Jason Blundell Leaves Deviation Games - and this time it’s not a MS studio

[Shmunter]

Jason Blundell was the chief creative officer for Deviation. Dave Anthony has moved into the director role now - director credit on Black Ops 1 and 2.

What is surprising here is that it’s only been a year. A new studio partnering with Sony for a AAA shooter. It’s only one man, not a mass exodus. Keeping an eye on this….

 

[Kokoloko]

It’s only one man, not a mass exodus

Considering he‘s the co founder? This isn’t Good news

Why he left a studio he created also isn’t gonna be great.
A.) Doesn’t like how the project is going?
B.) Doesn’t like the team he created?
B.) Doesn’t like how Sony is working with them?

 

[Shmunter]

Considering he‘s the co founder? This isn’t Good news

Why he left a studio he created also isn’t gonna be great.
A.) Doesn’t like how the project is going?
B.) Doesn’t like the team he created?
B.) Doesn’t like how Sony is working with them?

Yes it’s not a good look. Wonder if Jim publicly destroying Phil the other day is somehow linked.

 

[Dabaus]

Probably cashing out before an acquisition. Sony knows it’s a bad look either way, hence they named off 3 other industry vets in the article.

 

[Remember_Spinal]

 

[CloudStrife]

Probably cashing out before an acquisition. Sony knows it’s a bad look either way, hence they named off 3 other industry vets in the article.

Pretty sure it's not Sony who is doing the reassuring here. Its Deviation themselves. They want to make sure they keep being invested in.

Remember when Sebastien Puel left Have right before Sony announced that they had been acquired?

Might not mean anything but is still interesting nonetheless.

This is a pretty good get.

 

[Loy310]

Pretty sure it's not Sony who is doing the reassuring here. Its Deviation themselves. They want to make sure they keep being invested in.

Remember when Sebastien Puel left Have right before Sony announced that they had been acquired?

Might not mean anything but is still interesting nonetheless.




This is a pretty good get.

What his background?

 

[Dabaus]

What his background?

Anthony Flame - MobyGames

Game credits, biography, portraits and other game industry information for Anthony Flame - MobyGames

www.mobygames.com

So they traded one cod veteran for another. Maybe dude didn’t like the direction the game was going in or like I said, wanted to cash out from an acquisition. Maybe he retired? Maybe he goes back to cod, ends up at respawn, or goes to bungie? Who knows.

 

[IntentionalPun]

Probably cashing out before an acquisition. Sony knows it’s a bad look either way, hence they named off 3 other industry vets in the article.

Cashing out…. Before…. An acquisition?

 

[CloudStrife]

What his background?

Treyarch​

15 years 6 months

• Unannounced​

  Jan 2021 - Jul 20221 year 7 months

• Lead Game Designer​

  Apr 2017 - Dec 20203 years 9 months
  Black Ops Cold War
  Directed Global Gameplay Systems and Content development
  
  • Managed combat design team directly, lead other design & cross-discipline teams indirectly.
  • Developed and lead E-sports strategy and competitive offering.
  • Lead revamp of co-op Zombies combat balance and escalation pacing.
  • PR spokesperson.
  • Lead strike team for Warzone weapon content to deliver within critical holiday window.
  
  Black Ops 4
  Lead Combat & Gameplay Systems Design and Development
  
  • Hired and managed new team of Designers to own Gameplay systems & content.
  • Pioneered new weapon systems and gunplay.
  • Innovated core gameplay loop with Character-class abilities and new health/armor mechanics.
  • E-sport liaison with professional players.
  • Supported first COD Battle Royal "Blackout" with global Gameplay features.
  • Delivered robust post-launch seasonal content for weapons and Specialist Characters.
  Show less

• Senior Game Designer​

  Oct 2013 - Apr 20173 years 7 months
  Black Ops 3
  Lead Multiplayer Combat Design team.
  
  • Designed, developed, tuned all combat systems and content. Weapons, Equipment, etc.
  • Indirectly managed and tasked designers and cross-team collaborators.
  • Introduced Specialist System as core innovation to franchise.
  • Supported advanced movement systems and drove 'Guns Up' design philosophy.
  • Innovated on core user experience feedback systems such as damage feedback, reticles, etc.
  • Balanced core progression systems such as XP, Gun XP, Challenges.

