Realtime Worlds Bristles At Ruffian's Crackdown 2 Reports

Scottish developer Realtime Worlds has responded to suggestions last week that start-up company Ruffian Games is looking to develop Xbox 360 exclusive Crackdown 2 for Microsoft. Microsoft has hinted at a Crackdown sequel, although it's never officially announced one. However, unconfirmed sources last week suggested to Gamasutra that Ruffian is already working on the game. Ruffian counts Crackdown lead designer Billy Thomson among its staff, as well as a number of other ex-Realtime Worlds employees. In an unusual move, RTW studio head Colin MacDonald has responded directly to the reports in a statement released to UK consumer site videogaming247, and also provided to Gamasutra. "Although to date we haven’t had an offer from Microsoft for the Crackdown sequel rumored, we continue to have ongoing discussions with them," wrote MacDonald. "In the unfortunate event that there isn’t an agreement with RTW reached, Dave [Jones, CEO of RTW and creator of the original Grand Theft Auto] said he would ‘be gutted not to be involved’." In an apparently sour-tempered dig at Ruffian, MacDonald added: "But if it had to be that way, I would want to see it done justice – by an established, renowned developer that had the track record of delivering the quality gaming experience Crackdown players would demand." "In any event, I also very much doubt that Microsoft would harm an otherwise fruitful existing development relationship by gambling on funding Crackdown 2 with a start-up on RTW’s doorstep, for obvious reasons," he added. As part of the statement, MacDonald confirmed that "five or six" RTW staff had been employed by Ruffian, out of a total of more than 200. To date RTW’s only confirmed project at the present time is online title APB.