Cliff Bleszinski gets serious, kills CliffyB

by Xav de Matos { May 21st 2008 at 4:00PM }

Today marks a sad day for gaming journalists as we're forced to learn the proper spelling of Gears of War 2 lead designer Cliff ~~Blezinski~~, um, ~~Kowalski~~, crap, Bleszinski, there we go. Speaking with MTV Multiplayer blogger Steven Totilo, Cliff confirmed that he would be dropping his CliffyB moniker, which he's used since the 90's.

It's "time to grow up a bit," Cliff wrote in a note stating the nickname doesn't suit his 30-something lifestyle and that he's more focused on working to perfect Gears of War 2 and doesn't have time for silly nicknames. At least nicknames he'll publicly endorse.

Pour one out for CliffyB folks, it was a wild ride.

Tags: cliff-bleszinski, cliffyb, epic, epic-games, gears-of-war, gears-of-war-2, gow, gow2

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

felkadelic @ May 21st 2008 4:05PM

What a self-important blowhard

Anticrawl @ May 21st 2008 9:35PM

Agreed, I never liked the guy, he pisses me off. What pisses me off more is when I hear "CliffyB," it makes me want to slit throats. Thank god for violent video games though, otherwise I'd have to start killing people.

Dick @ May 22nd 2008 1:23PM

Yeah dude, no shit. He's got all of these important deadlines and 30-something lifestyle decisions (Diamond stud earrings or hoops today? Do I wear gel in my hair or just grab a hat?)...

yet he finds time to make this ever important pronouncement.

What a turd-burglar.

Mike @ May 21st 2008 4:08PM

So, for Gears 1 we had CliffyB, and for Gears 2 we have Cliff Bleszinski...... I'm calling it now, by the time Gears 3 comes out we'll be referring to him as Clifford Upperbottom Bleszinski of the East Hampton Bleszinskis.

Leatherface SCT @ May 21st 2008 4:13PM

You win the comments.

DjDATZ @ May 21st 2008 4:24PM

You are Winnar. Comment of the year here.

ZEBRA NINER @ May 21st 2008 4:33PM

haha! This is a good one. I'll give you one w00t! :)

B Tizo @ May 21st 2008 4:51PM

No seriously... you win, I haven't laughed that hard at a comment in a LONG time! Wow... the clincher was Upperbottom, f-ing hillarious! Nicely done!

itsburnsie @ May 21st 2008 4:53PM

Dear Mike,

Your comment contains 50% LOL, 50% win, and 50% PURE AWESOME (Yes, that's 150%), and the internet is a better place because of it.

Some people build great monuments and sculptures to leave their mark on the world, you sir have crafted pure win out of mere digital bytes. I salute you and your kind for all ages.

jaybird1905 @ May 21st 2008 5:46PM

Was this some sort of inside joke?

If not ... wow. I've got a WAY difference sense of humor than you guys.

Dante X @ May 21st 2008 6:36PM

@jaybird1905:

I bet that your real name is: "Clifford Upperbottom Bleszinski of the East Hampton Bleszinskis", that's why you don't find it funny.

Marrvia @ May 21st 2008 7:21PM

I'm with jaybird. I'm dieing to know how that comment was funny?

Xav de Matos @ May 21st 2008 7:23PM

I lawled. Now have moved on.

yourenemiesfriends @ May 21st 2008 4:08PM

i've always thought this guys was a Douche. Hope you're reading this CliffyB!

ANt @ May 21st 2008 4:17PM

ditto

Xav de Matos @ May 21st 2008 4:19PM

I'm sure he's wiping his tears on wads of $100 bills right now.

Mrblonde @ May 21st 2008 4:55PM

Yes im sure he is looking around all the gaming news sites to see what people think of him and what his reputation is like. Like in that one episode of family guy when it was still good where Luke Perry was infuriated for a high school newspaper article stating he was gay.

jaybird1905 @ May 21st 2008 5:46PM

All the money in the world doesn't erase the fact that he's an ego-centric douche nozzle.

