NeoGAF

Nirolak · (08-13-2012, 01:19 PM)

Apparently this is why there were departures a day or two ago.

Originally Posted by Polygon:

Epic Games now owns Bulletstorm developer People Can Fly, a studio they acquired a majority share of in 2007, the company told Polygon today.

The purchase of the Warsaw, Poland-based developer was tied to the departure of Adrian Chmielarz, Andrzej Poznanski and Michal Kosieradzki, Epic's Mark Rein told Polygon in an interview. It won't impact the game's the studio is working.

"We doubled down on People Can Fly," Rein said. "It was something we always hoped to do."

The decision to buy out the company, which ultimately led to the departure of Chmielarz, Poznanski and Kosieradzk all happened within the last week, Rein said. But he said the group's departure was amiable.

"We will be helping (Chmielarz) with some future announcements," he said. "Our paths will be crossing again."

Epic Games relationship with People Can Fly, which got a name for itself after developing shooter Painkiller, started years ago when Chmielarz approached Epic about licensing their Unreal Engine, Rein said.

The studio was looking for a new project, and the money to keep the business afloat, and Epic was impressed with the talent they saw.

"We hooked them up right away," Rein said. "They did a really cool prototype, awesome art and design."

Rein went to Epic president Mike Capps to find work for the struggling company, and they floated People Can Fly some cash and ultimately brought them in to work on the PC version of Gears of War.

...

While the purchase led to the departure of three key people at People Can Fly, Rein stressed that it won't have a negative impact on Judgement. Nor, he said, will the departure of Rod Fergusson, who left the company this month to go to Irrational Games, where he will be working on Bioshock Infinite.

"Rod was the director of production, he was overseeing all of the producers," Rein said. "That's not to say he wasn't touching it at all, but he no longer had that direct role."

Source: http://www.theverge.com/gaming/2012/...people-can-fly

daviyoung · (08-13-2012, 01:21 PM)

They deserve better. Hopefully they won't be reduced to Raven levels of map making.

gabbre · (08-13-2012, 01:26 PM)

Yes, and http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/12/ge...eople-can-fly/
For me is a great news, hope Chmielarz can start a new independent studio and develop awesome games like Painkiller and Bulletstorm. PCF unfortunately will develop the same brand for ethernity or some iOs game for Epic.

derFeef · (08-13-2012, 01:27 PM)

Originally Posted by gabbre:

Yes, and http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/12/ge...eople-can-fly/
For me is a great news, hope Chmielarz can start a new independent studio and develop awesome games like Painkiller and Bulletstorm. PCF unfortunately will develop the same brand for ethernity or some iOs game, Epic style

I think you have that reversed.

Delusibeta · (08-13-2012, 01:28 PM)

Well, I guess that means RIP for People Can Fly, then.

gabbre · (08-13-2012, 01:29 PM)

Originally Posted by derFeef:

I think you have that reversed.

Why?

THE NO LIFE KING · (08-13-2012, 01:30 PM)

Bulletstorm 2 please!!!!

Eideka · (08-13-2012, 01:30 PM)

Originally Posted by Delusibeta:

Well, I guess that means RIP for People Can Fly, then.

I'm pretty sure they see things differently.

Vinterbird · (08-13-2012, 01:32 PM)

Originally Posted by THE NO LIFE KING:

Bulletstorm 2 please!!!!

Got canned. Get ready for Gears of War spin-offs from them and new IP from Epic.

Gartooth · (08-13-2012, 01:33 PM)

Well I guess that's that. Epic will go on to try new things and People Can Fly will be relegated to being Epic's and Microsoft's Gears of War farmhouse.

Delusibeta · (08-13-2012, 01:33 PM)

Originally Posted by Eideka:

I'm pretty sure they see things differently.

Of course, but the odds of them doing anything other than Gears or iOS stuff is now negligible, and since I don't like either of them then they are now irrelevant to me.

