It’s a simple looking story: Atari obtained a 50% stake in game developer Oddworld Inhabitants, way back in 1996, when Atari still called itself Infogrames because it hadn’t bought the Atari name yet. And now, Atari is selling that stake to Microsoft for $1.8 million.
But Microsoft already had a publishing agreement for Oddworld’s next game. It was being developed exclusively for the Xbox. Then, less than three months ago, Microsoft said they didn’t want to publish it anymore.
This doesn’t bode well for Oddworld. Theirs was the first game to get the axe when Ed Fries, El Generalissimo del Xbox, left Microsoft and Shane Kim took his place. Now Shane is pretty much in charge of half their company. Will Microsoft pick the game back up and shove it out for the holidays? Will Shane command Oddworld founder Lorne Lanning to be less handsome, to hide the sparkle of his eyes under cheap sunglasses at all times, to shave off the alluring, luxuriant moustache?
The article has been updated. Oddworld themselves were actually the ones who bought out Atari’s stake. Lorne’s facial hair is fully independent. No need for alarm.
Read [gi News Article]
