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REYNOLDS LEAVES FIRAXIS
(7 February 2000, 20:12 EST) In a surprise announcement, Firaxis Games has announced that designer and cofounder Brian Reynolds has left the company, as reported by GameCenter, Computer Games Online and the Adrenaline Vault today.
According to a Firaxis statement, the development of Sid Meier's Civilization III and Dinosaurs will not be affected by Reynolds's departure.
At the moment, we are unaware of what Brian is going to be doing next. -DanQ
NO LOOKING BACK
(8 February 2000, 19:08 EST) The Adrenaline Vault early this afternoon posted some additional information on Brian Reynolds leaving Firaxis and the details around it.
AV contacted Reynolds today, who, according to the Vault's news item, "offered no concrete explanation other than that things did not turn out between himself, president and CEO Jeff Briggs, and designer Sid Meier".
The only comment Reynolds offered on his future plans is that he does not want to, quote, "dwell on the past because I am very excited about what I will be doing in the future".
Our thanks to the Civilization III Civilopedia for informing us after scouping the headline first. -DanQ
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Apolyton
News5-11 February
2000
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REYNOLDS LEAVES FIRAXIS!!
MORE ON REYNOLDS` DEPARTURE
(8 February 2000, 8:21 EST) In a follow up to yesterday's story on Brian Reynolds leaving Firaxis, the company that he co-founded 3 1/2 years ago, GameSpot is this morning reporting that, quote, "Reynolds' departure, which happened a few weeks ago, was amicable and of his own accord".
GS had the opportunity to talk with Firaxis CEO and President Jeff Briggs shortly after the announcement.
"He's a good designer, a good programmer", he lammented. "We'll all miss him".
There is still no word on what Reynolds' plans for the future are, but some industry analysts --- including GameSpot --- are saying it wouldn't bee too much of a surprise if he followed in fellow colleague Sid Meier's footsteps. -DanQ
REYNOLDS TALKS TO GAMESPY
(10 February 2000, 16:54 EST) Not long after being interviewed by GameCenter, and then informing us here at ACS about how he was quoted could have been misinterpretted, John Keefer over at GameSpy contacted us with a heads up on the one-on-one interview he had just conducted with the Firaxis co-founder.
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As was hinted at over the past couple of days, Reynolds' future still lies in the gaming industry. However, today we learn that he may try his talented hands in working on titles that fall under different genres.
""I am still a strategy-games kind of guy", said Reynolds during the course of the interview. "But I will probably will move into some new genres, probably something other than what I have been typecast for".
Keefer also had the opportunity to talk to Firaxis CEO Jeff Briggs about the reorganization within the company, particularing with the development of Civilization III which Reynolds was heading.
"Believe me, losing Brian is no fun", Briggs said, "but the team we have in place has more Civilization experience than any other group anywhere, so I'm confident that the team can pull it off".
It is reported that Tim Train will lead the project role as Producer for Civilization III; the article also documents other key members on the team, and what their refined responsibilities are.
On a final note, Reynolds remains --- for the time being, anyway --- part-owner of Firaxis. No decision has been made on whether the company will buy out his shares. -DanQ
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GAMECENTER INTERVIEWS REYNOLDS
(9 February 2000, 10:18 EST) In their news roundup for today, C|Net's GameCenter has posted a brief interview with Brian Reynolds on his departure from Firaxis Games; this is the first time that Reynolds has spoken publicly on the matter.
However, not all was disclosed.
"Gamecenter: There is a lot of speculation as to why you left so abruptly. Was the departure amicable?
Brian Reynolds: I don't want to discuss why I left. Things happened between Sid [Meier] and Jeff [Briggs] that I don't think need to be discussed".
According to the article, Reynolds stated that he intended to found another game studio, perhaps with partners, and that he'd like to work on a strategy game. He said he was not lured away by another studio.
Lastly, GC is reporting that Firaxis had known about Reynolds' intention to leave since December. -DanQ
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BRIAN CLARIFIES ABOUT GS INTERVIEW
(10 February 2000, 5:16 EST) We got a mail from Brian Reynolds on the Gamecenter interview. He said that the "I don't want to discuss why I left. Things happened between Sid [Meier] and Jeff [Briggs] that I don't think need to be discussed"i was not exactly accurate.
What Brian actually said was
"It just didn't work out for me with Jeff and Sid, and I'm really more interested in discussing what I'm going to be doing in the future, which I'm very excited about"
(which obviously has a better tone, doesnt it?) Anyway, Brian considers the parting with Firaxis "considerably more amicable" than what it has been presented so far.
As for the future, he said
I'm not ready to discuss what my future plans are yet, but I'm really excited about them and I look forward to sharing them with you later on!
We're all ears Brian! :) -MarkG
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COLUMN FORMAT REVERSION
(5 February 2000, 22:49 EST/Misc) Due to overwhelming public demand, effective the next installment of "The Column" (Wednesday, February 9), the original version of its layout --- one-column as opposed to the experimental two column width of the past week --- will return. All previous editions of "The Column" will have to reverted back to this format, and as this procedure may take some time to complete, we thank you in advance for your patience in this regard. -DanQ
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THE COLUMN
COLUMN #99; BY JOHAN PALME
(9 February 2000, 22:24 EST) Johan Palme has garnered this week's Column with his article entited "At Every Level, In Every Way".
Palme laments how creators still crave a half decent modification editor, and issues a challenge to gaming companies to take him up on it.
To comment on the article publicly, click here. -DanQ
COLUMN #98; BY IMRAN SIDDIQUI
(5 February 2000, 21:12 EST/Misc) The 98th installment of "The Column" is an article by Imran Siddiqui entitled "What's Wrong With Apolyton Addiction?".
The debate over the 'condition'  rages on as Imran sets out to prove why being an Apolyton addict can be a good thing.
Have a comment to pass along on this piece of writing? You are more than welcome do so in our forums. -DanQ
| Brian Reynolds Leaves Firaxis!! | Civ3 Information Flood | Dinos Come First | CTP: Activity Alert |
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Apolyton&Friends News 29/Jan-4/Feb/00
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