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Midway Sees Key Departures Including Chicago Studio Head
Posted by Michael McWhertor at 11:00 AM on August 6, 2008
Following yesterday's earnings report that Midway lost some $US 34.8 million for the quarter, comes word that a trio of high-level folks have left the company. Mike Bilder, head of the Chicago studio, the internal developer responsible for Stranglehold, Mortal Kombat and Blitz: The League, has left the company. Bilder has accepted a senior management position with another Chicago-based developer, according to Midway reps.
When contacted for comment, Midway reps responded "We are evaluating internal and external candidates for the role, and both Blitz: The League II and Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, as well as other projects in the Chicago studio, are on track for successful launches".
Midway also confirmed the departures of Mona Hamilton, vice president of marketing, and Reilly Brennan, director of media relations. Details weren't provided, other than that the two are "no longer with Midway and will be pursuing other opportunities".
Two other senior Midway staffers were also said to have left the company, but opted not to provide comment. We're awaiting confirmation from Midway on the status of the other two rumoured departures.
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
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nick.soapdish
Posted 11:45 AM 6/8/08
@VSpeck: I believe they do publish Unreal Tournament, and they still have the rights to the old Cruisin' games. I can't really say I've played a lot of titles published by them recently, besides Stranglehold which I enjoyed a bit more than I probably should have.
It's always really good or really bad when there's a big shift at the top. For Midway it could mean new direction, but it's hard to really see where they are going since I haven't exactly seem kind words for Wheelman or This is Vegas yet. Hopefully that's not where all their bets are hedged.
nick.soapdish
Laho
Posted 11:42 AM 6/8/08
*tries to remember last Midway game he really enjoyed*
I can't remember one :( *goes to look at a list of Midway games*
wow, they really haven't developed anything I'd consider good for a long while. They've published a few nice things though.
Laho
HackJenkins
Posted 11:41 AM 6/8/08
"no longer with Midway and will be pursuing other opportunities."
Isn't that corporate-speak for "fired"?
HackJenkins
VSpeck
Posted 11:38 AM 6/8/08
@BoringJob:
What IP do they have worth raiding?
VSpeck
wired_fenix
Posted 11:37 AM 6/8/08
Being a Chicago developer I can definitely attest that there are lots of development houses in the area. Not all of them are big name shops of course, but lots of places for game industry types to go.
wired_fenix
adversity
Posted 11:37 AM 6/8/08
They've also lost Brock Feldman, lead programmer for TNA wrestling FWIW.
adversity
BoringJob
Posted 11:25 AM 6/8/08
Midway's death throes are becoming more severe. I wonder why EA or Blizzivision hasn't swooped in to raid their IP cupboard.
BoringJob
Brian Crecente
Posted 11:21 AM 6/8/08
or maybe a startup???
Brian Crecente
Zergvasion
Posted 11:18 AM 6/8/08
Where could he have gone?
Last I checked, Chicago is going through a dry-spell as far as studios go.
Unless by "another Chicago developer" he meant "I moved to California".
Zergvasion
Thugmunk
Posted 11:15 AM 6/8/08
I wonder how it'll affect game development.
Thugmunk
OneLetter
Posted 12:11 PM 6/8/08
There's High Voltage, Raw Thrills, and the newest studio, RoboModo. I have a feeling he may have moved to the new upstart.
OneLetter
dowingba
Posted 11:57 AM 6/8/08
This is the part where the announcer says, "Finish him!"
dowingba
AtomixIGN
Posted 11:49 AM 6/8/08
The biggest Studio I can think of in Chicago is High Voltage Studios.
AtomixIGN
twinturbo2
Posted 11:48 AM 6/8/08
@Zergvasion: I'm guessing Raw Thrills, since they're based in a Chicago suburb (Skokie) and that most, if not all, of the people there are ex-Midway employees.
I'll now take the time to complain about Midway not seeing a great opportunity, and by great opportunity I mean letting me play CarnEvil from the comfort of my home as I use my Wii Remote to shoot mutant freaks in the face.
twinturbo2
Mesren_Makai
Posted 11:48 AM 6/8/08
As Gir once put it...
"I'm gonna sing the DOOM song now!"
Mesren_Makai
BtownDesignGuy
Posted 12:34 PM 6/8/08
I thought Midway already shut down their Chicago studio? Or was that EA?
Either way... doesn't sound like Chicago has much luck with videogames.
BtownDesignGuy
Silent Predator
Posted 12:22 PM 6/8/08
@Thugmunk: Well it certainly can't make anything worse. Zing!
Silent Predator
Crull
Posted 12:19 PM 6/8/08
thought most companies lose in Q1
Crull
MisterMcThursday
Posted 12:41 PM 6/8/08
ouch Midway, ouch.
MisterMcThursday
Bael
Posted 3:00 PM 6/8/08
Day-1, Wide-Load, High Voltage.. EA closed down, but theres still quite a few Chicago developers really.
Bael
AtomixIGN
Posted 3:12 PM 6/8/08
Raw Thrills... I forgot about them. Target Terror has that effect.
AtomixIGN
FunkyJ
Posted 7:51 PM 6/8/08
At least these people had a chance to leave on their own terms...
If I was a Midway employee, I'd be looking for employment elsewhere before you have employment nowhere.
FunkyJ
GnatB
Posted 2:13 AM 7/8/08
IIRC, Midway is basically being funded out of pocket by some 90 year old eccentric billionaire. Don't believe they've turned any sort of profit in over a decade.
GnatB
SolidSnake1118
Posted 2:35 AM 7/8/08
Talking about Midway, what ever happened to Psi-Ops 2? Me and my friends have been waiting on that for years now, and no announcement, no nothing. It clearly said, at the end, "To Be Continued..." so when is it going to be continued?
SolidSnake1118
geekgrrl
Posted 3:22 AM 7/8/08
@wired_fenix: if this is true, i want in. i don't care what i have to do. get coffee, data entry, foot massages, whatever. i will be a game studio's bitch. (it'd be just like my job now, only i bet i'd enjoy the company more.)
geekgrrl
Squirrelbot3000
Posted 5:51 AM 7/8/08
@Zergvasion:
Chicago's pretty much dried up at this point-- the real exodus occurred in the late 90's and early 2000's. Bungie moving to Redmond was HUGE.
Squirrelbot3000
Flynn
Posted 7:20 AM 7/8/08
Nope, Bilder's not at Raw Thrills.
@geekgrrl: It's not that hard to get in the door. Are you in the Chicagoland area?
Flynn
Flynn
Posted 7:24 AM 7/8/08
Chicago studios left:
- Midway
- Raw Thrills / Play Mechanix
- Incredible Technologies
- High Voltage
- Day One Studios
- Wide Load Games
- Jellyvision
- RoboModo
I'm sure there are some that I'm missing.
There are a bunch of little groups hanging on here and there, doing gambling or other projects. I know a lot of people who moved away, hated it, and moved back to start things here.
Flynn
astronautchimp
Posted 11:55 AM 6/8/08
wideload, high voltage, day one studios, and midway are the biggest chicago devs
astronautchimp
astronautchimp
Posted 11:54 AM 6/8/08
wideload, high voltage, day one studios, midway, would be the biggest companies here in the city.
astronautchimp
DethKl0k666
Posted 11:38 AM 6/8/08
mortal kombat vs dc ... successfull launch? yeah ... what ever!
DethKl0k666