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Details needed on ITF
Ok guys I need some facts. I'm writing an article for a games website that I'm launching with 2 friends of mine and I want to do one on ITF. I need to get some facts down on Sierra before posting it on the website when we launch.
I need:
1. sum that Sierra spent on the game development before cancelation
2. amount of time invested before cancelation
3. date of project start
4. amount of people involved in the development
The article itself will be coming from a humorous angle as thats the main theme of the website. I'll tell you guys more about it when we're ready to launch, hopefully before the weeks out, depending on how work goes.
I'm not sure how much extra publicity it will bring but it will be something. Since we're going to be a new site, our numbers will be low to start off with.
Thanks for your help guys!
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'The future is all around us' G'kar
'I have no surviving enemies! None what so ever!' Galen
Visit my B5 site at: [url="http://babylon5.acmecity.com/alliance/110"]http://babylon5.acmecity.com/alliance/110[/url]
I need:
1. sum that Sierra spent on the game development before cancelation
2. amount of time invested before cancelation
3. date of project start
4. amount of people involved in the development
The article itself will be coming from a humorous angle as thats the main theme of the website. I'll tell you guys more about it when we're ready to launch, hopefully before the weeks out, depending on how work goes.
I'm not sure how much extra publicity it will bring but it will be something. Since we're going to be a new site, our numbers will be low to start off with.
Thanks for your help guys!
------------------
'The future is all around us' G'kar
'I have no surviving enemies! None what so ever!' Galen
Visit my B5 site at: [url="http://babylon5.acmecity.com/alliance/110"]http://babylon5.acmecity.com/alliance/110[/url]
Comments
[b]1. sum that Sierra spent on the game development before cancelation
2. amount of time invested before cancelation
3. date of project start
4. amount of people involved in the development
[/b][/quote]
I'd thought 1 and 2 were confidential figures! Good luck though on getting as much as you can [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/smile.gif[/img]
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'The future is all around us' G'kar
'I have no surviving enemies! None what so ever!' Galen
Visit my B5 site at: [url="http://babylon5.acmecity.com/alliance/110"]http://babylon5.acmecity.com/alliance/110[/url]
[b]
1. sum that Sierra spent on the game development before cancellation
RL: may not be legal to say.
2. amount of time invested before cancellation
RL: about two years - counting artificial delays imposed on the team by management through dumb decisions.
3. date of project start
RL: fall of '97
4. amount of people involved in the development
RL: I think that there were usually about 15 people on the team.
[/b][/quote]
NOTE: I fixed your spelling. Be sure to run spell check before you publish your site. [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/wink.gif[/img]
-Rick
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[i]"...In the end it would hold because what is built endures. And what is loved endures.
And Babylon 5...Babylon 5 endures."[/i] -- Delenn in the Babylon 5 episode [i]Rising Star[/i]
[b]I heard it was something like 17 million Altarian dollars...[/b][/quote]
I thought around 20 million Centauri Ducats.
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..And so it Begins
Falcon1: Are you writing anything about this place in the article? If you are, you're welcome to quote from my history thing, provided you give some credit. [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/smile.gif[/img]
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Never eat anything bigger than your own head.
The Balance provides. The Balance protects.
"Nonono...Is not [i]Great[/i] Machine. Is...[i]Not[/i]-so-Great Machine. It make good snow cone though." - Zathras
It was 50 credits, and after the revolution! [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/wink.gif[/img]
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[url="http://www.dd.chalmers.se/~gu00mama/"]http://www.dd.chalmers.se/~gu00mama/[/url]
Vir - Are you saying you don't trust me anymore? I made your favourite, Spoo.
Londo - I'll order in.
[b]You're both wrong. It was 15 credits, plus 2 credits for marketing. [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/smile.gif[/img]
Falcon1: Are you writing anything about this place in the article? If you are, you're welcome to quote from my history thing, provided you give some credit. [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/smile.gif[/img]
[/b][/quote]
Don't worry Biggles! Firstones.com will get a very good mention! I will see to it. I think if I didn't I would be betraying my duty as a member of this great community. And yeah I will use bits from your history. I'll be writing it over the weekend.
What I'll do actually, before I put it on the site for launch, I'll post it here, so you guys can read it, and make any necessary corrections or point out anything I missed.
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'The future is all around us' G'kar
'I have no surviving enemies! None what so ever!' Galen
Visit my B5 site at: [url="http://babylon5.acmecity.com/alliance/110"]http://babylon5.acmecity.com/alliance/110[/url]
[This message has been edited by Falcon1 (edited 06-01-2001).]
[b] [QUOTE]Originally posted by Falcon1:
[b]
1. sum that Sierra spent on the game development before cancellation
RL: may not be legal to say.
2. amount of time invested before cancellation
RL: about two years - counting artificial delays imposed on the team by management through dumb decisions.
