In an effort to keep their biggest money making franchise as valuable as possible, Midway has asked the bankruptcy courts for approval to continue bonus payments put in place for Mortal Kombat co-creator Ed Boon. In addition to a $105,000 bonus from revenue of past MK titles, Boon also stands to collect another $900,000 in bonuses for Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, released in November 2008. Obviously, Midway feels that if Boon were to leave, it would negatively affect the future sale of the Mortal Kombat franchise, should need be.

Ed Boon is the co-creator of "Mortal Kombat" and currently the lead designer for for the fighting franchise at Midway. Though he isn't mentioned by name in the bankruptcy filings, there is extensive discussion of a "key designer" who is "responsible for historically the Debtors? most successful video game series." Later on it mentions that the series had a new release in the fourth quarter of 2009.

The series is obviously "Mortal Kombat" and the designer is Boon. In this filing, Midway is asking the bankruptcy court to approve continued payment of Boon's bonus plan in order to retain his services, which it claims is "critical to maximizing the value of one of the Debtors? primary assets" (a.k.a. "Mortal Kombat").

Why? Well, he's in charge of making the "Mortal Kombat" games and also the guy who handles most interviews and publicity. If he were to leave, it would be yet another PR nightmare for Midway and would likely lessen the value of the franchise to a potential buyer.

Source: http://weblogs.variety.c ... bonus.html


UPDATE: Fellow Mortal Kombat fansite Mortal Kombat Online has confirmed from Midway that the "2009" in "the series had a new release in the fourth quarter of 2009" is indeed a typo.