is system shock 3 out yet?

[67426555b657eTwist]

But as I understand it (and I could be wrong), Starbreeze is largely responsible for funding System Shock 3's development.  So this could be trouble.

[67426555b675dicemann]

Ah true. Unlike UA which was KS funded.

[67426555b68c2fox]

I am not sure how I would feel about it. That really depends on what this game is shaping up to be. A botched attempt to bring the franchise back would be worse then no release at all until someone picks the license up again, I think.

[67426555b69eeZanderat]

I think Night Dive ultimately owns the license.  So who knows?

[67426555b6aceicemann]

They may have fucked up Ultima Ascendent, but if they mess up System Shock 3, that'd be the end of them.

[67426555b6c68edx]

STARBREEZE AB (PUBL) INCLUDING FIVE SWEDISH SUBSIDIARIES HAVE TODAY FILED FOR RECONSTRUCTION
https://www.starbreeze.com/2018/12/starbreeze-ab-publ-including-five-swedish-subsidiaries-have-today-filed-for-reconstruction/

[67426555b6f40ThiefsieFool]

👋🏾

[67426555b7029fox]

It's still unclear what that actually means for System Shock 3.

[67426555b7150JosiahJack]

Night Dive owns the IP

[67426555b723ffox]

Yes, but Starbreeze was meant to be their Publisher and they were meant to boost the development budget by something  like $12 million, according to that announcement from back in May 2018.

[67426555b731cicemann]

They'd just get a new publisher then. Easy.

[67426555b7727JDoran]

They'd just get a new publisher then. Easy.

I know nothing about business, or finance, but I have heard game developers say (in articles on the 'net) that it can be hard to find a publisher, let alone one who might be asked to support the developer financially, especially if the game is out of the ordinary, and so unsure of a large buying demographic. And if System Shock 3 does turn out to be as complex and open as we're hoping, then it probably won't be seen as a future top selling game. Prey 2016 didn't sell well, apparently, and that's the closest recent game to System Shock 3 (unless SS3 really isn't the game we're hoping it is), so publishers likely won't expect too much revenue from publishing SS3.

[67426555b78d2icemann]

From what I know about publishers (both indirectly from what I've read and directly via actual discussion with games industry experience of nearly getting a publisher for Bipolar Game which I have up on Steam), is that there is QUITE a few of them out there. Each is different. Some (like EA) want control of the IP if their to assist financially + often request major changes to match up with current market trends (so you'd likely see more halo style gameplay introduced), other publishers request minor changes, and others request none at all. Very different from publisher to publisher.

Many of the games I've backed on KS eventually went with a publisher (often when they said they wouldnt) and in most cases were with companies I'd never heard of.

Back in the 80s - 90s bad publishing deals (often by EA and Activision) lead to the deaths of MANY small indie companies.

The negative side to them is that you often lose control of your IP (eg like what happened to Wasteland) and the profit ratio is often quite bad with them (80/20 or lower generally).

[67426555b7a0dfox]

Ugh, apparently there was a police raid at the Starbreeze offices because of insider trading that happened prior to the announcement that they filed for reconstruction.

EuroGamer: "Person arrested following Starbreeze office raid"

[67426555b7b2bedx]

Spector Delves into Underworld Ascendant and System Shock 3

https://www.escapistmagazine.com/v2/2018/12/21/spector-delves-into-underworld-ascendant-and-system-shock-3/

[67426555b7cbaGawain]

Interesting. Around 23:00 Spector says that Nightdive owns the trademark and OtherSide owns the copyright.

[67426555b7dc7Zanderat]

I *think* that ND owns with IP outright and that the SS3 logo and such are the copyrights that WS is referring to.

[67426555b7febMyagi]

https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2019-01-28-the-fall-of-swedish-game-wonder-starbreeze

Although the previous news already pointed in that direction. Given the mess, it sounds like someone will have to, or perhaps already had to, look for a new publisher. Unless they're into the playing lottery game. Just looking from afar, I unfortunately have a hard time believing that UA is able to pay for the next project.

[67426555b8193icemann]

It's the classic example of why not to release a game not yet ready, to meet a deadline.

[67426555b841dedx]

https://www.starbreeze.com/2019/02/starbreeze-sells-back-system-shock-3-publishing-rights-to-otherside-entertainment/

Starbreeze Sells Back System Shock 3 Publisher Rights to Otherside

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN (February 11, 2019) – Starbreeze and OtherSide Entertainment have mutually agreed to sell back the publishing rights to OtherSide Entertainment for “System Shock 3”. Starbreeze expects to be fully reimbursed for costs the company has had in connection with development of the game.

Starbreeze acquired the publishing rights for “System Shock 3” in 2017 and has since then partly financed the development of the game. The title owner OtherSide Entertainment and Starbreeze have now reached an agreement whereby Starbreeze returns the publishing rights for the game to OtherSide and will be able to recoup the development costs.

“I believe this is the best solution for us, although it is sad that we cannot complete the project with OtherSide. System Shock 3 is a fantastic title developed in cooperation with the industry legend Warren Spector and I am looking forward to seeing the game released”, said Mikael Nermark, acting CEO Starbreeze AB.

Edit:
Tweet from Stephen Kick: https://twitter.com/pripyatbeast/status/1095088688214695936

[67426555b857bicemann]

Hmm. Not sure how to feel on this one.

Wonder what Night Dive's opinion is of this one. Underworld Ascendant has been a bit of a misfire , though that could be turned around in time.

[67426555b895fedx]

Tweets from Otherside:

https://twitter.com/OtherSide_Games/status/1095332409510449152
https://twitter.com/Underworld_Asc/status/1095332577416638464
https://twitter.com/OtherSide_Games/status/1095332692776882177

We have very much enjoyed working with Starbreeze on System Shock 3. They've been a great partner.  However, in light of Starbreeze’s current situation, we decided together that it would be best for us to go our separate ways for now. We wish them the best of luck. (1/x)

OtherSide is rolling forward with System Shock 3. Warren Spector has built a great team and the game is more than halfway completed. (2/x)

At its core, it already feels like a System Shock game, while at the same time introducing new elements to the franchise. As the original creators of the game, we want to see this game made as much as our fans do.

Look for more information about System Shock 3 soon. (3/3)

EDIT: From the Otherside Forums:

https://www.othersideentertainment.com/forum/index.php?topic=8573.msg38696#new

In addition, via Warren:
We parted ways with Starbreeze (amicably), which means we are in the process of lining up a new publishing partner. Happily, given the pedigree of System Shock and the progress we've made so far there's been a lot of interest. Has the situation affected development? Not really. The team is still, as we say, 'psyched and cranking' - in other words, continuing as normal. We're confident we can bring System Shock 3 to market and have it take its place as a leading title in the immersive simulation gen[/quote]

[67426555b8b7fKolya]

They have to pay Starbreeze investments back, which means System Shock 3 HAS TO work out for them.
Considering they just released a lackluster sequel to another decades spanning RPG series, they may be under a bit of pressure.
What a way to raise the odds and lower the expectations. I really hope you'll surprise everybody, Otherside.

[67426555b8cd7fox]

"News and Visuals" for System Shock 3 to Be Revealed During Unity's GDC Keynote on March 18th