Stargate MMOG developer can't make payroll?

Source: According to the exceedingly niche-interest Web site http://www.days-since-cheyenne-mountain-employees-have-been-paid.com/, it has been 22 days since the firm has paid its employees.

What we heard: While The Old Republic and Star Trek Online have been grabbing most of the sci-fi massively multiplayer online role-playing game headlines of late, Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment has been toiling away on Stargate Worlds. The game was first announced nearly three years ago. A closed beta for Stargate Worlds is set to expand shortly, but Cheyenne and its publishing arm FireSky have yet to see dime one from the project.

With the Sci-Fi Channel ready to launch a new Stargate television series next summer, the MMORPG would seem to have a prime cross-promotional opportunity waiting in the wings. If Cheyenne is running dry on resources right now, one would think there would be parties interested in loaning the company enough to reach the finish line and cash in on three years of work and buzz surrounding the new TV series. At least, there would be in a better economic climate.

The official story: A representative for Cheyenne provided GameSpot with the following comment: "At Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment, we have always been upfront with the media and our fans that we are a start up. Like many start ups, we face the same cash-flow issues that all pre-revenue companies face. We have maintained a core of dedicated investors, but the new economic realities are forcing us to seek out additional sources of funding and that's what we're doing.

"We continue to move forward on the Stargate Worlds project. We recently completed a successful phase of closed beta testing and we will start a second phase early in 2009. We invite all of your readers to come to our site, check out our fantastic community and sign up for our beta."

Bogus or not bogus?: Unfortunately for both Cheyenne and its employees, this one is not bogus.

84 Comments

  • dg3215

    Posted May 22, 2009 1:27 pm PT

    HAHA another stargate failure.. I am really not surprised. This game will probably suck if released anyhow.. A start up needs to get a game out faster than 3 years and if not at least find a way to generate revenue... Maybe Obama will bail them out haha.. Rename the title Stargate Forever and throw it away with your dreams of Duke...

  • walligy

    Posted May 20, 2009 8:41 am PT

    ohhh no. still no news.
    someone... please... anyone!... tell me it's going to be okay.
    tell me there will be a significant stargate title finally succeeding 'stargate', which was on the snes 15 years ago. i was shattered when they annouced that production of 'stargate alliance' was terminated. i will not be able to endure it again... tell me it's going to be okay!

  • Zsaber24

    Posted May 16, 2009 8:24 pm PT

    i really hope this game makes it. i was really looking forward to it. all the other stargate games got canceled, and i dont want that to happen again.

  • skyydragonn

    Posted May 6, 2009 8:10 am PT

    If a company can't pay its employee's I have little faith that they'll manage to generate enough cashflow to complete the project at all. having worked in a poduction industry for several years in a company that eventually fell dueto economic hardships I can say with certainty that if the company isn't able to pay itds employees then the company isn't going to be able to keep its doors open for long either, as the cash needed to do so has to come from somewhere else to make those paychecks.

  • obirun

    Posted Dec 13, 2008 8:07 am PT

    Chill out. Paychecks were handed out about a week ago. Someone needs to update that website showing how many days have passed w/out paychecks.

  • Petros957

    Posted Dec 11, 2008 2:25 pm PT

    *Deep Sigh!

    I was really looking forward to this game. But if the management of Cheyenne Mountain is this bad (that they haven't been taking care of "business"), then the game can't possibly suceed. The reason for this statement is that they will want to cut corners (to save money) and the game will flop. If Anything the management should go without pay (think of it as an "Incentive Program"), and the programmers should get paid!

  • INMATEofARKHAM

    Posted Dec 9, 2008 11:10 am PT

    26...

  • maverick_76

    Posted Dec 8, 2008 6:23 pm PT

    Ouch I work two jobs and am paid weekly. If I went more than two weeks without pay, I'd have to find a new yawb (spanglish).

  • Spoon_Si

    Posted Dec 8, 2008 1:48 pm PT

    22 days criss....

  • MOAN_Z0NE

    Posted Dec 8, 2008 10:16 am PT

    Hope they work it out. I would like to see a Non-Magic/Fairy MMOPRG do well.

    I am not hating on WoW, but the whole magic thing just ain't my bag.

  • Zee666

    Posted Dec 8, 2008 10:08 am PT

    Bummer, I hope things turn out alright.

  • the_astonian

    Posted Dec 8, 2008 8:37 am PT

    if you're looking forward to it...i can assure you it's still alive

  • nightfend

    Posted Dec 8, 2008 8:33 am PT

    Well, another MMO bites the dust.

  • division_9

    Posted Dec 8, 2008 6:25 am PT

    Wow I don't see any World of Warcraft zombies, that's good news.

  • Sins-of-Mosin

    Posted Dec 8, 2008 6:21 am PT

    necronaux - Well, Enterprise did have some good stuff but the whole Earth attack was stupid and that Asian chick sucked horribly. The other people were good.

