gregbrown Posted February 18, 2014 Announced today, Ken Levine is "winding-down" the studio to about a dozen people so he can explore making narrative projects that are more replayable. I'd heard that the studio had its fair share of cultural/organizational problems, but this still comes as a shock! http://irrationalgames.com/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
prettyunsmart Posted February 18, 2014 I'd be tempted to reply to you just saying that it might come more as a Bioshock, but this is just too sad/weird for that. It's sad to see such a prominent and consistently interesting studio go out of business, and to see so many people out of work. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Squid Division Posted February 18, 2014 On the bright side, I bet those people are going to go on and create some awesome games of their own. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TychoCelchuuu Posted February 18, 2014 Now all the people there who thought Irrational games were good because of their narrative can make more racist stuff with Levine while the people who joined Irrational to make immersive systems-driven games can go work at Arkane and other places that will appreciate them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bjorn Posted February 18, 2014 It makes sense. Lots of creators reach a point where they aren't really creating anything anymore because of their success. They are managing a business, overseeing multiple projects, etc. And the expectations for the next thing only get bigger and bigger. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikemariano Posted February 18, 2014 Can I buy the rights to Freedom Force? I want my Alchemiss fanfiction to be canon! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vasari Posted February 18, 2014 I can understand Levine wanting to make something different instead of another massive scale game like B:I, but I can't understand why him leaving means that the entire studio is shutting down. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
feelthedarkness Posted February 18, 2014 Because if you get rid of all the people there is a TON of money left in the system. Now all the people there who thought Irrational games were good because of their narrative can make more racist stuff with Levine while the people who joined Irrational to make immersive systems-driven games can go work at Arkane and other places that will appreciate them. HEYOO! But the note says "To make narrative-driven games for the core gamer that are highly replayable." That's kind of back to basics system shock, no? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Henroid Posted February 18, 2014 Well now I get the meaning behind "Irrational Games" as a name. If Ken Levine was getting bored why didn't he just leave the company in someone else's hands? He just put a lot of people out of work. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bjorn Posted February 18, 2014 Technically 2K owns IG, and Levine just manages it, right? It's a fully owned studio? 2K would have had major input, if not final decision, on closing the studio rather than turn it over to someone else. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JonCole Posted February 18, 2014 Technically 2K owns IG, and Levine just manages it, right? It's a fully owned studio? 2K would have had major input, if not final decision, on closing the studio rather than turn it over to someone else. That was my assessment as well. I can't imagine that Ken Levine was like "well, I'm bored with this so let's put like 70 people out of work". Probably he put in his request to leave Irrational, 2K evaluated whether or not Irrational was worth keeping without him, and seemingly decided the answer was "no." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Henroid Posted February 18, 2014 Someone at GAF is suggesting that Levine is being a willing fall-guy, that Take-Two wanted to get rid of the studio but made Levine do it. That's a little tinfoil hatty, but not enough to be entirely ridiculous. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Henroid Posted February 18, 2014 Even if it was Take-Two's decision to close Irrational Games if they were going to lose Levine, Levine was in a position to know that was coming. And he still followed through. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spenny Posted February 18, 2014 Someone at GAF is suggesting that Levine is being a willing fall-guy, that Take-Two wanted to get rid of the studio but made Levine do it. That's a little tinfoil hatty, but not enough to be entirely ridiculous. That's the conclusion I came to, as people have pointed out a studio head wanting to leave shouldn't lead to that studio being dismantled. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JonCole Posted February 18, 2014 Even if it was Take-Two's decision to close Irrational Games if they were going to lose Levine, Levine was in a position to know that was coming. And he still followed through. So he should have put thrown his career at the feet of 2K in exchange for them releasing the hostage that was Irrational? That's pretty crazy, dude. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snow Posted February 18, 2014 Why are people assuming Ken has the power to fire that many people? And even if he did (he doesn't), Take-Two could just hire 'em all back... if they wanted to (read: if Bioshock had sold more). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
osmosisch Posted February 18, 2014 This sounds like great news to me, I'm curious what Ken will come up with, as well as the ex-Irrational devs. Infinite was a bit disappointing so it's sensible and inspiring to try and scale things down again. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sclpls Posted February 18, 2014 2K Marin and Irrational gone... so intense. Hope all those people can land on their feet, but with that number of people it seems daunting. At least there will probably be some amazing new indie studios to come out of this. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikemariano Posted February 18, 2014 Yay AAA gaming! I can't wait for Chris and Steve to comment and give us all the inside dirt on Levine's evil deeds! CHRIS: "I enjoyed my time at Irrational and the opportunity to work with Ken and the team. I have made friendships there that have lasted to this day." STEVE: "Uh, I never worked for Irrational. How did you get in my house?" This confirms every nefarious thought I ever had about Ken Levine! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sclpls Posted February 18, 2014 I want Clint Hocking to form a new studio and hire all these people. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stuart Posted February 18, 2014 Wellp, there goes Irrational. Wouldn't be surprised that after this, we get some stories on how horrendous the development of Bioshock Infinite was. Playing it feels like playing a hollow carcass of a game. It feels like a shitton was iterated and cut out. For what reasons (other than the obvious fact that some content just needs to be cut), I do not know. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SecretAsianMan Posted February 18, 2014 I have nothing constructive to add, but I spotted a headline that made me shudder. Ken Levine Closes the Booker on Irrational Games I get that gaming news sites like making dumb pun headlines but... ugh. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheLastBaron Posted February 18, 2014 That headline as well as the follow-up "BioShock studio caught in the Rapture" are both solid gold and you're just jealous you didn't think of them first. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Justin Leego Posted February 18, 2014 I kind of wonder why Ken is staying with Take-Two. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snow Posted February 18, 2014 Wouldn't be surprised that after this, we get some stories on how horrendous the development of Bioshock Infinite was. Funny you should say that. Saw this on GAF: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites