Bioshock Infinite

[Marvolo]

This isnt exactly raising my confidence in the game. Late delay and last minute art director change. I sense this game might be a mess.

 

[Soapy]

Why would they need a new art director so late in development?

 

[Upset Spideyfan]

Not sure what to make of this.

 

[Solidus]

Ah, I'm not worried, maybe just some last minute things, but this game is not a "mess". I highly doubt that.

 

[socool]

Sinclair was brought in because the original art director left as well as the director of productional development:

http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/08/08/bioshock-infinite-loses-two-developers

 

[Solidus]

Ya it does not mean they really are doing much for this game, but more so for future projects.

 

[Crockett]

There could be so many reasons why they left but it doesn't have to mean that the game's troubled, getting some changes this late to the process won't affect that much on the final project but perhaps that's just me being optimistic.

 

[Solidus]

No it's not you being optimistic, it is the way it is. Art direction is mainly done during the early days of production, not this late in coding. The art is locked in, this is just more of employee changing jobs ect. Some are looking into this way too much.

 

[Crockett]

Yes, especially considering it's an AAA title having a few people (if their job are more or less done) decides to leave the studio is pretty much normal, it could be from personal reasons to better offer at another project/studio, when a project like has been in works for a few years perhaps they needed the break, 'course it's weird that they left before the game's done but there's no lack of good replacements.

 

[Mister Sinister]

Official: Multiplayer is OUT, Gears of War producer Rod Fergusson is IN

Also some comments from Ken.

 

[Upset Spideyfan]

Interesting, hope if there are problems the team surmounts them. I was really excited about Infinite coming out this year and remain so about it coming out next year.

 

[X Knight]

yeah, this is one of my most anticipated games.....

so, hopefully, there's no real problem.......

 

[Sgt.Pepper]

I'm fine with this. Adding multiplayer to a game like Bioshock: Infinite feels unnecessary to me, so I'm glad to hear the news.

 

[zenith16]

Sinclair was brought in because the original art director left as well as the director of productional development:

http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/08/08/bioshock-infinite-loses-two-developers

Official: Multiplayer is OUT, Gears of War producer Rod Fergusson is IN

Also some comments from Ken.

just adding some stuff here
Levine: 'I'm not going to stop people' from leaving Irrational

(3 hours ago)
7

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Art director Nate Wells worked at Irrational Games for 13 years, beginning in September 1999 and the company's System Shock 2 days. Yesterday we discovered Wells and a handful of other people working on BioShock Infinite were no longer with Irrational, and Wells' Twitter briefly teased a job change before being deleted. While the bulk of people leaving Irrational can be chalked up to industry turnover, Wells' departure stands out, for the public and Irrational Games founder Ken Levine.

"In a company of 200 people you're going to have turnover," Levine tells Kotaku. "We never like to see a guy like Nate leave because he's been here for a long time, but it's been 13 years and I think sometimes people want to spread their wings. I'm not going to stop people. We love Nate and I think we all remain friends. After 13 years he sort of finished his work on BioShock Infinite, as you will be able to tell when you see the game again... I think Nate's moving on to something else."

Replacing Wells is Scott Sinclair, the art director for the first BioShock. This rounds out the core BioShock team that has stuck with the franchise – which is an achievement all on its own, Levine says:

"As far as the team itself, the lead artist, the art director, the creative director, the lead effects artist, the senior sound guy, the lead programer and the lead AI programmer from BioShock 1 are all on BioShock Infinite. I don't think there's a single senior BioShock team member that isn't here, which I think is amazing and a testament to their commitment to the studio."
Source: Kotaku

 

[zenith16]

• 
  Dark Horse Comics Shocks Us With BioShock Infinite Art Book
  
  News
  on Sep 12, 2012 at 09:01 PM
  1,974 Views
  
  18
  Irrational Games has some of the best concept artist in the business, and we'd love to hang some of BioShock Infinite's art on our walls. Soon enough we'll be able to put much of BioShock's concept art on our coffee table.
  ... More
  

source:GI

 

[Spider-Who?]

