Zero Point Software In Trouble

This following statement absolutely breaks my heart.
July 6th 2009 Zero Point Software A/S filed for bankruptcy.

Zero Point Software are the people behind the term AAA Indie and the game-in-development Interstellar Marines. A developer that truly fits the term “For Gamers, By Gamers”. 

Interstellar Marines has awesome potential to become a great game for fans of the FPS genre. Developed for singleplayer and up to 4 player co-op, with “heavy focus on realism”. It’s even planned as a trilogy.

The story is pretty basic, as the player is introduced as a newly enlisted Special Forces soldier, equipped with the latest in weaponry, armour and gadgets to wreak havoc with. But the key feature isn’t the story, it’s the feeling of realism, or as much realism as you can get in a “believable futuristic setting”, the co-op aspect and the fact that the the game is developed by real gamers who knows what real gamers want. Of course it’s not only because they are gamers themselves, but because they let the community take part and share ideas. And Zero Point Software does listen to the community.

The AAA Indie stamp they claim, is now, or at least the way I see and understand it, the problem they’re now facing. They do have investors, though many are friends and family of the developers, but the development does cost money and friends and family most likely can’t fund the entire development process. So now, due to lack of funding and investors, the money is spent.

Now, there is a demo for Interstellar Marines, which they claim, and I have no doubt is “kick-ass”, but can’t show to anyone, because it’s  built on an evaluation license where the terms of the license prevents them to show it. This means they may very well have a product that future investors will love and gladly invest in, but as it stands, is so close, but yet so far away, because the investors won’t be able to see it due to the license terms, and thus won’t hand over money blindly. A truly vicious circle.

So, how can we offer help?
That’s easy! You register at www.interstellarmarines.com, upgrade your account to either a Frontliners or  Spearheads account by paying a fee of max $39.00 depending on the account. What you’re doing by upgrading is actually supporting and purchasing the game, where the Spearheads account grants you the entire trilogy!

So if you can see past that there is the danger of development stopping, and the game may never be released, show your support and pre-purchase the game by registering on the site and upgrading your account.

This is a video that sparked much interest a few years ago.
It has now entered “Legacy” mode, so changes must have been made since.

“For The Love of The Game!”
 

For my previous in-depth The Group Thing article on
Interstellar Marines, Zero Point Software and AAA Indie, click here.