Going Down in Flames, Headfirst

[Liquidize105]

Turbulent - the development scene for small-time independent studios making big-time videgames can only be described as such.

This time the UK-based Headfirst Productions, best-known for Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth (http://www.callofcthulhu.com/) (Xbox/360/PC), is bleeding talent faster than anyone can justifiably say "Up yours management!"

The first signs of Headfirst's immanent death could be noticed on the official message boards, where the few developers who posted there announced that they've found other jobs. This was right after the release of the Xbox version. As a matter of fact, a few key-figures at Headfirst had already left the company by then.

A month later came the news that Headfirst had sold off their most precious IP: the Simon the Sorcerer licence (Story). This was a clear indication that the company's financial situation was dire.

With no publisher ready to finance Destiny's End and heavy loans to be paid off (six years of development, two of which were without publisher backing, don't pay themselves), Headfirst had been struggling to survive for some time now. Wages hadn't been paid for months, which caused even more developers to leave the company. In the end, there was only the management and TheHoodedClaw left to hold the fort.

It's important to realise that the dedication that went into DCotE is amazing. It's sad to hear from my sources that this dedication went largely unappreciated by the management. While long hours are a standard in this industry, Headfirst seemed to drive it to extremes. Bonuses were promised but never paid, understaffing forced people to take on multiple roles and some of the equipment they had to work on was sub-par. Headfirst was very lucky to have some very dedicated people working who gave everything to deliver us the game. As a testament to the talent of the developers, I can reveal that almost all of them have quickly scored new jobs in the industry. You can find ex-headfirst employers at Codemasters, Eurocom, Crytek, Lionhead and Bioware, to name a few.
And as for the PC port?

The good news that the PC version is still happening (Bethesda has confirmed this). The only reason why we will be able to find a PC version in stores real soon is because TheHoodedClaw, who was Lead Engineer on the project, stayed behind and made the finishing touches all on his own. For free. Why? Because he cares about DCotE a lot (those reading the official forum will have noticed this) and didn't want to disappoint those who have been waiting for so long for the PC version. However, do not expect any graphical tweaks or extras on your PC. This will be a straight port from the Xbox.
The Headfirst watch dogs have the complete story (http://www.callingcthulhu.com/index.php?act=news&CODE=02&t=1413).

The PC port will hit the stores on March 27th, tomorrow. The studios is technically still afloat (perhaps just to see the intended PC release through), but for how much longer is anyone's guess.

It's a good, unique game that must to be played. For as critical of videogames as I am, I'm telling you that it's just that good.

[bean19]

Simon the Sorcerer is their most precious IP?

Is this company's death news? ;)

[Liquidize105]

Hehe you gotta start somewhere, don't forget small studios don't get to keep their IPs.

We lost Looking Glass to similar circumstances over $$$. I just want to bring it up to people's awareness.

[MaiXu]

What a shame. I loved Call of Cthulhu (as evidenced by my love-thread (http://www.evilavatar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9282)), and it's a real shame that the developer is being fractured like this. I mean, you can't expect people to work for nothing, and we're lucky there were enough people willing to miss paychecks and work unpaid hours to get the game done ... but there's gotta be a limit, and it looks like the brass finally pushed too far.

I'd love to see another quality Cthulhu game, but it looks like it won't be coming from Headfirst.

[Gamefreaks]

Yeah a real shame...Dark Corners had a few niggledy issues but was overall a great game - interesting plot, a differant style or gameplay <sigh>...another one bites the dust

[Draft]

call of cthulhu was clearly a labor of love. It was also a poorly designed mess that spends about 2 hours as a creepy psuedo adventure game, and then becomes Indiana Jones vs. Cthulhu. The powers of the outer gods are no match for your first aid kit and the lightning gun from quake.

if the entire game was like the first two hours, it'd be a horror masterpiece. too bad we'll never see a sequel.

edit:

Turbulent - the development scene for small-time independent studios making big-time videgames can only be described as such.

With Headfirst dead, so is Destiny's End and At the Mountains of Madness. Production on those stopped way before Christmas 2005. There is no publisher interest for these games, not only because these are niche games. The painfully long development cycle for DCotE has made publishers leery of doing business with Headfirst. The company had yet to prove that they can efficiently produce a game and now time has run out. How many games has Headfirst announced that never got beyond the initial announcement? Do you remember Iron Kingdoms? Or Battle of the Planets? How many times did the design change for games that were being produced? Remember Coop in DCotE? Or how Deadlands was a multiplayer game? Or how Tainted Legacy suddenly became Destiny's End? Why do you think Bethesda shows no interest in publishing any of the sequels? This all seems to point in the direction that there was no steady hand at the helm of the company. Without pointing fingers myself, many of the ex-devs I've spoken talked about mis-management, lack of support from the top and even incapability of running the studio in a professional way. One person called the Headfirst's demise "(...) totally self inflicted by the company's directors." I contacted Headfirst's management about this, but there came no reply.doesn't sound like the industry had a thing to do with Headfirst going face first. Sounds more like they were poorly run and succumbed to the same fate that awaits all mismanaged companies.

