Ryan Geithman, founder and president of Champions of Norrath and Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance developer Snowblind Studios, has left the Seattle-based studio after 13 years with the company and in the midst of developing the studio’s current game.
Geithman confirmed his departure from the Warner Bros.-owned studio to Kotaku today. His former studio is currently creating The Lord of the Rings: War in the North, an action-adventure co-op game based on the work of J.R.R. Tolkien, for the PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.
https://kotaku.com/champions-of-norrath-developers-bought-by-warner-bros-5146751
“After thirteen years of leading the company, I am leaving Snowblind,” Geithman writes. “It was a difficult decision to leave while the studio is in production on The Lord of the Rings: War in the North, but I am confident the team will succeed in making a great game.
“My years with Snowblind have been very fulfilling and I am transitioning to the next part of my career, so I have made the decision to leave the game in the team’s capable hands.”
Snowblind has specialized in developing solid action-adventure games based on existing properties, including Champions of Norrath (based on Sony’s EverQuest), Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance (based on Forgotten Realms) and Justice League Heroes. Its most recent release was the Xbox Live Arcade game Death Tank, released in 2009. The Lord of the Rings: War in the North is scheduled for release in 2011.
https://kotaku.com/snowblind-makes-death-tank-official-5043317
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment purchased Snowblind Studios in February 2009.
https://kotaku.com/lord-of-the-rings-online-team-snatched-up-by-warner-bro-5520897
We’ve contacted Warner Bros. Interactive on the move and are awaiting comment.
