Project Gotham Racing Devs Explain Last Days With MS


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Bizarre Creations, the development team behind the renowned Project Gotham Racing series, used to make games for Microsoft. Now, they make games for Activision. Why the split? Speaking with Edge, the studio's creative director Martyn Chudley has told of Bizarre's final weeks with Microsoft, as development on Project Gotham Racing 4 (which I maintain is the best racing game of this generation) was being wound up.

I'm not going to slag [Microsoft] off in an evil way, but obviously we worked on PGR4 for them, and I think that PGR4 was the strongest Gotham game we did ? the most fully rounded. But towards the end of that project they wanted us to bring it in early, to chop six weeks off development. But the way we work is really right up to the wire, so basically the game is nowhere near finished at six weeks to go, so we had to dig our heels in and say that our contract said that we're to bring the game in on this day, and that's what we were going to do because we cannot compromise the work that the lads have been doing, and the quality of the game.

They didn't realise how bad a situation it would have been ? we needed that extra six weeks, and it got us concerned with the future with Microsoft? We were getting disillusioned with Microsoft and they were getting corporate and cocky as well because of the shift in power between them and Sony.

Perfectly understandable, and stupid of Microsoft to let one of their better studios get away like that. But, uh, why the deal with Activision, of all people? How can the publisher that makes exploitation of a franchise a core business aim be any better?

Source: http://kotaku.com/5243323/project-gotham-r...cocky-microsoft

Not the best of splits then?

Is MS still carrying on PGR internally or do Bizarre own the rights?

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I started playing PGR this generation only, PGR3 was actually my first 360 game. PGR4 improved many things, especially the dreadful load times.

It's one of my favorite racers, I just hope that no matter the developer it'll have the same vibe in future iterations. PGRFTW

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MS own the IP, I believe it will be continued, but I cannot say anymore than that.

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I like PGR but I prefer DiRT and Forza over it. I loved Rallisport on the original XBOX, wish M$ would bring that game back...

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From the inside sources I have, it wasn't the launch date that caused the problem.

Money.

Oh and a change of staff at the top.

Enough said.

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PGR4 became one of my fave 360 games over the holidays season - but i agree with the munky that there's more than meets the eye here. They quit working with MS because of a deadline issue? that's just dumb, if that's the case they have no business being copywriters!

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From the inside sources I have, it wasn't the launch date that caused the problem.

Money.

Oh and a change of staff at the top.

Enough said.

Money is always the problem, but who wanted more or who wanted to pay less? I have to wonder that with PGR getting bigger and bigger sales and fan wise that Bizarre wanted more money probably.

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Money is always the problem, but who wanted more or who wanted to pay less? I have to wonder that with PGR getting bigger and bigger sales and fan wise that Bizarre wanted more money probably.

I think it was the opposite. PGR sold less with each sequel. Forza 2 outsold PGR quite comfortably. PGR needs start over and I'm hoping for jaw dropping point to point races round the world.

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