Sessler's Soapbox: Goodbye Pandemic Studios

97 Comments Posted November 18, 2009 - By Patrick Roche-Sowa

It was just yesterday that we all found out about the closing of Pandemic Studios, creators of the Mercenaries series and the upcoming The Saboteur. While there have been a lot of game developers shutting their doors recently, this one seems to represent something larger than a simple financial decision. Pandemic's publisher EA tried an experiment last year by releasing new, experimental IPs like Mirror's Edge and Dead Space instead of their usual stable of licensed games and sequels. But are they really to blame when we, the gaming public, didn't buy into their great experiment? Listen to what Adam has to say on the subject and let us know what you think in the comments below.

Sessler's Soapbox: Goodbye Pandemic Studios »

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Ohface

I think theres a South Park episode that addresses this issue.

Posted: November 18, 2009 3:28 PM | Reply | Report

+4 thumbs up thumbs down

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KingSephiroth01

This is an unfortunate closing. I was not a big fan of Mirrors Edge or Dead Space but I like the idea of experimenting with games. That is how all of the best game franchises started and it needs to continue. This makes me worry about games like Heavy Rain and MAG that are trying new things. I hope they (and other games like these) do well both technically and financially. I understand that well known franchises usually sell well. Just look at Mario, Zelda, Metal Gear, Pok�mon, Final Fantasy and so many others. Those series are legendary but we need to give others a chance to establish themselves.

Posted: November 18, 2009 3:37 PM | Reply | Report

+2 thumbs up thumbs down

2 Replies
JohnKiller118

At Ohface:
Which one?

Posted: November 18, 2009 3:38 PM | Reply | Report

0 thumbs up thumbs down

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SuperGlobalMega

'the gaming publish'

Posted: November 18, 2009 3:39 PM | Reply | Report

-2 thumbs up thumbs down

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Ieyke

Wow....spellcheck.

Posted: November 18, 2009 3:42 PM | Reply | Report

0 thumbs up thumbs down

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AndrewRyan93

Dead Space was Okay

Posted: November 18, 2009 3:45 PM | Reply | Report

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redran3

so sad i ahsnt played those games yet but inhonor of departure those games iwillget caeu i so want to play them

Posted: November 18, 2009 3:50 PM | Reply | Report

-8 thumbs up thumbs down

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shmaron

Mirror's Edge was too short, but Dead Space was really cool. I hope this doesn't hurt sequel plans.

Posted: November 18, 2009 3:53 PM | Reply | Report

+1 thumbs up thumbs down

1 Reply
blakseed

Sometimes we should take a chance and really support these new ip's like a Mirrors Edge or a Dead Space. I was iffy about Dead Space, but I took that dive and never looked back. It was an awesome game. Haven't played Mirror's Edge or Brutal Legend yet, but they are both on my list of games to get before the year's end.

Look at games like Bioshock, and Assassin's Creed or even Gears Of War and Uncharted. Every good franchise starts somewhere. If gamers didn't take a gamble on these games, they wouldn't be as popular as they are today.I'm all for sequels to great games, but I like to play something fresh every now and then. How long will it be before the games that we loved when they first came out, become stale and just more of the same ol same ol?

Trust me, I know that people can't just throw money away like we used to, and would rather get a game that's already established and has proven it's worth, but why not wait and get that game later, and take a chance on a Dante's Inferno or a Heavy Rain? It only helps us in the end because if we support new ip's than our favorite game companies won't be afraid to take a chance with something new that could be the next big thing.

Posted: November 18, 2009 4:06 PM | Reply | Report

+7 thumbs up thumbs down

1 Reply
migespi

We the gaming public are lemmings. Take one look at what this country puts on the top 10 Billboard, and how popular reality TV is. It's not a surprise that it seeps into the gaming public. Looks what popular in gaming ...multiplayer. Halo 3, COD, GOW. The campaigns are good, but they are "safe." Its great bloody action, but not really intellectual or innovative by any means. Gaming public wants boobs, bad guys, and guns. Not new and different.

