Ex-Rockstar Dev Sheds Light on Long Lost Game Agent's Development Troubles

Former Rockstar Games technical director Obbe Vermeij has shed light on the developer's long lost spy thriller Agent, which was announced as a PlayStation 3 exclusive in 2009 but has since disappeared.

[Christopher]

I know it's just one person's words, but love to see a game someone paid you to develop being called a 'distraction'.

[isarai]

Yeah, like I get that they want to prioritize their baby GTA but still, you're getting paid to do it.

[Profchaos]

I think that it's tied up in internal politics given that GTA 4 was being developed alongside it Rockstar knew where it's money was coming from and Jimmy took resources away from GTA which is probably why it was considered a distraction also reading his blog more it seems that a huge chunk of the team was burnt out in GTA in general by the time Sam Andreas shipped so Jimmy presented a more traditional level based game using different rendering techniques and tools something new that everyone wanted to work on rather than another GTA

[OtterX]

It's a real shame, I would have liked to see how Rockstar would have pulled off a "Bond" game, with their own twists and pedigree of polish.

[porkChop]

Sony didn't pay them to develop it. Sony abandoned LA Noire after spending $20M funding it. When Rockstar decided to publish the game Sony wanted their money back. Instead of paying out $20M (or possibly go to court) they agreed on an exclusive game instead.

[jznrpg]

So they paid for it.

[-Foxtrot]

He calls it a distraction but I always assumed they were the ones who went to Sony and made the deal because they wanted L.A Noire to be multiplatform and moved Sony's deal with L.A Noire to something else.

Kind of their way of going "would you rather have a game developed by a studio outside Rockstar or a game made from us directly".

[Profchaos]

His blog is really fascinating an actual peak behind the curtain of Rockstar back in the day these guys are probably the most secretive development studio in existence

[Mr_cheese]

We need more of this

[TheColbertinator]

We all knew it was scrapped but the idea alone blew my mind. I had full confidence Rockstar could make Agent a great game.

[RhinoGamer88]

Rockstar leadership...the egos...must have been a huge challenge. Having worked in the games industry, I have to say it is exhausting constantly having to prove your point/position. Everyone on the team has a strong (I know best) opinion, and if are in leadership and don't abide them...look out. Now imagine managing the egos/dictates of the Houser bros!