LucasArts President Talks About His Departure - Kotaku Comments

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

outamyhead — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 13:11:44 MDT

Wow, maybe this means that the PC will see some of these so called new releases, and possibly some new adventure games since Grim Fandango was the last one out the door (doesn't force unleashed look like Jedi Knight: outcast, but with slightly more visual effects)?

outamyhead

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

Mobius — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 16:07:18 MST

@DigitalHero:
The Star Wars nerds didn't wait for Episode 3. They all committed suicide after Phantom.

Mobius

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

Creo — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 12:21:35 MST

BRING ON THE ADVENTURE GAMES!

Creo

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

Rebochan — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 11:42:46 MST

So...the guy who killed Sam and Max 3D and Full Throttle 2 and the whole Monkey Island franchise and chased off Tim Schaefer and sucked the soul out of the company so they could become a Star Wars factory has now departed...

If this finally gets me a real Full Throttle sequel, then it will have been worth it. Ben Throttle must ride again!

Rebochan

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

nbraccia — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 11:11:24 MST

Guys, Jim Ward only expanded his duties to include President of LucasArts a couple years ago...mid 2004, actually. Before that that he had a different, marketing-focused role with Lucasfilm.

My point being, any decisions around the SCUMM-engine or GRIMM-engine and adventures games probably had nothing to do with him. That ship sailed long before he was running LucasArts.

nbraccia

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

Jilkon — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 05:13:41 MST

Time to get working on Monkey Island 5. Let's hope the new guy knows that what we (I) want isn't another Star Wars game.

Jilkon

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

zzt711 — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 02:27:02 MST

Actually, I'm very glad he left. I haven't bought a Lucasarts game in over 10 years... and I used to buy MANY (I probably have about 30 of their games). Probably due to him is why Lucasarts lost the uniqueness they brought to the industry. None of they guys who made Lucasarts what it is (or was) are even with the company anymore.. Schaffer, Holland, ect... probably due of that asshat, good riddance.

zzt711

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

Ignited_Impulse — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 00:26:44 MST

@kidko:
WIN!

Ignited_Impulse

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

Arklop — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 22:58:35 MST

Farewell, oh Captain, my Captain.

Arklop

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

djcoffee — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 22:58:19 MST

RON PAUL 2008

djcoffee

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

TheKarpuk — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 19:19:52 MST

I really don't see how this guy could not have been involved in the jettisoning of any LucasArts title that didn't contain the words Star and Wars. I've been really bitter at that company for a while now for trying to convince the American people that adventure games aren't a viable genre. Grim Fandango was profitable overall due to the European market, so canning their adventure games seemed more a move to not participate in a genre that seemed unfashionable. Maybe now we'll get someone who won't sit on those IP's, and who might turn them over downloadable services like XBLA or GameTap. Good Riddance.

TheKarpuk

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

bookletone — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 19:02:04 MST

I feel sorry to see him go.

bookletone

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

bookletone — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 19:01:05 MST

Oh, I am really sorry to see him go.

bookletone

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

DigitalHero — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 17:53:15 MST

@RamenBooko:
Are there any Star Wars nerds left? I thought they committed a mass suicide after Episode III released. =P

DigitalHero

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

BlackIceJoe — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 16:43:47 MST

I wonder if He will start a new company closer to his Family.

I hope this means who ever comes on next is a fan of Monkey Island or other games like that. Plus how about making new games other then Star Wars there could be a lot LucasArts could make that is not SW. So I hope to see new things come out of this.

BlackIceJoe

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

Tybee — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 16:36:14 MST

Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out, Mr. Ward. You've been an anathema to the adventure game community for most of your tenure, and I think LucasArts and the gaming community as a whole will profit from new leadership at the company.

To LucasArts' incoming head, whomever that turns out to be: Congratulations. You've just been handed some of the lowest-hanging fruit in the industry. See that vault full of classic adventure titles? Simply port them over to the DS, Wii, and XBLA for some quick capital. Too hard, you say? Why, the technology's already been developed for you. It's called SCUMM VM, and I'm sure you could buy it for a song. Once you have these classics in the market, you can use them as a barometer for the feasibility of putting new adventure games into production. I think you'll be surprised at the enthusiasm of the gaming community (not to mention the money to be had).

