Bad News at Radical...

http://kotaku.com/5469802/rumor-prototy ... e=true&s=i

So, it looks like a bunch of Radical employees are being laid off...'Bout a hundred. Now, before we jump to any conclusions, we must keep in mind that we're not quite sure what employees have been laid off. So what this means for the next Crash game can't really be determined yet... But it could potentially have a negative effect.... Or positive depending on how you feel about Radical's games.... but either way this really sucks for those employees who lost their jobs. Hope they can get work somewhere else.

The thing about the pass over from Traveller's Tales Oxford to Radical, when creating Crash Tag Team Racing (or rather, Crash Clash Racing as it was in the early days with T-Tales) was that Radical had just been introduced to Vivendi as a company to develop games for their publishing. Ergo, Radical was under Vivendi (or rather, Sierra) as T-Tales Oxford was, before the company closed. Which means for that to happen, again, I'm assuming current publisher Activision would move the Crash franchise to a different in-house developer. Vicarious Visions is currently one of them, in regards to previous Crash developers. Of course, this is providng Activision even want to continue their Crash series, since the staff layoffs don't even seem to make any sense given Radical's commercial success for them.

As evident from a couple of Radical staff members, though (well, no-longer staff members, rather), "both projects are cancelled."* This could mean a variety of things, but given Radical has two teams; the Prototype team and the Crash team, one would assume that this refers to both of their next games.

The worst that can happen, at this stage, is there will never be another Crash game, due to Activision no longer wanting do continue the franchise and no other publisher buying the rights. The mid-road thing that could happen is that any plans for a 2010 Crash game would be cancelled, providing there was one, but future games will continue. The best thing that could happen, in some people's eyes, is for the developers to switch to another in-house team and the series then continue. There's a lot of possibilites. I'm remaining hopeful on that Crash will still be developed, but I would be lying if I say I haven't been utterly crushed at what has happened to the team, as well as the fate of the series.

The last time staff layoffs happened, a few other developers took them in, as evident from Mind Over Mutant's credit vocal clips, since it occurred towards that game's completion. Here's to hoping 2010 will improve and all of those Radical members will be able to locate new jobs, soon.

* http://twitter.com/2wicky/status/8978782280

They could at least tell us the game is cancelled.

This doesn’t mean that Radical isn’t making Crash games anymore, but with the fact that there will be fewer employees at Radical, it could take them a little longer to produce a Crash game. However, if the Crash franchise does get passed on to new developers, I hope that really do Crash justice.
My question is: “Who will bring us Crash this year?”
Honestly, I don’t really care what development team does, just as long as it’s a game for all major systems (because the mobile games just don’t work).

Well I hope the series does get passed on to another development team!
I need at least one last good Crash game to come out before they stop for good, seeing as MOM was awful!

Activision, I recommend Insomniac Games!!

To Jump:
Wow… Radical is finally done with the bandicoot… dang… who knew. I do feel bad that all of those people lost their job… that’s horrible… So, nobody knows who will carry the Crash Bandicoot torch next? Is Crash officially over and done with? (I sure hope not)…
This was sad/depressing news, but news nonetheless.

Wait a minute. Remember, what happens when a smaller company can no longer continue a franchise? Its gets bumped up the latter to the larger company.

I know this might be a wing and a prayer, but right now, the Crash franchise can be developed by Activision themselves. Even then, knock on wood, Activision goes out of business, they're together with Blizzard. A franchise can continue IF there's a strong fan-base and a team with creative ideas can stay together.

But if the franchise is truly over, then before the mods can go ahead and close the Crash forums for good, at least sell it to a good company.

Double Fine would be a good company, if we want Crash to stay funny. I dare someone NOT to laugh at the humor of Tim Schafer. I dare them.

Or EA. They practically own everything, including a zip code if you can actually believe that.

Better yet, like Tomb Raider, sell it back to its creator. Give the franchise back to Naughty Dog. Even if those guys don't make another Crash game, the only time that they ever really OWNED Crash, was just the very first one. After that, the rights were sold to Universal and the rest is history.

Its never over until you say its over. Wait a little bit longer, and if nothing, to the Mods: you can go ahead and close the website and the Crash forums... no one is coming.

Until then, that Wumpa Fruit is still fresh. Don't throw it away.

I totally agree with you, CrashBT2010.

Well maybe Neversoft could take over they might save crash and develop him.

Similar to Spyro's developer who just started DOTD.

Wow, I wonder if some of the layoffs by Activision may be the reason Crash had no new game last year. It is now debatable whether there will be a new game this year or not. However, one positive event to look out for is the franchise's 15th anniversary next year. Things may look good for him next year.

Treyarch or Nevrsoft. Vicarious didn't do so hot with CNK. Even if Krome Studios took over, it'd be good. Crash needs a new perminate developer home.