Almost three years ago I was making an entry into the internet scene with a hobby site dedicated to combat flight simulators. I had purchased a simulation called TFX, produced by a UK company called Digital Image Design. A few months after I launched my site I began to read about a simulation in development called EF2000.

I contacted DiD via email and then by telephone, and sold myself to them as a beta tester. A few months later I received an early copy of EF2000. It was looking great! Through months of work and interaction I had my first real look into the gaming industry and the joys and frustrations of game development and game testing.

Following the release of EF2000, a simulation which won numerous awards, version 2 was eventually released and was one of the first simulations to feature support for 3dfx hardware. The expanded version also included a new strategic dimension that greatly added to gameplay.

Near the end of the production of EF2000 v.2 plans were forming for F22: Total Air War. Eventually the production became two separate products, first F22: ADF and then Total Air War. Total Air War remains in my mind a benchmark for Digital Image Design, and I was greatly anticipating more information on EF2000 v3: Typhoon.

The Beginning of the End

This morning I received numerous emails containing the news that Infogrames UK is preparing an official statement regarding the sudden departure of 30 staff from Wargasm and Total Air War's UK-based developer Digital Image Design. I had a feeling that things have not been going well at DiD.

Some time ago Infogrames bought Gremlin Games in Sheffield. At that time DID was looking for a new publisher, since its contract was up with Infogrames.

Unfortunately Infogrames held shares in DiD, and they possessed the ability to veto company decisions. In the end they blocked all DID's attempts to obtain a new publishing deal, as well as blocking any attempts to sell the company.

Unfortunately, DiD also owed Infogrames a great deal of money. The failure of TAW and Wargasm at the retail level meant that DID was losing money by the bucketload, and there was no way to pay Infogrames back.

Infogrames was in a position to dictate terms and gave DiD two options. They could either bleed to death or Infogrames would buy them out. It was at this point that Martin Kenwright sold the company and left with his proceeds of the sale, founding a new company with Ian Hetherington: Evolution Studios.

From here on things went from bad to worse. Infogrames have a reputation (allegedly) of buying games companies and mismanaging them. The staff at DID got angry, and eventually the result was the massive walkout of Black Thursday.

Will this group form a new company? Most likely, yes, or join an existing one. What will become of EF2000 V3? It will either rot in a warehouse somewhere or be sold to another developer as an unfinished project. Incidentally, Gremlin have also had 20 development people leave in the last month or so.

With sadness, we bid farewell to a great development house. DiD may recover, but it will never be the same. We at COMBATSIM.COM™ wish all present and past employees of DiD bright futures and the best of luck!

Epilogue

We've had numerous responses to this article, some pointing out that DiD was probably in a money losing position because of their own mismanagement, thereby placing Infogrames in a position where they also faced tough choices and needed more control. It makes sense. Will we ever know the full story? Probably not. We wish Infogrames success as a gaming publisher.