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'My Baby' sold by SouthPeak -- one million times
SouthPeak Interactive may be a little wobbly on paper and in the courtroom, but its My Baby franchise was born to run. The publisher's three My Baby games have sold over one million units in the US and Canada. Yes, one million units over three games may not sound so impressive, but we're talking about a series that retails for $30 and likely didn't cost much more to develop. The games are meant to appeal to girls ages 6 to 11, allowing "gamers" to start with a newborn in My Baby Boy and My Baby Girl, then transitioning them to "experience the joys of parenthood through to the toddler years in My Baby First Steps" After that, they'll be all set for the real thing with 16 and Pregnant.
CDV vs SouthPeak legal battle gets much, much more complicated
When SouthPeak Games was ordered by a UK court to pay its distribution partner CDV a settlement earlier this year, rather than simply pay the settlement and move on, SouthPeak instead took a very interesting approach: buy up a company that's owed money by CDV and turn the tables. SouthPeak recently purchased the less-than-well-known dev studio IRP and filed a claim against CDV to the tune of €4.4 million ($6 million), money that CDV allegedly owes SouthPeak now that the legally embroiled publisher owns IRP, according to a Gamasutra report. But that's not all! CDV already filed for insolvency earlier this week, claiming it did so because SouthPeak "failed to pay a court-ordered settlement to CDV" -- the same court-ordered settlement that we mentioned in the first sentence of this very post. Still with us? Good! A statement released by CDV says that the company will remain "fully operational," and its various subsidiaries are unaffected by the insolvency filing. A Frankfurt, Germany court is said to be helping CDV sort through the financial back and forth. "The Administrator together with the management team is now proactively working on solutions to restructure the company and discussions with investors and potential purchasers are on-going." Given SouthPeak's rocky past with legal matters, we get the feeling this won't be the last we hear of this mess.
Paradox and Southpeak settle lawsuit
It's not exactly good news for SouthPeak but, given the ironically rocky year it's had, the company will probably settle for lukewarm. Said news is this: Paradox Interactive and SouthPeak have settled their lawsuit. Last month, Paradox filed against SouthPeak to the tune of $585,382, allegedly revenue that SouthPeak had failed to pay to the developer (a claim that seems to haunt the publisher). According to IndustryGamers, the two companies have amicably settled their differences, with SouthPeak agreeing to "satisfy all of its payment obligations to Paradox Interactive." Both parties issued statements regarding SouthPeak's financial status, with SouthPeak itself noting that the settlement "has demonstrated its financial stability," while Paradox CEO Fredrik Wester notes that the speedy conclusion "is a tribute to their professionalism and their sound financial integrity." One can only hope that SouthPeak manages to foster this sense of conviviality among all its developers. We're sure the company has had its fill of lawsuits by now.
Paradox Interactive files injunction against SouthPeak
Publisher SouthPeak's legal troubles continue, with developer Paradox Interactive filing an injunction against the company for disagreements that start with a familiar issue: lack of payment. Gamasutra reports that Paradox, developer of Europa Universalis 3 and the recently unveiled Lead & Gold, claims SouthPeak owes it $585,382, revenue from distribution of its games that the publisher has not passed along. "SouthPeak has failed to comply with its payment obligations even for game units which it previously reported to Paradox, and SouthPeak's executives have informed Paradox's executives that SouthPeak is currently financially unable to satisfy its payment obligations to Paradox under the Agreement," the legal filing reads. After Paradox terminated its distribution agreement with SouthPeak last month, according to Gamasutra's summary, SouthPeak "threatened" to request that unsold inventory be returned by retailers -- and it's this action that Paradox is trying to prevent with its injunction. In addition, it is seeking a receiver to collect the money it claims SouthPeak owes.
SouthPeak revenue down 42% year-over-year in second quarter of FY2010
Wake up! After that headline, we saw you start dozing and we wanted to make sure you were with us for the next hundred-ish words of pure, unbridled excitement. According to SouthPeak Interactive's fiscal 2010 second quarter financial results released this morning (which make up the last three months of calendar 2009, ending December 31), the publisher netted $10.1 million, a 42% decline from fiscal 2009's second quarter results of $17.3 million. In one of the report's few positive notes, company CEO Melanie Mroz notes that the My Baby franchise grew 45 percent "compared with the last holiday season" -- and we were so worried about SouthPeak's baby! Notably, the decline in revenue was blamed on "a decrease in the number of titles released in the fiscal 2010 period." Also, the games that the company did publish weren't the pricier Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 titles. We've got a free solution for you though, SouthPeak -- My Baby Next-Gen: Future Baby for the aforementioned consoles. That one's for free, guys. The next one'll cost ya.
