The Escapist: The Rise and Fall of Troika

Online computer magazine <a href="http://www.escapistmagazine.com/">The Escapist</a> has an article about <a href="http://www.escapistmagazine.com/issue/77/8">The Rise and Fall of Troika</a>. Here's a bit:
<br><blockquote>"Our basic goal in leaving [Interplay] was to create a company that felt like 'old Interplay,'" Boyarsky says. Anderson described the workplace to me: "We had a casual environment, open hours, kept the fridge and kitchen fully stocked with sodas and snacks, had weekly lunch catered in (or BBQ's on the patio), took everyone to movie premiers, matched their retirement plans a full 3 percent with no vesting period, had very competitive pay scales and put most of the employees into offices rather than cubicles, had a lounge with couches and console games, a big screen TV, game nights, etc."
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<br>Somewhere in there, they managed to get work done on their first game, Arcanum, an isometric-view, non-linear steampunk RPG. Think Fallout with monocles and zeppelins. The game, which released in 2001 to good reviews (though many complained of niggling bugs), came straight from Boyarsky, Anderson and Cain's skunkworks, says Boyarsky: "For the initial design of Arcanum, it was just Tim, Jason and myself for five months until we landed a contract." The contract they secured was with Sierra, which let them expand the company to 12 people.</blockquote>
<br>And here's a little bit from the end:
<br><blockquote>And now, the three have scattered in the wind. Boyarsky works in the industry, but wouldn't say where on record. Cain is also in the field, and told me (through Boyarsky): "I am staying in the industry but keeping a much lower profile than I did at Troika. Instead of talking about making games or trying to convince people to play (or publish) my games, I am doing what makes me very happy - making games." And Anderson is in Phoenix with his significant other, selling real estate, though he's "getting the itch to return" to games.</blockquote>
<br>What are you working on Timmy? You can read the rest <a href="http://www.escapistmagazine.com/issue/77/8">over here</a>.
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<br>Spotted @ <a href="http://www.rpgcodex.com">RPGCodex</a>

 

Real Estate?

If people weren't so stupid and had bought their games things would be as they should be.