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Split/Second, Pure developer Black Rock Studio closes today
Black Rock Studio's former studio director, Nick Baynes, tweeted earlier today, marking the last sunset for the developer of Split/Second and Pure. Disney made the decision to close the talented studio in July, after the house of mouse rejected Black Rock's final pitch, a freemium DOTA-style RTS named Champions Alliance (which Disney never intended to green-light, sources claim). At least two studios have emerged from the ashes of Black Rock: ShortRound and RoundCube Entertainment. If both studios delivers the type of quality we saw from Black Rock, we wish them a long, healthy existence.
Rumor: Black Rock never had a chance with Disney, employees say
Some former Black Rock Studio employees claim the developer never stood a chance of surviving Disney Interactive's new direction. Last week, Disney announced that it's looking to shut down UK-based Black Rock Studio, developer of Split/Second, after the studio's current project was declined by Disney brass. "Really, [Disney] were just paying lip-service to us with this talk of the pitch," one anonymous source told Develop. "Anything we suggested wasn't going to be accepted." The employees claim that Disney had planned to shut down the studio at the start of the year, and that it wasn't in Black Rock's power to change its fate. Given the specificity of UK laws, the timing of the studio layoffs does imply Black Rock's demise was etched in stone and being orchestrated by the House of Mouse all the way back in January.
Report: Black Rock's final game was a freemium DOTA-style RTS
"Champions Alliance" was allegedly the title of the last project the soon-to-be shuttered Black Rock Studios was working on, according to a Eurogamer report. The game was allegedly a DOTA-style RTS, starring teenagers flung into an alternate dimension (okay ...). The project was said to be quite far along, with pre-production wrapping and a free-to-play business model set in place before Disney made its decision to close the dev house. "The game was intended to be released quite quickly, in beta anyway, in about six months or so," an anonymous source tells Eurogamer. "The idea was that you had to do PVP and PVE to gain XP to somehow escape." According to the source, "Disney seemed unable to work out what to do with the studio and didn't trust us to do anything other than racing, really." Since Disney is prepared to close the studio now, we wouldn't be surprised if footage of the unannounced project starts popping up in the near future.
Disney moves to close Split/Second developer Black Rock
Black Rock Studio, developer of Split/Second and Pure, will soon be blasted out of existence by the House of Mouse. In a statement provided to Eurogamer, Disney confirmed that none of the current projects at the studio were given the greenlight, and that employees had been told of an impending "consultation process" -- a 90-day phase under UK law warning of potential closure. It's a sad end for a developer that deserved better. Pure and Split/Second were both critically acclaimed racing games that had a rough time finding an audience. Layoffs began at the studio several months back and a few of the top brass have already formed new outfits. Black Rock Studio's General Manager Tony Beckwith tells Joystiq he can't "comment at the moment" on the situation.
ShortRound Games established by former Black Rock staffers
ShortRound Games is the latest studio to pop up from the discarded talent at Split/Second developer Black Rock Studios. GI.biz reports the team consists of game director Andrew Hubbard, technical director Kim Burrows, technical art director Stuart Pharoah and creative and art director Steve Uphill. The studio currently has two demos in production and expects to reveal some footage in the coming weeks. Hubbard says they are currently in talks with various publishers and are "keen" to work on iPad or Sony's Vita. The official announcement of ShortRound's formation comes a few weeks after two of Black Rock's heavies formed RoundCube Entertainment. That studio was created by Split/Second game director Nick Baynes and senior producer Ian Monaghan.
OnLive gets Disney Interactive support, universal controller, heading to UK this fall
Black Rock Studios' excellent racers, Pure and Split/Second, are sliding to OnLive, the streaming game service announced today. The duo of arcade racing titles will lead the charge for Disney Interactive titles on the service, with LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean up next on the list. And that's not all -- OnLive had a bunch of news to drop just before E3 begins next week. For starters, the service will be officially launching in the UK at some point this fall. As with the company's North American debut, UK residents are encouraged to sign up for early "Founding Members" access -- the official UK site goes live in the coming days. Additionally, OnLive revealed intentions to make its way to a variety of "Intel-based consumer TVs, Blu-ray players, and set-top boxes" later this year. The first such devices will begin arriving this fall, and will reportedly stretch beyond the company's currently deal with consumer electronics manufacturer Vizio. Alongside the Intel deal, OnLive plans on launching a "universal wireless controller" that will work with said Intel-based devices. It looks and operates very much like the OnLive MicroConsole controller, and will come with a USB dongle for non-wireless devices. It's said to contain several different radio signals for working with a multitude of devices. You'll be able to brag to your friends all about how you're playing high-end PC games on your Intel-based TV on a wireless controller right from within games, pushing brag clips to Facebook. Which is to say, yes, OnLive is getting Facebook integration as well, starting June 7. Now, you'll excuse us if we take a moment to catch our breath.%Gallery-125195%
Split/Second game director, producer form RoundCube Entertainment
Two of Black Rock Studios' biggest players have decided to form their own thing: RoundCube Entertainment. Nick Baynes, game director on Split/Second, will head up the new outfit, while Ian Monaghan, previously senior producer at Black Rock, will now act as development director. Both were affected by the latest round of layoffs from parent company, Disney. According to GI.biz, about 30 currently remain at Black Rock, toiling away on a project for Disney. As for RoundCube, they haven't announced what they're going to do next, but if you ask us it should have something to do with tiny increments of time.
