Silicon Knights lays off 26 employees 'temporarily'
by James Ransom-Wiley 
{ Oct 6th 2008 at 4:45PM }
"These 26 individuals are hard-working and valued team members that we hope to bring back as we ramp up on our future projects," head knight Denis Dyack said in a statement. The layoffs are consistent with typical development cycles in the industry, but do come at a time when global markets are wavering. Silicon Knights has not yet named any of the individuals affected by today's downsizing, but a tipster suggests the group includes "a few long-tenured ones."
Read the full statement from Silicon Knights after the break.
[Thanks Bob!]
Silicon Knights PR statement:
"After any big game ships, there is always some attrition. Teams are lean and mean in the beginning, grow toward the end of the project, and then whittle down once the project is finished. To that end, Silicon Knights temporary [sic] laid-off 26 employees today while they ramp up on other projects. All the company's directors and leads are still at Silicon Knights and working on its next projects.
"The slight cutback comes after four years of unprecedented growth for the St. Catharines', Ontario (Canada) company, during which its headcount had expanded to more than 180 employees.
"Denis Dyack, President and founder of the company, stated, 'Silicon Knights is currently working on several new and exciting games that will be announced to the public in the coming months. In addition to those projects, Silicon Knights continues to develop and promote other new and original ideas, which will become the innovative games of tomorrow. These 26 individuals are hard-working and valued team members that we hope to bring back as we ramp up on our future projects.'"
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Osman @ Oct 6th 2008 4:54PM
1....2....3.........
Jakka(A tribute to whose who fought and failed during the Epic Flamewar of L.A. Noir and MR.ESC) @ Oct 6th 2008 5:09PM
4...5...6........
dark_inchworm @ Oct 6th 2008 5:19PM
I was going to continue the progression, but it turns out that 6 is afraid of 7.
Titanium_Orchid @ Oct 6th 2008 5:22PM
yea, 7 8 9
Tiptup300 @ Oct 6th 2008 5:32PM
I'm just going to take it to 11.
antsmarching @ Oct 6th 2008 8:01PM
can't you just make 10 louder?
xLV426x @ Oct 6th 2008 9:29PM
denis dyack is easily one of the biggest "asshole" developers I've seen in recent years.
SHAZAM! @ Oct 6th 2008 4:55PM
Oh, I bet they love that.
"Oh, yeah, we're not making much at the moment, so you're fired. Don't worry though, we'll hire you again, we just don't want to pay your wage for a while".
dark_inchworm @ Oct 6th 2008 5:18PM
I'd be like "yeah I'm comin' back wit my ballz in ur mouth"
Delgado @ Oct 6th 2008 8:14PM
It happens in the video game industry all the time. It goes in cycles, and most people that make video games understand that and are prepared. I'm not sure why the 'stiq is reporting on this one alone when it is a very frequent occurrence.
Don't let me ruin your misinformed time though. Yeah, SK sucks!
SHAZAM! @ Oct 7th 2008 2:52AM
Delgado, don't call me misinformed when you're misinformed about me. I was just voicing a gut reaction feeling that I felt that crowd of people would have.
I'm in my final year of a Games Programming course, so I know these cycles exist, Why? Because we have had lectures on the video games industry and how it operates as a business. In fact, while I type this I am preparing research on Game Developer Finance so I and my team mates can present a seminar session this Monday. