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ASCON Software / Ascaron Entertainment
Germany
"The day on which we do not improve, is the day on which we take a step back"
Company motto of Ascaron - 1991 - 2009
Ascaron (more precisely: Ascaron Entertainment GmbH) was 1991-2009 and has been on the German market made primarily attention to himself by the well thought-out economic simulations as patrician, kick or Port Royale and surprisingly even the world through the action RPG Sacred.
Ascaron had its headquarters in Gütersloh. Not always as firmierte Ascaron Ascaron Entertainment GmbH, until October 1996, the company was still called ASCON Software GmbH, then it was the Ascaron Software Publishing GmbH, and since 2002, known until today Ascaron Entertainment GmbH.
On the significance of the name Ascaron following message from Eric Deters (Chief Financial Officer of the Company) was published a few years ago on the official forum:
Ascon (the original name) should just stand as far forward in the alphabet because the "A" offered. After that, he was quick with "As" in the naming process, because an ace is a positive term. The "con" was added because it somehow technically sound and thus fit for computer games. When the firm "Ascom" did not agree then because of "phonetic risk of confusion", the ancient art word "Ascon" was indeed changed phonetically, but so that, but could not get at the customer a fundamental recognition of the brand. There was "Ascaron".
What was before Ascaron?
More or less everything took its course with Holger Flöttmann. He was born in 1966 in Gütersloh and worked as a freelancer until 1987, even an art director of the Rainbow Arts GmbH was (involved for example to In 80 Days around the World or Jinks). In 1988 he was co-founder of the Thalion GmbH and became CEO. A platform that, unfortunately, soon fell into oblivion, interestingly, first on Atari ST programmed - where under his direction emerged known games like Dragonflight, Chambers of Shaolin and Warp. Later Thalion published yet Amberstar, a mega-RPG for the Amiga, but it was after this time.
In 1991, Holger Flöttmann then the Ascon Software GmbH, also in Gütersloh. First operates only as a publisher (Monster Business, Think Cross and Turn it 2), but always to program with the aim of their own games. The first own release was patrician who struck correctly.
Back when it was still ASCON
Under the company name "Ascon" until October 1996, the following games were released:
June 1992 - patrician than floppy disk version for Amiga, Atari ST and PC. Among other things Bernd Ludewig and Celal Kandemiroglu were involved.
February 1993 - The Patrician as CD-ROM version.
May 1993 - The German patrician is for The Patrician in England and France.
November 1993 - At last: offense appears after six years of development and justifies the perhaps most popular Football Manager series. Just a pity that the game is terminated automatically after ten seasons. Gerald Köhler acquires itself as a concept author and game designer first merits. Offense is based on the since 1987 in GFA-Basic for the Atari ST privately programmed kicker, which was sold through classified ads in the magazine ST. Holger Flöttmann gave at the time like the best, as in 1992 in London in the bathtub did the manual of Foosball read and immediately that he would publish this game. It is noteworthy that despite original approach to ST impulse itself appeared only on the PC and for the Amiga. Blunder. ;-)
December 1993 - The Patrician is also available in the United States, there is, however - as in European games as usual - rather moderate adopted.
June 1994 - kick-off comes with voice messages on CD-ROM, kick World Cup Edition appears. Just in time for the World Cup 1994th
July 1994 - Hanseatic - The expedition is launched, another historical economic simulation, especially new edition of a classic C64
August 1994 - On the ball (kick-off in English) appears in - England.
November 1994 - Double Pass comes, both successful kick-parts on a CD.
February 1995 - Carton Rouge league édition, the French offense shall be published.
January 1996 - Pole Position appears, the Formula 1 team boss simulation. The first game with the Westphalian veteran Dag Winderlich as sound composer. We will still get to hear his sayings in offense often enough ... "Do you done!"
April 1996 - Elizabeth I is released, the last game under the label of ASCON.
With patrician, Hanse and Elizabeth I so alone three historic economic simulations of the portfolio, then added impetus and - a little unusual - Pole Position as very technically oriented simulation. But with new features is not enough, for now came the time after the name change to "Ascaron".
The renaming was necessary because there had been confusion difficulties with the company Ascom in Switzerland.
