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[zomgbbqftw]

The Corrine Yu thread just got me thinking about this.

In 2010 MS inaugurated a Vancouver studio, it failed after a year and half the team were sacked.

In 2012 they were rebranded to Black Tusk Studios and we've since been told that they are working on a new AAA franchise "to rival Halo".

Do we know what changed? Did they hire key talent from other studios to prompt such a change?

How does a studio that was previously failing to make Kinect games suddenly move to AAA development without making key hires? 343i were able to do it because they got hugely talented people involved from the start in technical and creative positions so the transition from Bungie to 343i for a premier IP was not too problematic (though that's not to say Halo 4 was perfect). Who has MS hired for BTS to make them worthy of the hype? It can't be the same team that were making and failing with Kinect titles. Surely not.

I am asking this question because AAA game development can't be magicked out of thin air. THQ is a prime example of this.

 

[satam55]

 

[Danny Dudekisser]

Don't worry, I'm sure that they do have talent, and that it's actively being squandered.

 

[Nightengale]

I think Osaka Studio deserves a query as well.

I cannot, for the life of me, find any kind of development talent job availability for MS Osaka studios on their website.

 

[Doffen]

Paging TheOddOne.

Something TheOddOne put together:

- New Game Designer: Bob Churchill (He was the Senior Game Designer on Dead Rising 3!)
- Lead Character Artist: Tyler Breon (Worked on God Of War 3 and Ascension)
- New Senior Designer: Nic Wechter (Worked as Senior Designer at Guerrilla Games on KZ3 and Shadow Fall)

 

[Hindle]

Someone needs to summon TheOddOne.

 

[Hindle]

They've been hiring developers from every major studio out there. Guerilla, Voliton, Retro, WB, Epic, and many more.

 

[Derrick01]

Is it really supposed to rival Halo in popularity? That bothers me since I thought this was supposed to be a somewhat stealth focused game. That makes me believe we're talking "stealth" like we do in an Uncharted game and not stealth like a Splinter Cell (well, old splinter cell).

 

[Hoo-doo]

Good question. I've seen a lot of people giving a lot of weight to these, let's be honest, "no-name" studio's.

Curious to see if they are actually going to deliver the AAA megaton everyone is expecting them to.

 

[Nightengale]

Is it really supposed to rival Halo in popularity? That bothers me since I thought this was supposed to be a somewhat stealth focused game. That makes me believe we're talking "stealth" like we do in an Uncharted game and not stealth like a Splinter Cell (well, old splinter cell).

I think that's MS's ambition, at least.

Clearly a lot of resources are being put into this Black Tusk title, seeing how MS is already putting them at the forefront of their 'new studios' and talking about it even though the game is far from ready.

 

[JaggedSac]

CBOAT was talking up the Black Tusk game a little while back wasn't he? Also, I recall a tweet mentioning Microsoft Research working with them to add something interesting to the game.

 

[Doffen]

Is it really supposed to rival Halo in popularity? That bothers me since I thought this was supposed to be a somewhat stealth focused game. That makes me believe we're talking "stealth" like we do in an Uncharted game and not stealth like a Splinter Cell (well, old splinter cell).

They way the character tackled down the guard(?) in the trailer and loaded an unsilenced gun should give an indication that it's not aiming to be the next Splinter Cell.

At least that's my take.

Edit: ugh...

 

[Fried Food]

I think your first mistake is assuming that because a team worked on Kinect games that they are less talented or capable than other teams.

Also THQ's downfall was not due to the talent of the development teams

 

[Hindle]

CBOAT was talking up the Black Tusk game a little while back wasn't he? Also, I recall a tweet mentioning Microsoft Research working with them to add something interesting to the game.

I think he said it was looking very impressive.

 

[BruceLeeRoy]

CBOAT was talking up the Black Tusk game a little while back wasn't he? Also, I recall a tweet mentioning Microsoft Research working with them to add something interesting to the game.

CBOAT says they are making the most impressive stuff of all MS dev teams at the moment

 

[TheOddOne]

No offense OP, but that is really the most passive aggressive inquiry I've read today.

I really want to help answer your question, but I feel like you already made up your mind.

 

[jbug617]

Some of the people I could find. I believe they had some guy who worked at Guerilla and another who worked on Mass Effect 2 or 3

Sten Heubler is a senior game designer at Black Tusk. He was at Crytek and lead game designer for Crysis 2
http://ca.linkedin.com/in/shuebler

Tyler Breon is lead character artist at Black Tusk. He was at SSM and he worked on God of War Ascension/ God of War 3

Jeff King is technical animator at Black Tusk. He was at Next Level Games and his last game was Luigi's Mansion 2 as presentation animation.

