Z of the Na'vi:

The original founders of Bioware are no longer a part of Bioware. The creative spark that drove the company to fruition in the first place doesn't exist as an integral cog of the company.

"Knock" what off, exactly? Being pessimistic about the future of Bioware and/or their games?

You have a lot to learn. Welcome to the Escapist.

They really haven't been involved in any of the games made by Bioware since Baldur's Gate, so i really don't get the pessimism. It's sad to see them go, but this isn't a death knell or anything.

Hahahaha xD I'd love to hear all the Bio/EA-pologists now. I'm still holding to my prediction that BioWare Edmonton isn't going to last more than 2-3 years. BioWare Austin is almost as good as closed after the Layoff of 200+ people already.

Points scored for those who say Bioware is just a name these days, it no longer has any meaning or history attached to it.

And just like that, BioWare is dead to me.

To see these guys go, after seeing how much passion and enthusiasm and excitement they had for the games they made and the industry, is really sad, but I hope they excell wherever life takes them.

But with them goes the heart and soul of what made BioWare a once-great colossus in the industry.

daibakuha:

Mr.Tea:

What conspiracy theories? No post has yet said "only crap is coming now" at the time of your post.

The company's co-founders are leaving and another company owns what is left. i.e: BioWare is now just a name, regardless of what games come next.

Have you read the responses? "RIP Bioware" "Only a shell of what you once were" "Now only a matter of time before it dies a slow and painful death"

Knock it off.

You keep using that word. I don't think it means what you think it means.
I've seen not a single conspiracy theory in this thread yet, just people expressing their opinion that the future Bioware games will be not as good (let's put it that way) now that the heart and soul of the studio are gone. And those fears aren't completely baseless you know.

LiquidGrape:
Oh do grow up. Already with the conspiracy theories and cries for what darkness is to come?

I wish them both the very best in their new pursuits, and I thank them for their contribution to games. I think that's really all that needs to be said.

Welcome to the Escapist; just mentioning Bioware turns a thread into a pit of mean-spirited insults and childish tantrums.

Anyway, hopefully they do well in their new pursuits and can relax a bit. I do wonder who will step into their roles as Muzyka and Zeschuk were more businessmen than game designers (seriously they never actually designed or wrote most of Bioware's titles)

daibakuha:

Have you read the responses? "RIP Bioware" "Only a shell of what you once were" "Now only a matter of time before it dies a slow and painful death"

Knock it off.

I wasn't responding to you, and I specified at the time of his post.

If I wasn't addressing you, then why would you not even try to read what the context was?

You should knock it off.

If I drank I'd raise a glass to you guys.

Instead I'll just buy and play the original Baldur's Gate off GoG like I've been meaning to do for years.

I wish I had an appropriate song, but I can't think of one that sums up my feelings of bitter-sweet sorrow I have at this news. I wish them all the best, think fondly of the times they gave us, and feel the industry is just a little bit less bright to have them gone.

Best of luck to you, Doctors. You kicked ass.

"Two wonderful decades working at BioWare and later EA was the result of that decision."

The way I read it is this:

"Two wonderful decades working at BioWare"

then

"and later EA was the result of that decision."

I hope Bioware doesn't turn in to a bunch of "Yes" men with their departure. At the very least, not right away.

"LEAVE BIOWAREA ALONE!!!!"
...no.

I can say what ever I want about it.
Yep just another sign that EA is eating Bioware from the inside to make some gutted RPG house.

Mr.Tea:

What conspiracy theories? No post has yet said "only crap is coming now" at the time of your post.

The company's co-founders are leaving and another company owns what is left. i.e: BioWare is now just a name, regardless of what games come next.

purifico:

I've seen not a single conspiracy theory in this thread yet, just people expressing their opinion that the future Bioware games will be not as good (let's put it that way) now that the heart and soul of the studio are gone. And those fears aren't completely baseless you know.

Your very own posts implied their leaving would have the immediate effect of BioWare becoming an unfeeling development automaton under the watchful eye of EvilArts or whatever. Whether you believe that is painting in broad strokes, your prerogative. But I've seen a lot of people inferring the strangest things in this thread so far.

Anyway, with regards to the alleged heart and soul of BioWare being gone; I absolutely think it's a shame that the Doctors retire from games. Absolutely I do. They built a great company and provided the framework for what is demonstrably a very creative environment for creative people. That said, to suggest the company is a "shell" purely because of their leaving is asinine. They haven't been directly involved in development for more than a decade, and many of the company's veterans remain.