Restart with a new name
November 1996 - The Hexagon Kartell comes on the market, and acknowledges partially dream notes from (PC Games 91%!). Who would have thought that a small software company clears these notes with a military helicopter simulation?
March 1997 - After localized versions have appeared from pole position in England and France, Ascaron Vermeer hangs up again. Not quite the screamer, but hotseat evenings still first choice. In addition, it runs on Windows 95. If the time for running. Amazingly, Gerald Köhler was here responsible for the game concept.
And then came August 1997. Anstoss 2 appears and sets standards in the football manager genre that could be surpassed only by their own successors. Kick-2 is deeply convinced with still exciting 3D scenes and a sense of humor that is unparalleled in the gaming scene. The extension to kick-2 comes then in February 1998, kick-2 Gold in September 1998. For the voices Imitation Matthias Knoop is responsible, alone the credits of A2 Gold is always a pleasure.
Then Ascaron is also reflected on the Playstation wide: The motorcycle racing simulation Grand Prix 500cc appear for PC and PSOne.
Even if Ascaron has produced quite decent, and the games were able to convince all of them - more or less - so the really big litter was yet to materialize. This should be the best year so far for Ascaron, 2000 Change: kick-3 was released, and in the fall will patrician 2 - both games are selling millions and are still references in their genre. At the peak of creativity leaves Gerald Köhler, the author of offense, Ascaron and changes to EA. For fans to this day not to get over - Imagine the FM with the ascarontypischen humor? Albert Streit with the property "money vultures"? A dream.
The marketing machine started rolling: In addition to coffee cups with Pallinos, mousepads and Pallino Pins there were also quite a few T-shirts and now legendary yellow jersey A3, which are no longer available. Kick-3 was so successful that an addon called Golden Goal was announced. This, however, was soon called off again in spring 2001, without ever actually received on possible features or even reasons. While there is still an opinion of Ascaron for rejection in the network to find, this is, however, kept in the best of Marketing German. The main reason should be the compatibility of the new features with the existing programming framework. That would kick with 3 not the case and should be implemented only with the complete reprogramming of the successor.
But kick as the brand did not come to rest. What EA applies today as Football Fusion, Ascaron has led the way in 2001: kick action appears, a rival to the then already prevalent FIFA series, but no serious competitor. So everyone was able to control its managed in offense 3 team also live via gamepad.
Then Ballerburg, a remake of a turn very successful Atari ST Public Domain-game and in June 2002 came after several delays then Port Royale. Here dramas from as Port Royale is bugverseucht and Ascaron addition to a complimentary mini-AddOn tempers must appease addition to remedial patches. Port Royale was by Patrician II the next big project of Daniel Dumont, who is now head of the Gaming Mind Studios, which were recently responsible for Patrician IV.
Today, only a marginal note in the video game history: The game Artefact. In addition to the Golden Goal above this game is amazing unspectacular disappeared into oblivion. Indiana Jones meets Commandos was the tenor of gambling in Iso view Tactics Adventures. Originally scheduled for the end of 2001, it was soon moved to the 2nd quarter of 2002 and, in late summer 2002 as "canceled" known. The extent to which the insolvency in 2001 to blame for the setting of the screenshots by ambitious project was or whether internal reasons spoke against it, is still unclear.
Strange, though, that the intro of Artefact 2002 Animago Award in the category - won "Professional Animation Game Design" - although this game, let alone the intro ever saw the light of day. On my inquiry in 2008 with the subcontractor Lightworks whether the intro because today could be made available to the public, the staff kept covered, saying only that rights subject neither the company nor Lightworks at Ascaron. Artefact remains a mystery.
Rough Times
Already in September 2001, it was said that Ascaron went bankrupt. In February 2002, then the rescue could be reported, so that the games supplies for the numerous fans could be saved.
The upcoming release of offense 4 afforded the favorite Intimfeind EA a reason to get an injunction against Ascaron. This was due to the seemingly from Ascaron largely taken over from the data pool of players EA data that were to be found in pre-release Editor of offense. 4 In the end, a comparison was then closed before the Landgericht Hamburg. EA however, took advantage of this compared to a press release, which in turn Ascaron tempted to reply. This however, fizzled as Ascaron apparently shunned a transition to court.
In addition to the dispute with EA then had again some staff be put on the road, because there seemed to be liquidity problems again. Many of these employees emerge in the future, however, as a freelancer in several credit back on.
