NEWS: "MicroPROSE Is No More"

DanQ · September 12, 2002, 21:49

From our news centre:

Quote:

One of the longest-running development houses in the PC gaming era, and one which is indeed close to the hearts of Civilization fans, closed today. MicroPROSE`s (MPS) 20-year lifespan has ended, the result of a decision of its France-based owner, Infogrames (IG). IG bought the company and its parent Hasbro Interactive from Hasbro in December of 2000 and the deal was finalized the following month.

The story of MPS` demise was brokered today by Gamer.tv and picked up by The Wargamer (WG). Since being purchased by Hasbro Interactive, MPS` involvement in the PC market declined and several offices -- save the one in Hunt Valley, Maryland where much work on the first two Civilization titles were completed -- were subsequently closed. According to Gamer.tv, who learned of the closure from a source within IG, all employees at the one remaining studio have accepted redundancy terms and left. Neither Gamer.tv or WG have yet been able to reach either IG or MPS to confirm the details of the closure.

MicroPROSE was owned by Spectrum Holobyte when it released Civilization, expansion pack CivNet, and Civilization II and its expansions Conflicts in Civilization Scenario Collection, Fantasic Worlds and Multiplayer Gold Edition. Test of Time, the fourth and final add-on for CivII, hit store shelves under the Hasbro Interactive label, only months after becoming apart of its network. A year-and-a-half before being sold to Infogrames, Hasbro acquired MPS from Spectrum.

Other popular titles MPS spawned during its two illustrious decades were the X-COM, Worms and Master of Orion series, and Falcon 4.0.

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Dan; Apolyton CS

Q Classic · September 12, 2002, 22:33

so yeah, i officially hate Hasbro, and Infogrames.

wait, didn't i say that before? well, to banish all doubt.

i hate Hasbro, and i hate Infogrames.

Nubclear · September 12, 2002, 22:39

....Infogrames is just proving itself in my mind again.

Ming · September 12, 2002, 22:52

Typical...

Colon™ · September 12, 2002, 23:03

To be fair, Microprose wasn't the company it used to be, they haven't released anything innovative like Civilization, Railroad Tycoon or X-com in years, so I can understand Infogrames decision. But I regret the demise of this company never the less...

Tuberski · September 12, 2002, 23:21

They practically created the TBS market, and now they are gone.....figures.

Case · September 12, 2002, 23:23

That's really sad - MPS was my favorite games developer for many happy years.

ixnay · September 12, 2002, 23:44

That really is too bad.

Rasbelin · September 13, 2002, 00:19

In Memoriam MicroPROSE.

Made Civilization, Civilization II, Civilization II Ultimate Classic Collection, CivNet, Railroad Tycoon, Railroad Tycoon Deluxe, Transport Tycoon, Transport Tycoon Deluxe and many other great games that I haven't played.

Well, it's true that they haven't done anything decent for years now. IMO they fell back after Sid and several others left the company. But it's still the end of one of the great players in the PC game sector. At least 10 years ago they almost owned the field with a few other competitors.

Luckily I have now FiRAHxis and PopTop Software.

Gatekeeper · September 13, 2002, 00:50

An era comes to an end ...

Zopperoni · September 13, 2002, 01:19

--"the result of a decision of its France-based owner, Infogrames (IG)."

Bah...French companies, bah!

Gramphos · September 13, 2002, 02:32

It's a sad day. I remember most of my favorite games in the past (okay, I do still play them) started with the Mircoprose screen. It's so sad to know that you never will see it in a new game

Jay Bee · September 13, 2002, 02:46

Quote:

Civilization Scenario Collection

what? Microprose had nothing to do with that. Allard and I had

Galvatron · September 13, 2002, 05:16

Yes, it's really really sad. I grew up with Microprose and Civ was my first contact with strategy games. I was fascinated from the first moment I played the game. And don't forget Colonization. People tend to remember the Civ-series but almost all time forget Col. Actually it's a classic too, still on my HD and always will be. For some time I played it day and night and occasionally today.

Skanky Burns · September 13, 2002, 05:54

'Tis a sad day.

The Pioneer · September 13, 2002, 07:35

All good things come to an end. Since Sid left the company was never the same! I will always remember Micropose in one way or another.

So long...

Alex · September 13, 2002, 08:06

That is a trend on the gaming business nowadays: fusions and conglomerates being created, whilst minor companies get closed or absorbed. Microprose, as some people said, was not the powerful player it had been in the past (during the brilliant Civ and Civ2 years) and, therefore, it was not lucrative for infogrames anymore.

Great designers are now trying to survive setting up their own companies (Sid/Firaxis, Brian Reynolds/BHG, Geoff Crammond/Simergy), but in order to produce their games (which have become increasingly expensive to produce, by the way) they have to get a partnership with big names (EA, infogrames, microsoft).

rah · September 13, 2002, 08:12

Ren · September 13, 2002, 08:46

Here I was thinking it had already been killed

Rasbelin · September 13, 2002, 13:42

When I look back at the past years of MicroPROSE, I have a feeling that this means a yet another The Column article for me.

There's too much to put into one one post, so I guess I use my weekend writing about Microprose as I can't do much else either when I'm away from any PC's.

Proteus_MST · September 13, 2002, 13:49

It´s truely sad news

Sounds to me like Infogreed had milked it just for its well known titles (such as "Civilization", "Master of Orion", "XCOM").

Maybe Sid and Brian made the right choice by leaving a sinking ship some years ago.

CapTVK · September 13, 2002, 15:09

Come on people let's be realistic. The Microprose of Sid and "Wild Bill Stealy" that we knew during the 80's and 90's died a long time ago. The beginning of the end for MPS started when they were bought by Spectrum Holobyte after disastrous results in the coinop arcade market. After Simtex (MoM fame) went the rot really started to set in.

I'm not going to mourn the passage of company that was reduced to a "slap on"-sticker brand

Dauphin · September 13, 2002, 17:56

Quote:

Other popular titles MPS spawned during its two illustrious decades were the X-COM, Worms and Master of Orion series, and Falcon 4.0.

I recall Worms was made with/by "Team 17". Was that a subsidiary company?

red_jon · September 13, 2002, 19:02

Shame, TTDLX and the older civ games are classics.

leftover_crack · September 14, 2002, 00:07

*cries* Runs to room...

oh wait im already in my room. Serouisly I need a tissue.

red_jon · September 14, 2002, 05:27

Quote:

Originally posted by leftover_crack
oh wait im already in my room. Serouisly I need a tissue.

It's too easy, I'm not gonna say it. It's too easy I'm not gonna say it...

Chris 62 · September 14, 2002, 06:38

20 years is a nice run for a game company.

Unlike most PC game firms, they left their mark, and will be missed.

Hasbro is some piece of work, they killed AvalonHill and now this.

Bastards.

Dauphin · September 14, 2002, 06:49

I thought it was Infogreed, not Hasbro that was "to blame".

Jeje2 · September 14, 2002, 06:52

I'll sure miss MPS - They had many good games.
(Civ & X-Com (parts 1-3) genrees just to mention.)

rah · September 14, 2002, 19:09

Quote:

Originally posted by Chris 62
Hasbro is some piece of work, they killed AvalonHill and now this.

It's sad when the icons of our youth disappear. Part of our youth goes with it.

RAH