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EA cutting 1,500 jobs, over 'a dozen' games canceled
ThomasN7
87.18.7.148Member CommonPosts: 6,690
I feel sorry for those losing their jobs. Hopefully they can find work soon but the way this economy is these days it isn't looking very good for most.
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Comments
Gotta love this line - 'The reorg will also see the publisher "provide greater focus on titles with higher [profit] margin opportunities." '
Does this mean they will focus on making games of a higher quality? Nope.
It means developing cheaper games (Wii, DS, iPhone, Facebook etc).
The layoffs have nothing to do with the quality of work these poor ex-employees were putting out. It's that the games they were likely working on were of a higher budget variety, and deemed to not be able to justify the cost (read:WAR).
So say hello to the new EA - Wii Excercise, and Facebook games comin' at ya!
Damn, that sucks. But maybe it ended up being good that I didn't follow up on that design job with Mythic. >.>
"What is truly revealing is his implication that believing something to be true is the same as it being true. [continue]" -John Oliver
EA Saving money? Big suprise.
Mhhhh...................not sure about that
Dragon Age = Quality = Profit
Mass Effect = Quality = Profit
FIFA = Quality = Profit
Battlefield = Quality = Profit
I mean it would be stupid to try to sell half baked games when you can have classic games that sell millions instead of 10 that sell thousands.
Let's see how it goes, but let's remember that the current CEO of EA was the founder of Bioware which only makes quality games...........so I won't be that sure that EA is choosing quantity over quality this time.
I'm surprised the number was that small. This economy is a tough environment for businesses to make cash. I'm sure we'll see more of the same in the future.
Ken
www.ActionMMORPG.com
One man, a small pile of money, and the screwball idea of a DIY Indie MMORPG? Yep, that's him. ~sigh~
Mhhhh...................not sure about that
Dragon Age = Quality = Profit
Mass Effect = Quality = Profit
FIFA = Quality = Profit
Battlefield = Quality = Profit
I mean it would be stupid to try to sell half baked games when you can have classic games that sell millions instead of 10 that sell thousands.
Let's see how it goes, but let's remember that the current CEO of EA was the founder of Bioware which only makes quality games...........so I won't be that sure that EA is choosing quantity over quality this time.
Let's not forget about one of their most profitable franchises...The Sims. I think EA will probably cut a lot of their future projects which haven't been tested yet, and concentrate on the games they know will make them a profit. Thus, prepare to see less than stellar sequels to some really awesome games.
Firstly, I feel sorry for those that lost their jobs, that sucks, no doubt.
As much as I like to vilify EA, I want to give them the benefit of the doubt because of their relationship with BioWare, a game company that I hold in high regard. I mean, times are tough, we all know it. Pandering (and I'm going to use not-so-kind wording) to the lowest common denominator, while not fostering creativity, depth and quality that I want from my games, it makes perfect sense from a business standpoint. More people buying your games equals more profit. It just makes me worried that nothing good game-wise comes out of it... It doesn't seem like an environment that fosters creativity and outside the box thinking that makes great games.
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"Searchers after horror haunt strange, far places..." ~ H.P.Lovecraft, "From Beyond"
Member Since March 2004
CEO of EA is John S. Riccitiello - never had much to do with setting up BioWare that I know of!
Of the BioWare founders, Ray Muzyka is "Group General Manager" for RPGs and MMOs, Greg Zeschuk is "Group Creative Officer" for the RPG/MMO 'studio group'.
"[UPDATE 2] Mythic Entertainment was apparently particularly hard hit. Unconfirmed reports estimate that over one third of the EA-owned, Virginia-based shop was laid off following disappointing sales of its massively multiplayer online role-playing game Warhammer Online. The layoffs come just months after studio head Mark Jacobs departed following a reorganization of all of EA's RPG studios, which now report to BioWare cofounders Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk."
Ouch! This can't be good for WAR. Then again, if Bioware fully takes over, it may turn into a great game.
Well this is what happens when you are horrid at making mmos. I think years ago when they made DAOC they were cut a little more slack but now times have changed.
Mhhhh...................not sure about that
Dragon Age = Quality = Profit
Mass Effect = Quality = Profit
FIFA = Quality = Profit
Battlefield = Quality = Profit
I mean it would be stupid to try to sell half baked games when you can have classic games that sell millions instead of 10 that sell thousands.
