Frontier Gains Elite Rights; Braben to Sell Frontier Stock

Develop has news that Frontier Developments acquired software and IT consultancy Professional Practice Automation on Tuesday in a deal worth £5.09m, a deal which, besides the other assets of the company, also includes the rights to the Elite franchise, as Frontier is currently developing Elite Dangerous, a crowd-funded new installment in the space combat series. They also report that Frontier founder David Braben now plans to sell up to 1.6m shares in Frontier Developments, which they say represents a little over five percent of the company. Besides holding the Elite rights, Develop says PPA develops software "currently in use on thousands of seats across accountancy practices in the UK."
View : : :
31 Replies. 2 pages. Viewing page 1.
Newer [  1  2  ] Older
31.
 
Re: Frontier Gains Elite Rights; Braben to Sell Frontier Stock
Apr 21, 2014, 12:40
31.
Re: Frontier Gains Elite Rights; Braben to Sell Frontier Stock Apr 21, 2014, 12:40
Apr 21, 2014, 12:40
 
InBlack wrote on Apr 18, 2014, 06:04:
I thought Elite: Dangerous was primarily a single-player game with traditional multiplayer?
Yes that is how it is as far as I know
Steam: SpectralMeat
Avatar 14225
30.
 
Re: Frontier Gains Elite Rights; Braben to Sell Frontier Stock
Apr 19, 2014, 04:22
30.
Re: Frontier Gains Elite Rights; Braben to Sell Frontier Stock Apr 19, 2014, 04:22
Apr 19, 2014, 04:22
 
InBlack wrote on Apr 18, 2014, 06:04:
Tom wrote on Apr 17, 2014, 16:57:

I thought Elite: Dangerous was primarily a single-player game with traditional multiplayer? Am I wrong about this, have they gone down the MMO route? (Please say no, please say no, please say no)

It's primarily single player but they have a neat multiplayer system.
You can choose to play the game completely alone just like previous Elite games disconnected from the internet. choose to play alone In a shared universe. The advantage of the shared universe is that events will be generated based on the player community actions.
Or choose to play with other players in the shared universe.
They use a group system that allows players to tailor the multiplayer system to their likening. You can read the full details on this at the flowing URL
[url=]http://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6300[/url]
.
29.
 
Re: Frontier Gains Elite Rights; Braben to Sell Frontier Stock
Apr 18, 2014, 06:04
29.
Re: Frontier Gains Elite Rights; Braben to Sell Frontier Stock Apr 18, 2014, 06:04
Apr 18, 2014, 06:04
 
Tom wrote on Apr 17, 2014, 16:57:
After recent events I could no longer refrain from trying the alpha to see for myself. Make no mistake. Elite: Dangerous is the real deal. This is the first worthwhile space combat sim in decades. It's still only an alpha and there are a bunch of rough edges. But, looking at what they've accomplished so far and the design decisions they've made, I can tell they have the capability to execute. This capability is something that must extend from top to bottom in order to produce a result like this. It's there and it's real.

They may need some help on the netcode/back-end. That's probably the biggest potential trouble spot I see.

It's going to be very interesting to see how things play out between this and Star Citizen. I certainly didn't expect this a year ago. Now, perhaps in another year the tables will have been turned again. Wow! To have such exciting times, after decades of just nothing.. it's amazing.

I thought Elite: Dangerous was primarily a single-player game with traditional multiplayer? Am I wrong about this, have they gone down the MMO route? (Please say no, please say no, please say no)
I have a nifty blue line!
Avatar 46994
28.
 
Re: Frontier Gains Elite Rights; Braben to Sell Frontier Stock
Apr 18, 2014, 04:52
Sho
 
28.
Re: Frontier Gains Elite Rights; Braben to Sell Frontier Stock Apr 18, 2014, 04:52
Apr 18, 2014, 04:52
 Sho
 
Stormsinger wrote on Apr 17, 2014, 21:35:
Fixed that for you.

Which again is fine by me - I don't mind good people getting paid well. And with crowdfunding I get to make a decision about it. Works for me.
27.
 
