Realtime Worlds is the studio responsible for the first brilliantly empowering Crackdown, but Microsoft gave it the cold shoulder for Crackdown 2, favoring instead a rival Scottish developer in Ruffian Games. Realtime was a little hurt over getting shafted, but Microsoft has explained why it chose to take its business elsewhere.
"When Billy Thomson, the lead designer of [Crackdown], left Realtime Worlds, there was an opportunity," explains Microsoft executive Phil Spencer. "I wanted to make sure that anything we work on is correctly nurtured ... we had to find the right team who really understood what game it is -- and that was Billy and the team at Ruffian."
Spencer argues that Realtime Worlds was busy working on APB and wouldn't be able to give Crackdown 2 the attention it deserved. Perhaps that is prudent thinking on the part of Spencer, especially with the original game's lead designer at Ruffian, but RTW has definitely been left feeling stung.
Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize.
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Uh... how about they people who ACTUALLY MADE the first game?? I don't get how this shit works anymore...
Maybe another developer can develop a better game.
Makes perfect sense to me........
It does seem to make sense that Microsoft followed the lead designer, and they are right to not ignore the fact that they are busy making APB.
I really enjoyed crackdown but it wasn't exactly something extremely unique that could never be re-created by another team.
You're doing it wrong. Skill? It's meant to be a fun game and aiming whilst doing those crazy jumps would be kinda hard. And there were no missions, you didn't have to do anything!
I would trust Microsoft if not for their reputation of lies. I personally hope Ruffian games doesn't put too much focus on this 'multiple player' nonsense.
Trying to be visible at the expense of cheap litle stements only takes you that far.
LET'S PLAY A GAME OF CHANCE:
If you can find a "fanboy comment" in that post, I'll give you five bucks. If you find something that isn't a fanboy comment, but you THINK is one because you can't read and you're a fucking idiot, I will not give you five bucks but will instead say that you can't read and call you a fucking idiot.
I'm sorry for myself.
"Fanboy" is name calling.
I would be the first to criticize Jim for several reasons, but being a fanboy isn't one of them.
Between "making fanboyish comments" and "fucking idiot" there's some sort of hieralchical diference, I guess. Even for me, where english is my 3rd language, at best.
Anyway, it was the idea which came across, after reading some articles. Maybe you're right, maybe I'm wrong, the previous reply was a bit sad though, and it justifies, somehow, the idea that video-games enthusiasts are a bunch of over-excited kids in their 30s.
I'm not here to pick a fight though, so nevermind (the bollocks).
I feel that Ziggy is being mean.
I go cry.
*sniff...*
*pauses for effect*
YOU'RE an IDIOT! Wakka, Wakka!
Sike, you're the man, that's why everybody is always hatin' on you
Also, I had no idea Bill Thomson went to Ruffian, now it makes perfect sense why Microsoft went to them for CD2.
@TheToiletDuck
The lead designer is a HUGE influence on how a game turns out. He is the guy that organizes every other designer in the company and also answers all of their questions. That means he is the finally say on everything from character to level design. It's pretty much the job that every aspiring game designer wishes they had.
Ta.
@zombie (and in a way @Jim, but though... I'm scared to say it directly). No hate. No hate at all.
Hey. Let's scratch that shit.
On topic: Good call on the decision (imo) as not only he seems to be brains behing the the aesthetics, wich plays a major role on the game, but also it probably kick-start a new studio.
* - If I was writting in portguese I would be talking to myself, most times.
He shows a ton of immaturity for a "journalist"... that is more what you seem to be bothered by. I'd focus on that true complaint more than the invisible and impossible to quantify "fanboy" comment.
And don't listen to the jackals, your English is quite good for being a 3rd language. I can't even learn a second, it's like my brain shuts off.
But really, he puts emotions, opinions, whatever into his posts and that is a commendable thing. Journalism is entirely too concerned with objectivity and, as Thompson himself put it, it's that same objectivity that allows slimeballs to exploit it and get away with slimeball moves. People called him immature and shit tons of times. But "Don't you know no one alive can always be an angel?"
I'd like to hope we're all grown up enough to realise when someone is expressing an opinion, even if we disagree with it. Hell, I've felt almost pissed off with some things nearly the entire staff here have said at one time and maybe a few times I've responded stupidly. But that's all just part of being human. We can't get along all the damn time. So chill the fuck out.
As for the topic. At first I read it and expected a bunch of PR bull. But I reluctantly agree with him. It seems like the right move and they're still keeping it 'local' so it's not like they're taking industry away from Scotland.