FASA Studios Officially Shuts Down

[bapenguin]

The rumor has been around for quite some time, but today studio manager Mitch Gitelman confirmed that FASA has been shutdown (http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3162776).It is my sad duty to announce that FASA Studio has officially closed its doors. Today was the official last day of employment for those of us who had not moved on to other positions within Microsoft Game Studios. While the rumors have been circulating forever, we chose to wait on an official announcement because we didn't want people's attention distracted from our last product, Shadowrun, a game we love.

Crimson Skies, Mech Warrior, Battle Tech and Shadowrun. What will happen to these franchises now?

Best of luck folks. FASA was the first studio I actually got to visit, it's a real shame to hear it is no more. It's good to hear that a lot of the team has moved on and found jobs elsewhere.

[Disgustipated]

Noooo! MechWarrior 5, we need you!

[CaptStu]

Since some of the employees were taken on by MS Game Studios, maybe those game franchises will follow suit.

[WastelandDan]

I may actually shed a tear. The original Crimson Skies was hands down one of the best games I have ever played, and MechWarrior was the very first hardware-accelerated game I played. Both hold very special memories for me and I'm very sad to see FASA go.

[Hawggy]

Man, Mechwarrior... I could go on for hours about the lead figurines, and the first game they ever made and Cresent Hawk's Revenge, and Uhhhhh. Really sad. I had secretly wished we'd get a Mechwarrior MMO, but, I knew it was a pipe dream.

Cya FASA. Been playin BT & MW since forever ago. :(

[PrivateJohn]

Lets do an Evilavatar Shadowrun match before Halo 3 & in memories of FASA...

[digitalErich]

Best of luck to everyone on their next ventures.

[BalekFekete]

I wonder if this makes my copy of Shadowrun, signed by the developers, a collectors item? :confused:

[Yeti]

Call me a heretic but FASA never did it for me. I understand what they di and appreciate their contribution to the world of gaming but I prefered games by Raffaele Cecco(yeah, nowt to do with FASA, I just wanted to bang his name in somewhere). Anyways, a sad day all the same.

[VTMarik]

Wait, FASA shut down already didn't they? I mean, they stopped making and printing all of their books and sold the rights to companies like WizKids and Fanpro.

Now they're shutting down again? How much more shut down can they get?

[NeoSuplex]

Here's hoping they MS doesn't abandon those licenses. Mainly talking about Shadowrun here. Crimson skies didn't really do it for me and I can deal with a lack of Mechwarrior as long as From is still making mech games.
Bungie Developed Shadowrun II? Or, *gasp* an RPG version from Moleneux!

[Telefrog]

I cannot tell you how much money I've spent in my lifetime on BattleTech tabletop and Shadowrun RPG products.

Seriously, I can't. I'm under contract to a cyber-samurai for about a million NuYen.

[nnanji]

So who owns the rights to the P&P RPG now? Fanpro? What else have they done?

[Fubl]

Fasa shut down in 2001, Sold the Rights to Wizkids, wizkids licensend them to First Fanpro then to catayclsm games.

[bryan]

Wait, FASA shut down already didn't they? I mean, they stopped making and printing all of their books and sold the rights to companies like WizKids and Fanpro.

Now they're shutting down again? How much more shut down can they get?

When Fasa shut down, they sold off their p&p properties separately to their gaming development. The latter was snapped up by Microsoft, which have criminally underused one of the greatest franchises of all time, Mechwarrior.

I tingle at the mere though of a Mechwarrior with today's engine tech. Tingle, I tells you!

[silv]

wtb shadowrun rpg, not lame psuedo-shadowrun fps

[captainstrombosis]

I tingle at the mere though of a Mechwarrior with today's engine tech. Tingle, I tells you!

Normally I would scoff at this as being completely unlikely. Except that I too tingle! The fibers of my very soul shudder with anticipation whenever I hear the Mechwarrior name!

[torrefaction]

Fasa shut down in 2001, Sold the Rights to Wizkids, wizkids licensend them to First Fanpro then to catayclsm games.

