February 14, 1999 - Issue 14

Psygnosis Reorganisation

SCEE make changes at Psygnosis in preparation for Wipeout - the third coming...

Psygnosis' parent company, Sony Computer Entertainment, have announced a reorganisation of the Liverpool softco's game development and publishing units. Psygnosis have been struggling of late and staff have almost been halved in the last few months.

Psygnosis' UK development studios in Liverpool, Stroud, Camden and Leeds, together with their French studios in Paris, will now report to SCE Vice President of Software Development Juan Montes.

Chris Deering, President of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, said: "Psygnosis have been a pillar of Sony Computer Entertainment's success, producing critically acclaimed titles like Wipeout, Formula One and Destruction Derby. Historically, PlayStation titles have represented Psygnosis' most successful games. I am confident that the new structure, under the leadership of Juan Montes and John Bickley, will be strategically positioned to build on its earlier successes, to take maximum advantage of PlayStation resources and to forge a significant new role in the games industry."

It comes at a time when Psygnosis have confirmed that the eagerly anticipated third incarnation of Wipeout is in development. Psygnosis failed to capitalise on the lead their successful early PlayStation titles gave them, and games such as G-Police and Colony Wars, although of a high standard, didn't make an impression on the mass market. Clearly, SCEE will steer Psygnosis in a mainstream direction in the future.

First deliverable hiccup happened on FG13 (spooky!) and this was our Valentine's issue in which we started a development diary for the PC game Alien vs Predator. We were still running about 10-12 news stories per week.