That is a real shame. Empire were a British company and started the same year that I started The Producers. Another one bites the dust. I wish the staff the best of luck. Troubled times everywhere very, very sad news.

To all my old buddies, good luck for the future. Really sad to see Empire go, the Brand I helped create (above) is still one of my proudest moments.

Beers soon.

I echo Andy's sentiments. I remember all those years ago buying Empire games to play on my home computer.

They have been around for an eternity. Very sad to see a British publishing institution suffer this unfortunate fate.

I would also like to wish the staff the very best for the future.

Well thanks for letting your staff know Empire here on MCV that we all no longer have jobs thanks a lot! I guess I'll have to ask the admis when I'm getting paid for the month of March and April!

Very sad to hear the news or a veteran like them going. Lots an great memories of Empire, from as far back in 1988 as a journo, and then in the last couple of years working with them in PR. Will be sorely missed and best wished to Ian, Simon and all everyone there.

During my years in this industry, MCV has played a role in providing me important news before management deigns to.

And once again this vital organ scooped an official email from the director to Empire staff by nearly two hours. Well done.

This official email says that staff won't be officially told until next week what is to officially happen to them.

Then again, they have been told this before.

Perhaps, when the dust settles and payments have been made, MCV will consider interviewing some staff for their views on what happened and any advice they would give others in similar situations.

Particularly as the article, as timely and newsworthy as it is, does not at all do justice to the dreadful circumstances of the past few months.

Also, we should not forget the creditors that will not be paid. Some of these are SMEs and Empire's collapse may hit them hard.

I wish all Empire staff, and Empire's creditors, the very best for the future.

P.S. There is usually a silver lining - and in this case, I think the director will be fine, don't you?

Well what can i say, it seems Empire was dignified in their approach till the very end. They even went to MCV before informing their staff members of the situation. Having their staff read off here must be depressing. Sometimes even if things take the turn for the worse, some common courtosy and respect would go a long way. However instead not only did they keep the staff lingering BUT they also stabbed their staff members in the back. I for one say a big well done to Empire for taking the absolute worst possible path out of existance.....

Just bought FO1 for my little brother, already have Flatout2. Its an amazing game, I wish the best of luck for al the employees at Empire Interactive.

Sorry for my bad English.

Empire was always a fun place to work and was ofen like a big disjointed family, we had our ups and downs, but we got there in the end. I will miss it and all the friends I have made there past and present.
Its a real shame it had to end on such a sour note with staff not being looked after, not paid for several months, given little to no information and treated as disposable although they have continued to support the company and to keep the office staffed for the past two months. I wish almost everyone at Empire good luck, but find it hard to find any good wishes for those responsible for the sorry affair. Maybe when the dust has settled MCV and those in the industry will be interested in what led to Empire's demise.

I started off my career at Empire. Shame to see a great company go. Best wishes to everyone, hope it all gets sorted.

I worked at Empire for almost 7 years and I was very sad to hear this news. For a large part of my time it was great working there and an important factor in that were the people I worked with. I shall miss you all - to all my friends at Empire - good luck for the future - onwards and upwards! Keep in touch :)

Empire was a great place to work, and it's a real shame to see them go down like this.

Hope everyone finds new work soon...

I also worked for empire back in the day, really enjoyed my time there and met some great people who I am still friends with. Some great memories of Brain Dead 13 rum at ECTS and hurling abuse at domanic diamond.

I dont care much for the management tho who I witnessed treat many a hard worker like utter crap, this kind of end doesnt really surprise me.

From time-to-time many moons ago, I worked with the old guard at Empire, yes both Simon Jeffery and Ian Higgins. They are decent people from the very early days of the micro-software entertainment industry, and like so many other players who did not command a minimum $1 billion dollar top line revenue, Empire have ceased operations. A page has turned, but more importantly, I'd like to pay this tribute to both Simon and Ian for carrying on this long. Way-the-go guys - that in itself is a feat. Hopefully you guys were paid-in-full.

And the countless people who worked there for the last 2 months with no pay should get squat because they are lower ranked members of stuff most commonly known as grunts in companies??? I find the above post disrespectful to the countless Empire employees who fought for the company till the very end....

HI Robert,

MCV understands that both Ian and Simon were no longer part of Empire as it headed into administration. Ian left in May last year... I think Simon soon followed.

Cheers,
Tim

To all my old friends and ex-colleagues at Empire, good luck with what's to come and I wish you all the best for the future. Like many have posted here, I spent many happy years at Empire and some not so happy but it really was the people that kept everything going and made the company what it was, a genuinely fun place to work.

Hope to see you guys soon, probably for Big Uncle's birthday next month (especially if Beasty is buying ;) )

To all those great friends I had, I wish you all all the luck in the future. I spent a great 2 years at Empire and had such a good time with you all. It was like a bizzare little family, all living that 'secret other life' together. ;-)
I wish everyone who was there until the end all the best, and maybe we can have an Empire reunuion soon. Bar Soho?
Good luck everyone.

Such a shame, I had 3 brilliant years at Empire - well brilliant for some of the time. The best part was who I worked with so find it hard to read what has happened to those who stayed.

Wish you all the best and good luck sorting something else out. If I can help then if you still have my number, drop me a text.

I remember saying I'd never work for empire in a million years.

