Blade Runner game would have ruined Gearbox Software, says CEO

Being a Blade Runner fan is frustrating. Since its theatrical release in 1982, the cult sci-fi film has been used ad nauseum as a reference point to describe virtually any game that deals in dystopic futuristic subject matter, yet apart from Westwood Studios' point-and-click adventure game back in 1997, Deckard wannabes have not had an authentic Blade Runner title to speak of in ages. The kicker? Gearbox studios recentlyreminded The Official PlayStation Magazine it once owned the development rights for a Blade Runner IP, but ditched the opportunity out of fear the the property wouldn't sell.

In his chat with OPM regarding Aliens: Colonial Marines, Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford admitted the studiopassed on the chance tocollaborate with Ridley Scott on a Blade Runner video game, explaining, "That game would've cost like $40m to make and sold about 600,000 units - and that would have been the end of us...There's no rational business model that would have allowed that to make sense. If we'd made it with a business model that did work, it would not have been the Blade Runner game we all would have wanted."

This is the second time Pitchford has talked about Gearbox's flirtation with a Blade Runner game. In 2009, he toldThe Official Xbox Magazineit was a tempting proposition, but ultimately too much of a financial risk, noting, "You're going to spend 25 million, there's another 10-15 risk just in the publishing process, and then you got another 10-15 million marketing, and we didn't think that we could make that back. So that's too bad."

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It is too bad – especially when games like Prey 2, Deus Ex: Human Revolution, and Mass Effect 3 prove the Blade Runner spirit is alive and well, but just bagging skinjobs under a slew of different names.

Jul 1, 2011

[Source:CVG/ Official PlayStation Magazine]

E3 2011: Prey 2 preview – an open world, Blade Runner-meets-Mirror’s Edge sci-fi shooter. Sure, why not?
Seriously, this looks bananas. Can it possible live up to our expectations?

E3 2011: Aliens: Colonial Marines preview
Xenomorphs on parade

In his chat with OPM regarding Aliens: Colonial Marines, Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford admitted the studiopassed on the chance tocollaborate with Ridley Scott on a Blade Runner video game, explaining, "That game would've cost like $40m to make and sold about 600,000 units - and that would have been the end of us...There's no rational business model that would have allowed that to make sense. If we'd made it with a business model that did work, it would not have been the Blade Runner game we all would have wanted."

This is the second time Pitchford has talked about Gearbox's flirtation with a Blade Runner game. In 2009, he toldThe Official Xbox Magazineit was a tempting proposition, but ultimately too much of a financial risk, noting, "You're going to spend 25 million, there's another 10-15 risk just in the publishing process, and then you got another 10-15 million marketing, and we didn't think that we could make that back. So that's too bad."

It is too bad – especially when games like Prey 2, Deus Ex: Human Revolution, and Mass Effect 3 prove the Blade Runner spirit is alive and well, but just bagging skinjobs under a slew of different names.

Jul 1, 2011

[Source:CVG/ Official PlayStation Magazine]

E3 2011: Prey 2 preview – an open world, Blade Runner-meets-Mirror’s Edge sci-fi shooter. Sure, why not?
Seriously, this looks bananas. Can it possible live up to our expectations?

E3 2011: Aliens: Colonial Marines preview
Xenomorphs on parade