Yet more on Troika

Mr. Teatime · Post by **Mr. Teatime** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 9:47 pm

[Company -> Update] - More info on <a href="http://wikipocalypse.duckandcover.cx/in ... itle=Chris Avellone">Person: Chris Avellone</a> | More info on <a href="http://wikipocalypse.duckandcover.cx/in ... tle=Troika Games">Company: Troika Games</a> | More info on <a href="http://wikipocalypse.duckandcover.cx/in ... y">Company: Interplay</a> | More info on <a href="http://wikipocalypse.duckandcover.cx/in ... le=Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines">Game: Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines</a>

If you go to <a href="http://www.rpgcodex.com/phpBB/viewtopic ... t=50">this thread on RPG Codex</a> you can read Chris Avellone's take on the situation with <a href="http://www.troikagames.com">Troika</a>.

<blockquote>My understanding was that Troika still has
people working in their offices, although at last count, I had heard it
was the three founders and a senior programmer. I do know that there
have been a number of resumes from Troika employees being sent out, and
I know some of the more prominent members have already taken jobs
elsewhere.

Based on the screenshots of their demo alone,
however, I wouldn't count them out of the running. I will say that it
is extremely difficult for a small developer to land a new project, and
it's a process that can usually take several months (and it can always
fall apart in the 11th Hour), so it may be that Troika is simply on a
hiatus period until signing a new contract, at which point they can
staff up again. I think that Bloodlines, despite criticisms here and
elsewhere, is a strong RPG and probably one of the best Troika has ever
done (and Tim has said as much), so that alone may help them gain a new
contract.

IMO, I doubt that Activision pulled funding - most developer
contracts involve royalties, so if Bloodlines does well, it may result
in an influx of cash for Troika. However, it usually takes a few months
before the royalties to actually begin to show from sales, so that's an
obstacle. I will say that Activision and Troika were most likely in a
difficult position in waiting for the HL2 engine to be done, so
Bloodlines may have been kept putting pushed back and back and causing
problems for both Troika and Activision - Valve could afford to take
their time, but I doubt the other two companies had that luxury. I
wouldn't be surprised if Activision would not want to be in that
position again.

Regardless, I wouldn't count Troika out yet. It can just be
difficult for a company to get a contract, and it's a long, involved
process. If they don't get a contract, I'll be disappointed because
that means that'll be less RPGs for me to play, and it was always my
feeling that Troika always made an effort to try to push the envelope
on their RPGs, which I think was important for the genre.

</blockquote>
This correlates with what I've heard, that most of the staff have been
laid off with two or three core/founder members still working for the company. Kind
of like Interplay. Spooky.

Oh, and the bit I highlighted. There is no way <a href="http://www.vampirebloodlines.com/">Bloodlines</a> was ready to ship before it did. If anything, it needed a good few months more in QA.


Spotted @ <a href="http://www.nma-fallout.com">No Mutants Allowed</a>

Sovy Kurosei · Post by **Sovy Kurosei** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 10:36 pm

It is sad because you know they had potential but they couldn't manage it properly. Or something.

Another computer RPG developer bites the dust.

Ernesto · Post by **Ernesto** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 12:31 am

Sovy Kurosei wrote:Another computer RPG developer bites the dust.

A strangely fitting comment due to Teatime's hobbies.

Mr. Teatime · Post by **Mr. Teatime** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 12:33 am

Ernesto wrote:
Sovy Kurosei wrote:Another computer RPG developer bites the dust.
A strangely fitting comment due to Teatime's hobbies.

What does that have to do with masturb- oh I see. Anyway we don't know if they're dead - I think the company is probably in a similar, but slightly better, position as Interplay, from the rumours flying around.

Megatron · Post by **Megatron** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 11:53 am

does teatime eat dust in his spare time?

ApTyp · Post by **ApTyp** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 5:27 pm

Tank · Post by **Tank** » Thu Feb 03, 2005 11:03 pm

ah...
OK.

Subhuman · Post by **Subhuman** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 1:21 am

I don't get it.

boywoos · Post by **boywoos** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 1:43 am

Christ... I thought Ms Pop Culture would have got this one.

Another one bites the dust

Megatron · Post by **Megatron** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 2:06 am

do you mean angel dust like pcp?