Hang on Herve

[Brother None]

Odin posted the OC Register article that GameSpot cites as a source for its latest Interplay article on the Winterwind forums. It warrants some closer inspection:<blockquote>The state is auditing Interplay's payroll records to determine who has been paid and who hasn't. Once the audit is completed, Interplay must pay back wages and possible penalties. If Interplay doesn't pay on time, the state could go after Interplay's assets by filing liens in court.

"We've missed a couple of payrolls, but we're going to catch up as soon as we get funding," Caen said.

Caen said he repeatedly has told employees that they will be paid when cash comes in through more funding or through the ongoing sale of its games, including "Baldur's Gate" and "Fallout." Tuesday, Caen said at least five people were at work. </blockquote>By Baldur's Gate and Fallout you mean the highly popular Baldur's Gate 3 and Fallout 3? Oh no, I forgot, you cancelled those.

I would like to remind everyone at this point that Herve lost his D&D back-catalogue. Rumours from Irvine have it that all Herve's referring to is BGDA2, for which he wants an advancement from Vivendi. But Vivendi won`t pay until he gets a deal with Atari. And that doesn't look promising. And obviously his Fallout sales are currently Fallout dual set, Fallout Tactics and Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel.

I don't think that's going to cover your bills, Herve

 

[antistructure]

what deal are they trying to strike with atari?

 

[King of Creation]

For chrissake, just sell the damn franchise to Obsidian and quit takin it up the butt herve.

 

[Sovz]

Nah, i think Harve still has plans for the

 

[tre]

butt.
(happily continuing the previous post)

 

[Pope Viper]

 

[Executioner]

Yes, Fifi likes taking it up the butt.

 

[Eragon2004]

what deal are they trying to strike with Atari?

Herve still needs to pay royalties to Atari for the use of the D&D and Baldur's Gate licenses in order to continue selling BGA2.

Vivendi refuses to distribute any more copies of BGA2 until Herve pays the royalties to Atari.

Vivendi has also turned down any request from Herve to advance him some cash in order to pay Atari.

Right now both Atari and Vivendi have "Fifi" over a barrel and they're really giving it to him at both ends.....damn, that's a rather disturbing image.

 

[Corith]

what deal are they trying to strike with Atari?

Herve still needs to pay royalties to Atari for the use of the D&D and Baldur's Gate licenses in order to continue selling BGA2.

Vivendi refuses to distribute any more copies of BGA2 until Herve pays the royalties to Atari.

Vivendi has also turned down any request from Herve to advance him some cash in order to pay Atari.

Right now both Atari and Vivendi have "Fifi" over a barrel and they're really giving it to him at both ends.....damn, that's a rather disturbing image.

What is sad is that as an Interplay employee, I have to come here to get current information.

 

[Pope Viper]

It's great to see him finally getting his short hairs tugged on.

By screwing over various and sundry, he finds his own precious Titus over a barrel.

FEEL THE PAIN, HERVE!

 

[Saint_Proverbius]

Vivendi refuses to distribute any more copies of BGA2 until Herve pays the royalties to Atari.

Well, they can't simply ship copies without those royalties. Atari and Interplay would both be able to fire off a volley of homing lawyers if they distributed more copies beyond what they initially paid for.

Vivendi has also turned down any request from Herve to advance him some cash in order to pay Atari.

I'm rather amazed Herve would want to do this. He might say he wants the money to pay Atari, but he's got all kinds of bills to pay. Getting an advance just to distribute more copies of BGDA2 would be rather silly when he could put that money in to doing something else - like paying back taxes and payroll.

If he used that money for paying Atari, it'd be like they shipped a bunch of extra units just for Atari, with Interplay not getting much out of it.

If he used the money to pay the taxes and payroll, then the California government would be less likely to step in and lien out Interplay's assets, which they're already making threats to do.

Interplay could gain the D&D sales rights back by paying Atari, then lose the whole enchilada to the state of California.

 

[Egis]

Do they mean Baldurs gate 3 and fallout 3 thout those projekts were canceled

 

[Brother None]

Do they mean Baldurs gate 3 and fallout 3 thout those projekts were canceled

*bangs on Egis' head*

HELLLOOOOOHH, anyone home?!?!!

By Baldur's Gate and Fallout you mean the highly popular Baldur's Gate 3 and Fallout 3? Oh no, I forgot, you cancelled those.

If he used that money for paying Atari, it'd be like they shipped a bunch of extra units just for Atari, with Interplay not getting much out of it.

If he used the money to pay the taxes and payroll, then the California government would be less likely to step in and lien out Interplay's assets, which they're already making threats to do.

Interplay could gain the D&D sales rights back by paying Atari, then lose the whole enchilada to the state of California.

You mean chose between getting screwed and getting screwed.

Herve just needs something to sell, and fast, which I think is why he's trying to get money to pay off Atari. Besides which, why would Vivendi be interested in paying off IPLY's debts? On the other hand, Vivendi might be interested in this, because it gives them...well...more shit to sell.

 

[Roshambo]

Do they mean Baldurs gate 3 and fallout 3 thout those projekts were canceled

*bangs on Egis' head*

HELLLOOOOOHH, anyone home?!?!!

Now you know how I've been feeling like all day.

 

[Briosafreak]

Vivendi might be interested in this, because it gives them...well...more shit to sell.

Remember that interview with the VP from Vivendi? If they want to aquire new Development companies for their PC portfolio, what better way there is than bleeding one and get it for a sale price, after it collapses?

 

[Saint_Proverbius]

You mean chose between getting screwed and getting screwed.

Herve just needs something to sell, and fast, which I think is why he's trying to get money to pay off Atari. Besides which, why would Vivendi be interested in paying off IPLY's debts? On the other hand, Vivendi might be interested in this, because it gives them...well...more shit to sell.

I still think it would be cheaper for all those companies to let Interplay sink and then collect the licenses from creditor auctions. It would probably be even cheaper at this point than Herve selling things off from Interplay piece by piece. However, I think that California would be much quicker on putting liens on those assets than Atari would be in getting their royalty money from a suit.

That's why I think it would be stupid for Vivendi to give Herve a check for the Atari royalties. They might be interested in selling a few more copies of BGDA2, assuming the game is still selling, but they could only do that if Atari got paid. There's also no assurance that Herve would keep paying, so Vivendi could end up in the same boat a few months down the line with Atari siezing the D&D rights again and Herve begging for more money.