CORE DESIGN HITS
BACK AGAINST FOUNDERS
Copyright 2004 www.tombraiderchronicles.com
[ February 18th 2004 ]
Core
Design has hit back at former co-founders Jeremy
and Adrian Heath-Smith over claims the company
was floundering with only a handful of remaining
staff trying to prop up future projects. Acting
general manager of Core, Andy Norman, told consumer
magazine Computer & Video Games Core was still
very much part of Eidos' long term plans following
comments made by Heath Smith that 37 of 36 former
employees abandoned ship to join CiRCLE Studio,
the new development company helmed by Jeremy and
Adrian Heath-Smith.
"I'm
always slightly concerned about replying to a
quote in the press. My instinct is to let our
product do the talking. However, I think it's
important in this case to recognise the work put
in by the extremely talented, enthusiastic and
dedicated people now at Core Design. It is to
give appropriate credit to these teams and individuals
that I'm happy to put the record straight. There
are now 47 people at Core Design, including the
two people who just joined us from Circle Studio.
We are split into four teams, in-line with new
thinking on how to structure a modern developer.
"The
cutting edge project management process, designed
by Core as a whole, sits sympathetically with
this organisation, and means that time, cost,
and quality all have their champions and are therefore
given equal weight in making development decisions.
New Core Design is generating multiple concept
IP each month (some of this for other members
of the Eidos group), and currently has a three
year strategy which includes three original concepts
now in pre-production and one in full production.
Our 47 people will soon not be enough to cover
all of these exciting projects."
"I should
also mention that Core is now firmly part of the
Eidos team, and works closely with marketing and
all other publisher stakeholders to ensure that
we are developing games that people will want
to play. It's been my pleasure to be acting general
manager of Core Design pretty much since the split
with previous management took place. A full time
appointment will be announced in due course."
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