Turbine va au marché...

... et en revient avec la licence Asheron's Call. En effet, au milieu des poireaux et des pommes de terre se trouvait un vieux bout de papier jauni sur lequel était inscrit : "Microsoft vend vieille licence moisie, peu servie, peu connue et peu jouée. 10 dollars. Contact: billou@microsoft.com?subject=Vide-grenier".

Du coup, Turbine, les développeurs d'Asheron's Call 1, Asheron's Call 2 et actuellement de Middle Earth Online, ont sauté sur l'occasion et ont donc acheté à Microsoft la possibilité de faire un troisième mauvais MMORPG. Et même un quatrième, sur PS2 cette fois. Ou, pourquoi pas, un jeu de stratégie dans le monde d'Asheron's Call.

Le communiqué complet de presse et plus intelligent après le lien.

WESTWOOD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 17, 2003--Turbine Entertainment Software Corp., a leading developer and publisher of online subscription entertainment, announced today that it signed a final agreement to purchase the complete Asheron's Call massively multiplayer online game franchise from Microsoft® Game Studios. The franchise transfer includes all Asheron's Call intellectual properties, including Asheron's Call®, Asheron's Call®: Dark Majesty and Asheron's Call 2®: Fallen Kings(TM).
Asheron's Call is a critically acclaimed franchise that brings thousands of players together within a dynamic, evolving fantasy world. The original title launched in 1999 and since spawned an expansion pack, Asheron's Call: Dark Majesty, and an award-winning sequel, Asheron's Call 2: Fallen Kings. The Asheron's Call franchise is best known for its episodic updates, provided by Turbine, that add new additional game features, dungeons, trophy items, hunting areas and storyline content every month.

Turbine Entertainment Software created the idea and concepts for Asheron's Call prior to teaming up with Microsoft. The two companies formed a relationship in 1996 that led to the launch of the first Asheron's Call title.

"As the franchise's creator, Turbine has always felt a tremendous obligation to Asheron's Call and the people who play it," said Jeffrey Anderson, president and CEO, Turbine Entertainment Software. "We're excited to have the opportunity to build upon the success that the Asheron's Call franchise reached under Microsoft's management."

The complete change of ownership is expected to take nearly a year. During this transition period, Microsoft will be less and less involved, eventually transferring all of the services back to Turbine, including testing, customer service and billing services.

In preparation for the franchise's arrival, Turbine has been building a customer service group to manage its games' day-to-day operations. Over the next year, the company will assume all responsibility for Asheron's Call and Asheron's Call 2 game and player support, including customer service, tech support, quality assurance and a new billing system. Specific details and dates regarding on-going operations of the Asheron's Call franchise will be announced in the near future.