Warren Spector: I don't know what's next
By
Eddie Makuch, News Editor
Cofounder of now-shuttered Epic Mickey studio says he takes pride in Junction Point achievements, has no idea what he's doing next.
Yesterday, Disney closed Epic Mickey developer Junction Point Studios, putting all employees--including cofounder Warren Spector--out of a job. So what is next for the longtime designer? He has no idea. In a farewell post on Facebook, Spector praised his colleagues at Junction Point for their work and said he has many fond memories of the past eight years.
"Now it's time to move on to the next adventure. I honestly don't know what that will be yet, so don't ask," he said. "Anyway, whatever you think of me, or Junction Point, or Disney or the Disney Epic Mickey games--yes, I know we polarized people!--I'll always look back on the last eight years with nothing but pride."
Spector recalled that when Junction Point was just getting started, he thought that in the worst scenario, the studio would be a footnote in Disney history. Looking back, Spector said the studio achieved much more than this.
"With Mickey Mouse as our hero, we introduced a mainstream audience to some cool 'core game' concepts… and, most especially, we restored Oswald the Lucky Rabbit to a place of prominence," he said. "We did that. Junction Point."
It was confirmed yesterday that Spector will not remain a part of the Disney family following the closure of Junction Point. Spector has been in the game business for 30 years. Arguably his most famous work was 2000's original Deus Ex, which he served as producer on at Ion Studios.
Not only did Disney close Junction Point yesterday, but the House of Mouse's game division also cut 50 jobs across several studios as part of an effort to meet "market demands." The company is currently focusing on Disney Infinity, a new toy-based gaming initiative that will compete directly with Activision's Skylanders series. Activision is unfazed.
By
Eddie Makuch, News Editor
Eddie Makuch (Mack-ooh) is a News Editor at GameSpot. He works out of the company's Boston office in Somerville, Mass., and loves extra chunky peanut butter.
41 comments
@TTDog Or a spiritual successor. I would say it should be in a Steampunk setting but there's already Bioshock and Dishonored.
1 Like I wouldn't mind to see him on a Deus Ex sequel. However, I think @TTDog Human Revolution was really solid~
Whatever the future holds for him, we can take solace from the fact that Epic Mickey will become "a footnote" in Disney's history.
This comment has been deleted
I read the second game sell failed more epic than the first Epic Mickey. He had denied the first game rating just to face another bad news, and I feel sorry for him.
I always had some sort of curiosity towards Epic Mickey to be honest. For those who played both titles, which one is better in your opinion?
"With Mickey Mouse as our hero, we introduced a mainstream audience to some cool 'core game' concepts? and, most especially, we restored Oswald the Lucky Rabbit to a place of prominence," Ummm...I think it's offical. Warren Spector is on bath salts. He has lost his touch for sure. Hard to believe this man cranked out some classics.
1 Like How about making something worth your time again Warren come on back to the days of Deus Ex and System Shock.
Poor guy. He obviously believed in what they were doing. I did enjoy epic Mickey 1 but after seeing the reviews for power of two I skipped it altogether.
1 Like he should go back to the drawing board and find out the huge mistakes he made while making epic mickey
2 Like "With Mickey Mouse as our hero, we introduced a mainstream audience to some cool 'core game' concepts? and, most especially, we restored Oswald the Lucky Rabbit to a place of prominence"
Mmm Hmm...
Still deluded... He's done.
O.k. so the next geezer game designer or movie creator take notes.
Games : Warren Spector
Movies : George Lucas
2 Like Woww...that's quite the venomous statement towards someone who had two flop Mickey Mouse games... Also Warren hasn't committed nearly as many crimes to be lumped with that moron. How about the clueless Peter Molyneux
Based on what I have seen of your material, I am sure that will not be a problem, and I am looking forward to it, since even your production values outclass the garbage that has increasingly soiled the new release lists...Though I am not a great fan of Disney per se...
i wouldn't know what to do either if i was given the keys to disney to make a mickey game, then release a sub par game, then given a second chance and not test the game cause the characters should overcome the very bad game mechanics. how you could stuff up that bad and not know is stupid, stupid, stupid
on the other hand, may I say it...
Kickstarter?
I am 60$ into Wasteland 2, but if Warren Sector would announce a back-to-basics SCI-FI spiritual successor to Deus Ex... Less graphics, more freedom & Warren Spector's game phylosophy? That is worth a collectors edition pre-order on day one.
The original Deus Ex costed 5.5 million $ in year 1999 ( http://youtu.be/3JK3uWPtbv4?t=1h36m56s ). I bet with modern tools, good management and limited scope it is possible to make a new game for Kickstarter kind of money.
1 Like I did wonder where Spector had gone - hadn't seen any games of his on my radar for many years, though Mickey games were not something I was looking for.
Take a break, recharge the batteries, and come back with a cool idea for a game that isn't constrained by someone else controlling the IP.
6 Like Warren should pack his bags and head to Eidos Montreal to help make Deus Ex Human Revolution 2.
Agreed, if not simply to demonstrate to 'other' companies that there is more to a game than mere glitsie flashie FMG sequences
1 Like Games with real charm and character like the Epic Mickey titles are worth considerably more than their Metacritic score. I think both will be remembered fondly in time.
That's what happens when you produce 3 poorly made games. Seriously, if those games were as Epic as the name, they would have sold millions and I doubt Junction Point would be going anywhere. They would be lining up their get title. Warren Spector is a well respected developer, but there's always a few speed bump in the road. I'm sure he'll find a new position fairly quickly. He doesn't have anything to worry about.
3 Like Epic Mickey had good ideas, but poor execution. I'm really sorry it had to end like this, especially with Warren Spector. I wish him the best in his future adventures.
1 Like Since Deus Ex, Warren, didn't made something to remember. He should think on this when he's "moving to the next adventure".
1 Like Warren Spector was creative director on tbe original Deus Ex, he's the mastermind behind it, not mere producer.
2 Like @SpaceDesperado And let's not forget Wing Commander, along with Chris Roberts... this guy is surely no mere "casual game" designer, he just had bad luck lately finding who could do the technical execution on par. Surely we will still see something very nice from him in the future.
@MAD_AI @SpaceDesperado His games are good and Epic Mickey 1 sold plenty. The other games did not sell as much though because it's a niche market. Where the money is to be had is in mainstream games like Call of Duty or Starcraft.
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- Publisher(s): Disney Interactive Studios
- Developer(s): Junction Point
- Genre: Adventure
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