Perception, the Australian developer of the StarGate title has responded to the recent comments by publisher JoWood. The developer seems very upset about the turn the project has taken but insists that development on the game has not stopped and that Perception retains the SG-1 rights.
According to a press release issued by the developer, Perception is the official licensee of MGM on Stargate SG-1: The Alliance. Any suggestion that JoWooD has rights to Stargate SG-1: The Alliance upon termination of the contract is incorrect and not based on commercial or legal fact.
Following comments made by JoWood earlier this week, Perception informs us that it ...has begun personal prosecution proceedings against both the CEO, Albert Seidl and the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of JoWooD, Andreas Rudas, for the libelous comments made in their press release and will use all legal remedies available to it for the substantial monies owed to it by JoWooD.
This press release further complicates things as, it would appear, the two companies are getting ready for a legal battle over the rights to the game. Thsi means that fans can forget the October release date, which we assume was already clear but that any date within 2005 sounds extremely unlikely. Perception also claim to be interested in producing the best possible gaming experience for StarGate fans while they claim that they will not discuss things, in public, any further as ...legal action is underway. We look forward to the release of Stargate SG-1: The Alliance.
If this mess wasn't bad enough, matters are further complicated by comments made to an Austrian magazine by JoWooD CEO Albert Seidl which were translated and posted on the RPG Codex forums:
Perception tried several times to push JoWooD out of the contract by accusing them of breach of contract.
- 3 months ago JoWooD was told that everything´s fine with Stargate.
- 2 months ago Perception suddenly and secretly stopped development on Stargate. JoWooD was not informed about this.
- Then Perception announced that the game will be ready Q3/06 at the earliest.
- US publisher Namco refused to show the PS2 version at the E3.
- Reason for the termination of the development contract: The game lacks performance and development is heavily behind schedule.
- Chances to continue the project with Perception: 'equal to zero'.
- 5 studios applied to take over development so far. This will be evaluated.
- An "execution procedure" against Perception has been filed prophilactically. [I don´t even understand what Seidl wants to say in German. It looks like JoWooD wants to liquidate Perception if they can´t pay back the money.
