Layoffs at Lionhead

ambershee

http://www.develop-online.net/news/42264/Layoffs-strike-Fable-developer-Lionhead

Yup - shit hit the fan.

If anyone needs an Unreal experienced gameplay programmer / designer right now, do let me know

Mark Dygert

Ahh that sucks =/
I hope everyone lands on their feet.

Sounds a bit like the typical trimming of staff after a title ships? If its something they knew would happen why don't they fill those seats with contracts? I can think of a few reasons but not may of them are very ethical =/

Nick Carver

I see they're PR spinning the story by saying they will be hiring 100 people this year and it will mean only a 10% staff reduction by the end of the year, but any estimates on how many people were let go?

slipsius

Ya, i noticed that too, Nick. Huge BS. If hiring 100 brings it down to under 10% (aka, 9.6), then i wouldnt be surprized if it was over 150 - 200 people.

Sad news indeed. Good luck everyone.

If you're willing to move, Ambershee, then in Ontario Canada.... http://www.digitalextremes.com/careers/postings

I dont work there, but I just know of the openings. Bunch of polycounters are there

PixelMasher

sheit, that sucks. ubi montreal is always looking for talented folks, PM me and ill put you guys in directo contact with HR

Super

Saw this coming for a while though, their turnout has been getting less and less and I don't think their last few releases have sold well at all have they?

Good luck to everyone who's been let go though, it's a horrible thing to happen.

imyj

Sucks to hear 10%? How many people actually work at Lionhead? I don't actually know the number.

Crytek are always hiring if anyone finds themselves out of a job. Also check out http://careerpowerups.com/ for updated job listings (primarily) within the UK.

ambershee

Lionhead presently employs around 90 people as far as I'm aware (it's always been a much smaller studio than people tend to think) and it's around 15 that have been placed under consultation. The vast majority of the contractors went around two months ago, so I wouldn't really call it 'end of project trimming'. I was quite surprised to see some very senior people (including people who've been in the company for over a decade, or even since day-zero) on the list. It's not strictly financially motivated since we're first party and can build loss-leading projects when required, and it's not motivated by the success (or lack thereof) of Journey since legally speaking individual consultation has to be reported to the government around 30 days in advance.

Anyway, thanks for the kind words and the tip-offs (the more the merrier, I can relocate anywhere) - I'm already lining myself up for some interviews and we'll see how things go.

benji

Sorry to hear that ambershee
Codemasters are hiring gameplay programmers right now, if that's any help.

Neox

dude if we head the budget already i would, good luck on the job hunt!

sltrOlsson

Sorry to hear! Avalanche is looking like crazy! Both in Sweden and the US! Good luck!

Lee3dee

Damm sorry You'll find something quick everyone needs a programmer!

on a positive note, it was great meeting you when we were in England, put a face with the polycount name.

Neox

Unity is searching for coders in berlin btw.

3DKnight

that sucks

THQ montreal is looking for a lot of programmers atm

http://thqmontreal.com/en/jobs

System

http://suckerpunch.com/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=91