by Stacy Jones on May 29, 2012
38 Studios founder Curt Schilling has finally broken his silence about the downfall of the developer. In a recent interview with the Providence Journal, Schilling defended the studio and denied that he sought a government bailout. According to Schilling, Chafees devastating statements following the problems that arose earlier this month scared off potential investors. Schilling stated that within 72 hours of Chafees statement about trying to keep the studio "solvent", an investor pulled out of a $35 million publishing deal for a sequel to Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning. While it wasnt revealed who the publisher was, speculation can be pointed at EA, who published the first Kingdoms of Amalur title.
"The governor is not operating in the best interest of the company by any stretch, or the taxpayers, or the state," Schilling told the newspaper. "We're trying to save this company and we're working 24/7. The public commentary has been as big a piece of what's happening to us as anything out there."
Schillings also stated that he stands to lose $50 million of his own money and that the state economic-development officials broke financial promises to the studio by reneging on a deal to approve film tax credits that 38 Studios was legally entitled to. The studio also sought to defer the $1.12 million payment that sparked all of the controversy earlier this month to make its payroll. That obviously did not happen given that the payment was made earlier this month and 38 Studios was forced to lay off all of its employees last Thursday.
The fate of 38 Studios is still in the air, but efforts to find new investors and save the studio is still ongoing. Stay tuned and we'll update you when we have more.
via CVG
Sources: The Providence Journal, WPRI