Report: Alliance video game developer folds

Stargate SG-1: The Alliance, the long-awaited video game based on the hit sci-fi franchise, may be breathing its final breaths. Australian developer Perception PTY Ltd. layed off its staff and closed its doors Friday due to the lack of an approved publisher for the game, according to a report at Online Gamer.

The decision came when the last of the company’s money ran out, according to the report allegedly from a former employee, because licensor MGM would not approve a new publisher for the title. Neither Perception nor MGM have yet to make any official comment on the situation.

“For the last couple of months, we have had several good offers from interested publishers,” the anonymous report reads. “They only needed one thing — MGM’s approval. Since MGM are the owners of the Stargate license, everything needs to be approved by them, even new publisher contracts. So, when we approached MGM about these contracts, MGM basically sat on their hands and did nothing. They didn’t flat out say no, but they didn’t say yes either.”

“In the end it was pretty obvious MGM wanted the project canned for some reason that eludes everyone except them,” the source continues, “but they didn’t want to be the ones to do it. So, they just sat on their hands and did nothing for several months, to the point where Perception could not afford to keep working on the game knowing that they didn’t have MGM’s approval, and will probably never get it.”

The news was confirmed by the administrator of the game’s official discussion forum, also citing anonymous sources within Perception.

The title was expected to be released for the PS2, Xbox, and PC last fall, but its status was put in jeopardy in August when Perception and video game publisher JoWooD Productions Software AG severed ties with one another, with the publisher accusing the developer of not creating a game of sufficient quality to meet fan expectations (story). Perception pressed on, intent on winning the legal struggle over the rights to the game and securing a new publisher.

The Alliance featured the voices and likenesses of the SG-1 cast and key guest stars, with participation by the production studio and direction by Stargate‘s Peter DeLuise. The game reportedly reached an “Alpha” stage of completion late in 2005, and was sent on to MGM for approval.

Whether or not The Alliance will still find a publisher and see the light of day remains to be seen — and, as the owner of the franchise, remains squarely on MGM’s shoulders. An official statement from Perception and/or MGM is expected in the days ahead.

(Thanks to nathanaus, Ping, Omnian, peng, Doublecut, Chris, Kees, Chris M, Samuels, Whistler, and thor_ for the tip)