Mythic and BioWare Form New EA MMO/RPG Division

[GameBanshee News]

It's unclear what exactly this entails in practice, but the Warhammer Online Herald brings word of Mythic and BioWare being placed in one MMO/RPG division by EA.

Today we have important news to share with the community. EA is restructuring its RPG and MMO games development into a new group that includes both Mythic and BioWare. This newly formed team will be led by Ray Muzyka, co-founder and General Manager of BioWare. With this change, Ray becomes Group General Manager of the new RPG/MMO studio group. BioWare’s other co-founder, Greg Zeschuk will become Group Creative Officer for the new RPG/MMO studio group. Rob Denton will step up as General Manager of Mythic and report to Ray. BioWare’s studios remain unchanged and continue to report to Ray.

Mark Jacobs, current General Manager of Mythic will leave EA on June 23, 2009. We thank Mark for his contributions at Mythic and wish him the very best going forward. Mark played a major part in the success of Mythic with his contribution as General Manager and Lead Designer of WAR.

Mythic retains a strong team led by Rob who co-founded Mythic in 1995. Rob played a critical role in the development of Dark Age of Camelot. In his previous role as COO, he was responsible for all day-to-day management of the studio including all development, operations and support.

Please join us in celebrating the union of these two award-winning studios.

[BuckGB]

The most important announcement in that blurb is that Mark Jacobs has left the company that he started building as Adventures Unlimited over 25 years ago. While Warhammer Online's failure to reach major success might have been a contributor, something tells me the behind-the-scenes politics that went into the staffing of this new division was the main culprit.

[Xandax]

I've always been conflicted about Mythic because they made DAoC but they also ruined both DAoC and Warhammer in my book.

I'm certain the Warhammer issue has played into EA's decision on this.
Mark Jacobs made a lot of .... not so diplomatic (to be neutral about it) ..... comments when hyping up Warhammer, and I don't have the least doubt that because Warhammer didn't live up to the expectations, it has played into the decision. Now whether Mark Jacobs was asked to leave, wouldn't accept the condition or just felt it was time to move on we don't know, and perhaps never will.
HOwever, combine this with the fact that Bioware are making SW:TOR which - if successful - could become the MMO flagship for now for EA, it seems likely to combine the forces even more.

I just hope all the silly decisions Mythic have taken in regards of how to do it with DAoC and Warhammer don't influence SW:TOR.

[Brother None]

Quote:

Damien Foletto 's mind is blown that Zenimax just bought id. However, he is not surprised at all that Mythic was merged with Bioware and fully expects that the Mythic offices will be shut down and all assets consolidated with Bioware in Austin within a year's time.

Interesting and not fully unlikely. It fits EA's MO to consolidate, and Mythic's not doing that hot.

[Loki[D.d.G]]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xandax HOwever, combine this with the fact that Bioware are making SW:TOR which - if successful - could become the MMO flagship for now for EA, it seems likely to combine the forces even more. I just hope all the silly decisions Mythic have taken in regards of how to do it with DAoC and Warhammer don't influence SW:TOR.

Well said. I wouldn't wish them to do any harm to the first mmo i have been keeping an eye on for sometime. That said, bioware seems to be at the head of the merged group and hopefully that would be enough to keep TOR "uninfluenced"