Former Maxis employee working on new project, SpyParty

by Griffin McElroy { Aug 30th 2009 at 5:00PM }

If you enjoyed the bioengineering action of Spore, you owe Chris Hecker a debt of gratitude. He was a contributing developer for the title, and is a six-year employee at Maxis -- rather, he was an employee, until he was let go from the company during Maxis' recent round of layoffs. However, he's not recovering from the downsizing by crying into his ice cream -- instead, he's using his newly found free time to develop one of the most interesting-sounding independent games we've heard of in a while.

Hecker's project, SpyParty, pits two players against each other in two different roles -- one plays the eponymous Spy, who must move around a party, discreetly completing objectives and blending in with the other guests. The other player is a Sniper who must identify the Spy's movements, and, well, snipe them. The game was received fairly well when demoed at GDC earlier this year -- now, we hope Hecker will have the time he needs to crank out a finished product. Best of luck, Chris!

[Via Big Download]

Tags: chris-hecker, developer, indie, layoffs, maxis, pc, spore, spy, spyparty

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Little Pete 1 @ Aug 30th 2009 5:06PM

Your talents are wasted on us. You should be hitting up the comedy clubs every night.

Help me! @ Aug 31st 2009 3:29PM

A blogger comedy show, where EVERY FUCKING JOKE is the "X is... well.. x"

FUCK

NukeAssault @ Aug 30th 2009 5:06PM

Sounds alot like The Ship. >_>

Cool though.

Flo @ Aug 30th 2009 6:44PM

I have this game. Very fun. But no one plays it online anymore... Don't suggest you get it because of that.

NukeAssault @ Aug 30th 2009 7:07PM

I played it as it was apart of a free steam weekend. I thought it was a really cool idea and i enjoyed it alot. Never got it though. I actually looked around and apparently they are making a new one.

VaultICEE @ Aug 30th 2009 5:11PM

Seinfeld is that you?!

Donald @ Aug 30th 2009 5:12PM

This game is two Hitman games duct-taped together.

Drew @ Aug 30th 2009 6:57PM

Oh lord.......

GET BACK IN THE CELLAR!

CH3BURASHKA @ Aug 30th 2009 5:13PM

Very interesting. Speaking of awesome independent games, my 2 cents consist of the Unfinished Swan http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibZoHjt3ENg. Can't wait for these two to come out.

Einhanderkiller @ Aug 30th 2009 5:15PM

The Ship, but not on a boat.

Yaanu @ Aug 30th 2009 5:24PM

NOT ON A BOAT!
NOT ON A BOAT!

TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT ME
BECAUSE I AM NOT ON A BOAT!

Cloud_ST @ Aug 30th 2009 5:27PM

@Yaanu

Oh I see what you were trying to do there,it ended up pretty lame though.

Yaanu @ Aug 30th 2009 5:30PM

Yeah, sorry. Why don't YOU try to make one that still fits the meter?

WiiFTW @ Aug 30th 2009 5:17PM

SPAH!

Infidel @ Aug 30th 2009 5:18PM

this really does sound pretty fun, i always welcome multiplayer games that are based on stealth and blending in

Wiizer ($299) Having BC On Your Launch Console? (Priceless) @ Aug 30th 2009 5:24PM

I think he qualifies as a spammer. Look at his comment history! Time to report.

Dana @ Aug 30th 2009 5:29PM

Sounds like a continuation of the ideas pioneered by The Ship.

I'm sorry for Maxis but not for anyone involved directly with Spore or Sim City Societies, those titles were terrible. Yes I tried them with all the optimism in the world and just want my $50 back on each. I pray one day we will have a real Sim City 5