sigh...and those of us trying to break in will have an even tougher time now until the economy reabsorbs all these new vets on the prowl. This crap needs to slow down.
sigh...and those of us trying to break in will have an even tougher time now until the economy reabsorbs all these new vets on the prowl. This crap needs to slow down.
True.
I think the industry as a whole needs to reconsider revising the terms on their hiring posts from "Senior" to "Associate or Junior" roles.
Besides more money can be saved easily, as long as they look for those who live to mod for a hobby.
Maybe what's more worrying is whether or not big publishers like EA and Activision will continue to operate like this after the financial crisis blows over.
That's rough, I hope everyone gets back on their feet fast. This makes me very glad that I'm not going to be looking for an industry job for another 2-3 years yet...
I'm lookin' for a job just like everyone else but hearin news like this is seriously depressing. Never the less, good luck and hope you guys find new work!
Yeah, my heart goes out to those who havn't found a job yet.
As for those who lost theirs, well, at least you got the opportunity to be where you were.
Yeah, my heart goes out to those who havn't found a job yet.
As for those who lost theirs, well, at least you got the opportunity to be where you were.
I was thinking the other day about industry vets who used to complain about 60 hour work weeks. I'm personally itching for that kind of opportunity. I want to stay late till 2am somewhere working with uber talented people. They say you learn more in 1 month on the inside than a whole year on your own.
My 5 year mission to explore Mythic Entertainment has come to it's Series Finale.
You can take me and these guys off of that list as well-
- Brian Miller
- Justin Meisse
- StartTday
- SubPablo
I completely agree with the above post. It's very depressing to hear about these cuts as a soon to be graduate. Makes competing for an entry level position that much harder and there is only so much you can learn on your own. But my heart does go out to those who lost their jobs, that's tough and I wish you luck.
I'm surprised the way EA manages their personnel is not considered to be illegal.
HUGE rounds of layoffs every 2 years, yet they begin restaffing within 3-4 months.
Layoffs as a budget cutting measure is one thing. Foreseeable layoffs as a pre-determined budget cutting measure well known in advance is another.
Why doesn't EA just simply offer 1-2 year contracts to everyone? That way the work stoppages won't come as a complete surprise, and disrupt the lives and livelihood of the thousands who are affected every year?
If our industry becomes unionized, EA will be the primary ones to blame.
Sorry for those who lost their job, hope you guys all land somewhere.
Murdoc: Black Box in Vancouver apparently had people let go in this latest round of EA layoffs.
As for Vancouver game industry booming, I guess it is. But I personally am getting really annoyed with the local industry. Mostly from the fact that it comes across as a real pain to get into the industry without years of experience and shipped titles.
EA also tends to hire a bunch of temp positions to help finish up games for the christmas season.
I'm surprised the way EA manages their personnel is not considered to be illegal.
HUGE rounds of layoffs every 2 years, yet they begin restaffing within 3-4 months.
Layoffs as a budget cutting measure is one thing. Foreseeable layoffs as a pre-determined budget cutting measure well known in advance is another.
Why doesn't EA just simply offer 1-2 year contracts to everyone? That way the work stoppages won't come as a complete surprise, and disrupt the lives and livelihood of the thousands who are affected every year?
If our industry becomes unionized, EA will be the primary ones to blame.
Sorry for those who lost their job, hope you guys all land somewhere.
Strongly agree with this. It seems as if EA does do massive layoffs every few years. Somethings not right here.
+ 1 condolences to all the guys affected. Shitty time of year to let so many people go, too. I got laid off two weeks before Christmas last year, and the stress and anxiety nearly put me in the hospital.
Here's hoping sincerely that everyone can soldier on and land on their feet.
Ouch, unlucky, guys. Hope everyone affected gets work again sharpish. I'm afraid SD isn't hiring at the moment, or I'd be encouraging everyone to apply!
Murdoc: Black Box in Vancouver apparently had people let go in this latest round of EA layoffs.
As for Vancouver game industry booming, I guess it is. But I personally am getting really annoyed with the local industry.
