38 Studios
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38 Studios
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| Former type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer and video games |
| Fate | Dissolved |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Defunct | 2012 |
| Headquarters | Providence, Rhode Island, U.S. |
| Key people | Curt Schilling (Founder and Chairman) Jennifer MacLean (CEO) R. A. Salvatore (Director of Creative Content) Todd McFarlane (Executive Art Director) |
| Employees | 309 |
| Subsidiaries | Big Huge Games |
| Website | www.38studios.com |
38 Studios, formerly Green Monster Games, was the entertainment and IP development company founded by Major League Baseball pitcher Curt Schilling and named for his jersey number. In February 2012 the company released its only title Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, a single-player action role-playing game for several platforms.
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Contents
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History
The company was focused on a MMORPGs, which its CEO Schilling has a passion for. At the start of spring training in 2007, the company was renamed from Green Monster Games to 38 Studios to give a "... more accurate reflection of what our company is working to achieve."
Contrary to popular belief, Schilling has stated that the company's original name was not taken from the wall in Fenway Park. He is quoted on the Fires of Heaven Guild message boards, posting under his EQ characters name, Ngruk, saying, "The GMG name was—and I know this is going to be impossible to believe—not named after the left-field wall at Fenway. The name was made up by someone who knew next to nothing about baseball and isn't even from this country."[1]
In 2006, the company leased 30,000 sq ft (3,000 m²) of office space in downtown Maynard, Massachusetts at the historic Clock Tower.[2] CEO of the company is Jennifer MacLean, formerly of Comcast,[3] CTO is Jon Laff formerly of Electronic Arts.
On April 17, 2008, Massively.com announced that Lead Designer Travis McGeathy from Sony Online Entertainment's Everquest was hired by 38 Studios.[4]
On May 27, 2009, 38 Studios acquired Rise of Nations developer Big Huge Games from THQ.[5]
In July 2010, The Rhode Island board of Economic Development approved a $75 million guaranteed loan to 38 Studios. 38 Studios has promised to bring 450 jobs to the state by the end of 2012.[6]
On November 3, 2010, 38 Studios announced the closure of its $75 million financing package in conjunction with the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation and the relocation of the Maynard, Massachusetts development studio to its new location in Providence, One Empire Plaza, in early 2011.[7]
On April 8, 2011, 38 Studios began relocation from the Maynard, Massachusetts location to the new studio home in Providence, Rhode Island. Over 160 employees began working in the new space on April 12, exceeding agreed upon job creation and relocation milestones.[8]
The company simultaneously developed two initial products. The first, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, a single-player game, was released in North America on February 7, 2012 and in Europe on February 10, 2012.[9] Reckoning was introduced to the public at the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con International convention. The second product is a massive multiplayer online game, yet-to-be released and under development with the working title "Project Copernicus". A release date for Copernicus has not yet been announced.[10] Best-selling author R. A. Salvatore created over ten thousand years of lore for the Amalur IP, and Todd McFarlane provided art direction for both products.
On May 13, 2012, the state of Rhode Island became concerned over the finances of 38 Studios after the company missed a scheduled payment.[11] On May 17th, it was reported that the company attempted to make the missed loan payment with a $1.12M check. The company later informed the state that there was insufficient funds to cover the check, and it was returned by the state. In a potentially related development, the executive director of Rhode Island's Economic Development Corporation, Keith Stokes, resigned from his position.[12] Further compounding issues, 38 Studios missed payroll to all employees for the same week. The payment was made to the state on May 18 in the form of a $1,025,000 wire transfer and a $100,000 personal check from an unnamed source.[13]
On May 23, 2012, WPRI reported that both CEO Jennifer Maclean and Senior Vice President of Product Development John Blakely have updated their LinkedIn profiles to show that as of May 2012 both have left the company.[14]
On May 24, 2012, 38 Studios laid off all of its employees with reports stating that the studio is no more.[15]
Games developed
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- North American Release Date: February 7, 2012
- European Release Date: February 10, 2012
- Project Copernicus (MMO) - Unreleased
References
- ^ "FOH Post". FOHguild.org. 2007-02-22. http://www.fohguild.org/forums/mmorpg-general-discussion/24711-green-monster-games-curt-schilling-53.html?highlight=Wall#post672013.
- ^ "Schilling's game company rents space in Maynard". Boston.com. 2006-10-30. http://www.boston.com/business/ticker/2006/10/schillings_game_1.html. Retrieved 2006-10-30.
- ^ "38 Studios Appoints Jennifer MacLean as CEO". 38 Studios. 2009-08-21. http://www.38studios.com/news/show/101. Retrieved 2009-09-11.
- ^ "Ex-EverQuest Lead Designer to join 38 Studios" from Massively.com
- ^ "38 Studios Acquires Big Huge Games". gamasutra.com. 2009-05-27. Archived from the original on 28 May 2009. http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=23775. Retrieved 2009-05-27.
- ^ "Curt Schilling’s video-game company gets $75-million loan to come to R.I.". Providence Journal. 2010-07-27. Archived from the original on 31 July 2010. http://www.projo.com/news/content/38_Studios_vote__07-27-10_JIJB71G_v18.3dd3796.html. Retrieved 2010-07-27.
- ^ "38 Studios Completes $75 Million Financing". 2010-11-03. http://38studios.com/news/38-studios-completes-75-million-financing.
- ^ "38 Studios Relocates Ahead of Schedule". 2011-04-09. http://www.golocalprov.com/business/38-studios-relocates-ahead-of-schedule/.
- ^ "EA and 38 Studios Ready Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning to Strike Worldwide on February 7th" (Press release). 38 Studios. 08/16/2011. http://38studios.com/press-release/ea-and-38-studios-ready-kingdoms-amalur-reckoning-strike-worldwide-february-7th/. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
- ^ Geddes, Ryan (2011-03-07). "GDC: Rebirth & Risk in Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning". IGN. http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/115/1153816p1.html. Retrieved 2011-03-28.
- ^ Bramson, Kate (2012-05-14). "R.I. Gov. Chafee meets with 38 Studios executives over company finances". Providence Journal. http://news.providencejournal.com/breaking-news/2012/05/ri-gov-chafee-m-1.html. Retrieved 2012-05-15.
- ^ "Curt Schilling firm unable to cover $1.1m check, may miss payroll". Boston Globe. May 17, 2012. http://www.boston.com/Boston/businessupdates/2012/05/curt-schilling-firm-make-payment-may-miss-payroll/8Bld9Cm8zOAernubLCqn7I/story.html. Retrieved May 17, 2012.
- ^ "R.I. Gov. Chafee: 38 Studios makes $1.1-million payment; payment clears". Providence Journal. May 18, 2012. http://news.providencejournal.com/breaking-news/2012/05/ri-gov-chafee-3.html. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
- ^ http://blogs.wpri.com/2012/05/23/38-studios-loses-ceo-and-high-profile-vp-linkedin-suggests/
- ^ [1]
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