Chillingo Founders Chris Byatte, Joe Wee Quit EA

[Karloff]

Chillingo Founders Chris Byatte, Joe Wee Quit EA

No word on what Chris Byatte and Joe Wee intend to do next.

Chillingo founders Chris Byatte and Joe Wee have left Electronic Arts. Chillingo, the company behind Cut the Rope and the original publishers of Angry Birds, was bought out by EA for $20 million back in 2010 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/104575-Angry-Birds-Publisher-Lands-in-EAs-Nest], and its founders rose up the EA ranks to director and general manager respectively. No word yet on where the pair intend to go, or why they left.

It's yet another loss for EA, coming close on the heels of the departure of PopCap [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/130998-Updated-Criterion-Founders-Leave-Studio]'s senior people.

Although Chillingo was bought out by EA, it has always maintained its own identity. Back in October 2013 [http://www.pocketgamer.biz/r/PG.Biz/Chillingo+news/feature.asp?c=54923&srch=chillingo], COO Edward Rumley hinted at "disadvantages" in the EA partnership, suggesting that business culture clashes were to blame. At the time he was keen to stress that Chillngo had been "ring fenced" to preserve its company culture.

Perhaps the ring fence isn't strong enough, or perhaps Byatte and Wee just decided they'd had enough of working for other people. Whichever way it went, it's a rocky start to the year for EA.

Source: MCV [http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/chillingo-founders-leave-ea/0126395]


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[Mr. Q]

Why do I get the feeling the undertaker (the actual profession one has working at a funeral and not the professional wrestler) is measuring up EA for its suit and coffin. ^^;

Sad news to hear, but the writing is definitely on the wall. Their bad business actions are coming back to haunt them, whatever "investments" they've made with independent studios like Chillingo is starting to sour, and lets not forget the Battlefield 4 debacle. If EA makes it to 2015, I will be deeply surprised.

 

[mechalynx]

Why do I get the feeling the undertaker (the actual profession one has working at a funeral and not the professional wrestler) is measuring up EA for its suit and coffin. ^^;

Sad news to hear, but the writing is definitely on the wall. Their bad business actions are coming back to haunt them, whatever "investments" they've made with independent studios like Chillingo is starting to sour, and lets not forget the Battlefield 4 debacle. If EA makes it to 2015, I will be deeply surprised.

Nah, they'll be around for a couple more years. Despite them moaning about dire results and laying off devs left and right, they still have plenty of cash. Besides, they still own BioWare and just signed a deal with Disney for exclusive game licences.

Maybe they'll grow a brain this year, but methinks that the level of hubris in that company is too damn high.

OT, good luck to the two fellas that jumped ship in their future endeavors.

 

[Absolutionis]

Besides, they still own BioWare and just signed a deal with Disney for exclusive game licences.

The original founders and heads of Bioware had all left a while ago the same way these Chillingo founders left EA. EA only owns the name "Bioware".

 

[TsunamiWombat]

I feel I speak for everyone in the fan community when I wish these individuals good luck, and say with all heartfelt sincerity: "Who?"

 

[lancar]

Step 1: EA buys a company
Step 2: That company's founders leave
Step 3: ???
Step 4: Profit

I think this might be the gameplan they use for all their takeovers, and it's working so well for them too.

*sarcasm meter emits a screeching noise and begins billowing smoke*


Seriously, though, it does seem to be the rule rather than the exception, doesn't it?

 

[Imperioratorex Caprae]

Dev studio sells out thinking they'll be able to run company the same as they did prior to the sell out. Dev heads leave company later because they found out that the Pixar-Disney deal was a once-in-a-lifetime buyout and they're not fucking Pixar, they can't just tell the now parent company to go fuck themselves whenever they want because they SOLD OUT.
Sigh... Know the weight of your decisions before you sign those contracts and get your payoffs...

 

[mechalynx]

Besides, they still own BioWare and just signed a deal with Disney for exclusive game licences.

The original founders and heads of Bioware had all left a while ago the same way these Chillingo founders left EA. EA only owns the name "Bioware".

I am well aware of that. I have always assumed that the Doctors wanted out before the ink was dry on the selling contract, but had to stay on for a couple of years to not to cause a mass panic and abandoning of the ship. It was just unfortunate that their departure coincided with the ME3 and SW:ToR debacle. Made it look like they left because of that instead of being ready to move on since before ME2.