Clifford Bleszinski, one of those public game developers that you love – or love to hate – is making a “not-a-comeback” return to videogames. His studio’s first game is a free-to-play PC arena shooter called BlueStreak. He formed the studio, Boss Key, with Jazz Jackrabbit collaborator Arjan Brussee – and now the company’s on a bit of a hiring spree.
Here’s the list of people that CliffyB’s Boss Key has picked up from studios like Neversoft, Epic and Irrational Games.
Chris Mielke, who’s worked on Ghost Recon: Future Soldier, Far Cry 4 and The Division will be the new senior producer. Former Epic staffer Chris Wells who handled the Gears of War trilogy and Fortnite is the new senior character artist. Fellow former Epic Games staffer Joshua Parker is now a senior gameplay programmer.
IT stuff will be handled by by new IT director Shane Smith (Grand Theft Auto V, Bioshock Infinite) while former Neversoft member David Rose (Guitar Hero 5 and 6, and Call of Duty: Ghosts) is tasked with UI stuff. Guy in charge of Animation, Ryan Palser worked on Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare and Ghosts, while James Hawkins has left Epic where he worked on Gears of War Trilogy and Unreal Tournament 3. He will now be Boss Key’s senior concept artist, Sarah Asby from Epic joins as the exec assistant.
"The key to building a successful company is to surround yourself with quality people, especially the ones who can do things you can’t," said co-founder and CEO Cliff Bleszinski in a statement.
"Arjan [Brussee] and I are excited to continue working with some of the people who have inspired us and helped us create great work in the past, as well as to hire fresh blood to bring new perspectives and talents to the table. We’re still reading through hundreds of resumes to find the best-of-the-best to join us, and expect to have more announcements soon."
That’s quite a number of staff with some rather intriguing pedigree. I can’t say that a free-to-play arena shooter interests me in the slightest, but I’ll certainly give BlueStreak a look when it’s out. He may appear at times to be an insufferable egomaniac, but Bleszinski sure knows how to makes games.
Last Updated: July 24, 2014
Sir Rants A Lot Llew
July 24, 2014 at 13:08
heh. Blue Streak. Gets me every time
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 24, 2014 at 13:12
I have a joke all saved up about it being underdone when it’s finally released. If it is anyway, it’ll be a 50/50 thing.
Sir Rants A Lot Llew
July 24, 2014 at 13:15
50/20/20/10
You forgot. Only 50% is there. The other 50% is split in to DLC and microtransactions
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 24, 2014 at 13:26
I meant 50% unhappy if I don’t get to use it & 50% happy because I don’t really want a game to fail, but you speak the truth hehe.
Kromas
July 24, 2014 at 13:15
I have a joke about pretentious predictions saved up for when the game fails and the studio goes under.
Admiral Chief Saxon
July 24, 2014 at 13:09
I’ll sign up for QA, since they pay so good
Rince&pop
July 24, 2014 at 13:12
CLIFFY! You have’t returned my calls! And after all the flowers I sent thee!
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 24, 2014 at 13:16
What a tragic end to your bromance with CliffyBFF.
Admiral Chief Saxon
July 24, 2014 at 13:17
Surely he is used to failure?
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 24, 2014 at 13:19
Oh, the burn!
Rince&pop
July 24, 2014 at 13:24
Yeah, the wit…
Rince&pop
July 24, 2014 at 13:19
Sniff. I know. And the promises he made… Taking me out for a spin in his lambo, introducing me to his wife, sharing his lancer with me… No, wait a second… 0_O
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 24, 2014 at 13:20
A spin in the lambgo? Meatspin? o_O
Rince&pop
July 24, 2014 at 13:21
Both a meat spin AND a lance spin 🙁 Looks like I’ll have to call up ol Fish again…