It's Official

Anybody who's been wondering what the hell I've been doing with my life lately I can now answer:  I am now a partner with Bill Dugan at Torpex Games. Http://www.torpexgames.com. My official title is "technical director" but I hopefully will be much more.

I've been wanting to do something entrepeneurial for a while now.  I've been kicking myself ever since I turned Pete & Don down for a partnership in Treyarch, back when Treyarch was just a twinkle in their eye, only to join up with them anyhow, half a year later, for a much, much, much smaller stake.  And you can't read all the business and management books I've read without getting psyched for trying it yourself.  And I've written a fair amount about management myself, so this is an opportunity to really put my money where my mouth is. So since I quit Treyarch I've been looking around for the right opportunity and this is it.

Maybe you're wondering, why Torpex?

I worked with Bill Dugan on Spider-Man 2 and he's what Good To Great calls "The Level Five Leader."  The gist of it is a Level Five Leader doesn't have a big ego; they don't need to take credit for everything; it doesn't have to be "their way or the highway" all the time; they listen to (and argue with) their trusted advisors and in the end do the right thing, quietly getting results.  Not that there isn't a point where the buck stops with Bill – there were a couple issues we argued about with Spidey 2 where I eventually caved (and, later had to admit, yes, Bill was right.) 

Bill and I had a long conversation before I decided to join up where we talked about our values and it seems like we're on the same page about everything: we should do right by our employees;  we're about making games rather than making franchiseable characters or worlds or brands; excessive crunch time is toxic;  we need to be humble at first, taking whatever projects we can get, and build our way up to the giant dream projects;  talent is everything—it's better to not hire a mediocre person and limp along understaffed than to dilute your talent pool;  and much more that I can't remember all of right now. It was after that conversation that I decided Bill was the guy to go with.

And Richard Garfield and Skaff Elias are our allies;  these guys invented a whole genre of gaming, for Christ's sake.  Who wouldn't want to work with them?

Finally, Torpex is a cool name.  I could write a whole article on why it's such a cool name.  Maybe that'll be my next blog entry.

Comments

[Jamie Fristrom]

And to commemorate, I've tried to make my site look like Torpex's. Now I better get to work and start earning my keep.

[Ian]

Congratulations from a random subscriber! Exciting times.

Ian
Mode 7 Games

[Jeffool]

Kudos and congrats, sir! I hope things work out excellently. Anyone who can argue a point to it's logical end and still be good to work with is definitely a dream coworker.

[Max Szlagor]

Congrats on the announcement! I totally agree on the Torpex name. It didn't make sense to me at first and I'd like to hear the whole story, but the little I do know made me smile.

[Gregory John]

Here's to a great future for Torpex! It's certainly starting out with two top-notch fellows.

[Carl Pinder]

Torpex sounds a little too much like a feminine hygiene product for my tastes, but if Nintendo got away with Wii--I guess you're in good company.

[Viridian]

Congrats! Looking forward to seeing what your next project is. I knew you couldn't stay a consultant for long :)

[Sergio]

You two are certainly going to be a force to be reckoned with! I have no doubt that Torpex will one day achieve great success and be a future destination point to where all great designers will want to flock to. Cheers!

[Jare]

Best of lucks! Although the coolness of the name can't ring with me: it sounds very much like the spanish word for "clumsy"! My native language runs very deep under my skin for me to ignore that. ;)

[jr]

congrats on the new job

[Rich]

'I worked with Bill Dugan on Spider-Man 2 and he's what Good To Great calls "The Level Five Leader." The gist of it is a Level Five Leader doesn't have a big ego; they don't need to take credit for everything; it doesn't have to be "their way or the highway" all the time; they listen to (and argue with) their trusted advisors and in the end do the right thing, quietly getting results.'

I can corroborate this statement from personal experience. Bill knows when to listen and makes the right calls. Knock 'em dead, you guys!

[what]

if i started a company i would sure as hell be working my ass off and wouldn't have time to make lengthly blog posts.