Kotaku
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legal matters
Ex-Factor 5 Employees Cry Fraud
Former employees of the recently shuttered Factor 5 studio in California are taking the company to court, claiming that it fraudulently transferred assets, including source code for the next Rogue Squadron title. More »
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By Mike FaheyComment by excel_excel: 'partially completed code for a Wii installment of the Star Wars: Rogue Squadron series.' Sorry my brain just kind of broke... 31 Responses | Other threads
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retrospective
A Reporter's Memories Of Factor 5
The closing of Factor 5 today is sure to affect many developers and gamers. With the studio shuttered, I'd like to share my experiences with it as a gamer and reporter. More »
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Comment by Sweetz: It's a real tragedy the Rogue Leader games were never ported to any other platforms (especially PC). I played... 16 Responses | Other threads
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closing time
Factor 5 Officially Shuttered
There were layoffs and rumors of studio closings, but now it's finally confirmed. According to the company website, the San Rafael-based Factor 5 studio has officially closed its doors.
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By Mike FaheyComment by Neonox: I've never heard of Factor 5... Shame for the loss though. 24 Responses | Other threads
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dead zone
What Factor 5's Superman Once Looked Like...
Lair and Rogue Squadron developer Factor 5 was hard at work on a Superman video game before it contracted a near-fatal case of Brash Entertainment Publishing Agreement Syndrome. This is what that game looked like. More »
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Comment by Klemmins wants some Project 86 in rock band already!!!: Never a Superman fan. I always liked the heroes with emotions. 19 Responses | Other threads
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disturbance in the workforce
Rumor: Factor 5 Goes Ker-plop
Earlier we posted rumors that Factor 5 laid off half its staff. Now comes word the whole studio just closed. I guess everyone's answer to the economy is just to give up.
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By Owen GoodComment by XbhaskarX: This has nothing to do with the economy, video game revenues are up for like the fifth straight year. The quality... 24 Responses | Other threads
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disturbance in the workforce
Rumor: Factor 5 Sacks Half Its Staff
Lair developer Factor 5 was hit with layoffs today, cutting its staff in half after letting go a reported thirty-seven employees. Edge cites a "well placed source" who confirms the developer's recently publicized money woes. More »
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Comment by jandlecack: Maybe Sony could buy them, make a great Lair 2 and redeem themselves. Kinda like what they're doing with Killzone... 42 Responses | Other threads
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factor 5
Rumor: Lair Dev Out Of Funding, Can't Pay Employees
Lair developer Factor 5 may be the latest to face harsh economic realities, according to a blog from one of its employees. Citing insufficient funding, Factor 5 allegedly had to put one unannounced project on hold. More »
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Comment by suya123: If I was Sony I would definitely take this opportunity to jump start them (as well as absorb them) with... 14 Responses | Other threads
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brash entertainment
Brash Hit By Lay Offs, Kills Game
Earlier this week we heard rumblings that movie-game publisher Brash Entertainment was hit with massive lay-offs and struggling to stay afloat. Citing tough economic times, Brash confirmed to Kotaku that they have indeed instituted a "cost reduction plan" but say they're not going under.
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Comment by mariospants: A big part of this has nothing to do with any recession: game retailers are making too much of their... 3 Responses | Other threads
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rumor
Kid Icarus Wii May Look Like This (But We Hope Not)
Gaming site Kombo got themselves a nice exclusive today in the form of purported concept art from Factor 5, artwork that was reportedly used in a pitch to Nintendo for a potential Kid Icarus game for the Wii. According to Kombo, the Lair and Rogue Squadron developer is actively pursuing a Wii entry in the series—a long touted rumor—but that Nintendo hasn't officially committed to the project. The above image is just one of many pieces of artwork said to be from a new-gen Kid Icarus game and there are many proposed looks. One things for sure—each and every design will probably make you feel like your flying too close to the sun, eyes first. More »
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Comment by Vila Tinkasong: EWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!THAT IS EWWWWWW!!!!!!! DON'T CHANGE PIT!!!!! EWWWWWW!!!!! more » | Other threads
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lair
Lair Wises Up, Gets Analogue Controls
Poor Lair. Looked gorgeous, but, yeah. You know. Controls. Sucky. Well, the rumour that was so good it turned up twice in February has been confirmed by Sony, with a Lair patch due in Japan on April 17 adding the option of analogue controls for the much-maligned shooter. I know what you're going to say next. "Who gives a rat's arse? It's too late". And sure, on one hand, you may be right. On the other, though...this might bump the game from a C to a B- on your ratings scale. Which would mean picking it up on the cheap (and pretty soon, it's gonna be cheap) wouldn't be the stupidest thing you did this year. More »
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Comment by Obli: Surely I am not the only one with regenerated interest in this game...? So what if it is 8... more » | Other threads
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brash entertainment
Brash Teams With Factor 5 For Movie Game
It looks like Brash Entertainment is trying to set themselves up as the go-to guys for licensed movie games. First they tap Games Republic of Folklore fame for what can only be a Clash of the Titans game, and now Factor 5 has signed on for a movie to game transfer slated for a 2010 release, to be announced at E3 this year. Factor 5 of course is the developer behind the Star Wars: Rogue Squadron series, Lair, and the classic Turrican series. Why are they pulling in the good dev teams for movie translations? President and co-founder of Factor 5 Julian Eggebrecht says it's all about long lead times and creative freedom.We're already working on a title that is more than two years out, and because the filmmaker is a game fan who is really excited about how we want to expand on the story of the film, we've been given a lot of latitude. It's been really fun to dig deep into this universe.
