A few weeks ago IndustryGamers exclusively brought you first word about Lou Castle leaving Electronic Arts to take a new role as the CEO of browser-based gaming company InstantAction (which, along with GarageGames, is owned by IAC). We finally got a chance to talk with Castle on the phone to find out why he'd leave a great position at a leading publisher like EA (where he got to work with people like Steven Spielberg on Boom Blox) to head up InstantAction.
For Castle, the decision really came down to wanting to be a part of the future direction of gaming, he said. “Let me take a step back and talk a little bit about where the future of games is going for me,” he began. “And that kind of answers the question about the things I want to pursue. I had a great time working with Steven Spielberg on a game like Boom Blox, building a game around a new interface or a new experience. Knowing that there were going to be all sorts of new consumers was really exciting. So what was really exciting to me about InstantAction was the proficiency that the team and company at IAC has in web services, web development and social networks. I certainly had a great time with EA – it's a wonderful company – but at the same time I really was looking at the future of where gaming's going, and this is a great place to be.
“So I had an opportunity to join a company that was already proficient in the parts I frankly don't have as much experience with. Of course, I have a lot of experience making products, and the company I'm joining has a lot of eager and talented people that could really use somebody with a little bit more experience. You know, I'm the old guy in the room now with a little over a quarter of a century of game making behind me [laughs]. So in a nutshell, for me it's about being where the future of gaming is and being on the web platform or social network platforms in a way that can be really, really meaningful for the kinds of games I like to make. That's what's new about InstantAction – they really are the only ones that are at the front of full-powered PC/Mac games through the Internet.”
And when Castle says “full-powered” games, he means it. While most of InstantAction's games to date have been slightly smaller, less graphically intense products, Castle said that the platform can be used to publish any title, even something as demanding as Crysis. InstantAction is definitely going after the hardcore PC gaming market, and while the retail part of the PC gaming equation has been suffering, the digital side is flourishing and InstantAction hopes to be a leader in that space.
Is this the future of gaming?
Although Castle is now CEO, that doesn't mean he's going to just sit back in the executive role. His lengthy career has always been about making games and he told us that he fully intends to play an active role in the games made at InstantAction. As CEO, Castle will oversee both InstantAction and GarageGames, while former CEO Josh Williams (whose status we were previously unsure of) will remain onboard in a very active, more technical role as fellow and chief technologist. Williams actually spearheaded the development of the core technology enabling gameplay in a web browser. Castle said he'll be working very closely with Williams going forward as he continues to push the technology and pursues business relationships.
“Bringing Lou on board is a huge win for us," said Williams. "His wealth of experience and expertise will bring our game and tool development to the next level making the InstantAction platform the best way to deliver and play games on the web. I couldn't be more excited about the future of InstantAction."
“As the first major native web video game publisher that brings together developers, gamers, web publishers and consumers, InstantAction needs a leader who can seamlessly integrate all of these components and continue to push the boundaries in 3D browser-based gaming,” added IAC's Barry Diller. “Lou Castle has the right combination of skills to do exactly this. He is not just a proven business leader, but also an accomplished story-teller, visionary, artist and inventor.”
IAC and InstantAction are sending out an official announcement today about Castle and the new Las Vegas division. Castle stressed to us that in fact there will be no job losses as the company transitions away from its old Eugene, Orgeon headquarters. Las Vegas will now be the center for InstantAction's products and game development. Many of the Eugene staff will be moving to Las Vegas, and InstantAction's existing Portland studio will be expanding as well because Castle believes it's a great place to attract talent. The Eugene location won't be closed right away, but Castle acknowledged that it'll “continue to dwindle.” He added, “At some point I imagine, in the relatively late future, we may get to a point where we're not in Eugene anymore. Right now, it's more about building Las Vegas and Portland.”
Check out page two for Castle's thoughts on OnLive and David Perry's Gaikai...
