Introversion: "2008 was disastrous year"

By Robert Purchese Published 29 April, 2009

"The first major problem was Microsoft."

Introversion's creative backbone Chris Delay has declared that "2008 was a disastrous year" for the developer.

"By all accounts, 2008 was a disastrous year for Introversion, characterised by an incredibly positive start and a noticeable increase in ambition, but not a single genuine success throughout the whole year," writes Delay on the Introversion blog.

"There was only one bit of good news - that we survived the whole year without laying anybody off or closing the company."

Delay began the year with a full development slate. Multiwinia for PC/Mac and Darwinia+ for Xbox 360 (a mixture of Darwinia and Multiwinia) were scheduled for a simultaneous launch. Pinnacle Software (which recently went bust) had agreed to publish a DS version of Defcon, and Channel 4 had commissioned a project that would be "by far our most outrageous game design yet", he says. Plus there was Subversion: the "project that really excited" Delay.

"The first major problem was Microsoft," explains the lead designer and developer of all Introversion games. "I want to be clear that in hindsight, we believe Microsoft were absolutely correct in the calls they made, and we were wrong. But at the time, oh my God they were pissing us off."

Microsoft ordered massive redesigns to Darwinia+, covering menus, squad command and even game modes. "It was the first time a massive company had effectively told Introversion what to do," Delay reveals, "And we didn't like that at all."

The solution: putting the Xbox 360 version on the "back-burner" and soldering on with Multiwinia on PC. (Darwinia+ now carries a release date of 29th September 2009, according to the official site.)

Delay then got to work on Subversion and was very happy. But Channel 4 project Chronometer soon kicked in and he had to divert his attention.

"Ultimately there was only one choice for me - I had to summon my professional alter-ego and give up on Subversion altogether," rues Delay. "It was actually very professionally done in the end, something to be proud of. But internally I felt the project was considerably less interesting than Subversion."

Multiwinia was finished in time for a July/August launch, but previews of the final code went awry, with journalists eventually confessing that the controls were rubbish.

Redesigns followed and pushed everything back by a month, but the game came out, scored 8/10 on Eurogamer, and Introversion sat back ready to reap the rewards.

But the smiles were short-lived, as the eerie silence of a self-built sales ticker forebode during the launch party.

We'll have to wait until later to find out more, however, as Delay hopes to publish the final part of the three-post recollection this afternoon. Perhaps the whereabouts of Chronometer and the Multiwinia sales will be explained in it.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

You may also like...

Comments (30) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • menage #1 3 years ago

    If Microsoft were right, than they weren't the problem I think.

    Still, shame that a talented original developer had so many problems.

  • swede #2 3 years ago

    My ratings.

    Uplink - amazing.
    Darwinia - even better (high point)
    Defcon - Okay
    Multiwinia - a little disappointing (low point)

    I keep an eye on the site now and again, the new project (subversion) looks promising... I hope they can return to form with it.

  • UncleLou #3 3 years ago

    If Microsoft were right, than they weren't the problem I think.

    Kinda takes the "independent" out of "indie" though.

  • Eraysor #4 3 years ago

    Uplink and Defcon are brilliant. I never really cared for Darwinia, and even less Multiwinia, but I'm looking forward to their future products.

  • Schiraman #5 3 years ago

    Personally I liked Darwinia for the fun and interesting setting rather than for the gameplay (which was honestly a bit rubbish), so the idea of multiplayer Darwinia just wasn't something that ever appealed to me. I'd guess I'm not the only Darwinia player who felt that way.

  • Dynamize #6 3 years ago

    I never bothered with Darwinia or Defcon, but I thought Uplink was aces.

  • swede #7 3 years ago

    I've just read the blog in full. I did not realise things were that bad for them. I hope they succeed with D+ and that it can rise up against some of the dross that surfaces on XBLA.

    Yes it all sounds like they are less 'Indie' now unfortunately. It would be nice if they get good sales from this allowing for funding for imaginitve, innovative and entertaining future projects... and if MS are too pushy, afterwards re-consider the PC - or even the other big 3 - PS3, Wiiware or iPhone. Surely the Apple and their app store are fairly liberal on what they allow through?

  • speedjack #8 3 years ago

    Was wondering where Darwinia+ had got to.

    Its a must buy for me when it finally ships.

  • Domovoi #9 3 years ago

    So actually the first major problem was them not listening to Microsoft?

    Kinda takes the "independent" out of "indie" though.
    Indie doesn't necessarily mean 'good'.
    Edited by 1 at 29/04/09 @ 15:58

  • dingo75 #10 3 years ago

    100% agree with Schiraman.
    I bought all titles but Multiwina because to me it was a re-hash of Darwinia.
    My copy of Uplink is a burned cd they sent me when they were still small and only had a forum as means to communicate to the world.

    I also didn't buy Defcon full price because it lacked "game" to me. It's more of a statement (In Nuclear War there will be no winners!) but got it when it was a Weekend Deal on Steam.

    I hope that they start again focusing on original ideas that made them big and not simply a Uplink 2: Revenge of THE MAN.

