Chris Avellone leaves Obsidian Entertainment

***Update 1 – 2015-06-13 – 13:07 CEST***

I just wanted to do a brief updated on the current situation with Chris Avellone and his departure from Obsidian Entertainment. As I found out that Avellone has joined forces with Brian Fargo´s Inxile entertainment (Wasteland 2, Torment: Tides of Numenera, The Bard´s Tale 4). This would not be the first time that the duo has worked together though, as “Wasteland 2” and “Torment: Tides of Numenera” would be two good recent examples of that.

Anyhow, this time it seems like Fargo and Avellone will focus on the Van Buren (the “real” sequel to Fallout 2. Which was developed by Black Isle Studios, Chris Avellone´s former studio) project, a project which originally got canceled by Interplay back in 2003. However, when inXile Entertainment filled in a trademark for “Van Buren” in October 2014, a lot of Fallout fans started to belive in the “Van Buren” project again.

Van Buren was the REAL Fallout 3. Sadly enough, the game is yet to see the day of light.

That´s awesome for sure, but for now we can only hope that Inxile entertainment will be able to turn the “Van Buren” trademark into something really epic, and I have very little doubts that Inxile, Chris Avellone (Fallout 2, Planescape: Torment, Icewind Dale 1 and 2, Pillars of Eternity, Wasteland 2) and Brian Fargo (Out of This World, The Bard’s Tale 1-4, Wasteland 1 and 2) will fail that mission.

However, since Inxile is really busy with both The Bard’s Tale IV and “Torment: Tides of Numenera”. Brian Fargo stated the following regarding “Van Buren” to Eurogamer just recently:

“Not yet,” Fargo told Eurogamer, when asked whether inXile was actually doing anything with the trademark. “But there were some things, some ideas, that Chris Avellone had for doing something that made the post-apoc—a twist on the whole what-was-being-done that we really loved. So we talked about it and we thought why not grab the rights so we can entertain this one of these days.”

“What’s left?” he mulled. “I’ve got so many ideas of things I’d like to do. I have some pet projects of mine I would love to do that are not sequels to hits in any way. It will be interesting to see how that all works out as we start to get into more speculative titles.”- Brian Fargo via Eurogamer

In other words. We might not see a final production of “Van Buren” (or whatever Inxile choses to call the game) anytime soon, but Brian Fargo and Chris Avellone haven’t dropped their thoughts on making the game together in the future (as both seem to see “Van Buren” as their pet project). That may not be much, but it´s a good start at least.

Besides, as Chris Avellone has left Obsidian Entertainment. Avellone will have more free time on his hands. So “maybe” Avellone has been assigned as the game designer of “Van Buren”? Time will tell for sure, but what do you guys think?

Source:
PC Gamer

Eurogamer

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Dear mother, of all the Gaming gods! It´s true, Chris Avellone (writer, game designer and co-founder of Obsidian Entertainment) has officially left Obsidian Entertainment. This became publicly known after Eurogamer reached out to Avellon about a Facebook post that he wrote just recently (as seen down below).

“With much well wishes, I can now officially say I have officially left Obsidian Entertainment to accept a sudden (and promising) opening as the Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor at Hogwarts,” “but much love and well wishes to my fellow devs, good folks one and all.” – Chris Avellone, Obsidian Entertainment via Eurogamer

I wonder what Chris Avellone is up to?

That post started a lot of speculations and rumors about the post´s authenticity, but Chris Avellone confirmed his departure from Obsidian to Robert Purchese (Euro Gamer) via mail today. And this is what Avellon wrote to Euro Gamer´s Rober Purchese:

“It is true, Bertie,” he wrote, “and many well wishes to the folks at Obsidian. On the future, I’m off to pursue new projects, but I can’t say anything more at this time beyond life is short, and the ideas keep growing.” – Chris Avellone, Obsidian Entertainment via Eurogamer

This of course makes me wonder about two things 1. Why did Chris Avellone leave Obsidian Entertainment in the first place? (is there something fishy going down behind the scenes?), and 2. What will Chris Avellone do next? (what is planing?). Oh well, time will tell I guess. Nevertheless, Avellone deserves a lot of credit for his previous works for sure (Knights of the Old Republic 2, Fallout: New Vegas, Pillars of Eternity with many more).

So i wish Avellone the best of luck wherever he may roam!

Source:
Euro Gamer

Robin “V-Act” Ek
The Gaming Ground
Twitter: @TheGamingGround