Etchasketchist @ May 21st 2008 5:46PM

Nice, got a douche in before the fourth comment. Now can we get a "fag" in before this thread is done? Cliff'll think we're slipping.

jaybird1905 @ May 21st 2008 5:50PM

@Etchasketchist

I think my use of "douche nozzle" was acceptable and fitting.

"1. douche-nozzle

One who is worse than your normal douche-bag.
That dumbass frat boy with his popped collar, gelled hair, and 2 polo shirts is a douche-nozzle. "

andyg8180 @ May 21st 2008 4:12PM

alright there J-blow and P-schitty!!!

X3F... start calling him Clifford... like the big red dog..

WarriorDyke @ May 21st 2008 4:14PM

I hope he reads this...

Dude, get over it. I dislike you and I hate your 'Gears' games.

Royale @ May 21st 2008 4:17PM

You're awesome.

Mrblonde @ May 21st 2008 4:29PM

Blah on you kind sir.

Lewis (GT: StoneRevolver) @ May 21st 2008 4:32PM

I really think he's gonna quit the business that pays his bills, just for you.

-_-

Chuckles @ May 21st 2008 4:14PM

The same thing that Screech tried to do but as we know the first thing you think when you see his MUG is Screech.

Deck @ May 21st 2008 4:15PM

Interesting...I guess everyone wants a change at some point.

adam @ May 21st 2008 4:19PM

I think its admirable.Why are you hating on him for this?

People used to cal me little a.They did that shit up until i told em to cut that shit out in college.

You have to grow up sometime.And i feel hes maturing meaning gow2 should be really fucking good with a killer story.

mcwattersm @ May 21st 2008 4:30PM

Internet bad ass detected in sector 13.

Etchasketchist @ May 21st 2008 5:49PM

Stories don't kill people. People with chainsaws attached to their guns kill people.

shay07 @ May 21st 2008 4:20PM

cliffyB was just to short to fit into the bigger better and more bad ass theme

Mrblonde @ May 21st 2008 4:28PM

I personally think he is the more cooler and more awesome developers. He isnt like guys like Peter Moore and Denis Dyack even though they are cool too. He is more like Peter from Office Space. Doesn't try to look way professional. He likes to be trendy.

Doom3killer @ May 21st 2008 4:36PM

he changed his name 2 weeks ago... old news

Xav de Matos @ May 21st 2008 4:39PM

Hrmm. Where did that happen?

ZEBRA NINER @ May 21st 2008 4:52PM

I do remember reading that it was now changed when the trailer came out. He also mentioned it on the Major Nelson podcast during an interview.

It's news to somebody! :)

Grant @ May 21st 2008 4:56PM

maybe with his new name he should stop dressing like he's in his early 20s?

Roto13 @ May 21st 2008 5:03PM

Next step: Not acting like a tool.

webster1990 @ May 21st 2008 5:03PM

what about his gamercard!?

murph @ May 21st 2008 5:03PM

Sorry CliffyB, you don't get to pick your own nickname or when people stop using it. Just be glad you got a cool nickname unlike "booger" "McLovin" or "meathead".

m0rb1d @ May 21st 2008 5:17PM

Screw that! I'm still calling him Cliffy B!!!!!!!!!!!!

Neuromancer @ May 21st 2008 5:18PM

I remember back in the Unreal Tournament days he had a website called "CliffyB's These Maps Own" or something. Since GoW however he has become kind of a nutjob. I don't doubt that he can make good games but he takes himself and his games way too seriously.

Etchasketchist @ May 21st 2008 5:48PM

Huh? I don't think "taking things seriously" means what you think it means.

jaybird1905 @ May 21st 2008 5:47PM

Since when do people PICK their nicknames?

What a fuckin' douche!

Dralthi @ May 22nd 2008 10:45AM

Totally agree with you there!

You can't pick and choose your own nickname!

Nicknames are given to you.

CliffyB fo evah!

Justin W @ May 21st 2008 5:50PM

CliffyB has always been a tool. He strikes me as the kind of guy that has always been spoiled and feels that he can change anything and everything whenever he wants. I hope that for the rest of his life when he does an interview, someone calls him CliffyB just to piss him off. What a douche he is.