DriveClub is having a bit of a torrid time from being delayed just before launch, and now existing in some kind of limbo while we wait for news of its new release date. Earlier today news was released that Evolution, London Studio, and Guerilla Cambridge had all suffered redundancies, but Col Rodgers’ departure actually took place a couple of weeks back. He has decided to focus on a new venture with an indie studio called Big Red Switch Games which will be using Unity to produce titles.
While Sony were quick to say earlier that development of DriveClub had not been affected by the layoffs it is hard to see how it hasn’t been. After all Col Rodgers was the director for DriveClub since November 2012, and losing such a key figure while a game is going through development would have to have some affect surely? What’s really needed now is news about the status of DriveClub, not vague release periods, but either a confirmed release date or a status saying the game will take more time and will be ready when it’s ready.
We may get a surprise announcement tomorrow but it needs to come soon because that release period of early 2014 is quickly running out.
Source: Videogamer /LinkedIn
DJ Judas
I’m inclined to think that DC is done, or pretty much finished, I can’t see a game director leaving a project in the lurch like that otherwise.
Phizzy
If they’re working on things like bugfixing and better netcode, there generally isn’t a huge role for the game director. I can’t imagine they’d be changing anything like the fundamental game design at this point.
Kennykazey
A weird but bold move, best of luck to him and to DriveClub.
camdaz
Yeah, best look to him.
We could do with a bit of info for DC.
Eldur
What the f*ck is going on at the moment?! Closures, moves, board members quitting… It’s like a huge spring clean for the games industry… Seth Killiam has even left Santa Monica!
JR.
Maybe Sony’s going under. Maybe Playstation is doomed. Maybe the world will end tomorrow! Agggggggggh!!!
Sorry… I’ve spent way too much time in IGNs comment section. I think it’s starting to catch :)
Eldur
Actually LOL’d.
yiddo
I think it’s called business ;)
Streamlining and changes are regularly made in business.
Eldur
Urgh. ‘Streamlining’. That’s a horrible, cowardly word don’t you think?
And my original comment was somewhat tongue in cheek, but it is interesting to see this all happening at the same time… Big changes are always exciting.
TSBonyman
That does sound a bit odd, i would have expected him to stay for the release. Perhaps he was planning leaving anyway and only stayed on until now because of the delay.
The Von Braun
Stranger (Sony related) things have happened…
Forget just who, as it’s been a good few years, but recal a ‘big cheese’ from Sony’s hardware labs, leaving Sony right as PS2 was well underway in terms of R+D, to go and work with VLM Labs on Project NUON (some Ex-Atari engineers moved over as well, but that’s understandable, and media was all OMG, just how power/massive is NUON going to be if XXXX feels it’s a better future ahead of it than the PS2?.
And what became of the NUON boys and girls? (Tempest 3000/Iron Soldier 3 aside…)…exactly.
Anywho back on topic, if as we’d expect, Club Drive is the final stages of ‘testing’, what would his ‘role’ on the project really be at this point?.Perhaps he thought it better he leave ‘now’ rather than drag it out anylonger, few more months would have made little/no difference to him, in terms of what he’d be offered to leave, money wise.
Company i work foe quite often do ‘bridging loans’ i.e if you go now, we’ll pop a little extra in your final payment, just to tie you over till your back on your feet.
Or for the Eurogamer/C+VG style post (moods just taken me) OMG!!!!! Guess that means Club Drive (Club Dive, LOL!) is going to be shit, just like that one was on that Atari console, that like died because all it had were SNES games, a matey knows it and he’s getting out before the shit hits the fan, review scores come in….that sorta post the thing they’d have?
Or is this more like it:
OMG!! PSN must have been hacked,again!!! i’m selling my PS4 getting an Xbox One (even though up until now i’ve called it the Xbox.. and refered to things like Titanfail, what an internet wag i am..).
If i was Sony, i’d put a press release out saying:look, we all know you bunch of moaners out there are going to slag game off because it’s not 1080P, 60 FPS and has VR support from day 1 and you Eurogamer have the 7/10 score already and waiting, so if everyone bar the cleaning ladies and Bob who looks after the vending machines, leaves the project between now and it’s release, so we just thought f**k it, make’em wait….
Never happen, but it’d be a tad more honest :-)
Basically until game is released could we just have some soothing pictures, some cute kittens in a box? a lovely sunset…..a babies smile, that lovely princess what’s her face, the posh bint who’s never done a days work in her life…Kate is’nt it? yes, lets have Kate and focus on the fact she’s wearing THAT dress/jacket/hat for a 3rd time now, anything to take our minds off it…
Weekly rant alright my luvs?
bunimomike
If you wrote this as fast as I read it, you may well be clinically mad. :-)
ron_mcphatty
Perfect! If we were voting for a new rant-master you’d get mine! Can’t wait for next week’s :)
Eldur
I’ve read this a couple of times and it’s like an colonic for my brain. :)
Tuffcub
Kittens and Kate will be included in the next Snatch.
kjkg
In amongst all that rambling of a madman, you have some pretty accurate points. My brain hurts a bit now though.
bunimomike
Software staff often change and a well run project can easily handle someone leaving. Even the top bods. A company always has to allow for such things and once it has enough employees, most things can be absorbed with relative ease even if a long-term solution is still required.
Let’s see how the game turns out first, eh? :-)
zb100
All feels a bit Last Guardian to me…
a inferior race
It is starting to kook similar.
lambchop
This will be out soon I feel….
The Von Braun
@Bunimomike:Clinically mad you say? what clinic’s? they’ve all be closed under the current UK Goverment, not even had the decency to set up a Starbucks or anything in place of them.You phone your G.P down here, he asks you if your in a good state of health fer facks sake!,2 things there Doc, 1)If i was i’d be phoning you because…..? and 2)Are’nt you supposed to tell me, your the Doctor….
Anyway, all ‘details’ at end of the day, bloody birds fly backwards down here, no-one cares!
@Tuffcub-Mate, you’ve sold me on next weeks news burst stuff,m reading your post and there was talk of pussy (Kittens) and Kate’s Snatch…(well that’s how i read it) :-)
TSA (T*TS, Snatch and A**L? ) you gone all 18 rated on us, even late night Hollyoaks drew a line in the sand….
This’ll get the viewing figures up…
Right, where’s that Ajax powder gone, time to scrub the mind….
double-o-dave
Have you been taking mushrooms? If so, can I have some please?