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Fable II lead takes Splash Damage

Richard Ham named creative director at Quake Wars outfit to work on unannounced multiplatform title from Bethesda Softworks.

When projects wrap, its often time for developers to ply their trade elsewhere, voluntarily or no. For Lionhead Studios, that equates to lead designer Richard Ham following Fable II out the door. Landing on his feet in no short order, UK-based Splash Damage announced today that it has signed aboard Ham as its new creative director.

At Splash Damage, Ham will take the reins of the developer's unannounced project commissioned by Bethesda Softworks. Details are nonexistent on what the long-term development deal revealed in May entails, and today's announcement did little to change that fact. However, Splash Damage did note that the game will be a multiplatform venture, and the studio also played up Ham's role as creative lead on Syphon Filter, "the all-time best-selling shooter franchise for the original PlayStation." (Emphasis added.)

Indeed, Ham comes to the company as a 15-year game-industry veteran. Beginning his career at Nintendo of America, Ham later transitioned to a role at Sony Computer Entertainment of America, where he led development on the aforementioned Syphon Filter. Ham also served as creative director at Edge of Reality (The Incredible Hulk), before moving to Lionhead.

Splash Damage, founded in 2001 by several members of the id Software mod-making community, most recently crafted the PC edition of Enemy Territory: Quake Wars. Though the PC title was deemed by critics to be vastly superior to its console counterparts (which Activision handed off to Nerve Software and Z-Axis), the title has managed less than 80,000 units in the US through October, according to the NPD Group.

40 Comments

  • worldind913

    Posted Dec 26, 2008 7:06 pm GMT

    @Petri87

    I agree "whit" you

  • Petri87

    Posted Dec 9, 2008 3:27 pm GMT

    What? Expanssion?`WTH are you guys talking about? The origional team is working on three expanssions(DLC) to Fallout 3 so Theres no way Splash Damage is working on something like that. ANd TES V is also being worked on by Bethesta themselfs if what was said a month ago is true.

    This will most likely be a FPS/RPG hybrid since Splash Damage knowst the shooting and Bethesta is down whit the RPGs and Ham experienced whit both.And if someone was doing a exoansion for Fallout 3 i wouldnt say that "Yeah that dude worked on Syphon Filter" since theres no connection there.

  • shadowblade99

    Posted Dec 9, 2008 5:40 am GMT

    Ouch to said the Lion.

  • TurambarGS

    Posted Dec 9, 2008 1:35 am GMT

    Guys, chill - Bethesda will handle TES V themselves - there's NO WAY they will outsource its development, especially not to Splash Damage.

  • neonblueshadow

    Posted Dec 8, 2008 11:04 pm GMT

    where is TES V, Fallout 3 is done, expansions are trivial, and unneeded at the moment

  • Richard7666

    Posted Dec 8, 2008 7:50 pm GMT

    How can you people not understand this? Richard Ham, lead designer on Fable 2, has moved to Splash Damage, (creators of Quake Wars) who will work on a project that Bethesda has subcontracted to them. Half of you haven't even READ the thing properly, by the looks of it.

  • mattttherman3

    Posted Dec 8, 2008 6:02 pm GMT

    NO!!! WHY WOULD BETHESDA HIRE SOMEONE FROM FABLE 2?! UNACCEPTABLE!

  • Deluhathol

    Posted Dec 8, 2008 5:58 pm GMT

    Hmmm, the only thing I can think of, other than an fresh IP, is that they will be outsourcing the development of a Fallout 3 expansion, while the actual Bethesda team work on the next Elder Scrolls title. I'm not sure of the figures, but this is the only route that makes sense. Fallout 3 was never really going to be a HUGE seller, anyway, since it is a resurgence of an obscure series from years ago. At the very least, it was probably never going to be as huge as the last couple of Elder Scrolls titles. Since the Elder Scrolls is a Bethesda original IP, they have quite a bit of attachment to it, and it will always be their flagship series, I can't see them letting anyone else touch it, development wise; I can, however, imagine them getting help producing Fallout expansion packs etc, while they are occupied with the next title in the ES series. It makes economic sense, as it will drastically cut the time spent on development, so that they can have significant releases more frequently. That's what I think, anyway.

  • OmegaCookie7

    Posted Dec 8, 2008 4:53 pm GMT

    Dude. His last name is Ham. Stellar.

  • Sagacious_Tien

    Posted Dec 8, 2008 4:49 pm GMT

    I'm seeing a Fallout 3 expansion happening here....

  • stakex007

    Posted Dec 8, 2008 4:33 pm GMT

    The project he is going to be working on is more then likely an expansion for Fallout 3. Its probly not the next Elder Scrolls game, as Bethesda will more then likely develop that in-house... but its common practice for companies to out source expansions. And IF Bethesda is in fact working on a new ES game, it would make sense they would outsource any sort of big expansion for Fallout 3.

    Of course that is allot of speculation, and its also quite likely to be an original game. Only time will tell.

  • EdibleFood

    Posted Dec 8, 2008 3:42 pm GMT

    Multiplatform is the future

  • Nightrain50

    Posted Dec 8, 2008 3:21 pm GMT

    learn to comprehend not just read the words, unbelievable

  • Chico_Azteca

    Posted Dec 8, 2008 3:04 pm GMT

    Gamespot used Supersonic

    Chico Azteca is confused

    Chico Azteca hurt itself...

