Cryptic Studios Hires Bill Roper (November 3, 2008)

11-03-2008, 11:52 AM

Los Gatos, CA – November 3, 2008 – Cryptic Studios™, one of the leading independent developers of massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs), announced today that Bill Roper has joined the company as Design Director and will be working on Champions Online™.

“Bill brings a ton of creative energy to the Cryptic office and we’re thrilled to have him join our team,” said John Needham, Chief Executive Officer for Cryptic Studios. “His years of gaming and online experience are huge assets to all of our projects, and Bill will assist us in furthering our studio’s vision to create innovative, exciting MMO gameplay.”

“Cryptic has experienced huge growth over the past year and has exciting opportunities ahead of it,” said Bill Roper, Design Director, Cryptic Studios. “The company knows how to choose compelling IPs that have rich histories such as Champions and Star Trek. I’m looking forward to working with the team.”

As a 14-year game industry veteran, Roper has worked directly on numerous top selling titles, including the Warcraft, Starcraft and Diablo series. He joined Blizzard Entertainment in 1994 to work in sound, music and voiceover, eventually being appointed as Vice President of Blizzard North and a Director of Blizzard Entertainment where he managed all external projects and coordinated internal development teams. In 2003, Roper co-founded Flagship Studios and Ping0 where he held the role of CEO for five years and oversaw the launch of Hellgate: London and development of Mythos.

Cryptic Studios, headquartered in Los Gatos, is currently in production of two highly anticipated MMO action games, Champions Online and Star Trek® Online. Champions Online, based on the popular Champions™ pen-and-paper RPG and published by 2K Games, will give players the power of total customization for their hero experience while they explore a vast comic book universe. Set in the year 2409, Star Trek Online will allow players to immerse themselves in the future of the Star Trek universe, exploring strange new worlds, seeking out new life and new civilizations in an ever expanding vast universe.

For more information about Cryptic Studios, please log onto www.crypticstudios.com

About Cryptic Studios

Cryptic Studios, Inc., based in Los Gatos, CA, and established in July 2000, is one of the leading independent developers of massively multiplayer online games. Cryptic is developing three major titles for the PC and current generation consoles, including Star Trek Online, Champions Online and an unannounced project. Cryptic Studios is an independent, employee-owned company committed to delivering the next level of MMOG gameplay. For more information on Cryptic Studios, please visit www.crypticstudios.com

Champions, Champions Online, and Cryptic Studios are trademarks of Cryptic Studios, Inc.
STAR TREK and related marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of CBS Studios Inc and used with permission.
Other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

# # #
MEDIA CONTACT:
Tracie Snitker
Reverb Communications
209-586-1495 x104
tracie@reverbinc.com

willriker09 · 11-03-2008, 12:09 PM

Cool, the Blizzard games are nothing less than magical in how awesome they were. I can't wait to play the sequels, if this guy had anything to do with the originals, he is ok in my book.

LordDave · 11-03-2008, 12:13 PM

oooohhhh... I wonder how they stole him from Blizzard?

Tomkan · 11-03-2008, 12:16 PM

Don't care if he's not working on STO. I want STO. ;(

Silverspar · 11-03-2008, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LordDave

oooohhhh... I wonder how they stole him from Blizzard?

Because he wasn't at Blizzard, he was at the studio that made Hellgate: London and since that game is shutting down, well I am sure he became available.

lumpking69 · 11-03-2008, 01:09 PM

who ? why are you telling us ? lol

Ooh, I hired a new janitor today too.

Sarevok · 11-03-2008, 01:18 PM

Uhm... yeah, like some others said: if he's not working on STO... why should we care?

Bern · 11-03-2008, 01:38 PM

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- I was hoping to see, in the article, that it would free-up some people that are currently on 'chanpions' to get them to concentrate on startrek-online, lol

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Someone

Don't care if he's not working on STO. I want STO. ;(
__________________
Hi.

Eisenwolff · 11-03-2008, 01:38 PM

Well he could be transfering to STO after Champions Online is released. Other than that this information holds no interest for me.
Its more a frightening thought considering what happend to Hellbeta Online

trek68 · 11-03-2008, 01:42 PM

Is he going to have any input for STO? I know it mentioned that he is working on Champions, is this just advertisement. Please inform us on how this effects STO?

