Report: Midway Execs, Chicago Studio Head Resign

Several high-level employees at Midway apparently resigned their positions, including Chicago studio head Mike Bilder, marketing vice president Mona Hamilton, and media relations VP Reilly Brennan, according to consumer site Kotaku. Bilder joined Midway in 2000 as a game programmer before ascending to the roles of executive producer, director of production, and studio head, the latter position held since February 2007. He was involved in several of the company's marquee projects, including Stranglehold, Blitz: The League, and the Mortal Kombat series. Midway representatives told Kotaku that Bilder accepted a senior management position with another Chicago-based developer, but declined to named the company. The representatives added, "We are evaluating internal and external candidates for the role, and both Blitz: The League II and Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, as well as other projects in the Chicago studio, are on track for successful launches." Midway also confirmed that Mona Hamilton, who served as marketing VP at the company since 2003, and Reilly Brennan, media relations VP since 2003, are both "no longer with Midway and will be pursuing other opportunities." Two other senior Midway employees reportedly left the studio, though no details were provided for their departures. News of the resignations comes only a few days after Midway announced its second fiscal quarter results, revealing a $34.8 million net loss for the three-month period that ended June 30, 2008. The shortfall represents a 143 percent increase year-over-year from the Q2 2007 loss of $14.3 million. Revenue fell as well, dropping 26 percent year-over-year from $31.8 to $23.4. Despite the decreased performance, the figure beat Midway's own guidance, which projected revenue of $18 million. The company went on to announce that it has moved the release dates for two of its upcoming titles, The Wheelman and This Is Vegas, into 2009.