Cinemaware
The end of Cinemware
01/12/02 01:11
In October 2002 I was informed by Sean that the money was running out at Cinemaware and that several of us would have to be let go so that a few could continue to wrap up the final pieces of Defender of the Crown and get it out the door. My sections of the game were done and ready to ship, but a few other people still had bugs to work out.
At the end of November 2002 I left and began searching for what would be next.
I’m immensely proud of my contribution at Cinemaware, but to describe everything that went on there in the end really makes me sick to my stomach. Sean went on to be development director at Crystal Dynamics, and Lars had a rather disgusting run-in with the law, after which he sold the Cinemaware name to a budget games company. Lars now runs a distribution company for Latin America & Brazil.
Along the way we lost an excellent artist and good friend when he died of a brain aneurism. I’ll never forget his late night drunk dials and genuine personality.
John Cameron R.I.P.
At the end of November 2002 I left and began searching for what would be next.
I’m immensely proud of my contribution at Cinemaware, but to describe everything that went on there in the end really makes me sick to my stomach. Sean went on to be development director at Crystal Dynamics, and Lars had a rather disgusting run-in with the law, after which he sold the Cinemaware name to a budget games company. Lars now runs a distribution company for Latin America & Brazil.
Along the way we lost an excellent artist and good friend when he died of a brain aneurism. I’ll never forget his late night drunk dials and genuine personality.
John Cameron R.I.P.
Founding Cinemaware
01/02/00 01:03
Near the end of Slave Zero, Accolade sold themselves to Infogrammes, which we all know better as Atari. Infogrammes seemed to have no clue what they wanted to do with the new studio. So after Slave Zero, they gave us all a few weeks to figure out whether we wanted to leave or join crappy internal project #1 or crappy internal project #2. I rode it out to the maximum, but had been talking to Sean Vesce and Lars Batista about their idea to re-found the classic Amiga game company named Cinemaware. Lars had purchased the name out of bankruptcy and was really keen on remaking the classic titles.
Somewhere around Feb 2000, I finally left Accolade to become Cinemware’s first full time employee and first programmer. I worked from my apartment for months while they paid me out of their own checking accounts.
Eventually Lars rented an apartment in a marina near 3DO and EA in Redwood shores and we all began working there every day. It was pretty awesome times, but money was tight and no one knew if we could turn it into something great, or even if we’d ever find a publisher.
Somewhere around Feb 2000, I finally left Accolade to become Cinemware’s first full time employee and first programmer. I worked from my apartment for months while they paid me out of their own checking accounts.
Eventually Lars rented an apartment in a marina near 3DO and EA in Redwood shores and we all began working there every day. It was pretty awesome times, but money was tight and no one knew if we could turn it into something great, or even if we’d ever find a publisher.