Homeworld acquisition 'meant something' to Gearbox CCO

Gearbox chief creative officer Brian Martel says he pushed for the company to bid on Homeworld.

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Video games are a big business, but many people in creative positions are still fans. Gearbox COO Brian Martel pushed for his company to purchase the Homeworld IP because "this is one of those games that for me sort of moved me as brand."

Martel told the audience of the Gearbox panel at PAX Australia, as reported by Polygon, that he was "impressed with the story and it had some of the best spaceships that I have ever seen, outside of Star Wars. It was that part of it that meant something to me, so I really thought that we should get it out there for the rest of the world. And a lot of folks haven't had a chance to play it, it has only been on DVD or CD, it has not ever been released digitally."

CEO Randy Pitchford says Brian reminded him to follow up with the bidding every day. Gearbox then had to put up the money in an escrow account to show it could handle the cost, culminating in a live action on the phone with the three remaining bidders. The other two were both publishers, Aspyr Media and Paradox Interactive. Gearbox's $1.3 million bid beat Aspyr by a mere $50,000. Pitchford mentioned this was "less than our CFO is comfortable with, which is always a good sign."

Martel said now that they have the assets, his plan for the remakes is to give it a "fresh coat of paint," including upgrading the ships. His goal, ultimately, is to help people "love it the same way as I have."

Editor-In-Chief
From The Chatty
  • reply
    July 24, 2013 10:30 AM

    Steve Watts posted a new article, Homeworld acquisition 'meant something' to Gearbox CCO.

    Gearbox chief creative officer Brian Martel says he pushed for the company to bid on Homeworld.

    • reply
      July 24, 2013 10:40 AM

      Didn't they say the same about Aliens showing all kinds of deference to the series and then promptly shat all over it?

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        July 24, 2013 10:59 AM

        And DNF. And whatever else they acquired.

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          July 24, 2013 1:09 PM

          It means more money and less effort Mr C.

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          July 24, 2013 2:32 PM

          I don't enjoy Gearbox games, but they're not responsible for DNF. 3DRealms bears full responsibility for that travesty of travesties.

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            July 24, 2013 3:42 PM

            Randy Pitchford sure seems intent on telling us what a great game it was and how proud they were to be associated with it.

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        July 24, 2013 12:30 PM

        yuuuup. It's all marketing. They know the majority of the people buying their games are idiots and have a short memory.

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        July 24, 2013 2:19 PM

        Yes but atleast the space ships in Homeworld move as slowly as the Aliens in Colonial Marines

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        July 24, 2013 3:52 PM

        But Aliens was brilliant!!!

        ..

        in the promo material.

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      July 24, 2013 10:41 AM

      ugh

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      July 24, 2013 10:46 AM

      I'm still hopeful for this, and I give Gearbox more credit than some because I love Borderlands 1 and 2 so much. But they better do this one right... or they are on their 3rd strike and people will grab the torches and pitchforks.

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      July 24, 2013 10:53 AM

      They can't fuck up the HD remake. All they're going to do is update the textures, etc. Stop ugh'ing.

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        July 24, 2013 12:46 PM

        [deleted]

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        July 24, 2013 12:47 PM

        lol

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        July 24, 2013 12:51 PM

        /insert Steve drops server gif

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        July 25, 2013 1:23 AM

        Yup, this. The negativity here astounds me. Even in a worst case scenario where they magically fuck up what is nothing more than a graphical face-lift, they're also going to make the original, untouched version available via digital distribution, something many people have been waiting years for. This is nothing but good news.

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        July 25, 2013 3:22 AM

        [deleted]

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      July 24, 2013 10:58 AM

      I'm sure DNF's acquisition meant something too.

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        July 24, 2013 11:06 AM

        That was Take Twos fault, not necessarily Gearbox.

        But yeah, I wouldn't trust these guys with Homeworld or anything I give a shit about.

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        July 24, 2013 12:25 PM

        Gearbox gets shit for that game, but really they just helped wrap it up and get it out the door. The game was a mess in many ways but I'm still glad it was at least released to give that whole era some closure. I think for DNF Gearbox actually gets some credit because many tried, but they actually managed to get it out the door.

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      July 24, 2013 11:13 AM

      [deleted]

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      July 24, 2013 11:15 AM

      Just waiting to see the damage report when this falls out like a sloppy wet turd hitting the floor. I'm sure this cant be harmed too much but I could be wrong. Anyways looking forward to it.

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      July 24, 2013 11:22 AM

      [deleted]

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      July 24, 2013 11:23 AM

      [deleted]

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      July 24, 2013 11:29 AM

      They cant mess up Homeworld if all they will do is fresh coat of paint. I'll get it (again) day one.

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      July 24, 2013 11:30 AM

      I think the guy in the Angry Joe review of A:CM said it best when he said, "BUUUUUUUUUULLLLSHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT!"

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      July 24, 2013 11:38 AM

      Gearbox. Fool me once. Shame on you. Fool me again, and well, fuck you.

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      July 24, 2013 11:44 AM

      [deleted]

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      July 24, 2013 12:53 PM

      /skeptic

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      July 24, 2013 12:57 PM

      Glad HomeWorld moved you just like Aliens did, and then you didn't even work on it and gave everyone one crap. Can't wait to see the interviews with Randy going on a lie fest about how this game changed his life or some crap like that. Also can't wait to see how much DLC they milk this game! GearBox is a joke....

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      July 24, 2013 1:07 PM

      So much hate. So much hate.

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      July 24, 2013 1:44 PM

      Please don't fuck this up please don't fuck this up please don't fuck this up...

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      July 24, 2013 1:58 PM

      Question is, would Aspyr have been any better?

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      July 24, 2013 2:22 PM

      I'll get Steam/GOG copies of the originals, but I have no hopes for the "HD REMODELED OMG SHIPS BASED ON DIFFERENT ART STYLES AND HAVE TITS AND THINGS," versions.

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      July 24, 2013 2:44 PM

      [deleted]

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        July 24, 2013 3:02 PM

        A hearty chuckle followed by a painful rolling of your eyes?

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      July 24, 2013 3:06 PM

      Keep on sellin it Gearbox. Still don't trust you...

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      July 24, 2013 3:16 PM

      [deleted]

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        July 24, 2013 4:08 PM

        haha yup

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          July 24, 2013 4:31 PM

          I don't have a problem with gearbox, but I only own BL 1 & 2. So I will love to own HW 1 & 2, hope they put them on steam

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      July 24, 2013 4:40 PM

      I'll hold my tongue because i'll get to own 1, 1.5 and 2 HD-ified. They deserve me holding my tongue for that, but other than that?

      fuck em.

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      July 24, 2013 5:17 PM

      [deleted]

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      July 25, 2013 1:17 AM

      Wow. That's a shame.

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        July 25, 2013 1:24 AM

        Oh, but hey! This might mean SEGA will soon own Homeworld!

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      July 25, 2013 2:30 AM

      Here is hoping for the best. They really don't have to make too many changes to this game, mostly visually.

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