Studio founder Jay Beard has emailed friends of the developer to let them know, ”with deep regret”, Bottlerocket is no longer in operation. They choose to ”close and move on.”
Troubles began for the team when Namco Bandai pulled Splatterhouse from them, citing unmet milestones. A deal with Brash looked to set them straight but they went bust.
”It is with deep regret that I have to inform you of the closure of BottleRocket,” wrote Beard, reports GamesIndustry.biz. ”After fighting to keep the doors open for the past six months we have decided to close and move on.”
BottleRocket blamed Namco for mismanagement, and they weren’t having difficulty meeting the project milestones for Splatterhouse. Several developers left the studio then to continue work on the game, taken over by Namco Bandai itself.
”BottleRocket was in business for seven years and I feel that we developed a sound reputation for quality and creativity. I was once told that we ‘zigged while others zagged,’ and I like to think that we shall be remembered this way,” he continued.
”We had the opportunity to meet and work with many talented and passionate individuals along the way, and I want to take the opportunity to thank you all for everything that you did for BottleRocket. Seven years wasn’t long enough for our plans to bear fruit; but it was a decent run.”
It’s not all bad news though: ”I am now in the process of building a new development studio from the ground up and look forward to us crossing paths once more.” Once again a developer falls into silence; let’s hope we have no more this year as it is near Christmas.