Pre-order bonus: Put a touch of Dementium II on your wall
Would you like this on your wall? The first 1,000 people in the US and Canada to pre-order Dementium II at an "authorized retailer" (including Amazon and GameStop) and send their mailing addresses and scans of their receipts to: "dementiumii [at] southpeakgames [dot] com," will receive this poster, signed by Renegade Kid's Jools Watsham and Gregg Hargrove. Surely, there's room on your wall between the Muramasa scroll and the shelf you nailed up to rest your Mario lunchpail upon on its days off. The Dementium II poster was previously given away in a Halloween promotion, but was apparently popular enough among hand-from-face fans to warrant a return engagement. Speaking of Dementium II and creepy imagery, SouthPeak opened a teaser site for the horror sequel. You can visit it here ... if you dare! Which you probably do. %Gallery-78630%
TNA seeking 'long-term partner' for future 360/PS3 TNA Impact! games
Yesterday's announcement that TNA Impact!: Cross the Line would be heading to DS and PSP by way of SouthPeak Games (a game left over from the collapse of Midway Games) wasn't exactly a shock to ardent followers of the franchise. The question of whether or not TNA would pursue additional games on current-gen consoles (360/PS3/PC), however, remained up in the air. We spoke with a TNA representative last evening who told Joystiq that the company is "working on a long-term solution" for the development of said games. "We absolutely want a long-term partner for video games, and it's super important to TNA to have a long-term partner for games on the current consoles like 360 and PlayStation," the rep said. And though he admitted (after much prying, in fairness) that development of that next TNA game on 360/PS3 is "kind of open to the market" in terms of a developer/publisher, the company "likes SouthPeak as a partner now" and "would like to continue to work with them." For now though, SouthPeak will only retain the right to publish the TNA back catalog and the upcoming handheld title.
SouthPeak publishing TNA Impact! on handhelds 'later this Winter'
Truth be told, loyal readers, we kind of already told you about SouthPeak Games scooping up the right to publish the Midway-developed TNA Impact!: Cross the Line for the PSP and DS. So when the company recently announced that it would be publishing Cross the Line "later this Winter," we weren't exactly flabbergasted. However, when SouthPeak's Q1 2010 financial report revealed the aforementioned last month, it wasn't clear whether the game publisher had secured rights to future TNA Impact! games or not. Speaking with representatives for SouthPeak this morning, we were declined comment on who owns said rights "other than what's in the [press] release." We've followed up with TNA and will update this post if we hear back. %Gallery-79233%
Section 8 update fixes matchmaking, Achievements, more
Timegate has released a title update for Section 8, which should fix several bugs in the game and tweak a few things. The main fixes include improved matchmaking, a fix for faulty Achievements and improved tank controls. AI bots will now also follow and defend human players, and the update also fixes latency problems and lost stats. There's a host of other smaller tweaks and changes as well, which you can read about on the Section 8 forums. Likely not fixed by the patch, a precipitous drop in players since November 10.
SouthPeak earnings report reveals acquisition of ... something involving TNA Impact
Remember way back in August when THQ picked up around 40 percent of Midway San Diego (following that whole full collapse thing), but left off the TNA Impact property? It would appear that the reason for this exclusion was due to SouthPeak Games snatching up the license, as revealed by a recent Q1 2010 financial report released by the company.The "acquisition" is first noted in the report's "Highlights of the Quarter" section. "Acquired in bankruptcy certain assets owned by Midway relating to video games based on the TNA iMPACT wrestling brand." We asked SouthPeak who would be in charge of developing the next game in that series, said in the report to be released "this year" (2010), and found out that such information has yet to be announced, unfortunately. Currently, SouthPeak is only known to be publishing TNA Impact: Cross the Line for the PSP and Nintendo DS.When we explored the SEC filing from Midway on the sale, the wording got much more ambiguous. One notable exclusion from the $100k purchase is, "the TNA License and Sellers' rights thereunder." When we asked SouthPeak to clear up exactly what the company bought, we were told that, while it "can confirm the details of the release and filing," no comment is currently available – though we were assured that we'll be hearing more details "soon."
SouthPeak doubles game sales in 2009 amid dropping profits
Though SouthPeak is keen to point out that its net revenues rose from last year by $7.2 million, the company's profits for the year remain firmly in the red, with a $12.1 million posted loss for the 2009 fiscal year ending June 30. SouthPeak's loss report comes confusingly paired with a 100% increase in units sold from fiscal year 2008 (from 1.2 to 2.4 million units) -- 2009's posted $12.1 net loss gets explained away by "approximately $12.5 million invested in game development and intellectual property for future title releases," among other things. The report also allows "$1.6 million of expenses relating to the Gamecock acquisition," hopefully some of which went to paying Gamecock debt now owed by SouthPeak -- this on top of another $4.6 million or so for "charges relating to write-downs on software values and sequel right values to certain titles." Unsurprisingly, the publisher hopes that upcoming titles Two Worlds 2 and My Baby: First Steps, as well as a "highly-anticipated sequel to Dementium," will bolster its next fiscal year. We're just hoping the games the company does sell will actually garner some profit this time around.
Give Dementium II's box art a hand
Regardless of how good Renegade Kid's Dementium II turns out to be -- probably pretty good, given the reception of the first game -- one thing is not in dispute: It's got the creepiest damned box we've seen in a long time. It's the sort of thing you don't keep out in the open, the sort of box you make sure is stuffed deep down in the darkest drawer you have. You know, right next to your copy of Elf Bowling.
