Rumor: Free Radical closes shop [joystiq]

[Oobgarm]

http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/18/rumor-free-radical-closes-shop

Sucks if true, though I didn't try Haze-so I dunno if it was really that bad. TimeSplitters was always fun, at least.

[smork]

Ho shit, I luuuuv Timesplitters. Hell, I bought Future Perfect at release, full price, and I never do that.

Hopefully the IP lands somewhere decent, at least...

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

I'm also a Timesplitters lover.

Every time I meet somebody who loved Goldeneye64 I fully inform them of the fact that the core dev team did not continue along to the Perfect Dark series, but instead moved over to the Timesplitters series. (Playing any game in the series causes almost immediate realization that its game engine is a TRUE spiritual successor to Goldeneye.)

I never pass up an opportunity to evangelize TS3: Future Perfect as one of the best FPS experiences of the last console generation both online and off. (It still has a VERY active online mode!)

This news brings a tear to my eye.

I'm hoping that Phil Harrison/Atari comes to the rescue on this front...

...if they're looking to save brilliant IPs - Timesplitters is one of the best, is now perhaps ripe for the taking and could further establish that distributor/brand.

[Gamebrain]

http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/56441

Bankrupt, but they have not closed shop yet. Although, it looks like it from what I've read.


Yes, Timesplitters 2 and 3 were freaking amazing. Haze I guess was so disappointing that it caused them to close shop.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Strangely enough, now I'm actually interested in trying out Haze.

I had passed it up based on the middling reviews ... but if there's a chance that this may be Free Radical's last gasp on home consoles in this generation I might have to try it.

[lanemeyer]

Timesplitters was great. Can't tell you how many hours I blew trying to get gold/platinums on all the challenges. Really addicting. Great co-op action in TS3 as well.

Oh... and the online multiplayer was a blast. Where else could you jump into a deathmatch and find a duck unloading a weapon against the gingerbread man?

[ottojello]

I saw Haze in the Best Buy 19.99 bin over the weekend.

[Cryomancer]

I wish they would do something nice as a last chance...like putting Timesplitters 2 onto PC. Eventualy multiplayer only, download only, i would buy it. Twice.

I really do hope they are not closing, and if they do, I hope someone decent picks them up (the franchises AND the developers themselves, preferably).

[YoshiM]

I never pass up an opportunity to evangelize TS3: Future Perfect as one of the best FPS experiences of the last console generation both online and off. (It still has a VERY active online mode!)

Is the active online gaming happening on the Xbox or PS2?

[roushimsx]

I found Timesplitters 2 to be half baked trash, but I picked up Timesplitters 3 because you jerks wouldn't shut up about it. Haven't gotten around to playing it yet, but I will one of these days. Hell, I just picked up three more copies of it out of the bargain bin in the off chance that I can get some co op or whatnot going on.

The Haze demo was pretty awful and between the bad reviews and bad word of mouth, I don't think I'll even bother picking up the game until it's well below the $15 mark. Maybe closer to the $7.50 price point.

Still haven't played Second Sight, but I guess it's supposed to be good? I'll get around to it eventually, I'm sure...it just went really low on the priority list after suffering with Timesplitters 2, which I again found to be a massive pile of disappointment.

Always sucks to see these places get shut down all the same.

[lazyhoboguy]

TimeSplitters 2 and 3 on ps2 have their servers taken down but can still be played through lan tunneling software. I play timesplitters future perfect online with people a lot this way. http://www.teamxlink.co.uk/ xlink is the software that lets you do this

[Kitsune Sniper]

You folks are gonna hate me, but I tried Timesplitters and hated it. I'm a WASD+Mouse guy, and have lots of problems with console-based FPS games.

I loved the concept, but the control just plain sucked.

And it sucks that they're bankrupt. They were good devs, just not up my alley. :\

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

I found Timesplitters 2 to be half baked trash, but I picked up Timesplitters 3 because you jerks wouldn't shut up about it. Haven't gotten around to playing it yet, but I will one of these days. Hell, I just picked up three more copies of it out of the bargain bin in the off chance that I can get some co op or whatnot going on.

The Haze demo was pretty awful and between the bad reviews and bad word of mouth, I don't think I'll even bother picking up the game until it's well below the $15 mark. Maybe closer to the $7.50 price point.

Still haven't played Second Sight, but I guess it's supposed to be good? I'll get around to it eventually, I'm sure...it just went really low on the priority list after suffering with Timesplitters 2, which I again found to be a massive pile of disappointment.

Always sucks to see these places get shut down all the same.

I thought TS3 was far superior to 2, but I enjoyed all three throughly.

[Cryomancer]

You folks are gonna hate me, but I tried Timesplitters and hated it. I'm a WASD+Mouse guy, and have lots of problems with console-based FPS games.

I loved the concept, but the control just plain sucked.

And it sucks that they're bankrupt. They were good devs, just not up my alley. :\

Being console only is definitely the greatest flaw in the series. I don't care for console FPSes much either, but I guess I like these guy's games despite it, since i like goldeneye, and timesplitters.

And as questioned earlier, yes, Second Sight is good. Stick with it though, or you won't get to the excellent plot twist toward the end.