This is the way movie video games should be made. With the same care and patience as every other game. Let's hope they do something amazing with the time they have. More »
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By Mike FaheyComment by mindscienceofthemind: @KYLE_ELYK: Yes. Aside from this are still working on a PSN title and apparently a new Turrican (which may be... more » | Other threads
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lair
Factor 5 To Tweak Lair Controls?
In between trying to convince IGN that the only people who found Lair's controls to be woeful were "hardcore" gamers, Factor 5 boss Julian Eggebrecht raises the possibility that those same controls might be tweaked in a future update for the title:If we find a chance in the future that would bring Lair to the audience which didn't get any access, that would be fantastic. I can't say anything quite yet, but there might be something in the works there. We might have a chance yet to bring those back to the table and hopefully, if that should happen, they would give the game a second chance.
Now, he might be talking about "doing a Capcom" and bringing it to the Wii, but since their Wii game is all-new, that's doubtful. No, he's probably talking about a patch or the PS3 Greatest Hits/Platinum re-release coming bundled with the option of stick controls. Or both! More » -
factor 5
Lair Developer Goes To Wii
Factor 5's Lair wasn't exactly the most well received of PlayStation 3 games, despite its often-pretty graphics. It was generally blasted for inaccurate SIXAXIS control, unreliable SIXAXIS control and craptastic SIXAXIS control, among a few other things we don't remember. According to a report from IGN, the team has decided to give game development and motion control a go on another platform, bringing an unnamed game to the Wii. F5 boss man Julian Eggebrecht told the outlet that the team is hard at work on something that's not for the Virtual Console and not running on GameCube era Star Wars Rogue Squadron tech, with IGN believing that it's not a waggle-filled PilotWings sequel. More »
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Comment by russtophiles: I heard in Rogue Squadron 4 the entire game is a 20 hour Hoth battle and you use the remote... more » | Other threads
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mega turrican
Yet Another Turrican Teased For The Virtual Console
Lair developers Factor 5 have already submitted SNES releases Super Turrican and Super Turrican 2 to the Entertainment Software Ratings Board for a Wii Virtual Console release, but we've been sitting on the prospect of those releases for half the year now. This week, another Turrican rating comes to us in the form of Mega Turrican, the Sega Genesis release of the side-scrolling shooter series. More »
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Comment by destrosio: chris huelsback made this great game a cult! want it on xbla! more » | Other threads
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clips
Julian Eggebrecht Defends Lair. Again.
Factor 5 honcho Julian Eggebrecht must be exhausted from constantly "defending" his company's poorly received PLAYSTATION 3 title Lair and its hit-or-miss SIXAXIS controls. G4 caught up with the Dragon's Lair fanboy at Tokyo Game Show to get one more justification out of Mr. Eggebrecht whose game has been retitled Rise From Lair in Japan. I respect what Factor 5 was trying to do, but trying to target gamers who aren't hardcore with a PS3 game? Simply puzzling. More »
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Comment by L_K_M: @Shiryu: I'm with you. Turrican FTW :-) As for the game itself, I'd love to get it, but I'm not going... more » | Other threads
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music
Lair Soundtrack on iTunes (...thanks?)
