Producer & game director for Age of Conan resigns from Funcom
by Kyle Horner 
Sep 17th 2008 at 7:55AM
Filed under: Fantasy, Age of Conan, News items
Incoming producer/director Craig Morrison stepped fully into the Conan community to greet the players today, as well. You can read his address to the faithful on the official forums. Follow the break for Godager's parting words and reasons for leaving Funcom.
On his reason for leaving Godager said, "I have done my very best making this fabulous game, but I have concluded there are elements which I am dissatisfied with. I have decided to act on this, and as a result I have chosen to leave Funcom. It is time to get new, fresh eyes on Age of Conan, and I wholeheartedly support the appointment of Craig. I have had a fantastic time these last 16 years, and I am very proud of the many things Funcom has achieved. Funcom and Conan will always be a big part of me, but as I now look to new ventures outside the gaming industry I am certain Age of Conan's future is in the best of hands." We can't be certain whether Gaute truly left of his own accord or was kindly asked to step down, but either way this is a big change for everyone involved with the game.
The bright side to this whole thing is that it could mean good things for continuing AoC subscribers. Maybe Gaute is right in his assessment that the game needs a fresh set of eyes. Although with the launch of Warhammer Online tomorrow and upcoming Wrath of the Lich King expansion in November, things could get even more stormy for the Barbarian MMO. We would suggest readers buy a drama-proof raincoat for the coming months, just in case.
[Thanks, Eivind Rostad]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Daedren said on 8:18AM 9-17-2008
I take sole responsibility.
It was either me or Craig. It came down to Penis size.
Gaute Godager, the Steak and Wine of Game Directors.
-- Daedren
http://www.r1ft.com
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Machineman said on 7:03PM 9-17-2008
He may have been a good entrepreneur, but he does not know what he's doing in game development at this level. He's a hack and now he's called on it.
Believe me, he didn't have a choice but to resign.
And it should have happened 1 month after launch.
Hot$auce_Magik said on 8:35AM 9-17-2008
In all likelihood, one of the many nails it takes to seal a coffin.
Its a shame too, since eventually the rest of the game would be as awesome as the starting island. FunCom blew it though and as a result, i would hazard a guess that the game will be naught in 1-2 years tops.
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david said on 10:02AM 9-17-2008
Now, lets make it to where their entire company falls... Sucks their crappy company is located in another country because if it does fall, the US government will not help it like it helped AIG...
I hope the entire company falls, but thats just me. I hate their company... :)
LOL @ FAILCOM!
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infocyde said on 1:25PM 9-17-2008
I'd hate to see Conan die, and this isn't the final blow, and actually could result in good changes, it doesn't look too promising.
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Jess said on 2:25PM 9-17-2008
wtf!!!!???? I honestly wasn't too worried about AoC.....until now! Well...at least the art book that came with my Collector's Edition is nice.... :/
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Nadril said on 4:09PM 9-17-2008
Gaute leaving means only good things for Funcom, he was one of the major reasons for their downfall.
Age of Conan players should be happy, as this means that in a year, two years time Age of Conan may be passable as a playable game.
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m said on 10:03PM 9-17-2008
Craig will actually kick major ass and make all the departments get shite done properly based on the company.
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Merkur said on 2:34AM 9-18-2008
the devil is gone - if the devils mouth would take responsibility for the false marketing AoC it could get upward.
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Feo said on 11:29AM 9-19-2008
Gaute has over stayed his welcome at funcom for quite some time. If anyone remembers the state of AO and the moves they made in the first two years, this isn't a surprise. This man lacks a fundamental understanding of how to run an online game at the high-end level. Its sad funcom has taken this long to figure it out.
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Darn said on 2:12PM 9-19-2008
I suspect that the CEO made a hard release date... Game Director wanted to delay cuz the game wasn't ready. CEO said "NO." So they took a brilliant game and made it into crap to meet a deadline. It is very common in Biz... Project Managers have all the responsibility and not enough authority to make it go.
This is what sets Blizzard apart. If the product is not ready, it is not ready... they are not afraid to delay, or even kill a title.
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KanoZano said on 4:11AM 9-24-2008
Personally, Conan was a huge disappointment to me. I'm sure the entire team can share the blame on this one, it's not one thing but a large collection of things, death by a thousand bugs you may say.
Despite the fact that it is essentially Warcraft with nudity, there is something to be said in this case. An old algebra teacher once told the class "if you're gonna copy the answers, copy the work along with it." No truer words have been spoken. People can forgive the copying if it's added to, improved upon, and made significantly better. Conan just half-assed the answers and it shows. It's a WoW clone but with a fifth of the functionality.
Perhaps it is best he did resign, but would have been substantially better months before release.
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