New records
Kick-4 was the first project of Guido Eickmeyer who still accompanied the kick-series a few years and is now employed by Deep Silver - and was, ironically, there entrusted in the role of executive producer with the release of Sacred. 2 A4 should eliminate as a complete new product, the lack of commentary overloaded A3 source code while providing new features to the upcoming FM EA Paroli. First game - or at least one of the first games - it appeared in the autumn of 2002 only on DVD. Ascaron offered at the time in the Webshop Bundles with DVD drives and kick-off 4 at favorable prices. To what extent this has been achieved, can no longer say. The anticipation in the Community was certainly large - the disillusionment after installation as well. The game was sterile, boring, flawed and simply no longer kick. The test results were devastating. This had consequences.
Ascaron relented a few months part 4 virtually to stamp free because for a small extra charge and sending his kick 4 DVD each player the offense was able to acquire 4 Edition 03/04, a substantially revised version. Kick-4 even after four patches today M. E. unplayable because after a few seasons, a crash is produced - however, this offense version plays no longer voluntary, so that may be resorted to only on its own experience here. Although the edition was still a kick-4, but already significantly more stringent.
Simultaneously with the publication in October 2003 appeared the game Pirates - ruler of the Caribbean, a Port Royale meets Pirates -Mix, who had a terrible lack of consistent orientation to play nice, but greatly subsided motivation!.
What nobody had guessed that Ascaron had bought from the insolvent company Ikarion the rights to the DSA computer game Armalion and wanted to make your own game. From Armalion in 2004 Sacred, the copies to date most successful German action RPG with now the world more than 2 million sold. This was followed by addition of the "New Edition" half a year after publication nor an add-on called Underworld and the obligatory gold edition and a half years after the initial publication. Noteworthy in this game, the incredible number Insidergags and known voice actors of the main characters are (the dark elf speaks like Nicolas Cage, the Gladiator has Bruce Willis' dubbing voice). However Ascaron made his reputation back all the glory when it came to Buga number and the amount of the required patches. The so-called. New edition was essentially "Sacred as it should be had at the beginning." There were quite a few reviews that have Sacred devalued simply because of the bugs. Nevertheless, a still fascinating Diablo competitor.
Thanks to the financial success of Sacred Ascaron was initially rescued and brought also with a kick-out in 2005 again revised and expanded version of the kick-off series in Midpricesegment. However, a new European Cup constellations) and b) some patches kept) the changes in boundaries (including've been here again needed to get the game stable and running. There were 2004 Port Royale 2 (a trading simulation in the Caribbean, only clear action-oriented than its predecessor) and Vermeer. 2
Easy come easy go
The air and the tension from the games portfolio was out in early 2005. Sacred 2 was not officially announced, but to be expected thanks to the success of security; this should finally give a new impetus for non-Monsterschnetzler, only this time _wirklich_ reprogrammed (kick-4, the Edition 03/04 and kick-off in 2005 were all based on the same framework, what Ascaron analogous to EA already the reputation of a "Jahresupdaters" earned). These Darkstar One should again fill a niche, which would occur in May 2006 with high ratings can. Unfortunately, the space game did not sell as well as hoped, so the future of the company in the meantime was on the new impetus due in part to the high level of investment in the Sacred successor.
Anstoss 2006 - it was said at the beginning - was soon to kick 2007. Contrary to the announcement based A07 yet again on the engine of the predecessor and bursting despite multiplayer feature in the network from bugs that a Beta tester drives the blush today. Despite several patches the game to date is incomplete, as the company's department "kick" completely closed after a cost-benefit analysis simply. The chapter offense in 2007 is one of the darkest in terms of troubleshooting, which is expected to provide even Gothic 3 in the shadows. For some of the parties that was, incidentally, the last thing you heard from them when it comes to software. Evil to him who thinks evil.
What remained was the hope for a similar blockbuster as Sacred. Tortuga - Two Treasures, a Pirates -Verschnitt in 3D, which was in development for years and was intended as a sequel to the Pirates game from 2003 was repeatedly overturned in the conceptual design, and then on the curse-the-Caribbean-wave at least to have a little success.
