Master of The Free World Productions | Jumpcut Entertainment Network

Report: Square Enix America CEO leaves, joins Amazon

hit 1st Report Square Enix America president is out

Square Enix America CEO Mike Fischer left the company this month and is now vice president of digital music and video for Amazon in Japan, Polygon reports. This follows news in April that Square Enix America eliminated “a number of positions” and Fischer was expected to leave in May. Those same reports said the head of marketing should be gone after E3, along with other employees in public relations.

In March, Square Enix President Yoichi Wada stepped down and the company announced widespread restructuring that it expected to cost $ 106 million. Square Enix posted a net loss of $ 134 million for fiscal year 2013, citing “weak” sales of major console games, including Sleeping Dogs, Hitman: Absolution and Tomb Raider, the last of which sold 3.4 million in its first month.

JoystiqReport: Square Enix America CEO leaves, joins Amazon originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 23 May 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments
Joystiq

Former NYT digital head joins EA’s board as Gregory Maffei leaves

EA reorganization Former NYT digital head now on board

Following last week’s “restructuring,” Electronic Arts has announced a new addition to its board of directors. Denise F. Warren has been appointed to both the board and EA’s Audit Committee. Warren is the Vice President of the Digital Products and Services group at the New York Times, where she previously oversaw operations on NYTimes.com and the Times’ other digital properties.

Warren will be stepping in as director Gregory Maffei steps out, passing on re-election at the stockholders meeting to be held on July 31. Maffei is the president and CEO of Liberty Media, the distributor that owns cable channels Discovery Channel, USA, Starz and more. Maffei has been on the EA board for 10 years, but is resigning to work with his own company.

Continue reading Former NYT digital head joins EA’s board as Gregory Maffei leaves

JoystiqFormer NYT digital head joins EA’s board as Gregory Maffei leaves originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 May 2013 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments
Joystiq

After SimCity debacle, EA leaves no doubt: Sims 4 works offline

In this post-SimCity world, Maxis and EA made sure to stress that The Sims 4 is absolutely, positively, playable offline. …


Gamasutra News

Zynga exodus continues as Verdu leaves to found TapZen

In the midst of Zynga’s continued financial downturn, industry veteran Mike Verdu departs to found tablet-focused startup TapZen – with a significant financial investment from his former employers. …


Gamasutra News

Dan Teasdale leaves Twisted Pixel

Dan Teasdale leaves Twisted Pixel

Twisted Pixel designer Dan Teasdale is moving on to (presumably) greener pastures. Today marks his last day at Twisted Pixel, Teasdale noted on Twitter. “I honestly thought something incredibly unique and amazing would have to come out of left field for me to even consider leaving,” writes Teasdale. It would appear that just such an opportunity has arisen, though he’s not sharing what it is just yet, saying only that “it’s a shift in what I’ve been doing for the past 15 years.”

Teasdale plans to take a break before his next venture begins, relaxing on a “Great American Road Trip” and working on his bizarre, recently Kickstarted app, Super Drake Tracker 2000 EX. The app tracks the flight status of Harmonix director of communication and brand management, John Drake. It also allows users to buy Drake a Diet Coke. The project originally sought $ 550, but went on to raise over $ 10,000.

For his part, Drake feels “weirdly responsible” for Teasdale’s departure.

JoystiqDan Teasdale leaves Twisted Pixel originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 12 Apr 2013 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments
Joystiq

Who shot JR? John Riccitiello leaves behind a shaky legacy at EA

Riccitiello’s tenure at EA had some highs, but it ultimately will likely be remembered more for the lows when all is said and done. But where exactly did EA start going wrong? And can the company turn itself around? …


Gamasutra News

Monkey Island creator Ron Gilbert leaves Double Fine

Following the release of side-scrolling puzzler The Cave, director Ron Gilbert revealed this week that he has left Double Fine to move onto other projects. …


Gamasutra News

Ron Gilbert leaves Double Fine Productions

Veteran designer and The Cave creator Ron Gilbert announced his departure from Double Fine Productions to “plot his next move” in the industry. In a post on his blog, Gilbert profusely thanked his former colleagues and studio founder Tim Schafer, saying it was a “true pleasure to work with every one of them,” and simply that it was time to move on.

Schafer and Gilbert, who co-wrote The Secret of Monkey Island and Monkey Island 2, reprised their working relationship in 2010 when Gilbert joined Double Fine Productions. After two years of toil, Gilbert released the literally full-of-junk The Cave earlier this year.

Gilbert’s short-term plan is to continue working with DeathSpank co-creator Clayton Kauzlaric on an iOS game, which he revealed has the catchy moniker of Scurvy Scallywags in The Voyage to Discover the Ultimate Sea Shanty: A Musical Match-3 Pirate RPG – the man does like his pirates. But clearly Gilbert has intentions beyond that, with the 49-year-old arbiter of adventure pointedly noting there are “so many games left to be designed.”

JoystiqRon Gilbert leaves Double Fine Productions originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 12 Mar 2013 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments
Joystiq

Gold Family Pack leaves the Xbox Live nest

The Gold Family Pack has divorced from Xbox Live. Following a couple of tips indicating the pack had disappeared earlier this month, we reached out to Microsoft who confirmed the offer was removed from its service.

“The Family Gold offer is no longer available for purchase,” a Microsoft representative told us. “The Family Center experience with settings management, allowance granting, child activity reports and family subscriptions management are still available for current Family Gold members at this time.”

As for why the pack was discontinued, the rep said, “We continually evaluate our business focus and work to offer services that make the most sense for our customers and Xbox.”

Microsoft introduced the Family Pack to Xbox Live back in November 2010, offering up a discounted $ 99.99 bundle of four year-long Gold memberships, along with Family Center functionality allowing users to manage family members’ content and purchasing access.

JoystiqGold Family Pack leaves the Xbox Live nest originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 08 Mar 2013 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments
Joystiq

Former Epic prez Mike Capps leaves advisory role

Former Epic Games president Mike Capps announced this evening he is no longer affiliated with the developer. Capps announced late last year that he would no longer be president at the privately held company, but would stay on in an advisory role.

“So what’s next for me? Games have been so good to me, and I’m delighted to have the time to give back. I’m a member of several game industry boards, and I’m proud to serve as an advocate for our art in Washington,” wrote Capps on Facebook this evening. “I’m considering seats on a few company and advisory boards, as well as options for teaching at one of the world-class universities in the North Carolina Triangle area. And mostly, I’m focused on being a new dad in a few short weeks.”

Capps’ second “retirement” gives us a good opportunity to repeat all the uncomfortable events of recent memory. Let’s see, there’s the minority purchase of Epic by Chinese company Tencent. The exits of design director Cliff Bleszinski, director of production Rod Fergusson and leads of People Can Fly. Then there’s the terribly awkward situation of Impossible Games, established out of the Big Huge Games remains, which Epic shut down last month. Epic Games’ next game is Gears of War: Judgment… judgment… judgment.

JoystiqFormer Epic prez Mike Capps leaves advisory role originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 08 Mar 2013 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments
Joystiq