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[[File:Jeff Kaplan.jpg|thumb|Jeff Kaplan]] |
[[File:Jeff Kaplan.jpg|thumb|Jeff Kaplan]] |
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| + | Jeff Kaplan was the game director of ''[[Overwatch]]''<ref>2015-02-12, [http://hearthstone.blizzpro.com/2015/02/12/blizzard-to-reveal-whats-new-for-hearthstone-at-pax-east/ Blizzard to Reveal What's New for Hearthstone at PAX East]. ''Blizzpro'', accessed on 2015-02-14</ref> and [[Overwatch 2|''Overwatch 2'']] until April 2021.<ref name = "NewLeadership">2021-04-20, [https://news.blizzard.com/en-us/overwatch/23665015/new-leadership-for-overwatch New Leadership for Overwatch]. ''Blizzard Official Website'', accessed on 2021-04-20</ref> |
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| + | ==Story== |
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| − | '''Jeff Kaplan''' is the game director of ''[[Overwatch]]''.<ref>2015-02-12, [http://hearthstone.blizzpro.com/2015/02/12/blizzard-to-reveal-whats-new-for-hearthstone-at-pax-east/ Blizzard to Reveal What's New for Hearthstone at PAX East]. ''Blizzpro'', accessed on 2015-02-14</ref> He previously served as game director of ''World of Warcraft'',<ref>2014-11-17, [http://overwatch.blizzplanet.com/blog/comments/blizzcon-2014-opening-ceremony-transcript BlizzCon 2014 – Opening Ceremony Transcript]. ''Blizzplanet'', accessed on 2015-03-03</ref> and worked for five years on ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titan_%28Blizzard_Entertainment_project%29 Titan]'', the MMO from which ''Overwatch'' emerged.<ref>2015-03-20, [http://www.polygon.com/2015/3/20/8264313/what-overwatch-didnt-learn-from-titan-and-why-it-could-be-blizzards OVERWATCH: HOW BLIZZARD TURNED ITS BIGGEST FAILURE INTO ITS NEXT GREAT HOPE]. ''Polygon'', accessed on 2015-03-21</ref> |
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| − | <br>He is known for his common interaction with the playerbase through the official forum and Developer Updates on the Overwatch YouTube channel. |
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| + | Prior to joining [[Blizzard Entertainment]], Kaplan played and modded a number of FPS games, including ''Quake'', ''Doom'', ''Half-Life'', and ''Duke Nukem 3D''. He also got into ''EverQuest'' during this time period. He did not play Blizzard games during this period, as the company was more focused on RTS games during this time. |
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| + | Kaplan joined [[Blizzard Entertainment]] in May, 2002. He worked as a tester for ''Warcraft III'' as the game neared release. After the game released, he was transferred to work on ''World of Warcraft''. Kaplan has commented that the shift from RTS to MMO was a "natural fit" for his gaming preferences. He worked on quests for the game,<ref name = "KaplanInterview">2016-04-27, [http://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-story-of-overwatch-the-complete-jeff-kaplan-in/1100-6439202/ FEATURE ARTICLE |
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| + | The Story of Overwatch: The Complete Jeff Kaplan Interview]. ''GameSpot'', accessed on 2016-04-27</ref> and later served as the game director.<ref>2014-11-17, [http://overwatch.blizzplanet.com/blog/comments/blizzcon-2014-opening-ceremony-transcript BlizzCon 2014 – Opening Ceremony Transcript]. ''Blizzplanet'', accessed on 2015-03-03</ref> |
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| + | Kaplan worked for five years on ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titan_%28Blizzard_Entertainment_project%29 Titan]''<ref>2015-03-20, [http://www.polygon.com/2015/3/20/8264313/what-overwatch-didnt-learn-from-titan-and-why-it-could-be-blizzards OVERWATCH: HOW BLIZZARD TURNED ITS BIGGEST FAILURE INTO ITS NEXT GREAT HOPE]. ''Polygon'', accessed on 2015-03-21</ref> before the game's cancellation. In the aftermath, he did work on ''Crossroads'', pitching the 50 classes idea. On the side, he did a "heroes rather than classes" pitch, which became the basis of ''Overwatch''.<ref name = "BlizzproArchives">2017-11-05, [http://overwatch.blizzpro.com/2017/11/05/overwatch-archives-panel/ OVERWATCH ARCHIVES PANEL]. ''Blizzpro'', accessed on 2017-11-19</ref> |