11-03-2008, 11:52 AM	#1
jsutich	Cryptic Studios Hires Bill Roper (November 3, 2008) Los Gatos, CA – November 3, 2008 – Cryptic Studios™, one of the leading independent developers of massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs), announced today that Bill Roper has joined the company as Design Director and will be working on Champions Online™. “Bill brings a ton of creative energy to the Cryptic office and we’re thrilled to have him join our team,” said John Needham, Chief Executive Officer for Cryptic Studios. “His years of gaming and online experience are huge assets to all of our projects, and Bill will assist us in furthering our studio’s vision to create innovative, exciting MMO gameplay.” “Cryptic has experienced huge growth over the past year and has exciting opportunities ahead of it,” said Bill Roper, Design Director, Cryptic Studios. “The company knows how to choose compelling IPs that have rich histories such as Champions and Star Trek. I’m looking forward to working with the team.” As a 14-year game industry veteran, Roper has worked directly on numerous top selling titles, including the Warcraft, Starcraft and Diablo series. He joined Blizzard Entertainment in 1994 to work in sound, music and voiceover, eventually being appointed as Vice President of Blizzard North and a Director of Blizzard Entertainment where he managed all external projects and coordinated internal development teams. In 2003, Roper co-founded Flagship Studios and Ping0 where he held the role of CEO for five years and oversaw the launch of Hellgate: London and development of Mythos. Cryptic Studios, headquartered in Los Gatos, is currently in production of two highly anticipated MMO action games, Champions Online and Star Trek® Online. Champions Online, based on the popular Champions™ pen-and-paper RPG and published by 2K Games, will give players the power of total customization for their hero experience while they explore a vast comic book universe. Set in the year 2409, Star Trek Online will allow players to immerse themselves in the future of the Star Trek universe, exploring strange new worlds, seeking out new life and new civilizations in an ever expanding vast universe. For more information about Cryptic Studios, please log onto www.crypticstudios.com About Cryptic Studios Cryptic Studios, Inc., based in Los Gatos, CA, and established in July 2000, is one of the leading independent developers of massively multiplayer online games. Cryptic is developing three major titles for the PC and current generation consoles, including Star Trek Online, Champions Online and an unannounced project. Cryptic Studios is an independent, employee-owned company committed to delivering the next level of MMOG gameplay. For more information on Cryptic Studios, please visit www.crypticstudios.com Champions, Champions Online, and Cryptic Studios are trademarks of Cryptic Studios, Inc. STAR TREK and related marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of CBS Studios Inc and used with permission. Other trademarks are property of their respective owners. # # # MEDIA CONTACT: Tracie Snitker Reverb Communications 209-586-1495 x104 tracie@reverbinc.com

11-03-2008, 12:09 PM	#2
willriker09 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008	Cool, the Blizzard games are nothing less than magical in how awesome they were. I can't wait to play the sequels, if this guy had anything to do with the originals, he is ok in my book. __________________ Don't try to be a great man...just be a man and let history make its own judgements. - Will Riker quoting Zefram Cochrane

11-03-2008, 12:13 PM	#3
LordDave Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: New York	oooohhhh... I wonder how they stole him from Blizzard? __________________ Will I continue to play the game after a month? Unknown

11-03-2008, 12:16 PM	#4
Tomkan Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Croatia	Don't care if he's not working on STO. I want STO. ;( __________________ Hi. This is a secret code. Everyone from Croatia will see it and understand it. Dečki i cure iz Hrvatske, pozdrav! Ako budete ovo vidjeli, javite se. Code kaže da bi trebali vidjet ovo.

11-03-2008, 01:09 PM	#6
lumpking69 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Tertiary Adjunct of Unimatrix 01	who ? why are you telling us ? lol Ooh, I hired a new janitor today too. __________________ We must question the story logic of having an all-knowing all-powerful God, who creates faulty Humans, and then blames them for his own mistakes. - Gene Roddenberry There... Are... Four... Lights!!! How old will your favorite characters be at 2409?!

11-03-2008, 01:18 PM	#7
Sarevok Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Netherlands	Uhm... yeah, like some others said: if he's not working on STO... why should we care? __________________ ___________________________ =/\=Admiral - Aries Fleet=/\= ___________________________ =/\= Dutch Star Trek Online Community: =/\=www.ST-Online.nl =/\= =/\= Dutch Star Trek Fleet: =/\= www.AriesFleet.nl =/\=

11-03-2008, 01:38 PM	#9
Eisenwolff Member Join Date: Aug 2008	Well he could be transfering to STO after Champions Online is released. Other than that this information holds no interest for me. Its more a frightening thought considering what happend to Hellbeta Online

11-03-2008, 01:42 PM	#10
trek68 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: England	why Is he going to have any input for STO? I know it mentioned that he is working on Champions, is this just advertisement. Please inform us on how this effects STO? __________________ Captain Trek68 9thfleet.com - Est: 1999 Operations Officer: 1st Task force "STO / RP" STO / RP Character: Daniel E Roberts. Capt stogeek.com/wiki/Daniel_E_Roberts