Wasn't Black Tusk made by former Victoria developers? I do wonder what kind of games they were working on though. This quite clearly isn't good news.
Microsoft closes Victoria game studios
- Thread starter MosquitoSmasher
- Start date
Wasn't Black Tusk made by former Victoria developers? I do wonder what kind of games they were working on though. This quite clearly isn't good news.
I think it's a good move. Microsoft can now focus on bigger projects. We've hit next gen. Time to go big or go home.
http://kotaku.com/thats-no-moon-thats-a-possible-open-world-star-wars-1472612003
Microsoft has launched several new studios in the past few years, but perhaps none has gone as under the radar as Microsoft Studios Victoria, which opened in early 2012. Located in Victoria, British Columbia, Microsoft Studios Victoria was heralded as "a major game design studio" in press reports of its announcement. One obscure local news story from mid-2012 claimed the studio could potentially grow to 150 people, but that has evidently not come to pass. Since its opening, however, the studio has operated with nary a peep, though bits scattered around the internet seem to somewhat clarify the studio's opaque activities.
Although Microsoft Victoria commonly appears on Xbox fans' lists of first-party Xbox game developers, the studio does not seem to be a full-fledged game developer, but rather more of a R&D team for Microsoft's device business. On their resume, an engineer at the studio describes working with the incubatory Microsoft team "responsible for Kinect" on "the design and development of a number of prototypes in a variety of areas, including: computer vision, gameplay systems, user-interaction frameworks, and low-level technology in the context of a tight-knit, highly-functioning team." A Microsoft Victoria game designer describes their role as "[leading design of] games and user experiences for selected projects on an emergent future platform." And the only real hint of something that unequivocally sounds like development of a shippable game comes from the CV of Microsoft Victoria's design lead, who says they "Created and balanced character types, weapons, and attributes on an unreleased project."
Former Xbox boss Don Mattrick was instrumental in bringing a Microsoft studio to Victoria, and with his departure to Zynga, I wouldn't be surprised if Microsoft Victoria continues to exist in complete obscurity.
Microsoft has launched several new studios in the past few years, but perhaps none has gone as under the radar as Microsoft Studios Victoria, which opened in early 2012. Located in Victoria, British Columbia, Microsoft Studios Victoria was heralded as "a major game design studio" in press reports of its announcement. One obscure local news story from mid-2012 claimed the studio could potentially grow to 150 people, but that has evidently not come to pass. Since its opening, however, the studio has operated with nary a peep, though bits scattered around the internet seem to somewhat clarify the studio's opaque activities.
Although Microsoft Victoria commonly appears on Xbox fans' lists of first-party Xbox game developers, the studio does not seem to be a full-fledged game developer, but rather more of a R&D team for Microsoft's device business. On their resume, an engineer at the studio describes working with the incubatory Microsoft team "responsible for Kinect" on "the design and development of a number of prototypes in a variety of areas, including: computer vision, gameplay systems, user-interaction frameworks, and low-level technology in the context of a tight-knit, highly-functioning team." A Microsoft Victoria game designer describes their role as "[leading design of] games and user experiences for selected projects on an emergent future platform." And the only real hint of something that unequivocally sounds like development of a shippable game comes from the CV of Microsoft Victoria's design lead, who says they "Created and balanced character types, weapons, and attributes on an unreleased project."
Former Xbox boss Don Mattrick was instrumental in bringing a Microsoft studio to Victoria, and with his departure to Zynga, I wouldn't be surprised if Microsoft Victoria continues to exist in complete obscurity.
Doesn't sound like they did much outside of some "pitching in" type roles and maybe some R&D into Kinect. Not a major loss as far as game development goes (as far as we can tell). Hope the members land on their feet.
that's too bad. Microsoft really needs to get some 1st party studios going or get multiple teams going at studios they already have.
hopefully the people that lost their jobs are simply reshuffled into other studios or find quick employment.
hopefully the people that lost their jobs are simply reshuffled into other studios or find quick employment.
