Interplay selling off its IPs - Whither Earthworm Jim, Clay Fighter, Boogerman, & MDK?

[Hellsperger]

from http://www.pcinvasion.com/interplay...c&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=socialnetwork

Interplay, once owners of the Fallout IP until it was sold to Bethesda in 2007, now appear to be selling off their remaining assets and intellectual properties. A Nasdaq press release states that Interplay are entering into “a process” to “sell its library of video game assets and intellectual property”.

It was encroaching bankruptcy which forced Interplay’s sale of the Fallout IP (though they licensed back the rights to sell the older titles), but it’s unclear whether financial necessity is once again playing a part in this sale. Here’s how Interplay CEO Eric Caen is framing it: “With the proliferation of mobile, augmented reality, virtual reality and other new forms of consumption, we believe that consumers are ready to experience and interact with Interplay’s characters, stories and game play in ways never possible before”.

There are some well-known names among Interplay’s catalogue, including Freespace, MDK, Messiah, Sacrifice and Giants. Multiple IPs that you’d imagine would be attractive prospects for other publishers and studios. The full list from the press release is as follows: “Battle Chess, Boogerman, Clay Fighter, Dark Alliance, Descent, Earthworm Jim, Freespace, Kingpin, M.A.X., Messiah, MDK, Redneck Rampage, Run Like Hell, Sacrifice, T-Rex Rumble, and Giants“.

Most recently, Interplay licensed the Descent name to Descendant Studios for the Kickstarter project Descent: Underground.

Also, from https://www.develop-online.net/news/earthworm-jim-and-other-interplay-ip-up-for-sale/0223870

Interplay is now in the process of selling off most of its video game assets and intellectual property.

The studio, first founded in 1983, has operated for the last few years in a licensing capacity, charging other developers to build games based on their property, but the firm has now decided to sell these properties on.

There are around 70 titles and dozens of characters up for grabs, with Interplay appointing Wedbush Securities’ Joe Morgan to assist in the process. You can email him with IP enquiries via joe.morgan@wedbush.com.

Naturally, the IP sale does not include Fallout – sold to Bethesda back in 2007 – or any other properties already in the hands of other companies.

“Interplay has entertained millions of players with its well-recognised games, including Earthworm Jim, Freespace, Giants, Kingpin, Messiah, MDK, Run Like Hell, Sacrifice, Battlechess, Clayfighter, Dark Alliance, and Descent,” said Interplay president Eric Caen.

“As game creators, we are proud of the entertainment these properties have provided over the years. With the proliferation of mobile, augmented reality, virtual reality and other new forms of consumption, we believe that consumers are ready to experience and interact with Interplay's characters, stories and game play in ways never possible before.

“We look forward to seeing how this unique portfolio of interactive entertainment icons will evolve for the worldwide audience.”

The IP sale potentially marks Interplay’s exit from the games market. While the company once thrived on the titles above – not to mention the original Fallout and the Baldur’s Gate games – debt and bankruptcy led to the firm lying almost dormant for a number of years.

 

[AnOminous]

no1curr

 

[Chicken Nugget Scoon]

Let's hope a good studio gets Earthworm Jim. I'd kill for a modern one with really nice 2D art, like Rayman Origins. But something tells me a shite one will get a hold of it. Or the monkey paw situation of wanting a new EWJ, and instead Activision buys it and makes a bloody Skylander.

 

[waffle]

I kind of hope for a new redneck rampage game from someone. Those were fun as shit back in the day.

 

[Dr. Tremolo]

I love the Freespace games but I wouldn't count on a good reimagining these days.

 

[RomanesEuntDomus]

Freespace? That's one of my favorite games. MDK and Giants was awesome, too.
I halfway assume that at least one of the games Interplay is offering is turned into horrible microtransactions garbage à la Dungeon Keeper.

 

[millais]

I'm sure there's probably a hundred crowdfunded unofficial Descent remakes that are itching to get the IP.

 

[AnOminous]

I'm sure there's probably a hundred crowdfunded unofficial Descent remakes that are itching to get the IP.

I actually rather liked the Descent series. Didn't know that was one of theirs.

 

[Pickle Inspector]

Let's hope a good studio gets Earthworm Jim. I'd kill for a modern one with really nice 2D art, like Rayman Origins. But something tells me a shite one will get a hold of it. Or the monkey paw situation of wanting a new EWJ, and instead Activision buys it and makes a bloody Skylander.

Yeah, I'm worried it'll be the same for the rest of them, they made some games which at the time were a lot of fun though.

I'd like for there to be a Sacrifice 2 since the gameplay of the original was unique and it had a good branching story, MDK I recall used to be pretty popular in the 90s but I can't really remember much about it apart from it being a run and gun type of game.

Clayfighter is interesting as it's so infamous it's quite well known, if a company which develops fighting games got the IP and made a half way decent game it might do well.

 

[Strelok]

I actually rather liked the Descent series. Didn't know that was one of theirs.

They were publisher, not developer. Descent was made by Parallax who eventually morphed into Volition (The company was split into Volition and Outrage, with the Descent team heading to Volition), the Saints Row devs. Same with Virtual Pool which managed to hold onto their IP, although I can't imagine they'd have had much trouble without it, seeing how they up untill like a year or two back were the only ones in the simulation billiards game instead of facebook style arcade sheneigans.

 

[Ol' Slag]

I would like to see a Stonekeep remake. Shitty FMV and all.

 

[DumbDosh]

Bought the earthworm jim pack and MDK1 and 2 Pack on steam just in case they get taken down because of this.

 

[Billy_Sama]

I would love to see a new Clayfighters game, I really enjoy it when I was young and would love to see a reboot.

 

[c-no]

I would like to see a Stonekeep remake. Shitty FMV and all.

It would be nice to see how the world was doing outside of that one keep you went into (if a remake would go into that). After all, why would Khull Khuum attack one kingdom when he could of also gone after other kingdoms. Then again, he's more or less a god whose a living suit of armor. A proper sequel would also be nice, not counting that thing on the Wii.

 

[DumbDosh]

So it turns out 4 games they published but didn't develop themselves were taken off steam, I don't think this bodes well for the rest of their games available now.