Rumour monday: Bioware founder(s) leaves?

http://www.gamersglobal.de/news/5654... (english translation down a bit)

It regards this:
IMAGE(http://i.imgur.com/NRhMU.png)

It seems Greg Zeschuk lists Bioware as his past, and hasn't been seen at Bioware Austin for a while.

I'm not a big fan of those two (I can't stand them in interviews) but the track record of what happens to EA bought studios after their founders leave isn't great. Not that I think these two were very involved in the actual game development, but if EA stick some random dude in there to run the company then I bet the BioWare name will mean nothing in 3-4 years. They'll be completely free to run it into the ground.

True or not, it does make me wonder in what form Bioware produced it's best stuff, and in what form it was most successful financially (and I think it's wise to consider these separately), and Bioware has gone from independent to merging with Pandemic, to being bought by EA.

It is what large corporations do, once they have a culture built it is nearly indestuctable. For some bioware is already dead to them (me for instance) soon it will be for everyone else as well.

Natural evolution of business...I would even guess that this was all part of the original transaction..usually the founders are tied up for a few years after the deal to maintain "stability". Then they are free to walk and not pay back any of the original $$/stock

Edit

As well nothing last forever...even Blizzard will probably be gone one day.

TheGameguru wrote:

Natural evolution of business...I would even guess that this was all part of the original transaction..usually the founders are tied up for a few years after the deal to maintain "stability". Then they are free to walk and not pay back any of the original $$/stock

That's certainly another way of looking at it. Stability can be a good thing, but it can also be a bad thing in certain circumstances. I guess the wise people in charge of such companies needs to know what aspects to keep and treasure, and what to discard. The people themselves need to recognise whether that's what they want for themselves, and move onto something else if it isn't.

TheGameguru wrote:

As well nothing last forever...even Blizzard will probably be gone one day.

Just thinking about that in comparison to things outside the games industry highlights how young the games industry really is. 17 years in the case of Bioware might seem long in an industry where things are born and die so quickly.

I would even go so far as to say things like this HAVE to happen for the industry to continue to evolve and innovate. Its all to common for a large company to absorb a small company for their IP (primary) and talent (secondary) and then "drive the IP to the ground squeezing out every drop of profit"

The really talented should eventually move on.. get out from under their existing IP(s) and with hopefully their piles of cash start over again fresh with a team consisting of vets and rookies and from their past success and mistakes develop something new.

TheGameguru wrote:

The really talented should eventually move on.. get out from under their existing IP(s) and with hopefully their piles of cash start over again fresh with a team consisting of vets and rookies and from their past success and mistakes develop something new.

This. There was a time when reading something like this and start to worry about the quality of games or the industry as a whole. Now though I really think events like this is just cause the evolution of the business as a whole. Mostly for the reasons just described--the talent will stick around for as long they are willing, then they'll break off and start their own thing or explore different styles of games.

So, while this may just be the beginning of the end for the Bioware name, it won't mean it won't spring up again later on as something else.

TheGameguru wrote:

As well nothing last forever...even Blizzard will probably be gone one day.

Seeing as its run by Templars and the Illuminati with ties to the Order of the Triad as well as being represented by Wolfram & Hart, I don't think its going anywhere.

CptDomano wrote:

This. There was a time when reading something like this and start to worry about the quality of games or the industry as a whole. Now though I really think events like this is just cause the evolution of the business as a whole. Mostly for the reasons just described--the talent will stick around for as long they are willing, then they'll break off and start their own thing or explore different styles of games.

This is already happening. A number of high-profile small to medium sized studios/games are starting to spring up from the ashes of the studios that have closed over the last few years. Banner Saga is ex-BioWare, Bastion was ex-EA, SpyParty is from a Maxis alum, Robot Entertainment is ex-Ensemble Studios, Runic is ex-Blizzard, Arena.net is ex-Blizzard, Telltale and DoubleFine are mostly ex-LucasArts, etc.

So, while this may just be the beginning of the end for the Bioware name, it won't mean it won't spring up again later on as something else.

Coming soon to a computer near you, BioWare: EA's social networking platform!

Actually, they are slapping the BioWare name on the new C&C Generals game which is being made by Victory Studios. If I heard correctly "BioWare" is a "label" at EA now, same with Maxis.

shoptroll wrote:

This is already happening. A number of high-profile small to medium sized studios/games are starting to spring up from the ashes of the studios that have closed over the last few years. Banner Saga is ex-BioWare, Bastion was ex-EA, SpyParty is from a Maxis alum, Robot Entertainment is ex-Ensemble Studios, Runic is ex-Blizzard, Arena.net is ex-Blizzard, Telltale and DoubleFine are mostly ex-LucasArts, etc.

