Gazillion launches with a gazillion IPs

[UnSub]

Heh heh: okay, according to JZig who saw an early release about who was working at Gargantuan (who are doing the Marvel MMO) there's a chance that Gargantuan is a spin off of Slipgate Ironworks (both are located in San Mateo, Ca.; he believes that some Slipgate employees have shifted to the 'new' studio that doesn't even have a website yet).

Meaning that John Romero might be in charge of developing the Marvel MMO.

If he is, that would be for train-wreck spotters everywhere.

[AutomaticZen]

Heh heh: okay, according to JZig who saw an early release about who was working at Gargantuan (who are doing the Marvel MMO) there's a chance that Gargantuan is a spin off of Slipgate Ironworks (both are located in San Mateo, Ca.; he believes that some Slipgate employees have shifted to the 'new' studio that doesn't even have a website yet).

Meaning that John Romero might be in charge of developing the Marvel MMO.

If he is, that would be for train-wreck spotters everywhere.

They have a website, there's just jack-all there. 

http://www.gazillion.com/gargantuan/

[schild]

god that's ugly

[UnSub]

That site is new-ish: it wasn't there last time I checked the Gazillion site. Or I may just have missed it.

[AutomaticZen]

Gazillion hires former Stargate Worlds studio head.

This does not instill any faith. 

[HaemishM]

Gazillion hires former Stargate Worlds studio head.

This does not instill any faith. 

Gazillion - "We fail at hiring too."

[Jerrith]

I'd give him a break.  The person that story refers to is Dan Elggren, who was in charge of the developers (artists, designers, programmers) but reported to the top management of CME.  He was not allowed to make changes like the reductions in staff that might have gotten the company past the tougher periods in time, and was not, to the best of my knowledge, involved with investors / funding. 

I'm glad he found another position in the industry.  In the us (CME developers) vs them (CME top management), Dan was on the "us" side, not the them side.  (Didn't support things like MMOguls, etc.) 

I'd work with him again. :)

[schild]

I'm glad he found another position in the industry.

Gazillion does not smell like something to be glad about.

[UnSub]

Elggren has left one unproven umbrella publisher with several unreleased, heavily IP dependent titles to go work for another unproven umbrella publisher with several unreleased, heavily IP dependent titles. Yeah, I think that Gazillion is a step up for him from CME, but only because it'll come with a pay cheque for the next few months. All it takes is Marvel to pull another contrarian 'let's pull our IP rights off this MMO publisher' and Gazillion is left with the professionalism and proven performance of NetDevil (minus J:E, because Codemasters is publishing that) and John Romero.

[Hutch]

Gamasutra article. David Brevik to head up development on Marvel MMO.

Apparently, another Blizzard refugee is getting into the super-hero MMO business.

[AutomaticZen]

Gazillion has hired Diablo creator David Brevik to head up the studio creating the Marvel MMO.

Well they must have some decent pockets at least.

Sadly,

Prior to joining Gazillion, David was a Director at Flagship Studios.

Then again, Roper landed over at Champions Online and has yet to ruin it theoretically.

EDIT:  Damn, beaten to the punch.

[Hutch]

Prior to joining Gazillion, David was a Director at Flagship Studios.

Then again, Roper landed over at Champions Online and has yet to ruin it theoretically.

My optimistic self likes to think that the Flagship experiences that these gentlemen have had, will express themselves as lessons learnt, and not as things to be repeated in hopes of different outcomes. We will see.

[schild]

One person from Blizzard does not a difference make. Unless they can somehow transplant the entire culture and talent with them - which is, uhmmmm, not gonna happen.

I'd really like this sort of PR to just stop.

[Stormwaltz]

I'd really like this sort of PR to just stop.

But hiring one star athlete always turns a loser team into a success story!

[schild]

I'd really like this sort of PR to just stop.

But hiring one star athlete always turns a loser team into a success story!

What about a star athlete that hires 2 burnout star athletes from the 90s?

I KID, I KID

or do I?

*groan*

[UnSub]

"I’m a huge fan of comic books, superheroes and MMORPGs, so the chance to lead the creative efforts for the Marvel Universe MMO is an amazing opportunity," Brevik says. "Gazillion’s mission to bring MMOs to the mainstream while maintaining the depth in gameplay that enthusiast gamers demand is something that deeply resonates with me."

 

[Hutch]

"I’m a huge fan of comic books, superheroes and MMORPGs, so the chance to lead the creative efforts for the Marvel Universe MMO is an amazing opportunity," Brevik says. "Gazillion’s mission to bring MMOs to the mainstream while maintaining the depth in gameplay that enthusiast gamers demand is something that deeply resonates with me."

 

"Of course it's boring. That's the point. Write it down."

[LC]

I wish people would stop throwing money into the netdevil fire. The can just give it to me if they don't want it.

[Sir T]

But can you fill them with confidence and guarantee returns? 

[Bzalthek]

I can most certainly guarantee returns ( I can, and in fact will, guarantee anything you want), and you can call if confidence if you want to.  I never really heard of that euphemism before, but whatever floats your boat.

[UnSub]

Gazillion forms up (another) MMO studio in joint venture "to focus on the creation of Arabic content for the Middle East gaming market"

Could they even release a game first? I'm seriously seeing Gazillion as CME Mk II.

[schild]

I'm seriously seeing Gazillion as CME Mk II.

THIS IS STARTLING.

CAN YOU ENLIGHTEN ME?

I CAN NOT IMAGINE WHAT WOULD LEAD YOU TO BELIEVE THAT.

[schild]

On that note. I have no problem with Gazillion stealing those dudes' moneyz and upgrading their Porsches.

[UnSub]

Romero's Slipgate Ironworks cancels sekret MMO, sends 50 people out to pasture, some of whom are then re-housed within other parts of Gazillion.

The old "we're just changing direction on the title" by firing 50 people really screams out that someone worked out whatever Slipgate was working on would have failed miserably in today's market, so it gets cut. Plus the money is seen coming out of the Marvel titles, who really have to be screaming for people in order to meet the 2010 (for Super Hero Squad) and 2012 (for the Marvel MMO).

[Stormwaltz]

I know people who've worked there for years. >.< Wish I knew what their status was.

[schild]

Wish I knew what their status was.

Well, now you do.

If they weren't let go, they're probably looking for a job (since anyone at Gazillion is probably thinking "yea, this'll work").