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Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser is leaving the company
It's the end of an era at Rockstar Games -- parent company Take-Two Interactive has revealed that Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser is leaving on March 11th. It wasn't clear just why Houser was departing (we've asked for comment), but Houser was already on an "extended break" that started in spring 2019. His brother Sam Houser is still with Rockstar as its president.
Rockstar Games to receive 'wholly deserved' BAFTA fellowship
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts has announced plans to award a fellowship to Rockstar Games for its contributions in bringing video games to the mainstream, and more specifically, for its wildly successful, critically acclaimed Grand Theft Auto franchise. "It is hugely exciting to be able to recognize the amazing contribution made by Rockstar to the games industry over the past 16 years," stated Harvey Elliott, chair of the BAFTA Games Committee. "The creativity and passion exhibited by the Rockstar teams have inspired a generation of game developers to raise the bar in every aspect of game development. From design and mechanics, through to storytelling, cinematics and audio immersion, and in the process creating games that compete so profoundly on a global stage across all entertainment media." "We have long believed in the potential for videogames to become a new form of cultural expression and worked to show that in our games, so for us accepting the BAFTA Fellowship is incredibly humbling," said Rockstar co-founder Sam Houser, who now joins Shigeru Miyamoto and Will Wright on the short list of gaming industry figures to receive BAFTA fellowships. The British Academy Games Awards is scheduled to take place on March 12 in London. Those interested in attending can purchase tickets from BAFTA, while the rest of us will have to settle for streaming the show on Twitch. [Rockstar Games]
Grand Theft Auto masterminds crash into AIAS Hall of Fame
Rockstar heads Leslie Benzies, Dan Houser and Sam Houser are the 18th, 19th and 20th inductees into the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame, joining previous winners Gabe Newell, Shigeru Miyamoto, Sid Meier, John Carmack, Mark Cerny, Ray Muzyka, Greg Zeschuck, and Tim Sweeney, among other luminaries. The Houser brothers founded Rockstar Games in 1998 and acquired Benzies' studio, DMA Design, in 1999. It became Rockstar North, the hub of Grand Theft Auto development. Microsoft Corporate Veep Phil Harrison will present Benzies and the Housers at the DICE Awards on Thursday, February 6. "A rare combination of cultural savvy, technical prowess and a deep passion for interactive entertainment has made Rockstar Games a global success story that has helped propel the games medium forward," Harrison says in a press release. "I am proud and honored to present Leslie, Sam and Dan with this award on behalf of the entire industry." AIAS calls out specific franchises as examples of Rockstar's impact on the industry, as both developer and publisher: Grand Theft Auto, Bully, Red Dead Redemption, Manhunt, The Warriors and LA Noire. We'll be running a liveblog of the DICE Awards on Thursday, starting at 7:30PM PT. [Image: Rockstar Games]
Yes, Grand Theft Auto V is set in Los Santos and will have multiplayer
You've likely gleaned as much from yesterday's big Grand Theft Auto V debut trailer, but this morning's official announcement of the game from Rockstar confirms a "Los Santos" (Los Angeles-ish) setting, as well as the return of online multiplayer. "Grand Theft Auto V focuses on the pursuit of the almighty dollar in a re-imagined, present-day Southern California," the release reads, specifically pointing to "Los Santos and surrounding hills, countryside, and beaches" as the locales. Predictably, the announcement calls GTAV "the largest and most ambitious game Rockstar has yet created," and company co-head Sam Houser characterizes the project as "another radical reinvention of the Grand Theft Auto universe." From that debut teaser, we're ... awaiting further evidence of that "radical reinvention" Houser promises. But hey, at least it looks like planes are back in the mix! Despite making the game even more official, Rockstar has yet to announce a release window or platforms for the Rockstar North-led project.
