| This contest is fueled by the following news: |
| | The lights go out at old-school game company, Sierra, as Vivendi Universal Games has cut 350 staff and shut down Sierra. Sierra created some of the most popular action and adventure games in the 80's - " Space Quest", "King's Quest", "Leisure Suit Larry" and the Hoyle brand of card and board games. They will be missed.
The company Sierra On-Line is popular amongst many users for many number of games. There are Babylon5, Diablo / Hellfire continuation and RPG The Realms, and also other game products. As you can see, the company is engaged in preparing games in every possible genres. On its server, you find descriptions of all products, which were released by Sierra On-Line, know about new developments and receive demo versions free of charge.
All could remain under cloak of secrecy, if not useful habit of the American people to run to court at the slightest pretext. MM3D, the company-developer of computer games proceeded against one of leading firms in this area - company Sierra On-Line, and accused it in unilateral revision of the contract conditions with MM3D. A contract subject was joint action with the project of network RPG " The Lord of the Rings".
For a long time Sierra has got at successors of J.R.R.Tolkien the license for computer game development on the plot of the trilogy " The Lord of the Rings" ("The Lord of the Rings"). In 1998 it has been declared plans of development of such game, however then delays have begun and the project has been closed eventually. Subsequently the company declared, that it is going to renew works in this direction, but anything more concrete has not been told and it was not informed on the beginning of works. Meanwhile, according to the claim, submitted MM3D, the change of the contract conditions offered bySierra on participation in development of the game, named in the claim "Tolkien Online RPG", would run into 10 million dollars trouble for MM3D. It means, that project cost considerably exceeds Sony expenses for the online game EverQuest creation (12 million dollars), but development cost of modern not network games usually does not reach also 5 million dollars.
It follows from this that, that Sierra prepares the real network superblockbuster release in deep secret. Most likely, the game promotion campaign will be somehow connected with the beginning of the first film of the trilogy " The Lord of the Rings" distribution (it will appear on the silver screen on December, 19th).
Appearance of the information on the court action has caused instant reaction of both parties. Company Sierra press service has declared, that it will agree with MM3D and assize will not be. Any additional comments have not been given. Now web-site MM3D gives out only message with that the company hopes for the further cooperation with Sierra Online; they are glad, that they had such good relations and would like, that they will have so close business connections further and also that Sierra Online remains reached agreements still.
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