Slowly the situation was precarious:. 2006 loss of EUR 3 million has been accounted for. In 2007 it was another 3.9 Mill. EUR. 2008 even catastrophic 7.4 Mill. EUR. Less of the newly plugged in the company equity by new shareholders contributed Ascaron 31.03.2008 indebtedness of 8.8 Mill. EUR ahead of him that should be poorly compensated for by "non-capitalized assets".
In October 2008, it was finally over. Sacred 2 has been released!
Large Merchandisingbrimborium: T-Shirts, Collectors Edition with HD textures, resin figures, radio dramas and soundtrack CDs. Community competitions such as the charge saying competition (at the loading screen were randomly "silly messages" appears from the community, such as "LOAD" Sacred2 ", 8.1" or "--- Implementing Ha-Do-Ken for Seraphim ..." - total 533 pieces). For this purpose, a special new feature: you could and should borrow the Sacred-2-DVD to friends and install the game on as many computers as you wanted: a few hours allowed each romp in the game before then the following day the "free trial" umswitchte in a full version and product code called, who was to have for 50 EUR. Given prominent support such as next to the Story Designer Bob Bates, the metal band "Blind Guardian", who have an exclusive appearance in the game. All in all, really all means to push a game successful worldwide.
To what extent the game was now successful, can not be clearly identified. Fact: Apparently not so many copies of the game sold as desired - for an addon called "Blood & Ice" but it has passed. It was no secret that after the flop with kick-2007 Tortuga - Two Treasures associated with the long development time of Sacred 2 Ascaron with this game had to achieve a success in order to continue to survive. So reaching Sacred 2 in Germany, although the Gold Award of the BIU for more than 100,000 copies sold - but the ambitious goals were obviously more than missed.
On 18/04/2009 Ascaron presented the second and last file for bankruptcy. On 10/09/2009 the company officially became dismantled. Thus, one of the most successful chapters of German game developer story closes forever. The AddOn for Sacred 2 was released not more from Ascaron and Studio II.
Kalypso Media now holds the rights to Patrician, Port Royale, kick, Darkstar One, Hanse, Vermeer, Elisabeth, Pole Position, Tortuga and Ballerburg.
Publisher activity
For a few games Ascaron dabbled in Germany as a foreign publisher for games that have been made by other programmers teams and localized for the German market and should be made public. This includes:
• Monster Business, Think Cross, Turn it 2 (1991)
• King of the Road (summer 2001)
• Big Scale Racing (February 2003)
• Devastation (April 2003)
• Arena Wars (July 2004)
All games mentioned above were more blessed with moderate success, although, for example, Arena Wars even got a successor in July 2007, but which is published by a different publisher.
subsidiary company
The Ascaron Ltd. in Birmingham functioned primarily as a publisher for the international market. Some well-known games have been published abroad by Ascaron (eg TrackMania United).
The Studio II in Aachen was responsible for the development of Sacred and Sacred. 2 As part of the bankruptcy these GmbH was smashed.
The Quality Four GmbH in Potsdam was founded as an external test house to games - to test for errors - its own or foreign. Ironically Ascaron had in his last years, had this service urgent need than many others.
Conclusion
Ascaron made to best of times a lot of talk. However, it is more than obvious that internally so many wheel did not intervene in another. Then there was the ever-progressive Bugseuche that many destroyed in later games from the good reputation of the company. If there is a company that was destroyed by management mistakes, it's Ascaron. That Ascaron has completely turned away from the extensive impetus community, much credit has cost the public. The demands of the fans after another, well-balanced WiSims as it were patricians and Port Royale 1 were ignored in favor of unsuccessful casual games and the fluke Sacred. Hohn history that programmers troop "Gaming Minds Studio" by Daniel Dumont in 2010. Patrician IV has achieved a remarkable success. How much money has been burned for Sacred 2, can not be only in experience. I would like away from searchable facts but about the actual, identifiable causes of insolvency not speculate. On the one hand there is a "red thread" that can be traced all right even in this brief report, the second has the GameStar an extensive in Issue 09/2009 - published report on this - albeit very plastic.
Who, incidentally, Sacred 1 and / or Sacred 2 ever played, could have made my acquaintance there: In addition to a Eisgoblin champion opponent in Sacred 1 with my Nick is also a grave marker in Sacred 2, carrying my nick - and also my "Silly Message contains ". Make your way quietly look at the search.
