Even a big distributor may disappoint you

[John D.]

Just found this on Cauldron's (developers of Chaser, Spellcross, Battle Isle Andosia War,...) press site...I won't comment it, but feel free to do it


Even a big distributor may disappoint you.


Dear colleagues – developers,

This way we would like to turn your attraction to share our experience obtained through our contractor, co. Ubisoft. We are not very delighted to do this, but we find it as the only way how to draw attention to treating us, being a small company, from the position of a big distributor.

In a short cut, we are presenting here the sequence of events preceding our problems:
September 1999 – concluding a contract with the Blue Byte Co. on developing the game Battle Isle: The Andosia War.
November 2000 – delivering a Gold Master CD.
February 2001 – the Blue Byte Co. was bought by a well-known distributor – the Ubisoft Co., thus accepting the rights and obligations emanating out of the contract.

And now our problems begin. The contract clearly states quarterly terms of instant providing with information about the numbers of games sales and the consequent settling of accounts and reimbursing arising remunerations for a given period.

However, we received the first records of sales outcomes as late as in November the following year – one year after the release of the game!!!; despite numbers of demands and reminders, and after an endless searching for a person responsible for providing us with information on sales numbers. The following data received from the Ubisoft co. have always been confusing and intricated, as well. The Ubisoft Co., either on purpose or on the basis of its inaccurate book-keeping, is not able to keep contractually stated agreements: intelligible sales overview, deduction of relevant advances, computation of developer's remunerations. This situation persists until present. To be really exact, we have not received a single Euro so far.

That is the reason why we would like to warn all who work in the field of developing computer games and who thus make their livings, about these facts concerning co. Ubisoft:
- the company is not able to keep contractually agreed conditions, respectively it tends to adjust them to its own benefit
- it has not got clearly assigned competences in terms of its organizational structure and it is therefore not able or willing to solve the problems quickly and efficiently

Consequently, we are strongly recommending you not to underestimate stating of concrete proceedings and sanctions when violating previously agreed conditions at concluding contracts, so that you would be able to avoid retaining expensive legal services , at least in the very first stage of proceedings.

Cauldron Ltd.

[Ah.. the power of lead]

Burn UBI Burn I havent seen a good game from them yet, ok rainbow six.... but I haven't seen TWO good games from them yet

[hiv]

splinter cell
rayman 3

just last month

[olympusxp]

yea, they have the money to catch on some good developers. sounds like they are as crooked as worldcom.

[Big D.]

Those bastards...They almost make me ashamed to be a Montrealer.

[Ah.. the power of lead]

 

[Nxs]

Pssst! You're forgetting Rainbow Six

[kidcodea]

dont ever trust a company with no face and loads of fat.

[Dennis S.]