Former EA Chicago head lands @ Microsoft, works on a new Gears title

[iceberg187]

http://www.gametap.com/home/read/article/3365

The move reunites Tsunoda with his former EA Vancouver colleague Don Mattrick, who was hired last year and now runs the entire Xbox business under Entertainment and Devices division boss Robbie Bach.

It was at EA's Vancouver studio that Tsunoda cut his teeth on fighting games (working first on Fight Night 2004). Tsunoda then moved to Chicago from Vancouver to take the reins of EA's new Chicago studio--a renamed NuFX, an independent that had worked closely with EA on the commercially successful fighting game.

At the time EA Chicago was shuttered by Electronic Arts, Tsunoda and his team were working on a fighting game incorporating a bevy of Marvel super heroes.

Tsunoda's hire at Microsoft seems in sync with Mattrick's style. In October, Mattrick lured an even more senior exec from the EA stable--former Tiburon boss and vice president of worldwide studios John Schappert, hired on at Microsoft to run Xbox Live.

Tsunoda takes the title general manager, reporting to Mattrick. His hire is part of a general reporting reorg being implemented by Mattrick, say sources, who also say Tsunoda is project lead on an upcoming Gears of War title.

 

[Malibu]

Tsunoda project lead on a new Gears of War title?

That seems a bit weird.

 

[dobwal]

Tsunoda project lead on a new Gears of War title?

That seems a bit weird.

Seems alot weird.

When they say project lead do they mean someone from MS thats keeping tabs on what Epic is doing or handling a function that would normally be handled by someone from the dev?

Why put someone who most recent and relevant work is fighting games on the third person shooter?

 

[AlNom]

Chainsawing a Locust will never be the same.

 

[Malibu]

Seems alot weird.

When they say project lead do they mean someone from MS thats keeping tabs on what Epic is doing or handling a function that would normally be handled by someone from the dev?

Why put someone who most recent and relevant work is fighting games on the third person shooter?

Yeah, I'm thinking it's just bad wording and he is over seeing the project for Microsoft.

 

[Acert93]

When should I be scared at the EA migrations to MS?

 

[iceberg187]

When should I be scared at the EA migrations to MS?

In what context are you scared?

 

[assen]

Seems alot weird.

When they say project lead do they mean someone from MS thats keeping tabs on what Epic is doing or handling a function that would normally be handled by someone from the dev?

Why put someone who most recent and relevant work is fighting games on the third person shooter?

Nothing weird about it - it's customary to have a dedicated producer at the publisher for external projects deemed important. If you look at the credits for Gears1, you'll find a substantial Microsoft section.

The fighting games vs. shooter is irrelevant - he is not a designer and will have no more input in say, weapon timing than he'll be painting textures and lighting levels. The work of a producer consists of making sure everyone can get his job done, and in time.

For example, making a demo for something like GDC is taking up a lot of time from doing "real work" on the game, and normally the programming team would do as little demos and presentations as possible; it's the producer's job to decide which are important and how they will be scheduled.
It's the producer's job to find composers, voice recording studios, any external artists (box, posters, website etc.) and to make sure they have both done their job in time for the development and/or marketing of the game.
It's the producer's job to keep the development and marketing teams away from each other's throats.
It's the producer's unpleasant, but inevitable job to choose what features, scenes and even levels have to be cut, or postponed for DLC or expansions.