150k shattered!

Amplitude: How Sony and Harmonix Agreed to Revive a Classic

The resurrection of Amplitude started with an instant message.

Harmonix has wanted to revive its classic music game for some time, as have its most vocal fans. So, one day, Harmonix’s John Drake sent a IM to Sony’s Adam Boyes, who runs publisher/developer relations at Sony. The response was pretty warm. “We want to figure out a way to make this possible for you,” was the sentiment Drake got back.

A few minutes, one phone call later, and a few crunched numbers later, everyone was happy with the potential, and Harmonix got to work on its Kickstarter campaign.

“It really was that simple,” Drake said. Sony was behind Harmonix, and the gist of the agreement boiled down to the original developer gauging fan interest with crowdfunding. If it doesn't work out, no harm, no foul.

"This really is a passion project," he continued. “We’ve been talking to them for a while about wanting to bring Amplitude back. And it’s a weird space because we are very much a third-party developer for Sony, we’re not owned by Sony, but Sony did publish the game during the PS2 era 14 years ago. Like, [Shuhei Yoshida] is the only connective tissue.”

Even still, Sony, which owns the Amplitude intellectual property, has “been really reasonable on every facet of the project.”

Harmonix “never had a straight buyout conversation,” but the idea of buying Amplitude back from Sony came up. Ultimately, Drake explained, “it was always better to partner with them and work together collaboratively.”

Full article: http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/05/05/amplitude-how-sony-and-harmonix-agreed-to-revive-a-classic

Does Sony own the IP or was the partnership deal with them more courteous?

Stalled a bit unfortunately after the biggest fans backed it in the first day, hopefully it have a last couple days blitz, but again I don't see it reaching the goal. Shame and pretty much ends any chances for the game as Sony & Harmonix will see that there isn't enough interest.

Sony could always add up the difference through multiple accounts on KS, though I think it will get there

First day was amazing, it's really slow now :(. I doubt it will make it.

Wish there was a Vita cross buy version as well but as a huge Harmonix fan I pledged 20 for a copy of the game! They aren't even to the half way point but there is still 14 days to go.

There is no reason to either do that or think that Sony will.

Since Harmonix decided to get it funded through Kickstarter in the first place means Sony wasn't interested in funding the game themselves, which is understandable considering the PS2 games were a commercial dissapointment.

This Kickstarter not making it will be a clear sign that this is just a very niche target game and strenghten Sony's decision. 

182k, 14 days left.

200k 12 days left, AARGH!