Quake Wars' Wedgewood: If a Publisher Buys You - You Die
But: things not too bad for UK industry
As controversy swirls around the future of Vivendi-owned studios following the company's merger with Activision, Paul Wedgwood of Enemy Territory Quake Wars developer Splash Damage told SPOnG that studios that are bought by publishers probably don't have a future.
Asked by SPOnG, in light of the doom and gloom some seem to perceive around the UK games industry, how he sees our home-grown offering, Wedgwood said, “I don't really see... I mean, I see publishers shutting studios that they've bought, but then I'm anti publisher-owned independent studios anyway. That just follows my perspective of how I think things will turn out – if you get bought by a publisher you probably don't have a future."
Earlier in the week, Activision Blizzard said that it is “exploring options”, including "divestiture" of Birmingham-based Swordfish Studios. Swordfish is among several once-independent Vivendi studios that are facing "realignment" or having their options explored.
On a brighter note for our guys based in good old Albion, Wedgwood went on, “For the UK industry as a whole, though, I think people like Rockstar North, Ninja Theory, Rebellion, Relentless, Splash Damage – we'd probably argue that there isn't a problem with the games industry in the UK.”
Keep your eyes on SPOnG for the full interview soon.
Asked by SPOnG, in light of the doom and gloom some seem to perceive around the UK games industry, how he sees our home-grown offering, Wedgwood said, “I don't really see... I mean, I see publishers shutting studios that they've bought, but then I'm anti publisher-owned independent studios anyway. That just follows my perspective of how I think things will turn out – if you get bought by a publisher you probably don't have a future."
Earlier in the week, Activision Blizzard said that it is “exploring options”, including "divestiture" of Birmingham-based Swordfish Studios. Swordfish is among several once-independent Vivendi studios that are facing "realignment" or having their options explored.
On a brighter note for our guys based in good old Albion, Wedgwood went on, “For the UK industry as a whole, though, I think people like Rockstar North, Ninja Theory, Rebellion, Relentless, Splash Damage – we'd probably argue that there isn't a problem with the games industry in the UK.”
Keep your eyes on SPOnG for the full interview soon.
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