Disney confirms layoffs at Split/Second dev Black Rock
Last night, word came in that around 40 jobs were in danger at Split/Second developer Black Rock Studio. Disney issued a statement to Eurogamer confirming cuts at the company, though not a number: "Disney Interactive Studios confirms a reduction of its workforce from its Brighton-based internal game development studio, Black Rock Studios," a representative said. " The studio will continue its work on its current project." While Disney didn't offer an official number, Eurogamer's tipster clarified that it wasn't 40 jobs that were in danger, it was 40 jobs that weren't. According to the anonymous source, "Around 100 jobs are at risk." Black Rock survived the layoffs that came from Disney's "restructuring" in late January. At that time, studio head Tony Beckwith told Joystiq the studio was "fine."
Report: Split/Second dev Black Rock facing layoffs
UK-based developer Black Rock Studio is said to be on the verge of eliminating as many as 40 positions. Eurogamer cites an unnamed source at the company, who says the layoffs are coming Thursday morning "with the aim of reducing the studio to a single game team." The source goes into further detail about recent happenings at the studio, including the cancellation of a Split/Second sequel during pre-production and the shooting down of multiple game pitches by its parent company, Disney Interactive. Nearly half of Black Rock's staff is said to have been spinning its wheels without a project for several months as a result, so the source says the layoffs -- which have been hitting in waves across Disney's gaming unit since last year -- don't really come as a surprise. There's evidently a silver lining on this most recent unemployment-spawned grey cloud, at least; according to the source, the slimmed-down Black Rock will continue work on a "promising" but "new and risky" title that's already in development. We've reached out to Disney for comment on the report and our best wishes go out to anyone affected by the layoffs. If you're among that group and would like to share your story, contact us.
Disney Interactive implements mass layoffs; status of Junction Point, Black Rock currently unknown
Beyond Disney Interactive's layoffs today at Junction Point and last week's closure of Propaganda Games, sources tell Joystiq that the division's job cuts go much deeper. We've been informed in this "first round" of layoffs that 250 people have been let go. Numerous attempts to obtain an official statement from Disney have gone unanswered. There is currently no word on the overall status of Split/Second developer Black Rock Studios nor Warren Spector's Junction Point, which recently released Disney Epic Mickey, a title we've been told has not sold as well as expected. Sources also tell us that the fate of Spector could be separate from that of the studio. Massive changes at the division have come at a steady clip ever since Disney bought social game developer Playdom for upwards of $563.2 million. Then there was the double-barreled resignation of longtime boss Graham Hopper and bigwig Steve Wadsworth. It is currently the era of James Pitaro and former Playdom CEO John Pleasants, who are seeking not to repeat the division's $234 million loss this fiscal year. Update: Disney's terse official statement: "As part of setting a strategic direction for future success in the digital media space, the Disney Interactive Media Group today began a restructuring process"
Joystiq Top 10 of 2010: Split/Second
Attractively molded metal cages hurtle through a sequence of man-made disasters as part of an overblown reality TV show. Despite the prevalence of appealing buzzwords, Michael Bay is the first to turn his nose up at such a stupefying 'splosionfest. "Send this one to Paul Anderson," he says with a smirk. In the realm of racing games, however, it's a tire-squealing departure from the player's usual point of entry. Ask the sincerely obsessed Kazunori Yamauchi where you fit in, and he'll point to the high-tech cradle behind the wheel. The point, surely, is to make you feel like you're inside a growling machine that sniffs out the perfect racing line on a static course. ("Surely, because I've spent half my life doing this." He wrings his hands.)
Two new DLC packs crash into Split/Second
Two DLC packs are set to liven up Split/Second this week (as if it needed any livening up). The Elite Vehicle Livery Pack adds new liveries for the Brawn, Vixen and Raptor cars and, as a nice bonus, it's free. Meanwhile, the High Octane Supercar Pack adds three new supercars and a new livery for the Ryback Cyclone. The High Octane Supercar DLC isn't free, but it's pretty close, clocking in at 160 MSP or $2 on Xbox Live and PSN, respectively. Both DLC packs should be available today on Xbox Live, though currently only the Supercar Pack is listed (along with an unannounced Ryback Cyclone Special Edition pack). The Livery and Supercar DLC are slated to hit PSN tomorrow, September 1. %Gallery-100787%
Split/Second online lobbies updated, Black Rock surveying for future plans
Yesterday, Split/Second developer Black Rock Studios patched its highly volatile racer, adding a feature that's frequently been requested by its loyal players: The ability to filter multiplayer lobbies, only allowing players to drive certain classes of cars. Having solved the "monster trucks vs. high performance Formula One racers" dilemma, the developer turned its eyes towards the future, and recently issued a survey inquiring what players would like to see introduced in future updates and DLC packs. We'd participate in the survey, but we're not sure Black Rock would appreciate our answers, which would pretty much boil down to "we'd like to see a space ship crash into a nuclear meltdown site which is also an aircraft carrier made of dynamite and fire." That's not too much to ask, is it?
