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Former LucasArts president now CEO at Dungeon Defenders dev
Darrell Rodriguez, who served as president of LucasArts between 2008 and 2010, will now lead Dungeon Defenders developer Trendy Entertainment as its CEO, the studio has announced. Rodriguez, who most recently served as Chief Creative Officer at casino game creator International Game Technology, said in a press release that he was drawn to the studio due to it being "among the first companies to recognize that digitally distributed releases deserve the same high-quality treatment as traditional retail titles." "AAA doesn't belong to AAA anymore, and finding fellow video game industry veterans who understand this is an exciting proposition," Rodriguez said. Trendy's Dungeon Defenders 2, sequel to the studio's 2010 hit Dungeon Defenders, recently dropped its MOBA-inspired mode to focus on the game's unique blend of tower defense and RPG elements. It's expected to launch later this year. [Image: Trendy Entertainment]
LucasArts finds 'Epic' new president
LucasArts has found a new president in Epic Games China CEO Paul Meegan. IGN reports that Meegan will take over the studio in mid-June -- wait, that's nowish. Ouch. Taking over a major publisher during E3 sounds like a special brand of executive hell, but we're sure he's well compensated. Although there's been an interim suit in the Lucasarts president position, Meegan is officially taking over for Darrell Rodriguez, who abruptly resigned in May after holding the job for two years.
Lucasarts president resigns, effect on TOR uncertain
Kotaku reports on the sudden resignation of Lucasarts president Darrell Rodriguez, along with several unnamed members of his executive team. Lucasfilm board of directors member Jerry Bowerman will be filling the void on a temporary basis while the company searches for a permanent replacement. Rodriguez spear-headed the reanimation of the classic Lucasarts title The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition, and was also instrumental in the success of The Force Unleashed and Lego Indiana Jones. The company released a statement indicating business as usual. "Lucasfilm remains fully committed to making great games and we continue to invest in our business," the statement read. No word was available on if and how the shake-up will affect The Old Republic, Lucasarts' forthcoming MMORPG collaboration with BioWare. Stay with Massively for more on this story as it develops.
LucasArts president Darrell Rodriguez resigns
LucasArts president Darrell Rodriguez has resigned, prompting the company to begin a search for new leadership. Kotaku reports that several members of Rodriguez's executive team have also departed. A LucasArts representative confirmed the change to IGN, noting that Lucasfilm's Jerry Bowerman will lead while a replacement for Rodriguez is sought. "Darrell Rodriguez has resigned and we have initiated a search for a new leader," the statement read. "Jerry Bowerman - a member of the Lucasfilm Board of Directors and a games industry veteran - will be stepping in to lead the LucasArts executive team during this transition. Lucasfilm remains fully committed to making great games and we continue to invest in our business." Rodriguez once dubbed the revitalization of classic LucasArts games -- such as The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition - a "passion project." With a spruced-up sequel already on the way, it seems the publisher will continue carrying out his vision, at least within the near future.
LucasArts classics could wind up on iPhone ... 'wink wink, nod nod'
He actually said that out loud. When asked whether LucasArts' classic lineup -- recently unearthed for Steam release -- could wind up on portable platforms such as the iPhone, DS or PSP Go, company CEO Darrell Rodriguez told Joystiq, "On iPhone, you know Apple's policy that we can't talk about a release until it's ready to release. But it would make sense that we would do something like that if we were to go in that direction ... wink wink, nod nod."Wink wink, nod nod. Thanks to our remarkable journalistic acumen, we can only conclude that he's attempting to convey relevant information by verbally describing physical body language. Other drifts tossed into our cupped hands: Rodriguez has deemed LucasArts' new endeavor to release old, beloved titles a "passion project" -- and it's "just the beginning." He also said that out loud.As for iPhone ports of point-and-poke classics (or even remakes like The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition), well, we think we would quite like that. If you know what we mean.
LucasArts classics coming to Steam this Wednesday, July 8
digg_url = 'http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/06/breaking-lucasarts-classics-coming-to-steam-this-wednesday/'; LucasArts is poised to deliver a one-two ... err, three punch for classic gaming fans, beginning with tomorrow's PC release of the first chapter of Tales of Monkey Island, titled "Launch of the Screaming Narwhal." Today, LucasArts announced not only the release date for Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition – it's next week, on July 15th – but also the availability of ten LucasArts classics from the back-catalog, to be made available on Steam this Wednesday, July 8! We spoke with LucasArts CEO Darrell Rodriguez, who told us that this is "a passion project" for him as well as his team. "This is the first time these titles have ever been on digital distribution, and it's something we're all very excited about," he told us this morning. "And this is just the beginning." That "beginning" includes ten titles from the LucasArts vaults, including adventure gaming classics like Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: The Graphic Adventure, LOOM, and The Dig. Also included in this first batch of games are Armed and Dangerous, LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventure, Star Wars Battlefront II, Star Wars Republic Commando, Star Wars Starfighter, and Thrillville: Off the Rails. The press release calls this the "first round of releases" and Rodriguez promises us they've got more in store, including "some bundles that offer some extra value." Those bundles are Steam-only for now, though; a retail package is "something to definitely consider" Rodriguez tells us, though LucasArts has "no plans for them right now." %Gallery-64659%
Episodic Tales of Monkey Island coming to WiiWare, PC
digg_url = 'http://www.digg.com/gaming_news/Episodic_Tales_of_Monkey_Island_coming_to_WiiWare_PC'; The tale of Guybrush Threepwood and his ascent through the pirate ranks is one of the most-loved stories from the adventure games of yesteryear, and now you can get ready for a whole lot more of it. LucasArts has announced to us at E3 that they're working with Telltale Games on Tales of Monkey Island, a five-part episodic series to be released monthly on both PC and WiiWare. LucasArts says that there's no shortage of demand among both developers and gamers to make and play as much Monkey Island as possible, so they're giving what they call "one of the forefathers of adventure gaming and the precusor to the RPG genre" the Sam and Max treatment. There aren't any other platforms scheduled for release -- while the Monkey Island special edition is being released on Xbox Live, LucasArts CEO Darrell Rodriguez was tight-lipped when it came to getting the episodic content on consoles or even a platform like the iPhone. But he did tell us that their plan is to take us back to the "halcyon days" of the company, "when people couldn't wait for a LucasArts game to come out." Considering that the last Monkey Island release was almost nine years ago, it'll be nice to have the wait for a trip to the Tri-Island Area reduced to just 30 days. %Gallery-64662%
LucasArts names Darrell Rodriguez as new president
Following the very sudden departure of LucasArts president Jim Ward two months ago, the company announced today that Electronic Arts LA's Chief Operating Officer, Darrel Rodriguez, will take the job in mid-April. Rodriguez is currently in charge of overall operations, product development and strategic growth at the EA studio. Prior to working at EA, Rodriguez was at EarthLink, Walt Disney Imagineering and Walt Disney Internet Group.Considering the headshot above comes directly from LucasArts, we just want to know if sexy artistic black and white executive photos could become a trend -- oh, Dave Perry, you might have started something.
