38 Studios belated Eulogy

July 13, 2012

by Andrea Emmes

It seems like just yesterday when I first heard about the now defunct new gaming studio, 38 Studios. Ok, well actually it was three years ago at a Comic Con panel featuring owner and former baseball great, Curt Schilling, Elder Scrolls legend, Ken Rolston, Sci-Fi guru, R.A. Salvatore and creature creator god, Todd McFarlane. I have to admit, I was geeking out a little too much that day when I sat right up front, eyes wide open, soaking in all of the glorious details about their soon to be released RPG Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning. The presentation was exciting, the videos of game play were beautiful and Todd McFarlane was hilarious.

My mom was thrilled! Oh, not because she’s a gamer, lol, not in the least, but because they had an office in New England–Providence, RI. Seeing as I was soon to graduate with a game design degree, my mom has been chomping at the bit to get me to come back home to RI so I could live closer to her. Now, as awesome as that would be to be around family again, because I miss them terribly, there was something that just didn’t set right with me about trying to find a job at 38 Studios.

Good thing I listened to my instincts. It is amazing to me that someone like Curt Schilling, who was able to snag some of the top creative minds in the industry, but some how  just could not seem to attract the best business team to keep themselves from being default! OO, Rhode Island was pissed that he wasn’t paying the $75 million that they invested in him. My mom was furious. She would call me every day with updates on the latest debacle.

It’s too bad actually, because the game looked amazing, you can’t go wrong with the creative talent attached to it. Honestly, I still haven’t bought the game, although I do plan to, but only when the price goes down.

It’s sad too, because it looked like they had a follow up game that could have been promising, Project Copernicus. As I’m sure most of you have seen the leaked trailer. If not, here it is in all its glory.

I am sure that Rolston, Salvatore and McFarlane will have no problems in finding work and continuing on their amazing contributions to the gaming world. Sadly, I think Schilling might need to go back to baseball and playing his games at home.

I wonder if my autographed limited edition Kingdoms of Alamur poster, signed by Schilling, Salvatore, Rolston and McFarlane will be worth anything. It’s a little banged up from being in my garage for the past three years, but still.

Let the bidding begin!

All in all, good-bye dear 38 Studios. You came, you tried, you died. We will remember you, sadly not because of your successes but because of your demise.

R.I.P

Game On Curt…Game On–Andrea