Westwood co-founder Louis Castle leaves for InstantAction
by Hokuto · in General Discussion · 07/16/2009 (7:53 am) · 10 replies
Just some news about Instant Action
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/westwood-co-founder-louis-castle-leaves-for-instantaction
Louis Castle, co-founder of Electronic Arts' Westwood Studios, has departed the company to head up revamped free-to-play games portal InstantAction, according to reports.
Castle set up the studio with Brett Sperry in 1985 and, following its purchase by EA in 1998, worked as the general manager of EA's recently closed Blueprint Studio, then in a new creative role with EA LA.
Industry Gamers reports Castle will join InstantAction as its new CEO at a time when the company is seeing significant changes with the closure of its Eugene, Oregon headquarters and a move to new offices in Las Vegas and Portland.
InstantAction's website offers both first and third-party created 3D web browser games monetised through advertising and micro-transactions. The site was acquired by Barry Diller's IAC in 2007 and recently purchased the Starseige IP from Activision.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/westwood-co-founder-louis-castle-leaves-for-instantaction
Louis Castle, co-founder of Electronic Arts' Westwood Studios, has departed the company to head up revamped free-to-play games portal InstantAction, according to reports.
Castle set up the studio with Brett Sperry in 1985 and, following its purchase by EA in 1998, worked as the general manager of EA's recently closed Blueprint Studio, then in a new creative role with EA LA.
Industry Gamers reports Castle will join InstantAction as its new CEO at a time when the company is seeing significant changes with the closure of its Eugene, Oregon headquarters and a move to new offices in Las Vegas and Portland.
InstantAction's website offers both first and third-party created 3D web browser games monetised through advertising and micro-transactions. The site was acquired by Barry Diller's IAC in 2007 and recently purchased the Starseige IP from Activision.
#2
07/16/2009 (8:47 am)
IAFTW! 
#3
If so, GG in PDX = Yay!
07/16/2009 (9:14 am)
Just saw this... is IA a separate office from GG or is everyone moving?If so, GG in PDX = Yay!
#4
There is indeed a big change coming for our company, and it's been crazy around here. Having someone like Lou Castle join our team is nothing short of exciting. Rest assured that the following is true:
1. This is not indicative of a lay-off in any way. I've already had some GG community members ask me what's going on, and I wanted to assure you this is not the case. If we move, everyone (and I mean every single person we employ) has been offered a job at our new location.
2. We are as committed to Torque as ever. New blood, new opportunities. Just like we have been able to do great things with Torque since IAC invested in us, this is another huge opportunity to continue to make Torque great.
That is all we can say for the moment. Although bringing on someone of Lou's caliber has been a goal of ours for some time now, we just learned about it as well, so still lots of new details to work out. But we're all really pumped for some good change over here!
07/16/2009 (10:14 am)
Hey guys,There is indeed a big change coming for our company, and it's been crazy around here. Having someone like Lou Castle join our team is nothing short of exciting. Rest assured that the following is true:
1. This is not indicative of a lay-off in any way. I've already had some GG community members ask me what's going on, and I wanted to assure you this is not the case. If we move, everyone (and I mean every single person we employ) has been offered a job at our new location.
2. We are as committed to Torque as ever. New blood, new opportunities. Just like we have been able to do great things with Torque since IAC invested in us, this is another huge opportunity to continue to make Torque great.
That is all we can say for the moment. Although bringing on someone of Lou's caliber has been a goal of ours for some time now, we just learned about it as well, so still lots of new details to work out. But we're all really pumped for some good change over here!
#5
Move up the ladder from $2 crack-whore from the streets to a leading starlet with your name in lights. Do you have what it takes to conquer the underbelly of Vegas?
07/16/2009 (10:30 am)
I think the true story is that GG developers just wanted to make it easier to motion-capture a bunch of Vegas Showgirls for their upcoming hot dance title: LAS VEGAS SHOWGIRL HEROMove up the ladder from $2 crack-whore from the streets to a leading starlet with your name in lights. Do you have what it takes to conquer the underbelly of Vegas?
#7
07/16/2009 (10:46 am)
Ben, following the success of the 80's night dance-sim prototype, we decided to scale it up ;)
#8
www.kongregate.com/games/Ciperl/80s-night-with-pat
07/16/2009 (10:54 am)
Hahaha... just for that I had to dig it up and bust some Pat-inspired moves. (I'm blown away that it has been played so much and still has almost a 2.5 rating. CRAZY)www.kongregate.com/games/Ciperl/80s-night-with-pat
#9
07/16/2009 (2:00 pm)
Wow, this is big news, I hope nothing happens to impact the development on the Torque engines. It would be a shame to see anything affect the great progress GG is making these days.
#10
www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/business/17886871-41/story.csp
07/30/2009 (9:47 am)
Randomly ran across this today, thought I'd share:www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/business/17886871-41/story.csp
Torque Owner Timothy Castagna
TK Games LLC