Back in December, I referenced to three outcomes of the release of Stargate Resistance, the “replacement” for Stargate Worlds, with the former being released to fund the latter. Those three outcomes were:
- This is the “everything went perfectly” outcome: Stargate Resistance launches, does well, and is used to fund Stargate Worlds and pay the employees. Stargate Worlds launches late 2010/Early 2011.
- Going further down to earth: Stargate Resistance launches, does well, and Cheyenne takes a heavy look at Stargate Worlds and says “you know, this just isn’t working out.” Aside from a few more shooters, Cheyenne branches the Stargate brand to other forms of games, including real time strategy, console, and other areas of entertainment. Stargate Worlds is put on the back burner and is left there for eternity.
- Hitting the pavement without a parachute: Stargate Resistance is either delayed to oblivion or launches to a less than stellar performance. Considering these losses, Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment either closes for good, is acquired by another company, or continues the same path it has been on for the past two years: perpetual delay.
Consider Cheyenne to have just pulled the chute only to find an ACME anvil in its place, as the company today filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Now, Chapter 11, as would be pointed out if I didn’t explain it, does not guarantee that a company is going under, just that they are restructuring in a way that will allow their debt to be paid back in a much more manageable way. This is a pretty standard procedure, and although it doesn’t absolve CME of its debt, it does offer them a chance at a brighter future.
Granted, Chapter 11 bankruptcy is usually akin to rearranging the cement tied to your legs, as you struggle to stay afloat. Although Cheyenne ME will live on for now, there is still no better outlook towards the future.
As for the company itself, I for one am glad to see Cheyenne doing everything it can to distance itself from Gary Whiting. Whiting, a chair-member of Cheyenne, is also the founder of MMOGULS, a controversial and of questionable legality, pyramid scheme that fronts itself as a website to connect MMOs. Currently MMOGULS offers nothing, for a price of $250 up front and $50 a month, with promised commission that hasn’t been paid in several months, according to investors. When investors sued Whiting earlier last year, this is what they were suing over.
Whiting will definitely be a blight on Cheyenne’s sheet, one that appears to be coming to an end, fast.
More on answering the question of “what the hell’s going on at Cheyenne” as it appears. I personally believe Stargate Worlds will have made its way to the defunct category by the end of this year.
MMO Fallout 