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Rod Humble Becomes Sim Head
Posted by Mike Fahey at 12:00 PM on October 8, 2008
Now here's a name I hadn't heard much since the days back when I played Everquest like a crack addict! Rod Humble, the one-time head of the EQ studio at SOE has just been promoted to Senior Vice President and Head of The Sims label for EA. Rod, who has been with The Sims label since he joined EA in 2004, will be responsible for all things Sims-related, taking the place of Nancy Smith, who will be stepping into a new executive role at EA to be defined in the coming months.
"The Sims Label creates original entertainment experiences which are unique in the way they bring culture, interactivity and creativity together," said Rod Humble. "It is a privilege to lead The Sims Label team as we look forward to new ways of surprising and delighting customers in this rapid growth time for interactive entertainment of all kinds."
You go Rod! The Sims need more half-naked wood elves!
Rod Humble Promoted to Executive Vice President and Head of The Sims Label at Electronic Arts
Nancy Smith To Take a New Assignment on EA's Executive Team
REDWOOD CITY, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) has promoted Rod Humble to Executive Vice President and Head of The Sims Label of EA. In this role, Humble will be responsible for The Sims Label, which develops and markets life-simulation games and online communities with an emphasis on creativity, community and humor. The Sims™ is the best-selling PC franchise of all time.
Former The Sims leader Nancy Smith will manage special projects for The Sims Label until she begins a new executive role at EA, to be defined over the coming months.
"Like Nancy Smith before him, Rod Humble has demonstrated strong leadership in defining EA's The Sims brand as a stand-alone product label. Rod has great creative instincts, uncompromising quality standards, a deep connection with the player community, and most of all, the respect of the team he works with," said John Riccitiello, CEO of Electronic Arts.
"The Sims Label creates original entertainment experiences which are unique in the way they bring culture, interactivity and creativity together," said Rod Humble. "It is a privilege to lead The Sims Label team as we look forward to new ways of surprising and delighting customers in this rapid growth time for interactive entertainment of all kinds."
Humble has been with The Sims Label and EA since 2004. An 18-year industry veteran, prior to joining EA, he was Vice President of Product Development for Sony Online Entertainment where he headed up the EverQuest studio.
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
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hahnchen
Posted 7:38 AM 8/10/08
Has anyone seen South Park episode, The List?
hahnchen
Forsakyn
Posted 7:37 AM 8/10/08
I've worked with Rod before - he's a good guy, so good for him.
Forsakyn
baxterpunch
Posted 7:35 AM 8/10/08
@deathbunny: It's good to know there are other GFW fans visiting Kotaku.
If anyone wants to know a bit more about Rod Humble, I suggest checking out this episode of 1up FM [www.podtrac.com]
It's Nick Suttner and Shawn Elliot interviewing Jonathon Blow, David Hellman, and Rod Humble. Pretty surprising to learn how involved Rod Humble is in the indie game scene, since he was exec. producer (now head) of one of the most mainstream series ever.
OR everybody can keep talking about his eyebrows. Whichever, really.
baxterpunch
antisniper
Posted 7:35 AM 8/10/08
He's that guy that gave me that computer? Maybe giving me a real one this time? And eyebrows, I didn't notice that he has any, probably an eyebrow wig or something like that.
antisniper
Inglix
Posted 7:34 AM 8/10/08
More importantly Rod Humble was the designer of Subspace, a game which easily allowed 100 players on each map and gained it's popularity through an extensive open beta. It was dramatically ahead of the curve in those regards.
Inglix
TheMurderer
Posted 7:27 AM 8/10/08
His eyebrows are at 30% capacity!
TheMurderer
everybest
Posted 7:25 AM 8/10/08
@homernoy: Burned off by rabid fans when he tried to implement a grindfest leveling system into the Sims 6.
everybest
RET_Ghost
Posted 7:24 AM 8/10/08
For some reason I see this guy's face and the first thing that comes to mind is "cannibal." Is that weird?
RET_Ghost
homernoy
Posted 7:21 AM 8/10/08
@excel_excel: Simulated eyebrows.
homernoy
emericanized
Posted 7:20 AM 8/10/08
the world needs more half-naked wood elves
emericanized
excel_excel
Posted 7:17 AM 8/10/08
Good lord does that man have eyebrows?!
excel_excel
deathbunny
Posted 7:09 AM 8/10/08
Jeff Green's position as his apprentic(sssss)e is assured.
I dub him Darth Spieler, for the spiel he'd give on the back page of CGW, and also because I'M TOTALLY FORSHADOWING that he plays games.
and shawn elliot is C3PO.
deathbunny
Ghede
Posted 8:28 AM 8/10/08
"Rod Humble becomes Sim Head"
For a second, I thought this was an article about his name changing.
Ghede
deathbunny
Posted 8:22 AM 8/10/08
@baxterpunch: thanks for that. I unsubbed from 1up FM because I can't take the kind of... well. In any case, it's not to my taste. But anything with SE in it is worth listening to.
deathbunny
Shabadage
Posted 8:05 AM 8/10/08
@Inglix: I stillish play subspace. It's a hell of alot of fun and about the only online game that ran on my P166 laptop years ago. Well that and Jerrath. Didn't realize that Humble had anything to do with that.
The Star Wars trench run is still my favorite map; even with all the hackers.
Shabadage
PsycheE
Posted 7:51 AM 8/10/08
Haven't heard of this guy since 989 studios. I don't think much need to be emphasized when it comes to the Sims fanchise.
PsycheE
excel_excel
Posted 7:48 AM 8/10/08
@hahnchen: yep! This guys no.1 because he gets the girls free copies of Sims
excel_excel
hahnchen
Posted 8:40 AM 8/10/08
@excel_excel:On the contrary, he had to wait until 40.
hahnchen
Hamsfork
Posted 8:38 AM 8/10/08
Rod Humble becomes Sim head. The Sims is a franchise created by Will Wright. So, Rod Humble is working on a franchise created by Will Wright. OH MY GOD I just used the word humble in a sentence with Will Wright!
Hamsfork
Swift_
Posted 10:19 AM 8/10/08
Love this guy.
Swift_
Wubbytoes
Posted 10:38 AM 8/10/08
Awesome. The couple of times he was on The Brodeo he seemed like a really smart guy.
Wubbytoes
Jovericho
Posted 11:25 PM 8/10/08
@Inglix: Yes I also played subspace for a bit back in the late 90s but couldn't get into it. But I did get addicted to his project afterwards, Infantry. Its still alive on the station pass and still is an amazing game. Rodvik was the man.
Jovericho