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Former EA Exec Kudo Tsunoda Joins Microsoft
by Christian Nutt
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January 25, 2008
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According to new media reports independently backed up by Gamasutra, the flamboyant Kudo Tsunoda, former head of EA's now-closed Chicago Studio (Def Jam: Icon, Fight Night series) has accepted a new position with Microsoft Game Studios.
A report in a new GameTap Read article indicates an anonymous Microsoft staffer is reported as confirming that Tsunoda has joined Microsoft; further, the report suggests that he is working, presumably in an oversight/production role, at a new Gears of War title for the company.
Independent sources have confirmed to Gamasutra that this move is part of an in-progress re-organization from Microsoft senior vice president Don Mattrick, who took over for Peter Moore in 2007 after a stint at EA.
It's been suggested that Microsoft is considering a similar 'silo-ization' of its game divisions to Electronic Arts' 2007 re-org which saw executives take control of various thematic parts of the EA business - though this shift is not officially announced and still in progress.
Electronic Arts' Chicago division closed its doors in November last year, after disappointing results from Def Jam: Icon, its fighting game for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
According to EA Games Frank Gibeau's memo at the time, "EA Chicago hasn't been able to meet that standard. The location has grown dramatically in the past three years while revenue from the games developed there has not." It was then suggested that Tsunoda was welcome to stay at EA.
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