Of course the Star Wars properties will always flourish, and I hope you will continue producing quality titles in that arena. KOTOR, LEGO Star Wars, and a few other bright spots are proof that there are still exciting areas to be explored in that universe. Hopes are high for The Force Unleashed, for example. But leaning on the Star Wars license for 90% of your product does not make good business sense. Diversification is the key (and Thrillville and a few half-baked Indiana Jones titles don't cut it).

We've been telling Jim this for years. He didn't listen. Hopefully you will.

Tybee

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

smitty1123 — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 15:29:07 MST

@Stormrider: Nope, but you didn't say "most people aren't interested in" you said "nobody is interested in". I'll readily admit it's a niche market, but that doesn't mean it's something akin to the buggy whip.

smitty1123

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

kidko — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 15:26:57 MST

@MasterDevwi: I stand corrected and outclassed by a greater nerd

kidko

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

Tzero7 — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 15:03:01 MST

@smitty1123: damn too late forgot to hit my refresh.

Tzero7

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

Tzero7 — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 15:01:23 MST

@Stormrider: I am fairly sure its a genre most people on kotaku are intrested in from the comments I have ready anyway, or maybe I misready your comment but even so.

Tzero7

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

Stormrider — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:56:53 MST

@smitty1123: You and I both know that what takes place in the Kotaku comments section doesn't represent the commercial marketplace at large. After all, everybody on Kotaku knew that Kane and Lynch was garbage, but that didn't prevent it from selling over a million copies and getting a sequel greenlighted, did it?

Stormrider

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

Dontdrop — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:51:25 MST

@MadMinstrel:

Perhaps he'll be grim too.

Har, har!

Dontdrop

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

Seth L — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:48:06 MST

I always wondered why there was never a Star Wars Adventure game, even in their heyday.

It's not Like Indiana Jones and the Secret of Atlantis was a flop or something?

Seth L

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

cjschmidt — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:47:34 MST

I hope this new guy has the balls to release their old adventure games on WiiWare. Maybe give us a new Monkey Island.

cjschmidt

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

megahurtz — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:47:20 MST

Outside of Empire at War and the KotOR games, I haven't liked anything Lucasarts has put out since about 1999. I think that is the point where they started to slide.

Adventure games would be nice, but they need to bring back Larry Holland and Totally Games for a new X-Wing/TIE Fighter game.

megahurtz

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

Seth L — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:46:48 MST

I remember when star wars games were a crown jewel. I think Rebel Assualt ended that.

I'd love a new X-wing or TIE fighter title.

And a new Day of the Tentacle.

And a pony.

Seth L

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

smitty1123 — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:45:35 MST

@Stormrider: "... genre that nobody was interested in." Well, the comments in this post and the other Lucasarts post clearly show that there are still some people interested in the adventure genre. I'd gladly take another Maniac Mansion over another Star Wars game (unless it was Tie Fighter 2).

smitty1123

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

Books — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:42:58 MST

@DigitalHero: I think 'they' just say that to get all the Star Wars nerds excited in their pants. I love Star Wars, but I stand behind that comment...100%

Books

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

Sythlia — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:41:22 MST

Don't count out KOTOR. One of the best Star Wars games and perhaps best RPG in the past few years.

Of course, KOTOR 2 was released about 6 months too early. I'm pretty sure LucaArts had some hand in that.

Who doesn't want a half-baked game for holiday season?! Just like the kind mom used to make.

Sythlia

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

Cardigan Square — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:41:09 MST

Adventure Games. Adventure Games. Adventure Games.

Cardigan Square

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

Dontdrop — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:37:04 MST

So does that mean we might finally get some Lucas Arts adventure games?

I'm guessing no.

Dontdrop

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

Tetley — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:32:26 MST

I know it's just a dream to hope for the return of Lucasarts adventure games, but it's a dream I can't seem to let go of.

Tetley

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

Rizzo88 — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:30:01 MST

I just realized that the best Star Wars games released during Ward's tenure was actually released by Eidos (Lego Star Wars)...

Rizzo88

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

MadMinstrel — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:24:12 MST

I sure hope the next president is more Monkey-friendly.

MadMinstrel

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

Spoit — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:22:44 MST

@Stormrider: What about the 90% completed Sam and Max game that was canceled so suddenly even the team working on it was supprised. I mean, come on, it was almost compeltely done.

Spoit

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

MosquitoControl — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:18:53 MST

Reboot it as a Star Wars factory?

