Blizzard refocuses efforts away from consoles
by Ross Miller 
{ Aug 4th 2006 at 4:25PM }
Blizzard Entertainment yesterday announced that it is moving "key members of its console team" to other projects within the company, following "an extensive evaluation of the company's aggressive development plans." Blizzard president Mike Morhaime notes that this move will "greatly improve our ability to deliver multiple high-quality games in the years ahead."Multiple games, eh? We know about the World of Warcraft expansion, Burning Crusade, but what else does the enigmatic developer have up its sleeve? Perhaps there is a relation between the reshuffle and the job posting for an RTS level designer. Then again, if they still have yet to hire the talent, then the mysterious strategy game is likely not far along.
In a statement to GameSpot, Blizzard reaffirmed its commitment to the PC platform, reminding us that its focus is "on the PC games we have in development" (note the plurality). While our spidey senses are tingling for a new RTS Starcraft, the transition away from consoles is just another nail in Starcraft: Ghost's coffin.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Baboon @ Aug 4th 2006 4:31PM
Poor Ghost. Should have known it would be vaporware. I mean, look at it's namesake.
jabbertrack @ Aug 4th 2006 4:39PM
So Blizzard will make Starcraft 2 and then what?
Another Warcraft RTS?
Endless WoW expansions?
World of Starcraft?
I don't see why ignoring consoles is smart at all.
Steve @ Aug 4th 2006 4:46PM
Lame, I was so looking forward to Ghost and really don't enjoy Bilzzard's PC games.
crono141 @ Aug 4th 2006 4:48PM
dammit, I was looking forward to ghost, and have been looking forward to ghost, ever since its announcment and subsequent delays.
dammit
Alex Gilson @ Aug 4th 2006 5:01PM
They have a console team?
Wedge @ Aug 4th 2006 5:07PM
Blizzard had contracted out Swinging Ape Studios (developers of the passed-over but fun Metal Arms) to make Ghost last I'd heard. So unless they're hiring people away from there, I don't see how it'd affect that.
Captain Obvious @ Aug 4th 2006 5:15PM
You guys are mistaken. The mutliple titles they are working on are Diablo III, the Diablo III Expansion pack, and the demo for Diablo IV.
AoE @ Aug 4th 2006 5:21PM
Wait... so does that mean no lost vikings ii?!?! NOOO!!!
Outside of a few screenshots of ghost i wasn't aware they even had a console team...
Alkaiser @ Aug 4th 2006 5:25PM
Wedge:
They pulled the title from Swinging Ape a couple years ago, and actually had/have a full "console" team, before repurposing them to do "other important things".
I don't blame them. Wait to see how the consoles start shaping up, see which one best fits your needs, and then buy dev kits when they aren't being rationed out.
They're making cash hand over fist right now with WoW and the upcoming WoW-spansion pack, so I don't imagine they're panicking in the least.
rip @ Aug 4th 2006 5:37PM
What console games? Like Blizzard had any console game development. Ghost doesn't count. That was basically one guy with a copy of photoshop creating "screen grabs."
eskwyre @ Aug 4th 2006 5:39PM
World of Starcraft!?
SIGN ME UP!!!
Lvl 60 Protoss ftw!!
superbagman @ Aug 4th 2006 5:39PM
actually AoE, there already IS a Lost Vikings 2, it was released in 1996...though Blizzard didn't develop it.
Wedge @ Aug 4th 2006 5:47PM
Actually it seems they didn't pull the title from them, but bought them out a year ago, so yeah it would mean they're moving employees from that probably.
Robotic House Plant @ Aug 4th 2006 5:53PM
Yeah, I was going to echo the comment, what console games? Has Blizzard released any console games?
Dr.Swiss @ Aug 4th 2006 5:58PM
Uhh let's see now...
There was Diablo for PS1 (was actually fun since it was two player), Warcraft II + expansion for PS1, StarCraft for N64...that's all I can think of.
I'm really REALLY hoping for a Diablo DS, but...that's just a pipedream. :)
GSI @ Aug 4th 2006 6:25PM
Ummm...I think you guys are forgetting that Blizzard had console games back in the day on the SNES and Genesis (Blackthrone & Rock 'N Roll Racing.)
Matt @ Aug 4th 2006 6:29PM
StarCraft: Ghost was going to be like having a mint in the basement. Apparently, Blizzard doesn't like money.
Babu @ Aug 4th 2006 6:29PM
omg... diablo II for ds, starcraft for ds?
sign me up!
Too bad blizzard is too lazy to port them :(
Thryon @ Aug 4th 2006 6:43PM
I think the only games that may drag me away from my Xbox 360 would be either Fallout 3 and Diablo 3. If Blizzard stopped developing a console game I did not want, in favour of putting more staff into Diablo 3...then I am all for it.
makesevenupyours @ Aug 4th 2006 6:44PM
number 16: "StarCraft: Ghost was going to be like having a mint in the basement. Apparently, Blizzard doesn't like money."
maybe i dont understand this statement...seeing as blizzard is pulling in at least 90 MILLION DOLLARS EVERY MONTH!
no but seriously, i must admit i am somewhat dissapointed to see that it is likely that ghost will not be finished...as least not for some time.
it seemed for a while there that they were really getting stuff done and they were showing many updates.
i just dont understand...im pretty sure they have enough funding...
and seeing as the game will have been out for 2 years when the first expansion pack comes out, i would say they arent going to be putting them out every six months the way SOE does so the focus isnt purely on WoW.
im thinking they already are PLANNING the development of starcraft 2 and diablo 3, and they will maybe wait a little longer to start warcraft 4 due to so many of their fans still playing WoW.
im not saying warcraft 4 would totally decimate WoW's playerbase, but it certainly wouldnt help.
