BioShock Infinite loses two more devs

BioShock Infinite developer Irrational Games has had its share of staff turmoil recently, and it looks to be continuing as both its AI lead and combat lead have left the company for Microsoft.

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Since its self-imposed media blackout, BioShock Infinite developer Irrational Games has seen a number of staff leave. The trend continues with two more departures revealed.

Internet super sleuth Superannuation discovered that lead AI programmer Don Norbury and lead combat designer Clint Bundrick left this month to join Microsoft, according to their LinkedIn profiles.

The game is expected to launch next February. Irrational is finally planning on breaking its silence this Sunday with a brand new trailer, the first since March.

Contributing Editor
From The Chatty
  • reply
    October 16, 2012 5:00 PM

    John Keefer posted a new article, BioShock Infinite loses two more devs.

    BioShock Infinite developer Irrational Games has had its share of staff turmoil recently, and it looks to be continuing as both its AI lead and combat lead have left the company for Microsoft.

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      October 16, 2012 5:25 PM

      Really starting to wonder if this is even going to see the light of day now...

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        October 16, 2012 5:52 PM

        Too much money on the table for it not to be released. It's a pretty popular series. I'm also a huge fan so I'd have to kill someone if this wasn't released.

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          October 16, 2012 6:16 PM

          There have been projects longer than 6 years that were still canceled. (see Ultima Online 2)

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        October 16, 2012 7:23 PM

        so 4 people have left according to this and the previous article, I think they will manage

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      October 16, 2012 5:43 PM

      I'm starting to wonder if this is already finished....or if we are in for a major release date change.

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        October 16, 2012 5:55 PM

        Yeah it sounds like they have finished their work and got a better offer for a new project.

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        October 16, 2012 7:16 PM

        From my experience here;

        http://www.shacknews.com/chatty?id=29012932#item_29012932

        They sounded really confident that it was just in polish/crunch mode. I would imagine them losing an AI lead and combat lead aren't really important at this time and probably won't affect the game development much. Could be wrong though, I hope not.

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      October 16, 2012 7:27 PM

      Steve Gaynor left because he wanted to do his own thing, that much we know. It's entirely possible that the departures of other senior staff also reflect them having worked on major high profile and high quality projects that similarly allow them to now choose where their career goes, and that they've done so before the project is finished so they're not unemployed looking for new work.

      On the other hand it could mean Irrational is a shitty place to work. Who knows? Not us!

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        October 16, 2012 9:11 PM

        When several of the more marketable and experienced people leave a place, it's often a sign of mismanagement. The less marketable people have fewer opportunities and stay longer, or irrationally hope that everything will still work out.

        I hope this is not the case because I want it to be a good game, but those are the realities. Also, those people tend to focus on the opportunity in front of them and not get petty or burn bridges so you won't hear about it directly from them if there were issues that caused them to want to leave.

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      October 16, 2012 9:47 PM

      could be in a long deathmarch that finally got to some people. Sometimes it's not worth finishing a game when it's taking a toll on your family and life.

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      October 17, 2012 6:30 AM

      i always thought this game looked like garbage. dunno what the hype is about

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      October 17, 2012 6:53 AM

      I'm not sure if this game can stand the hype that's being drummed up, at all.

      It obviously lacks the WOAH effect from Bioshock, we now remember this gameplay style all to well from Bioshock1/2 and Dishonored. Infinite's going to have to achieve ever higher criteria to be a big bang.

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