Interplay update: 10-K filed

Brother None

This ghoul has seen it all
Orderite
Interplay finally filed their 10-K report for the end of 2004 (10-K for Q1 2005 still pending). After some meager profits in 2002 and 2003, their loss over 2004 was 4.7 million dollars. Oddly enough, their international revenue grew over 2004 and to be about 6x as much as their US revenue. Their licensing revenue dropped to 1.7 million (16 million over 2003), which is almost all from Fallout (see below). Their console revenue actually dropped 23% despite grand titles like Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel. Their total liabities are about 18.2 million dollars, about 1.6 million of which are debts and 8.7 million accounts payable.

Some highlights:<blockquote>As we anticipate continued substantial growth in the use of high-speed Internet access, which could provide significantly expanded market potential for online products, we are focusing our efforts to launching an online service, entitled GamesOnLine, allowing consumers to become part of a unique online community of gamers and access selected content. We currently have one online game in development, Ballerium.

(...)

In June 2004 we licensed to Bethesda Softworks LLC, the rights to develop FALLOUT 3 on all platforms for $1.175 million minimum guaranteed advance against royalties. Bethesda also has an option to develop two sequels, FALLOUT 4, and FALLOUT 5 for $1.0 million minimum guaranteed advance against royalties per
sequel. Interplay retained the rights to develop a massively multiplayer online game ("MMORPG") using the Fallout Trademark.

In July 2004, we granted an option to Vivendi to purchase the REDNECK RAMPAGE intellectual property rights for $300,000. Later that month, Vivendi exercised the option.

(...)

International net revenues for the year ended December 31, 2004 were $9.9 million an increase of 3.4 million as compared to International net revenues for the year ended December 31, 2003. The increase in International net revenues compared to the year ended December 31, 2003 was mainly due to releasing BALDUR'S GATE DARK ALLIANCE II and FALLOUT: BROTHERHOOD OF STEEL during the twelve months ended December 31, 2004 and not having comparable titles during 2003.

(...)

In addition, the Company continues to seek and expects to require external sources of funding, including but not limited to, a sale or merger of the Company, a private placement of the Company's capital stock, the sale of selected assets, the licensing of certain product rights in selected territories, selected distribution agreements, and/or other strategic transactions sufficient to provide short-term funding, and potentially achieve the Company's long-term strategic objectives. In this regard, the Company licensed to Bethesda Softworks LLC ("Bethesda") the rights to develop Fallout 3 on all platforms for a non refundable advance against royalties of $1.175 million and sold the Redneck Rampage intellectual property rights to Vivendi for $300,000.</blockquote>This last part means, as we well know, that the only tactic open to Caen is selling off bits or all of the company and then run away as fast as he can. Also, an interesting rumour from the Interplay Raging Bull Forum:<blockquote>I believe IPLY already talking with some other party about the online Fallout title, I’m sure the folks at NMA will sniff out who soon enough.</blockquote>Link: Interplay 10-K SEC filing
 
Now I see why it took so long to create this 10-K report. It's a literary masterpiece! It has everything - humor, drama, romance, fantasy, sci-fi... I'm anxious to read more works of the brilliant poet and novelist Fifi the French whore.
 
I think its only a matter of time before EA gets exclusive rights to pillage the corpse of Interplay. Of course they'd do it out of habit before realizing their was nothing left to pillage. I mean, what IP does Interplay have left? Since I don't think they have any staff worth mentioning. Oh, yeah, they have Ballerium... guess Interplay is going to be alright!
 
I'm going to buy the next Redneck Rampage game, definatly.
Who the hell is Vivendi anyway?
 
Vivendi Universal.

Biggest international media-concern, although it's...
French.
 
I can see it now, Redneck Rampage on the french countryside...instead of a cap, the redneck has a berret-thingie on his head :roll:
 
In this regard, the Company licensed to Bethesda Softworks LLC ("Bethesda") the rights to develop Fallout 3 on all platforms for a non refundable advance against royalties of $1.175 million
What does it mean exactly? Bethesda payed 1.175 million dollars to Interplay, and Bethesda willl get all other royalties if the game sells well?
 
Le Jedi Fou said:
In this regard, the Company licensed to Bethesda Softworks LLC ("Bethesda") the rights to develop Fallout 3 on all platforms for a non refundable advance against royalties of $1.175 million
What does it mean exactly? Bethesda payed 1.175 million dollars to Interplay, and Bethesda willl get all other royalties if the game sells well?

I don't know the specifics, but I think you are on the right track. Royalties are paid for every unit sold, or something like that. Usually by a publisher to a developer in this industry, but it applies here as well. Anyways, an advance is a lump sum of money that is paid to the recipient of the royalties well before any profits come in. Interplay will not recieve any more money until royalties exceed the advance, usually with interest. However, even if Fallout 3 totally bombs commercially, Bethsoft won't get that advance back. These advances usually work against developers, but with Interplay so cash strapped I imagine they jumped at the chance to get some form of income other than scanning the furniture at yard sales for loose change.
 
Le Jedi Fou said:
In this regard, the Company licensed to Bethesda Softworks LLC ("Bethesda") the rights to develop Fallout 3 on all platforms for a non refundable advance against royalties of $1.175 million
What does it mean exactly? Bethesda payed 1.175 million dollars to Interplay, and Bethesda willl get all other royalties if the game sells well?

1.175 million from Bethesda, and Herve can't scrape up the money he has to pay, by law, to his former employees. The man either arrogantly thinks he is above the law, or hopes that it will just go away.
 
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