All fans of Kingdom of Amalur: Reckoning can breathe a little bit easier today. Well, not really, as for the last four days 38 Studios, the Rhode Island based developer of Kingdom, was the subject of a faulty $1.125 million check to repay the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation.
Polygon followed the story for days as the intiial development involved former Philadelphia Philly/Red Sox-turned-venture capitalist Curt Schilling having urgent discussions with Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee. The story goes for a tail-spin when 38 Studios defaulted on their loan, a day later asked for a bailout and now it looks like the studio cost Rhode Island taxpayers $75 million. Politicans claim they were "blinded" by the celebrity of the former Red Sox pitcher, because let's face it, if you can't trust a baseball player with a few million dollar loans, who can you trust? Boston.com continues the speculation for the cost:
"The precise cause of 38 Studios' current trouble is unclear; its latest negotiations with the economic development agency are confidential. But what is clear is that Schilling steered the company through a feverish hiring spree and into a high pay-off - but high-risk - realm of the gaming industry that requires enormous start-up money."
The hits keep coming as The Blue Cross and Blue Shield turned down the purchase of tax credits from the studio, which would in theory lessen the costs for the Blue Cross. But the second 38 Studios defaulted on their loan, they're now exempt from selling their tax credits. Even after Schilling hand delivered a proper check today, the director of the Economic Development Corporation resigned.
Ultimately, this means you may want to play Amalur while you still can and don't cross your fingers for their Copernicus project.
via: Polygon