Codies seeks Jumpgate delay damages
Will the sci-fi MMO ever be released?
Science fiction MMO fans wondering what's happening with the long in development Jumpgate Evolution were finally given an update today – but it's not good news.
Publisher Codemasters revealed in a post on its official forum that it has filed a civil complaint in San Francisco against developer NetDevil and parent company Gazillion for failing to deliver the game on time.
In documents published on the internet (spotted by Massively) the UK publisher alleges NetDevil failed to meet contractual guidelines that stipulated Jumpgate would launch by 24th February 2009.
Codemasters wants compensation for the $1.4 million it's spent on the game in the hope it would one day launch, but as an alternative it has offered its share of interest back to NetDevil and Gazillion in return for all the money it invested.
Eurogamer last saw Jumpgate Evolution in May 2009, when Jim Rossignol went hands-on. " Jumpgate will enter beta testing soon, and I suspect it's going to prove a popular attraction, particularly for those who don't want the complexity and imagination-roasting depth of EVE Online," he wrote.
Two months later Codemasters Online announced that Jumpgate Evolution had reached 250,000 beta sign-ups across Europe and North America.
The MMO was originally down for release in 2008 before moving to - and missing - a June 2009 date. Currently, the official Jumpgate Evolution website features a greyed out box which reads, "Pre-order coming soon". It is still possible to sign up for the beta test.
"On the advice of Codemasters' US attorneys, Codemasters has no further comment at this time," Codemasters said. The case continues.