Text taken from Kultboy.de
Company motto of Ascaron - 1991 - 2009
Ascaron (more precisely: Ascaron Entertainment GmbH) was 1991-2009 and has been on the German market made primarily attention to himself by the well thought-out economic simulations as patrician, kick or Port Royale and surprisingly even the world through the action RPG Sacred.
Ascaron had its headquarters in Gütersloh. Not always as firmierte Ascaron Ascaron Entertainment GmbH, until October 1996, the company was still called ASCON Software GmbH, then it was the Ascaron Software Publishing GmbH, and since 2002, known until today Ascaron Entertainment GmbH.
On the significance of the name Ascaron following message from Eric Deters (Chief Financial Officer of the Company) was published a few years ago on the official forum:
Ascon (the original name) should just stand as far forward in the alphabet because the "A" offered. After that, he was quick with "As" in the naming process, because an ace is a positive term. The "con" was added because it somehow technically sound and thus fit for computer games. When the firm "Ascom" did not agree then because of "phonetic risk of confusion", the ancient art word "Ascon" was indeed changed phonetically, but so that, but could not get at the customer a fundamental recognition of the brand. There was "Ascaron".
What was before Ascaron?
More or less everything took its course with Holger Flöttmann. He was born in 1966 in Gütersloh and worked as a freelancer until 1987, even an art director of the Rainbow Arts GmbH was (involved for example to In 80 Days around the World or Jinks). In 1988 he was co-founder of the Thalion GmbH and became CEO. A platform that, unfortunately, soon fell into oblivion, interestingly, first on Atari ST programmed - where under his direction emerged known games like Dragonflight, Chambers of Shaolin and Warp. Later Thalion published yet Amberstar, a mega-RPG for the Amiga, but it was after this time.
In 1991, Holger Flöttmann then the Ascon Software GmbH, also in Gütersloh. First operates only as a publisher (Monster Business, Think Cross and Turn it 2), but always to program with the aim of their own games. The first own release was patrician who struck correctly.
Back when it was still ASCON
Under the company name "Ascon" until October 1996, the following games were released:
June 1992 - patrician than floppy disk version for Amiga, Atari ST and PC. Among other things Bernd Ludewig and Celal Kandemiroglu were involved.
February 1993 - The Patrician as CD-ROM version.
May 1993 - The German patrician is for The Patrician in England and France.
November 1993 - At last: offense appears after six years of development and justifies the perhaps most popular Football Manager series. Just a pity that the game is terminated automatically after ten seasons. Gerald Köhler acquires itself as a concept author and game designer first merits. Offense is based on the since 1987 in GFA-Basic for the Atari ST privately programmed kicker, which was sold through classified ads in the magazine ST. Holger Flöttmann gave at the time like the best, as in 1992 in London in the bathtub did the manual of Foosball read and immediately that he would publish this game. It is noteworthy that despite original approach to ST impulse itself appeared only on the PC and for the Amiga. Blunder. ;-)
December 1993 - The Patrician is also available in the United States, there is, however - as in European games as usual - rather moderate adopted.
June 1994 - kick-off comes with voice messages on CD-ROM, kick World Cup Edition appears. Just in time for the World Cup 1994th
July 1994 - Hanseatic - The expedition is launched, another historical economic simulation, especially new edition of a classic C64
August 1994 - On the ball (kick-off in English) appears in - England.
November 1994 - Double Pass comes, both successful kick-parts on a CD.
February 1995 - Carton Rouge league édition, the French offense shall be published.
January 1996 - Pole Position appears, the Formula 1 team boss simulation. The first game with the Westphalian veteran Dag Winderlich as sound composer. We will still get to hear his sayings in offense often enough ... "Do you done!"
April 1996 - Elizabeth I is released, the last game under the label of ASCON.
With patrician, Hanse and Elizabeth I so alone three historic economic simulations of the portfolio, then added impetus and - a little unusual - Pole Position as very technically oriented simulation. But with new features is not enough, for now came the time after the name change to "Ascaron".
The renaming was necessary because there had been confusion difficulties with the company Ascom in Switzerland.
Restart with a new name
November 1996 - The Hexagon Kartell comes on the market, and acknowledges partially dream notes from (PC Games 91%!). Who would have thought that a small software company clears these notes with a military helicopter simulation?
