Rift: Hartsman Returns to Trion as CEO

SBFord

UPDATE:

Trion has also confirmed that the San Diego office will be closing and that the Defiance team will be moving to the Redwood City office alongside Trion's other titles. (source: Polygon.com)

"We can confirm that the San Diego studio will be closing," an official statement reads. "The day to day operations of Defiance will be moved to our Redwood City studio where it can be managed alongside Rift and our other in-development titles including ArcheAge and End of Nations. As part of this transition, we are working hard to ensure that a number of great people will be making the move from San Diego to the Bay Area and continue their work at Trion."

In probably the best-kept secret in the industry, Trion Worlds has announced that Scott Hartsman is the new Chief Executive Officer. Hartsman is returning to Trion where he most recently served as the company’s Chief Creative Officer and oversaw the launch of the critically acclaimed and highly successful game Rift.

Scott Hartsman has been appointed CEO for Trion Worlds effective immediately.

In an email to the company, Hartsman stated, “We're going to rapidly be laying the groundwork for a new strategy for Trion -- One that's closer to the foundation of how we've had our wins so far, and then extending that base into the enduring success this company can, and will, be.”

We'll keep you posted on this developing story as more information is released.

achesoma

"...highly successful game Rift."

That's a bold statement.

marz.at.play

Didn't he leave because RIFT was going F2P and he said he'd never be a part of it...or was that someone else at Trion? Memory is shady.

Garbrac

People are still playing it, that makes it successful.  

davexeno

He never said that directly Marz.at.play but he never kept it a secret that he disliked the Free2Play model. I have so many mixed feelings now that he's back given the direction of Rift, the nightmare that was Defiance and the confusion that is End of Nations. I dislike the direction Trion has headed, so short term I'm wary, but long term it could really pay off.

Unknown

Awesome news..! He has too much knowledge and experience to makes games unique and enjoyable, thats for sure.

kevjards

Originally posted by achesoma
"...highly successful game Rift."

That's a bold statement.

how do you come to the conclusion its not successful..its made a fortune.and just because it doesn't have WOW numbers does that mean its a fail..don't think so.rift is an enjoyable game to a point although its more of the same.has far as I know it made its money back in the first 2 months..from what I heard..development was about 40 million or just around that.on release and after it sold about 2 million copies so that's its money back and profit.

steelwind

Awesome news!

Now here's to hoping he can get some momentum behind AA and get it released!

syntax42

Does he shave his eyebrows?  They look a little funny in that picture.

Jaedor

Great news!

Fish_Tacos

I think Rift might have some good times ahead. A lot of the new games are moving away from the trinity and into action combat. Rift offers a more "traditional" version of game with tab targeting, raid/gear progression that a lot of players may feel comfortable with. Also, some of the WoW players may move into Rift. I don't know obviously how the Rift ftp numbers are looking, but I think it's possible.

 

I don't know how Defiance is doing, but I think it is a game with...untapped potential. It can fill a certain gap for SciFi games depending how what direction Trion (and Scott Hartsman) takes its development in future. 

 

 

marz.at.play

Originally posted by davexeno
He never said that directly Marz.at.play but he never kept it a secret that he disliked the Free2Play model. I have so many mixed feelings now that he's back given the direction of Rift, the nightmare that was Defiance and the confusion that is End of Nations. I dislike the direction Trion has headed, so short term I'm wary, but long term it could really pay off.

Thanks. Hoping he doesn't mess too much with the F2P model as it's great the way it is.

Hanthos

Maybe now we can get the training wheels lifted off the ArcheAge team and get some traction.

MacDeath2013

Gratz Scott!  Now work some of your magic on the other Trion games.  Oh, and get Russ and Hal back on board too please. /salute

Velsha

I truly believe he has the Midas touch, but in a good way.  I'm sure Trion will be reaching new highs with this man in the driver's seat.

Congrats, Mr. Hartsman!  = )

BearKnight

Originally posted by Garbrac
People are still playing it, that makes it successful.  

False

 

People would still be playing SWG, but it was closed because of a conflict of interest and a lack of money coming in.

 

Money = Success to the business world. Rift is barely making any money, so they're not really successful.

 

EvE on the other hand, is making hand over fist with about 500,000 subscribers paying $15/month. So yea.....

BillMurphy

Originally posted by BearKnight

Originally posted by Garbrac
People are still playing it, that makes it successful.  

False.

I have to put this here, because this is what you made me think of.  

Nephaerius

This is a really strange and surprising move......

orbitxo

hope he par takes in Defiance! its greatly need for a proper Creative lead.

ste2000

I never understood why Trion moved away from MMORPGs

Defiance and End of Nation bombed spectacularly, I didn't have any doubt about it

So with Hartsman is back to the MMORPGs roots then...................... good.

 

Make sure Archeage is a winner.............and no swimwear and cars pls.

SirFubar

Originally posted by BearKnight

Originally posted by Garbrac
People are still playing it, that makes it successful.  

False

 

People would still be playing SWG, but it was closed because of a conflict of interest and a lack of money coming in.

 

Money = Success to the business world. Rift is barely making any money, so they're not really successful.

 

EvE on the other hand, is making hand over fist with about 500,000 subscribers paying $15/month. So yea.....

Rift barely making any money? It was a sub game for a long time and now that its F2P, people are spending on the cash shop every single day. So you're totally wrong here.

About EvE, you really think everyone pay for their sub in EvE? You know you can get your sub for free by buying PLEX from other players? Again, you're still wrong about EvE.

So yeah, again another clueless guy with false information.

 

botrytis

Originally posted by SirFubar

Originally posted by BearKnight

Originally posted by Garbrac
People are still playing it, that makes it successful.  

False

 

People would still be playing SWG, but it was closed because of a conflict of interest and a lack of money coming in.

 

Money = Success to the business world. Rift is barely making any money, so they're not really successful.

 

EvE on the other hand, is making hand over fist with about 500,000 subscribers paying $15/month. So yea.....

Rift barely making any money? It was a sub game for a long time and now that its F2P, people are spending on the cash shop every single day. So you're totally wrong here.

About EvE, you really think everyone pay for their sub in EvE? You know you can get your sub for free by buying PLEX from other players? Again, you're still wrong about EvE.

So yeah, again another clueless guy with false information.

 

A long time? 2 years max and that is not that long - long is WoW.

Myria

Trion Worlds shuts down San Diego office

 

Interesting times indeed.

aspekx

Originally posted by achesoma
"...highly successful game Rift."

That's a bold statement.

you forgot "critically acclaimed", which of course makes "highly successful" pale in comparison.

 

i partly jest of course, im a fan of Rift and their incredible f2p model. its a solid game with a devoted team and a community that you can't find many other places.

 

but still, im not someone who would attach the phrases: "critically acclaimed" and "highly successful" to Rift.

aspekx

Originally posted by botrytis

Originally posted by SirFubar

Originally posted by BearKnight

Originally posted by Garbrac
People are still playing it, that makes it successful.  

 

 

 

that is not that long - long is WoW.

that's what he said.

aspekx

Originally posted by ste2000

I never understood why Trion moved away from MMORPGs

Defiance and End of Nation bombed spectacularly, I didn't have any doubt about it

So with Hartsman is back to the MMORPGs roots then...................... good.

 

Make sure Archeage is a winner.............and no swimwear and cars pls.

the problem there is that they don't own the game. and those things you hate so much are quite common with asian games and in particular Korean games. check out the cash shops in a lot of Korean games and you will find similar items. so it is quite unlikely you will get your wish.