Codies seeks Jumpgate delay damages

By Wesley Yin-Poole Published 7 December, 2010

Will the sci-fi MMO ever be released?

Science fiction MMO fans wondering what's happening with the long in development Jumpgate Evolution were finally given an update today – but it's not good news.

Publisher Codemasters revealed in a post on its official forum that it has filed a civil complaint in San Francisco against developer NetDevil and parent company Gazillion for failing to deliver the game on time.

In documents published on the internet (spotted by Massively) the UK publisher alleges NetDevil failed to meet contractual guidelines that stipulated Jumpgate would launch by 24th February 2009.

Codemasters wants compensation for the $1.4 million it's spent on the game in the hope it would one day launch, but as an alternative it has offered its share of interest back to NetDevil and Gazillion in return for all the money it invested.

Eurogamer last saw Jumpgate Evolution in May 2009, when Jim Rossignol went hands-on. " Jumpgate will enter beta testing soon, and I suspect it's going to prove a popular attraction, particularly for those who don't want the complexity and imagination-roasting depth of EVE Online," he wrote.

Two months later Codemasters Online announced that Jumpgate Evolution had reached 250,000 beta sign-ups across Europe and North America.

The MMO was originally down for release in 2008 before moving to - and missing - a June 2009 date. Currently, the official Jumpgate Evolution website features a greyed out box which reads, "Pre-order coming soon". It is still possible to sign up for the beta test.

"On the advice of Codemasters' US attorneys, Codemasters has no further comment at this time," Codemasters said. The case continues.

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About Wesley Yin-Poole

Wesley is Eurogamer's news editor. He likes news, interviews, and more news. He also likes Street Fighter more than anyone can get him to shut up about it.

Read more articles from Wesley by visiting the Wesley Yin-Poole archive page.

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Comments (12) Latest comment 1 year ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Lexx87 #1 1 year ago

    Really so interested in this i'd have signed up i'm sure the idea of it is excellent. Such a shame if it never sees light of day.

  • mingster #2 1 year ago

    I'm gutted about this really wanted it.

  • Grump #3 1 year ago

    Maybe NetDevil spent too much time focusing on Lego Universe. Shame because LU wasn't that great in the end. Would have much preferred Jumpgate.

  • Shikasama #4 1 year ago

    I wonder what the mentality of the people working at the studio is.

    It must be so depressing to be working on a project that has looked to be going nowhere since it was first announced.

  • LordanSS #5 1 year ago

    Jumpgate Evolution is out now on PC.

    Umm... don't think so... O.O

  • Miths #6 1 year ago

    I gave up on waiting for this a while ago - I hope Black Prophecy might deliver a good space MMO experience instead.

  • dirtysteve #7 1 year ago

    The article mentions beta signups, but not whether or not the beta has actually happened. Has anyone here played it? And are they free to talk about it?

  • Lexx87 #8 1 year ago

    No beta has ever happened.

  • Lexx87 #9 1 year ago

    The last I heard from them was an email which took me to a page to pick from a selection of game boxes.

  • Rouge77 #10 1 year ago

    NetDevil claimed earlier this year that they are basically redoing the entire game. According to rumours, they are basically taking off everything more complex stuff, making it a simple space shooter. Supposedly no longer any kind of "EVE light" but instead a Black Prophecy with a subscription fee and also it's claimed that the game will come out only in US.

  • peppergomez #11 1 year ago

    In space, no one hears you fail.

  • pantbash #12 1 year ago

    This game sounded absolutely brilliant. I was thinking elite in space.
    But then the comment Rouge77 mentioned came out.

    It sounds like the game will now be a shooter only, no in depth non-combat mechanics.
    That is not what I want tbh, I want teh option to shoot a rock for hours on end for only slight mineral gain.