As I said in the Shadowrun thread, this news caused me to vomit. If Shadowrun gets lost in the videogame licensing void, I'm going to burn someone at Microsoft alive.

Fubl, I think you meant Catalyst Game labs, right?

Also, has anyone picked up the SR4 Augmentation source book? If so, impressions please.

[surj0]

fasa died to me when they shut down the first time. this scarecrow that lived on at microsoft was not fasa =/

i hope all its employees found homes elsewhere in microsoft or with another company though

[Johan]

I may actually shed a tear. The original Crimson Skies was hands down one of the best games I have ever played...

Oh man, do I agree. I still fire it up every now and then. What a great game.

Sad day, regardless of which "FASA" iteration we're talking about. :(

[mister_slim]

MS will probably just hire some external studio to develop the franchises they want to continue. I could see Arkane doing Shadowrun well, or maybe Bioware or Bethesda. I don't know who would do a MW game justice though.

[nnanji]

As I said in the Shadowrun thread, this news caused me to vomit. If Shadowrun gets lost in the videogame licensing void, I'm going to burn someone at Microsoft alive.

Fubl, I think you meant Catalyst Game labs, right?

Also, has anyone picked up the SR4 Augmentation source book? If so, impressions please.

I regret to say that my memories of Shadowrun are limited to buying the first printing of the first edition and forcing my D&D players to play it because they needed to try something new god-dammit! Since my play group broke up I've never played it again but it always will claim some of my best memories of what an RPG can be.

Long story short, haven't used that source book.

[KingGorilla]

I really hope that the licenses end up in good hands. Day 1 and Fasa did some fantastic work. Shadowrun notwithstanding(which I consider the death of Fasa anyway), they had a decade+ of stellar releases Shadowrun RPG, Mechwarrior, Mechcommander, Mechassault, Crimson Skies. I cannot think of any other studio with such a track record of excellence.

[tombofsoldier]

Shadowrun was meh and Mech Assault 1 and 2 were disgraces to the Mechwarrior franchise. You don't make good games, you get shut down. It's too bad Shadowrun, Mechwarrior, and Crimson Skies might get lost in the process though.

[Sarconix]

This is sad indeed. I must be one of the few gamers who liked both MechWarrior and MechAssault. In fact, I bought an Xbox mostly to play FASA games: MechAssault, MechAssault 2, and Crimson Skies.

... and I bought an Xbox 360 (in part) to play Chromehounds. I am a sucker for mechs. :) And I mean mechs here, not mecha a la Armored Core. I want walking tanks, not flying robot ninjas.

(Yes, mech and mecha can be synonymous depending on who you talk to, but that's how I distinguish them.)

[alienchild]

Never heard of these clowns until today :(

Anyways, good luck wherever you are now.

[Khash]

Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to take a huge shit on the Shadowrun franchise. I wish them nothing but ill-luck and continued failure.

[Hexxagonal]

I guess this means my holding out for some Shadowrun DLC is a waste. Time to drop that game.... but just in time for the holiday multiplayer extravaganza!

Also, I hope the 1up yours/oxm rumors of Airtight games making a Crimson Skies is true. As long as it doesn't become like warhawk and a shell of what it once was. I'ld be interesting if it returned to more of a simulation route like the original too although I LOVED high road to revenge.

[Ghostbear]

You could say i'm a fan of Mechwarrior :D and i would love a battletech MMO, mmm clans versus IS gimme!

[H.Bogard]

Good riddance. Serves them right for making a consolized FPS out of what could have been a good RPG.

[Loganrapp]

You could say i'm a fan of Mechwarrior :D and i would love a battletech MMO, mmm clans versus IS gimme!

There was one. It was called BattleTech 3025 and it was either being published or developed by Konami. They were running it in beta when Microsoft bought the IP. I know this because I worked my ass off (as a young lad, doing my chores, other people's chores, etc.) to get the hardward capable of running it.

I finally got in beta for a day. Microsoft bought FASA and then squashed the entire game.