Tomat · (08-13-2012, 01:34 PM)

Bulletstorm felt like an Game developed by Epic to begin with.

daviyoung · (08-13-2012, 01:35 PM)

Originally Posted by Tomat:

Bulletstorm felt like an Game developed by Epic to begin with.

Epic circa 2004

King_Moc · (08-13-2012, 01:35 PM)

No more originality from them, then.

Gears till they die. So fucking unimaginative. What a waste.

xptoxyz · (08-13-2012, 01:36 PM)

Is it know what percentage Epic owned before or just that it had majority?

Don't really understand the creative comments, Epic had control already. Or is it because of the people leaving? (not really the news in this thread).

ChapaNDJ · (08-13-2012, 01:36 PM)

Another company ruined.

Tomat · (08-13-2012, 01:36 PM)

Originally Posted by daviyoung:

Epic circa 2004

2004 mixed with some current gen Epic and I can agree.

derFeef · (08-13-2012, 01:37 PM)

Originally Posted by ChapaNDJ:

Another company ruined.

Yeah that's exactly what that means...

snoopeasystreet · (08-13-2012, 01:42 PM)

Looks like PCF are going to be the Gears team. Hopefully their future games let them get a bit a crazier with the formula. Judgement looks pedestrian.

codhand · 01:44 PM

Hooray for Poland!

Originally Posted by ChapaNDJ:

Another company ruined.

PCF Gears is gonna be better than Gears 3. Maybe we will see a new Painkiller...

shagg_187 · (08-13-2012, 01:42 PM)

Epic has been rocking with the recent acquisitions. Securing the future of smaller companies is awesome.

patapuf · (08-13-2012, 01:43 PM)

why the doom and gloom? didn't epic own the majority of the company anyway?

codhand · (08-13-2012, 01:46 PM)

Originally Posted by patapuf:

why the doom and gloom? didn't epic own the majority of the company anyway?

I have no clue, Gears 3 may have really deep multiplayer, but that campaign was a snoozefest, I'd be happy for fresh blood in the Gears think tank.

EightBitNate · (08-13-2012, 01:47 PM)

Originally Posted by King_Moc:

No more originality from them, then.

Gears till they die. So fucking unimaginative. What a waste.

I don't really mind. Not like we're seeing annual releases. A game every two years isn't terrible.

And how do we know that's all they'll be doing? Or do people just like to complain?

Man Puncher · (08-13-2012, 01:50 PM)

I need Bulletstorm closure, damnit!

codhand · (08-13-2012, 01:51 PM)

Originally Posted by Man Puncher:

I need Bulletstorm closure, damnit!

The Dick and the Tits lived happily ever after, the end.

enewtabie · (08-13-2012, 01:53 PM)

Great news of course.

-PXG- · (08-13-2012, 01:57 PM)

lol @ the hate in this thread. I doubt actual game development will change much at all that much, if at all.

slightconfuse · (08-13-2012, 02:00 PM)

i think this si good news bulletstorm was awesome. i just wish they were delvoping their own thing and not a gears prequel.

LiK · (08-13-2012, 02:02 PM)

well, that explains it.

Sid · (08-13-2012, 02:02 PM)

Bulletstorm 2 brought back from the dead pls

Flavius · (08-13-2012, 02:05 PM)

So Epic are now the douchebag overlords de jour, a la EA?

C'mon, guys...I don't see the downside here, all things considered.

Interfectum · (08-13-2012, 02:07 PM)

Sometimes it's hard to keep up. So everyone hates Epic now?

Criminal Upper · (08-13-2012, 02:07 PM)

Sigh.

Enjoy making bland Gears spin-offs for the rest of your lives guys.

<3 Bulletstorm

derFeef · (08-13-2012, 02:10 PM)

Originally Posted by Criminal Upper:

Sigh.

Enjoy making bland Gears spin-offs for the rest of your lives guys.

<3 Bulletstorm

Bulletstorm was developed under Epic's flag, so there is that.
So you imply PCF make bland games? They will shake up the formula of Gears with this spinoff a bit as we know.

