Leslie Benzies (GTA Big Wig) sues TT for $150M in unpaid royalties, ousted by Housers
- Thread starter Nirolak
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GifGafIsTheBestGaf
Member
it will be sad if this is how rockstar's gonna end and gta along with them, really ironic as well.
This is a drop in the bucket for them, they will be fine financially. There is literally no chance of the above happening, and even if it did GTA is a very very valuable property and would not end even if Rockstar closed up shop tomorrow.
That being said, how their games will end up playing without Benz is the real question.
Do we have examples of the games made without him?
LA NOIR? uh oh.
That one unnamed man from TT, probably.
MMaRsu
Member
La Noire is not a rockstar developed game bruh.
-edit- but they did help on it thats true
FloweryMarston
Member
that game almost wasn't finished, they needed help from rockstar to finish, guess who was also executive producer on this game alongside the housers: leslie benzies
Also R* Leeds did PC port as far as i remember.
SenatorBot
Member
I think so too, the fact that they can easily get a new guy much much cheaper that does the same job without being entitled to the millions of royalty fees after the game comes out. I'm willing to bet Take2 and the Housers took the chance to remove him as it would mutually benefit the both of them in the in long run.
potatohead
Member
Riches to rags?
riches to unemployed riches really
Honestly I think all the GTA Trilogy, GTA IV, and RDR success went to their heads.
They are clearly in another universe.
Don't tthink this will result in anything that. Especially after GTA V's success. R* is a massive company with a multitude of studios.
But the quality is something to be worry about. And I wonder if this will make it difficult for R* to recruit talent in the future. If someone as important and as skilled as Benzies can get fucked over like this it doesn't exactly inspire confidence in other potential hires.
potatohead
Member
I'm worried too
I liked GTA IV and V but they are the first since the three GTA trilogy games that I didn't love.
Wasn't it that EA headhunted Henning to make an Uncharted style game in the Star Wars universe and she took the opportunity of a lifetime. Then once she left other people with a different creative vision took over and so they changed things?
I know personally I'm infinitely more interested in Viserals new project then I am in uncharted 4
edit: I can imagine that Benzies is going to be in for a Massive Payday from Microsoft or Activision once he decides to start on a new project
As a huge fan of R* over the years, it's a damn shame.
The fact that Benzies wanted to come back to work after his time off just makes the Housers look insane. Letting greed potentially ruin their hyper-successful partnership.
darkinstinct
...lacks reading comprehension.
Having to pay 150 million is worse than having to possibly pay 150 million or possibly a lot less.
AuthenticM
Member
Brendan Sinclair from Gamesindustry.biz is tweeting details from the lawsuit.
https://twitter.com/BrendanSinclair/status/719927316466561024
This right here is what will propel companies left and right to want to hire this guy.
If he's not retiring, he's going to be heading some massive project somewhere in no time.
FloweryMarston
Member
honestly, after this, i've lost all of my respect for the housers. I hope leslie wins this one and doesn't give up on making games or anything like that too.
Seriously, i don't think i will buy any future rockstar game after this. Complete disrespect to a person that was super important to the company, and a close friend.
Screaming Meat
Unconfirmed Member
It reads like Sam got a bit paranoid after The Benz put his name last on GTA:O. I wonder if that got the ball rolling...?
My gut instinct tells me large amounts of cocaine may be involved with one of the parties... though that's complete supposition on my part.
This requires that he's not given interest and other bonuses on top of legal fees.
When I quit the position we had linked to Rockstar Games last year, all I can say is that this sounds very accurate, I've been hinting for a while that there's a big shake up at Rockstar North and PLENTY of long time staff have left/quit the studio over the course of the years between 2013 - 2015.
There's also key art people who have left Rockstar NYC during this period too, including the cover designer who has done ALL the artwork for Rockstar Games covers since GTA3 in 2001.
There's also key art people who have left Rockstar NYC during this period too, including the cover designer who has done ALL the artwork for Rockstar Games covers since GTA3 in 2001.
GifGafIsTheBestGaf
Member
yeah, that's what im talking about. from what ive been reading it looks like Leslie kept the whole team together and on point. damn, the dream is dead to me.
eyeball_kid
Member
It seems to me that The Benz has been the secret sauce behind Rockstar all along. The Housers seem to have no clue how to make a successful AAA game aside from providing the narratives and being "the idea guys". But it is usually these kinds of self-absorbed leaders that don't realize the talent of others and they must've thought Benzies was replaceable.
Of course there's always two sides to the story, but if even half of what we've seen so far is true, the Housers have a well-deserved reckoning coming.
Of course there's always two sides to the story, but if even half of what we've seen so far is true, the Housers have a well-deserved reckoning coming.
The Bookerman
Member
What do you think happened between Zampella, West and Activision.
Those guys had too much power for Bobby Kotick to swallow.
