Matt-Booty
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Microsoft: Xbox One cloud processing can enhance lighting, physics
Speaking with Redmond Game Studios and Platforms GM Matt Booty, Ars Technica reports that cloud computing will boost performance in games designed for Microsoft's Xbox One. While latency-sensitive actions will be handled by a user's Xbox One console, Microsoft claims its cloud architecture can pre-calculate elements like lighting and physics modeling, leading to increased in-game performance. This additional processing is made possible by the 300,000 servers that will power Xbox Live after the Xbox One's launch, up from the 15,000 servers currently supporting the service. Booty notes that "[for] every Xbox One available in your living room we'll have three of those devices in the cloud available." Xbox One games that support the feature will remain operational in the event of an Internet connection outage, though developers will need to address the possibility of reduced performance. "In the event of a drop out [...] the game is going to have to intelligently handle that," Booty tells Ars Technica.
Midway execs get the boot, entire Chicago dev team acquired by WB
After recently giving its San Diego and Newcastle studios the required 60 day warning that their offices are to be closed, Midway announced yesterday that its corporate headquarters in Chicago is shutting down. According to a recent US Securities and Exchange Commission filing by Midway, the closing affects all 60 employees currently working at the offices -- including CEO Matt Booty -- representing "approximately 20% of the company's global workforce." Interestingly, though Warner Bros. purchased a $33 million-sized chunk of the company last month, the report states that WB paid out more to the tune of $49 million "including the assumption of certain liabilities" -- presumably some of the debt owed to creditor. A Midway rep told the Chicago Tribune that, while the executive offices have been closed and everyone let go, all 100 employees at the company's Chicago development studio have been offered jobs by WB. Oh, right, we almost forgot -- yes, the Midway San Diego offices (and its TNA wrestling license) are still up for sale -- at least for another 45 days or so.Source 1 - KotakuSource 2 - Chicago TribuneSource 3 - US Securities and Exchange Commission [Image]
Midway clings to life after favorable court ruling
After throwing up the white flag last week, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court has granted Midway some some breathing room from creditors who are all but beating down the door for a piece of the embattled publisher. The ruling allows Midway to keep its doors open despite its ongoing financial crisis in order to continue paying employee expenses and pay back what the court describes as certain "critical vendors."Midway boss Matt Booty describes the court's decision as a key step in the company's "planned and orderly reorganization," though we're sure the words he was really looking for were complicated and terrifying. It's probably difficult to come up with the right thing to say after someone plunges an arm into your chest to remove your still-beating heart.
Midway files for Chapter 11
Midway has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy today, but, see, it's okay, because it's all part of the plan. Newly appointed CEO, Matt Booty, says filing for Chapter 11 was "a difficult but necessary decision." He also noted Midway has been "focused on realigning our operations and improving our execution" and that filing for Chapter 11 will allow the company some relief from "immediate pressure from our creditors." To Booty, Chapter 11 is nothing more than the "next logical step in an ongoing process to address our capital structure."Midway expects to be able to run the company as usual, and even filed a variety of First Day Motions to that end. The court is usually lenient with these Motions and often grants them, so this should give Midway some time to finish up that next Mortal Kombat game and maybe get out of the red.
Booty gets bigger, becomes Midway chairman
The Board of Directors at Midway Games has appointed Matt Booty as the new chairman of the board. Booty currently holds the roles of president, CEO and chairman of a company barely hanging on to this mortal coil. Booty has been collecting new titles as the publisher has been sinking deeper and deeper into financial ruin -- now might be the time for Midway to stop adding job honorifics and get him help to fix the company.
Midway secures Booty for long haul
Seven months after Midway chair Shari Redstone declared the company was seeking "dynamic new leadership," Midway has decided to stick with, well, the guy it was stuck with. Interim president and CEO Matt Booty -- in place since Zucker jumped ship back in March -- has been named the "official" president and CEO of the beleaguered publisher. Um ... Congratulations? As interim captain, Booty displayed stalwart steadfastness when he made the call to sever several "underperforming projects" from his ship's cargo earlier this month. It was said that Booty angled his face away from the crew, just slightly, so that they would not see the tear drop trickle down his cheek as he watched the dead weight sink below the waves.