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| + | He was a "stakeholder" in the game's animated shorts, and gives feedback on their production.<ref>2016-12-17, [http://overwatch.blizzplanet.com/blog/comments/blizzcon-2016-overwatch-animated-shorts-panel-transcript BlizzCon 2016 Overwatch Animated Shorts Panel Transcript]. ''Blizzplanet'', accessed on 2017-01-07</ref> |
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| + | Kaplan's departure from Blizzard was announced in April, 2021. [[Aaron Keller]] took his position of game director.<ref name = "NewLeadership"/> |
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| + | ==Trivia== |
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| + | *Kaplan is said to be a peanut butter enthusiast.<ref>2017-04-09, [https://www.gamespot.com/articles/overwatch-director-talks-abandoned-cat-hero-patchi/1100-6449176/ Overwatch Director Talks Abandoned Cat Hero, Patching Out Genji, And More]. ''GameSpot'', accessed on 2017-04-09</ref> Coincidentally or not, peanut butter is also favored by [[Winston]]. |
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| + | *As a player, his favorite game genres are FPS and MMO.<ref>2017-09-22, [http://au.ign.com/articles/2017/09/22/overwatch-from-cancelled-project-to-game-of-the-year-ign-expert-mode-ep-3?watch OVERWATCH: FROM CANCELLED PROJECT TO GAME OF THE YEAR - IGN EXPERT MODE EP. 3]. ''IGN'', accessed on 2017-09-23</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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<references/> |
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+ | [[Category:Staff|Kaplan, Jeff]] |
Revision as of 05:52, 21 April 2021
Jeff Kaplan
Jeff Kaplan was the game director of Overwatch[1] and Overwatch 2 until April 2021.[2]
Story
Prior to joining Blizzard Entertainment, Kaplan played and modded a number of FPS games, including Quake, Doom, Half-Life, and Duke Nukem 3D. He also got into EverQuest during this time period. He did not play Blizzard games during this period, as the company was more focused on RTS games during this time.
Kaplan joined Blizzard Entertainment in May, 2002. He worked as a tester for Warcraft III as the game neared release. After the game released, he was transferred to work on World of Warcraft. Kaplan has commented that the shift from RTS to MMO was a "natural fit" for his gaming preferences. He worked on quests for the game,[3] and later served as the game director.[4]
Kaplan worked for five years on Titan[5] before the game's cancellation. In the aftermath, he did work on Crossroads, pitching the 50 classes idea. On the side, he did a "heroes rather than classes" pitch, which became the basis of Overwatch.[6]
He was a "stakeholder" in the game's animated shorts, and gives feedback on their production.[7]
Kaplan's departure from Blizzard was announced in April, 2021. Aaron Keller took his position of game director.[2]
Trivia
- Kaplan is said to be a peanut butter enthusiast.[8] Coincidentally or not, peanut butter is also favored by Winston.
- As a player, his favorite game genres are FPS and MMO.[9]
References
- ↑ 2015-02-12, Blizzard to Reveal What's New for Hearthstone at PAX East. Blizzpro, accessed on 2015-02-14
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2021-04-20, New Leadership for Overwatch. Blizzard Official Website, accessed on 2021-04-20
- ↑ 2016-04-27, [http://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-story-of-overwatch-the-complete-jeff-kaplan-in/1100-6439202/ FEATURE ARTICLE The Story of Overwatch: The Complete Jeff Kaplan Interview]. GameSpot, accessed on 2016-04-27
- ↑ 2014-11-17, BlizzCon 2014 – Opening Ceremony Transcript. Blizzplanet, accessed on 2015-03-03
- ↑ 2015-03-20, OVERWATCH: HOW BLIZZARD TURNED ITS BIGGEST FAILURE INTO ITS NEXT GREAT HOPE. Polygon, accessed on 2015-03-21
- ↑ 2017-11-05, OVERWATCH ARCHIVES PANEL. Blizzpro, accessed on 2017-11-19
- ↑ 2016-12-17, BlizzCon 2016 Overwatch Animated Shorts Panel Transcript. Blizzplanet, accessed on 2017-01-07
- ↑ 2017-04-09, Overwatch Director Talks Abandoned Cat Hero, Patching Out Genji, And More. GameSpot, accessed on 2017-04-09
- ↑ 2017-09-22, OVERWATCH: FROM CANCELLED PROJECT TO GAME OF THE YEAR - IGN EXPERT MODE EP. 3. IGN, accessed on 2017-09-23