LucasArts cuts hit Force Unleashed team after all
by Randy Nelson 
{ Jun 26th 2008 at 8:25PM }
We spoke with one now ex-member of the team, who told us that the layoffs came just as work on the game was wrapping up. Our source, who wished not to be named, is one of several long-time members of the LucasArts talent pool let go, many of which had worked on titles including X-Wing, Full Throttle, and Grim Fandango.
Should The Force Unleashed live up to the hype surrounding it, and a sequel is ordered, the current team size is said to be insufficient to handle such an undertaking. Given the fact that LucasArts stressed a continued commitment to internal developement following the layoffs, it will just need to re-staff for such a project – in which case, it has already let some top talent go – unless it intends to outsource to an external developer.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Residentevil72501 @ Jun 26th 2008 8:39PM
NOONE should buy this game and lets all boycott Lucas Arts! Wait.... Jk suckas!
A person @ Jun 26th 2008 8:55PM
I don't know what this comment was trying to accomplish. And yes, I look at comments as individuals.
Beatle_Meyer @ Jun 26th 2008 9:20PM
Wow, nerds say "boycott" so fast these days! You know that if the game rocks you will buy it in a heart beat. Not like boycotting it will help the people laid-off.
Darth Abe @ Jun 26th 2008 10:06PM
You're on joystiq. Don't act like when someone says nerd, you're not included.
Mr.ESC @ Jun 26th 2008 11:28PM
“I look at comments”
Why?
Mr.ESC @ Jun 26th 2008 8:39PM
NOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Robert @ Jun 26th 2008 8:45PM
Um, it's unfortunate but if the game's wrapping up and you don't need people, why not fire them? If they're not doing anything why pay them for it?
Then again, once I win the lottery and can make a game on my own I'll give my employees a % take on the profits. Then even if I fire them they'll make a few bucks. But other people shouldn't have to live up to that standard.
Josh @ Jun 26th 2008 8:54PM
Why note fire them? Because most people aren't just hired for one game or one project, but they're hired to work at the company in the long-term, working on whatever project they're assigned to at the time. These people didn't expect to lose their jobs after they finished this game.
Josh @ Jun 26th 2008 8:55PM
*not
MarMar @ Jun 27th 2008 2:11AM
This comment reminds me of one of Alexander Hamilton and John Adams' conversations in that HBO series. "Why do you want to form this army so badly? Would you have me invade Spanish Florida?" "Why yes, and the South American colonies as well." "Wh--- WHAT?! WHY?!" "Because it's there, why wouldn't we invade it?"
Gronk @ Jun 26th 2008 8:45PM
Isn't the President of Lucasarts, Darrell Rodriguez, a former EA and Disney employee? Par for course.
j3ff @ Jun 26th 2008 8:46PM
they probably spent all their money making this and other games so they dont have any money to pay their current employees.
once they reap in the buttload of cash they'll probably rehire again.
ThePerfectCompanion @ Jun 26th 2008 8:48PM
Sounds pretty lame to me...
Especially seeing as how their work will probably earn them millions...
CheetinCheeto @ Jun 26th 2008 9:02PM
With the cost of making games and development time increasing every generation, video game companies will probably start hiring for specific projects, kind of like movies do. The quote un quote key players will probably stay the same. SUX tho
Halwende @ Jun 26th 2008 9:02PM
It's pretty sad to see people who worked on X-Wing and Grim Fandango let go, they must be some of the most experienced game developers in the industry. Wonder what's going on at Lucasarts...
Ubiqutous Oxymoron @ Jun 26th 2008 9:23PM
The force is not strong here..I sense the darkside..(Darrell Rodriguez)
Bocephus 90 @ Jun 26th 2008 11:01PM
I've heard from a couple sources in Lucasarts that unleashed sucks. but don't take my word for it, as the Geordi said....
horngreen @ Jun 26th 2008 9:34PM
Maybe is Lucasarts would make something NOT Star Wars related they could keep the lights on. The damn franchise hasn't been any good since Empire Strikes Back. So for the past 30 years we have had a few good Star Wars games and NO good Star Wars movies. Lucas needs to loosen the leash on these people and let them make original idea games and let Star Wars pass into the night. It's too late for it to go with dignity so just let it go.
