THQ is saying that it has the "exclusive option" to have Désilets work from its Montreal studio, though he won't begin until 2011. "I am very eager to start working on new games," Désilets explained in an open letter given to Kotaku earlier today, "but for various reasons and mostly out of respect for those who gave me my first chance in the industry, I will not be working on any projects until summer of 2011."
No details about what Désilets and crew will be working on have snuck out, but it's possible that one of THQ Montreal's teams could be working with Guillermo del Toro on his "Lovecraftian" horror game. During a press event this afternoon, THQ Core VP Danny Bilson was asked if there is any connection between THQ Montreal and del Toro. Bilson replied, "Have we announced that? Uh, no." He then made it clear that the studio would be working on "great, original IP," according to Joystiq. del Toro's game will certainly be an original title, if anything.
As Désilets noted in his open letter, rumor and speculation has made this studio jump less of a shocker than it could have been. Kotaku first reported on word that Désilets was leaving his digs at Ubisoft for THQ Montreal back during E3 2010. Man, I hate spoilers!
THQ is saying that it has the "exclusive option" to have Désilets work from its Montreal studio, though he won't begin until 2011. "I am very eager to start working on new games," Désilets explained in an open letter given to Kotaku earlier today, "but for various reasons and mostly out of respect for those who gave me my first chance in the industry, I will not be working on any projects until summer of 2011."
No details about what Désilets and crew will be working on have snuck out, but it's possible that one of THQ Montreal's teams could be working with Guillermo del Toro on his "Lovecraftian" horror game. During a press event this afternoon, THQ Core VP Danny Bilson was asked if there is any connection between THQ Montreal and del Toro. Bilson replied, "Have we announced that? Uh, no." He then made it clear that the studio would be working on "great, original IP," according to Joystiq. del Toro's game will certainly be an original title, if anything.
As Désilets noted in his open letter, rumor and speculation has made this studio jump less of a shocker than it could have been. Kotaku first reported on word that Désilets was leaving his digs at Ubisoft for THQ Montreal back during E3 2010. Man, I hate spoilers!
Also, what sort of gaming head waits to start working out of respect for his former employers? If it really was amicable, you'd think he'd get back to work.
well the assassins creed games are solid, and I guess whatever game he is working on it will probably have parkour like mechanics and urban climbing...
That wasn't much of a 'creative break from the industry' was it, Ubisoft? Obviously something going on at Ubi to make this guy and Clint Hocking look for employment elsewhere. Perhaps they just didn't wanna stick around once Ubi made it clear they wouldn't be working on any new IP for the forseeable future.
He's not working on a new game until 2011 "mostly out of respect" but really, it's probably some sort of non-compete clause because there's no way they're going to be in such close proximity to his old studio and not poach some of the talent.
Interessant. New game idea are good thing and this man can help a new team produce more quality titles then this is definitely positive. i want Assassin's Creed to stay good though.
You know with Patrice out of the picture on Assassin's Creed it makes me wonder about that series future. Seldom does a series (be it Film, Television or Games) maintain the same feel when the original creative talent moves on. I hope AC3 can live up to what the first two have already built.
Without seeing some interviews or some sort of documentary about game development, it's hard to get a feel for just what each person brings to a project so it's a little hard to say whether or not this means anything at all to us, the gamers. He's worked on such varied games, it's hard to get a feel for what he'll bring to THQ, but hey, I liked Sands of Time well enough to be intrigued. Any word on which THQ studio he'll be working at?
I remember some THQ exec talking in an interview about how they are now focusing on making "great games". As if what they did before that was total garbage...
I hope they give enough time and resources to Désilets to make something great. When you look at the Assassin's Creed franchise, you can't help but feel that AC1 was a really bare bones kind of game. I remember some people even comparing it to a tech demo and marketing tool for AC2 !
This article just reminded me.... where the hell did Jade Raymond go? It was the Penny Arcade comic that scared her off from the games industry wasn't it...
Wait, so now the creative director AND the executive producer have left Ubisoft and Assassin's Creed? GODDAMMIT, this is supposed to be the best franchise ever made! How is the story going to resolve itself if the storytellers leave the fucking game early?
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