Giz goes into liquidation News
Gizmondo News by Ellie Gibson
What an adventure it's been. First there was the glamorous London launch party, attended by no less than Sting and at least one member of Girls Aloud. Then came the flagship Regent Street store, expensively kitted out with all manner of designer fixtures and fittings and never once housing more customers than staff. And the fun never seemed to stop - GPS! EA games! "Smart Adds"! Dodgy connections with the Swedish mafia!
But now, the dream is over. It's been announced that the High Court has refused Gizmondo Europe's application for administration, and the company has officially gone into liquidation.
Two liquidation firms have been appointed to sort out the mess, and Gizmondo's parent company, Tiger Telematics, reckons things aren't looking too good for any Gizmondo employees who failed to realise there was a giant hole in the side of the ship until now.
They'll all be down the dole office shortly, according to Tiger, and operations such as the Gizmondo customer support service will be wound up quick smart. The liquidators are also expected to sell off all assets, though it's not clear exactly what these might consist of or whether they've set up an eBay account yet.
This, combined with the previously announced liquidation of Gizmondo's development studios in Sweden and Manchester, is expected to generate around USD 72 million - enough to cover around 80 per cent of the company's liabilities.
Technically speaking, Gizmondo's US arm is still operating - but the future is not looking bright and Tiger Telematics is currently considering "available options with its Texas games studio subsidiary and its kiosk sales units."
Who could have foreseen this eventuality? How strange life is. Farewell, Gizmondo, we'll miss thinking up those filthy headlines.
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Comments: 1-44 of 44 in total
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kangarootoo
08/02/06 @ 11:30
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I worked in a Giz title that never saw the light of day, sort of roughly because of all this nonsense. Can't really say any more than that. It sort of sucks I guess, though bizarrely the fact it got finished and I had fun working on it counts for more in my mind that whether it will ever get published.
I bow my head and show respect for the demise of the one of the worst D-pads in living memory. |
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Universal Hamster
08/02/06 @ 13:23
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I walked past the Gizmondo store in london a few months ago... Not a soul in there apart from one besuited employee. I felt very sad for him, but I just couldnt actually force myself to go in. I was sure I would start crying.
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kangarootoo
08/02/06 @ 13:29
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@jack_klugman
Not tried a 360 controller yet as it happens. I would have thought so though, the Giz pad was like something from a Sega Mastersystem. |
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Tweakmonkey
08/02/06 @ 13:29
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Seriously what did they expect? Unless you're Microsoft you can't sustain the losses.
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Universal Hamster
08/02/06 @ 13:32
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The 360 pad, while lovelly in all other ways, has possibly the worst Dpad I have ever used. Honestly. Its worse than the playstation pad. The only pad that I know of that comes close is the PSP's one.
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kangarootoo
08/02/06 @ 13:42
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I think the "seperate button" style of the PSP and PS2 pads have their advantages. The Giz one was an all-in-one rocker style, which are fine if they work but awful if they don't
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Triggerhappytel
08/02/06 @ 13:46
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"I bet on Inifinium Labs to be the next."
What are they responsible for making? |
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jack_klugman
08/02/06 @ 15:26
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kangarootoo - Most definately! A D-Pad by nature shouldn't really act like some quasi-analogue stick in disguise.
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"The 360 pad, while lovelly in all other ways, has possibly the worst Dpad I have ever used. Honestly. Its worse than the playstation pad. The only pad that I know of that comes close is the PSP's one."
The 360 D-Pad is pretty worthless, yes, but the Playstation pad has one of the best I've ever used I'd say. I'll give you that the PSP one was utter cock as well though.
Edited 1 times,
most recently on 08/02/06 @ 20:06
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BartonFink
09/02/06 @ 08:10
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d-pad on the 360 controller is ok but then again I don't use it much not even for DOA. Have to agree with tengu on the dualshock d-pad though it's pretty damn good even if the rest of the pad is pretty awful.
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Comments: 1-44 of 44 in total
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