Sega and Gearbox Software released Aliens: Colonial Marines to the chagrin of many fans and critics who found that the game didn't exactly represent a project the original marketing had suggested they were getting and now Sega has said that the developer must take the blame for the project.
In e-mails leaked to Polygon, an unnamed Sega employee said that Gearbox Software Randy Pitchford did "whatever the f*** he likes" and that "parties had to mutually agree to the 'precise particulars of marketing assets' delivered by Gearbox."
"Gearbox's participation—Randy Pitchford's, in particular—was a key element in the ACM marketing strategy from the beginning," the Sega employee reportedly said.
This doesn't exactly surprise me given that Gearbox Software has made a name for itself in developing action games and fans likely bought into the game's promotion early given the expectations that the same minds behind Borderlands 2 would be developing the Aliens property in gaming.
One of the leaked e-mails attributed to Sega of America employee Matt Powers read:
During one of my conversations with Gearbox today I verified that the E3 Demo is indeed the bar that we should use to determine where the entire game will be. That is Gearbox's plan and what they believe in. I just wanted to double-check with them and since I did I figured I would pass that along to you.
With more of these details coming to surface in light of the court proceedings between Sega and Gearbox, the situation could get uglier if either company continues to ignore the kind of responsibilities any corporate entity needs to take into account when entering into contracts with another.
For more, read our report on Gearbox Software's claim that responsibility lies with TimeGate Studios which was hired to aid with development.
