Yea, that's right, Mytheon. You know, the game that just had a VERY unsuccessful open beta only a few weeks ago. A game that most might not know was originally slated to go Gold mid-November of 2009. If you read recent case filing from True Games, it might be a game that we will never see the light of our computer screens.

Some of the topics brought up in the case are as follows:

• The GM at Petroglyph sending an email to amend their original agreement to a later date to give more time. This includes sending the new agreement to the CEO of TGI with his signature already on the agreement. When the CEO questioned how his signature appeared on the document, the only answer given was "voodoo."
• When justifying why Petroglyph needed more money, the GM stated that "The original agreement was not for an MMORTS." But when looking at said agreement the game was classified as "a real time strategy massively multiplayer on-line computer based game."
• Petroglyph stating at the beginning that they are willing to work in the negative because they see the Joint Venture paying off in the back end. (via email)
• Following the above by begging for money or their employees will not be paid and result in delays of up to five months.
• When TGI offered meetings to try and get things under control, Petroglyph only sent junior level people who did not fully understand what was going on. Senior level management was never involved.
• The fact that when questioned about the Open Beta, Petroglyph would not answer TGI's inquiry.
• And oh so many more fun antics

If you don't believe me, check out the case file. I wish I could make this up. I'd make millions.

My Take: [As Stolen from Binh]

This honestly does not surprise me. While I do know some of the people that work on the programming there, I wouldn't blame them for these issues. I know they have produced great stuff in the past. I mean this is the company that splintered from Westwood, makers of Command And Conquer . With the shady practices I have personally endured and seen from their management, I can see that when TGI pointed the finger at one of the two possible reasons for these issues - Programmers or Managers - they tended to go the management route.

I have been in the offices, located in Las Vegas with me, for interviews for a myriad of positions. Never landing a job there, I always seem to know the people that were selected over me. Most of the candidates have less experience and schooling than I do, but they have boobs. Those that had the experience and schooling equal or greater than myself have also moved on to bigger and better. Almost like they knew something not right with the higher ups. I use this only as an example that I have personally seen to lend to what TGI is bring up here.

In the end it sounds like there are a lot of people who are jeopardy of loosing their jobs or salaries, but honestly the people that are there who are worth a lick will easily find new employment in the same field. Hopefully for companies that don't have shady voodoo practices.

Let's see if Petroglyph can recover from this hit. Though, it doesn't sound likely if the reports are correct. Sounds like they were already living from paycheck to paycheck trying to pay its employees. What happened to all the money made from Universe At War? Or should I ask the Vegas Strip how often the executives of Petroglyph frequent downtown?

At least there is still Red Dust Studios, Top Ware, Garage Games and Jet Set Games here in town. At least as any kind of large studio goes.