It's always sad to see a video game development studio close up shop, especially when said developer has been a uniquely creative force within the industry. Yet that's exactly what seems to be happening with "Project Gotham Racing" and "Geometry Wars" developer Bizarre Creations.
Following Activision's unsuccessful attempts to sell the Liverpool-based studio, the publisher has issued a recommendation that Bizarre close up shop, Develop reports. An unnamed Activision executive further said that the team at Bizarre will accept Activision's recommendation. Sad days.
Bizarre was established in 1994, and they launched a number of successful series' before Activision scooped them up in 2007: "Formula 1," which was a best-seller in Europe, "Project Gotham Racing," "Geometry Wars" and "Fur Fighters." They put out a couple of solid titles following the Activision acquisition, including "Boom Boom Rocket" and combo-driven third-person shooter "The Club," but nothing that captured gamer's heart the way the company's earlier efforts had.
Bizarre had two solid console releases last year: the action-focused third-person shooter "James Bond 007: Blood Stone" and the gorgeous arcade racer "Blur." Sadly, the pair of fun-but-not-blockbuster releases weren't enough and now we have to bid the studio adieu.
Activision Worldwide Studios CEO Coddy Johnson told Develop that the publisher had "looked at all options" before issuing their recommendation. "I want to be clear," he said. "Our first choice was to try and keep this group together and find a buyer for the studio." Johnson promised that outgoing employees will be treated fairly and given access to counseling and placement services, but the tough choice ultimately had to be made. "This decision comes after a few months of exhausted examination of a number of different options across the board."
It's a bummer to be sure. The great thing about working in the video games field -- particularly on the development side -- is that it's only getting bigger. As the medium continues to grow in popularity, more jobs are created. And just because the Bizarre name looks like it will cease to exist, there's no reason a core of the group's most talented creative couldn't stay together. The rest snowballs from there, or doesn't, as it always goes in business.