• Game Designer​

  Jul 2008 - Oct 20135 years 4 months
  Black Ops 2
  Global Combat Design
  
  • Designed and developed all core combat gameplay systems and content.
  • Led cross-disciplinary team to achieve best-in-class audio/visual FPS combat standards.
  • Technical oversight such as asset maintenance, pipeline management, optimization, compatibility, etc.
  • Campaign combat system design. Loadouts, AI affiliations, Strike Force Missions, balance.
  
  Black Ops 1
  Campaign Mission Design and Scripting
• System design for AI spawning, AI behavior, and new Multiplayer features.
  • Designed and scripted 2 campaign levels: "Defector" and "Revelations".
  • Design and development of all "Interrogation Room" cinematic and gameplay sequences

• Associate Game Designer​

  Feb 2007 - Jun 20081 year 5 months
  Santa Monica
  Call of Duty World at War
  Campaign Mission Design & Scripting
  
  • Design and prototype for game-wide menu systems
  • Design specifications for co-op features and mission design guidelines
  • Designed and scripted 2 campaign levels: "Vendetta" and "Burn em out"

They are attracting some good COD talent. Hate Blundell had to leave though.

 

[Papacheeks]

Jason Blundell was the chief creative officer for Deviation. Dave Anthony has moved into the director role now - director credit on Black Ops 1 and 2.

What is surprising here is that it’s only been a year. A new studio partnering with Sony for a AAA shooter. It’s only one man, not a mass exodus. Keeping an eye on this….

Sounds like Sony bought the studio. He was chief executive not a game director. Project sounds like it’s ramping up. He probably got a big payday since it’s his studio.

I think this will have more meat after the weekend.

 

[Dabaus]

Cashing out…. Before…. An acquisition?

Apparently that’s what one of the founders of haven did.

 

[Remember_Spinal]

Sounds like Sony bought the studio. He was chief executive not a game director. Project sounds like it’s ramping up. He probably got a big payday since it’s his studio.

I think this will have more meat after the weekend.

Im sure Schriere or Andy Robinson are on the phone now lol

 

[Dabaus]

If they did buy them already, I wonder when they’d announce it? I doubt Sony announces any game studio acquisitions until the cma gives a statement about activision blizzard.

 

[Remember_Spinal]

What his background?

Like every big game studio, big companies seek considerable talents. Those talents are the key to the success of the game. Call of Duty‘s developer Treyarch owes a lot to ex-Lead Game Designer Tony Flame; he worked for the company for 17 years and contributed a lot to the modern COD series. But then, Flame left the company after the COD: Cold War. Now he is working on a PlayStation-exclusive game. The Call of Duty lovers might want to hear the details about that upcoming game.

Call of Duty Tony Flame is Working on a PS5 Exclusive

After 17 years of contribution, Call of Duty’s ex-Lead Designer Tony Flames works on a COD competitor PS5 Exclusive.

thenerdstash.com

 

[CloudStrife]

If they did buy them already, I wonder when they’d announce it? I doubt Sony announces any game studio acquisitions until the cma gives a statement about activision blizzard.

I agree. Making an announcement that they have acquired a bunch of ex-COD developers would definitely benefit MS in this case....lol.
"See!!....Sony's trying to make a COD game!"

 

[Bryank75]

Bizarre, not a good signal in my humble opinion.

 

[Remember_Spinal]

I agree. Making an announcement that they have acquired a bunch of ex-COD developers would definitely benefit MS in this case....lol.
"See!!....Sony's trying to make a COD game!"

Yeah, sony are hiidng their hand right now. Even if they do feel confident they have something that could be big they aren’t going to allude to it in anyway.

 

[Muddasar]

What a surprise considering all the slogans they coined up on their site.

Wonder what has gone on here? Acquisition or a fallout?

Maybe a better opportunity elsewhere which is why I am not to keen on acquisitions dependent on figures.

Much like Kojima productions being acquired isn’t a good idea either cause it’s nothing without Kojima.

 

[Muddasar]

Cashing out…. Before…. An acquisition?

Come on mate.

You can’t be that naive.

Just cause nothing has been publicly announced doesn’t mean it hasn’t happened.

I doubt this is a acquisition though. More like a fallout or a better opportunity elsewhere.