Company News George Ziets abandons Bethesda, Alex Brandon leaves Obsidian

[DarkUnderlord]

Tags: Obsidian Entertainment

Once upon a time there was a man called George Ziets. He worked at Obsidian on Neverwinter Nights 2 and the Mask of the Betrayer <s>expansion</s> mod. He left to join Bethesda. I guess he didn't like the decor or something because as soon as he got there, he <a href="http://forums.obsidian.net/index.php?showtopic=51484">turned around and went right back to Obsidian</a>, from the words of Sawyer:
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<blockquote>In happier news (happier than Alex Brandon leaving, I mean), George Ziets has returned to the hood to pimp walk the halls of Obsidian once again.</blockquote>
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George was at Bethesda for all of about five months. The Alex Brandon who left <a href="http://forums.obsidian.net/index.php?showtopic=51474">was the Audio dude</a>.
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Thanks <b>Pastel</b>!

 

[Forest Dweller]

(happier than Alex Brandon leaving, I mean)

This is surprising, hearing a dev shit-talk. I wonder what the source of that was.

And George Ziets left for Bethesda? What, for more money or something?

 

[Volourn]

LOL News. Not.

 

[Pastel]

George Ziets is one of the best RPG designers nowadays. Considering that his talent would have mattered fuck all at Zenimax MMORPG Bandwagon Division, it's great that he came back.

 

[Applegate's Breasts]

Traitorous flip-flopping scum. :judgementoftherighteous:

 

[DarkUnderlord]

(happier than Alex Brandon leaving, I mean)

This is surprising, hearing a dev shit-talk. I wonder what the source of that was.

I think Sawyer means that Alex leaving was sad news, thus this is happier news. Alternatively he's making a joke.

 

[Pastel]

(happier than Alex Brandon leaving, I mean)

This is surprising, hearing a dev shit-talk. I wonder what the source of that was.

Taken out of context, it might appear so. But, "In happier news" implies that the previous news was sad, and the paranthesis serves to explain what said previous news consisted of.

And George Ziets left for Bethesda? What, for more money or something?

I think he banged some chick in Maryland and had she had a child. Something like that, anyway.

 

[Anthony Davis]

Yeah a bittersweet moment at OEI. We lose Alexander, but we gain George.

 

[Forest Dweller]

(happier than Alex Brandon leaving, I mean)

This is surprising, hearing a dev shit-talk. I wonder what the source of that was.

I think Sawyer means that Alex leaving was sad news, thus this is happier news. Alternatively he's making a joke.

Oh okay. Wow, I look dense now.

 

[cardtrick]

Oh okay. Wow, I look dense now.

It's okay. With a username like "Dicksmoker", you really didn't have a lot of dignity left to lose.

 

[NiM82]

I guess he didn't like the coffee.

 

[Rohit_N]

I knew I recognized that name. Alex Brandon did work on Unreal Tournament.

 

[Jeff Graw]

Also the music in Tyrian, the best vertical shooter ever made...

 

[lostmongoose]

I knew I recognized that name. Alex Brandon did work on Unreal Tournament.

Also: Deus Ex

 

[Worm King]

How much was Ziets' part of MotB?

 

[MLMarkland]

Oh okay. Wow, I look dense now.

It's okay. With a username like "Dicksmoker", you really didn't have a lot of dignity left to lose.

damn, this reply made me laugh for like 5 minutes straight

edit:

How much was Ziets' part of MotB?

Anthony could say better than I, but he was the creative designer on the project so a lot of the writing and storyline were his work.

 

[Vaarna_Aarne]

Hurrays!

 

[Azban]

(happier than Alex Brandon leaving, I mean)

And George Ziets left for Bethesda? What, for more money or something?

Not 100% sure but I think he has family/friends on the east coast that he felt he needed to be closer to for some time.

 

[VonVentrue]

Yeah a bittersweet moment at OEI. We lose Alexander, but we gain George.

I'd say you've come relatively well out of the affair, it could have been worse.

 

[Xor]

Also the music in Tyrian, the best vertical shooter ever made...

Damn that game was awesome. I still have it installed on an old Pentium 2 machine.

 

[DraQ]

Also, the music in Unreal 1.

This guy is godlike.

 

[ghostdog]

Now that Obsidian finally makes a couple of games that would really work with Alex Brandon's music style, he left.

 

[Prosthetic Brain]

This worries me. How bad is Bethesda's next game going to be if a guy would rather go back to making Neverwinter Nights expansion packs and Bourne knock-offs - while being paid less?!

 

[Vaarna_Aarne]

This worries me. How bad is Bethesda's next game going to be if a guy would rather go back to making Neverwinter Nights expansion packs and Bourne knock-offs - while being paid less?!

Psssst.

The difference is that one of those expansions was among the best RPGs ever made. And judging from Codex appearances, Obsidian a p. cool place that doesn't afraid of anything.

 

[elander_]

I recall Leonard Boyarsky saying something like he contacted Bethesda to work for them in Fallout 3 and the answer was (from Pete) that he would not understand or adapt to Bethesda culture, working habits or something like that. You have to be a very shitty software house obsessed about controlling every one of your employees like a bitch to refuse someone with LB credits.