Clint Hocking leaves Ubisoft Montreal

Clint Hocking, creative director at Ubisoft Montreal and designer behind titles like the original Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell and Far Cry 2, has announced that he is leaving the studio after almost a decade.

In a lengthy blog post describing the way in which he believes he has become “unsustainable”, and detailing his desire to “walk on hot coals and sleep on a bed of nails”, Hocking stated that he handed his notice in at the studio on April 26th.

“I am thankful that Ubisoft fostered a development atmosphere that I, and so many others who came before and since, have felt so lucky to be a part of,” he said.

“I am proud – beyond measure – of the hard work that I and my colleagues have done here… I gave notice of my resignation to Ubisoft on Monday, April 26th, 2010.”

The post received many comments wishing Hocking good luck, and even an offer of work from another studio.

Hocking himself has made no definite statements as to his future plans, though he did imply that he has a course of action in mind.

“Fortunately, for the first time in my life, I know the way forward. The way forward lies in my having the courage that I did not know I had a decade ago to bid farewell to those tragically comforting habits,” he said.

“I need to walk on hot coals and sleep on a bed of nails. I need to chew on broken glass. I need to drink paint.”