You folks remember 38 Studios, right? The studio at the heart of one of the most scandalous fiascos in the whole MMO genre? It’s back in the news right now thanks to its former front man Curt Schilling, who’s apparently “absolutely considering” a congressional run – in Arizona.
Curt Schilling is well known to baseball fans for his time in MLB, of course, but he’s also well known in the gaming world, especially to older-school MMORPG fans. Way back in 2008, Schilling and his newly formed 38 Studios – studded with stars like Todd McFarlane and R.A. Salvatore – announced Project Copernicus, an AAA MMORPG that had a lot of genre fans salivating. Of course, those familiar with the tale know it was not to be. After Rhode Island offered a hefty loan to Schilling’s studio to entice it to move to the state, the company’s first game, Kingdoms of Amalur, failed to break even in sales. What followed was a political and legal nightmare as Schilling’s company declared bankruptcy and along with the state of Rhode Island became embroiled in a multi-year fraud investigation and lawsuits over $75M in taxpayer funding that had gone up in smoke.
Schilling settled the lawsuit against him back in 2016 and the SEC case came to an end earlier this year, but his public persona took a darker turn as the drama wore on and his political proclamations and conspiracy theories saw him turned out of a cushy ESPN job.
The whole sordid story is super convoluted and drawn-out across both Old and New Massively, but we’re rounding it all up here in one giant list going all the way back to the very beginning for the masochists who want every last detail. You can also check out our more readable version in our Game Archaeologist column on Project Copernicus from January 2019.
• 38 Studios knew $75M loan wasn’t enough to finish Project Copernicus
• Rhode Island Governor signs 38 Studios settlement bill
• SOE’s John Smedley blames Rhode Island government for 38 Studios closure
• Rhode Island House to vote on out-of-court settlements for 38 Studios fiasco
• Rhode Island senate passes 38 Studios legislation
• Legislation may pave a path for 38 Studios case settlement
• Legislation introduced to resolve 38 Studios lawsuit
• SEC subpoenas the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation over 38 Studios lawsuit
• Rhode Island governor calls Project Copernicus ‘a lot of junk’
• Project Copernicus remains unsold at auction
• 38 Studios’ intellectual property auction in December, Project Copernicus on the table
• 38 Studios asset auction may be delayed due to high demand
• 38 Studios assets auction dated for November 14
• Wanna buy an MMO? Copernicus assets for sale ‘soon’
• 38 Studios debt to be partially repaid with bloody sock
• A video retrospective on 38 Studios discusses ‘star-struck legislators’
• Rhode Island EDC sues Curt Schilling and more over 38 Studios loan
• 38 Studios loan under SEC investigation
• Lawsuit against Curt Schilling and 38 Studios allowed to proceed
• Curt Schilling discusses life after 38 Studios
• Rhode Island set to pay 38 Studios bonds. Probably.
• Rhode Island explores ditching 38 Studios debt
• 38 Studios vs. State of Rhode Island court case begins
• Rhode Island selling 38 Studios’ game assets
• Yep, it’s more 38 Studios drama
• Rhode Island attempting to default on 38 Studios’ debt
• 38 Studios may have ‘actively masked’ its financial hardship
• Curt Schilling asks judge to dismiss 38 Studios fraud lawsuit
• 38 Studios auctions recoup $830k of $150.7M owed
• Initial 38 Studios auction brings in $180K
• Curt Schilling might pay back debt by selling baseball memorabilia
• 38 Studios will face no federal criminal charges
• 38 Studios loan could impact state elections
• Rhode Island possesses 38 Studios’ games, looks to sell
• A look at Curt Schilling’s management of 38 Studios
• Schilling ‘tapped out’ after loss of 38 Studios
• Subpoenas issued over 38 Studios deal, Citizens Bank sues Schilling
• Alleged 38 Studios spouse outlines family’s financial struggles after company’s closure
• Steve Danuser weighs in on the 38 Studios debacle
• 38 Studios declares bankruptcy, law enforcement investigating
• Trion Worlds CEO pinpoints the failings of 38 Studios and Star Wars: The Old Republic
• Former 38 Studios employees defend Schilling, talk political misinformation
• Schilling speaks out on 38 Studios debacle, stands to lose $50 million
• EVE Evolved: Lessons from 38 Studios
• Editorial: Learning from the 38 Studios disaster
• 38 Studios lays off entire staff, sells Big Huge Games
• 38 Studios appears to be getting no new help
• Layoffs confirmed for 38 Studios, Rhode Island takes no action
• 38 Studios’ Project Copernicus to release in June 2013, says RI governor
• 38 Studios paying state back by not paying employees
• No relief in sight for 38 Studios after emergency meeting
• If 38 Studios goes under, Rhode Island taxpayers will be footing the bill
• Rumor: 38 Studios may be having financial trouble
• Todd McFarlane says Project Copernicus is coming this year
• The world (wide web) of Amalur grows as 38 Studios works on its MMO
• 38 Studios Rhode Island deal still up in the air
• 38 Studios announces official Rhode Island relocation
• 38 Studios relocation loan in jeopardy
• 38 Studios moves next door to Rhode Island for 75 million smackers
• Rhode Island pitches a $75M loan offer to 38 Studios
