Despite being under Microsoft control, Lionhead creative director, Gary Carr insists that they are different. When it came to replacing Molyneux, Microsoft had to find the right person to lead the studio.
Speaking to OXM, Carr explained that John Needham’s selection was well thought out:
And to be fair to Microsoft, they didn’t want to drop in a Microsofty person. They wanted to find somebody who fitted the culture of Lionhead. Because when they did culture tests on Lionhead, and we’re at the opposite end of the scale to where Microsoft normally are.
So they looked long and hard and found John, and it’s fair to say we all had this scepticism about him being just another corporate dude in a suit before he walked in, but he’s not. He’s an absolute great guy, and very, very non-Microsofty – and I’m not saying that in order to be derogatory to Microsoft, because Microsoft picked him.
I just find it funny that even an ‘in-house’ developer like Lionhead seems to have a negative view of Microsoft. Carr explains that Lionhead is different because they focus on making games people want to play:
I’m not a Microsoft corporate dude. I want to make sure that Lionhead doesn’t just sip the Kool-Aid, I want us to be a developer that makes games we think people actually want to play.
Um, does this mean that other Microsoft studios don’t want to make good games? I must say, people love to rag on Microsoft about all kinds of things – there’s that perception that they’re a big, evil corporation. It just seems strange that a studio under their own umbrella can’t phrase things in a nicer way.
Last Updated: September 23, 2013
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Hammersteyn
September 23, 2013 at 15:05
Who are you gonna call
http://www.movie-moron.com/wp-content/gallery/gif/kool-aid-juggernaut.gif
Alien Emperor Trevor
September 23, 2013 at 15:08
OH YEAH!
Tbone187
September 23, 2013 at 15:09
I reckon he’ll be googling (has more a right at being a word than twerking) job search quite soon.
Alien Emperor Trevor
September 23, 2013 at 15:10
The problem with a lot of big corporations, including the one I work for, is that many of the people in top positions are very internally focused, and don’t spend much time thinking about the customers of the corporation.
JHN
September 23, 2013 at 15:29
People also just love to hate on big corporations
Hammersteyn
September 23, 2013 at 15:31
I hate McDonalds. Damn I’m hungry what do I feel like eating?
JHN
September 23, 2013 at 15:32
I hate them to but that mexican burger they were doing was awsum
Hammersteyn
September 23, 2013 at 15:46
It was, it really really was.
HvR
September 23, 2013 at 15:51
That thing was awful, it had fake jalapeno sauce!!
JHN
September 23, 2013 at 15:55
Ha ha ha i thought it was epic!
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
September 23, 2013 at 15:27
When the rats start abandoning ship.. you know you’re neck-deep in poo! I think Microsoft is worse off than we think they are. I mean, if one of your in-house dev teams are reluctant to defend you, then you’re really in trouble.
I guess less shiney jackets, PR speak and more games, Microsoft!
Umar Jaeger
September 23, 2013 at 15:35
How exactly did MS fall so far in such a short time.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
September 23, 2013 at 15:42
Some might say it was all Don “The Jacket” Mattrick’s fault, but I blame Balmer… BALMER DID IT!
Umar Jaeger
September 23, 2013 at 15:49
Balmer and Milo were in it together!!
Gerard Matthews
September 24, 2013 at 10:25
I wouldn’t say MS have fallen. Sure they have messed up on the gaming side of things and windows 8 has not been received as they would have liked but if you consider the size of the company and what they do it is dam amazing.
They literally rule the computing world, however much we like to rag on them… at the end of the day they are the trend setters and when a trend setter messes up you can be dam sure that people are watching.
If you think about it, there are so many software products out there that MS pretty much dominates. Sure there are other options but everyone keeps coming back to MS and business pretty much sits on MS’s lap adoringly looking into it’s dollar bill green eyes.
I am by no means a MS fan boy I just wanted to offer a different perspective.
Umar Jaeger
September 24, 2013 at 19:14
I appreciate your view 🙂 I in no way think of you as a fanboy because well you are right. I do not however think they are major trend setters but they indeed rule the computing world. My comment was referring to the gaming side of MS though. I should have been a bit more clear on that one
Rama Chandran
September 23, 2013 at 23:02
I like your share awesome animation work professionally done there.
http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Buy-Facebook-Likes-Buy-USA-5178701