Martin Raymond is a senior game designer at Black Tusk. He was Kaos Studios and his last game was Homefront.

Edit: The Odd One would know best. He finds most of this stuff out.

 

[Marvel]

CBOAT was talking up the Black Tusk game a little while back wasn't he?

Yeah he was, said even in post production it was looking insane and it's gonna be good. I'd like to know more about this title.

 

[Hoo-doo]

No offense OP, but that is really the most passive aggressive inquiry I've read today.

I really want to help answer your question, but I feel like you already made up your mind.

How about you prove him wrong then? You got to admit that their history has been, well, pretty shitty.

But hey, if developers like Double Helix can suddenly churn out te best launch day game out there, then there's hope for all developers.

 

[Nightengale]

CBOAT mentioned that key talent from Big Park have left to Black Tusk,

CBOAT was talking up the Black Tusk game a little while back wasn't he? Also, I recall a tweet mentioning Microsoft Research working with them to add something interesting to the game.

He was talking up the animation/sound effects.

 

[UraMallas]

No offense OP, but that is really the most passive aggressive inquiry I've read today.

I really want to help answer your question, but I feel like you already made up your mind.

There's a question in there somewhere that I would like answered, though, if you have the time. Who is working at BTS?

 

[Fried Food]

I'm going to continue believing that with adequate support (financial, schedule, leadership) any team can put out quality video games

 

[Hindle]

No offense OP, but that is really the most passive aggressive inquiry I've read today.

I really want to help answer your question, but I feel like you already made up your mind.

I'm genuienely interested in any new updates dude, if you can post the info for the actual Xbox fans that would be awesome.

 

[TheOddOne]

How about you prove him wrong then? You got to admit that their history has been, well, pretty shitty.

But hey, if developers like Double Helix can suddenly churn out te best launch day game out there, then there's hope for all developers.

You can ask the same question without it sounding condescending. Also "Prove him wrong" is already the first step into this being something else than an normal inquiry.

 

[Doffen]

How about you prove him wrong then? You got to admit that their history has been, well, pretty shitty.

That's some superb "guilty until proven innocent" thinking right there.

The studio has yet to release it's first game and they are being judge by a canceled Kinect project that no one here has ever seen.

 

[Fezan]

One thing i know is that it is very hard to build a team from scratch. Every one is new and they lack certain direction that most established studio do. So when in the beginning it takes around year or two to set goals understand each other and objectives towards which they will move. specially when you have responsibility of creating new AAA ip , This is the reason sony mostly buys studios.
on the other hand looking at 343 in comparison to gurella games it seems that its not that hard to buld a new studio with same vision

 

[Nightengale]

You can ask the same question without it sounding condescending. Also "Prove him wrong" is already the first step into this being something else than an normal inquiry.

Would it had sounded more polite if he removed the extra last paragraph which compelled him to raise this question in the first place?

I understand how it can be perceived that way, but I felt he just elaborated on his thought process which led to the question, and brought up an example of prior failures.

... I guess my question at the end of it all is "will you help out?"

 

[zomgbbqftw]

No offense OP, but that is really the most passive aggressive inquiry I've read today.

I really want to help answer your question, but I feel like you already made up your mind.

To be honest, the effect works in reverse as well.

Look at SCE London and SCE Cambridge after they were gutted for the ATG in 2006/7, their releases just disappeared and all of the key talent moved internally or left Sony altogether.

I think it is a legitimate question. I see a lot of hype for the game coming from BTS, but there seems to be little to no substance behind that hype. A rebranded studio with a failed Kinect project in its past is not the best jumping off point for AAA development.

Other reverse examples of key talent leaving and a studio turning to shit is Infinity Ward and Rare along with the two SCE examples.

 

[Nightengale]

Look at SCE London and SCE Cambridge after they were gutted for the ATG in 2006/7, their releases just disappeared and all of the key talent moved internally or left Sony altogether.

What?

 

[zomgbbqftw]

What?

Europe's equivalent of ICE. Did a lot of the heavy lifting for Killzone 2 and a few other key titles from SCEE.

 

[Derrick01]

They the character tackled down the guard(?) the the trailer and loaded an unsilenced gun should give an indication that it's not aiming to be the next Splinter Cell.

At least that's my take.