March 1997 - After localized versions have appeared from pole position in England and France, Ascaron Vermeer hangs up again. Not quite the screamer, but hotseat evenings still first choice. In addition, it runs on Windows 95. If the time for running. Amazingly, Gerald Köhler was here responsible for the game concept.
And then came August 1997. Anstoss 2 appears and sets standards in the football manager genre that could be surpassed only by their own successors. Kick-2 is deeply convinced with still exciting 3D scenes and a sense of humor that is unparalleled in the gaming scene. The extension to kick-2 comes then in February 1998, kick-2 Gold in September 1998. For the voices Imitation Matthias Knoop is responsible, alone the credits of A2 Gold is always a pleasure.
Then Ascaron is also reflected on the Playstation wide: The motorcycle racing simulation Grand Prix 500cc appear for PC and PSOne.
Even if Ascaron has produced quite decent, and the games were able to convince all of them - more or less - so the really big litter was yet to materialize. This should be the best year so far for Ascaron, 2000 Change: kick-3 was released, and in the fall will patrician 2 - both games are selling millions and are still references in their genre. At the peak of creativity leaves Gerald Köhler, the author of offense, Ascaron and changes to EA. For fans to this day not to get over - Imagine the FM with the ascarontypischen humor? Albert Streit with the property "money vultures"? A dream.
The marketing machine started rolling: In addition to coffee cups with Pallinos, mousepads and Pallino Pins there were also quite a few T-shirts and now legendary yellow jersey A3, which are no longer available. Kick-3 was so successful that an addon called Golden Goal was announced. This, however, was soon called off again in spring 2001, without ever actually received on possible features or even reasons. While there is still an opinion of Ascaron for rejection in the network to find, this is, however, kept in the best of Marketing German. The main reason should be the compatibility of the new features with the existing programming framework. That would kick with 3 not the case and should be implemented only with the complete reprogramming of the successor.
But kick as the brand did not come to rest. What EA applies today as Football Fusion, Ascaron has led the way in 2001: kick action appears, a rival to the then already prevalent FIFA series, but no serious competitor. So everyone was able to control its managed in offense 3 team also live via gamepad.
Then Ballerburg, a remake of a turn very successful Atari ST Public Domain-game and in June 2002 came after several delays then Port Royale. Here dramas from as Port Royale is bugverseucht and Ascaron addition to a complimentary mini-AddOn tempers must appease addition to remedial patches. Port Royale was by Patrician II the next big project of Daniel Dumont, who is now head of the Gaming Mind Studios, which were recently responsible for Patrician IV.
Today, only a marginal note in the video game history: The game Artefact. In addition to the Golden Goal above this game is amazing unspectacular disappeared into oblivion. Indiana Jones meets Commandos was the tenor of gambling in Iso view Tactics Adventures. Originally scheduled for the end of 2001, it was soon moved to the 2nd quarter of 2002 and, in late summer 2002 as "canceled" known. The extent to which the insolvency in 2001 to blame for the setting of the screenshots by ambitious project was or whether internal reasons spoke against it, is still unclear.
Strange, though, that the intro of Artefact 2002 Animago Award in the category - won "Professional Animation Game Design" - although this game, let alone the intro ever saw the light of day. On my inquiry in 2008 with the subcontractor Lightworks whether the intro because today could be made available to the public, the staff kept covered, saying only that rights subject neither the company nor Lightworks at Ascaron. Artefact remains a mystery.
Rough Times
Already in September 2001, it was said that Ascaron went bankrupt. In February 2002, then the rescue could be reported, so that the games supplies for the numerous fans could be saved.
The upcoming release of offense 4 afforded the favorite Intimfeind EA a reason to get an injunction against Ascaron. This was due to the seemingly from Ascaron largely taken over from the data pool of players EA data that were to be found in pre-release Editor of offense. 4 In the end, a comparison was then closed before the Landgericht Hamburg. EA however, took advantage of this compared to a press release, which in turn Ascaron tempted to reply. This however, fizzled as Ascaron apparently shunned a transition to court.
In addition to the dispute with EA then had again some staff be put on the road, because there seemed to be liquidity problems again. Many of these employees emerge in the future, however, as a freelancer in several credit back on.
