Kudo Lands, Hints of MS Re-Org
January 26th, 2008 at 2:23 am
You probably saw the story on one of the 20 or so sites that posted the story, all of them eventually sourcing back to the folks at GameTap. Kudo Tsunoda, the sunglasses aficionado that helped bring you the Fight Night games and, more recently, Def Jam Icon, has apparently found a home. Last I heard, EA was trying to find a spot for him after EA Chicago shut down. Guess MS must have had a more exciting spot.
I remember interviewing Kudo years and years ago when he was working on Army Men: Air Attack for 3DO. That PS1 game was part of the one Army Men line that was worth playing. I remember that he appeared to be super into what he was working on back then, something he certainly seems to carry on to this day. The sources that talked to GameTap claim that he’s going to be heading up an upcoming Gears of War game. Yeah, I’d call that a more exciting spot–and I’m one of the six people that totally loved Def Jam Icon. (Remind me to spend some time later scolding the rest of the world for expecting the Def Jam series to be built on the same tired wrestling engine for the rest of eternity.)
Gamasutra did a bit of digging on its own and suggests that the re-org that Microsoft is considering is a "silo-ization," sort of like what EA went through when it established EA Games, EA Casual Games, and so on. This gets me to thinking about what sort of divisions Microsoft Game Studios could come up with. I’d guess it’ll eventually lead to a division focused on casual/family products, a partners group for dealing with external developers, and so on and so forth.
Hey, maybe they’ll relaunch a sports division and bring back NFL Fever! XSN 4 LIFE!!!! OK, maybe not.
January 26th, 2008 at 2:46 am
Ah yes the unemployed life staying up till 3am and waking up at noon. I’m sure we’ll find work soon.
January 26th, 2008 at 2:50 am
You talked about Def Jam sticking with the same engine. There seems to be a lot of that, fans railing against change but still wanting sequels. Dynasty Warriors, Burnout, etc etc. Well, maybe we want Dynasty Warriors to change, but…
It reminds me of when the old 3DO crew was getting death threats for trying to bring science fiction elements, something already established in the Might and Magic universe, into Heroes III. I guess this is why games sometimes feel more like factory production than art, you get people hounding makers for not doing what they want instead of having more faith in the creators.
With all the pre-completion hype problems games have now, is it any wonder that businesses court the journalists with junkets and freebies to try to get the hype machine moving their direction? Maybe there’s some wondering… I dunno
January 26th, 2008 at 4:16 am
There’s change (Burnout), and then there’s almost-complete deviation (Terminator 3). You change a product too much, and fine companies like New World Computing wind up in the shitter.
Though, Heroes III worked out prettttty well, if I remember right. Sold two or three copies. Heroes IV sold two or three copies too, but this time I’m not understating for the purpose of cynicism.
But really though, shouldn’t games really feel more like factory production (or at least the work of a business in it for profit first and everything else second) before they feel like art?
January 26th, 2008 at 4:49 am
Def Jam Icon is one of the best fighting games I have ever played
January 26th, 2008 at 5:27 am
well good luck to him since i believe he got the shaft at ea.
January 26th, 2008 at 6:01 am
I loved the video u made, I think it shows there is massive potential for you to turn this site into your own gamespot, Maybe you could call it gerstmann games.com or something, I’ve been following gamespot for 5 years and its gone to shit we need u back in power man. I think you could make a great site on your own and u DO have the fan base to do it. I don’t know what your up to currently but i hope your not just gunna join another corp that might screw u over. We can get pictures and video of games anywhere the people want to hear what you have to say mate. Good luck in your future plans I’m sure to follow your work where ever you go.
January 26th, 2008 at 7:46 am
Dude, they need to just skip the NFL fever, and go right to the XFL FEVER. Someone needs to hear me on this. The New York/New Jersey Hitmen are a force to be reckoned with.
January 26th, 2008 at 8:45 am
Icon was so different that it scared the shit out of everyone. It’s one of those games that dared to be different and actually innovate instead of grow old. I was looking forward to what might happen with Fight Night. Some crazy Thunderdome style setting or something would be great.
I remember an On the Spot you guys did when the game was coming out. You demo’ed the feature of using your own music and for some reason you guys only got a Depeche Mode song to work. Whenever I see the game Jeff’s quote always pops in my head.
“Enjoy THAT silence Fool!.”