SoulClap · (08-13-2012, 02:11 PM)

Originally Posted by patapuf:

why the doom and gloom? didn't epic own the majority of the company anyway?

Gloom for me because if they're stuck making Gears games we won't see any PC titles from them.

steverulez · (08-13-2012, 02:11 PM)

Wasn't there a rumour that PCF were developing Gears judgement because the Bulletstorm sequel got cancelled and so they were free to do the gears prequel whilst working on next-gen prototypes? Finishing Gears for march 2013 certainly lends to the theory that it could be true… next-gen specs nailed on at that point perfect time to release a little cash cow before moving to next-gen.

Mdk7 · (08-13-2012, 02:12 PM)

Bullestorm 2, do it.
Like ASAP.

Combichristoffersen · (08-13-2012, 02:13 PM)

Have them make a new Jazz Jackrabbit, Cliffy!

daviyoung · (08-13-2012, 02:15 PM)

Originally Posted by Combichristoffersen:

Have them make a new Jazz Jackrabbit, Cliffy!

A new Unreal Tournament surely! With Assault levels.

Criminal Upper · (08-13-2012, 02:15 PM)

Originally Posted by derFeef:

Bulletstorm was developed under Epic's flag, so there is that.
So you imply PCF make bland games? They will shake up the formula of Gears with this spinoff a bit as we know.

No, no! People Can Fly make amazing games.

But just because Bulletstorm slightly underperformed (I blame the lack of marketing, personally) PCF will most likely spend the rest of their days making whatever Epic tells them to do. While I like Gears....I am absolutely NOT interested in Judgment.

I feel this is the same situation with EA and DICE. We'll never ever get a Mirror's Edge 2, and instead they will keep pumping out military shooters.

Combichristoffersen · (08-13-2012, 02:16 PM)

Originally Posted by daviyoung:

A new Unreal Tournament surely!

No thanks, I don't want more shootbang games, we already have enough of those. New Jazz Jackrabbit or bust!

JaggedSac · (08-13-2012, 02:16 PM)

Originally Posted by Interfectum:

Sometimes it's hard to keep up. So everyone hates Epic now?

I am surprised myself. Perhaps some sort of battle between CryEngine and UE getting people riled up? Mark Rein may have said some stuff? Accidentally sneezed on Gabe maybe?

Darklord · (08-13-2012, 02:17 PM)

I thought they already owned them. :s

daviyoung · (08-13-2012, 02:17 PM)

Originally Posted by Combichristoffersen:

No thanks, I don't want more shootbang games, we already have enough of those. New Jazz Jackrabbit or bust!

Jazz Jackrabbit made by a developer known for making shootbang games? Sounds like a recipe for success all right.

Combichristoffersen · (08-13-2012, 02:18 PM)

Originally Posted by daviyoung:

Jazz Jackrabbit made by a developer known for making shootbang games? Sounds like a recipe for success all right.

Well, Epic themselves obviously aren't gonna make any new Jazz games, so why not let PCF do it?

Corky · (08-13-2012, 02:20 PM)

Originally Posted by Darklord:

I thought they already owned them. :s

Nah they just clipped their wings.

daviyoung · (08-13-2012, 02:20 PM)

Originally Posted by Combichristoffersen:

Well, Epic themselves obviously aren't gonna make any new Jazz games, so why not let PCF do it?

Because it'd have to go through the HD remaster route to probe sequel feasability first. PCF could pull off a decent HD remaster I'm sure.

Combichristoffersen · (08-13-2012, 02:21 PM)

Originally Posted by daviyoung:

Because it'd have to go through the HD remaster route to probe sequel feasability first. PCF could pull off a decent HD remaster I'm sure.

I'd buy a HD remaster of Jazz 1. Get on it, PCF!

gabbre · (08-13-2012, 02:22 PM)

Originally Posted by Interfectum:

Sometimes it's hard to keep up. So everyone hates Epic now?

Only Adam West fans. I dislike them since they abandoned PC gaming, but this is another story.