New records
Kick-4 was the first project of Guido Eickmeyer who still accompanied the kick-series a few years and is now employed by Deep Silver - and was, ironically, there entrusted in the role of executive producer with the release of Sacred. 2 A4 should eliminate as a complete new product, the lack of commentary overloaded A3 source code while providing new features to the upcoming FM EA Paroli. First game - or at least one of the first games - it appeared in the autumn of 2002 only on DVD. Ascaron offered at the time in the Webshop Bundles with DVD drives and kick-off 4 at favorable prices. To what extent this has been achieved, can no longer say. The anticipation in the Community was certainly large - the disillusionment after installation as well. The game was sterile, boring, flawed and simply no longer kick. The test results were devastating. This had consequences.
Ascaron relented a few months part 4 virtually to stamp free because for a small extra charge and sending his kick 4 DVD each player the offense was able to acquire 4 Edition 03/04, a substantially revised version. Kick-4 even after four patches today M. E. unplayable because after a few seasons, a crash is produced - however, this offense version plays no longer voluntary, so that may be resorted to only on its own experience here. Although the edition was still a kick-4, but already significantly more stringent.
Simultaneously with the publication in October 2003 appeared the game Pirates - ruler of the Caribbean, a Port Royale meets Pirates -Mix, who had a terrible lack of consistent orientation to play nice, but greatly subsided motivation!.
What nobody had guessed that Ascaron had bought from the insolvent company Ikarion the rights to the DSA computer game Armalion and wanted to make your own game. From Armalion in 2004 Sacred, the copies to date most successful German action RPG with now the world more than 2 million sold. This was followed by addition of the "New Edition" half a year after publication nor an add-on called Underworld and the obligatory gold edition and a half years after the initial publication. Noteworthy in this game, the incredible number Insidergags and known voice actors of the main characters are (the dark elf speaks like Nicolas Cage, the Gladiator has Bruce Willis' dubbing voice). However Ascaron made his reputation back all the glory when it came to Buga number and the amount of the required patches. The so-called. New edition was essentially "Sacred as it should be had at the beginning." There were quite a few reviews that have Sacred devalued simply because of the bugs. Nevertheless, a still fascinating Diablo competitor.
Thanks to the financial success of Sacred Ascaron was initially rescued and brought also with a kick-out in 2005 again revised and expanded version of the kick-off series in Midpricesegment. However, a new European Cup constellations) and b) some patches kept) the changes in boundaries (including've been here again needed to get the game stable and running. There were 2004 Port Royale 2 (a trading simulation in the Caribbean, only clear action-oriented than its predecessor) and Vermeer. 2
Easy come easy go
The air and the tension from the games portfolio was out in early 2005. Sacred 2 was not officially announced, but to be expected thanks to the success of security; this should finally give a new impetus for non-Monsterschnetzler, only this time _wirklich_ reprogrammed (kick-4, the Edition 03/04 and kick-off in 2005 were all based on the same framework, what Ascaron analogous to EA already the reputation of a "Jahresupdaters" earned). These Darkstar One should again fill a niche, which would occur in May 2006 with high ratings can. Unfortunately, the space game did not sell as well as hoped, so the future of the company in the meantime was on the new impetus due in part to the high level of investment in the Sacred successor.
Anstoss 2006 - it was said at the beginning - was soon to kick 2007. Contrary to the announcement based A07 yet again on the engine of the predecessor and bursting despite multiplayer feature in the network from bugs that a Beta tester drives the blush today. Despite several patches the game to date is incomplete, as the company's department "kick" completely closed after a cost-benefit analysis simply. The chapter offense in 2007 is one of the darkest in terms of troubleshooting, which is expected to provide even Gothic 3 in the shadows. For some of the parties that was, incidentally, the last thing you heard from them when it comes to software. Evil to him who thinks evil.
What remained was the hope for a similar blockbuster as Sacred. Tortuga - Two Treasures, a Pirates -Verschnitt in 3D, which was in development for years and was intended as a sequel to the Pirates game from 2003 was repeatedly overturned in the conceptual design, and then on the curse-the-Caribbean-wave at least to have a little success.
