David Sears leaves UBI - Why am I not surprised?

[Pest_AWC]

David Sears left UBI for Independent games publisher, Special Operations Forces Studios.

http://www.sofstudios.com/news/post.php?id=19

I guess he got tired of working for a company that allows UBI number crunchers to determine the direction of games instead of the true game designers.

I don't blame him. He was probably catering too much to the Original Rainbow Six fans (Pre-Lockdown) with his direction for Patriots and UBI number crunchers wanted another watered down COD clone.

Unless UBI starts actually communicating with us on the new direction of Patriots and progress, the fans will be so anti-Ubi that whatever they come out with won't be received well. There is only so much fans can be ignored before they go away and won't fall for the UBI hype again.

Is it still UBI policy that game devs can't come in here and talk to us or has their iron fisted policy been relaxed yet?

[Justin-x]

I don't blame him. He was probably catering too much to the Original Rainbow Six fans (Pre-Lockdown) with his direction for Patriots

That is definitely not what you were saying a couple months ago.

OT: Well since Sears was already completely taken off the project I don't know that him joining another studio would change what has already happened with Patriots. But seeing this does remind me (in a bad way) that probably little of Sear's design will actually make it into the final product.

[doogsy91]

Well that sucks.

[sameer_monier]

This really really sucks, some big talents are leaving Ubisoft, like Clint Hocking, Patrice Désilets, and now David Sears.



Now I can be sure, that R6P will be nothing like what we saw or what we were promised, it will be totally different, Sigh, I really wanted it to remain the same, but that seems unlikely.

As for the new studio, I wish Sears luck in his life anyway.

[Pest_AWC]

That is definitely not what you were saying a couple months ago.



Nope...it wasn't what I said a couple months ago. I always assumed Patriots would end up being another run n gun respawning health regen cod clone. Now with Sears leaving UBI, it makes it more likely that he really wasn't going to go that direction so UBI had to pull him from the project to make sure the number crunchers actually running the show have the game designed their way. He realized he wasn't going to be able to truly "direct" any project with this company and he isn't the type of guy to be just a baby-sitter of a vision he doesn't believe in.

If I didn't have respect for Sears (I actually had great respect for his accomplishments) before, I do now. Best of luck to him and UBI will get what they deserve with their lack of good leadership and total lack of real communication. Oh, and no, I'm sorry but having people in here saying they are getting our concerns to the devs and us getting no feedback in return doesn't count. No offense, I know those community devs have jobs to do and no real influence within their own company.

[TheDandyManCan]

Well guys, peep this: Sears is doing a live interview and Q&A session with SOFs soon. You can check this out at http://www.sofstudios.com/community/forums/thread.php?id=59

You should also consider checking the News section on the site - more info on Sears' recent activity. Good day.



World Renowned Creative Director and Shooter Entertainment Pioneer, David Sears, Joins SOF Studios.

Southern Pines NC - August 7, 2012 - Independent games publisher, Special Operations Forces Studios, Ltd. (SOF Studios), is honored to announce the hiring of 22-year games industry veteran and AAA Creative Director, Mr. David Sears.

David, the visionary Creative Director behind shooter entertainment's pioneering franchise, "SOCOM: US Navy SEALs" and most recently ground-breaking Creative Director for Ubisoft's unreleased shooter title, "Rainbow 6: Patriots", resigned from Ubisoft Montreal last month and joined the SOF Studios team in Southern Pines, NC.

[Dcopymope]

David Sears left UBI for Independent games publisher, Special Operations Forces Studios.

http://www.sofstudios.com/news/post.php?id=19

I guess he got tired of working for a company that allows UBI number crunchers to determine the direction of games instead of the true game designers.

I don't blame him. He was probably catering too much to the Original Rainbow Six fans (Pre-Lockdown) with his direction for Patriots and UBI number crunchers wanted another watered down COD clone.

Unless UBI starts actually communicating with us on the new direction of Patriots and progress, the fans will be so anti-Ubi that whatever they come out with won't be received well. There is only so much fans can be ignored before they go away and won't fall for the UBI hype again.

Is it still UBI policy that game devs can't come in here and talk to us or has their iron fisted policy been relaxed yet?

