Codemasters denies â??E3 falloutâ?? amid walkout

Codemasters insists that the imminent departure of its creative director Stuart Black (pictured) is not due to ”E3 fallout”.

News site Eurogamer today revealed that Stuart Black is to quit Codemasters in October, claiming that his decision “is the result of ‘post-E3 fallout’”.

A spokesperson from the company told Develop: “It isn’t really the case that Stuart has left from ‘E3 fallout’, there’s nothing like that going on. E3 coverage was actually very good.”

The representative went on to claim that the departure of Tom Gillo – Bodycount’s executive producer – is “not connected” to Black’s decision to quit. He added that no one else has decided to quit the Bodycount project.

Explaining further the suggestions of E3 fallout, the Codemasters spokesperson said: “Everyone playing Bodycount at E3 gave it positive write-ups. But there were a few people who looked at what were videos of very early code and commented on forums about them. I mean, would they rather us show an FMV?

“I think that’s what some people may interpret as an ‘E3 fallout’, but it simply hasn’t existed.”

Yet the publisher declined to explain the specific reason for Black’s departure, and declined an opportunity for him to speak to Develop directly.

“There’s a full studio focus on that project,” the rep continued. “There’s an 80-strong team.

He added: “This isn’t an issue where Stuart has said ‘I am off!’ and has slammed the door behind him”.