BioWare's Greg Zeschuk and Ray Muzyka Retire

BioWare, one of the gaming industry's leading RPG developers has released several news items in the past few hours that have really shaken up the gaming world. Firstly, Greg Zeschuk and Ray Muzyka will be departing BioWare for greener pastures. That, for those of you who don't know who those men are, is very, very bad news, as they were the co-founders and lead creative voices behind BioWare since it's creation. So, now that you know that the minds behind some of the greatest RPGs ever made are leaving the company they founded, you've probably decided that you're past the part where that news sucks, right? I can hear you saying to me, "Surely, they are planning on founding a company that is free from the restraints of EA's presumably immense team of marketing gurus." First, don't call me "Shirley" (classic!), second, that's not the case. As it turns out, both Zeschuk and Muzyka have made it clear that videogames are NOT what they want to do with the rest of their lives. Period. Rumors began circling the internet months ago about the future of Zeschuk and Muzyka at BioWare. However, most people had assumed that meant they would be once more going into business for themselves. There has been a clear turn in BioWare's products since the purchase of the developer by industry giant EA in 2007, and some believed the rumors of the founders leaving was a sign that things were not going well with the new management. But, as it turns out, both of these legends look to be leaving videogames behind. Zeschuk, citing the fact that he has pretty much done everything he ever hoped to do in the gaming industry, has decided that there are new challenges awaiting him. Though, he didn't come out with any exact plans, he has hinted at taking his career into a more business oriented direction. Muzyka, on the other hand, was much more cryptic with both his reasons for leaving the industry and his goals afterword. Having worked in the industry for 20 years, after starting an ER residency (oh yeah, he was a doctor first), Muzyka seems to once more have professional wanderlust. One thing is sure, whatever industry he lands in will benefit greatly from his presence.