News travels fast so let’s get right to it.
Our company has been entirely self-funded the for the last six months while we tried to find a publishing deal for ‘Blackstar.’ Throughout this period we have held onto our pre-production development team because, honestly, we think they are the best of the best. We have been shopping Blackstar around but - right now, at least – the concept of a SciFi space/ground IP has proven to be a challenge. Our studio cannot survive at its current burn rate without a publishing deal, so we face a necessary (though very difficult and painful) decision. We are scaling down from thirty-two down to sixteen folks in the hopes of developing a pitch, a prototype and another publishing deal.
We will be letting some very good folks go. They will receive extended benefits and we will be doing everything we can to help them land on their feet again. We consider these people to be the cream of the crop, so if you are looking to staff up your team please drop us a line at jobs@spacetimestudios.com.
August 1st, 2008 at 5:01 pm
You all have been the most amazing team to work with! Thank you for everything that you did! The way that Spacetime Studios does business sets new standards for integrity. It was my distinct and absolute pleasure to be a part of the Blackstar movement, and to work with each and every one of you. I wish you the absolute best for the future! Take care… Until next we meet again…
Alisha Cloud
Multimedia Audio
demolisha@earthlink.net
August 6th, 2008 at 5:51 am
Hi, I have found your site via edge online. I watched the video of blackstar and I really like the concept, I hope you find a publisher soon as it looks fun.
August 6th, 2008 at 6:28 am
Very sad to hear this, as I’ve been looking forward to exactly this sort of game. But not really surprised, given that out of the two major space-based MMOs that have happened (EVE and Earth & Beyond), one of them tanked. Even making a standard fare space shooter (non-MMO) these days is difficult. Everyone just seems to want elves. Such a pity for those of us who loathe swords. My worry is that with publishers taking so little risks and even games like BioShock having had problems finding publishers, what does this bode for the future of gaming development creativity?
Question: While it may seem entirely odd, can you digitally-publish the game through Steam exclusively, maybe? And then use that as an example of its success to major publishers for the box?
August 6th, 2008 at 6:34 am
It’s sad to hear your game won’t get published right away. However I can say I expected to see this. American game publishers have a proven track record for shooting down anything that doesn’t have a berserker gorilla of hype behind it. This was something that needed to be self-published, done through digital distribution only (either self-distribution or using Steam or Direct2Drive), or targeted to foreign markets that are more receptable to games that actually do something unique.
God speed to those being laid off. I hope someone learned something besides “publishers hate new companies with new games.”
August 6th, 2008 at 7:19 am
I am very sad to hear this. Even though I had heard just a few small tidbits about Blackstar it looked like it would have been an amazing game. You guys are the top guns, best of the best.
August 7th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
What happened to the days when space combat sims rocked the gaming industry? Very very sad indeed. I first came across blackstar when I did a search for space based MMO searching for a revival of the thrill and exhilaration that I would get playing the Wing commander series and Allegiance (before it was screwed up). It looks like some previously and poorly implemented space MMOs have negativily skewed the thoughts of this genre. MMOs needs something besides midevil fantasy!!
August 8th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Very sad to hear this too. Blackstar look like a very creative game, and a amazing new experience in this type of gameplay. Still don’t understand why publisher won’t come…
Well, good luck for you and for all you’re ex-team members, good luck too !
I hope to have good new soon.
ps:sorry is my english is bad, but you have supporters in france too.
August 8th, 2008 at 11:17 pm
I am still looking forward to seeing this game in action and hopefully there will be a publisher who will put their backing into Blackstar. The concepts alone speak volumes to the possibilities of what this game could be. I also tire of the slew of swords and sorcery games and want some good ol’ home-cooked sci-fi.
My prayers go out to those departed from the team. I do hope the other local studios have need for their talents.
August 23rd, 2008 at 3:15 pm
I’m sad to hear this. Hopefully the remaining team can keep working, find a publisher and get blackstar back on track again. To those that have left, best of luck in your future endevours and hopefully you can all come back into the fold soon. There is so much potential in this game, the unique art style, the innovative mixed space/ground gameplay, the customization, it’s hard to believe that a publisher was not interested. The only other game that offers anything like this that I know of is SWG, I don’t even think that the KOTORO game will have the space fighter aspect of SWG.
Your game is truly unique and I hope that a publisher figures out what the rest of us already know soon.