[sigh]
whatever happens, im sure they know what they are doing and will continue releasing great games as they always have.
Dr.Swiss @ Aug 4th 2006 6:51PM
Fallout will always be one of the greatest games I ever played in my life.
There's a PS2 version but I heard it sucks.
And I don't know why I forgot about Rock & Roll Racing, Blizzard also made/ported that and Blackthrone for the GBA.
I hope that Diablo 3 will come out one day, but I have doubts. (storyline being the biggest)
And the only reason why I said Diablo for DS is because I remember reading somewhere that Blizzard sent out a survey asking if they wanted to see any Blizzard games on different consoles and that DS was on the list of choices. I could be wrong though, it was a long time ago that I read that.
The3rdNuisance @ Aug 4th 2006 6:53PM
Wasn't Starcraft: Ghost cancelled a long time ago? What blizzard should do, is acquire the rights to Metal Arms, and put the guys from Swinging Ape Studios to make another. Glitch is superior than any RTS.
Thryon @ Aug 4th 2006 7:01PM
Did anyone play the PS1 version of Diablo? 'Nuff said! Blizzard needs to stay away from consoles.
GSI @ Aug 4th 2006 7:04PM
--> "Wasn't Starcraft: Ghost cancelled a long time ago? What blizzard should do, is acquire the rights to Metal Arms, and put the guys from Swinging Ape Studios to make another."
Uhh...Blizzard bought Swingin' Ape Studios and they were renamed to "Blizzard Console."
obo @ Aug 4th 2006 7:18PM
Swiss, GSI: Blackthorne, you dyslexics. Not Blackthrone.
http://www.blizzard.com/blizzclassic/
arrakisman @ Aug 4th 2006 8:47PM
I think Bethsoft has Fallout now.
Dr.Swiss @ Aug 4th 2006 9:00PM
I do that all the time, I've even caught myself writing phone numbers almost completely backwards.
Oh, and Thryon, the PS1 Diablo wasn't that bad if you had a friend to play it with. Haha, having to fight for control over the screen while the Butcher runs at you was alot of fun. Count me wrong but I think it was the only "Diablo-like" game for the PS1 since Baldur's Gate wasn't until PS2. At least the PS1 had something.
GSI @ Aug 4th 2006 9:04PM
:-P
pfft...I was close enough. I never played the game in the first place nor did it ever really interest me.
Sub @ Aug 4th 2006 9:48PM
ITS ANOTHER EXPANSION FOR STARCRAFT 1!!1!!! YOU HEARD IT FROM ME FIRST!
Pal @ Aug 5th 2006 1:47AM
Ghosts, Phantoms...
They're all the same.
Zaki @ Aug 5th 2006 2:44AM
Could it mean Starcraft: Ghost is moving back to PC? Awesome! Mouse-aiming ftw!
Conn @ Aug 5th 2006 4:36AM
2: "So Blizzard will make Starcraft 2 and then what?
World of Starcraft?"
Clearly it will be something like "Solar Systems of Starcraft" to keep with the semi-alliteration that World of Warcraft has.
EnLiven @ Aug 5th 2006 4:43AM
Alkaiser
"They pulled the title from Swinging Ape a couple years ago, and actually had/have a full "console" team, before repurposing them to do "other important things"."
I thought it was pulled from Nihilistic Software and given to Swinging Ape who were then bought by Blizzard. I'm confused.
007craft @ Aug 5th 2006 7:14AM
You guys are morons. This is the best thing to ever happen. We need starcraft 2 so bad. Starcraft 2 will sell a billion times better then starcraft ghost ever would.
So what if blizzard makes RTS after RTS (and an MMO). Thats a good thing. Why does every company have to make every genre? If you dont want to play RTS, go play a game made by another company. I havent been into a RTS since warcraft 3 and would love to get back into one and starcraft 2 would be the greatest thing ever.
Horray for blizzard giving us starcraft fans waht we want (starcraft 2) and not listening to all the 14 year olds here (by making some lame SC console adventure game) who where 6 when starcraft was made and never experianced it before.
Dr.Swiss @ Aug 5th 2006 3:01PM
Yeah..we're the ones acting like a little 14 year old child. -1 star for a reason.
GSI @ Aug 24th 2006 10:08PM
By saying:
"key members of its console team"
...they basically mean they kept a few people and fired a bunch of others. I just found out a friend of mine who got hired for their console team a couple months ago was let go.
Blizzard is slowly approaching EA status when it comes to companies that acquire smaller companies, suck them dry and then spit out what they don't want.