Now that Staten is gone, one wonders under what condition he left. I am not meaning what money and legal conditions but what condition the story was.

For me personally it looked like he was so into it, but due to the work nearly being completed he left. Remember he has been working on this from pre-halo reach. And if anything ODST may be when he was working the base of this game, example being the gameplay the feeling etc.

So i have this feeling that due to time he spent working away from the team and not being that involved in reach the story part of the project is most likely complete. If anything it looks like he has done his full job and created the base of the story, and only thing left is for others to fill in the details.

What i then also wonder is if he is leaving who is he leaving to fill in after him. Who could it be?

That's a good question. Who could it be now?
da-na-na-weeee-na-ow

As a Mass Effect fan, here's hoping.

As a Mass Effect newb, does that mean they had the whole story scripted out for all 3 games in advance?

Nope, opposite. Spoilers. :)

I think SonofMacPhisto was saying Mass Effect would have benefited from more long-term planning. (?)

Levi is correct.

I mean, it's still awesome, don't get me wrong. These thoughts are in the "now that it's all over what lessons did we learn" category.

As a Mass Effect fan, here's hoping.

As a Mass Effect newb, does that mean they had the whole story scripted out for all 3 games in advance?

Nope, opposite. Spoilers. :)

I think SonofMacPhisto was saying Mass Effect would have benefited from more long-term planning. (?)

As a Mass Effect fan, here's hoping.

As a Mass Effect newb, does that mean they had the whole story scripted out for all 3 games in advance?

In fact, my (completely uneducated) guess is that the arcs for the next couple of years are well in the pipeline at this point.

If they know it's going to run for ten years, it's possible everything is already planned out until the end already.

Given the amount of production that happens after the story is written (world modeling, voicing, mocap, animating, etc.), and given Destiny's 2014 release, I'd be surprised if the main Destiny story line isn't entirely locked-in at this point.

In fact, my (completely uneducated) guess is that the arcs for the next couple of years are well in the pipeline at this point.

For me personally it looked like he was so into it, but due to the work nearly being completed he left. Remember he has been working on this from pre-halo reach. And if anything ODST may be when he was working the base of this game, example being the gameplay the feeling etc.

So i have this feeling that due to time he spent working away from the team and not being that involved in reach the story part of the project is most likely complete. If anything it looks like he has done his full job and created the base of the story, and only thing left is for others to fill in the details.

What i then also wonder is if he is leaving who is he leaving to fill in after him. Who could it be?

And your words will be powerful.
I urge you, use your powers of communication for good.
Bring clarity to confusion.
Build consensus, not division.
Speak humbly when you know you are right and speak kindly when you know someone else is wrong.

Not to dig up old graves, stir up old flames, or wake up the dead. But...
Beside the regular range of emotions that come along with an announcement like that, I'm ashamed to say it but this whole Staten leaving ordeal for some sad reason blindingly reminded me of these specific recent posts here on DBO :(
http://destiny.bungie.org/forum/index.php?id=8741
http://destiny.bungie.org/forum/index.php?id=13788

Thanks Kerm, this video has provided the words, whereas my own were quietly filled with unjustness

In a strange coincidence of events this video happened to come up in the related videos section when I was watching that convocation on the Youtube. It has 7 "likes"

Youtube | Joseph Staten's Tandem Skydive

No one has made a '"...but who will satisfy my grunty thirst now?" joke yet.

Specifically, his second point [7:55]: Create more than you consume.

He repeated this advice at the "Evolution of a game developer" panel at PAX several weeks back.

These words haunt me every day.

I love reading, but...

I love listening to music, but ...

I love Breaking Bad, but ....

I love playing games, but ...

I love being here, but ...

His last piece of advice is crucial, too. (You'll have to watch.:))

Maybe he'll open a vineyard or something? That'd be neat.

Contact grape harvest.

Here's to Staten! [CLINK!]

Whatever he does next (and Marcus Lehto too, for that matter) I'm looking forward to hearing about it. Maybe he'll open a vineyard or something? That'd be neat.

I'm confident that Bungie will stay on track and keep releasing great games, but Joe's presence will be missed.

And now I'm curious about what he's going on to do... There were a few people tossing around the idea of him writing books or movie scripts. Either one (or even both) would be awesome! Can't wait to see what stories he has in store for us!

It's kinda making me reflect on the fragile impermanence of all the things I thought wouldn't change. They all change. I change.

whoa

http://www.bungie.net/7_Its-been-an-honor/en/News/News?aid=11101

I feel awkwardly detached. I know Staten from the many videos and presentations, but it has been some time since I really sat down and enjoyed anything from Bungie o.O It is still sad to see someone leave the ship after so long, but that is always the feeling when things like this happen, then stuff tend to work out anyway, the result will just be tinted a different color.

Call me an asshat but I figured I could just as well post my thoughts. If Joe has his mind on other kinds of media and storytelling, like perhaps movies, it is probably good for both him and everyone else that he moves on. Over the years I have seen games turn into interactive movies which breaks my heart. Just meaning that if his goals and motivation have diverged from those of Bungie it is probably a good decision. Not sure how well I got that across, uh.

And random speculation, If Staten is moving towards a... what, Halo movie project? Well that would make me very excited :P haha. I'll be looking forward to see what he takes on in the future!