38 Studios pays up, shows next game

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) -- Video game company 38 Studios released details on its next game project Friday night while the controversy around the $75 million dollar loan granted by the state continues to swirl.

Friday, the company released a video showcasing its next game project, currently called "Project Copernicus," hours after state officials confirmed that the company had successfully made the roughly $1.1 million payment that it had missed.  

"Project Copernicus" is a Massively-Multiplayer Online game (MMO) set in the same fictional universe as the company's published game, "Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning."  "Copernicus" was originally set to be released this September but has been delayed until June of 2013.

State officials said the company missed the payment earlier this week, then on Thursday gave the state a check that the company's CFO said would not clear because of insufficient funds.  State officials refused to take the check, but Governor Lincoln Chafee said Friday that payment had finally been made earlier in the day.  Making the payment means that 38 Studios is now eligible for millions of dollars in tax credits.  Chafee said he is against the idea of giving 38 Studios any more taxpayer money and said the company needs to turn to private investors to solve its cash problems.

Meanwhile, state officials also confirmed to Eyewitness News that the company did not make payroll this week; employees at 38 Studios' 1 Empire Plaza office did not want to speak to reporters and it was unclear if the company made payroll after the state payment went through.

Eyewitness News also tracked down former Governor Don Carcieri at an event in West Warwick, but the former Governor left without speaking to reporters about the 38 Studios deal, which he supported while he was in office.