Seems lord british isn't doing too well.

[DJk_zero]

After more than three years in development, massively multiplayer role-playing game Tabula Rasa is in “good hands” according to a spokesperson for its publisher, NCsoft North America. But, as of today, it's not in as many hands. Three of the higher-profile members of the TR team--lead designer Carly Staehlin, lead programmer Bill Randolph, and artist Scott Jones--have left the project and the company.

While he gave no reason for the trio's departure, NCsoft director of PR David Swofford confirmed to GameSpot that the three had made their exit. “Project development is a dynamic process,” Swofford said. “There is restructuring going on, and Carly Staehlin is no longer on the team or with NCsoft.” The cuts to staff occurred earlier this week, according to Swofford.

Staehlin spoke with GameSpot today, and, in effect, corroborated Swofford's "in good hands" assessment. "The role of lead designer will [now] be Richard Garriott's. Having him in this position means he will have tighter control over the game, which is a huge plus."

Starr Long maintains his role as the game's producer.

Staehlin had been one of NCsoft’s rising stars who first gained her reputation in the industry as community services manager of Ultima Online. She later became the game's producer. Over the past two years, she has been a constant figure on the conference circuit and was an outspoken advocate of the game.

Staehlin, Randolph, and Jones were part of Garriott's original Destination Games, the development group he founded after leaving Origin Systems. Almost immediately after Destination was announced, it became the North American beachhead for Korea's largest publisher--becoming a subsidiary of NCsoft and changing its name to NCsoft North America.

Swofford confirmed that between 30 and 40 developers remain at work on Tabula Rasa, which is still on track for a 2005 release. “The project’s going on and moving forward,” said Swofford.

When it finally arrives on the market, Tabula Rasa will offer a unique game experience, fusing Eastern philosophy with an MMORPG framework.

Guess people don't like NC soft suits dictating everything to them :b

[Jait]

Well *if* you had any knowledge of the industry you wouldn't of cut and pasted an article and used a moronic one-liner.


Do you know how long these 4 have worked together?

Did you know no 4 people have worked together longer in the mmorpg industry?

Now lets get in the WAY WAY BACK MACHINE!

When EA Gobbled up Origin and Microsoft gobbled up their best programmer, did LB quit and say "Fuck it! I'm rich biatch!"? HONK HONK.

Or did he join up with several close friends of the same ideals, hoping to rebuild their empire and show EA and Microsoft?

Did you know these 3 Dev's were a part of that? It's even in the article if you read it.


Kinda gives the story a whole new light, doesn't it?

People move on with their lives to stake out on their own. Most do it a lot earlier. It's like a Sports team who's had the same coaching staff for far too long (think Pittsburgh Steelers, Atlanta Braves). But I don't expect you'll understand that either.

No it's not a sad day at all, merely a historic ones for those that have paid even minimal attention the last decade instead of reading headlines.

[Samus Aran]

ouch, jait wins

[Vorph]

Originally posted by Jait
Kinda gives the story a whole new light, doesn't it?

Not really, it seems like a big kick in the nuts to LB and ncsoft any way you look at it.

Regardless of how long they've worked together, they haven't been working on Tabula Rasa all that long since the game is nowhere near completion, so them leaving in mid-development is still significant and has got to say something about their faith in the project.

Programming is programming. MMOG 'teams' are nothing special. I've known programmers who work for the same place from college til retirement, and then there's people like me who do nothing but contract work and change jobs every year. Anytime a group of people all leave a company together in mid-project, it almost always means that they are fleeing what they perceive as a sinking ship. It's not something normal people will do because it's a huge resume killer to be seen as someone who is always looking to cash in on something better rather than the type who'll stick it out at the job they were hired to do.

[Kolle]

Wish people would just spill the info when this kinda thing happens. Instead we get some PR spin.

I don't guess they'd say, "Well they left because they refused to take it up the ass anymore." But it would be nice to know.

[findar]

usually they sign a contract that says they cant state reasons for leaving ?

[DJk_zero]

has got to say something about their faith in the project.

Wow, could that be the point of my witty one liner? Ding ding ding.

Now mr. jait, seeing as you're obviously oh so much more in depth with the industry then me, care to say why they left?

If you can't, mix one part artifact entertainment, with one part korean money pincher and two parts sony online`esque smedly - you get the shit coctail.

If you are still lost, contracts were attempting to be re-written and the bottom line was not all that appealing. Think blizzard's work hours with half the pay.

The flying cows say look to mid november for them to release info on the "future". OH NOS RUMORS ABOUND!

[gimpz0r]

I heard that Garriott's enlarged EGO drove them out of the door and the office

[Bizanich]

Them leaving the Project together, now, makes about as much sense as Ricky Williams retiring right before training camp.