Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

Even if the franchise dies, it doesn't mean that this forum of these people will go their separate ways. Look already, the OT posts probably outnumber the on topic posts!

Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

Eh, it probably means he just wants to retire and either there won't be an SE6 or it will suck horribly... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif But really, did we expect him to keep working on Space Empires this long? I was a bit surprised even to hear the official announcement of SE5 http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif
Still, I fear that Strategy First might be about to "Crisium" Malfador - i.e. buy out SE5 and then just drop any plans to publish it, much as happened to Crisium's Stars! Supernova... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif It makes absolutely no business sense, though, unless they're developing something of their own which might compete with SE5... in which case we might just be in for a treat rather than a disappointment... you never know...

Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

That’s true and I should have been more clear about my comment; my bad. By go our separate ways I intended to refer to the moding topics and any one who comes here for those bits of insight; how many members that would be I can’t speculate as I have been gone for a very long time. Anyway it was a very poor choice of wording but hay, it is late at night and I am getting sleepy.

Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

You can add the paper back slash board game StarFire to that list. Same deal as you describe; bought the rights than introduced a competing game and killed the old version. In the case of the new version it was a massive disappointment!

Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

SE:V is getting close to being ready for release so I doubt that would happen. I guess I'm just nervous about the loss of our influence on future patches/titles losing our direct line to Aaron. And the potential that the title might be controlled by someone who isn't familiar with the series.

Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

Personally I think after SE5, the franchise will have run its course... I mean, what else can you do with it, make a FPS game out of it? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif The only thing left to do is to iteratively improve the game, and while I haven't seen SE5, if it's as good as I think it will be, I think there's not much room for improvement http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

Actually, it'll probably be a good thing if they have really purchased Malfador. I know we all support Aaron, and he has a tremendous community behind him, but right now Malfador is just a one man show. Creating a game as ambitions as SEV is probably taxing him terribly.

Strategy First is an established game publishing biz with a pretty good reputation. With some financial backing maybe Aaron will finally be able to hire a dedicated development team.

Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

Established... ok, I can grant you that. Pretty good reputation? I don't think so... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif Not after the bankruptcy debacle http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/rolleyes.gif
edit: oh, and did I mention their penchant for publishing things which the original developer claims they (SF) no longer have the rights to, such as "Uplink: Hacker Elite"? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/rolleyes.gif

Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

Lots of doooomsaying going on, as is expected from a message board.

I suggest to relax, have a drink, and see what happens.

This could actually be a move for the better. At any rate, I hope Aaron has gotten a good deal out of this.

Re: Strategy First buys Malfador Machinations
 

Theres was thing going on with them selling the orignal GalCiv again witout Stardocks permission, not sure what happened