  • superjag86 #11 3 years ago

    Whenever I hear a news story about Introversion I'm always intrigued. I've had great fun with all their games and I hope the guys get back on track with the support they deserve asap.

  • Eraser #12 3 years ago

    What do you expect when your last name is Delay?
    Edited by 1 at 29/04/09 @ 16:07

  • sneetch #13 3 years ago

    @menage
    If Microsoft were right, than they weren't the problem I think.

    No, but it's a tag-line intended to draw the slavering fanboy hordes like flies to shit.

    Seems more their inability or unwillingness to listen to their vastly more experienced publisher was the problem. The "they can't tell us what to do" knee-jerk reaction is often a problem with small or new companies.

    @UncleLou
    Kinda takes the "independent" out of "indie" though.

    Yes, by definition signing up to a major publisher means you're no longer indie.

  • Eighthours #14 3 years ago

    Disingenuous, hits-grabbing subtitle AGAIN. You're better than this, guys.

  • Xerx3s #15 3 years ago

    "Kinda takes the "independent" out of "indie" though. "

    The moment you go big and go for consoles, that is pretty much a given, isn't it?

  • UncleLou #16 3 years ago

    "Kinda takes the "independent" out of "indie" though."
    Indie doesn't necessarily mean 'good'.

    Of course it doesn't.

    Yes, by definition signing up to a major publisher means you're no longer indie.

    Does that mean anything on XBLA is published by MS, and they have the final say on the content? Serious question, I don't know it, but find that idea pretty horrible. I thought it was more of a, well, independent platform with MS checking the technical functionality, but not game modes(!)
    Edited by 1 at 29/04/09 @ 16:56

  • easychord #17 3 years ago

    It sounds like their big problem is that they let too many big companies like Channel 4 and Microsoft waste their time that they should have been spending making original games. Those companies probably have hordes of useless middle managers who only exist to make themselves look important.

  • miiiguel #18 3 years ago

    "Does that mean anything on XBLA is published by MS, and they have the final say on the content? Serious question, I don't know it, but find that idea pretty horrible. I thought it was more of a, well, independent platform with MS checking the technical functionality, but not game modes(!) "

    As far as I', aware MS does not even review the code, at least judging by the disclaimer wich is shown every time you download a game from the XNA Markerplace.

  • UGhost #19 3 years ago

    XBLA and XNA Community stuff are not the same thing. XBLA titles go through a full submission process in the same way that retail boxed games do.

  • miiiguel #20 3 years ago

    ouch, you right, I misread. He asked XBLA nor XNA... :/

    btw, and not that anyone cares, but still... Just bought Virtual On and Maw's last DLC, 1st time I used the "browser to buy stuff" feature. Woot?
    Edited by 1 at 29/04/09 @ 18:02

  • Oh-Bollox #21 3 years ago

    I've picked up all Introversion's games, and enjoyed them all, especially Defcon.

    The lack of a Multiwinia demo hurt, I think. Besides that, the lack of advertising? It reviewed well IIRC.

  • Dirtbox #22 3 years ago

    I love Introversion's style and atmosphere, but the games themselves are extremely shallow. Only Uplink showed any glimmer of depth, but it fast became an OCD chore. Defcon is dull and weirdly depressing in the extreme and Darwinia was more than enough to realise that whole idea, while beatifully wrapped, was a an RTS escort mission that would make you groan in Starcraft or something.

    Really want to see them pick up, dust off and think about making a game with more substance. Keep the style, just put a game in there.
    Edited by 1 at 29/04/09 @ 19:08

  • DanWhitehead #23 3 years ago

    "Disingenuous, hits-grabbing subtitle AGAIN. You're better than this, guys."

    How is it disingenuous when it's a direct quote from the blog post in question?

  • metalangel #24 3 years ago

    Their 'last of the bedroom programmers' slogan makes my teeth grind. Arrogant much, guys?

  • makeamazing #25 3 years ago

    Its just a slogan, relax, but by the sounds of things they aint much bedroom programmers anymore, time to change the slogan.

    I purchased defcon and uplink. Uplink is my favourite, but still not anywhere near neuromancer..now that was a hacking game!If someone could put the production values on to a proper hacking game with some of the depth of Neuromancer, then I would be first in line to buy!

  • woodnotes #26 3 years ago

    "Kinda takes the "independent" out of "indie" though."

    Not at all, it just means they should listen to some constructive criticism and leave their indie egos at home.

  • Tyronne #27 3 years ago

    Was never all that fussed about multiwinia as to me it was nothing more than a patch that had to be paid for rather than a full game.It is the only one of their games I do not own and in my mind it was a step backwards rather than forwards.

    They are very interesting developers however , its just a shame that not much of note has been done by them lately and if there is then I am unaware of it.

  • Gearskin #28 3 years ago

    Multiwinia is a great little game, fast strategy. Excellent fun online.

    No doubt their sales ticker didn't count the number of copies floating around the Pirate Bay...

  • metalangel #29 3 years ago

    It seems off that anyone would say bedroom coding is dead, given the massive modding, indie, homebrew and freeware scenes.

  • odin1899 #30 3 years ago

    ...'soldering on'...?