Criterion's Alex Ward (CD)/Fiona Sperry (SD) resign, start new studio, Crit on new IP
- Thread starter iMax
- Start date
SporeCrawler
Member
cant say im surprised.
Angelcurio
Member
There goes my dreams for a Burnout Paradise 2. I hope they find a good company willing to fund their endeavors. Must have sucked to be permanently tied to the NFS IP, and to finally break free from it, they split the studio and left them with just 17 employees.
Another good developer shot in the head by EA. At least the studio is still running. The cycle continues.
Another good developer shot in the head by EA. At least the studio is still running. The cycle continues.
Boy Wander
Member
Ward just tweeted: "The news breaks. Along with @FionaSperry I have left @CriterionGames. Welcome to the REAL #tothefuture."
Edit: Godammit iMax....
Edit: Godammit iMax....
RadarScope1
Member
The consistency with which big publishers like EA grind down and then drive away talent is amazing. They have a real ... talent for doing so.
Live Free or Die
Banned
Who owns the Burnout IP?
I have to say, the prospect of these two working on an indie game is getting me very excited.
FonkyByNature
Member
They can always make a Burnout game but call it Burnin for the copy rights and shit...
Given they have a two person studio, I'd suspect indie games.
Terbinator
Member
I wonder if this has happened recently. Seem so, judging by their tweets this past week.
Fuck. FUCK!
Q
Queen of Hunting
Unconfirmed Member
i wanted my road rash
DashReindeer
Lead Community Manager, Outpost Games
This was only a matter of time. Criterion was never meant to be churning out games for the EA publishing machine. I hope they can go do something that they want after this without having to compromise too much to business people.
magnificent83
Member
I still don't understand why a new company (Ghosts) had to be spun out of Criterion. Its like they weren't interested in using the name brand recognition of a Criterion + NFS racer. Makes you wonder if it wasn't a royalties/creative differences situation
Basileus777
Member
I can't wait for the kickstarter for their mobile game.
If we keep the "big" qualifier, you've named them all.
I think Ghost Games, Criterion Games, EA Canada, Popcap, Maxis, and The Sims, plus some other localisation teams.
Although, after today's news, I wouldn't be surprised if the rest of Criterion was spun off into Ghost.
Agent X
Member
It sure seems like it, sad to say. As others have pointed out, a lot of former Criterion people are at Ghost, so perhaps they can grab the torch for the future of Burnout (along with Need for Speed, of course).
I look forward to hearing what Ward and Sperry are up to, and hope for the best for them.
CriterionDog
Member
I really love Criterion. I hope they can still pump out awesome games even with Alex and Fiona gone. I bet Criterion's new IP will be something sweet. Honestly, it is kinda nice that they are trying to stray away from the Need For Speed franchise. Best of luck to Alex and Fiona and their new projects, and best of luck to Criterion on their new project. : D <3 Criterion.
Succinct Verbosity
Member
What is with British developers of popular driving franchises getting fucked over by American publishers?
First Bizarre Creations and now this.
First Bizarre Creations and now this.
Ghost was supposed to alternate with Criterion and was founded by DICE racing veterans, but then it became apparent that Criterion wasn't going to make more NFS and just integrated in.
alexandros
Banned
EA claims another victim.
I wish they could have made another Burnout game instead of NFS. Loved Paradise but couldn't even play an hour or Most Wanted before I got bored. Now it looks like that dream is dead :'(
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Nice to hear they've formed a new studio as well.
That would actually be pretty amazing.
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Nice to hear they've formed a new studio as well.
DidntKnowJack
Member
Well, Criterion you had a good run. This sucks.
Not really an era when it died in 2007 after Paradise's DLC support ended?
Acidote
Member
I have to say, the prospect of these two working on an indie game makes me sad. I don't know how would I say it... I want something more. I want them to have a studio big enough to make whatever THEY wanted for the future of Burnout.