Well, from looking at the Game Informer piece about Patriots you can definitely see some resemblance of the older Rainbow Six games, and there was at least an inkling of hope. With this latest move David has made, it reminds me of what I've been saying over and over again, either Ubi Soft gives us a real Rainbow Six or Ghost Recon game or eventually somebody else will. Whatever games SOF studios is working on, it will resemble the older R6, Ghost Recon and Socom games because I'm certain that David Sears wouldn't have moved there otherwise. So now we have SOF studios, Blackfoot studios, and Serellan studios. Ubi Softs own top developers are leaving in droves, the next batch of individuals that will leave if Ubi Soft doesnt realize the error of their ways will be the fans they have left as I've been saying, and I can't wait, because this needs to happen for the sake of the game industry. They deserve everything they get coming to them, as well as my contempt for them.

[DanHibikiFanXM]

This really really sucks, some big talents are leaving Ubisoft, like Clint Hocking, Patrice Désilets, and now David Sears.



Now I can be sure, that R6P will be nothing like what we saw or what we were promised, it will be totally different, Sigh, I really wanted it to remain the same, but that seems unlikely.

As for the new studio, I wish Sears luck in his life anyway.

Come on man...you knew deep down that it wouldn't end well lol. It never does with Ubi$oft anymore.

[Justin-x]

Come on man...you knew deep down that it wouldn't end well lol. It never does with Ubi$oft anymore.To be honest, Patriots looked amazing with Sears at the lead. But with Patriot's disappearance, Sear's removal, and now this I'm starting to have my doubts about what Patriots will even resemble by the time it's revealed. We really need some communication from Ubisoft on this now rather than later.

[Dieinthedark]

Nope...it wasn't what I said a couple months ago. I always assumed Patriots would end up being another run n gun respawning health regen cod clone. Now with Sears leaving UBI, it makes it more likely that he really wasn't going to go that direction so UBI had to pull him from the project to make sure the number crunchers actually running the show have the game designed their way. He realized he wasn't going to be able to truly "direct" any project with this company and he isn't the type of guy to be just a baby-sitter of a vision he doesn't believe in.

If I didn't have respect for Sears (I actually had great respect for his accomplishments) before, I do now. Best of luck to him and UBI will get what they deserve with their lack of good leadership and total lack of real communication. Oh, and no, I'm sorry but having people in here saying they are getting our concerns to the devs and us getting no feedback in return doesn't count. No offense, I know those community devs have jobs to do and no real influence within their own company.

You know, I may not agree with all the things you say, but the fact that you can openly say nope I was wrong, kudos to you man! I'm serious!

But yes it is a shame that he left, though I have a feeling whatever he works on instead will probably turn out better. He knew what things needed to be done and it wouldn't surprise me that Ubi was holding him back.

[sameer_monier]

Come on man...you knew deep down that it wouldn't end well lol. It never does with Ubi$oft anymore.
and that is what gets me, I know Ubi want more mass appeal, but why screw it up when you can make balance.

this is hypothetical speaking of course, but Sears looked and talked like someone who wanted to have a good balance, to enable a hardcore experience beside the casual one, at least he was trying and showed promise, and the community didn't hate it per say, they gave feedback, but no, Ubi had to throw him away.



To be honest, Patriots looked amazing with Sears at the lead. But with Patriot's disappearance, Sear's removal, and now this I'm starting to have my doubts about what Patriots will even resemble by the time it's revealed. We really need some communication from Ubisoft on this now rather than later.
I agree

& Actually we need to see an ingame gameplay trailer ((not the BS CGI)) to see what the new Patriots is all about.

[Dcopymope]

If David Sears left the company then he obviously wasn't just unsatisfied with the way they were making Patriots but Ubi Softs one dimensional policy itself that is 100% geared towards appealing to the so called casual audience. He wasn't at all satisfied with the way they run things in general. I can wait until next year for some info because I honestly don't care much for this game anymore. In fact I wish this game didn't exist. There are some on here that are for some unknown reason still hopeful that this game will be a balanced appeal to the hardcore fanbase and the "casual" audience, not realizing that this was completely thrown out the window when Sears left. Apparently people have a hard time remembering the finer details of past news. Even when he was removed as lead director for the game he was still acting as an adviser. There is a 99% chance that this will no longer happen now that he as well as the other lead developers that promised the same exact thing are gone.

