Who'll publish Civilization IV?

[Jon Shafer]

I know that very well, which is why I said hope.

You mean you hope they bought the rights to it.

 

[Jon Shafer]

Trip: If Firaxis could afford to buy the franchise, there is no telling what they are capable of.

That's kind of like saying that it's possible that WalMart might publish it.

 

[Desertsnow]

I was thinking Firaxis, but I voted EA, because I can see them publishing it just as easily. Firaxis and Activision are good candidates though.
Anyone but Microsoft is my hope.

 

[Strato]

Firaxis could potentially publish, but most likely won't because of what you said Trip - basically it comes down to the money.

Most likely it'll be EA. Didn't they do SMAC?

I wouldn't complain about Microsoft doing it, at least it will be done right (hint: look at AoE series) None of the other companies that are publishers really stand out as being very good, but that's personal opinion (I don't like EA or Ubisoft... are they still going?)

 

[blackhalo14]

I think Firaxis has got this...

 

[warpstorm]

Definitely other.

 

[user37852]

Much like Trip, Warpstorm believes HE bought the franchise

 

[warpstorm]

No, but I know who didn't...

 

[SirPleb]

I think it fairly likely that no one at Firaxis knows the identity of the purchaser.

 

[warpstorm]

I think it is fairly likely that a few at Firaxis know who the new publisher is. After all, the checks come from somewhere.

 

[user37852]

SirPleb, you honour my thread.

Warpstorm: Are you Trip in disguise? You sure sound like Trip, in disguise. A disguised Trip. Yes, that's you.

 

[warpstorm]

No, Trip is a good bit younger (and DLs are against forum policy).

 

[SirPleb]

I think it is fairly likely that a few at Firaxis know who the new publisher is. After all, the checks come from somewhere.

They could as easily continue to come from Infogrames as anywhere else. Presumably contract(s) between Infogrames/Firaxis remain binding on someone or we'd have heard some major flack. If (as an example, I don't know anything about the actual arrangements) Infogrames had contracted Firaxis to produce Civ4 by a particular date and to make specified payments along the way, all that could easily continue to be true. The purchase price for the rights could have included an allowance for amounts owed on existing contracts and Infogrames could remain obligated to finish them -transferring an existing development contract might be more difficult than leaving it in place and including its cost in the price.

Edit: I should say "would be" instead of "might" in that last sentence. Leaving an existing development contract alone and buying its result is less legals and one less party who has a say in the negotiations.

 

[Jon Shafer]

The Firaxians do know who the buyer is.

 

[warpstorm]

Anecdotal, but the first I heard of this was something like "Warp (obviously not my real name), did you hear that ******** bought the rights to Civ from Atari?". This company was not in this poll.

 

[Civrules]

But why do they still not announce who it is?

 

[Blackbird_SR-71]

It's Wal-Mart i say there just keeping it a secret so they can takeover the publishing business.

 

[Taé Shala]

Found this in the internet

 

[Jon Shafer]

Yeah... hilarious.

 

[Blackbird_SR-71]

whats that have to do with the discussion ?