robbalvey Posted November 9, 2005 Posted November 9, 2005 http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=1285 Chris Sawyer, the developer behind the highly successful PC sim series RollerCoaster Tycoon, is suing publisher Atari for nearly USD 5 million in alleged unpaid royalties. Sawyer claims that Atari acted in breach of contract by refusing to give auditors full access to accounts between 1999-2001. Following a desktop review and analysis carried out by his own auditors, Sawyer claims that Atari Interactive owes him USD 4.8 million in omitted and miscalculated payments. He is also attempting to claim reimbursement for interest lost and legal costs, and is petitioning for the right to carry out a full audit from January 1, 1999 to the present day. Last week the High Court ruled that the case must be tried in London - and not, as Atari had petitioned for, in New York. Marjacq Micro's Guy Herbert, who is acting as Sawyer's agent, commented: "Throughout this process Atari Interactive has sought to delay the claims. Royalty queries were simply ignored, forcing an audit; non-cooperation with the audit forced Chris to sue. Thankfully this ruling should put paid to that, and an end is in sight." "If Chris proves his claim that Atari Interactive has failed to account properly and substantially underpaid, it could have major ramifications for the industry as well as the company." A spokesperson for Atari declined to comment. Go Chris!!!
ParkTrips Posted November 9, 2005 Posted November 9, 2005 Damn, and I was thinking Sawyer was suing because they f***d up his game
SharkTums Posted November 9, 2005 Posted November 9, 2005 Good for him taking on a big publisher! I hope he gets what he deserves!
Homer Posted November 9, 2005 Posted November 9, 2005 I'm all for Chris here... he should be getting an assload of money because he created one of the biggest all time sellers for PC games (though trailing behind The Sims). Go Chris!
MSLSM Posted November 9, 2005 Posted November 9, 2005 Chris sould probably win. Atari did something they shouldn't have, and now they have to pay. Hopefully this is over soon, so they can send the expansion packs to MAC.
Musical Pete Posted November 9, 2005 Posted November 9, 2005 He's a nice guy, I spent a couple of days with him and his brother Martin (whom I occasionally speak to on MSN) on the RCCGB USA trip this year. I suppose that's big companies for you. Good luck to him I say. He's responsible for my interest in coasters afterall!
DRWP2005 Posted November 9, 2005 Posted November 9, 2005 So I guess this means Atari's going to be comming out with a few more expansion packs to cover the cost....But seriously though I hope he wins.
UberBeavis Posted November 9, 2005 Posted November 9, 2005 Way to go Chris! I don't think they've handled squashing bugs in RCT3 too well, either
cfc Posted November 9, 2005 Posted November 9, 2005 I wonder if Atari will use this excuse if they lose: "Sorry, Mr. Sawyer. We'd love to pay, but the 'bank refuses to lend us any more money.'" Haven't got past RCT2, myself.
Gregory DG Posted November 9, 2005 Posted November 9, 2005 Wow, that's a switch. Back in the old days, Atari would sue anyone that even thought about using one of their patents. Now it is the new InfoAtari getting sued.
Damien666 Posted November 9, 2005 Posted November 9, 2005 Go Chris! Man that's such a bummer. He created a very popular game and now he's not getting money for it?! I hope he wins this because Atari is doing something really stupid!
Gnome Posted November 10, 2005 Posted November 10, 2005 I know a lot of you are crapping yourselves over this, but what would this mean for the future of RCT? We might not be seeing any more expansions, or new better versions of the game.
AznShortBoi8021 Posted November 10, 2005 Posted November 10, 2005 I hope Chris wins. He deserves all the money he deserves. The RCT games are like the best business simulation games ever and the creator isn't getting any money from it. Thats messed up. BTW, doesn't anyone think this should belong in the Roller Coaster Video Games section?
zaneymon Posted November 10, 2005 Posted November 10, 2005 2,4.6.8 who do we apresheate Gooooooooooooo Chris
CoasterFanatic Posted November 10, 2005 Posted November 10, 2005 BTW, doesn't anyone think this should belong in the Roller Coaster Video Games section? Nope. I wouldn't get to read it then.
Mind Eraser Posted November 10, 2005 Posted November 10, 2005 Zaneymon wrote: 2,4.6.8 who do we apresheate Gooooooooooooo Chris Oh my god! Did you really just spell "appreciate" like that! LOL!! MADE. MY. NIGHT.
kenshinmac Posted November 10, 2005 Posted November 10, 2005 I hope Chris wins. He deserves all the money he deserves. The RCT games are like the best business simulation games ever and the creator isn't getting any money from it. Thats messed up.Ok just a point... Nowhere in the article does it say he wasn't paid anything... Beyond that it says he needed someone else to come in and figure out he is missing some $5million. Now personally I think he must be doing pretty damn well out of it if someone else had to come in to figure out he is missing $5 million from it... This is hardly the "little developer" vs the big evil corporation. Chris Sawyer has made a whole lot of money from RCT even RCT3. I'm not saying that Atari should for any reason not pay but you guys seem to be getting the wrong end of the stick big time...
Casper Posted November 11, 2005 Posted November 11, 2005 ^^ I read in another article about this that he has received $30 million in royalties.
zaneymon Posted November 11, 2005 Posted November 11, 2005 Zaneymon wrote: 2,4.6.8 who do we apresheate Gooooooooooooo Chris Oh my god! Did you really just spell "appreciate" like that! LOL!! MADE. MY. NIGHT. Im sorry i gat spell for sh**t
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