Phil Steinmeyer leaves PopTop

Jeff V · Post by **Jeff V** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 12:42 pm

I'm shocked:

After a long run, I've left PopTop Software. The departure was mutually amicable, and the rest of PopTop continues to work on a new strategy game.

I started PopTop in 1993, and am proud of the games we've made, and thankful to the many people who were crucial along the way, not only PopTop employees but also the many others we've worked with within Take Two, Gathering, and the 'larger world'.

I'm looking forward to taking some time off before embarking on some new, as-yet-undetermined adventure.

Dirt · Post by **Dirt** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 1:18 pm

I wonder if it was really by choice.

dbt1949 · Post by **dbt1949** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 2:13 pm

Wow.That really is shocking. I wonder what really is happening here.

Veloxi · Post by **Veloxi** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 4:25 pm

Both shocking and a shame. Poptop games were pretty damned good all around.

Giles Habibula · Post by **Giles Habibula** » Wed Dec 22, 2004 11:13 pm

I've never played any PopTop games, but I used to really enjoy reading Phil's articles on game development when he was writing for Computer Games Magazine. He's a decent writer and gave some entertaining insight into the development process. Another of my many reasons why CG Magazine remains my favorite. He doesn't write those articles any more I realize, but CG continues to have superior writing all-around.

(Still waiting to see if my "Speak Out" column ever appears.)

Rich in KCK · Post by **Rich in KCK** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 6:05 am

Giles Habibula wrote:I've never played any PopTop games, but I used to really enjoy reading Phil's articles on game development when he was writing for Computer Games Magazine. He's a decent writer and gave some entertaining insight into the development process. Another of my many reasons why CG Magazine remains my favorite. He doesn't write those articles any more I realize, but CG continues to have superior writing all-around.

(Still waiting to see if my "Speak Out" column ever appears.)

I think a guy from Irrational Games took over that column and Phil used to post at GG now and then as well.

warning · Post by **warning** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 8:43 am

That's a shame. I really liked Bejeweled.

Wait. Wrong company.

Grifman · Post by **Grifman** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 9:44 am

Dirt wrote:I wonder if it was really by choice.

Wasn't he one of the owners?

Grifman

Kraken · Post by **Kraken** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 11:07 am

Do you suppose that means he no longer owns the Tropico or Railroad Tycoon brands? Pop Top will survive without him if they own those properties -- maybe even take them in a welcome new direction. While I admire Steinmeyer's work overall, I'm not a big fan of scenario-based games.

baron calamity · Post by **baron calamity** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 11:52 am

I can't imagine we'll ever see anything from PopTop again. Phil WAS Poptop

Hrnac · Post by **Hrnac** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 11:53 am

I'll take a sandbox over a scenario any day.

-Hrnac

Reed · Post by **Reed** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 11:53 am

warning wrote:That's a shame. I really liked Bejeweled.

Wait. Wrong company.

Hehe, I always have to catch myself w/ that too.

The Meal · Post by **The Meal** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 12:02 pm

baron calamity wrote:I can't imagine we'll ever see anything from PopTop again. Phil WAS Poptop

Welcome, Rob!! Great to see you.

~Neal

Dirt · Post by **Dirt** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 1:15 pm

Grifman wrote:
Dirt wrote:I wonder if it was really by choice.
Wasn't he one of the owners?

Grifman

If the company is public, they can still fire you.

baron calamity · Post by **baron calamity** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 2:07 pm

Dirt wrote:
Grifman wrote:
Dirt wrote:I wonder if it was really by choice.
Wasn't he one of the owners?

Grifman
If the company is public, they can still fire you.

Poptop was sold to Take Two a while back and thus really its only a brand name. Phil and everyone else were just Take Two employees

Grifman · Post by **Grifman** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 3:12 pm

baron calamity wrote:
Dirt wrote:
Grifman wrote:
Dirt wrote:I wonder if it was really by choice.
Wasn't he one of the owners?

Grifman
If the company is public, they can still fire you.
Poptop was sold to Take Two a while back and thus really its only a brand name. Phil and everyone else were just Take Two employees

'

You're right, I had forgotten about that.

Grifman

Grifman · Post by **Grifman** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 3:13 pm

Dirt wrote:
Grifman wrote:
Dirt wrote:I wonder if it was really by choice.
Wasn't he one of the owners?

Grifman
If the company is public, they can still fire you.

I said he was one of the owners, implying a small, closely held company, not that the company was publicly owned. Most small development companies are not publicly held.

Grifman

Beer Goggles · Post by **Beer Goggles** » Fri Dec 24, 2004 11:12 am

Rich in KCK wrote:
Giles Habibula wrote:I've never played any PopTop games, but I used to really enjoy reading Phil's articles on game development when he was writing for Computer Games Magazine. He's a decent writer and gave some entertaining insight into the development process. Another of my many reasons why CG Magazine remains my favorite. He doesn't write those articles any more I realize, but CG continues to have superior writing all-around.

(Still waiting to see if my "Speak Out" column ever appears.)
I think a guy from Irrational Games took over that column and Phil used to post at GG now and then as well.

Ken Levine, you gaming heathen.

jpinard · Post by **jpinard** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 7:19 pm

Jeff, where is that quote from?

Jeff V · Post by **Jeff V** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 7:58 pm

jpinard wrote:Jeff, where is that quote from?

An email Phil sent out a few weeks ago.

jpinard · Post by **jpinard** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 8:15 pm

I kind of felt Phil "WAS" Poptop... so I wonder what's left... and I sure hope he isn't leaving gaming