Bodycount wasn't the most talked about game at E3 this year, but that doesn't mean the FPS wasn't without its merits. However, that low-key showing may be what has driven Stuart Black, the game's creative director, to leave Bodycount's publisher/developer Codemasters.
According to a report by Eurogamer, Black (who, ironically also worked on the PS2 FPS Black back at Criterion) is leaving Codemasters and the Bodycount team after he finishes up his design duties on the project in October. The game is scheduled to come out in the first quarter of next year, and for now Codemasters is holding firm to that release target. Black isn't the only person jumping ship. Apparently executive producer Tom Gillo has already left.
Codemasters issued an official statement which read: "Having created a great vision and direction for Bodycount, Stuart has decided to move on after three years with us. He will see out his design role until October and, through the transition period, will continue to work with the talented development team that will take the game through to completion."
The report says that a source told them that Black's departure was due to some "post-E3 fallout," but what exactly that was isn't clear. We saw a behind-closed-doors demo of the game (and you can check out our impressions here), and came away impressed by some of Bodycount's ideas. Does Bodycount seem like a game in trouble? Or is Black angry that the game wasn't given proper floor space at the convention like most other titles?