Civilization IV designer Spore-s new gig

[Phanto]

Gamespot (http://gamespot.com) have news of Electronic Arts confirms Soren Johnson has left his 2K Games gig and joined the dev team of Will Wright's forthcoming evolutionary simulation game. The news is short so I will post it all in the quote below. To go directly to the news click here. (http://www.gamespot.com/news/6169313.html?action=convert&om_clk=latestnews&tag=latestnews;title;2)

For the past seven years, the name Soren Johnson has been synonymous with Civilization. The well-known game designer joined Firaxis, the studio behind the award-winning historical strategy franchise, in 2000. Since then he has been one of the now Take Two Interactive-owned shop's most public faces.

Now, though, Johnson's Firaxis tenure is over. After word surfaced on the Civilization-centric forums at Apolyton.net, Electronic Arts has confirmed the former lead designer of Civilization IV has quit his gig at Firaxis. Johnson has now returned to his old digs at Electronic Arts' Maxis studio and is working on the much-anticipated evolution-to-civilization sim Spore.

As of press time, Johnson's job change had not been noted on his personal blog, which hasn't been updated since last month's Game Developers Conference.

[Boris]

Soren Johnson - Will Wright is about to make you his bitch!

[Eggplant!]

I take that to mean not much gameplay has been finalized at this stage? :(

[Tricky Thumb]

I take that to mean not much gameplay has been finalized at this stage? :(

Don't count on that. I'd guess it's in the tuning and refinement stage and he's being pulled in to do just that, which is a great thing for Spore. Now my only worry is for the Civ IV expansion.

Ah screw it, I just want Alpha Centari II already.

[Hemalin]

That is a horrible, horrible pun. You should be ashamed.

[Lint of Death]

It's such a terrible pun that I don't even get it.

And I love bad puns :(

[KingGorilla]

I take that to mean not much gameplay has been finalized at this stage? :(
"Gameplay" is one of the last things to get finished. It was the last 6 months of WoW development that the character races and quests were done. Most of the work is on the engine and trouble shooting the mechanics.

[Vyzov]

This is a big blow to Firaxis, IMO. Hopefully they can find a good replacement.