chris-taylor
Latest
GDC 2013: Catching up with Gas Powered Games' Chris Taylor
Hey, is that CEO Chris Taylor from Gas Powered Games? By jove, it is! At GDC this past week we had the opportunity to catch up with Taylor and see how his studio is doing following its acquisition by Wargaming.net. He said that the synergy between his studio and Wargaming.net is powerful: "Our overlap is enormous between what we believe in as a company and what Wargaming believes in." We were most curious about the "mystery MMO" that Taylor and his team is constructing. "We are doing research and prototyping on our first Wargaming game," Taylor said, "which will be a huge PvP, free-to-play MMO. It's going to take a little while to get it rolling, and we'll talk about it more once we know it is exactly. We'll announce it down the road." Is there anything else that he was willing to share about it? Taylor paused and said, "It's going to be the biggest game we've ever made." Massively sent its ace reporters to San Francisco to bring you back the biggest MMO news from this year's GDC, the largest pro-only gaming industry con in the world! Whether it's EVE Online or Star Wars: The Old Republic or that shiny new toy you've got your eye on, we're on the case, so stay tuned for all the highlights from the show!
Gas Powered Games working on mystery MMO
With the recent acquisition of Gas Powered Games by Wargaming.net, we have been wondering what direction the Age of Empires Online studio would be taking. According to a new interview on Gamasutra, CEO Chris Taylor says that the team has moved on to work on an untitled MMO. This mystery MMO is still in the early stages, Taylor said: "We're just getting going on it, and there's a lot of groundwork to do. But we're barreling ahead." Calling it a "big free-to-play MMO under the Wargaming name," Taylor said the game has fired back up the studio and allowed the re-hiring of laid-off employees. He also said that Wargaming.net has been a "great match" for Gas Powered Games.
Chris Taylor's Gas Powered Games acquired by Wargaming.net
Gas Powered Games is the latest acquisition for free-to-play giant Wargaming.net. The company responsible for much-loved franchises like Demigod, Supreme Commander, and Dungeon Siege will join Day 1 Studios and middleware provider Big World Pty Ltd. under Wargaming's expanding umbrella. Gas Powered was founded in 1998 by Chris Taylor, who is among "a contingent of veteran developers" joining Wargaming.net. "Wargaming's growth in recent years has been tremendous, and we're looking forward to joining one of the fastest growing gaming companies in the world," Taylor said via press release. Gas Powered most recently made headlines when Taylor canceled the firm's Wildman Kickstarter project with four days (and $600,000) remaining. [Source: Wargaming.net press release]
Wargaming purchases Gas Powered Games
Struggling developer Gas Powered Games has been purchased by Wargaming, the developer and publisher of free-to-play games World of Warplanes and World of Tanks. This is the company's second US acquisition this year, purchasing formerly independent developer Day 1 Studios (Fracture, Fear 3) for $20 million, putting them to work on an "unannounced console title." The financial terms of the GPG acquisition were not disclosed."Gas Powered Games has a long track record of providing incredibly engaging AAA gaming experiences and we can't wait to start working with them," said Wargaming CEO Victor Kislyi.Gas Powered Game canceled its Wildman Kickstarter on Monday. GPG CEO Chris Taylor, who will stay on board after the Wargaming purchase, said at the time, "At this point, it makes sense for us to focus our attention on other ways to keep Gas Powered Games running. Unfortunately, we are unable to share any specifics in public."We've reached out to Wargaming regarding its plans for the newly acquired Seattle-based developer.Update: Wargaming is not currently providing any information on its plans for GPG. In a statement provided to Joystiq, a company representative said, "Currently, Wargaming doesn't have any information to share other than that we're extremely excited to welcome Chris [Taylor] and his team to our family and look forward to sharing more about what they'll be working on at a later date."
