MX vs. ATV franchise developers express interest in the series' future

Following the news yesterday that bankrupt publisher THQ is auctioning off its remaining intellectual properties and franchises, former developers of the MX vs. ATV series, Rainbow Studios (renamed THQ Digital Phoenix in 2010), have responded to Polygon saying that they are "casually" interested in obtaining the IP and being a part of the franchise's future.

Former MX vs. ATV series lead designer Elliott Olson said he was "causally interested" but would like to have it rather seeing it "getting buried somewhere." He went on to say another organization without the motocross chemistry that Rainbow Studios had would not do as well with the franchise as Rainbow did.

"My current role won't really allow me to do something with it but I'd most likely talk to the few that seem interested if I did acquire it," Elliott told Polygon. "It will be interesting to see what happens with MX. The reason that franchise did so well is a small group of us live and breathe motocross."

"That touch helped the game be genuine," he continued. "It will be hard for a normal studio to pick it up and expect similar success without that same kind of chemistry."

"But, yeah, I'm interested."

The MX vs. ATV titles Elliott worked on include MX vs. ATV: Alive, MX vs. ATV: Reflex, MX vs. ATV: Untamed and MX vs. ATV: Unleashed.

Robert Baumsteiger, who was executive producer at Rainbow Studios for several years, told Polygon that he won't be bidding on the property, although he would love to be a part of whatever the future holds for it.

"The Rainbow group has all moved on to different companies so as much as that would be great I don't see it happening," Baumsteiger wrote in an email to Polygon. "As for who buys it, I would love to be part of it."

"But it is a waiting game now," he concluded.

The MX vs ATV franchise will be auctioned off under Lot 3 and includes the following the games:

• MX Alive
• MX vs ATV Untamed
• MX Superfly featuring Ricky Carmichael
• MX vs. ATV Alive Tournament
• MX Unleashed
• MX vs. ATV Unleashed
• MX vs ATV Reflex
• MX vs. ATV: On The Edge

The remaining three lots of franchises for auction include Darksiders, Red Faction and Homeworld. Lot 5 features a list of owned software and Lot 6 features licensed software. Polygon reports initial bids for the properties must be submitted by April 1, 2013 with final bids due April 15.