Re: Frontier Gains Elite Rights; Braben to Sell Frontier Stock
Apr 17, 2014, 21:35
27.
Re: Frontier Gains Elite Rights; Braben to Sell Frontier Stock Apr 17, 2014, 21:35
Apr 17, 2014, 21:35
 
Sho wrote on Apr 17, 2014, 20:27:
... From a business perspective you want your projects to be financially sound independent of context, and spread the risk instead of having to spend/gamble your own last penny every time. privatize the profits while making sure any losses accrue to other people's pocketbooks.
Fixed that for you.
26.
 
Re: Frontier Gains Elite Rights; Braben to Sell Frontier Stock
Apr 17, 2014, 20:38
26.
Re: Frontier Gains Elite Rights; Braben to Sell Frontier Stock Apr 17, 2014, 20:38
Apr 17, 2014, 20:38
 
Orogogus wrote on Apr 17, 2014, 12:57:
djinn wrote on Apr 17, 2014, 10:48:
Cutter wrote on Apr 17, 2014, 09:42:
The name doesn't have that much cache.

http://www.tubechop.com/watch/2558713

The word is "cachet."

I thought it was caché. Then again, it's French so who cares?
25.
 
Re: Frontier Gains Elite Rights; Braben to Sell Frontier Stock
Apr 17, 2014, 20:27
Sho
 
25.
Re: Frontier Gains Elite Rights; Braben to Sell Frontier Stock Apr 17, 2014, 20:27
Apr 17, 2014, 20:27
 Sho
 
Zyrxil wrote on Apr 17, 2014, 18:44:
I don't think you understand how the world works. The people/companies doing Kickstarters are not broke hobos with 0 assets and an idea. They are people with jobs, and (hopefully) plenty of development experience. The broke hobos with an idea and nothing else are exactly the people you shouldn't be funding. Frontier Developments has 210 employees and plenty of published games on their resume. While not a huge AAA studio, it's safe to say they have some cash. They did the Kickstarter because they can't risk their survival by completely self funding a $1.5 million+ project with no guarantee of a return. People who live in nice homes and have employees depending on them not to fuck the company up don't do business that way.

This. I get really annoyed every time "but they have money, why did they go to Kickstarter?!" comes up in a thread. Kickstarter isn't (just) for beggers. From a business perspective you want your projects to be financially sound independent of context, and spread the risk instead of having to spend/gamble your own last penny every time. I don't want creators to have to live like that anyway. And as a frequent backer, as long as campaigns are upfront about how they intend to use the money so I can make an informed decision, I have no qualms about investing independently of what else they have going on financially if I like the pitch.
24.
 
Re: Frontier Gains Elite Rights; Braben to Sell Frontier Stock
Apr 17, 2014, 18:44
24.
Re: Frontier Gains Elite Rights; Braben to Sell Frontier Stock Apr 17, 2014, 18:44
Apr 17, 2014, 18:44
 
Cutter wrote on Apr 17, 2014, 17:13:
Bard wrote on Apr 17, 2014, 17:00:
hmm.. seems to be that crowdfunders think they are paying for development of the thing they give money for (ie a product), only for increasing portions of the money to be used for all sorts of extra stuff like posh offices and non developmental related things.


But that's the thing. The KS only raised 1.5M pounds so where is this all coming from?

I don't think you understand how the world works. The people/companies doing Kickstarters are not broke hobos with 0 assets and an idea. They are people with jobs, and (hopefully) plenty of development experience. The broke hobos with an idea and nothing else are exactly the people you shouldn't be funding. Frontier Developments has 210 employees and plenty of published games on their resume. While not a huge AAA studio, it's safe to say they have some cash. They did the Kickstarter because they can't risk their survival by completely self funding a $1.5 million+ project with no guarantee of a return. People who live in nice homes and have employees depending on them not to fuck the company up don't do business that way.
23.
 
Re: Frontier Gains Elite Rights; Braben to Sell Frontier Stock
Apr 17, 2014, 17:13
23.
Re: Frontier Gains Elite Rights; Braben to Sell Frontier Stock Apr 17, 2014, 17:13
Apr 17, 2014, 17:13
 
nin wrote on Apr 17, 2014, 16:07:
Cutter wrote on Apr 17, 2014, 15:31:
Yeah, yeah, I know. It was a typo. I had just woke up. IRregardless - while known to older players it doesn't mean anything to most younger gamers. Otherwise it's a rather large waste of money unless whatever those other assets are are pretty sweet.


