Sony dished out �16 million for Motorstorm devs

by Nick Doerr { Oct 11th 2007 at 6:15PM }

While it may not be the most exciting news to grace your face (so to speak), it's still something that a lot of curious minds want to know. Ever since the announcement of Sony buying out Evolution and BigBig Studios, something in the back of our minds asked "how much? Those studios are relatively small, right?" but we weren't told anything at all, until now.

Turns out the deal was made for around £16 million, which equates to roughly $33 million. In addition to the deal, we've come to learn that, as is natural with development studios, they're hard at work on other titles. Evolution has undoubtedly started work on Motorstorm 2. We're just glad Sony brought these guys under their wing -- maybe their next installment will fix whatever was broken in the original.

Tags: bigbig-studios, evolution-studios, motorstorm

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Maurice_Chavez @ Oct 11th 2007 6:27PM

I want split screen for Motorstorm 2.

Make it happen.

ClarkyCat @ Oct 11th 2007 6:45PM

Given the outright mediocrity of Motorstorm, it sounds like more money down the drain. Hopefully they'll get their act together for MS2.

Solace @ Oct 11th 2007 6:51PM

considering they pretty much hit their target render for their FIRST PS3 project (something EA's teams can't boast about), i'd say it was a smart move.
now, if only they'd get them to make a PS3 JetMoto using the MotorStorm engine....

TRUTH @ Oct 11th 2007 7:01PM

Not really But OK

Scott @ Oct 11th 2007 7:14PM

Um... today's exchange rate: 1 euro = 1.4 US dollars. Not over 2 bucks, as the 16-to-33 math would require.

Spazgadget @ Oct 11th 2007 7:35PM

@5, the amount is 16M GBP, not Euros.

Sammy @ Oct 11th 2007 8:08PM

But it was in GBP not Euros.

EA have just bought Bioware and Pandemic...

I like Evolution I would like to see them expand and produce more. As their first project out of the WRC license I think MotorStorm was a great start.

Apparently the true next generation Wipeout will use the Motorstorm engine.

Sammy @ Oct 11th 2007 8:10PM

1 British pound = 2.0412 U.S. dollars

ruibing @ Oct 11th 2007 8:14PM

It was a pretty cheap buy I think for a studio that has experience in making a good 3D racing game for the PS3. Motorstorm really just lacked maps and some online features.

I wonder what would happen if we combine their awesome physics and destruction models with GT's realistic driving simulation and epic scale...

Algernon @ Oct 11th 2007 9:57PM

they shouldve spent that money making devil may cry or assassins creed an exclusive to the ps3 instead

John @ Oct 11th 2007 9:18PM

ClarkyCat! Another xbot not qualifying statements. Mediocrity, eh? Justify your statement, otherwise, it's just sewage. Also you would need to point out what game achieves what Motorstorm does, only better. Get back to us when those neurons start firing. Sorry, IF.

oooh, Solace, smart move!

I want to see better solo campaign for this piece, something with a story and characters and not the cheesy vomitous junk that EA spews at us with their racing games.

An RPG-like solo experience with great online, and different scenery! Forest, snow, dirt (of course), city... the moon (different gravity, anyone?)

So:
More solo involvement
More scenery
Fix little things like vehicles loading slowly and stuff (maybe this is already fixed)
More mediums (per Solace, such as water).

I'm excited about what Sammy said about Wipeout, is that true? If so, Wipeout will once again kick booty.

Andy @ Oct 11th 2007 10:21PM

@11

I'm with you there. I don't like this move that much. While it provides stability in the sense that they will not be making games for other consoles it doesn't make sense creatively. The better PS3 games come from second party devs not first party ones.

That said they made an excellent first wave game, I just don't see what more someone can add to racing games besides better graphics.

I am also intrigued by what those other games are.

Andy @ Oct 11th 2007 10:25PM

But I guess this is a long run move. Even if they start making crappy games Sony can sell them.

MacBandit @ Oct 12th 2007 12:24AM

Gotta say I loved the single user game. Multiplayer was kind of boring though. The only thing the game really needs though is split screen and machine upgrades. The biggest replay-ability of any racing game for me is one multiplayer split screen and two being able to improve your machines.

Scott @ Oct 12th 2007 9:12AM

Grr. Pounds, not Euros. *bonk!*

mccomber @ Oct 12th 2007 2:05PM

Splitscreen is the only thing that was really "missing" from the first title; now that they've gotten the basics for the game figured out, it's going to be a hell of a sequel. Hopefully we'll see somewhat varied enviornments; Motorstom in the Arctic Circle would be great. Overall it will just be a much tighter, better executed sequel, and I'm saying that as someone who thought the first one was a great start.
I've said it before, but I think it's worth repeating; this series will be the off-road Burnout, and will follow the good first game, but much, much improved sequel pattern that series did. A great acquisition by Sony in my opinion.