Gas Powered Games cancels Wildman Kickstarter
With four days and about half a million dollars still to go, Wildman's Kickstarter has been brought to a screeching halt. The latest and last update to the project's Kickstarter page says that the team is focusing on "other ways to keep Gas Powered Games running." Wildman has had something of a bumpy ride. When the game was first announced, studio head Chris Taylor said that he was "betting the company on it." A few weeks later, GPG laid off 80% of its workforce. Now Taylor says that, "If all goes well -- which I think it will -- I'll be able to give you all some great news in the weeks ahead."
Gas Powered Games announces Wildman
Gas Powered Games, the studio behind Age of Empires and a handful of other titles, has hopped on the Kickstarter train. Wildman hit Kickstarter today and has 32 days to hit its $1,100,000 goal. The game is an three-way action RPG/RTS/MOBA hybrid. GPG CEO Chris Taylor told Gamasutra that he's basically "betting the company on it." The Kickstarter is meant both to raise the necessary funds to continue making the game and to give fans a stake and voice in Wildman's development. If the project hits its funding and makes it to release, we're hoping it'll feel right at home in our Not So Massively column.
Gas Powered Games reveals Wildman, CEO says he's betting the company
Gas Powerered Games is launching a $1.1 million Kickstarter for Wildman, an action RPG/real-time strategy game/MOBA hybrid. CEO Chris Taylor tells Gamasutra it's not a good thing if they come up short on this."We spent all the last dough that we've had, and the last several months working on it. So we're betting the company on it," Taylor told the site.Taylor says the game is a risk, but it's not the first time he's done it, noting he bet the company on Dungeon Siege and Supreme Commander. He also mentions that with the normalcy of the Kickstarter culture, it's easier to ask people for $15 than to ask a publisher for $1.1 million. We'll update this post with a Kickstarter link when it apparently launches in a couple hours.Update: Kickstarter is now live.%Gallery-176152%
Age of Empires Online adopts a truly free business model
Last month, the Age of Empires Online developers announced an aim to take the game away from its "free-to-try" business model and move to truly free. With the latest update, the real-time strategy game will not only convert to a truly free-to-play model but also offer new content to players in the form of Alliance Wars (a team-based competition for level-40 players) along with new purchasable vanity items and consumables. In the move to make all premium content available through gameplay, the game's currency -- Empire Points -- can now be earned through conventional play or purchased through Steam. Chris Taylor, founder and CEO of Gas Powered Games, explains, "With Empire Points and this true free-to-play business model, we are giving players what they have repeatedly asked for... fewer pay walls and more ways for players to experience this legendary franchise." As the game transitions to this new model, all current players will receive a gift of 500 Empire Points automatically, while new accounts will receive 100. Current players who had Empire Points previously will see them converted into in-game coin. [Source: Gas Powered Games press release]
Amazon selling Supreme Commander for a Lincoln
Amazon has Chris Taylor's legendary RTS title Supreme Commander as a Games for Windows edition for the low, low price of just $4.50. It's only available to US customers, and only as a download. Yes, for less than the price of a gallon of gas, you too can command vast armies of units of all shapes and sizes, zooming in and out of a gigantic map at will. It'll be the cheapest war ever fought.
Age of Empires Online posts first dev diary video
Cross an RTS game over to an MMO? Madness! Well, OK, maybe it's not madness at all, but this new video dev blog from the team behind Age of Empires Online is pretty crazy! In it, we're treated to an interesting look behind the scenes of this upcoming MMORTS title under production at Gas Powered Games. However, as we learn from CEO Chris Taylor, Producer Dex Manely, and Marketing Manager Justin Kirby, there's a lot of brainstorming and work that goes on when it comes to creating interesting video dev blogs for a game. With fun, stylized graphics, vividly colored environments, tons of action and a pedigree spanning several different popular titles, Age of Empires Online looks like it has a good start. For now, check out the video embedded behind the break, and if the game seems like your idea of fun, head over to the Age of Empires Online site to get signed up for a chance to beta test.