MosquitoControl

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

Chea321 — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:16:53 MST

Well i don't think that's necessarily true. The adventure game genre still is not dead, although it obviously isn't at the point it was years ago. I think there's definitely still a market for it in regards to PC gamers. Most console gamers tend to be a bit too casual for adventure games however. Although I'm primarily a console gamer myself, the only time i do PC gaming is for adventure games.

Chea321

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

7ucky — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:15:30 MST

@Brian Crecente: No worries - I thought it was funny all the same!

7ucky

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

Stormrider — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:09:05 MST

@jobble: Lucasarts isn't responsible for the downfall of the adventure genre. If anything, they kept it alive for much longer than it would have otherwise. You can be upset about that if you like, but it's not Jim Ward's fault and he couldn't have recreated a genre that nobody was interested in.

Stormrider

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

Fyren — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:05:54 MST

Meh. During his reign, he did bring Kotro and Battlefront. Hope your severance package is decent!.

Fyren

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

autobon — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:04:47 MST

hope they keep making star wars games. I never like their other franchises.

autobon

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

Haggis — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:00:58 MST

@Philonious: Let's hope so. I say, good riddance, and here's to hoping something decent will come out of LucasArts again now that Mr Ward is gone. I wish him all the best with his personal circumstances and hope it's not too bad, but for gamers, this is hopefully a blessing, depending on who replaces him.

Haggis

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

Chea321 — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:00:54 MST

I hope this means we can get a monkey island 5! I believe Jim Ward was indeed the man who decided 300 star wars games a year is the only way to go. God forbid 299 star wars games a year and 1 creative adventure game.

Chea321

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

SXGlory — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:00:42 MST

Speaking of adventure games, I'd love to see some classics pop up on Live Arcade (I own most of them, but they'd be well worth rebuying if it helps reinvigorate the market).

SXGlory

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

SXGlory — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:59:17 MST

@Ruglia:
No Lucas leaves the day-to-day operations in charge of others (for every division).

SXGlory

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

blackadvent — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:57:29 MST

If the new president has a compiliation of all Lucasarts adventure games made, I will want to have his babies.

blackadvent

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

Evdor — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:55:22 MST

"Together we rebooted the company."

Considering Republic Commando was the last game that was worth playing for more then five minutes, I wouldn't be too proud of that.

Evdor

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

MasterDevwi — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:54:00 MST

Darn, it's sad to see Jim Ward leave. But, the company is in good hands. Howard Roffman is a great guy.

@KIDKO The correct quote is "A death mark is not an easy thing to live with. You're a good pilot, Solo. I hate to loose you."

@RUGLIA No, George Lucas owns LucasArts and approves everything they do, but it was Jim Ward who ran it. Hayden Blackman also does a lot for the company.

MasterDevwi

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

jobble — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:53:22 MST

He's been there ten years? So does that mean he is the one responsible for shit-canning a great development company responsible for creating/producing great games like Monkey Island and Day of the Tentacle and turning into a zombified-corpse spitting out one rehashed Star Wars game after another? If so then good riddance. If not then sorry, but you should have made the company great again.

jobble

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

DigitalHero — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:49:13 MST

@Ruglia:
Lucas still has a major say for certain things. If you watch the Force Unleashed video, they said they got "approval" from George Lucas.

DigitalHero

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

PlayingKarrde — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:48:42 MST

@Philonious: My thoughts exactly.

PlayingKarrde

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

Ruglia — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:47:45 MST

What? Wasn't George Lucas The Man in Lucasarts? No, I really mean that question.

Ruglia

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

A Pimp Named DaveR — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:47:14 MST

He's quitting to spend more time grinding Jedi.

/would have been funnier in 2004

A Pimp Named DaveR

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

kidko — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:46:06 MST

A death mark is a tough thing to live with

kidko

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

Brian Crecente — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:45:53 MST

@7ucky: gah, fixed. BUT it's going to take forever to show up. :(

Brian Crecente

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

7ucky — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:43:55 MST

"quite a but" - ha!

7ucky

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

Philonious — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:42:33 MST

Does this mean we can now have some new adventure games?

Philonious

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

Rizzo88 — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:42:05 MST

Damn, I was looking forward to hearing him speak at DICE...

Rizzo88

LucasArts President Talks About His Departure

Spoit — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:41:08 MST

It's only been an hour since the article went live. That's a crazy turnaround time.

Spoit