Prime Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 Jim Ward quits his post at the Star Wars game publisher, citing personal reasons. http://www.gamespot.com/news/6185470.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
igyman Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 Read the article and the comments below. I have to agree with all those who hope that the new president will take LucasArts back to its roots, meaning Monkey Island and Grim Fandango franchises, but also make sure that the Star Wars fans aren't disappointed. I'm a little weary of that mysterious MMORPG Bioware is developing, since the article emphasized that they were the developers of the original KotOR right after that announcement. Dunno, maybe it's nothing, but I just wouldn't like it if it turned out to be KotOR 3: The MMORPG. I'm also vastly disappointed that they aren't developing The Force Unleashed for PC. I've seen the trailer and while the abilities you have do seem impressive, the graphics itself doesn't strike me as that much hardware demanding that it couldn't be made to work on a PC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tk102 Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 Strange news. I wonder why he stepped down. Hopefully his successor will have some new visions that are in sync with our own. Was kind of hoping to hear Peter Hirschman would step in -- the VP of Product Development who said KotOR 3 was a good idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Posted February 2, 2008 Share Posted February 2, 2008 Very surprising. Here's some comments from Ward: http://kotaku.com/351775/lucasarts-president-talks-about-his-departure Doesn't give any reason for his departure though. I didn't think Ward was terrible like some did but I hope the new president will continue past franchises that Ward seemed to neglect (KotOR and adventure games). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ctrl Alt Del Posted February 2, 2008 Share Posted February 2, 2008 KotOR fans, root! Root and pray, we don't want to see a KotOR XXIV.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Titanius Anglesmith Posted February 2, 2008 Share Posted February 2, 2008 Have I missed something? Has LucasArts or BioWare said what their new game will be? Because the article seems to state pretty clearly that it's a MMO. I don't know... maybe they're just so sure that their rumor is true, they've decided to start stating it like a fact. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rev7 Posted February 2, 2008 Share Posted February 2, 2008 That is quite interesting news. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabretooth Posted February 2, 2008 Share Posted February 2, 2008 They mention a great line-up for 2008. All I know is that they're doing Force Unleashed and Fracture. Any surprises this E3? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Sitherino Posted February 2, 2008 Share Posted February 2, 2008 VADER GAME! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jae Onasi Posted February 2, 2008 Share Posted February 2, 2008 Ward either 'resigned' because he wasn't making the company profitable enough (or some other work-related problem), or he has some personal problems that are serious enough to warrant more attention from him (e.g. family illness, etc.), or he got tired of or frustrated with LA politicking, or he got a better offer at another company. I wouldn't be surprised to see his name pop up at some other major gaming outfit in the not too distant future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Master Shake Posted February 2, 2008 Share Posted February 2, 2008 I hope the new president is into pleasing fans.....KOTOR 3!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miltiades Posted February 2, 2008 Share Posted February 2, 2008 They mention a great line-up for 2008. All I know is that they're doing Force Unleashed and Fracture. Any surprises this E3? It has to! Both games are promising, but they don't make a great-line up by themselves. Kotor3... Anyway, I don't think Ward did a bad job, he had a vision for the company, I hope someone can continue this and somehow take the wishes of gamers into account (including a better support for released games). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferc Kast Posted February 2, 2008 Share Posted February 2, 2008 Interesting...'Personal reasons'; I don't buy that story. It's too cliche to be the real reason. I wonder if this is a sign of the coming of K3? *hums Battle Hymn of the Republic* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabretooth Posted February 2, 2008 Share Posted February 2, 2008 Interesting...'Personal reasons'; I don't buy that story. It's too cliche to be the real reason. I wonder if this is a sign of the coming of K3? *hums Battle Hymn of the Republic* Right. "KotOR III is coming all excellently and nobody knows!" *rubs hands in glee* "Sir, maybe you should resign - that would be a mild, entirely subliminal hint to the fans that we're making KotOR III" "Oh yes, most certainly! I'll say... uh... internal disputes?" "Good sir, but I know something better! Personal reasons! It always works in the movies!" "Sounds a bit cheesy, but what the hell. I love it!" *writes resignation letter* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rev7 Posted February 2, 2008 Share Posted February 2, 2008 It does sound a little cheesy... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Char Ell Posted February 2, 2008 Share Posted February 2, 2008 This news did come as a surprise to me. Jim Ward has only been president at LucasArts for about three and a half years. When games typically take 2-4 years from start of development to public release that isn't a very long tenure. The SW games I attribute to the Jim Ward era are the LEGO Star Wars series (LucasArts didn't publish the first game though so I don't know how much that really counts for), Star Wars Empire At War and its expansion, and the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. I may give him credit for the LucasArts/BioWare project as well though I'll need some more info before I can give him the nod on that one. I've always wondered if Jim Ward was the right choice to head a game publisher/developer like LucasArts. George Lucas and Micheline Chau decided to give him the opportunity and of course they are the ones that call the shots. Based on comments he made though and background info I read on him he seemed way too focused on the business side of things and didn't take into account the artistic aspects of game development. I did appreciate his commitment to make sure LucasArts made quality games though I'm not really sure his actions matched his words on the subject. In any case, as Jae Onasi said, there is a reason for his departure and if it's not for health or family-related problems then it's highly likely he already has another job or business opportunity he is pursuing. He is way too young and too ambitious to be exiting the business world. Here's hoping that GL and company will find a new president for LucasArts that will be dedicated to making quality games and who also loves the KotOR franchise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Negative Sun Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 Hmmm, interesting timing...Sick of waiting for news and announcements though, and this kind of stuff doesn't really help cause a new face could either make or ruin a lot of things... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rogue15 Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 XWA II!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! or.....Shadows of the Empire II..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rev7 Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 this better mean Kotor 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dewayne26 Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 so would he be one blamed for the state of swg? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Char Ell Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 As president of LucasArts, Jim Ward had oversight of all LucasArts games since 2004 May, when he took over at LA. As I understand it SWG is something he inherited from his predecessor so if you want to blame him for SWG's shortcomings I don't think culpability is fully on his shoulders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dewayne26 Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 but the nge happened under his watch so...think some people would disagree with you....but i'm blame soe mostly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Char Ell Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 Blame Jim Ward if you want. I don't really care one way or the other. By all accounts SWG has struggled during his tenure so if you feel he should shoulder all the blame for that then go ahead and put it on him. There is no doubt in my mind that he should shoulder a good chunk of the responsibility for SWG's shortcomings but I don't think it would be fair to say it was him alone. Also, if it turns out that BioWare and LucasArts are partnering on a new SW MMORPG based on KotOR and that game turns out to be a winner then you might remember that he was the one at the helm when that deal was made. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommycat Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 As for SWG and the NGE: SOE blames SOE, so I tend to blame SOE. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth Windu Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 Meh, no biggie. Whilst I do hope that it means a better chance for KotOR3, I'm rather appalled that LA considers Battlefront II their most successful game! I guess it's just a case of catering to the lowest common denominator... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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