Microsoft closes FASA studio

[Modelworks]

They started out good and just went downhill.
I liked the mechwarrior series.



http://www.gamasutra.com/php-b..._index.php?story=15486

FASA Studio manager Mitch Gitelman has confirmed that that the Shadowrun developer is to close, following months of rumours to that effect, with today being the last day of employment for those not reassigned within Microsoft Game Studios.

Posting on the official Shadowrun forums, FASA Studio manager Mitch Gitelman has confirmed that that developer is to close, following months of rumors to that effect. Around half of the studio?s staff has been offered positions elsewhere at Microsoft Game Studios and the wider Microsoft structure, with the remainder leaving the company today.

Although Shadowrun was criticized before its released for adapting the popular role-playing franchise as a shoot ?em-up it was still a minor critical and commercial success. The company is also well known for Crimson Skies and the MechWarrior series and its spin-offs.

FASA Studio was an off-shot of tabletop role-playing publisher FASA Corporation, who ceased operations in 2001 but still hold lucrative intellectual properties such as BattleTech and MechWarrior. Microsoft acquired FASA Interactive in 1999, after which point the company?s various properties became PC and Xbox exclusives.

 

[TuxDave]

No more mechwarrior?

 

[Thor86]

Originally posted by: TuxDave
No more mechwarrior?

 

[MmmSkyscraper]

MechWarrior 2 FTW!

 

[lupi]

I heard a story a couple weeks ago that the Fasa name was going away after shadowrun and that there would be a return to developing 'Tech products.

 

[Skott]

MW2 was a great game! The series went down hill after that though IMHO.

 

[novasatori]

MW2 Mercenaries was good.

I also enjoyed Mech Commander 2, and Mechwarrior 4: Mercenaries.

So are they still going to make BattleTech/Mechwarrior games, or is it done now, until someone else picks up the licensing?

 

[manly]

Originally posted by: MmmSkyscraper
MechWarrior 2 FTW!

:thumbsup:

 

[FreedomGUNDAM]

damn, I have played all the Mechwarrior/Battletech games starting from the board game on.

I was hoping they would produce a new Mechwarrior game

 

[Elcs]

I have owned and played every Mechwarrior and Mechcommander game since MW2, which was my first PC game along with the GBL ex pack.

I am gutted, more heartbroken that they have dumped an entire studio with a concept, background and fan follwing with so much potential as Battletech.

Steiner, Davion, Draconis Combine... The Clans, Alexandr Kerensky.... After the Clan invasion was being turned on its head, I rather lost the story but MW2 was touted as 31st Century Combat, come on MS that gives you 10 whole centuries of combat and story to play with.

Not to mention graphics. MW2 was godawful looking but so did everything back then Mechwarrior 3 looked awesome, probably the best of the series. Mechwarrior 4 looked a little better, didnt introduce much new and poorer than its predecessor but still awesome fun.

End of an Era, sorely missed. That sums up my entire post (rant).

 

[Skott]

I doubt MS (I'm assuming they hold the title rights) will make a MW game unless there's a strong demand for it. Game companies try to appeal to masses now more than ever. I dont see a strong demand right now. Maybe some day.

 

[shortylickens]

Good.
Maybe some other software company will strike a deal with FASA and produce some halfway decent games.

 

[Noema]

I loved Mechwarrior 2. It was my first CD-ROM game

 

[JSt0rm]

The first mechwarrior game was good as well. Autocannon 5 to the head from accross the board blew it clean off. Alwasy had so much fun blowing away body parts or trying to salvage as much as possible. The game was totally open ended just like the Mercenaries series. I think the merc series was just better then the others. Hopefully someone will pick that up because mech combat isn't something that doesnt appeal to the masses and that universe was so rich it just makes sense to keep it going. I want to see a game set in 3025 before the clan invasion and with all the great houses reduced to primitive tech levels.