I don't really pay close attention to non gameplay trailers, a lot of the older stealth games had more violent and action focused trailers. I just thought I remembered seeing xbox people talk about it being at least somewhat stealth based so I took their word for it.

 

[Nightengale]

I don't really pay close attention to non gameplay trailers, a lot of the older stealth games had more violent and action focused trailers. I just thought I remembered seeing xbox people talk about it being at least somewhat stealth based so I took their word for it.

It's an in-engine trailer, so personally I wouldn't take that as a stock indicator for anything, really, other than the setting itself.

My gut instinct tells me it's going to be the Mission Impossible to Uncharted's Indiana Jones.

Europe's equivalent of ICE. Did a lot of the heavy lifting for Killzone 2 and a few other key titles from SCEE.

Urgh. I really hope Sony London is able to regain its footing this gen. I don't want them to be solely a casual games studio + technology.

And hopefully Cambridge can take charge of Killzone for the time being. Mercenary was pretty good, and they've got a lot of talent, even if they have to rely on the support of the main teams of GG.

 

[JaggedSac]

Google "black tusk studios linkedin" it actually brings up a good bit of results. I'm not going to take the time to compile it and research these people's history for you though.

 

[Metfanant]

No offense OP, but that is really the most passive aggressive inquiry I've read today.

I really want to help answer your question, but I feel like you already made up your mind.

Frankly, I don't find it passive aggressive at all (no more so than your post is overly defensive anyway)...to the contrary I find it blindly optimistic that people heap praise on a studio that has produced as many AAA games as Black Tusk...

 

[Hoo-doo]

So TheOddOne, are you going to hold this info over our heads now because you don't like how the OP framed his question?

Don't be like this, duder.

 

[zomgbbqftw]

Urgh. I really hope Sony London is able to regain its footing this gen. I don't want them to be solely a casual games studio + technology.

And hopefully Cambridge can take charge of Killzone for the time being. Mercenary was pretty good, and they've got a lot of talent, even if they have to rely on the support of the main teams of GG.

Could be, but I think they are likely to stick to casual games in SCE London, Wonderbook is developed there...

As for the latter point, I know some people who would refute it. SCE Cambridge don't need help from the hacks at GG, it's usually the other way around.

 

[Nightengale]

Could be, but I think they are likely to stick to casual games in SCE London, Wonderbook is developed there...

I'd rather Singstar than Wonderbook. Hope that VR thing is going to compel London to branch out a little bit, they're pretty good at making use of those kind of stuff.

As for the latter point, I know some people who would refute it. SCE Cambridge don't need help from the hacks at GG, it's usually the other way around.

Ice cold.

 

[Hoo-doo]

Surely he posted his list of devs in te other threads about this subject, correct?

So, anyone know?

 

[HigherLevel]

Surely he posted his list of devs in te other threads about this subject, correct?

So, anyone know?

this thread is full of info on Black Tusk, along with info on other studios as well

http://neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?p=47177110

I don't remember much of it, but I do know that BTS has devs from Bungie, Kaos, Crytek, and Ubisoft Montreal.

Also, OP, I wouldn't look too much into the cancelled Kinect game as a sign of things to come. I think it was dropped back in 2011, when I think MS realized despite Kinect selling, software for it wasn't going to sell anywhere close to the hardware. Better to focus on something with a better chance of success.

 

[pants]

No offense OP, but that is really the most passive aggressive inquiry I've read today.

I really want to help answer your question, but I feel like you already made up your mind.

This is the bitchiest post i have read all year. Why are you catching feels over a studio with a zero history?

 

[Hoo-doo]

This is the bitchiest post i have read all year. Why are you catching feels over a studio with a zero history?

I'm guessing the people working at black tusk aren't really of the highest pedigree, based on how hesitant he is to share his "insider knowledge" with us.

 

[statham]

I'm guessing the people working at black tusk aren't really of the highest pedigree, based on how hesitant he is to share his "insider knowledge" with us.

your going to try to taught people? my god. welcome to ignore.

 

[Hoo-doo]

your going to try to taught people? my god. welcome to ignore.

What does "taught people" mean?

 

[TheOddOne]

So TheOddOne, are you going to hold this info over our heads now because you don't like how the OP framed his question?

Don't be like this, duder.

I have no special info whatsoever. I just find things that are available on the internet.

