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Original Publishing Date (y/m/d): 1998-03-10
R.I.P
Yes it is true, 21st Century Entertainment Ltd. has ceased to exist. 21st Ltd. who originally formed 21st Century and made their name with the releases of the all time big hit pinballs Pinball Dreams and Pinball Fantasies. For quite some time now, most personnel from 21st Ltd. have relocated themselves to other companies in the industry. And now, as I said, there is no company any more.
21st Ltd. had developed a new pinball called Electronic Pinball last year before they now dropped dead. This pinball was never released last year and certainly wont be this year, at least by them if by any. There was also rumors that 21st Ltd. next project was to be a 3d pinball, that is a project that will never leave the the drawing board...
As for 21st Ltd.'s back catalogue, it's possible that someone will buy the rights to the Pinball games that they own. DI has the copyright for most of their titles that 21st Ltd. produced, whereas 21st Ltd. own specific publishing rights for most of the world in those titles. It's possible that this might be worth money, to someone. Maybe the liquidator manages to sell the rights to their back catalog to some other firm, thus allowing a constant stream of 21st pinball titles to continue. Maybe EP will get out this way.
If you know your 21st Century Entertainment history (see link below) you know that there are (were) two companies, 21st Century Entertainment Inc. (US) and (former) 21st Century Entertainment Ltd. (UK). The US part is still alive. The US part, 21st Inc. is a separate company, the two companies never really new so much of what the other one was doing.
Background
In the last year, 21st Century Entertainment Inc. (US part, the one still alive) has had a difficult time due to two factors. Their distribution company in North America went through its own problems and when they caught a cold 21st caught pneumonia! They spent a year just recovering from the financial difficulty.
At the same time 21st Century Entertainment Ltd. was going through an even more difficult time in their market and they had been responsible for all of 21st Century Entertainment Inc.'s product supply. But now the only product that they had produced was Electronic Pinball. 21st Inc. (the us part) weren't especially eager to publish Electronic Pinball with the motivation that they only want to publish the highest possible quality products (obviously they felt that Electronic Pinball was not up to the required standards).
As a result of these and other factors, 21st Inc. decided to no longer depend upon 21st Ltd. for product supply and decided to find new developers.
Now that 21st Century Entertainment Ltd. is totally out of buisness they don't really have a choice there. Before 21st Ltd. turned up its toes 21st Inc was down to a part time Tech Support guy, and one employee working from home.
The future of the other company, 21st Century Entertainment Inc.
Today 21st Inc. seems have had success in their search and have found two new developers. They belive they are now in a better position to develope better products as a result. Their first new product for 1998 will be an arcanoid pinball game (not yet named). That pinball is nearly finished so there's something to look forward too. The second planned product is a 3D version of SlamTilt. Quote from 21st Century:
- "SlamTilt 3D The Resurrection is an all new 3D rendered engine with phenomenal graphics and gameplay. We have every expectation that SlamTilt 3D will be THE pinball simulation of the millenium."
Well, maybe 21st Inc. will manage to grow now and once again make 21st Century an as big name in pinball circles as former 21st Ltd originally made it.
Oh, and whatever happens,
DON'T forget the Dreams and Fantasies
21st Century Entertainment Ltd. brought us!
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