Fans of Lair will be happy to know that the official soundtrack is available on iTunes for download. And while we understand that Lair isn't necessarily GOTY, the music has received a nomination from BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) for Best Original Score. To find the album, just search iTunes for "John Debney Lair." More »
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By Mark WilsonComment by johnhummel: What I find more interesting isn't that Sony is offering it for sale. Sony is offering it for sale on iTunes. This... more » | Other threads
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roundup
Frankenreview - Lair (PS3)
Factor 5's Lair got one bad review. And after that, the levies broke and the criticism came pouring in. Now, in the wake of carnage, we can step back and see where things seemingly went wrong. (Of course, not having played the final build, I stubbornly stand by my impressions.) More »
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By Mark WilsonComment by kNZA: It is odd reading all of these comments from people who are trying to like this game. The PS3 needs a... more » | Other threads
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impressions
Sloppy Seconds - Lair
Continuing my second takes from the floor of GC07 in Leipzig, I had my first hands-on with Lair (despite being within feet of a playable station on more than one occasion). After playing for about 15 minutes, here are my thoughts (I like it, btw): More »
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By Mark WilsonComment by tetrahedron: Self-preservation like the horse in Shadow of the Colossus. No matter how hard you try he just won't run... more » | Other threads
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gcdc07
Developers Reveal How The Press, The Hardcore Influence Their Games
This morning at the GC Developers Conference, a panel of game developers—Don Daglow from Stormfront Studios, Mike Capps from Epic Games, Julian Eggebrecht from Factor 5, and George Backer from Lionhead Studios—spoke on the subject of "top selling games" and the methods and philosophies involved in designing them. When asked how influential the enthusiast press and the forum dwelling hardcore were on the final outcome of their games, the developers were surprisingly frank about the impact both groups truly had. More »
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Comment by Consolcwby: @ArmyofJuan: O_O HEY! QUIT PICKING ON MY SUGGESTIONS!!! =P @PhotoBoy: Didn't you know that the reason why the "Hardcore" bitch is... more » | Other threads
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gcdc07
Lair Dev Wants More Sex, Drugs, Rock 'N Roll In Games
Factor 5's Julian Eggebrecht opened the GC Developers Conference with a bold keynote titled "No Sex, No Drugs and Little Rock & Roll" in which he expressed his concern over the self-enforced ratings system on video games, specifically certain events surrounding "bizarre" ESRB decisions. More »
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Comment by xINTRINSICALLY_PWNINGx: Introducing the new split personality fighter to SSBB: Not Jeckyl/Hyde but Eggebrecht/Thompson! more » | Other threads
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summer is draggin
Lair Delayed To September
Retailer Gamestop notified customers today that Factor 5's PLAYSTATION 3 game Lair wouldn't make its intended ship date of August 14th, as recently announced, and will be delayed into the first week of September. We contacted SCEA reps but received no response before press time. However, a new posting at the official PlayStation Blog confirms that Lair will make its way to store shelves on September 4th, three weeks later than originally planned. More »
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Comment by Keen314: @Rask: This is exactly why I think they're lying. Look at all the features they added to Motorstorm post-launch.... more » | Other threads
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Comment by TheIrishNinja: @Spartan1308: prolly a better idea to do so then; im really hoping sales pick up and more games start being... more » | Other threads
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gcdc
Leipzig Speakers Announced
The GC Developers Conference is coming up in August and many of your favorites will be present. Speech makers include Julian Eggebrecht (president of Factor 5), and Peter Molyneux (the Lionhead Studios guru of Fable fame). More »
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By Kim PhuComment by little_dragon: I really need to go there. Wish I had the money. But those GCDC tickets are expensive as hell.. more » | Other threads
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turrican
Factor 5 Ponders New Turrican Games
Gamasutra is reporting that Factor 5, currently hard at work on the PLAYSTATION 3 exclusive Lair, may be revisiting the Turrican franchise. More »
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Comment by Zim: He only compared it metroid prime because that is a good example. Not because their game will be anything like... more » | Other threads
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Comment by etherealrhythm: Uncanny valley FTL. I hope less PS3 games go this way than are seeming to - Heavenly Sword is slightly... more » | Other threads
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lair
Gallery: New Old Lair Screens
These shots of Factor 5's upcoming PLAYSTATION 3 game Lair may have been distributed to some print outlets earlier, but now they're free to roam the internet! The game looks awesome in stills and we hear it's looking better and better in motion. There's a Lair event happening tomorrow, so expect more details on the game to creep out soon. In the meantime, pass judgment on these 14 new shots. More »
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Comment by pandaman1982: @PapaBear: That reminds me a bit of Drakengaard for the ps2, not an amazing game but enjoyable for some dynasty... more » | Other threads
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ps3
New Lair Screens Bring Sexy, Faith Back
Spanish site UltimaGame has some new, fantastic screens of the upcoming PLAYSTATION 3 exclusive dragon game Lair. The shots of Factor 5's latest show off some previously unseen enemies, some that dwarf your massive dragon and should have PS3 owners drooling with anticipation. Check 'em out. The site may not be in English, but they speak the universal language of gorgeous graphics. More »
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Comment by anonim1979: Downgraded lately to 30fps .It *may* be 1080p... more » | Other threads
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Comment by Shinto: @JohnnyLA: Its really simple I dont know why people dont understand this but the cell processor is like a Truck.... more » | Other threads
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tgs06
TGS06: Justify Your Game: Lair
We just posted what we thought of Factor 5's dragon game Lair, but what do the actual developers think of their own title? Surprisingly, they really like it! Good job, Mr. Engelbrecht.
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Comment by photoboy: That wasn't too shabby I suppose, it's better than yesterday's "it has a palette!!!" description we got for Genji. Sell... more » | Other threads
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