  • AGamerDiet

    Posted Dec 8, 2008 2:33 am PT

    Maybe they woul have better cash flow of RCC didnt ruin the last two years of Stargate SG-1 and pretty much destroy the franchise by killing everything that was unique about the Stargate Universe and making it cliche scifi garbage with a dash of little-man-living-vicarously through his characters. S1-S8 of SG-1 rocked though and I would really love a game based in that universe. I just have no interest in RCC new vision of the stargate universe which is just boobs, butts and bombs in leather and everything interesting stripped out and killed off.

  • BloodMist

    Posted Dec 7, 2008 9:13 pm PT

    Damn man....i really hope this game comes to fruition, as i love the Stargate Universe and this game looks pretty sweet.

  • Baselerd

    Posted Dec 7, 2008 8:17 pm PT

    That sucks!

  • dr_jashugan

    Posted Dec 7, 2008 7:18 pm PT

    Hope they solve their problem and keep moving on.

  • OmegaCookie7

    Posted Dec 7, 2008 6:44 pm PT

    Eep. The game itself looks worth a looky too.

  • WhitePointer

    Posted Dec 7, 2008 5:48 pm PT

    As one of the devs that actually worked on the first Stargate game that was eventually canned (Stargate SG-1: The Alliance for PC, PS2 and Xbox) this is eerily similar to what happened to us. We weren't paid for the best part of a month and a half before the project was finally cancelled and we were all made redundant. We did get our pay eventually a few months later.

    I guess it's a curse of Stargate games. It would be pretty bad if this one ended up going under too.

  • Cerebris

    Posted Dec 7, 2008 3:15 pm PT

    This is in my mind an insult to the Stargate world... just watching the trailers makes you sickened by the stupidity, idiocy, and horrid portrayal that is given towards the alien races (and definitely Humanity), and the worlds themselves...

    I'm sorry, but as much as I love Sci-Fi and have "EVERY" instance of Stargate... I won't even touch this unless it's completely redone, and I mean COMPLETELY.

    Sickened fan,

    - Cere.

  • aragorn_bleh

    Posted Dec 7, 2008 9:40 am PT

    Vote_For_McCain: Lol.

  • Ballintinius

    Posted Dec 7, 2008 8:19 am PT

    This is NOT uncommon. I have worked for projects that have ran out of money before. We made it to the finish line and got paid with bonuses. So, I know times are tough, and you gotta put food on the table but with the job market out there, where can you go?, and the players do have the income to play this project on line, all I can say is hang in there...it will bare fruit....

  • buckizard

    Posted Dec 7, 2008 8:09 am PT

    This is looking like a sweet sci-fi MMO and really looking forward to it. I hope for all the people working hard on this project that they find the support they need to continue and release this game.

  • yboucher

    Posted Dec 7, 2008 6:41 am PT

    It's part and parcel of working on such a project, in such a company. The risk of the company running out of cash should be well-known and understood by the people working there...

  • TehUndeadHorror

    Posted Dec 7, 2008 2:27 am PT

    Damn that sucks. =(

  • TheSargeGuy

    Posted Dec 7, 2008 2:23 am PT

    the first stargate game got canceled personaly ima be a little pissed if this one goes under too.

  • BradHummr

    Posted Dec 7, 2008 1:50 am PT

    Sucks when projects get tons of funds and work put into them but then they die before any of it can be seen by the public.

  • Adam_the_Nerd

    Posted Dec 6, 2008 11:15 pm PT

    This story isn't even getting that much buzz; I highly doubt the hard work of these people is going to get noticed much.

    Expect this to be canceled or "put on hiatus" very soon.

  • Apofis_SG-1

    Posted Dec 6, 2008 10:41 pm PT

    i realu like Stargate. and i hope on this game will be free trial like EVE. i realy wanna try it

  • Vote_For_McCain posted Dec 6, 2008 9:45 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    Vote_For_McCain

    Posted Dec 6, 2008 9:45 pm PT (hide)

    I would pay for a Halo RPG.

  • hatieshorrer

    Posted Dec 6, 2008 7:57 pm PT

    This sounds like as good an idea as the Halo RPG (bad)

  • jazilla

    Posted Dec 6, 2008 5:38 pm PT

    with this kind of hardship you can almost expect this game to be released with a lot of bugs and what not. this game was also supposed to tie into the tv show in real time i think. how would the two be seperate finincial entities if that's the case? poor mgmt. if you ask me.

  • nikefreak

    Posted Dec 6, 2008 5:11 pm PT

    Its more action than WoW.. And honestly, I have been waiting for a good Stargate game for a *LONG* time, and if this doesnt make it to fruition like the last cool Stargate game that got canned well, well into production, I will be pissed.

