ACCLAIM CODESHOPS
LOSE KEY STAFF

Edge Magazine
Issue ?, November 1997

Key staff at two of Acclaim's development houses, Probe and Sculptured, have reportedly left.

Most surprising is the news that brothers Fergus and Kevin McGovern have left Probe, the company they were instrumental in founding back in 1984 (See E47), although at the time of press their reasons for leaving remain unclear.

When Probe was sold by Fergus McGovern, a large proportion of the payment consisted of Acclaim stock - something which may complicate his departure. With several Probe titles nearing completion, including Extreme-G, it could be that the brothers seized upon a natural gap in development to move on. Acclaim has so far denied the story, however, claiming a statement will be issued 'when changes are complete'.

More definite is the news that Sculptured Software's co-founder, George Metos, and its vice-president of development, Kelly Zmack, have left the company to set up a new venture. In the wake of their leaving, Sculptured has undergone a name change to become Iguana West, and is now run by Peter Suarez from Iguana. Whether Metos' new company will be affiliated to Acclaim is unclear, although, interestingly, it is believed that he will be taking two projects with him - Stratosphere (a realtime strategy game) and an off-road racing game with the working title of Baja.

For a company that had been in a creative and financial rut prior to its aquisition of Probe, Iguana and Sculptured, Acclaim's loss of such key staff could be seen as either inevitable or disappointing.

After the recent departures of many renowned individuals from large software companies, this new series of movements only furthers the notion that creative freedom does not necessarily go hand-in-hand with heavily cash-fuelled, multi-layered organisations.

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Shadowman is perhaps Iguana UK's biggest title for Acclaim. Will it be affected by the recent disruption?