What a Tangled Web...

The following article appeared at Gamespot today, detailing recent changes in the Maverick team. We should stress that this 'panic' seems to occur after EVERY Wing Commander game comes out, and Origin has NEVER lied to us about what's going on. Trust what they say, and NOT Gamespot's sources.

Rod Nakamoto, formerly of Origin System's elite Maverick team (consisting of Wing Commander/Privateer designers and programmers), is said to be setting up a new development studio in Austin, Texas. GT Interactive is bankrolling the new studio, sources tell GameSpot News. The new company will see Nakamoto - who was the executive producer on Prophecy - and about five other former Maverick team members as the core of the new operation.

GT would not comment on the tip and said only that it is "continually seeking to build its internal studios."

Sources have told GameSpot News that as many as 15 Origin staffers have left the Maverick team, although Origin says that number is less - and that of the ten or so Origin staffers who have recently left Origin, only a portion of those have come from the Maverick team.

Origin says Origin-ite Andy Hollis has taken over as executive producer of Maverick, and the team is hard at work. Hollis will remain executive producer of Origin Skunk Works, Origin says.