  • Xxgood-timesXx

    Posted Dec 6, 2008 5:09 pm PT

    eh that rlly sucks

  • kilaan

    Posted Dec 6, 2008 4:06 pm PT

    Another one biting the dust. seriously, these game devolopers need to take a step back and look at what they are doing. They all look at WoW and the perpetual income (revenue the game makes long after the game is released) and thier pants get tight. What they don't realize is the cost of making a decent one and the highly skilled employees it takes to make one even remotely succussful. Even then you have huge competition once the game is released (even on the remote chance the game has a decent amount of content and its released reletively bug free.) This is the companies first game ever and they are going to try to tackle something as massive as an MMO. It won't work. Anyone remember Age of Mourning or Dark and Light? If not there is a reason for it. If you do, I am sorry for bringing back that repressed memory.

  • parrot_of_adun

    Posted Dec 6, 2008 2:24 pm PT

    Wait, just making sure, this is the kinda game where you aim and shoot right? Or do you just give orders to your character who then carries them out on it's own (like WoW)?

    I thought it was the former, but I can't really get any clear info.

  • Zloth2

    Posted Dec 6, 2008 1:32 pm PT

    People have savings accounts, too. Even people that save up for a rainy day can only last so long, though. If Cheyenne can't cover payroll, they sure aren't going to be handing out severance pay.

    Looks like bad news for Cheyenne. This is not a good time to be seeking funding. I expect we'll be seeing a lot of these start-ups giving up the ghost, as well as some established companies that have had a bad streak recently. The strong companies will survive and hopefully the best employees from the dying companies will find their way to them.

  • CrushedGroove

    Posted Dec 6, 2008 1:21 pm PT

    @lev six

    Skill based refers to the RPG system. Instead of just gaining XP you power up your skills as you use them (i.e. Ultima Online, Elder Scrolls, etc.).

  • lev_six

    Posted Dec 6, 2008 1:09 pm PT

    Skill based? If point and click combat is skill, then yes, Stargate Worlds is a skill based game. I am sorry to hear about the employee's lack of pay. That's rough. For those who made moronic statements like, "Hey I get paid monthly it's not so bad", you are making zero sense. If you were paid weekly then I suddenly waited a month to pay you, you could be in a very serious financial situation. People have bills to pay and lives to lead outside of a development office. I hope they get their act together.

  • Hekynn

    Posted Dec 6, 2008 12:53 pm PT

    Awsome looking forward to the new stargate season I love that show

  • BigDaddy973

    Posted Dec 6, 2008 10:51 am PT

    That sucks! I hope this game does well for all there sakes

  • 24k_Solid_Gold

    Posted Dec 6, 2008 10:18 am PT

    It's really too bad that this start-up company is facing troubles. Not that I'm interested in the game at all (I find star trek and stargate quite boring, and un imaginative). But it's probably taking a large mental toll on the employees.

    And I'd have to agree with smcaudata's comment. It is hard to finance your life if your getting paid so much less than normal. Hope Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment can work it out.

  • Telekenesis123

    Posted Dec 6, 2008 9:55 am PT

    I'm so glad I did not invest in this games development when I was asked to last year! I refused by saying the MMO market is just way to crowded right now. There just seems to be countless games vying for a piece of the pie and I don't think this game has what it takes to oust its competition.

  • necronaux

    Posted Dec 6, 2008 9:35 am PT

    Another Stargate series? Really? Will it be the Enterprise of the Star Trek series?

  • slappylad

    Posted Dec 6, 2008 9:28 am PT

    Without getting into too much, ive been able to beta this game. To say im not really impressed is an understatement.

  • Cobra5

    Posted Dec 6, 2008 9:04 am PT

    Dead before launch.

    Oh well.

    And on warhammer, I can assure you, no-one is leaving in droves, and it isn't as buggy as the haters say. I've had one crash to desktop so far and it was in a 40 vs 40 open world RVR castle war. Bunch of Blizzard employees constantly spreading misinformation about other MMOs, that's what it is.

  • smcaudata

    Posted Dec 6, 2008 8:11 am PT

    To the people saying it's not bad because they get paid every 2 months or every month: you are morons. Normally I avoid any sort of direct comment toward others but obviously you need a lesson in math. Most Americans live paycheck to paycheck, especially those that work for a small or upstart company. If you get paid every week or every 2 weeks then you base your budget on that. Car payment, house payment, health insurance, etc... These are things that cannot be avoided. This is like someone who gets paid monthly only getting 25% of his paycheck then being told you will still only get paid monthly.

    Americans in general need to learn the ability to empathize, we are so self-centered it really irritates me.

  • FomarThain

    Posted Dec 6, 2008 8:10 am PT

    "Locuzt Posted Dec 6, 2008 2:43 am CT uhm... warhammer is doing allright actually.., their goal was to be the second largest mmo out there and they succeded pretty much.."

    Seymour47 Posted Dec 6, 2008 7:34 am PT

    "Actually, no it isn't. Apparently due to a large number of bugs and terrible oversight, players are leaving the game in droves. It sounds like the game has been so buggy that it is almost unplayable for many people."

    Actually yes it is. I think these kind of MMO doom and gloom (leaving is droves) comments are by people who a) don't like the game b) quit c) just follow the rest of the pack in whatever ever they say. WAR is doing just fine, even I know that and I don't play it.

advertisement