EA to layoff 1,000 and shutdown/consolidate 9 studios

[schild]

Pandemic mostly made shitty games anyway :( They were not the most creative or interesting studio. I remember back when they merged with Bioware and all I could think of was "what? why?"

[Velorath]

This may have been said already, but my understanding is that Pandemic has already seen some pretty heavy staff cuts. Whether or not they are forced to merge is another story.

I hope not, at least for Pandemic AU's sake.  They already had 2 sets of layoffs this year, first set was due to WB pulling the batman license for the game they were working on, then another set of layoffs when EA did the blanket layoff.  Would be a shame to see it further reduced.

Yeah, these were the staff cuts I was referring to. Right now I'm guessing that selling out to EA doesn't seem to have been such a great idea.

I can't imagine they'd be any better off right now if they hadn't sold out to EA.

[Azazel]

My guess. Based on not much.

Either BioWare, Bioware Austin, or Mythic is in trouble next time around, but purchase is too recent so too many EA management will be invested in them right now.

Despite wanting to see Jacobs and co strung up, I tend to agree with you on that point.


Why did you strikethrough Criterion? The Burnout series appears to be doing quite well, unlike the stale Need for Speed franchise.

[Riggswolfe]

Either BioWare, Bioware Austin, or Mythic is in trouble next time around, but purchase is too recent so too many EA management will be invested in them right now.

Out of those 3 I'd say Bioware Austin, then Mythic if it comes down to it.

Bioware Austin simply because they haven't actually released anything yet. Mythic, well, its future depends on how well DAOC: Origins does and if they can turn things around on Warhammer. I think Bioware is probably ok simply because while they don't sell millions, the stuff they make is pretty much guranteed to see a profit. It might be small, but it's a profit.

[KallDrexx]

I don't see DAOC: Origins doing anything wroth a damn for more than a month.

[shiznitz]

Maxis has been a blackhole for years. Spore failed. Close it. Then Will Wright can start over and do something good.

Bioware is safe for now. The CEO is EA was a venture capital partner in the firm that sold Bioware to EA. Too much egg on the face if they shut it down now. Dragon Age will see the loght of day and thereupon will hang the fate of the studio.

[Mrbloodworth]

Spore failed?


huh.

[Murgos]

We will have to wait for the next 10Q to see real numbers but I had seen news blurbs putting Spore sales into the 2 million unit range.  Not sure what 'success' is but I don't think that's remotely close to failure.

[shiznitz]

We will have to wait for the next 10Q to see real numbers but I had seen news blurbs putting Spore sales into the 2 million unit range.  Not sure what 'success' is but I don't think that's remotely close to failure.

I hadn;t seen anything that high. That would not be failure in an absolute sense, but for a game in the works for 10 years, it isn't a roaring success either. I never hear or read anyone talking about the game.

[Trippy]

We will have to wait for the next 10Q to see real numbers but I had seen news blurbs putting Spore sales into the 2 million unit range.  Not sure what 'success' is but I don't think that's remotely close to failure.

They were shooting for another The Sims/The Sims 2. So far it doesn't look like it'll come even close to that franchise.

[Murgos]

I think that last month there were three Sims 2 titles on the top 10 sales list (and Sims 3 on the way)?  A mediocre to average performance on Spore isn't going to cause EA to slash Will Wrights budget anytime soon.

[Trippy]

I think that last month there were three Sims 2 titles on the top 10 sales list (and Sims 3 on the way)?  A mediocre to average performance on Spore isn't going to cause EA to slash Will Wrights budget anytime soon.

Will doesn't work on The Sims. All The Sims people got moved from the East Bay Maxis studio to Redwood Shores. Maxis is now just Spore.

Edit: I should say the old Maxis is now just Spore. They may still keep the Maxis name for branding purposes on The Sims, I haven't looked at a box recently.

[shiznitz]

The cover of The Sims 2 has EA logo only (unless Maxis is tiny or on the back or both.)

http://www.amazon.com/Sims-2-Double-Deluxe-Pc/dp/B001444IN6/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1229981176&sr=8-1

[Lum]

Ho Velorath forgot to list Ultima Online under Mythic! *zing*
Or does UO still count with its 25-100k(no clue) subscriber number?

I am fairly certain UO has quite a few more subscribers than DAOC currently.

I know it's fun to doomcast but would it be cool if I placed bets on YOUR imminent unemployment? (And that's what a Mythic/Bioware consolidation would be - the Northern Virginia housing market precludes anyone from ever moving if they don't want to eat a loss of a half million or so)

[UnSub]

I know it's fun to doomcast but would it be cool if I placed bets on YOUR imminent unemployment?

If there is a forum where devs bitch about players all the time and how they aren't playing their MMO right, feel free.

Or, better yet, pay me a heap of money, then blog about it when I fail to deliver what has been promised with fire twirling and dancing girls.

OR: Welcome to your audience.

[Velorath]

If I were working at an EA studio right now, I think speculation on message boards would be the least of my concerns at the moment.

[eldaec]

My guess. Based on not much.

Either BioWare, Bioware Austin, or Mythic is in trouble next time around, but purchase is too recent so too many EA management will be invested in them right now.

Despite wanting to see Jacobs and co strung up, I tend to agree with you on that point.


Why did you strikethrough Criterion? The Burnout series appears to be doing quite well, unlike the stale Need for Speed franchise.

