Deity
Skanky Bastard Quartermaster
Aug 2001
time: 14:16
  Old Post 26-11-2004 06:44
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Or put together some money of our own and aquire the rights to other software while they are in financial trouble.

ravagon is offline ravagon
King
Australia
Sep 1999
time: 13:16
Post  Old Post 26-11-2004 11:54
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Heh, unless you've been holding out on us and have a spare few mil squirreled away somewhere that's probably not going to happen ...


Harry

On the down side though, if Atari is having a financial 'situation' now may not be the best time to send a request for the source code - even for older products - as they may well be 're-evaluating' many of their assets.

Case is offline Case

King
The backlash starts here
Feb 2000
time: 15:16
  Old Post 26-11-2004 15:07 Visit Case<br><a href=/members><img src=/forums/images/supporter-icon.gif border=0></a><BR>'s homepage!
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quote:
Originally posted by CapTVK
Ouch! Atari seems well on its way to becoming a penny stock.


Hasn't it gone broke in the past?

Incidently, wasn't a fight over the rights to the Civ franchise one of the main factors that delayed Civ3? I vaugely recall that one of the reasons Civ 2: TOT did poorly was that it was released in direct competition with another Civ-style game.

CapTVK is offline CapTVK
King
Voorburg, the Netherlands, Europe
Jan 1970
time: 05:16
  Old Post 26-11-2004 22:33 Visit CapTVK's homepage!
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quote:
Originally posted by Case


Hasn't it gone broke in the past?



At least twice. Once in the 80's during the great videogame crash when it almost dragged the Warner concern with it. Atari was split up in an arcade company (Tengen) and Atari computers. Which was bought by Jack Tramiel. Both of them went bust in the early 90's.

CapTVK is offline CapTVK
King
Voorburg, the Netherlands, Europe
Jan 1970
time: 05:16
  Old Post 26-11-2004 22:35 Visit CapTVK's homepage!
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quote:
Originally posted by Case


Incidently, wasn't a fight over the rights to the Civ franchise one of the main factors that delayed Civ3? I vaugely recall that one of the reasons Civ 2: TOT did poorly was that it was released in direct competition with another Civ-style game.


That was a trademark case over Call to Power (CtP). Initially Activision wanted to call it : "Civilization : Call to Power". Hasbro was not amused back then.

curtsibling is offline curtsibling
King
of the Kill!
May 2002
time: 05:16
  Old Post 26-11-2004 23:01 Visit curtsibling's homepage!
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The lesson here is not to start a software games company!

These companies always end up under pressure financially...

I have been employed in the software industry before, and can testify to this!


Case is offline Case

King
The backlash starts here
Feb 2000
time: 15:16
  Old Post 27-11-2004 03:52 Visit Case<br><a href=/members><img src=/forums/images/supporter-icon.gif border=0></a><BR>'s homepage!
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There was a good article in the New York Times a few days ago about working conditions at Electronic Arts. Aparently, high-pressure 60-80 hour weeks are the norm, and the pay and benefits aren't very good.

...As this isn't unusual in the software industry, I'm glad I changed out of my IT degree after one year!

Exile is offline Exile
King
of the Benighted Realms
Sep 2000
time: 23:16
  Old Post 01-12-2004 02:45
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If these companies go belly-up, then enforcement disappears, doesn't it? At that point, if the source code somehow gets "out" who is going to object? Bring suit?

Nobody.

Might make it easier to procure.

And despite all my yearnings, Fir-crap-sis staggers onward, somehow immune to the disasters that appear to have laid low the parent/associated companies.

Damn.

CapTVK is offline CapTVK
King
Voorburg, the Netherlands, Europe
Jan 1970
time: 05:16
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quote:
Originally posted by Exile
If these companies go belly-up, then enforcement disappears, doesn't it? At that point, if the source code somehow gets "out" who is going to object? Bring suit?



Not really, if bankrupcy occurs and the games library (plus trademarks) isn't taken over by a company software titles will get into the hands of creditors "real creditors" (aka "I need collateral on my loans"). To them it is perceived to have some sort of value. It isn't simply thrown away.

There's only one case I recall were software got out and that was with the Falcon 4.0 source.

curtsibling is offline curtsibling
King
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May 2002
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  Old Post 01-12-2004 03:27 Visit curtsibling's homepage!
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quote:
Originally posted by Case
There was a good article in the New York Times a few days ago about working conditions at Electronic Arts. Aparently, high-pressure 60-80 hour weeks are the norm, and the pay and benefits aren't very good.

...As this isn't unusual in the software industry, I'm glad I changed out of my IT degree after one year!


This is sadly true...Games companies are just as demanding as the firms in any other industry.

Great empires are always built on the backs of enslaved creative staff!

Sarsstock is offline Sarsstock
Prince

Nov 2003
time: 05:16
  Old Post 02-12-2004 01:30
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Yes I can understand those conditions. A very good friend of mine was until recently a story writer at Rockstar North, the developers of the Grand Theft Auto series and such. Micro-managment, unpaid overtime, obscene deadlines and overall indesisive managment took what was originally his dream job and turned it into a job he had to walk away from.

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