January 26th, 2008 at 9:01 am
While I like my 360, and love playing games on it, maybe M$ should split their games company into two divisions – making profit division, and causing losses division. Unfortunately one will be much bigger than the other.
January 26th, 2008 at 9:18 am
NFL Fever was the first game i got for my x-box at launch, and boy was i disappointed. But hey i’m sure they could make it better, and i hear their Golf game is pretty good.
January 26th, 2008 at 9:22 am
I was one of the other five people that liked Def Jam Icon. I remember being surprised to hear that anyone had problems with it.
January 26th, 2008 at 9:36 am
I remember Rich or someone asking Kudo on an On The Spot why he wore sunglasses, and it was something to do with the bright studio lights or what not. He always seemed like a cool guy doing what he loves.
Does Microsoft own the Gears of War IP? Because I was watching a Bonus Round on gametrailers.com and someone said after the success of Unreal Tournament on PS3 it was almost a certainty that future Gears of War games would go multiplatform. I thought that sounded ridiculous.
Anyways, back to Paradise City; that Burnout license will take a while.
January 26th, 2008 at 10:18 am
Good for Kudo. That guy deserves to go somewhere exciting. Also, the glasses remind me of everyones favorite shirtless Australian.
To Felix M: Gears of War is published by Microsoft Game Studios, as is Halo and PGR. None of these games will see a Sony platform unless something pretty crazy goes down.
January 26th, 2008 at 10:40 am
don’t worry Jeff, you wasn’t the only one who enjoyed Def Jam Icon too. I thought it was pretty fun, saved by that crazy story mode.
now, only 4 other people to find …
January 26th, 2008 at 11:10 am
Was I one of the only ones that liked Fever? It came with my bundle at launch along with Halo and Oddworld. It was a strange compilation, but the only one that included Halo. And, with any system at launch you couldn’t purchase it un-bundled.
I liked the Def Jam demo so that I could whip TI’s ass. I live in Atlanta and if I hear ‘What you know’ one more time…
For Jeff, I heard a song the other day by a startup band, Black Tide – ‘Shockwave’. Seems like it would be a great song for Rockband or Guitar Hero. The lead singer is 15.
January 26th, 2008 at 11:15 am
Where’s my points beyotch. J/K
Great to hear any scrap of news from ya brother.
I’m a big fan of Kudo and loved both fight night and def jam. Funny how people want innovation but you get slammed for it DJ:Icon/Burnout. Oh and Hot Dog Stand colors for the win!!!
January 26th, 2008 at 11:35 am
But Jeff, the AKI-engine that was used in the pre-Def Jam Icon games ruled! Well, at least I thought so. I didn’t enjoy Def Jam Icon. I found it to be a disappointment.
January 26th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
I Love Kudo Tsunoda!
Yeah i know you’re one of the very few people who like “Icon” but the AKI engine something too good to waste, i still play “Fight For NY” occasionly since that game was so damn good, and even though “Icon” is a great concept, it doesnt feel right under that name
(even though it makes so much more sense then wrestling rappers)
January 26th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
har, I see you’re back to COD 4, so much for Burnout stealing your attention away for more than a week.
January 26th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
The whole time i was playing Def Jam, I felt like i missing something..but i had fun with it.
Jeff, do you have any ideas or guesses as to what the Gears game could be?
January 26th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
I’m increasingly impressed by the quality of GameTap’s editorial content, especially given that GameTap doesn’t need to offer any because its parent company owns GameDaily and Joystiq.
It’s unfortunate that GameTap doen’t promote that it does this. Hopefully blog entries like this one will bring more traffic to that part of its Web site.
January 26th, 2008 at 6:49 pm
I’m all for change for the better. Def Jam Icon was a game with an improbable premise and an even more fantastical control scheme. I’ve been to plenty of parties and the DJ has, to my knowledge, never dominated any of the fights that occur. Scratching does not give you super powers, i don’t care how great a rapper you are. So if the guy who made that garbage has a job at MSoft, all i can say is I hope he narrows his focus and employs his artitstic energy into something that is compelling and believable.
January 26th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
Haha, I remember seeing Kudo in an interview about Def Jam, he really looks more like a suave party host then a game developer. Looks aside though he does seem to be really into what he does.
BTW you’ve already got some people thinking you’re going to IGN because of that interview haha.