Many of these documents allegedly show how Sega was getting more and more upset with what Gearbox was doing and how they were marketing the game without approval from Sega on the information or assets that were released.
One e-mail, titled "Gearbox is announcing things," detailed a number of game facts and video preview footage revealed in June 2011 that hadn't been approved by Sega. In another, a Sega PR representative called out Pitchford for "talk[ing] a LOT beyond what was in there" at an event. And in yet another e-mail, Pitchford was quoted as saying "A:CM will curbstomp Dead Space."
Yeah, about that Dead Space comment. Whoops?
Gearbox continues to try distancing itself from this class-action lawsuit filed against them and Sega when they filed to remove any personal financial obligation in this lawsuit. Sega recently filed its own motion that insists Gearbox is just as responsible for what happened as they are. Sega was about ready to agree to a $1.25 million settlement before pushing forward to bring Gearbox back into the hot seat with them. It probably doesn't help Gearbox's case when another email actually says that the early E3 demos looked better than the final release.
"The E3 demo is indeed the bar that we should use to determine where the entire game will be," Sega staffer Matthew Powers wrote in July 2011. "That is Gearbox’s plan and what they believe in."
(via Arstechnica)