Split/Second getting three DLC packs in August, 'major DLC pack' in September
If you're still racing around the structurally unsound tracks in Split/Second, you'll be pleased to note that developer Black Rock Studios plans to release three DLC packs "in the next couple of weeks," as well as a fourth in September. The first three packs will introduce new cars, while the pack coming next month is said to be "major" and will come packed with an entirely new environment (we're hoping that means new powerplays as well). No pricing has been offered for any of the packs, but the game's Facebook page (where all of this was announced) says that the third DLC pack will be free "as a way of saying thanks to our awesome community," and will contain a "special edition vehicle based on the original classic Ryback Cyclone." Solid launch dates weren't given either, and nothing's showing up on XBLM or PSN just yet, but we do have this one screenshot above from the second DLC pack of a "High Octane Supercar." Don't say we never gave you nothin'!
Split/Second 'sploding on PSP this holiday
Disney Interactive has announced that its havoc-wreaking racer, Split/Second, is drifting onto the PSP in time for the holiday. The basic structure of the game will remain intact -- players drive across booby trap-infused tracks, attempting to take out the competition by setting off hazards at opportune times. Online multiplayer is a no-show, but up to four players will be able to engage in ad-hoc races. We're awfully curious about how Disney plans on porting Split/Second's big, blockbuster feel to a much smaller device. More than that, though, we're looking forward to the game's first commercial, where a kid is playing his PSP in the back of his mom's minivan, and oh no, the road's blowing up in real life! And the mom's swerving out of the way, like, why is this happening? And the kid smiles, knowingly. %Gallery-97064%
ModNation Racers' top 15 finish sets slow pace for May racing game sales
Despite three high-profile launches in May, the racing genre got lapped that month, according to NPD sales data. Sony's PS3-exclusive ModNation Racers, Activision's Bizarre-developed Blur and Disney's excellent Split/Second all fared poorly on the retail circuit with ModNation squeezing its way into the top 15 (on just one platform, mind you), while the other two multiplatform titles didn't crack the top 30. Analyst Michael Pachter told IGN that he "thought the ModNation number was respectable, since the game came out only on May 25." Blur came out on the same day, so, relatively, its sales were disappointing. While sales figures weren't provided for any of the above games, Pachter writes in his monthly NPD analysis that Blur "sold well below our estimate of 100,000 units," giving us some insight into how both it and Split/Second performed. However, Split/Second was released a week earlier than ModNation and Blur. With two much higher-profile racing games coming out this fall, in Gran Turismo 5 and Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit, it remains to be seen if the racing genre itself is toxic at the checkout counter or if gamers have simply passed over May's hybrid concepts, content to wait for the new models of their favorite makes.
Split/Second down to $40 on Amazon today
How would you like to feel like Lando Calrissian all of the time? It's pretty easy -- and you don't even need to betray your friends or star in a Colt 45 commercial, either. Simply head on over to Amazon and pick up Split/Second at a reduced price of $40. Feeling lost? Well, then you didn't read our review. Don't worry, we won't hold it against you, so long as you promise you'll read it right now. Please, don't make us turn this into a thing. Thaaaaaanks!
Split/Second is $40 at Best Buy next week
Click image for more potential savings If you've been thinking about picking up Black Rock's fresh-out-of-the-garage racer, Split/Second, then you may want to keep Best Buy in mind. A tipster sent in a shot of next week's circular, which highlights the game's $20 savings. On top of the savings, you'll also net three Best Buy-exclusive cars -- not a bad deal, if we may say so. The sale runs from May 30 until June 5. Click the image above for a shot of the full page ad.
Red Dead Redemption, Split/Second debut on UK charts
Rockstar's dusty western, Red Dead Redemption, has taken the top spot on the UK software sales charts -- Take-Two's first multiplatform title to do so since Bioshock 2, according to Chart-Track. it's also the first top multiplatform title for Rockstar since the debut of GTA IV way back in 2008. That's not to say there weren't other highlights in this week's dog and pony show. Coming in second was 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, while Ubisoft's Just Dance managed to move to the beat of third. Black Rock Studios' Split/Second also managed to make an appearance at the fifth spot, while European developer Remedy Entertainment's psychological thriller, Alan Wake, was pushed back into the shadows down to the eighth spot -- a major drop from its previous second place spot last week. Source - Red Dead Redemption takes top spot on GFK Chart-Track Source - GFK Chart-Track's top-selling titles for the week ending May 22
Split Second PC demo available for download
Want to get a taste of Black Rock and Disney Interactive's frequently exploding racer, Split/Second? Provided you've got a beefy enough PC gaming rig, you can now download a demo for the game directly through our sister site, Big Download. The 1GB download includes the game's tutorial, and a race event in the Airport Terminal track, which doesn't seem particularly legal. Apparently, the world of Split/Second is as lawless as it is combustible. Download: Split/Second demo (1.01 GB)