SithLibrarian @ Jun 26th 2008 10:01PM
If you're going to crash and burn, might as well crash and burn spectacularly.
Good God, LucasArts, what the hell is wrong with you? You used to be cool. Now you're just crazy.
ThunderBreath @ Jun 26th 2008 11:22PM
I've heard they've also pulled out of their project with Free Radical, I guess that's not too surprising though.
BF_Fan @ Jul 1st 2008 5:10PM
Are you sure about this? :( Where did you hear/read about it? Please share more info
ThunderBreath @ Jul 1st 2008 5:30PM
I'm afraid I can't share too much, I heard about this from a friend who knows someone at Free Radical.
Yeah, I wouldn't believe me either, I'm not sure if Battlefront III is/was the project or if LucasArts is still working on it solo if that's what you wanted to know.
HPGR_Thrawn @ Jun 26th 2008 11:35PM
I remember when Lucasarts used to be the most prestigious studio to work for in the industry. Now they keep falling farther away from their roots, abandoning the PC, firing long time employees, getting rid of internal development, despite what they say.
Seems like they just want to publish these days, which I find very sad.
...Jan... @ Jun 27th 2008 12:48AM
If I was fired after working on a game that's bound to sell really well, I'd do something right back. Like secretly changing one of the wall textures to saying, "My boss Darrell Rodriguez sucks!" or something. And then revealing where I placed it after the game was released.
StuScotsLazyEye @ Jun 27th 2008 1:22AM
They laid off people that made X-WING?!?!??!!?
Some company better pick up these people ASAP. Guaranteed quality games ensue considering you'd be hiring people who helped create one of the greatest games in PC gaming history.
Transfan52 @ Jun 27th 2008 2:47AM
It should not be a secret by now that lucasarts now sucks as a game developer... ever since they went to making console games the company went to shit and it shows especially with whats happening now...
They just cant handle big budgets for making any games... let alone think of a good original IP outside of shitty starwars games...
Psaakyrn @ Jun 27th 2008 3:47AM
Coincidently, LA is hiring in Singapore...
Phinehas @ Jul 11th 2008 2:22PM
[+1]
Zozer @ Jun 27th 2008 6:37AM
This happens all the time in the video game industry. When you go into the industry, you learn very quickly that designing video games is just like any other artistic job - once it's done, its done. Permanent jobs that span multiple games are quite hard to get, not to mention rare. Ergo, this isn't very tragic.
t_m @ Jun 27th 2008 11:32AM
LA really have fallen low these days. Shame, when you consider how high it once sat.
I guess its pretty common in the industry, but you don't see half as many studios getting opened and closed just to make one movie.
ThornedVenom (Harley Quinn Defense Force) @ Jun 28th 2008 7:17AM
WHAT THE HELL
Ethan @ Jun 28th 2008 8:47AM
Well, they'll probably snap up another job quickly. I wouldn't want to move out of SF though.
mork @ Jun 30th 2008 1:34AM
the era of medium size 3rd party developers is over...?
Got0 @ Jul 4th 2008 11:45PM
I agree with the boycott. Call me a nerd if you will. I own a Wii and a PS2, but this kind of game can only be truly enjoyed on the PC.
By voluntarily missing-out on the console version(s), I am missing out on little. By excusing-out of the PC version, LA has in one stroke missed an opportunity to make a game potentially as great as HL2 and alienated over one-half its fan base. Having let go of its trophy employees only further compounds its problems. In fact, it almost seems to be a series of thinly-disguised acts of intentional sabotage. (In which case, the boycott is what "they" want you to think, which sounds plain crazy to me.) Maybe, maybe not. In either case, the probability of the return of the LA is low, and so is the probability of me missing out on something great if the PC version is never released.
yojimb0 @ Sep 23rd 2008 7:42PM
Dude, what are you talking about: this is a third person action game, a genre which is rarely released on pc's and does not have a fan base in that medium. Ninja Gaiden, God of War... these are not games that make you think "pc." They're games designed to be played with a controller, not a mouse and keyboard (and no I don't care if you have one hooked up to your PC, all you're doing in that case is making your PC act like a console.) If it wasn't for DMC4 the pc wouldn't have any third person action titles: if that's a genre that interests you, get a console.