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Runic Games co-founders Erich Schaefer and Travis Baldree are both leaving the studio that created Torchlight and Torchlight II. According to a forum post, the pair leave in good stead and will continue working together in new ventures. They have plans to pursue smaller development where, as Baldree put it, they can "wear many, many hats performing many, many different kinds of tasks."
Max Schaefer posted directly after:
Hello Runic community,
Yes, it's true. Our beloved President and lead key-masher, Travis Baldree, is leaving us, as is Erich Schaefer, my brother and long-time biz partner. As Travis said in his statement, this is a perfectly amicable parting, and we wish them nothing but the best in their new endeavor. I'm sure we'll all be watching and waiting for what they make next. It's sure to be wonderful.
Meanwhile, the rest of us here at Runic are excited to move on and continue to work on this crazy, cool, completely secret project we've been working on. We're champing at the bit to talk about it, but will wait until we're ready to show it off. Travis' right-hand man for over ten years, Marsh Lefler, has seamlessly moved into the lead chair at Runic, and after we've sent Travis and Erich off in a bourbon-fueled celebration/wake, you'll find that Marsh is more than capable of taking the reins, and the other 20-something Runic members all eager and able to pull the extra weight. Change is scary, but it's often good. And this is healthy for both Runic, and Travis and Erich.
From all of us at Runic Games, we thank Travis and Erich for the incredible body of work they leave behind, for the legacy that they left with us, and for making Runic Games what it is today. Best of luck to both of them in their new crazy downsizing scheme, but they won't need it. They will do just fine, as they always have. And to all of you out there, thank you for supporting us, and continuing to support us as we move into a future full of unknowns, excitement, adventure, and most of all, great games!
Best regards,
Max Schaefer
CEO, Runic Games
Comments
I wonder why?
You think its to cash in on some of this free crowd sourcing money?
"I understand that if I hear any more words come pouring out of your **** mouth, Ill have to eat every fucking chicken in this room."
"Small minds talk about people, average minds talk about events, great minds talk about ideas."
21 year MMO veteran
PvP Raid Leader
Lover of The Witcher & CD Projekt Red
Take the Magic: The Gathering 'What Color Are You?' Quiz.
Ok now give me a game with MMO combat but Diablo/Torchlight II Mechanics.
I will be hooked forever!
They are leaving to pursue smaller development ? But, Runic studio is like 6 people ...
Travis has only ever made cutesy hack 'n' slash games, so I have no idea what you mean by "getting back to their roots". Further, why don't you... play something else... if you don't like the tone of their games? Plenty of other games for you to get your teeth into without having to warp every creation under the some to your preferences. It's time for Runic to make whatever they want to make, irrespective of the naive, presumptuous demands of gamers.
and one big perfect world chain .
I do not blame them, but still. I really wanned that MMO to see the light and I dreamed about TL2 expansion, or TL3 maybe?
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If that were the case, I feel like the founders would wait until after the sale, then take that money and leave... at least, that's what I'd do in that position.
Still DYING to see how Greed Monger turns out. I hope that comment doesn't get me sued...
Exactly +1 I love Torchlight both of them a true magical game!!!
The torchlight games are just too small. It makes me wonder what they could have created if they had a huge budget and bug dreams.
Still, that game has made a lot of people happy.