Bizarre Creation Returns

[cube_b3]

Raise your hand if you didn't see this coming?
http://asia.gamespot.com/news/6300942.html

Earlier this month, Activision shuttered its Liverpudlian development studio Bizarre Creations. While the racing specialist shop behind games like Project Gotham Racing and Blur only recently ran out of gas, some of its former employees are already climbing back behind the wheel.
 
James Bond 007: Blood Stone was Bizarre's final project.
Lucid Games today announced its arrival to the world, describing itself as "a phoenix group" rising from the closure of Bizarre Creations, with a stated mission "to create for fun, quality, and simplicity." Currently, the studio is looking to hire artists, programmers, and designers, with an aim to eventually grow to more than 50 employees. Lucid also said that it is talking to a number of publishers about potential projects.

In 2007, Bizarre Creations was bought by Activision, for whom it developed last year's Blur and James Bond 007: Blood Stone. Neither title was a breakout hit, so as part of a round of cost cutting late last year, Activision made the decision to close the studio--which, at its peak, employed around 200 people.

For more on Lucid, check out the studio's official site. The company has set up an e-mail address for prospective employees and is taking meetings for next week's Game Developers Conference in San Francisco.

I knew Bizarre was up to something like this, so the only loser here is ACTIVISION as they didn't get return on their investment, and end of the day just ended up paying for a name.

I am disappointed in the top management actually, they should've  bought Bizarre back from Activision it was for sale.

[Ben]

The top management of a development studio wouldn't have NEARLY enough to buy back their company from Activision. Only publishers have that type of cash except in rare circumstances, like Harmonix, for example, where Viacom sold them off for only $50 so they could get a massive tax break.

[cube_b3]

The HALO studio did something similar furthermore when ACTIVISION bought them out, they gave the money to Bizarre only I doubt Activision were selling the studio for double the price.

Second this is the reason why banks started giving loans.

Activision is the loser here cause they had to pay them 3 months worth of salaries, get them counseling, devote HR resources to find team members jobs internally and externally.

So whoever ran Bizarre screwed Activision.

[TimmiT]

The HALO studio did something similar furthermore when ACTIVISION bought them out, they gave the money to Bizarre only I doubt Activision were selling the studio for double the price.

Bungie wasn't bought out by Activision. They are only publishing their new IP.

[cube_b3]

Bungie went independent from Microsoft Game Studios in order to work with Activision.

[crackdude]

So will Lucid be making them MSR2?

[CrazyT]

Bizarre creations means fur fighters to me. Man... times

I just recently found out that it was the guys behind the gotham series, blur and 007 game. They seem to be making pretty "ordinary" games today. I don't like ordinary

[George]

They did not go independent to work with Activision. They went independent to work on their own title, keep their own franchise and Actiivsion gave them that freedom due to their name.

[cube_b3]

Regardless, it is an example of a studio that bought it self out!

[MadeManG74]

Bizarre creations means fur fighters to me. Man... times

I just recently found out that it was the guys behind the gotham series, blur and 007 game. They seem to be making pretty "ordinary" games today. I don't like ordinary

Are you saying Gotham is 'ordinary'? It's not weird for the sake of being weird, but it's the best racing series I've ever played.

[CrazyT]

I very much enjoyed blur as well. Their games are good, but to value them more than just any other studio is a different story.  I do see where your coming from though, we just have different tastes :p

[CosmicCastaway]

Fur Fighters was my favorite Bizarre title. Hopefully something like it will be released someday.