Civilization V

jpinard · 2011-01-04T15:55:58.000Z

HOLY COW. I never would have guessed that in a million years, yet it’s obviously been in the pipes for months. So in a few months Firaxis lost their #1 modder and their lead designer to Stardock. Congrats to both Stardock and Jon.

Next headline:

“Susan Meier leaves Firaxis to head Human Resources Dept at Stardock”

SirTomster · 2011-01-04T18:28:27.000Z

jpinard:

HOLY COW. I never would have guessed that in a million years, yet it’s obviously been in the pipes for months. So in a few months Firaxis lost their #1 modder and their lead designer to Stardock. Congrats to both Stardock and Jon.

Next headline:

No no no… She goes to Facebook.

You think Civilization Network is a game for facebook? No it is a Network of Civilization people working everywhere else whose goal is to destroy those companies.

Kael · 2011-01-04T20:09:00.000Z

Jon’s an amazingly talented designer. Stardock is lucky to have him (and at a personal level I’m thrilled to be able to work with him).

jpinard · 2011-01-04T21:30:46.000Z

Kael:

Jon’s an amazingly talented designer. Stardock is lucky to have him (and at a personal level I’m thrilled to be able to work with him).

I’m disappointed how harsh I’ve been seeing as Jon and Firaxis have had a huge transition to go through. Maybe this is why he wasn’t able to speak freely like Soren did. No consolation from an idiot like myself, but hopefully some of my words in CivF thread will alter some of the nastiness there. Sad I have to include myself in the “stupid group” for my reactions.

Jon, just want to say how happy I am for you Kael, and the guys/gals at Stardock. I can only imagine the great things you’ll be able to do together. I’m sure Firaxis can settle in now that the transition is complete - so good luck to you Firaxians as well.

jpinard · 2011-01-04T22:16:47.000Z

In case you guys missed it, Jon has an epic post on the Stardock forums.
http://forums.stardock.com/403503/#2860290

I don’t know what the value of karma on a forum is, but I just gave Jon all I have - LOL.

Dan_Theman · 2011-01-04T23:22:57.000Z

jpinard:

In case you guys missed it, Jon has an epic post on the Stardock forums.
http://forums.stardock.com/403503/#2860290

I don’t know what the value of karma on a forum is, but I just gave Jon all I have - LOL.

Was that actually Jon? There seems to be some debate on that.

LMN8R · 2011-01-04T23:27:13.000Z

What’s hilarious is that some dumbass is taking it seriously.

jpinard · 2011-01-05T01:14:22.000Z

LMN8R:

What’s hilarious is that some dumbass is taking it seriously.

Yea I know. Priceless.

Dan, it really is Jon.

Chris_Nahr · 2011-01-05T04:14:09.000Z

Heh. Great news for Stardock… and for everyone who already bought Elemental. I’m a bit surprised, though – I was under the impression that Stardock HQ is in the middle of nowhere and its employees aren’t paid all that well. I would have expected a former Civilization lead designer to cash in on his fame by joining Zynga and making Panzer General Ville, as they suggested on the Flash of Steel podcast. Whatever the reason, I’m very happy that Jon decided to keep making hardcore strategy games instead.

Razgon · 2011-01-05T04:25:20.000Z

More to life than money, it seems.

And yes, awesome news for Elemental… I do find it kind of funny that the Civ4 modding guy is lead designer of the game, while the Civ5 lead designer is modding the game :-D

Alstein · 2011-01-05T05:14:42.000Z

Chris Nahr:

Heh. Great news for Stardock… and for everyone who already bought Elemental. I’m a bit surprised, though – I was under the impression that Stardock HQ is in the middle of nowhere and its employees aren’t paid all that well. I would have expected a former Civilization lead designer to cash in on his fame by joining Zynga and making Panzer General Ville, as they suggested on the Flash of Steel podcast. Whatever the reason, I’m very happy that Jon decided to keep making hardcore strategy games instead.

It’s right outside of Detroit. As for the employees- I haven’t heard much about the pay, but I’ve heard good things about the treatment of employees there. Then again I’ve never applied for a job there and never will. They don’t need people in my line of work… ^_^

Dan_Theman · 2011-01-05T05:19:45.000Z

As an aside, Sparks, Maryland isn’t exactly a booming center of commerce, either. ;)

dtolman · 2011-01-05T07:07:46.000Z

Gotta give credit to Stardock for going out and getting some top talent to improve their series.

Course… where does that leave the Civ franchise? Is Sid Meier going to have to - God Forbid - get his hands dirty and actually go back to designing something for the Civ V expansion?

joefriendgood · 2011-01-05T08:56:32.000Z

Stardock can finally start making the Emperor of the Fading Suns clone I have been waiting for. Seriously, start making it. Except make the AI know what is going on.

Or they can start Call to Alpha Civilization.

Andrew · 2011-01-05T10:00:28.000Z

dtolman:

Course… where does that leave the Civ franchise? Is Sid Meier going to have to - God Forbid - get his hands dirty and actually go back to designing something for the Civ V expansion?

Having lead designers leave is nothing new for the Civ franchise.

jpinard · 2011-01-05T10:57:20.000Z

Brad takes very good care of his employees, housing in Michigan is pretty cheap, as is the cost of living. Jon can get way more for his dollar here than almost anywhere else while not getting run into the ground by his boss, and having great benefits. He’ll be able to afford a nice house here, which you couldn’t get in many, many game developer-centric areas (especially CA, MA, MD).

Plymouth Township is not Detroit (as some believe) and is surprsingly short drive to Ann Arbor.

Mind_Elemental · 2011-01-05T13:16:57.000Z

joefriendgood:

Stardock can finally start making the Emperor of the Fading Suns clone I have been waiting for. Seriously, start making it. Except make the AI know what is going on.

Don’t get my hopes up! :D

dtolman · 2011-01-05T13:43:30.000Z

Andrew:

Having lead designers leave is nothing new for the Civ franchise.

Don’t they usually wait until the first expansion to do that? Or is my memory failing me? Bah - either way I’m sure their is some code monkey or qa engineer waiting and eager for the title “lead designer” to be slapped on their back.

Kinky_Friedman · 2011-01-05T17:18:53.000Z

Chris Nahr:

Heh. Great news for Stardock… and for everyone who already bought Elemental. I’m a bit surprised, though – I was under the impression that Stardock HQ is in the middle of nowhere and its employees aren’t paid all that well. I would have expected a former Civilization lead designer to cash in on his fame by joining Zynga and making Panzer General Ville, as they suggested on the Flash of Steel podcast. Whatever the reason, I’m very happy that Jon decided to keep making hardcore strategy games instead.

Great news? Why? Because you brought a designer from a lousy, bastardized version of Civilization, to work on a lousy, bastardized, modern-graphics version of Master of Magic that doesn’t deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as it.

inactive_user · 2011-01-05T17:46:17.000Z

I sense much anger in this one.