More On Blizzard Departures, Arrivals, Action Figures

Thanks to GameSpy for their interview with Bill Roper, quizzing the ex-Blizzard veteran further on his recent departure from the company. He confirms: "..the uncertainly surrounding [Blizzard's] future in regards to who was going to own us understandably caused a lot of speculation and uncertainty. Our lack of participation in the process made it difficult for us to provide any insight to the people we worked with." In related news, Blizzard has announced that former Diablo II lead programmer Rick Seis will now lead Blizzard North, who "..will be streamlining their teams into one core group in order to focus.. on one key project." Finally, GameSpot has photos of the new Warcraft III action figures, including the death knight Prince Arthas, the night elf archer Shandris Feathermoon, and the dread lord Tichondrius.

Quick! check the pigeon's entrails!

[August_zero]

Gettin kinda spooky over there...

Sure Blizzard was never much of an innovater, but they are none the less a very strong developer that certainly know how to manipulate the hype machine as well as or better than they write code.

News like this, on the advent of the company branching off into new waters (starcraft: ghost, and world of war craft) starts to make me wonder whats going on over there. I would hate to see them turn into another "me too" developer and get absorbed by EA or Faux Atari.

Re:Quick! check the pigeon's entrails!

[Corporal Tunnel]

Yeah, blizzard isn't much of an innovater[sic], except for creating two whole game generes, which they are still the best at despite dozens of failed clones from other companies!

Re:Quick! check the pigeon's entrails!

[silentbobdp]

You comment on someone's spelling, and then misspell something yourself. Joy.

And no, Blizzard did not invent the "clickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclic kclickclicklevelupclickclickclickclick" so-called RPG. They were the first to have it decently online, though, as far as I know.

And they didn't invent the RTS either.

And what else have they made?

Re:Quick! check the pigeon's entrails!

[August_zero]

Diablo--->Modern online version of "NetHACK"

Warcraft--->direct descendent of "Dune 2:Battle for Arakkis" thats the earliest game i can think of with the whole, gather/build/attack format, I am sure someone can quote an earlier game.

Re:Quick! check the pigeon's entrails!

[LineNoiz]

Dune II: Battle for Arrakis [flashback-aw.net] - Released 1992

Herzog Zwei [classicgaming.com] - Released 1990 [fortunecity.com]

I believe Herzog is the oldest RTS game out there. I could be wrong, though...

Good interview.

[Dark Nexus]

I especially liked the answer to the second question on the second page.

Oh yeah, the insight into what happened was nice too.

Blizzard will go on without them (though maybe not quite "business as usual" for awhile), and they'll go on to hopefully work on the quality projects they were accustomed to at Blizzard.

Things to come

[ruprechtjones]

I am predicting that whatever Roper's new company is, it will become the gem of the industry that Blizzard was 2 years ago. RoperCo will be known for it's quality, whilst Blizzard will be known for it's past hits and it's current turmoil. Here's hoping that Diablo III comes from RoperCo and not Blizzard...

Re:Things to come

[gedanken]

It is a given that blizzard is going to work on diablo 3. perhaps roper and co left because they were tired of working on that type of game? there is no way they can make diablo 3 themselves, but I do look forward to what they will make.

Uhhhh

[Kelz]

night elf archer Shandris Feathermoon

Last time I checked Shandris got killed by Arthas and was brought back as a banshee on RoC, then mysteriously came back in FT as a dark ranger. She's undead f00 :P

Re:Uhhhh

[Corporal Tunnel]

No that was Sylvanis Windrunner, not Shandris.

Re:Uhhhh

[Kelz]

Gah Shandris, Sylvanis, they all sound the same!

Thanks for clearin it up tho :)

More ex-Blizzard people...

[Anonymous Coward]

Are working on Goblin Commander [goblincommander.com].