As for the art director leaving...some people just get burnt out on huge projects. I can't tell you how many managers at my job that have left or switched over to new projects at the end of massive projects without the product suffering. It's nearing the end, most of their work is done, and it's a good time to leave before one is either just twiddling their thumbs or passing out from stress. Im not worried at all, and as that article suggests, Infinite is in good hands.

 

[zenith16]

BioShock Infinite holds elections for its next trailer, political tactics ensue

(12 minutes ago)
1

Irrational Games is back with more BioShock Infinite goodness, after taking a hiatus starting with the delay in May. After refraining from showing any new footage for four months, Irrational is almost ready to reveal a new trailer, as chosen by fans. Well, fans who "Like" the BioShock Facebook page.

After liking the page, fans get to choose if they want Elizabeth or Songbird to star in the next trailer, which will drop in 10 days, according to the countdown clock. When Irrational announced its assets break, it noted "the next time you see our game, it will be essentially the product we intend to put in the box." With a February release date encroaching, this trailer launch looks promising.
Source: BioShock on Facebook, Irrational

 

[terry78]

Boobs vs. beaks.

 

[X Knight]

I vote for Boobs.....er....I mean.....Elizabeth!

man......it's been quiet on this game lately..........can't wait for the new trailer!

 

[KALEL114]

Now is it time to get worried?

BioShock Infinite studio loses two more developers

BioShock Infinite is still a few months out from its February 26 release date but a handful of the developer’s employees have already left the studio.

According to their respective LinkedIn pages, software engineer Don Norbury and designer Clint Bundrick have both ended their tenure with BioShock Infinite developer Irrational Games. The pair joined Microsoft Game Studios and are working on unannounced projects. Norbury reportedly programmed Infinite’s artificial intelligence while Bundrick was the lead designer on the title’s combat gameplay.
BioShock Infinite is a first-person-shooter action game set in an alternate history where many Americans live in floating cities and have drug-induced powers. It isn’t a direct sequel to either BioShock or BioShock 2.

In August, BioShock Infinite’s product developer Tim Gerritsen and art director Nate Wells left Irrational.
According to a suggestive countdown clock on BioShock Infinite’s Facebook page the developer could release a new trailer for the game as early as next Sunday morning. This will be the first new footage Irrational has shown of the game in six months.

The developer’s radio silence and the game’s delay into 2013 have left antsy fans wondering if Irrtaional is experiencing production difficulties. Irrational hasn’t confirmed or denied those concerns but the news that vital team members are exiting the studio before the game’s release is unlikely to allay’ fears that BioShock Infinite is in trouble.

http://venturebeat.com/2012/10/15/b...oses-two-more-developers/#UDLwMmS8qXV5wukx.99
​

 

[Solidus]

It may delay it, but it won't ruin the project, they are so far along, it is in the polishing stage of everything. So ya, there may be another delay, but in terms of what the game is, this far in is locked in.

 

[KALEL114]

I guess the rumors of them having technical issues and all of the departures make me a little weary. I'm sure it will come out eventually, but I hope it can deliver on what they promised when it does.

 

[Benstamania]

Seems to me like it could be contract issues too. Maybe some of these guys were only contracted for so long?

 

[zenith16]

That's what I understand from it most of them are contract workers( just if your working as a tester does in the same field, til your doing some else better or done studying to get int the video game industry. ) and will only work there as long as the studio will have them or til they them selves are ready to do as soon as the contracts up their done working there and are off to another studio or publisher or ready to start their own thing studio wise them selves . alot of them have been doing the two latters of late.

 

[X Knight]

it is a bit worrisome to hear about team members leaving.

however, I'd think at this stage of the project, they're so far along it shouldn't affect the final game too much.

perhaps the members who left were already done with their part of the game.