Diablo 3's Senior Producer Quits, Leaves Blizzard
This may be good news, it may be bad news, or it may be nothing at all.
On January 20, Diablo 3 Senior Producer Steve Parker announced via Twitter that he's no longer working at Blizzard or on the upcoming PC game. Without specifying a reason for his departure, Parker added that he had a great 5 years working at the studio, and that "those guys are going to [do a great job] with Diablo [3]."
Later on via Twitter, Parker made references to "bigger and better things" and said that he'll announce what he's doing next through the social website. Yet he still didn't mention anything about his reasons for departure this late in the game's development. That said, eyes are now looking to game director Jay Wilson's official update made on Friday.
As specified in his update last week, the team is making changes to Diablo 3's core systems based on feedback by internal testing and those participating in the closed beta test. These changes include removing the Scroll of Identification, removing the Mystic artisan, removing the Cauldron of Jordan and the Nephalem Cube, and more. Thanks to the update, all previous speculation that the game was nearing completion was suddenly kicked out the door.
"While working on Diablo 3 we've been called out for messing around with systems too much, that the game is good as-is and we should just release it," Wilson said. "I think that's a fair argument to make, but I also think it's incorrect. Our job isn't just to put out a game, it's to release the next Diablo game."
So what happened to Parker? Did he get fed up and simply quit his job? We'll likely not find out until long after the game reaches retail shelves. In the meantime, Blizzard is now looking for another Senior Producer for Diablo 3 here.
"The Diablo III team is looking for a highly organized individual with outstanding communication, and project management skills," reads the job description. "The ideal candidate has prior experience in game development, and has a keen knowledge of how each discipline operates and interacts. Self-direction and follow-up skills are a must, as well as the ability to anticipate production issues, and find effective solutions. The candidate must enjoy seeing a project from inception to completion and delivering games on time with the highest quality."
Diablo 3 is slated for an early 2012 release, but if Blizzard is currently looking for someone to fill the Senior Producer boots, then we may not see the game until 2Q12, possibly later. Cross your fingers that's not the case.
- ARM Doesn't See Intel as a Competitive Threat
- Kingston Makes Red HyperX Memory for Fashionable Mobos
- Sony Refereshes Vaio Z Series With Color, New Hardware
- RIM Board Does the Executive Shuffle, Appoints New CEO
- Power Profiles May Help Lower Power Consumption of Chips
- IBM is #1 in Patent Ranking for 19 Years Straight
- High-Speed CMOS Sensors Improve DSC Low-Light Capability
- Imperva: Anonymous Used LOIC to Attack DoJ, MPAA
- 687,000 U.S. High-Tech Jobs Lost in a Decade
- Blizzard Incorporating In-Game Ads Scheme for "Titan"
- Crucial Offers Firmware Update For Crucial m4 SSD BSOD
- MIT's 100-core CPU Will Be Ready This Year
- Report: Microsoft Killing Off Microsoft Points by Year's End
- OCZ Issues Destructive Firmware for Octane Speed Increase
- No More MIX Conference, Says Microsoft
- HP Must Pay Civil Penalty Over Li-ion Battery Failure
- QuakeCon 2012 Dates Announced
- Ubuntu 12.04 HUD Supports Voice-Based Menu Commands
Then why would he want to work on Diablo III, a game that should be way past half done and almost certainly wont be delivered on time.
I'm sure there's a lot of qualified people clamoring to get this position already so a push back over one team member isn't very likely.
so Q2 2013?
so Q2 2013?
We'll get there when we get there.
Don't make me turn this car around!
Why wouldn't they just promote someone internally? Seems like it would be quite a task to come in this late and produce it.
We'll get there when we get there.Don't make me turn this car around!
yes sir. lol
Then why would he want to work on Diablo III, a game that should be way past half done and almost certainly wont be delivered on time.
agreed. i'm pretty sure he's still under a non-disclosure agreement.
removed scroll of identification eh.
While they were tedious, it added a bit of excitement to see what you finally got. So I can imagine those testing the game are probably players from WoW who want everything easy.
Really Blizzard?
Scroll of identification gone!? I loved seeing if the huge axe I lugged around in my inventory for the duration of a mission was actually worth something. Apparently your character in Diablo is now also, on top of being warrior, also an antique and magical weapons expert.
I think I just vomited in my mouth a little.
"Streamlining" "Balancing" and "Simplifying" are the mantra these days at Blizzard. Makes for pretty looking, idiot proof games that tend to lose my interest in about a week these last couple releases. Lowest common denominator is where all the money is though so can't really blame em. meh
Scroll of identification gone!? I loved seeing if the huge axe I lugged around in my inventory for the duration of a mission was actually worth something. Apparently your character in Diablo is now also, on top of being warrior, also an antique and magical weapons expert.I think I just vomited in my mouth a little.
well think of it this way, your character should be well versed in the weapons/items they use, and should be able to identify something as being good or not. its possible that many of the stats could be revield off the bat, but special ones that you are unfamiliar with would need an expert.
really the scrolls were just a pain to always have with me and always take up space, especially when there is next to no space in those games to go around.
well think of it this way, your character should be well versed in the weapons/items they use, and should be able to identify something as being good or not. its possible that many of the stats could be revield off the bat, but special ones that you are unfamiliar with would need an expert. really the scrolls were just a pain to always have with me and always take up space, especially when there is next to no space in those games to go around.
I understand it will make things easier and yes the scrolls were annoying (along with town portal scrolls). however i hope this isn't a step which blizzard will quite often take where they start to make things easier and more straight forward to capture the casual gamer. It's only a small change but i hope it's not a trend we will see continue.
