On Friday, February 18th, Bizarre Creationsʼ Liverpool studio will turn off the lights, lock the windows and close its doors for the final time.
The group made around twenty games over 15 years, growing to around 200 staff at the peak of its success.
The studio officially formed in 1994 under the Bizarre Creations brand, but industry veteran Martyn Chudley had in fact established the outfit back in 1988 under a different name.
Its big break came at the dawn of the first PlayStation – Bizarre had been commissioned a Formula 1 project for the new console.
Formula 1 ʽ97 was a commercial success that established Bizarreʼs reputation for quality racing games. However, it wasnʼt until 2001 that the group cemented its position as a master of the genre.
Bizarre Creationʼs management agreed on Activisionʼs recommendation to close the studio. Its 200 staff are already being snapped up and snaffled by rival firms – some of which were alleged to have held off saving the studio, because buying redundant developers is a far cheaper option. That, if true, demonstrates how little a developerʼs legacy is worth even to this day.
Many people are talking about how sad the studioʼs closure is, even pointing the blame at Activision, yet no one has demonstrated the nerve that Bobby Kotickʼs company had lost.
Under the circumstances, few would blame a touch of bitterness from Bizarreʼs staff. It is to be expected.
And yet, such acid-tongued responses have not surfaced. Develop has heard Bizarre staff speak on the issue with balance, open-mindedness and grace. Dare we say it, some have complimented Activisionʼs treatment of staff as the studio closes down.
“Itʼs such a shame,” one Activision individual told us. “They are a really, really great bunch of people. Never had a problem with them all the time weʼve worked together.”
For those in love with games, Bizarre will be remembered for its landmark and outstanding racing games. Yet for those in the industry, Bizarre always will be known as the lovely people from Liverpool.