Posted: November 18, 2009 4:06 PM | Reply | Report

+5 thumbs up thumbs down

2 Replies
BertSaxby

Mirrors Edge I think was probably the best of their titles, but the launch price to me was too high so I didn't buy it. Dead Space felt like Doom to me. I'm sorry, just kinda of tired of plain shooters. I bought The Darkness instead which felt fresh and had some new game mechanics. Brutal Legen might be cool, but I requested F3 GOTY for X-mas and I think there are a lot of other big titles contending for the holiday dollars.
It's sad when titles bomb because of ill-conceived marketing, but I think that is the biggest problem facing Brutal Legend. THey might be able to fix it, but they've spent a great deal on ads already, they may be approaching the point of diminishing returns.

Posted: November 18, 2009 4:11 PM | Reply | Report

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harusing

OMG NO MORE BATTLEFRONT T_T

Posted: November 18, 2009 4:12 PM | Reply | Report

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Andrighi

How long does it take to a game like Call of Duty to stale? I mean now we are hyped by the media, same was with MGS, Medal of Honor, Halo. New ideias made this industry what is today, but now we are stuck with "hollywood" styled games that are not necessarily bad, MW2 was ok, but are not going to push the industry further. I dare, no I double dare, what MW2 brought different from previous games, in both tech or story telling.
2009 became the year of the sequences for game industry. From a gamer that hope to see that games don't become a Michael Bay movie. (by the way if CoD becomes a movie, he should direct it)

Posted: November 18, 2009 4:13 PM | Reply | Report

+1 thumbs up thumbs down

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migespi

We the gaming public are lemmings. Take one look at what this country puts on the top 10 Billboard, and how popular reality TV is. It's not a surprise that it seeps into the gaming public. Looks what popular in gaming ...multiplayer. Halo 3, COD, GOW. The campaigns are good, but they are "safe." Its great bloody action, but not really intellectual or innovative by any means. Gaming public wants boobs, bad guys, and guns. Not new and different.

Posted: November 18, 2009 4:15 PM | Reply | Report

-1 thumbs up thumbs down

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Merc_354

The Sabotuer will still be coming out, right?

Posted: November 18, 2009 4:25 PM | Reply | Report

+1 thumbs up thumbs down

1 Reply
h4x121

It really is too bad, pandemic has made some great games....my favorite being star wars: battlefront. I guess this means we wont be seeing battlefront III from them. But then again I think that was already passed on to another developer, or canceled. I always like new IP's, but like Adam said people just don't have the money to experiment. I think if games got a price cut, to say $30 or $40, they would fair a lot better.

Posted: November 18, 2009 4:42 PM | Reply | Report

+4 thumbs up thumbs down

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HELLFIRE11

I was never huge into there games with the exception of Destroy All Humans & Star Wars Battle Front. However its a shame to see them get dropped.

Posted: November 18, 2009 4:55 PM | Reply | Report

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yellowdart46

@migespi But you see that is exactly what people were tired of from EA. "All EA did was make sequels and movie titles that all sucked." "EA should make new IP games."EA buys my favorite company and ruins the games." Then when EA tries something different everyone doesn't buy them because its not familiar to them. I agree with Adam, its the economy. I know if I had extra money I would buy some new games like Brutal Legend.

Posted: November 18, 2009 5:04 PM | Reply | Report

+3 thumbs up thumbs down

1 Reply
EpicAmbu

This scares me so much.
I mean we could stay with what we know but then that would stop creativity, then so making the industry even more scared of being creative, and before we know it we are going to have:

COD 20
Halo: Reach 2 wars
&
GH: 100

Second half of 2010 and the whole 2011 rly do not seem appealing.

Posted: November 18, 2009 5:05 PM | Reply | Report

+1 thumbs up thumbs down

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ShinjiEx

it sucks a lot of great studios like A.D. Vision which dubbed Anime have closed down. this year just has not been great for entertainment companies like Pandemic :(

Posted: November 18, 2009 5:07 PM | Reply | Report

+1 thumbs up thumbs down

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