3. date of project start
RL: fall of '97
4. amount of people involved in the development
RL: I think that there were usually about 15 people on the team.
[/b][/quote]
NOTE: I fixed your spelling. Be sure to run spell check before you publish your site. [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/wink.gif[/img]
[/B][/QUOTE]
Thats alot Randy. Thats what I needed. I had an idea the actual amount spent could not be mentioned legally. I'll just say that ALOT of money was spent.
Oh an d m y spell ign si infe! [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/wink.gif[/img]
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'The future is all around us' G'kar
'I have no surviving enemies! None what so ever!' Galen
Visit my B5 site at: [url="http://babylon5.acmecity.com/alliance/110"]http://babylon5.acmecity.com/alliance/110[/url]
------------------
Never eat anything bigger than your own head.
The Balance provides. The Balance protects.
"Nonono...Is not [i]Great[/i] Machine. Is...[i]Not[/i]-so-Great Machine. It make good snow cone though." - Zathras
------------------
'The future is all around us' G'kar
'I have no surviving enemies! None what so ever!' Galen
Visit my B5 site at: [url="http://babylon5.acmecity.com/alliance/110"]http://babylon5.acmecity.com/alliance/110[/url]
[b] I thought around 20 million Centauri Ducats.
[/b][/quote]
"Londo, here are your dockets"
"Doo-KATZ!"
"DOCKETS!"
"DOO-KATZ!!"
"o/~ He says toma-to.. I say tom-ato -- Let's work the wholentung out"
[This message has been edited by TheKnave (edited 06-01-2001).]
I have another question for the developers.
This ones about the design team.
!. Wasn't it called Yosemite Interactive?
2. Which part of the States did you move too when Sierra ordered the restructuring? (I remember it being a west coast to east coast move)
3. How long did the move take to reassemble the team?
4. How many jobs were lost during the closer (about 25 wasn't it)?
5. The exact status of Sierra in the Havas group. I know Havas own Sierra, but Havas have recently reformed with someone else who I can't remember.
Just out of interest Randy or Rick, what kind of bloopers did managment chuck at you to mess things up? Since I'm writing this article from a sarcastic angle, my main aim will be to show how big game firm sometimes (!) don't know what the hell their doing, and end up running around like big fat headless chickens.
I'll understand if you guys can't comment.
Thanks again guys!
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'The future is all around us' G'kar
'I have no surviving enemies! None what so ever!' Galen
Visit my B5 site at: [url="http://babylon5.acmecity.com/alliance/110"]http://babylon5.acmecity.com/alliance/110[/url]
[This message has been edited by Falcon1 (edited 06-01-2001).]
[b]You're both wrong. It was 15 credits, plus 2 credits for marketing. [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/smile.gif[/img]
Falcon1: Are you writing anything about this place in the article? If you are, you're welcome to quote from my history thing, provided you give some credit. [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/smile.gif[/img]
[/b][/quote]
I'm going to take you up on that Biggles. I've just sent you an email about it.
oh pants its just be returned.... there's a problem with your address, so here's the bulk of the email:
Anyway, yeah I'd love to go through your history again of the events of past. I remember reading it ags ago. I thought it was linked somewhere on the Firstones site but I haven't noticed it. Could you email it to me? I would be very gratefull. And don't worry about crediting. I'll make sure we get good publicity out of this.
I'm planning on starting the article at the weekend. I want it done by Monday as we hope to launch the site either on that day, or Tuesday.
cheers matey!
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'The future is all around us' G'kar
'I have no surviving enemies! None what so ever!' Galen
Visit my B5 site at: [url="http://babylon5.acmecity.com/alliance/110"]http://babylon5.acmecity.com/alliance/110[/url]
[This message has been edited by Falcon1 (edited 06-01-2001).]
Sierra Executive: We don't accept Republic credits.
*waves hand* Republic credits will do fine.
Sierra Executive: No, they wont, what you think your some kind of Jedi, waving your hand like that? Im a suit, mind tricks dont work on me, only money.
Worf
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"Playing computer and video games doesnt create murderers and terrorists....cancelling computer and video games creates them." -Me-
Join the fight for freedom at [url="http://www.newrepublic.de"]http://www.newrepublic.de[/url] and [url="http://www.isd-imperium.co.uk"]http://www.isd-imperium.co.uk[/url]
4. 105, plus 5 games
And here's a link: [url="http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/jlbiggs/firstoneshistory.html"]History[/url]
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Never eat anything bigger than your own head.
The Balance provides. The Balance protects.
"Nonono...Is not [i]Great[/i] Machine. Is...[i]Not[/i]-so-Great Machine. It make good snow cone though." - Zathras
[b]It was 5000 Republic credits...
Sierra Executive: We don't accept Republic credits.
*waves hand* Republic credits will do fine.
Sierra Executive: No, they wont, what you think your some kind of Jedi, waving your hand like that? Im a suit, mind tricks dont work on me, only money.
