The lights are on
An Austin, Texas, court has awarded Ultima creator Richard Garriott $28 million over what it determined was his forced departure from NCsoft in 2008.
At the time of his departure, a letter was posted on the Tabula Rasa website saying he was leaving the company due to his interest in spaceflight (Garriott spent 12 days in space as a space tourist). In his legal complaint letter, Garriott said that although he approved the letter, in hindsight (after conversations with NCsoft's head of North American studios, Chris Chung) he felt the letter was actually a set-up to try and prove that Garriott left of his own free will. Garriott says he never wanted to leave the company, and that he was forced out. This distinction is important, because Garriott's assertion was that he lost $28 million in stock options simply because NCsoft claimed he left voluntarily versus being fired.
"I am extremely pleased with the jury's decision," said Garriott in a statement. "The facts were clear that my departure from NCsoft was not voluntary. I am very pleased with the final award." Lawyers for NCsoft, meanwhile, say that they "will be considering all options for next steps in the legal process."
Email the author Matthew Kato, or follow on Twitter, and Game Informer.
If I had an astronaut getup, and a beard, and some jewelry... that photo would be my exact reaction to this story as well, complete with look up into the stars.
I'm in for $28M. You think he needs an entourage?
Seriously! WTF! This ass better have not screwed NCsoft of their funds for Guild Wars 2 or I'll send his ugly ass to freeze in outer space with my rocket propelled foot up his ass! What is up with everyone becoming a con artist to steal money from others because they believe that they "deserve it". Our country has become a big large mass of uneducated idiotic lazy asses trying to one up each other. I know I'm just ranting now, but what is this guy going to use $28 million dollars on? Hair plugs or waxing his caterpillars above his eyes?!?!? Ugh... #@%^$#$##$#@#$@#$%$#
Richard Garriott is a ***. I'm hoping NCSoft can recover from this.
Lol! wow that pos better not delay Guild wars 2, certainly a better game than that polished piece of turd he made.
This whole situation seems very shady to me. I understand why he was awarded $28 million, but the reasoning behind his suit seems shaky.
In the end, if his assertion is true, I'm glad he received his stock options payout.
What a moron... If you were forced out of the company, why would you sign a letter saying it you were leaving voluntarily? This is BS if I've ever seen it. The guy shouldn't get a cent.
Isnt this guy the reason that nc had to shut down exteel?
I'm jealous.,..
people saying garriot created a bomb in tr need to do some research. ncsoft forced him to add several koreans to his development team halfway through, and they started to force changes to his space mmo - inlcluding but not limited to unicorns. you can find the youtube video of that alpha footage, and is one of the many reasons i despise all forms of korean mmorpg's.
ncsoft lured him in with promises, then pulled the rug out under him - but not all at once. they pulled on it bits at a time, seeing what lord british would and would not fight them over. space unicorns. scrapping the engine and starting over 4 years in. less and less creative control. under such working conditions could you blame the man for losing interest eventually? i sure don't.