Gas Powered Games RTS 'Kings and Castles' on hold
Though most of the Kings and Castles progress updates delivered by developer Gas Powered Games have been absolutely rife with levity and good cheer, the latest word from founder Chris Taylor is decidedly non-hilarious. Speaking to Big Download, Taylor explained, "We've put the project on hold for now, but the moment I know more I will let you know." When pressed for further info, he added, "I can't go into those details just yet... let's call it a 'timing' thing." We hope Gas Powered Games can get the project back on track once the "timing" is right -- not only because the game looks really fun, but also because, man, we miss those video updates.
Obsidian and Square Enix announce Dungeon Siege 3, will include co-op
It's been almost two years to the day since we last heard any updates on Dungeon Siege 3, which led us to the fairly understandable conclusion that Uwe Boll may have murdered the franchise with his Statham-fronted film adaptation. Apparently, those fears were unfounded -- Square Enix just announced it will publish the series' third installment, which will be developed by Obsidian Entertainment under the supervision of Dungeon Siege forefather, Gas Powered Games' Chris Taylor. The threequel, which is set for release on 360, PS3 and PC, will remain true to the series' roots, giving players access to a catalog of highly customizable RPG archetypes that will participate in some action-oriented ... dungeon sieging. Players will also have access to an "all-new co-op multiplayer mode," though the particulars of this mode weren't specified by the game's press release announcement. We'll try to divine a few more details at E3.
Total Annihilation strategically (and exclusively) moving to Impulse
Stardock has announced that Total Annihilation, Chris Taylor's classic RTS, has arrived on its Impulse digital distribution platform. 10 bucks nets buyers the Impulse client-based version of TA, replete with the game's Core Contingency expansion and modernized multiplayer support. Stardock head Brad Wardell notes his love for the RTS in the release announcement, even going as far as saying, "Total Annihilation is personally one of my all-time favorite games." Additionally, while the game is currently claimed to be "exclusive" to Impulse, we have to imagine such a critically acclaimed PC title will end up on those other digital distribution platforms at some point in the future. Until that happens, you can pick up the game right here.
Overheard@DICE: How do you define indie?
"I find this talk offensive." -- A half-joking independent developer listening to Chris Taylor of Gas Powered Games and Epic's Mike Capps discussing being independent studios at DICE. But, how do we define independent? And is it different from being "indie?" We know that Mega 64 has a violent reaction about the latter question. Now, it's hard to imagine Mike Capps, who swims in a pool of Unreal Engine cash, being defined as independent. He even dryly stated during the conversation, "We became Microsoft five years ago." However, Chris Taylor, whose company doesn't have an engine that runs many of the games out there stated, "My children will probably not go to college because of Demigod." He also mentioned that in 2008 the company went from 125 people to 45 and then had to build back up again. But does a company's bank account make it independent or is it a state of mind? In fairness, Mike Capps was a last minute replacement for Double Fine's Tim Schafer, so the original pairing may have been less jarring. But, the indie developer got us thinking: what are the lines that define the perception of independence?
Gas Powered Games announces 'Kings and Castles,' antics ensue
"We're doing something different this time," Chris Taylor, of Supreme Commander developer Gas Powered Games, said about the development of the company's new game, Kings and Castles. He's not really talking about the game -- it's another real-time strategy game, being developed for PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 -- but rather of the development process. The developer plans to be as open as it can while working on the game, promising frequent updates on Facebook and Twitter (from Taylor's account, @DeathBot9), as well as on the game's website. "Synergy will be leveraged, and paradigms will be established," Taylor said in the press release. "More importantly, buzzwords will be utilized." From the tone so far, you might expect the updates to be on the silly side. The first effort in this initiative: a video blog in which Taylor does stuff on a farm for some reason. See it after the break.
