“With Archetype, my passion has been rekindled”
Bioware has definitely run aground with fan’s perception of them as of late. They were once the paragon of story-driven video games, having released classics such as Baldur’s Gate, Knights of the Old Republic, Mass Effect, and Dragon’s Age. But after Electronic Art’s buyout of the company, they have produced mediocre results. The controversial finale of Mass Effect 3 and the following blunders of Mass Effect: Andromeda, and Anthem (which was a drastic turn in their style) it is not an understatement to say that they have lost many fans. However, it seems like Wizards of the Coast’s new studio, Archetype Entertainment is aiming to revive the spirit that once resided within Bioware.
Drew Karpyshyn, the lead writer for Mass Effect 1, 2, and Knights of the Old Republic, has announced on his personal blog that he is joining Archetype Entertainment. In the insightful post, he discusses the passion of early days of Bioware and its creative degradation as it grew too large for its own good. Take a read below:
“Fortunately for me, I have another gig now. I’m proud to announce that I’m the lead writer for Archetype Entertainment! Founded by James Ohlen – the creative genius behind BioWare hits like Baldur’s Gate, KOTOR and Dragon Age – Archetype is a new video game studio under the Wizards of the Coast umbrella… and I haven’t been this excited to work on a project in a long, long time! (Side note: I’ve always enjoyed working with WotC; they even published my first novel!)
I’ve been in the video game industry for twenty years now. When I started at BioWare, everything was fresh and exciting. It was a dream job – talented people working together to create epic games like Baldur’s Gate, KOTOR, Mass Effect and Dragon Age. But as we grew and became more successful, things changed. We became more corporate. We were less able to make what we loved, and the teams were pushed to create games based on market research rather than our creative instincts and passions. My dream job became just a job, and I lost the enthusiasm and excitement I once had.
But with Archetype, my passion has been rekindled. The feel in the studio reminds me of my early days at BioWare; I can feel the magic in the air. And even though I can’t get too deep into the specifics of what we’re working on yet, we’re already generating plenty of excitement in the industry.
I know we have big shoes to fill. With BioWare, I was part of a legacy that will endure forever. We created some of the most beloved CRPGs of the past two decades. But I truly believe at Archetype we have the talent and the opportunity to do something just as amazing!”
Comprised of many other devs from Bioware’s early days, the studio is definitely promising to say the least. We wait with bated breath for the spiritual return of Bioware!
Source: Drew Karpyshyn