State of Emergency 2 receives backing

VIS Entertainment has found a way to finance the sequel to State of Emergency, and is projecting a late 2004 release for the title. According to an announcement this morning, VIS shareholders have backed a special-function company formed specifically to provide project finance for SOE2 and seek a publishing deal.

So, you're probably wondering, why "AAARRRGGHHH"? This is, after all, the follow-up to a million-selling action title developed in the UK. Shouldn't we be showing our support?

Naturally we will - should SOE2 manage to improve on the basic, repetitive and ultimately tedious formula that drove the original game. After all, it was neither innovation nor exciting gameplay that propelled SOE to the top of the charts - it was its association with Take-Two's Rockstar label so soon after the release of Grand Theft Auto III.

According to VIS president and CEO Chris van der Kuyl, the SOE2 financing arrangement "is a demonstration of the faith which our investors have in VIS." We're guessing these investors aren't bothered about its poor Xbox performance. Despite a budget £19.99 price point, the Xbox port of the original title has sold a tiny fraction of the PS2 version, and will be lucky to limp to around 10,000 sales by the end of the year.