Daybreak Massive Layoff

Panasync

Let's say our goodbyes and thank these people for their contribution to almost 20 years worth of entertainment!

Dave "Smokejumper" Georgeson (Director of Development for the EverQuest brand, @DaveGeorgeson)
Linda “Brasse” Carlson (Community Manager, @Brasse)
Akil “Lyndro” Hooper (Everquest II developer, @akilh)
Aaron “Gnobrin” Bisnett (Weapon and Armor designer for 12 years, @Gnobrin)
Douglas “Endymion” VanDerveer (Everquest II game designer, @douglastweets)
Aimee “Ashlanne” Rekoske (Community Relations Project Manager, @Ashlanne)
Eric "Felgon" Smith (Associate Producer for EverQuest Next and Landmark, @F4Felgon)
Steve "Moorgard" Danuser (Lead Content Designer and Head of Story, @Moorgard)
Tiffany "Amnerys" Spence (Social Media, @JustTiffy)
Kyle "Hats" Manchester (Community Manager, @Hats)
Racheal "Afista" McKenny ( Everquest II community Manager, @Afista)
Noah Watkins (Graphic designer, @noahwatkins)
Kelduum Revaan (Programmer for H1Z1, @Kelduum)
Katharine Anderson (Build master for PlanetSide 2, @katharinelilly)
Xander Clauss (Base designer for PlanetSide 2, @XanderClauss)
Taylor Dowell (Systems designer for PlanetSide 2, @Tayradactyl)
Possibly all contracted employees - Not confirmed

 

added a few more

Source:

http://eq2wire.com/2015/02/11/eq2-developer-layoffs-lyndro-endymion-gnobrin/

http://www.mmobomb.com/news/daybreak-releases-dave-georgeson-linda-carlson/

http://www.mmo-champion.com/threads/1241881-Megathread-Everquest-Next/page159

 

Unfortunately, this could mean that Columbus Nova doesn't have the funds to keep EQN in the direction that the team wanted.

Acvivm

Wow this is turning out to be more then I thought. If Planetside 2 is seeing layoffs as well the future of this company looks like it might be looking to turn to a whole new direction.

Tokken

RIP. Sorry all.

Thebeasttt

Originally posted by Acvivm
Wow this is turning out to be more then I thought. If Planetside 2 is seeing layoffs as well the future of this company looks like it might be looking to turn to a whole new direction.

We can only hope

Thebeasttt

Htf is Smed still there that's what I want to know.

NobleNerd

This isn't surprising to me. After I heard it was an investment company buying the company I figured as much would happen. Investment companies care about a few things.... profit margins, sell-ability, and stability. I would lay bets that in about 1 year they sell of the company intact or in pieces.

 

I am sad for all those losing their jobs and look forward to see where many of them will end up.

NorseGod

Originally posted by Thebeasttt
Htf is Smed still there that's what I want to know.

Word on the streets of San Diego is, his time spent in Hillcrest has paid off.

 

observer

MMO players are so passionate about their hobby, they actually care about who gets fired or hired.  It's not a slight, just an amusing observation. lol.

Allein

Originally posted by NorseGod

Originally posted by Thebeasttt
Htf is Smed still there that's what I want to know.

Word on the streets of San Diego is, his time spent in Hillcrest has paid off.

Not necessary.

Kiyoris

I think that's good.

Not for the people who got fired, that sucks.

But SoE was losing tons of money, and had too many people who didn't know what they were doing.

ice-vortex

Originally posted by Kiyoris

I think that's good.

Not for the people who got fired, that sucks.

But SoE was losing tons of money, and had too many people who didn't know what they were doing.

To be specific, a $60 million dollar loss was reported last year.

Avirell

Hmm, I don't really see how the partners that bought out SoE, who CLEARLY state on their own website at cntp.com  "The CNTP Partners have started, scaled and EXITED several technology companies"  can actually be acting in the best interest of pouring MORE MONEY (because from all accounts EQ Next is nowhere near ready for an actual release) into a franchise MMO that may or may not make them money. They appear to make acquisitions and perhaps build them up to raise their value in a very short term, and proceed to SELL IT OFF for profit, or am I wrong here in assuming that based on their own verbage noted above? 

If they indeed use that strategy EQ Next will in NO WAY see the light of day as a proper MMO, that would clearly cost too much money to continue funding for an actual end result product so I see any current game that is making money only as the sole survivors and nothing more.

A damn shame too as my first, and most beloved, MMO "Everquest" that I played for nearly 6 years had me so hyped for EQ Next to at least experience a new version of Norrath just one more time.....

TiamatRoar

Why even bother buying out a company not related to your industry if you're only going to lay everyone off after buying it? Seems like a waste of money to me.

reeereee

Originally posted by Thebeasttt
Htf is Smed still there that's what I want to know.

No doubt he promised them he could get SOE churning out mobile games in no time.

FirstKnight117

If you want to see what true loss looks like, try being a fan of Chronicles of Spellborn. EQN at least appears to have a chance. (No of course I'm not bitter. Not at all.) Anyway I guess there's nothing for it now but to wait and see...

gervaise1

Gamasutra have updated their story on the lay-offs with news (from a source claiming that):

• CN advised staff last week to expect mass-layoffs but that game teams were "sacred" and cuts would come from divisions like QA and International Operations and estimated that nearly 200 positions were cut, suggesting that the company may have lost nearly 45% of its staff. 

Edit for typo: mass not madd!

