Team Bondi to close

LA Noire developer Team Bondi is to close its doors, according to documents filed with the Australian Securities And Investments Commission.

Earlier today, forms were submitted confirming that a liquidator has been appointed, with the company to be wound up, following a meeting of creditors last week. The liquidator will now handle the sale of Team Bondi's remaining assets and payment of outstanding debts.

The news brings down the curtain on what should have been a year of celebration at the Sydney studio after LA Noire's seven-year development ended with its release in May.

LA Noire was a huge success, setting a record for sales of a new IP upon its release in the UK, topping the Japanese chart in its first week on sale, and was the best-selling game at US retail for two months in a row, according to NPD.

Team Bondi head Brendan McNamara boasted of a rush of interest in LA Noire's groundbreaking MotionScan facial animation technology from other industries as well as from Rockstar, claiming the LA Noire publisher was looking at using MotionScan in the next Grand Theft Auto.

Yet McNamara found himself in the firing line, accused by former staff of imposing excessive unpaid overtime on his staff to ensure development of LA Noire was completed, sparking an industry-wide debate about crunch.

Soon afterwards, Rockstar reportedly washed its hands of the studio after tiring of McNamara's leadership style and lack of direction. McNamara was then reported to have sold Team Bondi's assets and IP to Australian film company KMM, with Bondi staff told to accept a job with KMM or accept severance terms. The studio was put into administration on August 30.

McNamara will be in London next month for the BAF Game conference, which runs as part of the Bradford Animation Festival. His session, Bringing Humanity To Games, will look at the development and implementation of MotionScan.