  • djmillard2

    Posted Dec 8, 2008 3:02 pm GMT

    ooooooooooooooooo exciting

  • joeborg14

    Posted Dec 8, 2008 2:57 pm GMT

    I was under the impression that they were taking a short break from the ES series, but if not, no complaints here!

  • Generic_Dude

    Posted Dec 8, 2008 2:43 pm GMT

    Unannounced Bethesda title? Elder Scrolls V maybe?

  • ChaosStar

    Posted Dec 8, 2008 2:31 pm GMT

    Fallout 3 expansion, woohoo!

  • -Celeste-

    Posted Dec 8, 2008 2:24 pm GMT

    The story isn't confusing, its just bloated with uncessary filler information. Like everyone poke fun at it (whats with the markdowns anyways), people are just amused by the jarble of information thats posts in a seemingly unorganised manner.

    Basically, the lead designer from Fable II left lionhead to join Splash to work on a game commisioned by Bethesda. Then it goes on to detail his life and history through the last 15 years.

    I guess they wanted this article to take up more then a paragraph because thats all that was needed for this story. Actually, just the headline says everything. Everything else is just ... filler.

  • -Celeste-

    Posted Dec 8, 2008 2:23 pm GMT

    The story isn't confusing, its just bloated with uncessary filler information. Like everyone poke fun at it (whats with the markdowns anyways), people are just amused by the jarble of information thats posts in a seemingly unorganised manner.

    Basically, the lead designer from Fable II left lionhead to join Splash to work on a game commisioned by Bethesda. Then it goes on to detail his life and history through the last 15 years.

    I guess they wanted this article to take up more then a paragraph because thats all that was needed for this story. Actually, just the headline says everything. Everything else is just ... filler.

  • kingeliran

    Posted Dec 8, 2008 2:01 pm GMT

    who made this stupid post?! is it about Fable 2? or bethesda or something like that?

  • freeezzzy

    Posted Dec 8, 2008 1:53 pm GMT

    how is this confusing? its about a guy Richard Ham going to splash Damage and his history of ahievements is here also was that so confusing?

  • pamplinas322

    Posted Dec 8, 2008 1:45 pm GMT

    How is this confusing?

  • makemeweak

    Posted Dec 8, 2008 1:43 pm GMT

    Good luck to him - he does great work.

  • daleprechaunman

    Posted Dec 8, 2008 1:36 pm GMT

    Good breakdown Lazy! Now its time for a ham sandwich disco-break!

  • Lazyimperial

    Posted Dec 8, 2008 1:30 pm GMT

    I don't really see how this article is confusing. Paragraph one: Ham has left Lionhead Studios and has joined Splash Damage. Paragraph two: Splash Damage hypes him up and talks about FPS games. Paragraph three: Ham's history. Paragraph four: Splash Damage's history. The end. Hope those dudes make an awesome game that sells this time.

  • noelveiga

    Posted Dec 8, 2008 1:29 pm GMT

    Not really, Bethesda got Splash Damage to develop a shooter for them, this ex-lionhead guy is going to be creative director on that.

    EDIT: For the record, the publisher often finances or helps finance the game and then deals with distribution, the developers make the actual game according to the publisher's specifications. Kinda like the producers of a movie and the creative staff.

  • -Celeste- posted Dec 8, 2008 1:29 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    -Celeste-

    Posted Dec 8, 2008 1:29 pm GMT (hide)

    They are making a new Syphon Filter game for the original playstation. Isn't that obvious what this article is all about?!

  • Templar_Bladema

    Posted Dec 8, 2008 1:27 pm GMT

    Basically, they forced a guy from Splash Damage to work with Bethesda. Ya know, like drafting players in football.

  • noelveiga

    Posted Dec 8, 2008 1:26 pm GMT

    Bethesda has published two things, historically: dense RPGs (TES) and FPSs (Terminator).

    My bet is Bethesda wants a new shooter. Since their licensed stuff died long ago, a second bet is that they're going with either original IP or a shooter based around TES or Fallout, their current leading IPs. Of the two, Fallout is the most likely, but there have been plenty of action based TES titles in the past.

  • Shattered007

    Posted Dec 8, 2008 1:24 pm GMT

    Uh? What?

    I read and read again and I'm still lost..

  • Media_Mind

    Posted Dec 8, 2008 1:23 pm GMT

    ok...

  • ooNaruto

    Posted Dec 8, 2008 1:22 pm GMT

    ham sandwich?! Yummy

  • Djinnator

    Posted Dec 8, 2008 1:16 pm GMT

    I cannot even fathom what could come of this, the information seems to lead in dozen's of directions.

  • bubnux

    Posted Dec 8, 2008 1:02 pm GMT

    Mmmmm, ham sandwich

  • Merl57

    Posted Dec 8, 2008 12:56 pm GMT

    wow thats an odd combination of titles working for the same goal

  • kiraburu

    Posted Dec 8, 2008 12:54 pm GMT

    kids, just say no to drugs....

  • TwistedMetalFan

    Posted Dec 8, 2008 12:52 pm GMT

    That article is kind of confusing...

  • ele975 posted Dec 8, 2008 12:41 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    ele975

    Posted Dec 8, 2008 12:41 pm GMT (hide)

    What? What's going on? Seriously is this about a playstation shooter or Elder Scroll? I'm not kiddin' i'm confused D:

  • Evenios

    Posted Dec 8, 2008 12:32 pm GMT

    elder scrolls V: Blacklight?

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