Curse

mikepennyd · Aug 11, 2009, 09:41 PM // 21:41

Jeff Strain, the driving force behind Guild Wars and Co-Founder of ArenaNet, has left NCsoft West. He had, since NCsoft’s North American reorganization last year, served as the President of Product Development for NCsoft West and was considered by many to be the primary creative mind at the company. Also departing is their President of Publishing David Reid.

NCsoft West Public Relations Director Ryan James responded to MMORPG.com’s inquiries with two statements. First, regarding Strain: “With a successful history creating MMORPG games, NCsoft has made an indelible mark on the games industry. Last year, the South Korea-based NCsoft created a division to follow a vision of bringing AAA MMOs to the West called NCsoft West. This organization was formed as part of NCsoft’s ongoing vision to be the premier global MMO publisher in the world. With that vision, change in a growth industry is inevitable. NCsoft West announces the departure of Jeff Strain, President of Product Development, who has chosen to leave NCsoft under amicable terms and NCsoft wishes him the best in his new endeavor. This does not change our plans or negatively impact our upcoming launch of Aion, and NCsoft remains very excited about the game’s launch on September 22nd in the U.S. and September 25th in Europe. These changes do not influence any other teams, development schedules or other launches.”

Then, regarding Reid’s departure: “In an unrelated and separate event, David Reid is no longer with the company. David joined NCsoft in early 2008 as vice president of marketing and helped in the formation of NCsoft West and the relocation of our headquarters to Seattle. David brought passion and talent to our organization, and he will be missed.”

Prior to Co-Founding ArenaNet and launching Guild Wars, Strain was the Lead Programmer for Blizzard’s World of Warcraft. At the Irvine developer, he also contributed to Diablo, Starcraft and Warcraft III. Reid had previously lead marketing efforts for Microsoft’s launch of the Xbox 360 and GameTap, an online game portal. The moves come with just over a month left until the North American launch of Aion, which could be very important for the company’s Western operations after a string of high profile setbacks that included Auto Assault, Tabula Rasa, the departure of the Garriott brothers, and shuttering the bulk of their former North American headquarters in Austin, TX. Aion is due to launch on September 22nd, 2009. It also remains to be seen what, if any, impact this will have on the eagerly anticipated Guild Wars 2.

http://www.mmorpg.com/newsroom.cfm?read=14652&bhcp=1

EDIT: Statement from Mike O'Brien

Quote:

Jeff's departure

Hi all,

I wanted to take a moment to offer my personal note on Jeff's departure.

Jeff is a personal friend of mine. We worked together very closely from the time he joined Blizzard in 1996, through our founding of ArenaNet in 2000, until he left ArenaNet to join NCsoft West in 2008. I'm sad to see him leaving NCsoft now. We remain good friends and I wish him great success in his next endeavor.

It's important to understand that ArenaNet is a separate and self-contained development studio. Jeff hasn't been involved in the day-to-day development of Guild Wars 2 since he left ArenaNet more than a year ago, and I don't expect his departure to have a direct impact on our studio or on Guild Wars 2. I continue to lead ArenaNet, and I'm not going anywhere.

We have an amazing team here at ArenaNet, and we continue to work hard on Guild Wars 2, preparing for the day when we can first reveal it to the world. That day is coming very soon now. I'm confident that, when you see Guild Wars 2 for the first time, you're going to love what you see, and any worries you have about its development will fade away.

--Mike O'Brien 01:56, 12 August 2009 (UTC)

YunSooJin · Aug 11, 2009, 09:42 PM // 21:42

you mean GW2 was just vaporware? ohh okay

Fril Estelin · Aug 11, 2009, 09:43 PM // 21:43

You beat me to it by a few mins:
http://www.massively.com/2009/08/11/...leaves-ncsoft/

Quote:

Breaking: ArenaNet co-founder leaves NCsoft

by Shawn Schuster Aug 11th 2009 at 5:00PM

MMORPG.com is reporting that both Jeff Strain and David Reid have recently departed NCsoft West. Strain, the President of Product Development for the newly-restructured NCsoft West and Reid, the President of Publishing are both said to have left for "unrelated" reasons.

Jeff Strain has always been much more than just a co-founder of ArenaNet, as his visions have driven the company to spectacular feats with their blockbuster title Guild Wars. David Reid was brought on last year with the newly-announced NC West, which aimed to re-structure the company on the tails of Tabula Rasa's closing. Does this spell even more bad news for NCsoft, only a month before they launch Aion? According to a press release from NCsoft West Public Relations Director Ryan James, "These changes do not influence any other teams, development schedules or other launches." That may be true, but it's the reputation that seems to be in the most trouble now. We wish Mr. Strain and Mr. Reid the best of luck in their future endeavors.

Mordakai · Aug 11, 2009, 09:43 PM // 21:43

Just read this.

Sad, sad news. Not sure what this means for Guild Wars 2, but it can't be good if one of the founders of Guild Wars is leaving!