3...2...1...

Hah you see what I did there.
"The horse I bet on was so slow, the jockey kept a diary of the trip." - Henny Youngman
22.
 
Re: Frontier Gains Elite Rights; Braben to Sell Frontier Stock
Apr 17, 2014, 17:13
22.
Re: Frontier Gains Elite Rights; Braben to Sell Frontier Stock Apr 17, 2014, 17:13
Apr 17, 2014, 17:13
 
Bard wrote on Apr 17, 2014, 17:00:
hmm.. seems to be that crowdfunders think they are paying for development of the thing they give money for (ie a product), only for increasing portions of the money to be used for all sorts of extra stuff like posh offices and non developmental related things.


But that's the thing. The KS only raised 1.5M pounds so where is this all coming from?
"The horse I bet on was so slow, the jockey kept a diary of the trip." - Henny Youngman
21.
 
Re: Frontier Gains Elite Rights; Braben to Sell Frontier Stock
Apr 17, 2014, 17:00
21.
Re: Frontier Gains Elite Rights; Braben to Sell Frontier Stock Apr 17, 2014, 17:00
Apr 17, 2014, 17:00
 
hmm.. seems to be that crowdfunders think they are paying for development of the thing they give money for (ie a product), only for increasing portions of the money to be used for all sorts of extra stuff like posh offices and non developmental related things.

20.
 
Re: Frontier Gains Elite Rights; Braben to Sell Frontier Stock
Apr 17, 2014, 16:57
Tom
20.
Re: Frontier Gains Elite Rights; Braben to Sell Frontier Stock Apr 17, 2014, 16:57
Apr 17, 2014, 16:57
Tom
 
After recent events I could no longer refrain from trying the alpha to see for myself. Make no mistake. Elite: Dangerous is the real deal. This is the first worthwhile space combat sim in decades. It's still only an alpha and there are a bunch of rough edges. But, looking at what they've accomplished so far and the design decisions they've made, I can tell they have the capability to execute. This capability is something that must extend from top to bottom in order to produce a result like this. It's there and it's real.

They may need some help on the netcode/back-end. That's probably the biggest potential trouble spot I see.

It's going to be very interesting to see how things play out between this and Star Citizen. I certainly didn't expect this a year ago. Now, perhaps in another year the tables will have been turned again. Wow! To have such exciting times, after decades of just nothing.. it's amazing.
19.
 
Re: Frontier Gains Elite Rights; Braben to Sell Frontier Stock
Apr 17, 2014, 16:07
nin
19.
Re: Frontier Gains Elite Rights; Braben to Sell Frontier Stock Apr 17, 2014, 16:07
Apr 17, 2014, 16:07
nin
 
Cutter wrote on Apr 17, 2014, 15:31:
Yeah, yeah, I know. It was a typo. I had just woke up. IRregardless - while known to older players it doesn't mean anything to most younger gamers. Otherwise it's a rather large waste of money unless whatever those other assets are are pretty sweet.


3...2...1...
18.
 
Re: Frontier Gains Elite Rights; Braben to Sell Frontier Stock
Apr 17, 2014, 16:04
18.
Re: Frontier Gains Elite Rights; Braben to Sell Frontier Stock Apr 17, 2014, 16:04
Apr 17, 2014, 16:04
 
Does this mean we're getting wireframe graphics back? Cause you know nothing rocks like wireframe!
17.
 
Re: Frontier Gains Elite Rights; Braben to Sell Frontier Stock
Apr 17, 2014, 15:31
17.
Re: Frontier Gains Elite Rights; Braben to Sell Frontier Stock Apr 17, 2014, 15:31
Apr 17, 2014, 15:31
 
Orogogus wrote on Apr 17, 2014, 12:57:
djinn wrote on Apr 17, 2014, 10:48:
Cutter wrote on Apr 17, 2014, 09:42:
The name doesn't have that much cache.

http://www.tubechop.com/watch/2558713

The word is "cachet."

Yeah, yeah, I know. It was a typo. I had just woke up. IRregardless - while known to older players it doesn't mean anything to most younger gamers. Otherwise it's a rather large waste of money unless whatever those other assets are are pretty sweet.
"The horse I bet on was so slow, the jockey kept a diary of the trip." - Henny Youngman
16.
 