[Heretic Machine]

Wait, FASA shut down already didn't they? I mean, they stopped making and printing all of their books and sold the rights to companies like WizKids and Fanpro.

Now they're shutting down again? How much more shut down can they get?

Here is how it works:

There are two entities with the name FASA. The first used to make table-top products. It's products became so popular that they made a subsidiary, FASA Studios, dedicated to making video games. Around 2000, the original FASA ceased operations as it's founders decided to retire (it did NOT go bankrupt). It became a shell company that did nothing but manage the licensing of it's IPs. Some stuff was sold off to Microsoft (and other companies), primarily FASA Studios.

Now, FASA Studios is being shut down. FASA still exists in the same state it's been since it stopped creating new products. MS owns the Mechwarrior/Battletech license, outright, along with Crimson Skies. However, I don't think they own Shadowrun, I believe that was licensed from FASA.

[Vandenh]

In fact, I bought an Xbox mostly to play FASA games: MechAssault, MechAssault 2, and Crimson Skies.

Same here. Always been a Fasa fan from the video games to the tabletop stuff. I just hope we will get some more Shadowrun content, it is a game I will hopefully be playing on and off for a year more.

And all the "why no SR RPG?" guys can fuck right off. You had an emo whining thread about this months ago.

[archon]

I too have been hoping against hope for a new Mechwarrior game someday. It never even occurred to me to wank thinking of a MMO Mechwarrior, so thanks guys. :( That idea kicked ass, though.

[captainstrombosis]

And all the "why no SR RPG?" guys can fuck right off. You had an emo whining thread about this months ago.

It's pretty emo to bitch about other people being emo. ;)

[NeuroMan42]

That sucks... I wonder if the fact that that HORRIBLE Shadowrun game had anything to accelerate the closing.

[Kelegacy]

wtb shadowrun rpg, not lame psuedo-shadowrun fps

Exactly. The other franchises, that's too bad. Especially Crimson Skies (don't care about the others much, not a robot nut myself) but friggin Shadowrun. They shot themselves in the foot with that game that shouldn't have been made and by offering such little content in a 60 dollar title. A Shadowrun RPG, I would have rejoiced.

Fuckers.

[Shadowstorm]

Oops. Submitted this without knowing that it was already here.

This really sucks. FASA Studios was a great developer.

[Gorvi]

Booo. Crimson Skies 2 would have probably sold me a 360 right away. Well, I guess it's still possible, and as long as they didn't screw it up, I'd get it anyway.

[Kem0sabe]

They did this to themselfs, by failing to come up with any sucessfull launch with the Ip's they had at hand, Mech assault, Shadowrun, Crimson skies. None of those games was a big comercial sucess, which is pitifull in the case of shadow run and Battletech, as both of them have a HUGE following.

[Kelegacy]

None of those games was a big comercial sucess, which is pitifull in the case of shadow run and Battletech, as both of them have a HUGE following.

Basically, if you shit on the fans you get the shaft. I can almost guarantee a majority of the Shadowrunners didn't even look twice at the online FPS Shadowrun. You mess with the core dynamics too much and you get shit. Like Final Fantasy and Dirge of Cerberus. A FF shooter? Eat me.

[Goronmon]

Yeah, gamers game can be fickle. In the case of Shadowrun, most were happy to bitch about the game because of the misuse of the IP without having actually spent any time playing the game. Too bad too, since it was so much fun.

[Heretic Machine]

Yeah, gamers game can be fickle. In the case of Shadowrun, most were happy to bitch about the game because of the misuse of the IP without having actually spent any time playing the game. Too bad too, since it was so much fun.

Just imagine what gaming would be like if Nintendo fans were that bad. No Mario Kart, Smash Bros., Mario sports titles, Wario games, Metroid Prime...

[Flatpicker]

I truly feel bad for the employees, but, can't say that the product they have been creating has been all that good.

Hopefully, MS will take the Battletech and Shadowrun Licenses and create two 360 exclusive MMORPG's.
I remember the compuserve BT game back in 19-fiddlesticks.

