Muzyka thinks new Mythic/BioWare group is a collaboration opportunity

by Brooke Pilley Jun 29th 2009 at 6:30PM

Gamasutra and BioWare co-founder Ray Muzyka sat down to chat about EA's first genre-focused group, aptly named the RPG/MMO Group. The original announcement was kind of vague, which really got people speculating over what it meant. ("RPG" before "MMO" in the group title? That must be a sign! Of what, who knows.)

In the interview, Muzyka finally explains just what exactly the new Group entails: "It's a collaboration opportunity. Each of the groups continues to make the same thing in their [own locations]. But it's fuelling and enabling more communication, collaboration, best practice sharing, encouraging each other to play each others' games -- but no formal change per se in what anybody's doing."

There do not appear to be any plans for co-development or tech-sharing between Mythic and BioWare just yet, but it is something the group is looking at. "We're all part of the same company at the end of the day. We're studios within the same organization, which is a group now within the EA Games label."

Tech-sharing could really be to Mythic's benefit right now as they're still grappling with server stability and client performance issues nearly a year after release. It has gotten to the point where they are even considering stripping fortresses, the primary culprit for such issues, from Warhammer Online.

Tags: biowaaagh, bioware, ea, gamasutra, mythic-entertainment, ray-muzyka, rpgmmo-group

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Infexion said on 6:35PM 6-29-2009

As long as Mythic keeps their hands out of SW:TOR. Then more power to them.

Keen said on 7:53PM 6-29-2009

Dress it up however you like, but let the facts speak for themselves. Mark Jacobs was fired. Mythic now reports to Bioware founders, not the other way around, in this new "group". Give it a little bit longer than Mythic will no longer exist. Give it a little bit longer than that and Bioware might not either. They'll be merged eventually and it won't be in name before in action.

Jack said on 8:13PM 6-29-2009

If SW:TOR fails it will be back to the single rpg games for Bioware (that sale great!). How every Mythic does not have that option! And there Warhammer let down (yeah EA only care about numbers not about game play!) , this is the first step to the end of Mythic! Look like poor Mark Jacobs did loss the blame game EA was playing.

Wjowski said on 9:21PM 6-29-2009

Typical EA move. This isn't going to do anything but dilute development of SW:TOR.

Ingrod said on 12:51AM 6-30-2009

Mythic is now workforce for develop SW:TOR, I dont see how that can "dilute" SW:TOR development.

tiki said on 11:17PM 6-29-2009

Not a big fan of EA when it comes to MMORPGs,.

Graill said on 11:46PM 6-29-2009

Hmm, i see a train wreck approaching...

Lateris said on 12:16AM 6-30-2009

I wish Bioware would not have sold themselves to EA. EA will trash anything in the bin.

Amana said on 7:46AM 6-30-2009

"EA Sports: It's in the Bin"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Up5YmdRdpQ4

JP said on 10:46AM 6-30-2009

SOOOoooo… a MMMORPG developer w/ 2 live, developed in-house games, and one live game they maintain has their studio head fired, and two single player, RPG developers w/ zero live MMO experience under their belt are now the “heads” of the group.

I really could care less how they spin this. Mythic was basically being told that their leadership was shit, and they’ve been underperforming. Now, they’ll be babysat by someone outside of their studio.

“we’re separate” or “two unique studios” blah blah blah. All that does is keep Bioware’s hands clean of the countless mistakes Mythic has made w/ WAR, while be able to “absorb” or “relocate” talent w/ Mythic’s eventual shut down.

I’m sure while Ray wasn’t the one to say “Muthyic has until m/d/year to turn things around” he’ll be the one to enforce it. As “group head”, if they can’t get their shit together and make people finally say “that’s what I’m talking about!” for WAR, we’ll the Bioware and Mtyhic labels drop, EA’s new MMO group will get a decent name, and only the truly talented people from Mythic will stay on, while Bioware won’t see anyone let go.