This is the most I could find out timeline wise* (with some speculation):

• MS Vancouver has been around in some form since 2008 (it was once named Zipline Studios);
• There were multiple smaller teams within the studio, working on a casual MMO, a Kinect kids game, facebook/iOS games and some other small scale games (that were cancelled);
• The Black Tusk team was active too within the studio at the time;
• I think right after Disney Adventure came out, MS cancelled the Kinect kids game and every other casual type game that was being developed there.
• They layed off most of the staff that worked on the kids kinect game or some of them moved onto other projects (most left for iOS/facebook type companies though, like GREE). None of the Black Tusk folk left;
• They rebranded and became Black Tusk Studios. On this podcast Studio Manager Mike Crump talks about the new studio. At that time he said that 50 people were there, focused on one game and hopes to double the studio in a year;
• Ever wonderful superannuation gave away that Black Tusk is working on big new IP space shooter thing on the scale of a Gears or Halo. Lead designer of Crysis 2 is working on it.
• At this point they are on a hiring spree. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11;
• CBoat said that Black Tusk project is running 6 months behind, so my guess is it will not hit next year.

That is about it, I think.

 

[Drek]

That's some superb "guilty until proven innocent" thinking right there.

The studio has yet to release it's first game and they are being judge by a canceled Kinect project that no one here has ever seen.

Microsoft has had a first party studio presence there for almost half a decade now with basically zero to show for it. Why is skepticism about what they have going on there "guilty until proven innocent"?

People are incredibly skeptical about The Last Guardian, far more than what Black Tusk is doing, and Ueda has actually released two all time great titles in the (semi) recent past.

Also, didn't they just post an add for a lead writer? That seems like the kind of position you'd have filled long ago for a title that is supposed to be well in development. Picking up guys from Dead Rising 3 which has just been wrapping up is also a dubious sign for when we'll actually see this project.

It isn't concern trolling when the concern is entirely valid.

 

[jbug617]

I have no special info whatsoever. I just find things that are available on the internet.

This is the most I could find out timeline wise* (with some speculation):

• MS Vancouver has been around in some form since 2008 (it was once named Zipline Studios);
• There were multiple smaller teams within the studio, working on a casual MMO, a Kinect kids game, facebook/iOS games and some other small scale games (that were cancelled);
• The Black Tusk team was active too within the studio at the time;
• I think right after Disney Adventure came out, MS cancelled the Kinect kids game and every other casual type game that was being developed there.
• They layed off most of the staff that worked on the kids kinect game or some of them moved onto other projects (most left for iOS/facebook type companies though, like GREE). None of the Black Tusk folk left;
• They rebranded and became Black Tusk Studios. On this podcast Studio Manager Mike Crump talks about the new studio. At that time he said that 50 people were there, focused on one game and hopes to double the studio in a year;
• Ever wonderful superannuation gave away that Black Tusk is working on big new IP space shooter thing on the scale of a Gears or Halo. Lead designer of Crysis 2 is working on it.
• At this point they are on a hiring spree. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11;
• CBoat said that Black Tusk project is running 6 months behind, so my guess is it will not hit next year.

That is about it, I think.

I also read that they have a lot of people from EA.

 

[Desty]

Black Tusk is using UE4 right? So new team with new engine trying to make a AAA game on a new platform. I imagine that it is very hard going.

 

[godhandiscen]

We cannot value the talent of Black Tusk or any other large software team on the weight of a couple individuals. This topic is pointless.

Large scale software development is seldom like a team sport in which a super star can turn the season around. Maybe if Black Tusk was and indie team of 12 dudes in some small office there would be an argument, but they are already a large operation with millions in funding.

 

[Tiktaalik]

In 2010 MS inaugurated a Vancouver studio, it failed after a year and half the team were sacked.

In 2012 they were rebranded to Black Tusk Studios and we've since been told that they are working on a new AAA franchise "to rival Halo".

Do we know what changed? Did they hire key talent from other studios to prompt such a change?

How does a studio that was previously failing to make Kinect games suddenly move to AAA development without making key hires?

This isn't really accurate.

Microsoft has multiple independent groups operating in Vancouver.

The "failed Kinect studio" you're referencing was Big Park and as well another team that was working on MS Flight.

Black Tusk is another group at MS in Vancouver that has existed long before Big Park was shut down.

I'd say that saying Big Park became Black Tusk is not accurate at all, though I have no idea if Black Tusk later hired anyone from Big Park. That's entirely possible.

 

[Dirk Benedict]

They've been hiring developers from every major studio out there. Guerilla, Voliton, Retro, WB, Epic, and many more.

They did that with 343i. /shrug