Something about this "All talent left Bioware" Meme
Jul 7, 2017 19:32:46 GMT
Serza, dragontartare, and 1 more like this
Post by Max Deltree on Jul 7, 2017 19:32:46 GMT
Some guy posted this old meme of "all talent left Bioware" on the Anthem Reddit. I've decided to reply with a quick research, and I thought I should share this here. 
Just working on Anthem:
- Drew Karpyshyn, from Mass Effect 1 and 2 and Knights of the Old Republic;
- Mary Kirby, who wrote parts of Dragon Age Origins (and Dragon Age 2 and Inquisition);
- Preston Watamaniuk, who was a designer in KOTOR.
- David Gaider, former lead writer of Dragon Age, was one of the major writers as well, before leaving.
And from Bioware in general:
- Mac Walters, who wrote Jade Empire and Mass Effect;
- James Ohlen wrote KOTOR as well;
- Mark Darrah is the producer of Dragon Age since Origins;
- Patrick Weekes, lead writer of Dragon Age, is writing for Bioware since Mass Effect 1;
- Sheryl Chee is a Dragon Age writer since Origins;
- Mike Laidlaw was the lead writer of Jade Empire and was one of the writers of Mass Effect as well; he is the director of Dragon Age franchise now.
- Lukas Kristjanson wrote pretty much all of Baldur's Gate 1 and wrote in every single game up to Andromeda.
These are the major names I can find. To me all this talk of "all the talent leaving Bioware" is bullshit. There were some major people that left, sure. But there is a whole lot of talent still.
Let's see the major talent that left:
- David Gaider: A writer since Baldur's Gate 2, left after Inquisition to join Beamdog;
- Casey Hudson: Was the director of KOTOR and the Mass Effect Trilogy. Left to work for Microsoft, which is a huge step I think;
- The founding Doctors: Mostly directed both Baldur's Gate and Jade Empire. Left after Mass Effect 3 to work outside of gaming;
- Trent Ostner: Directed Neverwinter Nights.
I might have gotten some of these facts wrong, but I think this shows Bioware's not not as different as people think.
Just working on Anthem:
- Drew Karpyshyn, from Mass Effect 1 and 2 and Knights of the Old Republic;
- Mary Kirby, who wrote parts of Dragon Age Origins (and Dragon Age 2 and Inquisition);
- Preston Watamaniuk, who was a designer in KOTOR.
- David Gaider, former lead writer of Dragon Age, was one of the major writers as well, before leaving.
And from Bioware in general:
- Mac Walters, who wrote Jade Empire and Mass Effect;
- James Ohlen wrote KOTOR as well;
- Mark Darrah is the producer of Dragon Age since Origins;
- Patrick Weekes, lead writer of Dragon Age, is writing for Bioware since Mass Effect 1;
- Sheryl Chee is a Dragon Age writer since Origins;
- Mike Laidlaw was the lead writer of Jade Empire and was one of the writers of Mass Effect as well; he is the director of Dragon Age franchise now.
- Lukas Kristjanson wrote pretty much all of Baldur's Gate 1 and wrote in every single game up to Andromeda.
These are the major names I can find. To me all this talk of "all the talent leaving Bioware" is bullshit. There were some major people that left, sure. But there is a whole lot of talent still.
Let's see the major talent that left:
- David Gaider: A writer since Baldur's Gate 2, left after Inquisition to join Beamdog;
- Casey Hudson: Was the director of KOTOR and the Mass Effect Trilogy. Left to work for Microsoft, which is a huge step I think;
- The founding Doctors: Mostly directed both Baldur's Gate and Jade Empire. Left after Mass Effect 3 to work outside of gaming;
- Trent Ostner: Directed Neverwinter Nights.
I might have gotten some of these facts wrong, but I think this shows Bioware's not not as different as people think.
