Hyboreal is Alive and Hiring

[fitbabits]

According to this story (http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1733&Itemid=2) over at Next Generation (http://www.next-gen.biz), some former Blizzard folks have set up a new studio by the name of Hyboreal (http://www.hyboreal.com/index.htm).

First there was Arena.net (the Guild Wars guys). Then there was Flagship Studios (the Hellgate: London guys) now there's Hyboreal. As you might recall, in August, Blizzard made the decision to consolidate Blizzard North into its Irvine, CA headquarters and certainly there are many who were unwilling to move.

Hyboreal Founders Eric Sexton, Michio Okamura and Steven Woo all worked at Blizzard North on the Diablo series. Okamura was creative lead on an unannounced title at the time of his departure. Sexton was an on Diablo one and two, but had moved more toward game design in more recent projects. Woo was a programmer working on Diablo II and its expansion as well as on its expansion.
Their website could use some tarting up (and a good spell-check), but this is good news for fans of their previous work.

[aversion2k]

"working on Diablo II and its expansion as well as on its expansion."

No way, the expansion had an expansion :P

[fitbabits]

"working on Diablo II and its expansion as well as on its expansion."

No way, the expansion had an expansion :P
Hey, they say it, I quote it!! :)

[monkeyidol]

Maybe they mean patch 1.10? That was almost an expansion.

[DeadPixel]

The guys are talented no doubt, but they have no EA marketing force driving the hype and sales of their upcoming (how many years from now?) game.

</sarcasm>

I wish them luck :)

[Oblivion]

3 studios formed by former Blizzard employees. WTF? Blizzard is like a spawning ground or something? All in all, I count this as good news, freash blood for the industry.

[Draft]

3 studios formed by former Blizzard employees. WTF? Blizzard is like a spawning ground or something? All in all, I count this as good news, freash blood for the industry.As I understand it, Blizzard is really huge now. Like over a thousand employees, a LOT of which are making really good money, and at the very least, have the cred and connections to secure funding for independent studios.

But yes, you are right, this is a GOOD thing for the industry, as it opens up room at Blizzard for fresh talent to grow, and it allows the ripened old veterans to expand their talents and ideas beyond the 3 franchises Blizzard is famous for.

[Frostburn]

If you read carefully it says all worked at Blizzard North on the Diablo series and goes on to say that Okamura was creative lead on an unannounced title at the time of his departure could this mean another Diablo title is in the works and still unannounced? Sure seems like it...

ALSO: Reading their own website is states he worked on Diablo 2 then started work on an "Unannounced sequel before his departure".

[Abash Alarmist]

It better be StarCraft2....Not Diablo 3...

[Adewade]

(Pssst, Rogue - The Diablo games weren't made by the RTS team...)

[Abash Alarmist]

WoW was made by the RTS team(I believe , anyways). Why can't they be working on StarCraft2, just the basics anyways.

[derjester]

BEcause SC2 would be developed by the same talent at Blizzard HQ.
I think it's awesome. I'm sure the people at Blizzard are 100% behind these guys new endeavor. Blizzard has made some great titles and most of their spin offs have greated great games as well. It's nice to see fresh ideas in sea of sequels.

[Adewade]

WoW was made by the RTS team(I believe , anyways). Why can't they be working on StarCraft2, just the basics anyways.


I know they took art from the RTS team, but I think that was as far as it went. I might be wrong, though.