Worf
[/b][/quote]
LMAO... [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/smile.gif[/img]
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[url="http://www.modfactory.net"]ModFactory[/url]
<*>
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Never eat anything bigger than your own head.
The Balance provides. The Balance protects.
"Nonono...Is not [i]Great[/i] Machine. Is...[i]Not[/i]-so-Great Machine. It make good snow cone though." - Zathras
Cheers for the link Biggles. I tried emailing you both through my uni account and my home email and both were returned undelivered. Weird really....
I'll keep everyone posted!
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'The future is all around us' G'kar
'I have no surviving enemies! None what so ever!' Galen
Visit my B5 site at: [url="http://babylon5.acmecity.com/alliance/110"]http://babylon5.acmecity.com/alliance/110[/url]
[b]
1. Wasn't it called Yosemite Interactive?
The game development started under Sierra On-Line, if memory serves - and it may not, and then the Oakhurst studio was renamed Yosemite Entertainment so that Oakhurst studio products could be differentiated from the rest of Sierra On-Line product.
2. Which part of the States did you move too when Sierra ordered the restructuring? (I remember it being a west coast to east coast move)
The team was re-organized in Bellevue, Washington, which is close to Seattle.
3. How long did the move take to reassemble the team?
When the team got to Bellevue there was no office space set up for them, so they were unable to work on the game for, if I recall correctly, about a month while they waited for office space. That down time was counted against the budget. Add to this that we were on a roll -a well-oiled efficient machine- while in Oakhurst. When offices finally were set up in Bellevue it took the team time to get back up to speed.
4. How many jobs were lost during the closer (about 25 wasn't it)?
Answered elsewhere.
5. The exact status of Sierra in the Havas group. I know Havas own Sierra, but Havas have recently reformed with someone else who I can't remember.
Vivendi (sp?) owns Havas; Havas owns the Sierra On-Line franchise.
Just out of interest Randy or Rick, what kind of bloopers did management chuck at you to mess things up? Since I'm writing this article from a sarcastic angle, my main aim will be to show how big game firm sometimes (!) don't know what the hell their doing, and end up running around like big fat headless chickens.
I'll understand if you guys can't comment.
That’s good, because there’s a lot I can’t say.
I will tell you that just after we got started our programming staff was forced (by the powers up in Bellevue, which was Sierra headquarters at the time) to work on another game, for another studio, which was behind, instead of our game. This put a 2.5 to 3 month dent in our one to 1.5 year time allotment. That time was counted against us anyway. At the same time the rest of the team was still getting paid, but couldn’t do a lot of what it should have been doing because our programming department was tied up. Those salaries were nevertheless charged against our budget.
There was the relentless demand to pull everyone off of working on the game so that they could work on demos for upcoming conventions and/or proof of concept demos. This took a huge chunk out of our time budget. But this is true of most of the interactive entertainment industry, not just Sierra at the time. As noted elsewhere, since we were building a new engine from the ground up with the idea that it would support a series of games, there wasn't much to show in a demo early on - the engine is the support system behind the game, not the game itself. So a demo during engine development wouldn't look like much. But the power brokers wanted to see bells and whistles - so this meant doing mock-ups - work that was simply wasted because it couldn't be re-used for the sim itself. Nevertheless, this wasted time was charged against our budget.
There was one huge problem that was completely unnecessary that ate about two months of our budget while at the same time demanded an increase in design and writing time. This problem was forced on us from outside the Oakhurst studio. It may never be appropriate to talk about it. I’ll tell you this, it could have been solved with some face to face and some balls - in a day.
And then of course, as I mentioned above, there was the whole closing of the Oakhurst studio-moving the team to Bellevue-waiting for office space debacle, which was charged against the budget of our game.
[/b][/quote]
[This message has been edited by Randy (edited 06-02-2001).]
[This message has been edited by Randy (edited 06-02-2001).]
Just for the record, I'll be metioning yourself Randy, Rick and Biggles in the credits for this one. If anyone doesn't want to, just let me know. Except for Biggles of course! [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/wink.gif[/img]
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'The future is all around us' G'kar
'I have no surviving enemies! None what so ever!' Galen
Visit my B5 site at: [url="http://babylon5.acmecity.com/alliance/110"]http://babylon5.acmecity.com/alliance/110[/url]
[This message has been edited by Falcon1 (edited 06-03-2001).]
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Never eat anything bigger than your own head.
The Balance provides. The Balance protects.
"Nonono...Is not [i]Great[/i] Machine. Is...[i]Not[/i]-so-Great Machine. It make good snow cone though." - Zathras
Sure no probs guys!
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'The future is all around us' G'kar
'I have no surviving enemies! None what so ever!' Galen
Visit my B5 site at: [url="http://babylon5.acmecity.com/alliance/110"]http://babylon5.acmecity.com/alliance/110[/url]