Re: Frontier Gains Elite Rights; Braben to Sell Frontier Stock
Apr 17, 2014, 13:38
16.
Re: Frontier Gains Elite Rights; Braben to Sell Frontier Stock Apr 17, 2014, 13:38
Apr 17, 2014, 13:38
 
CJ_Parker wrote on Apr 17, 2014, 13:32:
It's funny how he is almost the exact opposite of Chris "Showboat" Roberts who went from a pale, chubby, grizzled nerd in a jumpsuit at the start of the KS to a change-jingling nouveaux riche yuppie in a suit with dyed hair as the millions kept rolling in.
Braben on the other hand has managed to stay grounded with his humble British understatement where actions seem to be much more important than words to him.

+1
Steam: SpectralMeat
Avatar 14225
15.
 
Re: Frontier Gains Elite Rights; Braben to Sell Frontier Stock
Apr 17, 2014, 13:32
15.
Re: Frontier Gains Elite Rights; Braben to Sell Frontier Stock Apr 17, 2014, 13:32
Apr 17, 2014, 13:32
 
loomy wrote on Apr 17, 2014, 11:47:
Either way, hostile takeover. David Braben does seem cut throat and spiteful to me. He got his wish thanks to the backers. And his good work!

Where are you getting that impression from? Throughout the entire KS campaign of ED and the development process so far, Braben has come across as one of the most likable leading figures in video gaming history to me.
He is very smart, knows exactly what he is talking about, humble, down to earth and able to communicate his goals and vision very clearly.
It's funny how he is almost the exact opposite of Chris "Showboat" Roberts who went from a pale, chubby, grizzled nerd in a jumpsuit at the start of the KS to a change-jingling nouveaux riche yuppie in a suit with dyed hair as the millions kept rolling in.
Braben on the other hand has managed to stay grounded with his humble British understatement where actions seem to be much more important than words to him.

I hope that both games will be very successful to bring the space sim genre back to life but on a sympathy scale Braben ranks so much higher than Roberts it's not even funny. Just watch the progress diaries some time (ED YT channel) and I'm sure you'll agree in no time that Braben is a cool dude.
14.
 
Re: Frontier Gains Elite Rights; Braben to Sell Frontier Stock
Apr 17, 2014, 13:26
14.
Re: Frontier Gains Elite Rights; Braben to Sell Frontier Stock Apr 17, 2014, 13:26
Apr 17, 2014, 13:26
 
Wildone wrote on Apr 17, 2014, 12:49:
ED FTW..
I am sure SC won't disappoint either but we will have to wait a lot longer for that game to be ready with all the bells and whistles those guys wants to have in that game.

I just got the Elite newsletter, in case anyone interested, some interesting stuff.
http://eepurl.com/SMRlH
Steam: SpectralMeat
Avatar 14225
13.
 
Re: Frontier Gains Elite Rights; Braben to Sell Frontier Stock
Apr 17, 2014, 12:57
13.
Re: Frontier Gains Elite Rights; Braben to Sell Frontier Stock Apr 17, 2014, 12:57
Apr 17, 2014, 12:57
 
djinn wrote on Apr 17, 2014, 10:48:
Cutter wrote on Apr 17, 2014, 09:42:
The name doesn't have that much cache.

http://www.tubechop.com/watch/2558713

The word is "cachet."
12.
 
Re: Frontier Gains Elite Rights; Braben to Sell Frontier Stock
Apr 17, 2014, 12:55
12.
Re: Frontier Gains Elite Rights; Braben to Sell Frontier Stock Apr 17, 2014, 12:55
Apr 17, 2014, 12:55
 
The Half Elf wrote on Apr 17, 2014, 12:50:
Ok I have a question: 1.6 million shares at 260 bucks a stock...(roughly the market value of the stock) is roughly 390 million right? Am I missing something or could he have payed for the development right out of his own pocket?

Again if I'm missing something please let me know.

The article says 250 pence per share, which is a lot less than $260. I think Google says it's about $4.20.
31 Replies. 2 pages. Viewing page 1.
Newer [  1  2  ] Older