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Eletronic Arts to close Origin Systems
by Jolex Del Pilar
Wednesday, February 25, 2004
Richard Garriot's old company being "reorganized".
According to published reports Electronic Arts' Origin Systems division is expected to inform its employees today that the company will be closing Origin and relocating its operations to California sometime in the near future. While the Austin game development community is obviously disappointed by the EA's decision, the Austin region will continue to thrive as the 3rd largest hub of game development activity in the United States, with more than 50 companies in the local area making major contributions to the game industry, including game development, publishing, tools, middleware, chips and hardware.
"The Austin game development community is really an extended family in many ways. Past members of the Origin team have have gone on to create a number of powerful local studios in their own rights," said Christopher Sherman, Executive Director of the Austin Game Initiative (AGI). "And there is every expectation that the talented members of the Origin that do opt to remain in Austin will be snapped up by existing studios in the region or may once again spawn a new crop of studios here locally. The subject of EA's plans came up at the International Game Developers Association (IGDA) local chapter meeting yesterday evening and the mood was very upbeat with attendees being very supportive. With so much talent expected to be available several local studio heads have indicated they are now evaluating accelerating their hiring plans," Sherman said.
"With a compelling cost of living and a powerful creative community that includes games, music, movies and technology Austin is primed to continue to thrive as a leader in interactive entertainment software and hardware," said Sherman. Industry leaders in the area include more than 35 game studios producing both top hit franchises and original titles. Nintendo, Microsoft, Motorola, Dell, Criterion Software, Sony Online Entertainment and dozens of others maintain offices in the region. A list of game companies in Austin can be found at http://www.austingame.com/austin/companies.html
--- Jolex Del Pilar |
