Atari exec: Driv3r was 'half-baked'

PS2 News | Glad we all agree.

Hats off to Atari sales and marketing VP Nique Fajors, who yesterday admitted that the publisher's Driv3r was "a half-baked product that was pushed out the door for revenue reasons." Released in 2004 on PS2 and Xbox, the title was on the receiving end of a deserved critical pasting, with this site awarding the game a 4.5. Admittedly, Fajors' criticism isn't quite so bold and courageous when you consider the entire Driver franchise was sold to Ubisoft a few weeks back, but still, it's always refreshing to hear a leading industry bigwig being so frank.

Fajors expressed his views at Atari's annual press event in LA, before going on to state how Atari would only be hiring development staff who feel "disgust with losing and disgust with being mediocre" in the future.

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7 Comments

Matt

5 years ago

So why are they trying to sell Melbourne House then? Le Mans and Transformers were probably the best in-house Atari titles ever

D.Dark

5 years ago

I loved Driv3r nonetheless (even though i felt it was half baked from the start) because of the story and Tranformers was one game i know they did pretty well with, cant wait for Trans 2.

NismoR34

5 years ago

Um, correct me if I am wrong (it has been a while) but wasn't part of the reason as to why Driv3r was so crap was because Atari started rushing Reflections so that they could beat San Andreas to release? Obviously Driv3r had a lengthy development time before that but I swear I remember reading about Atari trying to rush Reflections so that they could be first.

If it is indeed true what I am saying then I really don't think Atari are in a position to criticise. If I am wrong however then shut up Nismo.

Chris-Leigh

5 years ago

NismoR34 wrote

True Nismo, but then Fajors did describe the game as "a half-baked product that was pushed out the door for revenue reasons." And as it was Atari that pushed it out the door, he's being critical of Atari, not Reflections.

Still, I doubt Reflections' director Martin Edmondson is too fussed - he got $4m compensation for unfair dismissal after the game got hammered and he was booted. Says it all really - Atari to blame.

D.Dark

5 years ago

Was Martin really booted??!!! If he was then i wonder where the Driver franchise will go, his bro should still be there right? They are exceedingly good when it comes to driving/racing games, stuntman was also a big hit.

Chris-Leigh

5 years ago

D.Dark wrote

My bad: I just checked and he actually resigned, but then sued successfully for unfair dismissal to the tune of 4 million.

ugh the boot

5 years ago

Holy Smokes....Ubisoft have bought the Driver series!! Hoooraaayyy!!!! This could mean a return of the games actually being good!!

Atari have about as much care for the end product as EA do.

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DRIV3R

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Australian Release Date:
  Out Now
European Release Date:
  Out Now
Publisher:
  Atari
Developer:
  Reflections
Players:
  1

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