EA/Dice's business practices....

[bob4432]

In September of 2004, Digital Illusions CE (DICE) purchased New York City-based Trauma Studios, makers of the popular Desert Combat mod for its World War II shooter Battlefield 1942. Over the next nine months, DICE put Trauma to work on Battlefield 2 and "a new PC game based on the Battlefield 2 engine." However, less than a week after Battlefield 2 went gold, DICE announced that it was shutting down Trauma and shorting the crew $200,000 of the originally agreed upon acquisition price of $500,000.

maybe a lot of people knew this but i found it to be a pretty sad way to do business

 

[flashbacck]

I can't believe Trauma sold themselves for only $500k. I'd think the Desert Combat trademark is worth way more than that.

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: flashbacck
I can't believe Trauma sold themselves for only $500k. I'd think the Desert Combat trademark is worth way more than that.

i was surprised by that too. trauma got raped

 

[pontifex]

wow, doesn't surprise me though.

i just bought C&C: The First Decade and people are already having issues with the
games.

i guess i should have learned after buying BF2 and Black and White 2.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: flashbacck
I can't believe Trauma sold themselves for only $500k. I'd think the Desert Combat trademark is worth way more than that.

they only got $300k

 

[Tommouse]

Yea poor trauma, got the shaft. I rember being excited when they were bought, because the community was actually recognized, and now they bone the people that helped to keep the community alive.

 

[Skunkwourk]

I don't know crap about acquisitions, but shouldn't the amount be presented up front?

 

[everman]

Originally posted by: Eghck
I don't know crap about acquisitions, but shouldn't the amount be presented up front?

It depends on the terms of the agreement. It may have been $300k up front plus an additional amount if certain conditions were met.

 

[Chadder007]

Read my Sig....

 

[nova2]

http://videogames.yahoo.com/newsarticle?eid=435100&page=0

q
Now, core members from the Battlefield-scarred Trauma Studios are back in the fight, with the backing of THQ.

Tomorrow, the publisher will officially announce that is has created Kaos Studios, a new development studio headed up by Trauma expatriates who are once again working together in New York City. The group's first project, due in 2007, is based on a new intellectual property and is scheduled for release on the PC as well as next-generation consoles.

Kaos joins a stable of 12 THQ-owned studios including Relic (Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War, The Outfit), Volition (Saint's Row, Red Faction), Rainbow Studios (MX vs. ATV Unleashed), and Heavy Iron (The Incredibles: Rise of the Underminer). THQ is currently advertising 14 open positions at Kaos through its online career center.

Former Trauma Studios president and current Kaos lead designer Frank DeLise and THQ senior vice president of business development Dan Kelly recently spoke with GameSpot about how the new studio came to be and where it's headed.
/q