Warren Spector issues impassioned farewell to shuttered Junction Point

Warren Spector has issued an impassioned farewell to Junction Point, which Disney closed yesterday.

In a post on Facebook the legendary game designer said he was sad to see the studio he founded in 2005 go, but pointed to an exciting future.

"Yes, it's true," he said. "The Junction Point journey is over. To all those who've asked, or want to ask, I'm sad but excited for the future.

"JPS had a good eight year run. I got to work with some amazing people on some amazing projects. I've had some of the most magical times of my life, fulfilling several life-long dreams. I've gotten to know Disney fans and Disney cast members, gotten hands on with Disney's history, walked where Walt walked... 'Magical' really is the only word."

Junction Point released two games during its eight-year life: Epic Mickey (2010) for the Wii and Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two (2012) for various platforms.

While the first game was considered a rare third-party success on Nintendo's console, the follow-up failed to set tills alight, selling just over half a million copies in the US.

"But now it's time to... (Man, I almost said, 'now it's time to say goodbye to all our fa-mi-ly...' Which would have led me right to 'M-I-C-K-E-Y-M-O-U-S-E!')," Spector continued.

"Let's just say, now it's time to move on to the next adventure. I honestly don't know what that will be yet, so don't ask.

"Anyway, whatever you think of me, or Junction Point, or Disney or the Disney Epic Mickey games - yes, I know we polarized people! - I'll always look back on the last eight years with nothing but pride. Rarely have I worked with a team more dedicated or harder working. Never have I been part of a game - of anything, really - that touched people at as deep or personal a level as the Epic Mickey games. That's priceless.

"I said to myself as Junction Point embarked on the Epic Mickey journey that, worst case, we'd be 'a footnote in Disney history.' Looking back on it, I think we did far better than that. With Mickey Mouse as our hero, we introduced a mainstream audience to some cool 'core game' concepts... and, most especially, we restored Oswald the Lucky Rabbit to a place of prominence.

"WE did that.

"Junction Point.

"I'll always be grateful to Disney for that opportunity, to the folks who helped out along the way in Glendale, on the studio lot in Burbank, at the parks in Anaheim and Orlando and Paris, at Disney offices around the world and at Pixar. (You know who you are!) I'm grateful to the Disney fans, bloggers and historians who embraced me, the team and our work - that was huge. And, most especially, I'll always be grateful to the folks - the family - at Junction Point who did all the real work.

"I'll see all of you in the future!"

Speculation is already mounting on Spector's next gig. As the co-creator of the Deus Ex series, some hope Eidos Montreal will snap him up. Other's have suggested Spector may go indie with a smaller-scale production after the gargantuan, 700-person effort that was Epic Mickey 2.