The Gears of War fanbase has been very excited and happy over the announcement of E-Day. However, amidst the anticipation, some fans are expressing some pretty wild and revisionist opinions about the series’ history.
A recent Reddit post discrediting Rod Fergusson for his contribution to the entire series is a prime example. It’s a head-scratcher for those who know the history of the series.
Rod Fergusson’s Role in Gears of War
Fergusson isn’t just some guy who came in later to mess things up, as the post has stated. He’s been with the franchise since day one. Back in 2005, when the original Gears of War was being developed, Fergusson was right there, helping shape the game into what it became.
No disrespect to Rod Ferguson but his vision of Gears was trash and watered the franchise down.
byu/xJayce98x inGearsOfWar
He wasn’t just overseeing things from a distance; he was deeply involved in the development process of all the main Gears games along with Cliff Bleszinski. From the chainsaw duels to the intense cover-based shooting mechanics, his fingerprints are all over the series.
Why is Rod Ferguson disliked by those in this sub?
byu/OutrageousProfile388 inGearsOfWar
Some fans seem to have a selective memory, giving all the credit to Cliff Bleszinski, the more public face of the franchise. Sure, Cliffy B was a huge part of Gears, but he wasn’t working in isolation.
The success of the original trilogy was a team effort, and Fergusson played a crucial role in that team. Without his guidance and vision, Gears might not have become the beloved series it is today.
When people say Fergusson’s vision was “trash,” they’re overlooking the fact that he was instrumental in creating the foundation of what the series is. He ensured the games had a consistent quality and feel, from the gritty, war-torn environments to the heavy, visceral combat when he was one of the main leads as part of Epic Games that created the original trilogy.
Things were obviously different when he joined The Coalition, being a different studio with different people in charge, and whatnot.
The Reality of Game Development, Especially Gears of War
Game development is a collaborative effort. It’s not like one person can single-handedly create a blockbuster game. While Cliff Bleszinski had some fantastic ideas and was a great spokesperson for the series, it was Fergusson who made sure those ideas came to life in a way that was fun to play and polished. He was the guy ensuring the team met deadlines, stayed on budget, and had other responsibilities that were required of him.
The post blames Fergusson for the change in tone and direction of Gears of War 4 and 5, although he only directed Gears 5, which only built upon what was already created in the previous game.
Now, as we look forward to E-Day, it’s worth remembering that the series has always been about more than one person’s vision. It’s about a team of various different developers working together to create something greater than the sum of its parts. And that team included Fergusson from the very beginning, all the way back towards the creation of the first game.
Are you looking forward to Gears of War: E-Day? Let us know in the comments.
