Tentacle is no more

Neox · Aug 2008

http://ir.10tacle.de/cgi-bin/show.ssp?id=403&companyName=tacle&newsID=418303&language=German

the text basicly sais, that tentacle is broke

does this hit anyone of you guys? remember renaud beeing at tentacle belgium?

Michael Knubben · Aug 2008

yeah, Renaud works at 10tacle Belgium, that's too bad

The game they were working on --Totems-- looked pretty cool, as well. I hope this is just the German 'main' 10tacle, and that the Belgian one can just get a different name and continue.
Renaud, any inside information for us?

edit: If they are going down, it's a real shame. As a kid, my dream was to work at Appeal, creators of Outcast

A lot of the guys (including the lead, I think?) at 10tacle Belgium came from Appeal, so this is the second studio they're involved with that's going down, if that's really the case. And quite undeservedly so, I should say! Outcast was an excellent game, and Totems was looking pretty cool, from the limited amount of stuff they've showed so far.

Neox · Aug 2008

i just heard about a couple of tentacle guys applying everywhere in europe, so i guess it hurts all of em

Snowfly · Aug 2008

10tacle Asia closed down not too far back. A bunch of them jumped ship to my current studio including their 3D lead.

Renaud Galand · Aug 2008

yeah I can confirm the closing... Thx for the support guys, btw

I'm "slowly" applying for something else, but after 2 years and half of "wasted" time on a game that will never see the light, you need a small break

Don't get me wrong, I learnt A LOT and I met great people (and actually friends) with all the great talents who was there (be sure to double check is someones from 10tacle .be is applying in your company

), but yeah, it always makes a pinch to your heart when this kind of stuff happens

The reasons of the closing are known : Financial crisis

here's a link with the whole story :

http://www.planet-totems.net/ (2nd news)

firestarter · Aug 2008

Sorry to hear it Renaud, you will land on your feet doubtless!

Farfarer · Aug 2008

Damn, that's sad to hear.

I was looking forward to Totems.

Peris · Aug 2008

wow sad news, i was really curious for totems as well. I thought we were finally getting a proper gamedev in belgium

Michael Knubben · Aug 2008

Yeah, what's left now in Belgium? Fuck all, as far as I'm aware. One who seems to be making an Oblivion clone they'll call Oblivious Oblivion, in all likelihood, and err.. what else?

edit: Actually, some screenshots were released of larian's new project yesterday, as it happens, and it's not looking too bad. Looks less like an Oblivion ripoff now, and given the high scores their previous games got, this might actually be a decent rpg. Let's hope so, eh?
http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=192049

rollin · Aug 2008

i want totems too...

no surprise but notheless bad to hear

Tumerboy · Aug 2008

sorry man, that blows. Good luck out there, you'll get snatched up quick I'm sure.

spacemonkey · Aug 2008

Its always sad to hear abotu studios going under, of course if anyone wants pointing in the direction of work we are currently recruiting for a range of positions.

http://www.splashdamage.com/jobs

Mark Dygert · Aug 2008

Sad news =/
I'm sure someone with your talent won't have trouble finding work.
But there's the hassle of moving, yuck...

Husch · Aug 2008

I am still working for 10tacle Mobile GmbH in Duisburg, Germany. Well, working means I am sitting at home and waiting for some news. Still have to get 3 months of my salary. Looks bad in the moment.

Em. · Aug 2008

That sucks guys, I've been there before. Best of luck.

katzeimsack · Aug 2008

Husch, you will get your money from germany if 10tacle can't pay...

had the same thing a year ago
You just have to go to the arbeitsamt and sign some letters

thomasp · Aug 2008

husch, wtf. i hope you stopped turning up for work there as soon as the paychecks didn't come through anymore. getting the money reimbursed from the arbeitsamt might take a while unless the process has been sped up in the last couple of years.

vahl · Aug 2008

I know a fair amount of people that were working at 10tacle belgium, all good friends, I feel really sorry for them, they worked really hard on Totems, all I hope is that at least Urban Race will be released.

Husch · Aug 2008

Unfortunately in the moment I am not allowed to quit my job by myself without risking to get 3 months of money ban from my employment agency. I send my boss just one request for payment, but the employment agency wants you to send at least 2 requests before you are allowed quit your job by yourself. The problem is that I can´t find someone responsible at my office who will sign my request. So, I will not get any help before my studio announce insolvency.

katzeimsack · Aug 2008

if you haven't signed a letter that you agree to not getting payed the last months,but get the money later, your company already is insolvent...

because it can't pay it's bills --> you salary...

thomasp · Aug 2008

dude, don't let them screw with your life and your wallet. consult a lawyer about your situation and don't try to sit it out.

Emil Mujanovic · Aug 2008

That's a shame to hear any studio closing down, especially one like 10tacle. I hope all the guys get back on their feet quickly.

-caseyjones

_Shimmer · Aug 2008

I feel really sorry for you guys. Closing is a bit shitty but also brings the benefit of leaping further than one might expect.

I saw Totems last year, it was one of the most beautifulest games I saw to date. The amount of work put in any asset was really mind blowing. So much nice handcrafted assets and nice ideas... its a shame that this ip might be lost.

Renaud, Husch good luck finding a new job. hopefully you can enjoy some freetime without bitterness.

CheeseOnToast · Aug 2008

Sometimes the money thing isn't as straightforward as no pay=no work. If the company has always maintained good working conditions and honest management, there's often a lot of goodwill and willingness to go above and beyond in the hope you can keep it going.

On the other hand, if management are a bunch of lying, cynical wankers then fuck 'em.

Renaud Galand · Aug 2008

hey guys. Sorry to bump this thread, but it seems that a "making of" video of Totems(c) has been dropped on the web. So I thought that it would be nice to share it !

You'll see a few samples of the work we did for the game.

http://www.factornews.com/factorvideoplayer.swf?flVideo=videos/elsewhere_team.flv&width=480&height=270

And without any auto promotion here's a little part of the models I personally made and that you can see in the video

- The Old Bird Statue
- The Big Insect "Tank"
- The Tiger
- The Old "Turtle" Man
- The girl's bust you can see just after the old guy.
- The ratman (that you may already saw)

I'll ask if I can post some better screenshots in the Pimping and Previews section when I have time.

I really enjoyed working on this project, and I hope you'll see the potential that this game had.

Pedro Amorim · Aug 2008

wow renaud! really cool work! seemed like a awesome project, too bad its no more

Kraftwerk · Aug 2008

Man Totems was one of the games i was totally wishing for, really sucks it got canceled
same sad fate Cuter Slate faced.... its sucks no one gonna safe this awesome project it
seems. *sigh*

Michael Knubben · Aug 2008

Any plans going around to start a new studio? Belgium could use the talent, and I'd like to see this team stick together. It's also been far too long since we had something from those designers (main guy was Yves Grolet on this as well, right?), so they have to be pretty bummed about being shut down again.

Parnell · Aug 2008

Wow that really sucks guys.
Best of luck looking for work...from what I saw of Totems I think you guys will be working in no time.
B

Holi · Aug 2008

Hello Renaud, this is a really bad news..
Even becose I will get a period at 10tacle on my 3rd HEAJ year

good luck for the future!

btw, Totem look really cool.. I hope you will find some mony for urban race anyway

Tentacle is no more

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