nl4m

I was recently surfing the site and found this:
http://www.adventuregamers.com/article/id,465

I was wondering who is Kim Britton and is there a way that she can get another interview with Mathieu Lariviere ? To find out more about Still Life ?

Jackal

Kim is a former staff member, long since moved on. Whatever contacts we once had at Microids, including Mathieu, disappeared with the company, not with Kim. But frankly, we wouldn't do another interview with Mathieu even if we could reach him, as there's really no point in rehashing old news.

nl4m

^Thanks Jackal for explaining it.

Another interview with Mathieu would be old news. But if there is a chance to found out the killer's (in still life) identity, why not ? You would make us all very happy. If you do not wish to talk to Mathieu. I wont mind doing it for you. Just so you know I am have to help

Jackal

Since the Still Life IP still belongs to MC2 (Microids Canada's parent company), I really doubt he'd be legally able to divulge story secrets now anyway. You already know they originally had a separate LA section planned, but were forced to shorten the development time with the rushed ending we got, and I think that's about as good as it's gonna get.

Really, nl4m, it's time for you to let Still Life go.

nl4m

I heard the name "Microids" was sold, not the games. Since the company was sold, how can they still own a game ? Or is the game owned by the French branch of the company ?


Yes, figures. The only way he could be able to say anything is if no one owns the rights to the title. As I'm hoping is the case.

Yes. I noticed that. At the end Gus says "I left Prague to get back at the B________'s". Then when a cop from L.A. contacts him. He says "I wanted to stay away from the case".

Ha-ha. I think Still Life did a great thing for me, it got me reading. I've read 5 (500 paged) books in a few months. I have not read this much since Shakespear. I can feel my IQ growing. Plus I made some new finds in the game... Wait til I post them...

Jackal

Microids Canada was the game development branch of MC2 (in France). MC2 owned Microids and the properties Microids worked on. The only thing that happened a few years back is that the development studio (Microids) closed down and was absorbed by Ubisoft. MC2 still exists, and still owns whatever IPs it always did. No games or properties were part of the deal with Ubi.

nl4m

MC2 still makes games ? Do them have a website ? If they are still in business that would mean that they own the rights to Still Life's official web site and can put it up any time, right ?

I've read alot about the take over. The only thing posted was that "the former workers of Microids have made their own company called white birds production". They are the ones making Sinking Island. I had no idea the Microids is still making games.

Jackal

No, MC2 used to make games through its development studio, which was Microids Canada. With the studio now closed down, MC2 no longer has any means to make new games. Of course, they could always start up a new studio or contract work out to other studios if they want, but unless they do one or the other, we won't see any new games from them.

White Birds was founded by Benoit Sokal and a few other former Microids members, yes, but really they just wanted to work closer to home. The start of White Birds had nothing to do with Microids closing down.

I'm changing your thread title, by the way, since this isn't really about Kim.

nl4m

Wait. Tell me if I got it right. Microids and MC2 worked together as 2 studios to make 1 game. When Microids was bought out. MC2 had nothing to do with the deal, right ? When the take over took place the developers gave the rights to Still Life to their parent company, right ?

So Still Life was developed by one studio. What part did MC2 take in the development of Still Life ?

After a brisk nap

What? No!

Jack just explained this. MC2 (full name MC2-Microids) owned Microids Canada. Microids Canada was the part of MC2 that developed games. When Ubisoft bought Microids Canada, they bought it from MC2. MC2 still exists (last time anyone heard), but without a game development studio they can't really make new games. (I have no idea what they actually do these days.)

The parent company (MC2) always owned the rights. Ubisoft only bought the Canada office and the employees who worked there, not any of the IP.

They made the game, because Microids Canada (the people who developed it) were a part of MC2-Microids!

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nl4m

Ok. Let me see if I got it straight now. Microids (Canada) was owned by Microids (France) ? I just check. Both companies had different CEO. Emmanuel Olivier was the CEO of the Canadian division. The CEO of the French division was/is Elliot Grassiano. Ubisoft bought out Emmanuel Olivier, not Grassiano, right ? The IP's were not sold to Ubisoft. They went to Grassiano, right ?

Yes. Let me get this straight. The offices/studios were sold. The workers were sold. What's left of Microids now ? One man, Emmanuel ? And what happened to the French division ? They werent sold. Can't they make games ?

Jackal

More or less. Though they didn't "go" to Grassiano (MC2). They were already held by MC2. MC2 owned everything already, and that didn't change. Microids Canada owned nothing; they just made games.

If you're still confused, it's because you're treating them as equal companies. They weren't. Although technically a company of its own, really Microids Canada was just like a branch office of MC2 that shut down. Unfortunately, they just happened to be the branch office that made games.

Nothing at all is left of Microids Canada.

There's nothing preventing them from making games. They just no longer have a studio to make them. Hard to make games when all your game developers are gone. If they want to make games again, they'll need to form a new studio or contract the work out to another developer. That's the bottom line. Really that's the only thing that matters.

nl4m

I finally get it. That's why I read on an interview "Microids will not develope games. They will be in the business of publishing." Their developement team was sold, but the publishing team is still intact. I finally get it.

If there is still a branch of Microids left. Why is their web site down ? Don't they want to advertise themselves even for pulishing reasons ? And if Microids (France) publishes, why was Still Life published by The Adventure Company ?

After a brisk nap

Mobygames lists MC2-Microids as the publisher of one 2007 game, Obscure. Why they don't have a website I couldn't tell you, but in general there are actually a lot of companies that are not on the web, especially smaller companies and companies that don't sell directly to consumers.

Still Life was published by MC2-Microids in Europe and by TAC in North America (one of them with StarForce protection and one of them without, though I don't remember which one was which). Presumably their distribution network is/was focused on Europe.

Surely your curiosity about this company must be sated now?

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Giligan

Hopefully not. This has been an entertaining thread to read.

__________________
Success is going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.
-Cliff Bleszinski

tabacco

So wait... I hear they had BLUE carpet in their offices, but I also heard they had RED wall clocks... Surely something's wrong there, as no company would be so foolish as to decorate in both blue AND red!

nl4m

Yes. Thank you guys. I finally got it, All.