Slowly the situation was precarious:. 2006 loss of EUR 3 million has been accounted for. In 2007 it was another 3.9 Mill. EUR. 2008 even catastrophic 7.4 Mill. EUR. Less of the newly plugged in the company equity by new shareholders contributed Ascaron 31.03.2008 indebtedness of 8.8 Mill. EUR ahead of him that should be poorly compensated for by "non-capitalized assets".
In October 2008, it was finally over. Sacred 2 has been released!
Large Merchandisingbrimborium: T-Shirts, Collectors Edition with HD textures, resin figures, radio dramas and soundtrack CDs. Community competitions such as the charge saying competition (at the loading screen were randomly "silly messages" appears from the community, such as "LOAD" Sacred2 ", 8.1" or "--- Implementing Ha-Do-Ken for Seraphim ..." - total 533 pieces). For this purpose, a special new feature: you could and should borrow the Sacred-2-DVD to friends and install the game on as many computers as you wanted: a few hours allowed each romp in the game before then the following day the "free trial" umswitchte in a full version and product code called, who was to have for 50 EUR. Given prominent support such as next to the Story Designer Bob Bates, the metal band "Blind Guardian", who have an exclusive appearance in the game. All in all, really all means to push a game successful worldwide.
To what extent the game was now successful, can not be clearly identified. Fact: Apparently not so many copies of the game sold as desired - for an addon called "Blood & Ice" but it has passed. It was no secret that after the flop with kick-2007 Tortuga - Two Treasures associated with the long development time of Sacred 2 Ascaron with this game had to achieve a success in order to continue to survive. So reaching Sacred 2 in Germany, although the Gold Award of the BIU for more than 100,000 copies sold - but the ambitious goals were obviously more than missed.
On 18/04/2009 Ascaron presented the second and last file for bankruptcy. On 10/09/2009 the company officially became dismantled. Thus, one of the most successful chapters of German game developer story closes forever. The AddOn for Sacred 2 was released not more from Ascaron and Studio II.
Kalypso Media now holds the rights to Patrician, Port Royale, kick, Darkstar One, Hanse, Vermeer, Elisabeth, Pole Position, Tortuga and Ballerburg.
Publisher activity
For a few games Ascaron dabbled in Germany as a foreign publisher for games that have been made by other programmers teams and localized for the German market and should be made public. This includes:
• Monster Business, Think Cross, Turn it 2 (1991)
• King of the Road (summer 2001)
• Big Scale Racing (February 2003)
• Devastation (April 2003)
• Arena Wars (July 2004)
All games mentioned above were more blessed with moderate success, although, for example, Arena Wars even got a successor in July 2007, but which is published by a different publisher.
subsidiary company
The Ascaron Ltd. in Birmingham functioned primarily as a publisher for the international market. Some well-known games have been published abroad by Ascaron (eg TrackMania United).
The Studio II in Aachen was responsible for the development of Sacred and Sacred. 2 As part of the bankruptcy these GmbH was smashed.
The Quality Four GmbH in Potsdam was founded as an external test house to games - to test for errors - its own or foreign. Ironically Ascaron had in his last years, had this service urgent need than many others.
Conclusion
Ascaron made to best of times a lot of talk. However, it is more than obvious that internally so many wheel did not intervene in another. Then there was the ever-progressive Bugseuche that many destroyed in later games from the good reputation of the company. If there is a company that was destroyed by management mistakes, it's Ascaron. That Ascaron has completely turned away from the extensive impetus community, much credit has cost the public. The demands of the fans after another, well-balanced WiSims as it were patricians and Port Royale 1 were ignored in favor of unsuccessful casual games and the fluke Sacred. Hohn history that programmers troop "Gaming Minds Studio" by Daniel Dumont in 2010. Patrician IV has achieved a remarkable success. How much money has been burned for Sacred 2, can not be only in experience. I would like away from searchable facts but about the actual, identifiable causes of insolvency not speculate. On the one hand there is a "red thread" that can be traced all right even in this brief report, the second has the GameStar an extensive in Issue 09/2009 - published report on this - albeit very plastic.
Who, incidentally, Sacred 1 and / or Sacred 2 ever played, could have made my acquaintance there: In addition to a Eisgoblin champion opponent in Sacred 1 with my Nick is also a grave marker in Sacred 2, carrying my nick - and also my "Silly Message contains ". Make your way quietly look at the search.
Text taken from Kultboy.de