Black Metal · Aug 11, 2009, 09:46 PM // 21:46

wonder if he either left for a better opportunity elsewhere, or because things with ncsoft were going downhill

mikepennyd · Aug 11, 2009, 09:47 PM // 21:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Black Metal

wonder if he either left for a better opportunity elsewhere, or because things with ncsoft were going downhill

That Sir, is the question of the day.

Mordakai · Aug 11, 2009, 09:51 PM // 21:51

It doesn't look good to leave before a major launch, no matter how you slice it.

NCSoft should have been able to hold onto him until the end of the month.

I have a bad feeling something is going very wrong.

Fril Estelin · Aug 11, 2009, 09:53 PM // 21:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Black Metal

wonder if he either left for a better opportunity elsewhere, or because things with ncsoft were going downhill

It could be plenty of other reasons: personal ofc, but also the inability to move NCwest in the direction he wanted (clash with NCsoft?) or leaving his place to someone more talented (unprobable). Let's not jump to conclusions. Arenanet still lists NCsoft as its owners.

Mordakai · Aug 11, 2009, 09:56 PM // 21:56

Best case scenario: he was pissed that GW2 was being held back for Aion, and GW2 is still going to be good.

Worst case: They are making BIG changes to GW2, and he couldn't stomach it....

actually, I guess there could be a worse scenario, GW2 being canceled.

slowerpoke · Aug 11, 2009, 09:58 PM // 21:58

So, he was fired or left on his own.

either way its not exactly good news for guildwars, which he co-founded and programmed.

samberum · Aug 11, 2009, 09:58 PM // 21:58

Want to know where Jeff and David will work next, planning to watch their next gaming project.

NCSoft what are you thinking?

Mordakai · Aug 11, 2009, 10:00 PM // 22:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by samberum

Want to know where Jeff and David will work next, planning to watch their next gaming project.

Maybe Blizzard is hiring them....

Quote:

Originally Posted by samberum

NCSoft what are you thinking?

That's what I want to know!

MisterB · Aug 11, 2009, 10:03 PM // 22:03

NCSoft did have this to say:

Quote:

These changes do not influence any other teams, development schedules or other launches.

I don't think Guild Wars 2 is canceled or changed in schedule, but the departure of Jeff Strain has me concerned about the direction the game will take now.

Omega X · Aug 11, 2009, 10:03 PM // 22:03

Mike O'Brien is still there. I wonder if he's going to eventually jump ship with Jeff.

Fril Estelin · Aug 11, 2009, 10:03 PM // 22:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mordakai

Best case scenario: he was pissed that GW2 was being held back for Aion, and GW2 is still going to be good.

Worst case: They are making BIG changes to GW2, and he couldn't stomach it....

actually, I guess there could be a worse scenario, GW2 being canceled.

Or he could rejoin Arenanet and they leave NCsoft. Or he rejoins Blizzard and work on their next MMO. Or he creates a new company and will reign in the MMO world 7 years from now.

The point is: we know so little that it's not healthy to start, a few minutes after the announcement, to speculate.

The news is indeed strange so close to Aion's release in the West, but, well, this is business and it happens. It's not like the news will change Aion's sale (I mean, this specific piece of news, not the explanation of why he left).

EDIT: maybe he wasn't happy about his pay :P

Inde · Aug 11, 2009, 10:03 PM // 22:03

Every comment and news articles is wondering the same thing... what about GW2? Strange they wouldn't address that and only Aion. I know it's the upcoming one but of course Aion is going ahead as scheduled. It's done. And while turnover in a company doesn't necessarily translate to the stopping of development, with Jeff Strain being one of the co-founders and visionaries behind Guild Wars you would have thought (for even just damage control reasons) GW2 would have been addressed in that statement.

Winterclaw · Aug 11, 2009, 10:04 PM // 22:04

My hunch is they left to start a new studio.

Parson Brown · Aug 11, 2009, 10:04 PM // 22:04

Sad news for all fans of GW. Methinks the future of GW2 (and NCsoft) hinges greatly on Aion. (I also wonder if Jeff got out while the gettin' was good)

Gun Pierson · Aug 11, 2009, 10:05 PM // 22:05

That's bad news. One of the three fathers of GW with lots of experience left. I wonder what his plans are, back to Blizzard?

Is GW2 a second Tabula Rasa in the making?

And why didn't you inform us Regina? We have to find this out by reading an article.

Mordakai · Aug 11, 2009, 10:07 PM // 22:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inde

Every comment and news articles is wondering the same thing... what about GW2? Strange they wouldn't address that and only Aion. I know it's the upcoming one but of course Aion is going ahead as scheduled. It's done. And while turnover in a company doesn't necessarily translate to the stopping of development, with Jeff Strain being one of the co-founders and visionaries behind Guild Wars you would have thought (for even just damage control reasons) GW2 would have been addressed in that statement.

Perfect time to show a GW2 trailer....

unless that's part of the reason he left (GW2 news blackout forced by NCSoft)