Yep. Kinda scary.
Aces&Eights
Member
Agreed. Just slap this on the ole resume and sit back and wait for the calls to roll in.
Ghostmaster
Member
I don't know why people keep posting that the Housers are to blame, when this is mostly all on Sam Houser.
Also it isn't that surprising, he has always been abrasive. It's no wonder that Dan is the sole writer and face of most of their games.
Also it isn't that surprising, he has always been abrasive. It's no wonder that Dan is the sole writer and face of most of their games.
backflip10019
Member
Benzies and Housers sound like two futuristic drugs and that's how I'm approaching this thread from now on.
RoyaleDuke
Banned
Well, this is just depressing. I had always had a feeling Benzies was really important, especially when you look at the history of the Housers and Benzies.
I mean for them to fuck over someone they named a godparent for their own kid, is just a whole new low of shitty, along with everything else that is included in that lawsuit.
I mean, this guy sounds responsible for really making these games the masterpieces they are. Or at least RDR was definitely a masterpiece, and I loved GTAV as well.
But to see them just explode like this is just so disappointing and sad, and it sounds like to me that any games coming, going forward are probably not going to be as good.
I mean for them to fuck over someone they named a godparent for their own kid, is just a whole new low of shitty, along with everything else that is included in that lawsuit.
I mean, this guy sounds responsible for really making these games the masterpieces they are. Or at least RDR was definitely a masterpiece, and I loved GTAV as well.
But to see them just explode like this is just so disappointing and sad, and it sounds like to me that any games coming, going forward are probably not going to be as good.
Captain Chaos
Member
Not good PR for R* and TT.
Why let it come to this, whats the story here?
Why let it come to this, whats the story here?
thebigmachine
Member
So is Benzies to Rockstar what Fukushima is to KojiPro?
Simply Sami
Member
I am not sure why people seem convinced Benzies will go to another company.
He's not like other lead developers. He rarely gives interviews and has never given a video interview. I remember the CVG GTA channel had a interview with him and they had to basically say all his answers as he refused to do a voice or video interview.
He really did fit in with Rockstar. So it would be awkward for him to go to another company. He is a very private guy unlike other lead developers.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_AI2S2_-Yh0
Here's the vid. They said he's done 3 interviews in 12 years.
He's not like other lead developers. He rarely gives interviews and has never given a video interview. I remember the CVG GTA channel had a interview with him and they had to basically say all his answers as he refused to do a voice or video interview.
He really did fit in with Rockstar. So it would be awkward for him to go to another company. He is a very private guy unlike other lead developers.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_AI2S2_-Yh0
Here's the vid. They said he's done 3 interviews in 12 years.
Never heard of Leslie Benzies but from the sounds of these documents he's the real project manager of Rockstar's games and not the Housers...
I guess this explains why we haven't gotten singleplayer DLC for GTAV though, Benzies was the one that managed to get the DLC for GTA IV out.
I guess this explains why we haven't gotten singleplayer DLC for GTAV though, Benzies was the one that managed to get the DLC for GTA IV out.
The Albatross
Member
Benzies was in a number of high profile interviews just prior to the announcement of GTA Online. That said, reading through the court documents, Benzie's attorneys are seemingly claiming that the Houser's or TT or Rockstar terminated Benzie's because of repeated delays to GTAV and GTA Online.
I'll be honest, I was not that impressed with GTA Online and Benzie's own court filings suggest that the Houser's had little interest in the product, which was Benzie's pet project. This makes sense for why Benzie's was doing almost all of the press for the Online game before release. For what it's worth, the actual product didn't match up to Benzie's descriptions at all, as relayed by the CVG guys.
I'm a little cautious about jumping all over Rockstar and the Houser's at this point. We all have to realize that this is the court filing by Benzie's attorneys against Rockstar for why Benzie's should be rewarded $500million in lost earnings (which will not happen, Rockstar will almost certainly settle with Benzies should this go to trial). Our only hint of Rockstar/Housers' grief with Benzies is what his attorney's alledge was their beef, that his management led to repeated delays in the product... But we don't know anything else because this is JUST the filing of Benzie's legal team.
THere are also many other questions. Rockstar encouraged Benzie's to take a six month sabbatical after the release of GTA Online. THe Houser's gave virtually no interviews about GTA Online prior to its release, and Benzies himself did which was highly unusual... As mostly nobody had heard of him outside of the company, and here he was giving huge reveal interviews (off tape) to IGN and CVG. Jumping to conclusions, but that could be an indication tht the Housers were really not interested in the direction of GTA Online, and that they considered it Benzie's project. After it's launch, Benzie's took a 6 month sabbatical and TakeTwo's proposed press release when he was essentially fired seems to suggest that this became an 18-month sabbatical... THis is one of Benzie's attorneys complaints in the filing, that Rockstar's PR thought of this as an 18 month sabbatical.