A week later, arriving at 'one of the original two' director's houses on a Saturday for 'a chat' as he watched Football Focus rather than me, his interview technique included the classic - have you ever taken drugs? I didn't lie. I got the job. Not classic corporate HR, but you knew where you stood. At empire honesty and your opinion, right or wrong, was valued. Always.

That's why it's so galling to read the recent shocking turn of events, and the crap treatment by the current management. A great, compact and, in my day, a profitable institution ruined.
I really feel for the staff who stuck by empire to the very end with empty pockets only to read its fate on MCV online - and shame on the cowardly mis-management who didn't stand up, look their staff in the eye and tell them!

Anon, sorry, didn't mean to offend or disrespect current staffers at Empire. I feel for your loss. My message was solely directed to Ian and Simon per my subject line "Farewell Ian and Simon." I always considered them to be fair dealers.

I'm fully not sure of laws in UK, but normally the worker is protected from compensation failures like what has been briefly described here. Perhaps you should talk to a lawyer to determine your rights. The mother ship of Empire may be on the hook. Good luck.

P.S. Thanks for the info Tim.

I have just had an email from KPMG confirming that as of 11:30 29/04/2009 "KPMG have not yet been appointed to represent Empire Interactive"

Hi Debbie,

We have it on watertight authority KPMG has been appointed. Looks like it's delaying the official announcement at Empire's behest.

The use of the word 'yet' in their official statement says it all. Thanks for posting - please keep us informed of anything else you find.

Cheers,
Tim

Sad news indeed. Too many happy memories and ridiculous anecdotes from my "brief" time at Empire to mention - starting from the luxury offices in Baz, to the Tyre Warehouse in Finchley. Hope all the folks sort something out for themselves - never will one come across a more loyal, skilled and hardworking group of people.

Best of Luck in whatever comes next for all of you and I shall look forward to any reunion - maybe sponsored by MCV!!

Another day and still no official news!! We have all been left in a horrible state of limbo, treated with utter contempt with complete disregard for employees personal circumstances. Unless we are made redundant we cannot claim benefits, statutory redundancy pay or claim on insurance. What are they expecting people to live on? How are we to meet mortgage or rent payments and feed our families?The end of another month without pay and still no decision to put us all out of our misery.

Come on, what's the hold up? Have the decency to do the right thing by your employees. After the loyalty and patience shown by the staff the least we deserve is to be treated with some diginity, not just cast aside like trash when it no longer suits your needs.

This whole affair is starting to make me feel physically sick!

I have it on good authority that, the decision to start insovency process has always been with KPMG, Barclays bank and sole Director of Empire, Clive. Every one at Empire is disgusted by the behaviour of the bank, KPMG and Cilve. They should be named and shamed in public!

I as an employee of Empire Interactive have yet to receive any official update from either company director Clive of Silverstar Holdings or from KPMG. Why is Empire Interactive not in administration yet? They have been unable to pay anyone for over 2 months ... what is the hold up. I for one believe that the set of circumstances here need to be investigated by industry press to avoid something like this happening ever again.

Hmmm, i was kind of hoping we would be made redundant today so i can seek help from the government. I will be going to see my solicitor on Monday regarding any legal advice to hasten this. As im aware alot of people have financial difficulties, Empire by making us wait is simply not helping. Im personally begining to think that they are deliberately doing this to force people to resign to reduce redundancy payments. I dont know. Hopefully the solicitor i will visit on monday/tuesday will be able to give me some advice and insight on what, if anything i can do. As most of you im getting sick of this situation. And to those posting as ANON, why? what have you got to lose? you scared of being suspended or sacked or something? Considering you havent been paid for 2 months i would say a breach of contract is an understatement. Stop all this ANON stuff and just label yourself in other ways than ANON.

Any way i do hope this situation will be resolved soon.....

to MCV: Is there any progress with the administrators moving in? Seeing as you are providing us with not only more information, but also providing us with information that are facts and not using spin, could you confirm if there have been any advancements with the administrators in regards to Empire's situation?

Yeah I'll say something!

Looks like it's finally over and the Administration has begun!

My fond farewells to the valiant gang of Lads and Lasses that were there till the end. It was a pleasure working with you all and I wish you the very best of luck in your future careers.

It will all come out in the wash eventually I'm sure, perhaps we could sell the movie rights?

There have been various twists and turns involving guarantors, overseas publishers and even former owners but to no avail. Let's hope people get to know the truth and sympathise with the way we were strung along for so long.

I think, given the terrible state of finances at the end, it extremely doubtful we'll see the money we're owed, but it's still worth the effort I feel to attempt recovery even if it just publicises the sham.

My apologies to all the developers who were forced to accept the 'company message' when we were all itching to shout 'run run'. I hope you get to retain your rights to IPs.

I joined Empire for the right reasons and don't regret it. The place had a lot of potential and just needed a few mindset changes to bring it about. Too late now, so let's sound the lament and move on.

After over 25 years in this business I can honestly say this has been one of the shoddiest affairs I've ever been party to.

There's a Silver Star shining brightly tonight no doubt somewhere, but let's hope not for much longer....

All the best
Rich

I just found out about this today, it's very sad to see Empire go. They produced a whole bunch of great games, and given how long they've been around for they're a little piece of gaming history. They'll be missed.

i used to work in the studio and hated every day i turned up for work.

A few of the lads were great and had many a beer with them - to those i wish you luck.

Only just found out as I was away on Holiday...What a shame, great people at Empire, I wish you all the best for the future!

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