Actually I was being mildly sarcastic and spiteful to various people here after my last conversation on the topic, but also offered a middleground in the fact EA just tends to do this, so it doesn't reflect the state Vancouver may or may not be in.
I came into work today fully expecting to be back home a few hours later. Luckily this hasn't been the case. Hopefully the EA overlords feel that we paid our pound of flesh last year.
that sucks for all those who got laid off. how the hell do students expect to get a job with all these vets looking for work? ugh. let the panic attacks begin!
I think the blackbox stuff was largely related to the two cancelled projects, and I hear that a lot of those guys have known for a while now, so hopefully this isn't a huge surprise.
I was thinking the other day about industry vets who used to complain about 60 hour work weeks. I'm personally itching for that kind of opportunity. I want to stay late till 2am somewhere working with uber talented people. They say you learn more in 1 month on the inside than a whole year on your own.
No offense, but this mentality strikes me as naive. I know you want to break in and work with talented people and improve your skills, but there's a good reason people complain about 60+ hour weeks, and that's because crunch sucks. Your life becomes unbalanced, it's harder to eat right, you don't get as much exercise, you feel less creative, and your body becomes physically fatigued. There's nothing fun about working an insane amount of hours, even when you're young. Especially when your studio turns around and dumps you with no warning -- what a "reward".
My condolences to all the newly unemployed at EA. Fifteen to twenty percent is huge
No offense, but this mentality strikes me as naive. I know you want to break in and work with talented people and improve your skills, but there's a good reason people complain about 60+ hour weeks, and that's because crunch sucks. Your life becomes unbalanced, it's harder to eat right, you don't get as much exercise, you feel less creative, and your body becomes physically fatigued. There's nothing fun about working an insane amount of hours, even when you're young.
I'm not "young" and I have crunched before in other industries. I enjoy it but I suppose it also depends on the quality of people around you. Uncool pricks probably make it difficult I can imagine. As long as people are getting paid I've never seen the problem. Takes my mind off other things. I'd much rather keep my mind occupied 100% with work than worry how I'll be able to pay the bills.
Of course those with a family I can be sympathetic towards. I've opted to not be tied down by that so I have no experience with how this effects those with kids, etc.
Yeah this is very depressing for students/people trying to break into the industry, I was hoping to land a job by the end of summer in 6 months or so, but if people are being laid off at this rate, I don't have too much hope.
This is terrible. Condolences.... seems EA likes to vaporize old studios instead of giving them something new to work on. Am I wrong? The layoffs are brutal. Smaller teams and shorter development times seem like the future, in this "economy."
Really depressing news...sorry to hear a bunch of Polycounters didn't make it this time.
Packaged games are a dying breed. Most of the staff and studios laid off were most likely working on traditional console games...The teams working on digitally distributed, socially connected games have survived the last 2 rounds of cuts.
Yeah this is very depressing for students/people trying to break into the industry, I was hoping to land a job by the end of summer in 6 months or so, but if people are being laid off at this rate, I don't have too much hope.
on the plus side, EA will probably hire back a lot of people in a few months right? Probably a lot of junior artists that are cheaper than the people they just fired. I think they do this kind of house cleaning every year (although usually not so much).
on the plus side, EA will probably hire back a lot of people in a few months right? Probably a lot of junior artists that are cheaper than the people they just fired. I think they do this kind of house cleaning every year (although usually not so much).
They do a housecleaning of their bottom 10% performers after every product ships, but this is different. They are moving most of these jobs to lower cost production centers. Most of these jobs are never coming back.
Replies
True.
I think the industry as a whole needs to reconsider revising the terms on their hiring posts from "Senior" to "Associate or Junior" roles.
Besides more money can be saved easily, as long as they look for those who live to mod for a hobby.
xeno?!?!?!?!?!?!!!!!!!!?????!!!!!!!!!!
:poly134:
As for those who lost theirs, well, at least you got the opportunity to be where you were.
Though EA tends to do this every year, don't they? Though from the sounds of it Mythic got a big cut and Warhammer is SoL.