Section 8 pre-order bonus revealed, GameStop exclusive
SouthPeak has revealed a special Section 8 goody for those who pre-order the game from GameStop (and only at GameStop). Pre-order either the PC or Xbox 360 version of Section 8 and you'll get a special set of armor known as the Captain's Armor. The armor can be worn by either of the game's factions. Members of Section 8 will don the armor with a golden eagle on the shoulder, while members of the rebellious Arm of Orion will sport a helmet with a gold-trimmed lion. Considering what some people are willing to go through for an in-game set of armor, we'd say pre-ordering is a pretty simple option. Check out shots of the armor in the gallery below. %Gallery-66033%
Section 8 brings user-created dedicated servers to Xbox 360
We got a chance to see Section 8 at E3 this year. Summing things up, our experience was pretty much in line with what we played at GDC earlier this year. So, let's just skip that and get to the news, shall we? Section 8 will be the very first Xbox 360 game to allow users to set up their own dedicated servers, according to producer Robert Siwiak.Players will be able to download an application on their PC that will allow them to turn it into a dedicated server for the game. When playing on a dedicated server -- developer TimeGate will be hosting some as well, incidentally -- Section 8 will support multiplayer matches of up to 32 players. This a significant boost over the standard 16-player offered by regular servers. Sporting some very impressive sci-fi inspired gameplay bolstered by this extra online support, Section 8 is shaping up to be quite a game. Expect it to drop (from 15,000 feet) this fall.%Gallery-4522%
Hands-on with Southpeak's FPS/RTS hybrid, Raven Squad
click to enter full-screen mode SouthPeak's Raven Squad -- which has dropped the Operation Hidden Dagger subtitle since last year -- has a very interesting concept. Raven Squad, you see, employs a combination of real-time strategy and first-person shooter gameplay. Players take control of two different three-man squads -- two players can also command one squad each when playing online -- as they fight their way through an enemy-infested jungle. The game can be switched from an overhead RTS view to a first-person view at any time, making the game very different from other shooters on the market.
Renegade Kid returning to the hospital in Dementium II
Developer Renegade Kid apparently stumbled across some leftover brown paint, and is currently working up a sequel to Dementium: The Ward. The game is set to continue the story of the first game, which had players stumbling through the darkened grimy halls of an abandoned hospital trying to discover a way out. Or at least some morphine to dull the pain.Notes Renegade Kid's Jools Watsham, "We were extremely satisfied with what we accomplished with the original Dementium, but knew we could do even more given the chance to develop a sequel." Little is known about the return trip into portable madness, though publisher SouthPeak promises even more hospital scares when Dementium II ships for the DS in the first part of 2010.
SouthPeak sees revenue surge on 'post-holiday demand'
Hey, SouthPeak, we're in a recession, didn't you hear? The publisher again pocketed an impressive wad of cash, reporting $13.5 million in revenue during its fiscal third quarter, up more than $2 million over the same time the previous year. According to Gamasutra, the company cited "post-holiday consumer demand" and recent releases like Big Bang Mini and X-Blades as key factors in the outfit's financial buoyancy.With 711,000 units of software flying out the door during the quarter, it's no wonder the company is making plans for the future. The report notes that SouthPeak has more than 60 games in the works, with over $14 million currently invested in development of new titles and IP. Perhaps we can finally quit pointing and laughing as the publisher of Gamecock cast-offs Legendary and Velvet Assassin rolls up to the bank. Clearly some gamers' spirits are more resilient than others.
New Velvet Assassin trailer misappropriates Churchill's famous speech
Velvet Assassin has been tasked with performing something rarely possible in games centered on WWII-era events: Basing the story on a real person and keeping things classy. Take, for example, the new trailer the game's publisher, SouthPeak, dropped on us today. Employing one of the most powerful and moving speeches ever given by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, we don't exactly consider the modern rock ending on this trailer keeping anything classy.Though our time spent with the game at the New York Comic Con last month left us feeling a bit less than ecstatic for the game's impending "April release window," we remain intrigued by Velvet Assassin -- even if the trailer misappropriates one of the most famous speeches in all of history.
Kid-friendly Roogoo Twisted Towers and Attack box art
(click to embiggen) "Cheery," "colorful" and "cute" are all words that describe the recently released box art (and new screenshots) for the Wii's upcoming Roogoo Twisted Towers and the DS' Roogoo Attack. Admittedly, block for block, these Roogoo boxes have shaped up quite nicely. Except for the large and out of place red circle block on the Attack box. It's just trying too hard to steal our attention away from the green triangles and blue squares of the world! That's just twisted and shameful.%Gallery-34664%%Gallery-47579%
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NYCC 09: Roogoo Twisted Towers and Roogoo Attack! hands-on
When we first got our filthy mitts on a demo of Xbox Live puzzler Roogoo way back when, we noted its deceiving looks in comparison to its addictive and surprisingly complex gameplay. Nearly a year later and we're back in the same position, though this time we're playing Wii and DS iterations Roogoo Twisted Towers and Roogoo Attack! (respectively). Checking out a demo of each before this weekend's New York Comic Con, we walked away smiling once again -- childish looks and throwaway story aside, Roogoo Twisted Towers and Roogoo Attack! look to be shaping up very well.%Gallery-44143%
