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Spacetime lets half its staff go, Blackstar still needs publisher
Spacetime Studios posted some sad news last week, announcing that it was letting half its staff go. The company has been self-funded while it sought a publishing deal for Blackstar, its sci-fi MMO space/ground action game. The company says it is scaling down from 32 to 16 employees while it tries to get a prototype and a publisher lined up. If you're a studio looking for good talent, Spacetime has urged you to contact them.The developer has been going through a rough patch since NCSoft decided not to be Blackstar's publisher back in January. For a basic idea of what the gameplay looked like at GDC, check out the video after the break.
Spacetime Studios releases PDF brochure for Blackstar
The Blackstar media wagon keeps on chugging as Spacetime Studios releases a 14 page preview PDF brochure of what's inside their upcoming space/action MMO.The brochure details the two warring factions, the United Colonies Defense Force (UCDF) and the Scorn Empire, some of their spaceships, stations, and classes, and the state of the B* universe when the game opens. More surprisingly, the brochure also covers some of the factions that have broken away from the UCDF and Scorn, as well as some of the threats that players will find in the universe. There's also more inside if you go and check it out for yourself!The entire PDF file is full of the beautiful concept art that makes Blackstar stand out from the other MMOs on the market, especially EVE Online. From what we've seen here at Massively, that beautiful concept art is already transitioning into a beautiful world, and we're eagerly awaiting more footage of what looks to be a (pun quite intended) stellar MMO, despite their publisher difficulties. Way to keep pushing onwards, guys.
NCSoft cancels Spacetime MMO, layoffs follow
Publisher NCSoft has canceled work on Blackstar, a science-fiction MMO deep in development by Austin-based Spacetime Studios. As a result of the cancellation, Spacetime has been forced to lay off 12 of its employees, but remains somewhat optimistic and committed to the IP.Spacetime shares news of the cancellation on their official website, making it clear that they are disappointed by NCSoft's decision, but that they will not allow it to affect their relationship with the company. For the 12 employees who were laid off, Spacetime will supply severance, extended benefits, and letters of recommendation. On the official site, Spacetime encourages developers looking to hire to contact them for more information about these individuals.As for BlackStar, Spacetime appears dedicated to continuing work on the MMO, and looking for other publishers once all contractual obligations with NCSoft have been completed. Spacetime has handled this entire matter with incredible class and dignity, and we wish them the best of luck.[Via GameDaily]
NCsoft drops Spacetime Studios: Not all is lost as development on Blackstar (space MMOG) continues
Earlier this week Spacetime Studios announced NCsoft has cancelled their contract with Blackstar, title revealed today, a space MMOG that has been in development for the past two years. As a result, this currently leaves the game with no publisher, stifling full production for the foreseeable future. In order for development to continue 12 employees were served with walking papers, an unfortunate but understandable circumstance.In the announcement Spacetime Studios reassures that Blackstar is their current project and they will continue to develop the IP. The infrastructure and all the tools are in place, and the remaining crew is fully committed. According to Brandon Reinhart's blog, STS Lead Designer, NCsoft is continuing to work closely with Spacetime Studios to resolve their separation amicably and make sure that the legalities regarding property rights are not entangled. More information regarding the game itself will be revealed in the days ahead. Do you want to know more about Blackstar? Check out thee Spacetime Studios website.
Switched On: It browsed from another dimension!
Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about technology, multimedia, and digital entertainment: Microsoft named its browser a humble explorer; Apple encompassed a whole safari. Do you get the sense that the developers of the 3D browser "SpaceTime" are setting their sights a bit higher?Most 3D browsers from the early days of the web, such as those from ActiveWorlds and Blaxxun Interactive, became best-known for avatar-based chat, in many ways the precursors of Second Life. 3B, a more recent effort, allows its users to set up web pages and photos on walls or billboards in various 3D environments such as Tech (think bridge of USS Enterprise), Beach, Lounge and what the developers call "Girly" (sort of a pre-teen girl's bedroom) presumably located in Hannah, Montana.SpaceTime, though, differs from all these avatar cyberplaygrounds, using 3D instead as a means to more visual web navigation. Large thumbnails of web pages float in front of a slowly drifting Cirrus cloud background; double-clicking them travels through space and brings them full-screen. Alone, this would be little more than eye candy, but SpaceTime's design goals kick in when you choose a search from one of its partners, which include Google and YouTube, Yahoo and Flickr, Amazon and eBay, among others.