[sameer_monier]

ooooh Sears, I knew R6P would turn out amazing in your hands, I really hope Ubisoft keeps your vision intact


In fact, while he wants to make tactical play more accessible, Sears is also keen to make it more realistic and more of a present concern for players, noting that in previous games, it was easy to send your team in to soak up enemy bullets without worrying about casualties before going in to mop up. "You have to use your team constantly," he says of Patriots. "One man goes down, that's a third of your fire-power. I wanted to spend a lot of time on developing AI that behaved intelligently and required you to act as a leader. It was often too easy before. This time we wanted to make it more of a requirement that you be an active leader rather than a passive leader."

Source (http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-11-28-rainbow-6-patriots-preview)

[xboxs-alpha187]

whatever anyone can make a awesome rainbow game just take rainbow six 3 and up date the grafix smooth out the game play screw the story line or signal player just concentrate on the multi player . build a map that has 2 groups 1 attacker and another defender and crate multiple spawns of diffident attack routs so the defenders don't know which way to defend and then add in kill streak rewards since there's no re-spawning since its tactical you can add reinforcements as a kill steak reward and bang you got a great game to play

[Dieinthedark]

whatever anyone can make a awesome rainbow game just take rainbow six 3 and up date the grafix smooth out the game play screw the story line or signal player just concentrate on the multi player . build a map that has 2 groups 1 attacker and another defender and crate multiple spawns of diffident attack routs so the defenders don't know which way to defend and then add in kill streak rewards since there's no re-spawning since its tactical you can add reinforcements as a kill steak reward and bang you got a great game to play

No. I want a single player that is deep and rewarding. I'm sick to death of run and gun tps that have no story whatsoever. GIve us at least a 10-12 hour FPS/TPS blend that has a modern, contemporary and believable story, integrate it with Tom Clancy's Crossplay (integration between the TC franchise games, SC, GR, RB6) and give us plenty of replayability options. Randomized events, different story playthroughs as far as your choices alter the story. That's what I want.

[sameer_monier]

No. I want a single player that is deep and rewarding. I'm sick to death of run and gun tps that have no story whatsoever. GIve us at least a 10-12 hour FPS/TPS blend that has a modern, contemporary and believable story, integrate it with Tom Clancy's Crossplay (integration between the TC franchise games, SC, GR, RB6) and give us plenty of replayability options. Randomized events, different story playthroughs as far as your choices alter the story. That's what I want.

100% Agree, I would never buy a game without a Solid SP that is more than 12hrs, no matter how good the MP is, if the SP isn't good, then it isn't worth it.

we need awesome SP in addition to amazing MP, but we can't give up on SP, NEVER

[Dieinthedark]

100% Agree, I would never buy a game without a Solid SP that is more than 12hrs, no matter how good the MP is, if the SP isn't good, then it isn't worth it.

we need awesome SP in addition to amazing MP, but we can't give up on SP, NEVER
Once again Sameer, QFT!!!

[SCE_Soultear]

+1 I agree with developers leaving UBI because they have artistic value. Don't need more cod clones thank-you! Heck GR:AWF SUCKED! Bought it and still haven't finished it.

[MasterAssasin84]

I was told from a Source inside UBI that most of the Rainbow Six team was made redundant , Now David Sears was supposedly left on a mutual Agreement what people fail to realise is that a mutual agreement means they no longer want you on the project !! and when i asked are you telling he was sacked the response i got with wry smile was " what do you think lol !!

[sameer_monier]

I was told from a Source inside UBI that most of the Rainbow Six team was made redundant , Now David Sears was supposedly left on a mutual Agreement what people fail to realise is that a mutual agreement means they no longer want you on the project !! and when i asked are you telling he was sacked the response i got with wry smile was " what do you think lol !!
So that inside source, can't he tell you how intact is Sears Vision ?!, what R6P looks like now ?!, if we will end with something similar to what happened with GRFS or what !!

[CyberCam]

Well that sucks.
Actually, it doesn't suck, it's actually great for the gaming industry. This mass exodus of gaming talent means that these creative people are tired of being boxes in by these big mega corporate publishers. They are returning to their roots of developing games in a small indie development environment, where there can create their full vision without corporate interference. That's the environment that made many of these developers well known & successful. The really great devs out there, are tired of the corporate machine sucking the life out of them!