Because it felt like an easily transferable franchise based in the wrong place. I also struckthrough Black Box for the same reason.

[eldaec]

Ho Velorath forgot to list Ultima Online under Mythic! *zing*
Or does UO still count with its 25-100k(no clue) subscriber number?

I am fairly certain UO has quite a few more subscribers than DAOC currently.

I know it's fun to doomcast but would it be cool if I placed bets on YOUR imminent unemployment? (And that's what a Mythic/Bioware consolidation would be - the Northern Virginia housing market precludes anyone from ever moving if they don't want to eat a loss of a half million or so)

And anyone working for EA has my sympathy if it comes to it. (fuck, anyone working for EA has my sympathy on general principles)

But I guarantee that .....

1) People affected are more worried about what EA think than what I think.

and

2) People already have been doomcasting my job on this and other websites and it doesn't bother me much.

[Margalis]

So LOTR: Conquest demo is up on PSN. Doesn't sound too good. Pandemic was already in trouble and this doesn't seem like it will do anything to help.

[schild]

It's terrible. But as I said, Pandemic does not make good games.

[Velorath]

My guess. Based on not much.

Either BioWare, Bioware Austin, or Mythic is in trouble next time around, but purchase is too recent so too many EA management will be invested in them right now.

Despite wanting to see Jacobs and co strung up, I tend to agree with you on that point.


Why did you strikethrough Criterion? The Burnout series appears to be doing quite well, unlike the stale Need for Speed franchise.

Because it felt like an easily transferable franchise based in the wrong place. I also struckthrough Black Box for the same reason.

I disagree.  I think Criterion has been building a very strong connection with their community since Paradise released.  You can't just send the franchise off to another studio and not expect to alienate a lot of the fans.

[schild]

Pandemic mostly made shitty games anyway :( They were not the most creative or interesting studio. I remember back when they merged with Bioware and all I could think of was "what? why?"

Seems EA thought the same thing.

[Sheepherder]

Pandemic mostly made shitty games anyway :( They were not the most creative or interesting studio. I remember back when they merged with Bioware and all I could think of was "what? why?"

Seems EA thought the same thing.

Did you just necro a thread to quote yourself?

Fucking kids... 

EDIT: I have to agree with your assessment of Pandemic though.

[NiX]

You missed the point by a long shot. Schild as pointing out that EA is rumored to have just cut Pandemic Brisbane loose with the LA studio still up in the air.

But, uh, you get some points for trying, I think.

[UnSub]

In a piece of gallow's humour, Gamespot AU released their glowing recap of Aus / NZ studio games for 2009, including Pandemic:

Pandemic: While Saboteur--the studio's unique third-person action title set in World War II--will be getting the majority of the public love as it nears its Q1 2009 launch window, there's plenty of other stuff in the works at Pandemic HQ down under. There's no word on whether there'll be a Mercenaries 3 yet, but they do have three soon to be announced projects on the backburner. No platforms or other details are available, but if their corporate website is to be believed, projects B, Q and Z (could it be ZOMBIES!?) are their most advanced and ambitious titles to date, and are set to revolutionise gaming.

[Sheepherder]

Schild as pointing out that EA is rumored to have just cut Pandemic Brisbane loose with the LA studio still up in the air.

I didn't bother to check it (too lazy, don't care enough), but I knew something Pandemic was getting the axe.  The necro self quote by a mod is still hilarious.

[schild]

I'm not a mod.

[Fabricated]

I would've liked Mirror's Edge a lot more if there was more game, more platforming, and less shooting.

[Righ]

I'm not a mod.

True - you're old school, you're a ROM hack.

[Xerapis]

The necro self quote by THE GUY WHO FUCKING OWNS THIS SITE is still SOMETHING A RELATIVE NEWCOMER SUCH AS MYSELF SHOULD NOT HAVE THE AUDACITY TO COMMENT ON.

FIFY

[NiX]

I didn't bother to check it (too lazy, don't care enough)

That whole "I'm cynical, I don't care and I'm too jaded to do anything" bit is tired whether you're old or not.

[SnakeCharmer]

That's because sitting on your ass and clicking a link is HARD!

[Venkman]

What link? And what about schild's title says "he's the owner of the site"? (which is my bassackwards way of saying he should get that title).

[Sheepherder]

That whole "I'm cynical, I don't care and I'm too jaded to do anything" bit is tired whether you're old or not.

Firstly, I can't do anything about it, I don't own EA.  Secondly, it would be cynicism if I could do something about it but didn't think it worth the effort to try.  Really, I'm just indifferent to the fate of Pandemic.  I have better things to do with my time, like browse F13.

I'm not a mod.

Moderator, Super Moderator, Administrator, etc., etc.  They can all ban me arbitrarily, I generally don't trouble myself with distinctions.  I guess I probably should with you because I like your forum and all that (Can you get banned for starfucking an admin?  Never saw anyone go for that reason during the recent cultural revolution).

That's because sitting on your ass and clicking a link is HARD!

What link? And what about schild's title says "he's the owner of the site"? (which is my bassackwards way of saying he should get that title).

 

Can you use wildcards/variables in titles?  Schild should have a title that say "%name, I own you."

[CharlieMopps]

So, now that like every studio is screwed, isn't it time for Valve to crush them all?

Where's my Halflife MMO?