It's been more than two years since Mercenaries and The Saboteur developer Pandemic Studios closed its doors for good, yet former president and co-founder Josh Resnick still looks back fondly on the late EA-owned development studio.
Since the company's closure, Resnick has stepped away from the games industry, and has founded a new startup with other Pandemic veterans to create mobile-based social apps -- a departure from creating large-scale console games, to be sure.
Gamasutra recently spoke with Resnick to check in on his post-Pandemic venture, a social app launched next week called ntro, and to get an inside look at the forces behind the development studio's unfortunate end.
Star Wars Battlefront 3 was in development at Pandemic Studios, but LucasArts wanted the team to make the game in just one year.
Now you can get, what Obsidian went thru,
Had to create New Vegas within 1.5 years.
They had to scrap some ideas + there was limitations of console hardware as well (the strip area in the game, etc).
Hence, I say, we better get a New Vegas Redone than just a straight remaster, as was leaked.
Sounds about right. They were rushed while making the second game. Not hard to imagine that trend continued with it's ill fated follow-up.
I actually really liked the first Battlefront. Its charm was that it was so simple and basic. It felt like a really well made modernised old school shooter. Ignoring all the COD style BS that took over all other games.
I absolutely loved Battlefront 2 as well but I enjoyed Battlefront 1 for its simplicity.
Westwood Studios, Pandemic Studios, and Clover Studio, among others, had a lot going for them back in the day, but here we are.
Psygnosis is one of them for me. I sure miss some Wipeout, but would not be surprised if it's handed off to another studio. *Fingers Crossed*
The list is missing NeverSoft, I miss them so much, and I feel they don't get the credit they deserve.
They created an open world western game years before Red Dead Redemption, they made a great 3D Spiderman game, one of the first ever good 3D superhero games. And of course the Pro Skater franchise, where many other developers attempted to make their own 'extreme sports' games, but all failed in comparison to what NeverSoft offered.
Then Activision had to shut them down so they could be apart of the endless Call of Duty workforce. What a shame.
NeverSoft is definitely missing, and missed! The western game you mentioned is Gun. And what an amazing game it was.
The open world truly was remarkable for its time. I still remember riding to places being a Joy!
That list hit hard. Some really good names and games there.
It’s just not right that so many gem studios end up in closure.
I was sad about volition and visceral. Yes the saints row reboot sucked but I was holding out hope of a remake of the first two. And I loved visceral for the dead space games.
Seeing Clover Studio up there, takes me back to Viewtiful Joe 1 an 2. Love them so much on GameCube, we really need a remake of both games and also Viewtiful Joe 3 on Switch 2. This needs to happen.😞
A lengthy look at the late Pandemic's foray in open world tactical mayhem and a discussion of its triumphs and its faults.
