Homeworld IP "meant something to me," says Gearbox COO
The Homeworld IP, which was sold in a smaller THQ auction back in April, was being bid on by not only Gearbox Studios but Aspyr Media and Paradox Interactive.
This is according to Gearbox COO Brian Martel and CEO Randy Pitchford speaking during a panel at PAX Australia.
Pitchford said Martel reminded him to follow up with bidding on the IP every day, and the funds for it had to be put in an escrow account to show it could be afforded.
The firm eventually started live bidding on the Homeworld IP on the phone against Aspyr and Paradox. Gearbox's $1.3 million bid beat Aspyr by $50,000.
"This is one of those games that for me sort of moved me as brand," said Martel regarding Homeworld. "I was impressed with the story and it had some of the best spaceships that I have ever seen, outside of Star Wars. It was that part of it that meant something to me, so I really thought that we should get it out there for the rest of the world.
"And a lot of folks haven't had a chance to play it, it has only been on DVD or CD, it has not ever been released digitally."
Gearbox plans to give the games a "fresh coat of paint," ship upgrades, which Martel hopes will cause the public to "love it the same way as I have."
The HD remakes of Homeworld and Homeworld 2 will be made available through digital distribution.