Right, exactly! I knew there were already companies out there made up of ex employees, I just couldn't think of anyone other than DoubleFine off the top of my head. I actually didn't realize that Telltale was ex-LucasArts too. Thought they were just fans of the genre. Nice!

shoptroll wrote:

Coming soon to a computer near you, BioWare: EA's social networking platform!

...I'm still a little miffed they called their distribution service Origin. That's...that's just wrong.

shoptroll wrote:

Actually, they are slapping the BioWare name on the new C&C Generals game which is being made by Victory Studios. If I heard correctly "BioWare" is a "label" at EA now, same with Maxis.

Ohh right, I forgot about that too!

shoptroll wrote:
CptDomano wrote:

This. There was a time when reading something like this and start to worry about the quality of games or the industry as a whole. Now though I really think events like this is just cause the evolution of the business as a whole. Mostly for the reasons just described--the talent will stick around for as long they are willing, then they'll break off and start their own thing or explore different styles of games.

This is already happening. A number of high-profile small to medium sized studios/games are starting to spring up from the ashes of the studios that have closed over the last few years. Banner Saga is ex-BioWare, Bastion was ex-EA, SpyParty is from a Maxis alum, Robot Entertainment is ex-Ensemble Studios, Runic is ex-Blizzard, Arena.net is ex-Blizzard, Telltale and DoubleFine are mostly ex-LucasArts, etc.

And certain big names within the two original bioware studios have been moving on within the last few years, to positions within other bioware studios for SWTOR and leaving. Part of it seems to be that on one hand it's tempting to see games companies as a unit, but also that you have to remember that they're a collective of people under that banner.

I suppose as far as the doctors go I wonder how important they are, if they are a big leading and binding force within bioware, playing a big part in the games they produce and something essential will change if one or both of them leaves. Or, if nothing much will change as those two original studios become part of the whole of EA with their own heads, and the Bioware company would be meaningless anyway.

CptDomano wrote:

I actually didn't realize that Telltale was ex-LucasArts too. Thought they were just fans of the genre. Nice! :D

Nope, Telltale was founded by several ex-LucasArts people who were working on the sequel to Sam & Max Hit the Road.

CptDomano wrote:

...I'm still a little miffed they called their distribution service Origin. That's...that's just wrong.
:(

I kinda thank them for it.... It helps remind me of yet another great house the killed along with all the great games from them. Every time I get tempted by something EA makes seeing Origin's name helps keep me in check.

mcdonis wrote:
CptDomano wrote:

...I'm still a little miffed they called their distribution service Origin. That's...that's just wrong.
:(

I kinda thank them for it.... It helps remind me of yet another great house the killed along with all the great games from them. Every time I get tempted by something EA makes seeing Origin's name helps keep me in check.

It would be naive of us to believe that incident..along with every other one since then is entirely the fault of the Publisher (acquirer). Since remember the founders HAVE to WANT to sell.. or be in such a bad position that they are forced to find a buyer for cash reasons. So while you might want to always paint a single bad guy in these incidents... remember that in the end Bioware could have continued to run as an independent entity.. they chose to "cash out"

TheGameguru wrote:
mcdonis wrote:
CptDomano wrote:

...I'm still a little miffed they called their distribution service Origin. That's...that's just wrong.
:(

I kinda thank them for it.... It helps remind me of yet another great house the killed along with all the great games from them. Every time I get tempted by something EA makes seeing Origin's name helps keep me in check.

It would be naive of us to believe that incident..along with every other one since then is entirely the fault of the Publisher (acquirer). Since remember the founders HAVE to WANT to sell.. or be in such a bad position that they are forced to find a buyer for cash reasons. So while you might want to always paint a single bad guy in these incidents... remember that in the end Bioware could have continued to run as an independent entity.. they chose to "cash out"

You are correct, but I have a hard time blaming a guy who works his butt off creating a great series and wants to reap the reward of a buyout. In my mind he made his product and satasfied me with it. Now that EA has the series its up to them to make or break it.... And for the most part EA breaks it.

He lists "Co-founter of BioWare" under "current". I think he's just stopped actively managing at BioWare but still sits on the board or whatever. That's another executive thing--they're involved with multiple companies simultaneously.

Wonder if Will Wright is hiring.

LobsterMobster wrote:

Wonder if Will Wright is hiring.

Or Valve.

shoptroll wrote:
LobsterMobster wrote:

Wonder if Will Wright is hiring.

Or Valve.

http://www.22cans.com/

Duoae wrote:
shoptroll wrote:
LobsterMobster wrote:

Wonder if Will Wright is hiring.

Or Valve.

http://www.22cans.com/

I'm sad that's not an actual text entry field.

LobsterMobster wrote:
Duoae wrote:
shoptroll wrote:
LobsterMobster wrote:

Wonder if Will Wright is hiring.

Or Valve.

http://www.22cans.com/

I'm sad that's not an actual text entry field.

You know how many times I tried writing "Hire me"?

I tried "go dennis."