Cliff Bleszinski Leaves Epic Games

[KJAX]

Once I read that CliffyB was leaving Epic, I had to log back in here.

The Unreal games and the community that emerged were awesome.

Adios Cliffy. Best of luck in whatever you do next.

 

[Hunter]

I have to say it is very sudden, very sudden indeed. I reckon there is going to be more from this in the next month or 2.

Best of luck to Cliff though!

 

[Manticore]

While we would kid around about him being such a fashion plate or "too cool for school," the fact is that Cliff Bleszinski is one of the most talented people in the gaming industry, then and now, and his talent, dedication and humor will have to be missed at Epic Games. Personally, I have always had an incredible amount of respect for CliffyB, and I want to wish him well in whatever endeavors he takes on in the future.

As much as there is nostalgia in him leaving (how long has it been now since the original Unreal came out?) I'm not too surprised in a way.

In my opinion Epic has become a spent force in recent years when it comes to creative gaming. After all; the recent good games the Unreal Engine has been used in are other developers' games, not Epic's.

Who said when you have talent you don't need luck?

See you Cliffy.

 

[Psychomorph]

I see many people who are working in the industry have a sick look to them, you especially see an unusual tireness in the eyes.
If you're not getting lots of money and don't love it, it's a horrible industry to work in.

I read Cliff's reddit and had the impression he had something on his mind and just wanted to talk to somebody openly. No wonder he needs a break from the madness. The industry is evolving and changing at an insane speed on the outside, but inside it became stagnant. Stagnation means the need to reinvent the same thing over and over (as you see in games today, same sh#t repackaged). This is a burden to a creative mind.

Guess Cliff takes a break for a year or two, travels the world seeking for inspiration. Perhaps makes his own company after that.

 

[Luv_Studd]

I am sure 20 years in the same corner of the FPS business and same company/people probably deserves a change. I am sure he will appear somewhere else in the not-too-distant future, maybe even start his own development outfit?

Best of luck!

 

[Mozi]

I have had the pleasure to meet Cliff many times during my career as a developer. First time I met him was at GDC 07, kind of a fanboy moment. But subsequent meet ups at different trade shows or E3 parties were more professional talking about games, life, and G1 Transformers. Most recently I met up with him at our Borderlands 2 party not too long ago.


Indeed people talk crap about him but overall he is a super nice guy and smart as hell when it comes to talking about game design. Truly a legend and inspiration for many up and coming designers of the guy who made games and levels and went pro doing it. If he can do it you can do it was something I admired about Cliff. Sure he made it really pro (lambo money) but the idea and concept was there.

Overall, I think Cliff has always been very approachable even back in the UT mod days where I would send him an email asking for feedback and actually get an email in reply of how to improve a level.

Anyways, weird things have been going on at Epic or perhaps it is all circumstance that Rod, Lee (and six other guys like Demond and Mikey) and now Cliff have left Epic.

Looking forward to see what he does next, and hopefully meet up with him again at a future industry event.

 

[DannyMeister]

Whoa! That makes me sad. I wish Cliff good luck in whatever he pursues next.

 

[cUnNiNg_StUnTs]

 

[Argus]

My nerdy dreams of CliffyB and Carmack squaring off in a digital storm of gamecreating epicness have just been dashed.

DASHED I say.



Seriously, I had a dream like that last year. Only also with Warren Spector. And John Romero was there too, but only 'cause he could keep his fucking mouth shut.

If that were to happen, I think I would have the ultimate fangasm.

Sad news about Cliffy. This really is the end of an era. All the best for him.

 

[Lruce Bee]

Cliff leaving Epic speaks volumes about the gaming industry in general - people do get burnt out and it's all business now - hardly anything to do with leading edge creativity.
Epic in the early days really were at the forefront of game design and the Gears series to some extent pushed that even further, so I tip my hat to him being right in the middle of all that.
He's been successful and deservedly so and I don't blame him from getting off the train for a while to recharge the batteries.
I don't think we've seen the last of Clifford - that I can guarantee.

 

[IronMonkey]

The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interred with their bones

Let's remember that there were some pretty dashed good times - no matter what you might think of the latter half of CB's career to date.

 

[cosmix]

The Unreal years were amazing. It will be missing something. Thx Cliff!

 

[dinwitty]

Its seems to me we won't see the last of CliffyB, I'm sure he'll do something, he won't dissappear, maybe we'll see him pop up in a game of UT somewhere.
Probably the best way to make the big break away is to get out for a while.
This happened to Emerson Lake and Palmer as a group, they were burned out after performance and performance, but they got back together and they are still active in independent works and get together as the opportunity fits.

We'll cya soon Cliff.

 

[Arnox]

Perhaps this will give someone a chance to shine at Epic, a chance to breath some new life into old franchises and a chance to make some new, innovative games. Or it could all just go to crap and Epic will die.

 

[moonflyer]

Now that's unexpected. I totally understand but now who's gonna make that SciFi-rim UNREAL 3 for us?!

 

[raziel31]

Now that's unexpected. I totally understand but now who's gonna make that SciFi-rim UNREAL 3 for us?!

Michael Capps of course

 

[hal]

He also created IronDeity, Curse3 and Chrome. It very much spins both ways...

dm-fith



You know, I was just thinking to myself the other day that Cliff was due for a jump to his own ship. I guess the surprise for me is that ship, at this time, does not appear to be another game developer.

Good luck, dude.

 

[Crossify]

Wow, I'm kinda shocked by this honestly. I wish CliffyB nothing but the best with whatever he does. Hope to see him come back in a few months and spearhead a new series!

 

[ambershee]

I guess the surprise for me is that ship, at this time, does not appear to be another game developer.

Contractually speaking he may not be able to.

 

[Princess_Die]

time off = fulfill non-compete clause in contract