I'd pay an extra monthly fee on top of a gold membership for a good BT game like this.

[captainstrombosis]

Just imagine what gaming would be like if Nintendo fans were that bad. No Mario Kart, Smash Bros., Mario sports titles, Wario games, Metroid Prime...

Shadowrun players got nothing for a LONG time until a shitty 60 dollar counter strike with trees wannabe came out.

[Hawggy]

mmm clans versus IS gimme!

Now that's just not fair ghost!!

[NeuroMan42]

Shadowrun players got nothing for a LONG time until a shitty 60 dollar counter strike with trees wannabe came out.
ROFLMAO... word.

[torrefaction]

Shadowrun players got nothing for a LONG time until a shitty 60 dollar counter strike with trees wannabe came out.

Congratulations on dismissing one of the best games of the year.

(Note that I DM the PnP game, and this game still gets massive amounts of approval from me.)

[MaiXu]

FASA always seemed to push out overly flashy, mediocre junk. Not especially sad to see them go, I'm afraid.

[bapenguin]

They did this to themselfs, by failing to come up with any sucessfull launch with the Ip's they had at hand, Mech assault, Shadowrun, Crimson skies. None of those games was a big comercial sucess, which is pitifull in the case of shadow run and Battletech, as both of them have a HUGE following.

Got news for you, but Shadowrun and MechWarrior are niche titles. Regardless if the "fans got what they wanted" they would have never been huge commercial successes. They simply are those type of games regardless of how big you think the following is.

[Goronmon]

Shadowrun players got nothing for a LONG time until a shitty 60 dollar counter strike with trees wannabe came out.Shadowrun is nothing like Counter-strike. I'm sorry if you feel that FASA personally violated you by not creating the game you wanted, but it doesn't mean I'm not going to call you an ignorant twit.

[WhiteCrow]

In all honesty, I'm another one who has been waiting to hear this news for a long time. I've been*really* looking forward to the possibility of the old FASA intellectual properties to be put in the hands of any developer on a case by case basis who actually gives a damn about the integrity of the brand. Instead, we had an entire studio of guys who had come right out and said that they had no interest or skill in creating anything other than mindless twitch action games. Uh.. right. At that point, I think you could have just handed the Battletech and SR license over to John Romero and gotten better results.

I'm sorry, but the point I totally lost all faith in "FASA" studios ability to produce a game worth investing time in was the part in MechAssault 2 where I was treated to a giant missile launching, laser blasting, giant robot skull face while "Korn" blasted through my speakers at twice the volume of the game. Coincidentally, my Xbox DVD drive died around that point as well, probably because it could not handle the massive levels of "extreme!"

Now, Microsoft, start talking to the community and get to work putting everything in place for a real Battletech, CS, or SR game. Or all of the above. There is no excuse not to at this point.

[XxSATANxX]

I'm a Mechwarrior Fanboi.

I'm not sure what happened but to drop Mechwarrior and do nothing with it really seems dumb.

I'd love to know the sales. So what did MS exactly out of getting Joel to sell out?

Not much???

No Mechwarrior 5.........really strange to me.

Well I remember a few Friday night fights areound here that were pretty damn fun playing MW4. I used to drive a few of you crazy!!!!

[ÜberJumper]

Battletech is/was one of my favorite IPs. I've been a fan since 1986 or so.

There's so much they could have done with that universe. There'd have been a great RPG they could have done.

There's so much story there, I'd love to see something set during the Star League attack to retake Earth from the Usurper Stefan Amaris. The description of the space battles is epic.

[Kem0sabe]

Got news for you, but Shadowrun and MechWarrior are niche titles. Regardless if the "fans got what they wanted" they would have never been huge commercial successes. They simply are those type of games regardless of how big you think the following is.

Who in his/her right mind could predict the commercial success that oblivion had? The elder scrolls series never had such a following.

The bottom line is, they didn’t use their licenses to the right effect, a shadowrun rpg with oblivions production values would have been a huge success, considering the installed pnp and console player base that the game could draw from.