Let's see how it goes, but let's remember that the current CEO of EA was the founder of Bioware which only makes quality games...........so I won't be that sure that EA is choosing quantity over quality this time.
Dragon Age compared to Mass Effect was failure in my eyes:
While playing DA I ran like into 10bugs. It was horrible to choose normal dificulty and play like Nightmare mode... ME had 0, or at least I havent saw them. Storyline of ME was way better even though I prefer Dark Fantasy/Fantasy stories.. I dont know how to explain (yeah if you say that this point stupid I understand your point of view) but overall polishing felt bad in DA.
It looks like Bioware is degrading, maybe it is partly because of joining EA?
For example: THIS CONTAINS SPOILERS!!
In the end I had choice to sacrifice myself or Alister. I choose to sacrifice Alister. But in ending storytelling I read such thing:
Alister wed queen (whatever was her name) and bla bla bla bla...
That is just unpolished.
Well this is what happens when you are horrid at making mmos. I think years ago when they made DAOC they were cut a little more slack but now times have changed.
I disagree that they are horrid at making an MMO. The problem is in the MMO market there seems to be no room for error. You can not release an unpopular product and survive.In the single player world things are not nearly as tough. Granted it makes sense with the amount of financing an MMO needs, however that does not mean when a Dev team fails they automatically suck at their job.
For every minute you are angry , you lose 60 seconds of happiness."-Emerson
I think you might be right about this. I feared something like this was going to happen too. Company's are becomming more and more afraid of spending money on games due to high costs. Why develope an MMO for millions of dollars when you can develope iPhone, internet browser, and handheald games for much cheaper and make a lot more money? This is not at all good for the industry, and EA is too selfish to realise that it is partly their fault.
Sure, EA produces some really fine games, but it takes them several tries to get it right. They are infamous for launching everything and anything they can until something catches their fans eyes. Nobody can say they didn't see this comming.
There is a reason why EA is considered the evil empire of the gaming industry.
Just know you heard it here first. I predict that we are going to start to see more and more games like Global Agenda, Huxley, and Parabellum. Games that call themselves MMO's but really aren't. For this, I hate the Unreal Engine.
Mythic didn't deserve that.
I hate how EA does business. It's always so short-term with them. Thye never think of long-term strategies. Like maybe helping the studio to improve the game to help bring in more money. Maybe Focusing more on quality of their titles instead of just keeping the ones that will make them the most money. They certainly have the power to make all of these games good, but they just don't seem to want to put in the effort.
Try actually trying to make a good game instead of telling a company they should 'Make a game like this. And don't do anything like this this or this. Oh, and stick to this kind of gameplay.'.
This is not a labor of love for them. It's all money. I'm not saying that's bad, but it gets to a point where you're just being greedy. EA, to me, anyway, is heartless and lacks a soul enough to do anything but put regulations on their games so they stay within the proven profit-making limits.
My cousin used to work at EA and he said it was horrible. Got paid next to nothing for ridiculous amounts of work. I don't doubt him, either, at this point.
CEO of EA is John S. Riccitiello - never had much to do with setting up BioWare that I know of!
Of the BioWare founders, Ray Muzyka is "Group General Manager" for RPGs and MMOs, Greg Zeschuk is "Group Creative Officer" for the RPG/MMO 'studio group'.
correct.
riccitiello has had nothing to do with bioware before EA bought it.
bioware was founded by those two individuals that you've named and they are also now both VPs of EA. ricckitiello still keeps his ceo responsibilities at EA and oversees all EA divisions incl bioware.
EA is still the biggest video game company out there. However, these days, it should not be unexpected...they were probably a tad too large
Torrential: DAOC (Pendragon)
Awned: World of Warcraft (Lothar)
Torren: Warhammer Online (Praag)
Well this is what happens when you are horrid at making mmos. I think years ago when they made DAOC they were cut a little more slack but now times have changed.
I disagree that they are horrid at making an MMO. The problem is in the MMO market there seems to be no room for error. You can not release an unpopular product and survive.In the single player world things are not nearly as tough. Granted it makes sense with the amount of financing an MMO needs, however that does not mean when a Dev team fails they automatically suck at their job.
Yes, Warhammer is having so much great success since release and as a former customer of Mythic, I just might turn around and buy stock in Mythic too!