Taylor: Changing design philosophies because of Square Enix partnership would be 'missing the point'
Although we weren't surprised when Gas Powered Games revealed it had been working on a sequel to Supreme Commander, we did scratch our heads at the partnership that would see Japanese publisher Square Enix distribute the title. In a one-on-one interview with Gas Powered CEO Chris Taylor at E3 2009, we wondered if changes to the core design philosophies of Supreme Commander 2 were made due to the new partnership.According to Taylor, Gas Powered Games had similar questions for Square Enix, but were told to maintain the same core philosophies -- philosophies that attracted Square Enix to the Western developer to begin with. "If we changed... we would be missing the point," Taylor told us. Taylor also mentioned a cue they took from Square Enix was they way they "embrace character and story," which is a focus for Gas Powered in Supreme Commander 2. Stay tuned for the complete interview with Chris Taylor, tomorrow.
Taylor: Bringing Supreme Commander to Xbox 360 was a 'hair on fire mission,' sequel developed in-house
In a one-on-one interview with Gas Powered Games CEO Chris Taylor during E3 2009, we questioned why the developer was attempting to bring the series back to the console -- considering the first Supreme Commander port ended with less than stellar results. "I felt bad, the developer who did the Xbox 360 version just did not have the time or the resources," Taylor told us, referring to the team at Hellbent Games -- the developer tapped to bring the THQ published RTS to console in 2008. "It was a hair on fire mission." Hoping to correct errors encountered by bringing the first title to the Xbox 360, Taylor says development of the console version for the Square Enix published sequel is being done by the team at Gas Powered Games. "We're doing it in-house and giving it a lot more time and a lot more resources," Taylor said, admittedly "bullish" the sequel will fare better for console players. "I would be very surprised if it didn't do as well as the PC version." Stay tuned for our full interview with Chris Taylor, tomorrow.
Former Fallout dev rejoins Interplay for 'Project V13' MMO
Original Fallout designer Chris Taylor – not to be confused for Total Annihilation and Dungeon Siege designer Chris Taylor – has re-upped with his former employer Interplay to work on unannounced MMO "Project V13," currently in development with several other members of the Fallout team.While Interplay isn't coming out and saying it, all signs point to this being the Fallout MMO. Besides the Fallout-infused dev team, the company itself reaffirmed plans for the game last April. Even the logo bears resemblance of the Fallout aesthetic, and V13 could stand for either "V13" or if you interpret 13 as a 1337 version of "B", you have Project VB, the initials of which make the codename for Interplay's Fallout 3 (i.e. Project Van Buren) from before Bethesda took the reins. If Interplay's looking to ride next month's Fallout 3 hype train, we'll know more soon enough.[Via EuroGamer]
Interplay launches new site, hires Chris Taylor for Fallout MMO
For several months now, the Interplay website has been host to a simple splash page promising an upcoming revival of the once-great company. We heard news a while back that they had sold the property rights for the Fallout name to Bethesda (which will be in the form of Fallout 3), but retained the rights to a Fallout MMO.Now we get word that they've just relaunched their new website and (re-)hired Chris Taylor for a super-secret "Project V13". It doesn't take a rocket-scientist to figure out that V13 is Vault 13, and since Chris Taylor worked on the original Fallout, it's a safe bet that this project is the highly-anticipated Fallout MMO.
Joystiq interview: Demigod, Sins, and the death of PC gaming
With publisher Stardock's rise the last couple of years and the announcement that it'll be publishing Gas Powered Games' next title, Demigod, it was time catch up with the two companies. We spoke with Stardock's CEO Brad Wardell and Gas Powered Games' founder Chris Taylor and asked some niggling questions on our minds ... and fired a few total shots in the dark which yielded results (like Demigod on consoles?). Find out more about Stardock and why Gas Powered Games decided to hook up with the little-publisher-that-could for its next title in our interview.OK, let's get right into it, what's Demigod?Chris Taylor - Demigod is a frantic team-based action game with RPG and RTS elements mixed in. If that doesn't sound familiar, it's because we're sort of inventing a new style of hybrid gameplay. The player selects a Demigod, and fights for a place in the pantheon of Gods in these incredible arenas. Each battle puts the player in command of either an Assassin Demigod, or General Demigod. These two types gives the player a choice of whether they command just the single Demigod, an Assassin, or whether they take command over every single unit in the game, like a traditional RTS, a General. %Gallery-19979%