Take-Two renews employment agreement with Rockstar bosses
As part of its latest financial report, Take-Two announced that it has renewed its employment agreement with "key members of the creative team of Rockstar Games." Namely, both Sam and Dan Houser, along with Leslie Benzies, have renewed their agreements on "substantially similar economic terms." Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick spoke highly of the Rockstar team, alluding to it as "the best creative talent in the industry." He added that Take-Two looks forward to working with Rockstar for "many years to come." In other words, it looks like Take-Two is holding on tightly to what is undoubtedly its biggest gun.
Houser: Freedom of expression 'easier' in games
Rockstar Games' vice-president of creativity, Dan Houser, was recently interviewed by The Telegraph, a UK newspaper. Houser commented on the state of video games as a respected form of expression, comparing the industry to books and movies. "I think the medium is still very young. It's not a baby, but it's still probably an infant. So everything is growing and evolving as we go along and we're still figuring out how to do stuff." When asked whether he thinks it'll be long before game writers are treated with the same respect as movie or TV writers, however, he responded with, "I hope it's long. "Movies and TV and books have become so structured in the way they have to approach things. Not working in that environment gives us enormous freedom. I'd rather keep the freedom and not have the respect." While the narrative freedom for games may be massive, the number of people willing to take advantage of that is sadly small. Video game writing is getting better, thanks to dedicated in-house and freelance writers in the industry, but these are still relatively few and far between. [Via GI.biz]
Rockstar vets cement long-term deal with Take-Two
For brothers who've become popular creating games starring characters who seek out freedom from society's corporate machine this is a strange move but not unexpected. Take-Two Interactive have announced a new long-term agreement with "key members of the creative team" behind Grand Theft Auto IV, including Sam (pictured) and Dan Houser. Terms of the agreement would see the team locked into an publishing deal with Take-Two until January 31, 2012. The arrangement also includes a new incentive compensation program for the Rockstar Games label and an agreement from Take-Two "to fund the future development of certain new intellectual property to be owned by a newly formed company controlled by key Rockstar Games team members." Our guess? Lemmings Kart Racing. Believe.
Pachter predicts bidding war over Rockstar's Houser brothers
Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter sees another challenge for Take-Two Interactive, suggesting that the company could lose the talent behind the Grand Theft Auto franchise. In Pachter's latest analyst note, he details the possible loss of Sam and Dan Houser of Rockstar when their contract expires this upcoming February.Pachter expects that when their contracts expire this February, Sam and Dan Houser of Rockstar could either depart Take-Two -- robbing the company of the driving force force behind its best-selling series -- or stay on at considerable expense. The analyst explains that a Houser departure would be analogous to EA's Medal of Honor team departing to produce Activision's Call of Duty franchise -- GTA would still live on, but it probably wouldn't be the same sales powerhouse sans the Houser brothers.
Rockstar and Timbaland present: Beaterator
Two years ago, Rockstar Games had a version of Beaterator on its website. Today, Rockstar and famed R&B producer Timbaland have announced they would be teaming up to bring a full-fledged version of the music title exclusively to the PSP handheld system. Beaterator will feature a music mixer, and a collection of original music and rhythm games. "Music has always been a hugely important part of everything we do here," said Sam Houser, Founder and Executive Producer of Rockstar Games in today's press release. "I've always been a huge fan of Rockstar and love playing their games," said Timbaland. "I'm thrilled to be partnering with them and making music for Beaterator. I cannot wait to get this in the hands of our fans!" Beaterator will be available on PSP this summer. Play the original Beaterator by visiting Rockstar.
The Warriors brings more Rockstar violence to the PSP
We don't usually do press releases, but I'm such a Rockstar nut that anytime they grace our handheld, I get excited. This port of the popular game based on the classic 70s film is being developed by Rockstar Leeds, the programmers of the graphically intense Grand Theft Auto Stories series. It's unknown if the PSP version of the game will feature any new content, but considering its holiday release date, we'll guess no."We set out to create a highly sophisticated portable game that delivers a visceral experience previously unseen on the PSP system," stated Sam Houser, Founder and Executive Producer of Rockstar Games. "We are looking forward to setting the definitive bar for the brawler genre on the PSP system by delivering an extremely stylish and exceptionally deep experience."[Thanks, steve!]
