JVC Leaves Trion

[Kalah]

<img src="/https://www.celestialheavens.com//featu ... vc1_sm.jpg" align=right vspace=10 hspace=10> The word is currently spreading across the web that the former M&M and Heroes designer Jon Van Caneghem has left his role as President and Chief Creative Officer of Trion World Networks.



<a href="/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/22/trion ... Joystiq</a> has the breaking story, having followed up on an anonymous tip that JVC had been let go from the company. An official statement from Trion read:



<i>"Jon Van Caneghem has transitioned out of his role as president and no longer holds any operational responsibilities at Trion. His creative and operational roles have been distributed among the talented senior team."</i>



Obviously, we are big fans of JVC here at Celestial Heavens, and although Trion's statement continued that his departure is "a part of the natural evolution of the growing company", we have to wonder what losing a talent of his magnitude will mean for the company. What will happen to the fantasy-themed MMORPG game that was <a href="/http://www.bluesnews.com/cgi-bin/board. ... nounced</a> last June (and which JVC was said to be developing) remains speculation; it is rumoured Trion will present their first title at this year's E3.

If you would like to take a look at the original page visit this link:
https://www.celestialheavens.com/1240512761

[UndeadHalfOrc]

Ubisoft should hire him.

[Ethric]

It does sound weird: if it's a growing company, how is it part of it's natural evolution to loose people? Sounds like a disagreance of some sort.

[JSE]

I agree, UndeadHalfOrc, this is the opportunity for Ubisoft to resurrect Heroes and the entire Might and Magic game universe! If hired by Ubisoft, JVC could also finally develop Might and Magic Online -- which he wanted to do 10 years ago.



I only hope JVC doesn't think about retiring now. It's way too early!



Does anyone else think a petition to get JVC back to working on M&M games is a good idea? It could be sent to both Ubisoft and JVC.

[Donsta]

Count me in as wanting Ubisoft to hire JVC. I'd be astounded if it happened. I just want it too much!

[Angelspit]

It just sounds like JVC didn't get along with the folks at Trion, and would never be interested in a support role in a larger company like Ubisoft. I have a lot of respect for him, but I wouldn't want him to come back to Might and Magic because he is bored or in need of a job.

[JSE]

While I agree, Angelspit, that boredom or the need for work shouldn't be the basis for hiring a new designer, we are talking about the series' originator here and the person majorily responsible for the best Heroes and the best M&M games; and I strongly believe JVC isn't bored by his very successful and influential creation at all -- "frustrated" is the term I would use.



Many of us know that JVC wasn't given the creative freedom he wanted/needed while working for 3DO: They didn't give him the resources to work on Might and Magic Online (which was his favourite vision and which would have quite likely turned out to be a big hit) and rushed the development of New World's last two games (Heroes 4 and M&M 9).



When 3DO went bankrupt and sold the M&M rights, maybe JVC wasn't over the frutstration yet. Or maybe Ubisoft didn't make him an adequate offer; anything but a lead designer/lead director position would have been just silly.



Anyway -- this is history.



What's important at present however is: If there is the slightest chance of JVC being interested in working on M&M games again, Ubisoft should take it. Lots of fans of the original Heroes games have either lost interest or have lost heart in the current treatment of the series. If JVC was involved again, I'm sure many of them would return!



Apart from that, I think most of us would agree that JVC is the one person that simply knows best how to make a Heroes game. He shaped the series over its four most important stages (King's Bounty and Heroes 1 to 3) and I am absolutely sure he could deliver a top-notch Heroes game again. Many of us are still playing the NWC originals because they were and are so brilliant.



The question that remains of course is:



Is JVC interested? If he is, Ubisoft should make a smart move this time.
Edited on Thu, Apr 23 2009, 23:25 by JSE

[astral76minor]

Perhaps the "talented senior team" at Trion will covertly work on more titles in the JVC tradition. Or maybe, JVC has some personal work to be revealed. Frustration? Indeed.

[Deadguy118]

I'm sorry to say, but I'm pretty sure JVC won't ever get to touch the franchises he created again. What he should do is create a better, more awesome M&M knockoff so we don't have to rely on all these fan made projects for our First Person Party Based RPG fix.

[JSE]

You say "won't ever get to" -- the key question, however, is if he *wants* to. In that case it would only be reasonable for Ubisoft to hire him in a leading design position.

[Corlagon]

I remember reading way back that Ubisoft did offer JVC a position to work on the design for Heroes V, but he refused for whatever reason.

[ywhtptgtfo]

I am not sure if JVC's really that important. There were rumours from former NWC employees that he was a bigot and went against the design ideas of Maranthea and Gus during the development of Heroes 4 leading to the game's disastrous failure.



Heard he didn't play that big of a role in Heroes 3 either, which arguably was the crown jewel of the Heroes franchise.

[Kalah]

But surely, that a co-founder and president leaves a company can't be good...?

[mathfool]

JVC autographed some M&M trinkets for me back in the early 90s. I'd love to see him involved again with the franchise. MM7 was the last truly great M&M game for me since I prefer the party-based RPG. That was 10 years ago.
Edited on Fri, Apr 24 2009, 15:16 by mathfool

[Angelspit]

Maybe Trion used JVC's name to attract some media attention and paid him a load of monies to show up at the office. Getting as a startup is not easy.

[Pol]

That is not looking like a likely scenario. Although if we hadn't a spion in the Trion it's hard to say.

(But our community can keep a secret, trust us AS)

[Angelspit]

(But our community can keep a secret, trust us AS)

I wouldn't know anything about that.

[astral76minor]

A little hopeful optimism instead of useless pessimism would be a logical move for the community. Give it some time. In 2010, Elemental - War of Magic debuts (they actually listen to the fans).

Keeping new titles confidential is a common marketing strategy, especially with the value of the American dollar.
Edited on Fri, Apr 24 2009, 18:03 by astral76minor

[JSE]

I agree, we should be optimistic. Instead of turning to similar games though, I decided to set up a Round Table poll regarding this discussion.



It can be found here:

viewtopic.php?t=10001

[CloudRiderX]

Hmm...Ubisoft gives Nival the boot, then JVC loses his position at Trion...



These events could shape into something really good if everyone makes the right moves. I've heard alot of rumors - everything from "JVC is the genius behind HoMM" to "JVC was a nusiance to the development team", and while I don't know the truth and probably never will, I believe its safe to say that his frustration with the rumored limits 3DO put on him could've had something to do with his attitude, and its also very likely that his leadership abilities and management skills helped NWC make Heroes what it was. Impossible to say for sure, but easy to speculate.



Go ahead Ubisoft - nothing's on the line here. Might as well see if you could add JVC to your team. It would at least revive some interest in the series for those who may not have been thrilled by Heroes V, -_- , and at the very worst, Ubisoft puts out another crappy heroes game. Not much to lose in my opinion.