I think he got Religious or spiritual or something like that. "Bigger and better" things? He most likely thinks he found God, or wants to help people (which you gotta admit, would be a better thing).
In other words, he's nuts.
What exactly can be "bigger and better" than working at Blizzard!?
I understand it will make things easier and yes the scrolls were annoying (along with town portal scrolls). however i hope this isn't a step which blizzard will quite often take where they start to make things easier and more straight forward to capture the casual gamer. It's only a small change but i hope it's not a trend we will see continue.
meh, they could just go with a titan quest approach, which isnt bad, unlimited portals, but only one at a time. and just not have the identify stuff because whats the realistic point?
i mean to make sense in a game setting, are you telling me a trained warrior is going to pick up a browse sword, and a sword that is so powerful it would make him a living god, that he uses both and sees no difference at all until he is told how good it is?
i could understand if they added a new mechanic to the game where you get tought each stat one by one and pay for it, one by one so you can spot them on your own...
but this isnt over simplifying the game, its just taking some useless meta game out of the equation (tell me that any time passed level 10 you ever had trouble getting enough scrolls to fill a book)
Why wouldn't they just promote someone internally? Seems like it would be quite a task to come in this late and produce it.
My thoughts exactly... No one on the dev team up to the producer role? Surely a D3 dev team member, who has been working on the game would be a more logical choice. This is a weird development, maybe it really is further away than we think
Now everything makes dense. We suffer because they have internal issues.
so Q2 2013?
My thoughts exactly... No one on the dev team up to the producer role? Surely a D3 dev team member, who has been working on the game would be a more logical choice. This is a weird development, maybe it really is further away than we think
Hell, I'd be happy with the next SC2 installment...
That is a bit of a large claim. Something bigger and better than Diablo III? I certainly wouldn't bet on whatever hes going for as being such. Remember what happened last time this happened with former Blizzard employees left to go on their own? Hell-Gate London happened.
This almost sounds like they are taking a jab at Steve Parker as he both left early and the game will be late.
Diablo 3 release date: December 22nd, 2012.
Let's hope we all make it that far.
I am glad to see activition has not influenced blizzard. I'm surprised they haven't forced blizzard to kick quality to the curb in favor of a new rehash of a game every year.
diablo III like all blizzard titles whill be here when it is a fun polished complete game... not a modern warfare where they do a new story mode that peopel ignore and jus thave to ge tthe new vertion to keep playign the multiplayer
I agree with others that I don't understand why they don't promote within. What's with all the outside hiring these days? ESPECIALLY in a well-established company with a largely completed game project. Why should anyone bother to work hard and make themselves valuable to a company, if they won't be considered for promotion?
I am glad to see activition has not influenced blizzard. I'm surprised they haven't forced blizzard to kick quality to the curb in favor of a new rehash of a game every year. diablo III like all blizzard titles whill be here when it is a fun polished complete game... not a modern warfare where they do a new story mode that peopel ignore and jus thave to ge tthe new vertion to keep playign the multiplayer
WTF are you talking about??? No Activision influence? Real money auction house, always connected internet, incorporation of in game ads (maybe not in d3 but in future games)!!!!!!!!! Do these not sound like an activision influence?????
Diablo 3 release date: December 22nd, 2012.Let's hope we all make it that far.
I can never keep it straight -- is that the day after or the day of the end of the world?
I agree with others that I don't understand why they don't promote within. What's with all the outside hiring these days? ESPECIALLY in a well-established company with a largely completed game project. Why should anyone bother to work hard and make themselves valuable to a company, if they won't be considered for promotion?
I have a theory about that. If you take an experienced developer and promote him to producer, you might end up with:
- delays and bugs, because your best programmer is no longer available to do programming work
- an incompetent producer (Google "Peter's principle"); or a producer who is competent, but hates dealing with people and arguing and writing performance reviews, and who will soon start looking for a programmer job elsewhere
I know some developers who made good and happy managers. However, the majority IMO would prefer a salary raise or some stock options rather than a promotion.
The salary raise would never amount to equivalent salary to the manager though, so someone who's a very talented developer will never get the recognition they deserve for their (extremely important) contribution.
I don't want to make it sound like I'm a developer, I am not. I also feel I have the personal and leadership skills to be in management eventually. I've just seen stuff like this happen around me (to other departments) before, and it bothers me enormously because I see great potential in people being ignored.
Blizzard is a great publishing house for games, and their products live up to the hype for the most part. Their penchant for drawn out development is well known for those of us waiting ten years for this update. To make these switches in the game, when it makes no sense either way, might a lack of leadership, and or loss of creative ideas. I would guess the lead programmer left because of the unnecessary delays, and the mess that these changes would cause. Life is too short, to waste endlessly trying to achieve perfection.
he probably worked long hours and was constantly pressured by the big bosses at activision and on top of that has to manage everyone's problems too.
What exactly can be "bigger and better" than working at Blizzard!?
working at google, microsoft, or facebook maybe?
WTF are you talking about??? No Activision influence? Real money auction house, always connected internet, incorporation of in game ads (maybe not in d3 but in future games)!!!!!!!!! Do these not sound like an activision influence?????
i more meant the quality of the game part, the not releaseing a game until its done and not jsut slight revamp and repackage for mediocre titles and maximum profits.
though I actually kind of liek the always connected to the internet part. less easy to exploit and hack toons clientside. I'm looking forward to it, I dont' plan on spending money on items in game ever, but for people who want to or have the cash to I do not see a problem with it. and the in game advertising as far as i've heard is for titan not diablo III