[Zeal]

I see Microsoft's prediction of the game industry's future is coming true.

[Wasson_]

Where the hell have I been?

That looks like a freakin sweet game. I just might check this out. Shame about that company though - hey it's not like the talented people will go to waste.

[Redline]

I feel sorry for the bastards going from this, to Lionhead. From what I've heard from a reliable source is that working conditions aren't much better there. This is why I left the games industry, Quality of Life just sucks. I want to do other things with my life, and freely admit that I don't have 'what it takes'.

... because 'what it takes' is sitting in front of a VDU for the majority of two years. And that feels like wasting my life, for very little appreciation (hell, sometimes even from gamers). What makes it worse, is that Joe Bloggs thinks game developers live some kind of dream rockstar-esque lifestyle, so have little sympathy for us when we bitch and moan. :P

Sure, it's not bad at all companies, but far too many have this idea that long hours are a standard. You know what long hours indicate?

Poorly managed projects. That's all there is to it.

[Zeal]

Insightful, Redline.

[Qoz]

I too liked the opening part of the game even though you were aching to get a gun. (You picked up ammo? You can only punch people WHEN you get a gun? wtf?)

The story telling is brilliant and the cut-scenes are polished and effectfull.
But some annoying GUI decisions made it un-comfortable for me (especially during conversations) and the speed at which you sneak REALLY made me wanna quit it.

The textures are crap, but I guess thats to expect on the Xbox.

After the (too long) opening the game suddenly changes to an action game were you need to run through windows and up ladders to escape fishermen with guns and weird grey faces.

Strange game I thought at first.
When I read about the team working overtime it makes more sense.
It seems they did alot with little to work with.
I hope they get better jobs to realize their talent even further.

[Kefkataran]

I'll definitely be checking out the PC version of this eventually. Damned shame. Let's hope the devs find a new a home.

[alienchild]

If you liked this game, you should definately check out the movie "Dagon", which afaik is based on the same lore.

As for this company, it ain't the first time they have been in trouble. Same thing happened after they released their 3rd Elvira game, Wax Works, under the HorrorSoft label. That too sucked bigtime, because Wax Works was the scariest game I've ever played, and I really longed for a sequel.

[Paranoia]

I enjoyed playing the game & was looking foward for a sequel. Shame they had to kill Call of Cthulhu.

[noxa]

I was looking forward to playing this; now I'll have to add it to the special shelf for games whose creators are no longer in business (along with all the games from Looking Glass, Microprose, Majesco, etc...).

Dagon is on the SciFi channel every once in awhile. Funny flick :P

[MaiXu]

If you liked this game, you should definately check out the movie "Dagon", which afaik is based on the same lore.

As for this company, it ain't the first time they have been in trouble. Same thing happened after they released their 3rd Elvira game, Wax Works, under the HorrorSoft label. That too sucked bigtime, because Wax Works was the scariest game I've ever played, and I really longed for a sequel.

Do not, repeat, DO NOT check out Dagon. Yes, it's loosely based on Lovecraft, but it is one of the absolute worst C-grade pieces of shit I've ever seen.

[TheHulk]

If you do check out Dagon it's got to be seen on DVD, not on the SciFi channel all cut up. It moves painfully slow but has a pretty sick ending. Didn't the director of Reanimator direct this too?

[noxa]

Do not, repeat, DO NOT check out Dagon. Yes, it's loosely based on Lovecraft, but it is one of the absolute worst C-grade pieces of shit I've ever seen.

Like most movies played on scifi. In fact, I thought that was the point :)

<-- <3's watching crappy scifi channel movies and laughing

[nein89]

Yes; Dagon was directed by Stuart Gordon, same as Reanimator. I had fun with it, but all of his films seem to draw pretty varied reactions, sometimes from the same people. I know a few who love Dagon and can't stand Reanimator. King of the Ants is hilarious, but you've got to make sure you're watching it with people as sick as yourself.

I think I need to watch Beyond Reanimator tonight; still haven't seen that one. <3 the first two.

Edit: Spelling, and to add something on topic; shame about Headfirst, game looks neat, fully intend to play it someday. Maybe that'll be tonight, too.

[Heretic Machine]

Dagon is actually one of the better B-movies I've seen. I enjoyed it, and found it at least somewhat true to the atmosphere of Lovecraft. Though, it felt more like fan-fiction than anything, but that's still better than most B-movies!

[MaiXu]

Like most movies played on scifi. In fact, I thought that was the point :)

<-- <3's watching crappy scifi channel movies and laughing

I love me some laughably bad B-movies, but Dagon just wasn't funny. It was too serious to keep laughing at it and too poorly done to warrant being that serious. I know "good" B-movies are a matter of taste, but I just couldn't enjoy this one.

[alienchild]

Im a huge fan of B-movies and horror movies in general, but to me Dagon was something quite special. I found it's art style amazing, I found the set pieces (except at the ending) to be breath-taking, and I loved the story immensively.

As for Beyond Reanimator, it was fun and all, but it didn't feel as fun to me as Renimator and Bride of Reanimator did. Hope there will be a 4th though.