38 Studios creative director expected "a little more help" from Rhode Island

38 Studios was blindsided by Rhode Island governor Lincoln Chafee's failure to extend assistance to the financially troubled developer, according to creative director Steve Danuser.

Danuser told NECN the Kingdoms of Amalur developer thought Chafee would be a staunch supporter.

"We just needed a little more help, and we thought the state would have our backs on that," he said.

"We thought the governor was an ally. It didn't turn out that way," he added.

"Why did you do it? Why didn't you help us? [Governor Chafee] said a lot of things, he's broken confidentiality. He's done a lot of things to materially hurt us and I don't understand it."

Danuser also said that the governor had "turned his back on a lot of taxpaying Rhode Island citizens" who "wanted to contribute to Rhode Island" and now can't.

Rhode Island's on-and-off involvement in the developer's finances has been criticised by Amalur co-creator R.A. Salvatore as well as by an employee who claims that state promises were not met.

The state of Rhode Island secured a $75 million loan for 38 Studios when the company relocated from Massachusetts. Despite the above-expectations sales performance of Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, the studio was unable to meet loan repayments or pay employees, and has laid off its entire staff. The company's future remains uncertain but grim.

Thanks, Gamespot.