For the many Crackdown fans out there that are still waiting on a part 2 here we have a bit of an update about the ongoing battle to get this game made and out there for purchase.
VideoGaming247.com reported: In a statement issued exclusively to VG247, Realtime Worlds studio head Colin MacDonald has confirmed the developer is in “ongoing” discussions with Microsoft regarding Crackdown 2.
His comments came after it was rumoured today that Microsoft was funding Ruffian Games - a new, Dundee-based firm partially formed of ex-members of Realtime Worlds - specifically to develop a Crackdown sequel.
MacDonald added that while an offer to develop a second game hadn’t been made to Realtime Worlds, he “very much” doubts “that Microsoft would harm an otherwise fruitful existing development relationship by gambling on funding Crackdown 2 with a startup on RTW’s doorstep, for obvious reasons.”
Realtime Worlds boss and GTA creator Dave Jones told us that he’d be “gutted” not be involved with Crackdown 2’s development, “but if it had to be that way, I would want to see it done justice – by an established, renowned developer that had the track record of delivering the quality gaming experience Crackdown players would demand.”
MacDonald also confirmed that “five or six” staff had left to join Ruffian, as was rumoured this morning, but that the “vast majority of the Crackdown team remain at RTW” working on APB and an “unannounced project that will cause quite a stir when unveiled.”
The existence of Ruffian came to light this morning after this Flickr set emerged of members of the fledgling firm look at office space in Dundee.
Crackdown lead designer Billy Thomson is involved with Ruffian, as is Xen Group long-timer, Gaz Liddon. Xen provided physics, art and other resources for the original game.
The full statement, emailed from MacDonald, is published below.
I just wanted to correct the rumours today surrounding Crackdown. Although to date we haven’t had an offer from Microsoft for the Crackdown sequel rumoured, we continue to have ongoing discussions with them. In the unfortunate event that there isn’t an agreement with RTW reached, Dave said he would “be gutted not to be involved, but if it had to be that way, I would want to see it done justice – by an established, renowned developer that had the track record of delivering the quality gaming experience Crackdown players would demand.”
In any event, I also very much doubt that Microsoft would harm an otherwise fruitful existing development relationship by gambling on funding Crackdown 2 with a startup on RTW’s doorstep, for obvious reasons.
Regarding the rumoured RTW departures, we believe that maybe five or six ex-Realtime Worlds staff have been employed by Ruffian in recent weeks. Whilst we’re always sad to lose any member of the RTW family, fans should rest assured that the vast majority of the Crackdown team remain at RTW, and our 200+ talented individuals are working hard towards APB being one of the biggest launches of 2009, as well as on an unannounced project that will cause quite a stir when unveiled.
In hopes that the more hype the news world generates the faster Realtime Worlds can get to the development side of this deal i got a statement issued exclusively to VG247 here for you guys and girls to check out, i just cant wait for this game to get rolling even if it means hunting more of those damn orbs.
Here is the statement issued exclusively to VG247: The full statement, emailed from MacDonald, is published below.
I just wanted to correct the rumours today surrounding Crackdown. Although to date we haven’t had an offer from Microsoft for the Crackdown sequel rumoured, we continue to have ongoing discussions with them. In the unfortunate event that there isn’t an agreement with RTW reached, Dave said he would “be gutted not to be involved, but if it had to be that way, I would want to see it done justice – by an established, renowned developer that had the track record of delivering the quality gaming experience Crackdown players would demand.”
In any event, I also very much doubt that Microsoft would harm an otherwise fruitful existing development relationship by gambling on funding Crackdown 2 with a startup on RTW’s doorstep, for obvious reasons.
Regarding the rumoured RTW departures, we believe that maybe five or six ex-Realtime Worlds staff have been employed by Ruffian in recent weeks. Whilst we’re always sad to lose any member of the RTW family, fans should rest assured that the vast majority of the Crackdown team remain at RTW, and our 200+ talented individuals are working hard towards APB being one of the biggest launches of 2009, as well as on an unannounced project that will cause quite a stir when unveiled.
So here's to the hope that the Crackdown 2 negotiations go well and that we all have a copy of this game in hand A.S.A.P.
I know this has been a topic here at the 360-HQ before and that no one ever said it was a bad idea so i think you will all find this VG247 news post about one of the latest Major Nelson podcast to be more then enough to get your blood pumping and your mind set for some Crackdown 2.
VG247 reports: Microsoft’s given a less than subtle hint that a sequel to Realtime World’s beloved open-city 360 shooter, Crackdown, is a little more than fantasy.
“I’m here to tell you on behalf of the community, I want - we need - another Crackdown,” Xbox Live’s director of programming, Larry Hryb, told MGS boss Phil Spencer in the latest Major Nelson podcast.
“That’s all I’m going to say, so you don’t have to confirm for deny anything. I’m just saying we want it.”
“Yes, Crackdown’s one of my favourites,” said Spencer. “I’ll leave it at that.”
A sequel to Crackdown never materialized as “the numbers just didn’t add up,” we were told by Realtime Worlds studio boss Colin Macdonald told us this summer.
Macdonald himself said at the time that the studio was open to negotiations on a second game.
“I don’t think the door’s closed,” he said. “Obviously, right now we’re tied up with APB and everything else, but hopefully in the future we’ll have the resource and something can be worked out with Microsoft.”
Crackdown, a first-party Microsoft game, shipped in February 2007 to general critical acclaim.
I know a hand full of the HQ members have been talking about and trying to reserect the game Crackdown and we even went as far as to start a thread on if they would come out with a Crackdown 2 or not and why they haven't put a sequel in the works.
Well to build on that little conversation we see here In an interview with VG247 that Realtime Worlds has offered a God-sent glimmer of hope that we may yet see a sequel to free-roaming future cop blockbuster Crackdown, one of the most-loved Xbox 360 games. That’s the spirit.
“It was a horrible, horrible decision that we still dwell on,” said studio boss Colin Macdonald of the choice not to move ahead straight onto a second game.
“But I don’t think the door’s closed. Obviously, right now we’re tied up with APB and everything else, but hopefully in the future we’ll have the resource and something can be worked out with Microsoft.”
Good gravy. There are a great many people in the world that would dearly love to see that happen, we said.
“Including 200 people in Dundee,” Macdonald added. “We would have loved to have seen it. We poured five years of our lives into that game. You know, we’ve got guys on the development team that have Crackdown tattoos, permanent tattoos on their arms. We’re extremely passionate about it.
“But at the end of the day we’re a company that has to do what’s best for the company. We’ve got to stay in business. And the numbers just didn’t add up. We’re not in the business of doing things because we’d like to, if we can’t guarantee that it makes sense for the company. That doesn’t work.”
I know for me that if they make it i will buy it so here is to hope.
Good news for any one out there that needs to move XBLA games and gamer info from one XBOX 360 to another since the complaints have been piling up MS finally stepped in and took the bull by the horns with this DRM Tool.
Lets check out the how to video by Major Nelson for this seemingly easy to use tool.
Keep in mind: "If you received your new Xbox 360 as the result of a refurbishment or repair, the licenses have already been transferred as part of the repair process, and you do not need to use the license transfer tool, but you may need to download the content again. Check the repair and refurbishment instructions page for more information."
This tool can be used only once every twelve months as said in the video and more details on this tool can be found here Xbox 360 Content License Restoration FAQ
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