I think that this comes down to financials. Benzies feels like he deserves millions more than he got in his severance package. He's suing Rockstar for a fortune with the assumption that both parties will settle somewhere in the middle.
I'll be honest, I was not that impressed with GTA Online and Benzie's own court filings suggest that the Houser's had little interest in the product, which was Benzie's pet project. This makes sense for why Benzie's was doing almost all of the press for the Online game before release. For what it's worth, the actual product didn't match up to Benzie's descriptions at all, as relayed by the CVG guys.
I'm a little cautious about jumping all over Rockstar and the Houser's at this point. We all have to realize that this is the court filing by Benzie's attorneys against Rockstar for why Benzie's should be rewarded $500million in lost earnings (which will not happen, Rockstar will almost certainly settle with Benzies should this go to trial). Our only hint of Rockstar/Housers' grief with Benzies is what his attorney's alledge was their beef, that his management led to repeated delays in the product... But we don't know anything else because this is JUST the filing of Benzie's legal team.
THere are also many other questions. Rockstar encouraged Benzie's to take a six month sabbatical after the release of GTA Online. THe Houser's gave virtually no interviews about GTA Online prior to its release, and Benzies himself did which was highly unusual... As mostly nobody had heard of him outside of the company, and here he was giving huge reveal interviews (off tape) to IGN and CVG. Jumping to conclusions, but that could be an indication tht the Housers were really not interested in the direction of GTA Online, and that they considered it Benzie's project. After it's launch, Benzie's took a 6 month sabbatical and TakeTwo's proposed press release when he was essentially fired seems to suggest that this became an 18-month sabbatical... THis is one of Benzie's attorneys complaints in the filing, that Rockstar's PR thought of this as an 18 month sabbatical.
I think that this comes down to financials. Benzies feels like he deserves millions more than he got in his severance package. He's suing Rockstar for a fortune with the assumption that both parties will settle somewhere in the middle.
No. Benzies was a producer first and foremost. Fukushima was a writer and a creative.
Fine Ham Abounds
Member
Brendan Sinclair from Gamesindustry.biz is tweeting details from the lawsuit.
https://twitter.com/BrendanSinclair/status/719927316466561024
Juicy
I feel so sorry for Benzies, he told us several months ago that R* will be in a big way at E3 - sounds positive for me - and now this shit.
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/2k-rockstar-parent-company-take-two-coming-to-e3-2/1100-6435085/
Edit: Sorry, this was Zelnick, not Benzies.
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/2k-rockstar-parent-company-take-two-coming-to-e3-2/1100-6435085/
Edit: Sorry, this was Zelnick, not Benzies.
Screaming Meat
Unconfirmed Member
It seems pretty clear Sam Houser had provisions in place to fuck The Benz out of cash if he needed to. Houser has final say over who gets part of the profit share. He decides to block it. Benzies claims he has a right to an equal share (which it seems he was lead to believe). Benzies claiming that constitutes a breach of contract, a condition which undermines his rights to royalties.
Sam, you slimy fucker...
I'm not. Their counter claim being about Legal Judo rather than anything substantive speaks volumes.
Sam, you slimy fucker...
The Albatross said:
I'm not. Their counter claim being about Legal Judo rather than anything substantive speaks volumes.
It'll take more than that to scare off recruits. Rockstar is a dream job for most people.
Panajev2001a
GAF's Pleasant Genius
Being left out of their big anniversary video seemed rude and unappreciative...
FlammableAce
Member
I guess this is why there's been a content shortage for GTA Online lately (Re-releasing cars for Benny's and crappy objective modes)
MMaRsu
Member
How is this even true? I had 100% heard and known that Leslie Benzies was an integral part of the Gta games before GTAV. Isnt his name like in almost every credit in GTA?
I did used to think he was a woman though, I didnt know Leslie was a name for a male as well haha.
MMaRsu
Member
This is pretty damn crazy.
It's also even more fascinating because I feel like we never really get to hear what's going on behind the scenes at Rockstar. Benzies certainly felt like an integral part of the company, it was even stranger to hear of his departure. This will probably get settled in a really hushed manner, but it's wild to hear about!
It's also even more fascinating because I feel like we never really get to hear what's going on behind the scenes at Rockstar. Benzies certainly felt like an integral part of the company, it was even stranger to hear of his departure. This will probably get settled in a really hushed manner, but it's wild to hear about!
I don't know if anyone else has addressed this, but I wanted to write in support of Benzies with regards to Red Dead. I have it on good authority from a dev friend of mine that the development of that game was a complete disaster for quite a while and they had to fly in a troubleshooting team at great expense to get it fixed up and capable of being released
Err why would he ever have to work again if he wins? You are like Marge telling the kids to save for college when Homer comes in position of that Trillion dollar bill.