Atari closes MicroProse

[CivCube]

This is unexpected.

http://www.gamespot.com/all/news/news_6078160.html

Atari confirms shuttering the studio formerly known as MicroProse. Thirty-five staffers out of work.

Atari corporate today confirmed the closure of its Hunt Valley Studio, which was formerly the independent publisher/developer MicroProse. The studio had recently completed work on Dungeons & Dragons Heroes, but had a long history of development on games that have gone down in the books as best-sellers and award-winners. Those titles include Sid Meier's Civilization, Civilization II, Railroad Tycoon, Colonization, and Pirates.

Nancy Bushkin, Atari vice president of corporate communications, said, "I can confirm that the Hunt Valley Studio, which we manage on behalf of Infogrames Entertainment, was closed. The team there had successfully completed work on their sole project, D&D Heroes, and they had no other titles under way, making this a straightforward business decision. "

She went on to confirm that 35 employees were laid off and that the company is "in discussion with a handful of [those] people regarding other positions."

By Staff, GameSpot [POSTED: 11/04/03 03:11 PM]

 

[Chieftess]

I though Microprose had gone out of business last year.

 

[Tacit_Exit]

Whats this got to do with Conquests?
edit: now irrelevant

 

[sabo]

Not to mention they created the only truley good submarine game "Tom Clancy's - Red Storm Rising"

I feel kind of sad....

 

[Isak]

Yep, that's sad. I can't begin to think of how many hours worth of entertainment those boys and girls have provided me with, and even though a lot of the people who were there in their days of glory back in the early and mid-nineties, were no longer there anymore, the legacy of Hunt Valley Studios just isn't one I can easily forget. It was the last MicroProse studio around. Now MicroProse is truly just a legend

Best wishes to all those people who got laid off - I sincerely hope they get new contracts with other developers soon. You're never too old to Rock'n'Roll if you're too young to die!

 

[warpstorm]

But remember, those who made Microprose great are still around making games.

 

[Metacomet]

I'll miss Microprose

 

[mrbaggins]

*smiles, and thinks of Silent Service*

 

[mrbaggins]

And Harpoon II was the best sub game. (it included other stuff, but the submarine bit was key)

 

[Sarevok]

this is kind of unfortunate.

 

[tigerblow]

i'm so sorry

 

[Master Zen]

Micropose was one of the greatest institutions in computer gaming. Truly a hall of fame company if there was ever a hall of fame for those things. :b:

I don't know how many countless hours I have spent playing Microprose games, from back in the days of F-117, to Civ 1, to Falcon 4 and European Air War.

Those guys rocked. Best of luck to the lay-offs but just having "worked at Microprose" in their resume should be enough to get them any job they want.

 

[denyd]

Not to mention one of my all time favorites Rail Tycoon

 

[The Person]

Nooooooo..... Not Microprose.... I can't believe it. I just can't believe it.

 

[LordKestrel]

Originally posted by denyd
Not to mention one of my all time favorites Rail Tycoon

I still have my copy, but it's unplayable because of the speed of modern machines. Still, in my opinion, the best ever Microprose game was Xcom. It's followup games were great, but the original has a special place in my heart

 

[Sun]

This is really depressive news

Best of luck to those who were laid off!!

 

[Mad Hab]

Truly sad.

Long live to the company that made me want to buy a computer when created Civilization I!!!

Cheers,

Mad Hab

 

[simone007]

Originally posted by denyd
Not to mention one of my all time favorites Rail Tycoon

Omg you are my idol, Railroad Tycoon is my all-time favourite together with X-COM 1&2

 

[msosa01]

Good bye Microprose. You made my all time favorite game, Pirates! I also spent many days hunting Japanese shipping in the South Pacific with Silent Service. Sad to see a company that made so many great products end. What went wrong?

BTW Infrogames taking the name of Atari sucks. Do they have any relationship at all to that other legendary company?

 

[jeremiahrounds]

Did microprose make the original xcom?

I loved that game.

Also never got to see the PC pirates but i enjoyed the nintendo incarnation immensely. Some very original ideas in that game that still show today.

I also played alot of silent service on my first pc. I used to dig hunting down subs by sound. All the new ones seem to show you where the enemy is. Boo dumbing sonar down.