SEC Filing Reveals Tough Road Ahead for Interplay

The latest filing of the Interplay's quarterly report to the Security and Exchange Commission, has revealed the dire state of publisher Interplay’s financial status. One of the most prominent North American PC publishers in the ‘90s, Interplay was the publisher of such seminal hits as Baldur’s Gate, Descent and Fallout. After closing down internal development studio Black Isle Studios and its Californian offices in June of last year the company has survived by selling the rights to sequels to its intellectual properties, such as the sale of role-playing game Fallout to developer Bethesda Softworks – having previously sold other prominent IP such as Redneck Rampage and assets such as renowned developer Shiny Entertainment. As of June 30th the company reported a working capital deficit of approximately $17 million and a cash balance of just $30,000 million. Revenues for the quarter were put at just $320,000. The company also has various outstanding contractual obligations, including developer license commitments, lease commitments to its previous landlord, payroll taxes for unpaid employees and various other commitments adding to a total of over $7 million. After the cancellation of massively multiplayer online role-playing game Ballerium the company now has no games in development, although its report states that “Management will continue to pursue various alternatives to improve future operating results, and further expense reductions, some of which may have a long-term adverse impact on the Company's ability to generate successful future business activities.” The report further states that the company is actively seeking a sale or merger, although no specific buyer has been hinted at.