Same thing applies with the Mechwarrior license; the mediocre games that FASA/MS kept launching completely alienated the players that made Mechwarrior 2 such a critically acclaimed title.

[Kelegacy]

What was Bioshock? A new IP that was an awesome game. Sold and is selling well.

Shadowrun may be a niche PnP, but a good game is a good game regardless. A game up to Bioshock's caliber, especially if it was a sweet CRPG style game, would draw people in like flies...but only if the game was good.

But they didn't do that. They created a Counterstrike/Unreal Tournament style online FPS. WTF.

[torrefaction]

What was Bioshock? A new IP that was an awesome game. Sold and is selling well.

Shadowrun may be a niche PnP, but a good game is a good game regardless. A game up to Bioshock's caliber, especially if it was a sweet CRPG style game, would draw people in like flies...but only if the game was good.

But they didn't do that. They created a Counterstrike/Unreal Tournament style online FPS. WTF.

Which once again, contrary to the community's opinions (outside of those of us who regularly played), it was one of the most fresh and innovative shooters seen in a very, very long time.

I'll admit it needed more content and polish, but it isn't the crappy game people make it out to be. And this is from a diehard Shadowrun fan.

[Kelegacy]

Which once again, contrary to the community's opinions (outside of those of us who regularly played), it was one of the most fresh and innovative shooters seen in a very, very long time.

I'll admit it needed more content and polish, but it isn't the crappy game people make it out to be. And this is from a diehard Shadowrun fan.

I only played the demo and thought it was okay. I could have had some fun with it. I saw the reviews, comments, etc about the lack of content, and that turned me off to a $60 game. But I was upset because the license wasn't used in a way I wanted...that's the bottom line I guess. The Shadowrun universe has so much potential for a dark, quality story, but there was none. It was just shoot each other and damn any narrative.

And I like Unreal Tourney. I just didn't want Shadowrun to be like that. Like making Final Fantasy into an online FPS. I'd be pissed.

EDIT: Actually FF might work better...with all the classic jobs...but still. I better watch my mouth because it COULD happen.

[Doctorossi]

I've been dreaming of a new MechWarrior title for years now. Even with MS needing to redistribute the license for the future, I somehow don't think we're any closer to seeing one happen. MS' excuse for MechAssault has always been an argument that console gamers (you know, us guys asking them for MechWarrior) "don't want" a game that simmy, dry and complex. Well, with the success of C&C3 on the 360, the growing prevalence of HDTVs and the advent of the 360 chat-pad accessory, that argument doesn't have much left to stand on. Not following up the MechWarrior series is leaving money on the table, if anything is.

[Verocity]

A little bit of me died with this news. I've had so many good times playing in the Mechwarrior and Battletech universe. Good luck to the rest of the crew and may God shine his light on a Mechwarrior 5 some day...

[torrefaction]

I only played the demo and thought it was okay. I could have had some fun with it. I saw the reviews, comments, etc about the lack of content, and that turned me off to a $60 game. But I was upset because the license wasn't used in a way I wanted...that's the bottom line I guess. The Shadowrun universe has so much potential for a dark, quality story, but there was none. It was just shoot each other and damn any narrative.

And I like Unreal Tourney. I just didn't want Shadowrun to be like that. Like making Final Fantasy into an online FPS. I'd be pissed.

EDIT: Actually FF might work better...with all the classic jobs...but still. I better watch my mouth because it COULD happen.

I hear you man. I mean, don't get me wrong, I was disappointed that they didn't make the game I wanted as well. To this day, I still replay the genesis Shadowrun, and even the SNES from time to time.

Hopefully this just means an independent dev will get a knock at it, I hope.

[mister_slim]

And I like Unreal Tourney. I just didn't want Shadowrun to be like that. Like making Final Fantasy into an online FPS. I'd be pissed.

EDIT: Actually FF might work better...with all the classic jobs...but still. I better watch my mouth because it COULD happen.

They could call it Fortress Fantasy. If they got Valve to develop it (fat chance) I'd probably buy it too.