 

craftseeker

Originally posted by gervaise1

Gamasutra have updated their story on the lay-offs with news (from a source claiming that):

• CN advised staff last week to expect mass-layoffs but that game teams were "sacred" and cuts would come from divisions like QA and International Operations and estimated that nearly 200 positions were cut, suggesting that the company may have lost nearly 45% of its staff. 

Edit for typo: mass not madd!

No I think madd was right.

Losing QA and International operations may cut costs rapidly but is not a good sign for the future quality of output or the support being received by international players.

Rydeson

Mass layoff was expected when they made the announcement of the  SOE/Daybreak sale..  The last video with Dave in it, you could tell he was "off".. He wasn't himself.. My first thought was that he still adjusting to the buyout, now we know it's because he knew his job was terminated.. It's hard to act natural and happy when you know your time is short.. 

Anyways, yeah the game teams are somewhat sacred.. You get rid of all the fat first, like redundant PR people.. If you are actually sitting behind a computer screen punching code, your job is at risk..  I always thought that SOE had too many cushy jobs of overlapping duties.. I guess CN felt the same way..

askdaboss

Originally posted by Acvivm
Wow this is turning out to be more then I thought. If Planetside 2 is seeing layoffs as well the future of this company looks like it might be looking to turn to a whole new direction.

Well, just so you know Planetside 2 is seeing the same kind of layoffs. Lots of core people are let go (including creative director Higby apparently).

I think they are still keen on releasing the game for Playstation 4 though (would fit with their new "multiplatform" approach). I wouldn't expect much in terms of new projects for the game though.

Kyleran

Originally posted by DMKano

Originally posted by gervaise1

Gamasutra have updated their story on the lay-offs with news (from a source claiming that):

• CN advised staff last week to expect madd-layoffs but that game teams were "sacred" and cuts would come from divisions like QA and International Operations and estimated that nearly 200 positions were cut, suggesting that the company may have lost nearly 45% of its staff. 

 

 

45% staff cut is probably enough to get them out of the red 

Its ugly but this was their only option.

The problem will be further attrition - which is inevitable. They will most likely lose another 15%+ from folks just looking and finding other jobs.

The morale at DGC right now is probably rock bottom - and this is when companies lose their best people who simply say - you know what - i've had enough - and they find another job and leave.

 

If 45% is near the true amount, these are very significant losses and there will have to be some impact on the current slate of products in terms of which ones get carried forward, how much support each will have and on what timelines will things be delivered.

 

strykr619

Originally posted by gervaise1

Gamasutra have updated their story on the lay-offs with news (from a source claiming that):

• CN advised staff last week to expect mass-layoffs but that game teams were "sacred" and cuts would come from divisions like QA and International Operations and estimated that nearly 200 positions were cut, suggesting that the company may have lost nearly 45% of its staff. 

Edit for typo: mass not madd!

 

LOL gamasutra making up numbers (more like 50-70 employee's were laid off). Buddy got paid a full years salary when he was let go and alas was REHIRED at a 12% pay cut.

Fractal_Analogy

These people were not "Layed Off"... they were Fired from their jobs.

 

In truth, the shake up is probably the best thing for SOE/Daybreak because the company was going no where. Now that a lot of the top talent has left and John Smedley is left holding the reigns...  we will all see how incompetent Smedley really is.

There will be nobody for him to point to, when things don't get done now. Truly laughable situation.

 

Allein

Usually being given severance goes along with being laid off. As we really don't know the reasoning behind each individual being let go (performance, salary too high, no longer needed) not sure how you know either way.

Fractal_Analogy

Originally posted by Allein
Usually being given severance goes along with being laid off. As we really don't know the reasoning behind each individual being let go (performance, salary too high, no longer needed) not sure how you know either way.

Daybreak is not calling these people back...  they are Fired.  (A Lay Off is when you are let go because of no work available & if/when that work picks back up, you are called back)

craftseeker

Originally posted by DMKano

Originally posted by strykr619

Originally posted by gervaise1

Gamasutra have updated their story on the lay-offs with news (from a source claiming that):

• CN advised staff last week to expect mass-layoffs but that game teams were "sacred" and cuts would come from divisions like QA and International Operations and estimated that nearly 200 positions were cut, suggesting that the company may have lost nearly 45% of its staff. 

Edit for typo: mass not madd!

LOL gamasutra making up numbers (more like 50-70 employee's were laid off). Buddy got paid a full years salary when he was let go and alas was REHIRED at a 12% pay cut.

Nope they counted contractors and temps too. if you think that everyone let go got a full years salary.... I got a bridge to sell you

Surprised you did not also dispute the anecdote "Buddy got paid ..."  After all if that were true DBG's would have been better of leaving the "Buddy" on staff for another eight years rather than handing him a years salary in advance and giving him a 12% pay cut.  Obvious BS.

Meanwhile the 45% cut referred to in the Gamasutra article has been independently confirmed by Feldon at EQ2wire (who does have inside sources) and elsewhere.

Loktofeit

Originally posted by Fractal_Analogy

Originally posted by Allein
Usually being given severance goes along with being laid off. As we really don't know the reasoning behind each individual being let go (performance, salary too high, no longer needed) not sure how you know either way.

Daybreak is not calling these people back...  they are Fired.  (A Lay Off is when you are let go because of no work available & if/when that work picks back up, you are called back)

That is not what the terms mean. Fired is when you are terminated due to performance or other issues related to you. Laid off is when you are terminated due to issues related to the job. Neither term indicates an opportunity (or lack thereof) to return.