Sega Signs With Silicon Knights

[Cloud121]

From GameSpot:

Sega signs next-gen pact with Silicon Knights

Agreement will see the Twin Snakes developer working on an unnamed game for unidentified consoles to be released at an undetermined date.

In a release issued this morning, Sega announced an agreement to acquire and publish next-generation game content from Canadian developer Silicon Knights. The Ontario-based developer is known for such recent games as Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes and Eternal Darkness for the GameCube, as well as Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain for the original PlayStation. No titles or release dates were mentioned.

"We intend to establish Sega as a leading publisher on the next generation of game hardware, and only the highest possible quality of Western-developed content will get us there," said Simon Jeffery, president and COO, Sega of America. "Silicon Knights has a rich history of developing great games that push hardware technology, so we expect this relationship will result in a powerful, new, and highly commercial franchise." 

"Silicon Knights believes that the next generation [of] systems will be the catalyst propelling video games as the dominant form of entertainment in this century," said Denis Dyack, president of Silicon Knights. "We are very excited to collaborate with Sega on a next-generation project, because we share a vision--to take the medium of games to new heights and move people as never before."

While the announcement did not identify which next-gen platforms it would be developing for, Silicon Knights is almost certainly developing a game for a console other than the Nintendo Revolution. Nearly a year ago, the shop announced it had ended its agreement to develop exclusively for the GameCube. Nintendo itself described that the deal's end was designed to allow Silicon Knights to "pursue its vision of video game entertainment with other companies."

The deal marks the second major next-gen development deal for Sega in nearly as many weeks. Earlier this month, the company announced it had purchased the Creative Assembly. The UK-based studio of the acclaimed Total War PC strategy series is now focused on the current-gen action game Spartan: Total Warrior, "as well as developing new ventures for next-generation platforms," revealed Sega.

 

[Sundance_3]

IGN is reporting that Silicon Knights has recently entered into a publishing agreement with Sega. While the contract opens up greater possibilities for the small developer, it also signifies the termination of thier existing contract with Nintendo. No word was made as to whether Sega will lend licenses to Silicon for development, though considering thier track record (ex. Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes), it would seem plausible.

The article also hints that Sega may have joined Silicon Knights in helping complete thier resident vaporware, Too Human. The game, for those who do not know, Too Human was intended to be a Blade-Runner-style sci-fi epic, with action/rpg style gameplay mechanics. However, a late platform change along with issues likely along the lines of making it too ambitous have led it to fall into the hallowed halls of other famous "MIA" games such as Duke Nuken Forever (well, perhaps not that low). Regardless, some information is better then no information (especially when you consider that nothing has really leaked out since about the 2000 SpaceWorld Conference).

 

[Sundance_3]

You beat me to it!

 

[Pearl Jammzz]

now we just need em to team up w/ camelot

 

[axelblazeadam]

I have to say I'm very impressed with the developers Sega have been signing up recently.