Flagship Studios co-founder Phil Shenk has established a new studio titled Gravity Bear, Shenk confirmed to Shacknews. The former Blizzard developer will serve as CEO of the company.

Best known to gamers as his Diablo 2 doppelganger Shenk the Overseer (pictured left), Shenk held the position of art director on Hellgate London, and worked as a lead artist on Diablo 2 and its expansion Lord of Destruction. Read more »

Following the failure of Flagship Studios and Hellgate: London, former Blizzard Entertainment director Bill Roper has joined Cryptic Studios, the MMO developer announced today.

Roper will serve as Design Director on Champions Online, Cryptic's new massively multiplayer online superhero title based on the Champions role playing game.

Said Cryptic Studios CEO John Needham, "Bill brings a ton of creative energy to the Cryptic office and we're thrilled to have him join our team. His years of gaming and online experience are huge assets to all of our projects, and Bill will assist us in furthering our studio's vision to create innovative, exciting MMO gameplay."