BioWare Co-Founders Retire
- Thread starter Andy Chalk
- Start date
Woulda rather see than continue with a company that is not under corporate stranglehold.
Of course, the gradualy degenerating quality of Bioware games might not have been solely due to EA. Maybe they realy did run out of steam. After some 2 decades. Nothing to do with EA at all.
However, ill be going with the vastly more likely explaination here. Damn you EA burn and die in deadly fiery death!
Of course, the gradualy degenerating quality of Bioware games might not have been solely due to EA. Maybe they realy did run out of steam. After some 2 decades. Nothing to do with EA at all.
However, ill be going with the vastly more likely explaination here. Damn you EA burn and die in deadly fiery death!
Thank you for all the two of you have done to advance games and building one of my favorite studios of all time.
The industry will never be the same without you Greg and Ray, you will be missed.
The industry will never be the same without you Greg and Ray, you will be missed.
I always thought people bought the game due to a combination of peer pressure, heavy marketing and not enough will power. It's a very potent combination at the best of times and it does take quite a bit of will power to stick to boycotting.Bhaalspawn said:
But most of the money the publishers get is mostly from over-charging for their products. Forty five quid is a lot of money to sink on a single purchase for a lot of gamers. Especially when a lot of them are on low income jobs and or spend time on gaming websites to further rub in the desire for a new game.
But as you said, there's a sucker born every minute and the sheer number of newbies make up for the number of disillusioned gamers out there as far as the publisher is concerned. It's quite depressing to think how a much loved childhood hobby is being increasingly bogged down and diluted by corporate interests.
It is always sad to see the old guard go, but I see this as an opportunity for new passionate people to step into the industry. These new guys will need to be a little more savvy when it comes to corporate politics, though. . .
Fare thee well.
Fare thee well.
Well, I have mixed thoughts here.
At the end of the day we shouldn't be blaming EA but the Bioware Co-Founders for what's going on here. From where I'm standing these guys built up the "Bioware" brand, and then sold the company to EA while still remaining tenatively at it's head. They figured they would stick around if EA's plans worked, but when they predictably failed, they more or less grabbed the golden parachute of their payout, and left. From their perspective it was a giant cash grab, they got paid and didn't really care about the games, they got a payout, and a chance at more money, but when it failed they were able to leave what they grabbed. The way they played it they can now retire in their early 40s, if it hurts games and gamers, so what? They made theirs.
As I understand things this was not a hostile takeover, it was a conscious desician at the top to take EA's money and merge with them, these two guys were probably the ones who decided to do that, they are thus responsible for what happened to the games, employees, and the state of gaming. EA was doing what it always does, and was a known quantity, there was no real deception involved as far as I can see.
To be honest I'd be wary of either of these guys if they decided to get back into the business because if they sold out, and then jumped ship, once, there is no guarantee they won't do it again.
If I sound more judgemental of Bioware's leadership than I am of say Richard Garriot, a lot of it has to do with timing and when things happened. It's because of how things turned out with guys like Richard that you can't claim ignorance of what was going to happen and who was being dealt with in Bioware's dealings.
It's sad that what is likely the last vestige of what made Bioware what it was is now gone, but I think we all knew this was coming. I do not however view the co-founders as victims here as much as part of the cause. In the absolute best case you can say they brought it on themselves, and given their apparent retirement in their early 40s (which means they can afford to do so) it doesn't seem like they are in bad shape, or especially sympathetic, after all they doubtlessly knew they had the option to do this which is why they sold out.
At the end of the day we shouldn't be blaming EA but the Bioware Co-Founders for what's going on here. From where I'm standing these guys built up the "Bioware" brand, and then sold the company to EA while still remaining tenatively at it's head. They figured they would stick around if EA's plans worked, but when they predictably failed, they more or less grabbed the golden parachute of their payout, and left. From their perspective it was a giant cash grab, they got paid and didn't really care about the games, they got a payout, and a chance at more money, but when it failed they were able to leave what they grabbed. The way they played it they can now retire in their early 40s, if it hurts games and gamers, so what? They made theirs.
As I understand things this was not a hostile takeover, it was a conscious desician at the top to take EA's money and merge with them, these two guys were probably the ones who decided to do that, they are thus responsible for what happened to the games, employees, and the state of gaming. EA was doing what it always does, and was a known quantity, there was no real deception involved as far as I can see.
To be honest I'd be wary of either of these guys if they decided to get back into the business because if they sold out, and then jumped ship, once, there is no guarantee they won't do it again.
If I sound more judgemental of Bioware's leadership than I am of say Richard Garriot, a lot of it has to do with timing and when things happened. It's because of how things turned out with guys like Richard that you can't claim ignorance of what was going to happen and who was being dealt with in Bioware's dealings.
It's sad that what is likely the last vestige of what made Bioware what it was is now gone, but I think we all knew this was coming. I do not however view the co-founders as victims here as much as part of the cause. In the absolute best case you can say they brought it on themselves, and given their apparent retirement in their early 40s (which means they can afford to do so) it doesn't seem like they are in bad shape, or especially sympathetic, after all they doubtlessly knew they had the option to do this which is why they sold out.
I'd just like to use this to thank the Dr's for helping my formative years be full of wonder and mysticism. Their $100,000 gamble helped computer RPGs have a distinct flavor and energy that has yet to be completely emulated, and with Baldur's Gate EE coming soon, it's obvious that their initial mark on the history of the medium is far from dated and unwanted.
Good luck in your next steps, and don't keep all that mead to yourself! I really wouldn't mind a few bottles of that.
Good luck in your next steps, and don't keep all that mead to yourself! I really wouldn't mind a few bottles of that.
Why do people keep spreading misinformation?Therumancer said:
EA bought BW/Pandemic's parent company (and private equity firm), Elevation Partners, which owned several other companies in the tech sector. That was due to John Riccitello, who had originally founded the company and then left, re-acquiring the firm after working at EA for two years
Really, your entire post is based on a fallacy.
Monsigenur Martinez?xedobubble said:
I never got into Baldur's Gate but from what I've heard, its a legend of the RPG series so-(salutes) carry on gentlemen and here's wishing you the best of luck.
Actually there's one more step to becoming an EA subsidiary.Mr.Tea said:
EA has to shut you down, because EA has no subsidiaries only slaves.
I've translated both of their statements into one three word answer to the question, "Why are you leaving Bioware?"
"Because of E.A"
That's all there is too it, really, cut and dry, that is why.
Sure, it's partially their fault that Bioware got consumed into the Tyrant Juggernaut in the first place, but it's clear to see this is a case of the people with actual passion scattering from a company that E.A has devoured and branded into DEVELOPMENT STUDIO #6809
"Because of E.A"
That's all there is too it, really, cut and dry, that is why.
Sure, it's partially their fault that Bioware got consumed into the Tyrant Juggernaut in the first place, but it's clear to see this is a case of the people with actual passion scattering from a company that E.A has devoured and branded into DEVELOPMENT STUDIO #6809
First Drew Karpyshyn, now the (important) co-founders? Goodbye, BioWare. May you rest in peace.