But I guess somebody should tell Lukas Kristjanson that the studio he's been working for since the production of Baldur's Gate is dead. Obviously he didn't get the memo.

SmashLovesTitanQuest:
Thanks for making the genre what it was a few years ago.

Damn you for making it what it is today.

Now now, dissatisfaction with Mass Effect and Dragon age may very well have contributed to the success of the gaming Kickstarters. Which will give us Wasteland 2, Grim Dawn, and Project Eternity.

Bioware was the studio that made me think of gaming as something that could be serious. Ill remember you as you were Bioware.

Its official, the developer I have followed and loved almost over every other is gone. Good luck to these men in their next endeavors and thanks for the good times in making some of the best RPGs I have had the pleasure of playing. R.I.P. Mass Effect, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Knights of the Old Republic and Dragon Age....you will be missed. * sniff sniff*

All i can think of is that quote in Batman.
You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain

best of luck with those two.

Calling it now: Bioware shall be sucked into the void known as EA. Just as so many have before them. Good Night, decent Western RPG makers. May heavenly angels sing thee to they rest.

It's not like these were the only good employees Bioware had guys, I'm sure they're still capable of creating good games.

And here I thought the captains were meant to go down with their ship. . .

Nah, I'm kidding, good luck to the both of them.

CardinalPiggles:
It's not like these were the only good employees Bioware had guys, I'm sure they're still capable of creating good games.

They weren't directly involved in the games for a long time now.

Wow, this is the first time I've ever been truly sad after reading a game-related article. RIP Bioware. Thanks for the fantastic memories

remember when people were like "look bioware is still the same company because the same people work there" yeah, that's done with

Well, this video seems to hold even more true now:

Thanks for all the games and good memories fellah's good luck with your future endevours

LiquidGrape:

General Vengeance:
This is what happens when you crawl into bed with EA. You completely fuck up a good company.

People conveniently fail to acknowledge that BioWare were well on their way to financial ruin after Jade Empire flopped, Origins languished in development hell and Mass Effect turned out not to be nearly the smash-hit it needed to be in order to justify the expense.

Jade effect flopped? o0 Wtf...Well guess that explains why no one seem to remember it in relevant bioware threads (usually its all about mass effect). Im in shock though, jade empire is imo the best recent bioware game, followed by mass effect 1 (which you said also didn't do too well.).

LiquidGrape:
Oh do grow up. Already with the conspiracy theories and cries for what darkness is to come?

I wish them both the very best in their new pursuits, and I thank them for their contribution to games. I think that's really all that needs to be said.

A levelheaded comment on Bioware news? On the first page?

There is hope!

:D

Well, I for one, was not surprised by this, not that much. I saw something like this coming, DA:2, TOR, ME:3(pre redone ending), it's clear these two weren't calling the shots anymore, all their games before EA involvement had longer dev cycles and were done with more love and care. Oh well, all the best to them, would be nice if they made a new company and poached all the good talent from EA's Bioware division...

You either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain

While a part of me wants to scream how this is the final nail in Biowares coffin, a small part still wants to keep a level head and not look too much into this.

Whatever your opinion is, I think we can all agree that a big part of history went with these guys. They gave us two decades of great entertainment, amazing games all the while setting new standards. Under them, Bioware created some of my favorites - games that played integral role in shaping me into gamer I am today, and for that I am forever grateful.

In short, there are a bunch of threads where I can bitch and worry about future of Bioware, but this is a great opportunity to look back and thank them for everything they've given me.
So without being sarcastic, thanks for the memories guys, it's been a great ride and best of luck with your future plans.

(I apologize dear reader for all that sentimentality. You can rest assured that I'm sharpening my knives for Dragon Age 3 even as you read this...not that you care you selfish fuck)

I can't feel Bioware's pulse anymore! Is there a doctor in the house?!

...

Oh wait...

"Abandon turd!" - Greg Zeschuk and Ray Muzyka

Really though, BioWare was dead when EA got them. We all knew it. Calling it BioWare is silly since the company technically doesn't exist anymore, it's just a name EA will exploit for all they can.

"I've reached an unexpected point in my life where I no longer have the passion that I once did for the company, for the games, and for the challenge of creation."

In other words "thanks EA for turning my life's passion into a tiresome chore which brings me endless pain".

Farewell Greg and Ray. Your body of work is a shining example of overall quality.