Is anyone able to load the BioWare.com website? I'm getting no response in IE or Firefox.
Nope, not working for me either. Do we have a list of what titles were canceled by any chance?
Yes, Warhammer is having so much great success since release and as a former customer of Mythic, I just might turn around and buy stock in Mythic too!
I think this may be the most idiotic response I have ever received since I have been a member here, congrats on that. Considering the site I am on, that is one hell of a feat you accomplished.
Next time understand a comment before responding to it please, thanks.
To clarify my opinion, WAR was actually really fun up to a certain point. After that it went down hill, most of that was due to performance issues. Yes even after the new hailed patch there are still a slew tech problems. This is indicative of a product that was shipped to early not one that was badly designed. Had they been able to keep it in development for another year. You would be seeing content added rather than fix after fix.
The heads of the studio are at fault ( possibly EA) not the guys in the trench doing all the work.
For every minute you are angry , you lose 60 seconds of happiness."-Emerson
Stop acquisition of game developers EA, calling it a loss because you spent so much the year before, stay true to the DRM forgoing, and you'll do just fine.
AC2 Player RIP Final Death Jan 31st 2017
Refugee of Auberean
Refugee of Dereth
"September figures from industry research firm the NPD Group also found that its Wii-exclusive shooter Dead Space Extraction had a poor debut."
Well, owning Dead Space for PC... I can safely say that the game had issues that weren't given a shit about or even patched. Just figuring out that the "mouse lag" and delayed aiming response was not a "natural intended effect" for the game shocked me, and to fix it was annoying as hell. Though I don't speak for everyone of course, I did not feel compelled to buy the next one after no help with the first one. Then... let's see... the best way to commit marketing suicide is to make a game that's multi-platformed, and THEN make the sequel/prequel EXCLUSIVE on a Wii... Of all consoles... a Wii. What I wouldn't GIVE to have a word with the person who pitched this idea, and the board of people who said "Wow... that's the demographic we need to sell this game too!" Seriously... Give me their job, because I sure as hell couldn't do any worse.
"There is only one thing of which I am certain, and that's nothing is certain."
If it keeps the investors money rolling in then i guess i support it but it sucks to be those who lost their jobs
As for EA and quality...EA simply provides funding and publishes the game, the development is done by the quality studios they purchased.
If the funding gets cut then 9 times out of 10 the game dies and we often see EA make big mistakes (game wise) due to somewhat decent business decisions
MMO wish list:
-Changeable worlds
-Solid non level based game
-Sharks with lasers attached to their heads
This and what Malickie said... crappy stereo-instruction quality website, absent forum support, and devotion to their employees/devs and the gamers that buy their games to feed their fat asses are equivalent to that of a $10 hooker on a $2 date. As for the assimilation of all developers and IP's... I can sum EA up in two words. "Katamari Damacy"
"There is only one thing of which I am certain, and that's nothing is certain."
Let's be heartfelt and sincere about the following: it's unfortunate for the former employees and their families as they search for new employment. It's a serious stress factor, we should wish them the best.
Things like this happen. Expansion, contraction. Feast, famine. Rise, fall. The beauty, and let's focus on the positives here (the negatives are all too apparent), of this is there is increased room for growth by all parties.
The currently employed will have a more streamlined tasking in front of them. Undoubtedly less titles, focusing on what is proven to work, and the serious projects with potential.
Those laid off will be free to do as they please. Undoubtedly many will be frustrated with the sector of work and seek employment outside of this area of expertise, but surely there will be many who reform under a different banner. With the amount of people laid off, that's a very significant chunk of experienced workforce. With the proper leadership, a couple new studios can be founded. These studios will only be as good as their product, and will work with vigor for innovation, originality and a fresh fun factor. Without a big business overhead, there will also be more active movement within the companies that form, involving a work dynamic that is present in delivered product.
Again, only the best of wishes for those who have lost their jobs, but hopefully things end up ok for all involved in this business: the empire with solid titles, the free agents spinning originality, and the consumer.
That is exactly right, and we're not saying NO to save WoW, because it is already a lost cause. We are saying NO to dissuade the next group of greedy suits who decide to emulate Blizzard and Cryptic, etc.
We can prevent some of the future games from spewing this crap, but the sooner we start saying no, the better the results will be.
So - Stand up, pull up your pants, and walk away.
- MMO_Doubter