I was thinking the other day about industry vets who used to complain about 60 hour work weeks. I'm personally itching for that kind of opportunity. I want to stay late till 2am somewhere working with uber talented people. They say you learn more in 1 month on the inside than a whole year on your own.
good luck guys
HUGE rounds of layoffs every 2 years, yet they begin restaffing within 3-4 months.
Layoffs as a budget cutting measure is one thing. Foreseeable layoffs as a pre-determined budget cutting measure well known in advance is another.
Why doesn't EA just simply offer 1-2 year contracts to everyone? That way the work stoppages won't come as a complete surprise, and disrupt the lives and livelihood of the thousands who are affected every year?
If our industry becomes unionized, EA will be the primary ones to blame.
Sorry for those who lost their job, hope you guys all land somewhere.
Mythic lads: make sure you check this thread: http://boards.polycount.net/showthread.php?p=1026214#post1026214
Xeno-san, Justin....I be lookin' at you.
As for Vancouver game industry booming, I guess it is. But I personally am getting really annoyed with the local industry. Mostly from the fact that it comes across as a real pain to get into the industry without years of experience and shipped titles.
EA also tends to hire a bunch of temp positions to help finish up games for the christmas season.
hope everyone who lost there job finds something
Strongly agree with this. It seems as if EA does do massive layoffs every few years. Somethings not right here.
Here's hoping sincerely that everyone can soldier on and land on their feet.
Actually I was being mildly sarcastic and spiteful to various people here after my last conversation on the topic, but also offered a middleground in the fact EA just tends to do this, so it doesn't reflect the state Vancouver may or may not be in.
Anyway, best of luck to anyone who got hit.
Much sympathy for those affected.
1,500 jobs? Damn.
that sucks for all those who got laid off. how the hell do students expect to get a job with all these vets looking for work? ugh. let the panic attacks begin!
Spark
No offense, but this mentality strikes me as naive. I know you want to break in and work with talented people and improve your skills, but there's a good reason people complain about 60+ hour weeks, and that's because crunch sucks. Your life becomes unbalanced, it's harder to eat right, you don't get as much exercise, you feel less creative, and your body becomes physically fatigued. There's nothing fun about working an insane amount of hours, even when you're young. Especially when your studio turns around and dumps you with no warning -- what a "reward".
My condolences to all the newly unemployed at EA. Fifteen to twenty percent is huge
no kidding. It's already been tough.
Sorry to hear that to those laid off. It really sucks and I wish you all luck in finding a good gig.
We've got open positions (mostly code) in several studios: http://www.rockstargames.com/jobs/
I was only at Mythic 4 months shy of 3 years but I had a great time and got to meet (and learn from) alot of awesome people!
Thanks for the support guys, I'm looking forward to working in an area that has more than one studio and meeting some more polycounters.
good luck and if any positions open up around here anytime soon i will let you know.
*cough* *cough*
I'm not "young" and I have crunched before in other industries. I enjoy it but I suppose it also depends on the quality of people around you. Uncool pricks probably make it difficult I can imagine. As long as people are getting paid I've never seen the problem. Takes my mind off other things. I'd much rather keep my mind occupied 100% with work than worry how I'll be able to pay the bills.
Of course those with a family I can be sympathetic towards. I've opted to not be tied down by that so I have no experience with how this effects those with kids, etc.
I secretly hope it's mostly programmers and administration so that the competition for jobs doesn't further compile...
Good luck to those affected!
It's funny that you hear there are jobs in Vancouver now, because over here we hear that there are jobs to be had in Montreal.
I hope you all at least got a fat severance. Best of luck in the search...
Packaged games are a dying breed. Most of the staff and studios laid off were most likely working on traditional console games...The teams working on digitally distributed, socially connected games have survived the last 2 rounds of cuts.
on the plus side, EA will probably hire back a lot of people in a few months right? Probably a lot of junior artists that are cheaper than the people they just fired. I think they do this kind of house cleaning every year (although usually not so much).
They do a housecleaning of their bottom 10% performers after every product ships, but this is different. They are moving most of these jobs to lower cost production centers. Most of these jobs are never coming back.
Best advice i can offer is, don't be picky when applying or accepting a new possible position. Ideal at the moment ain't what it was a few years ago.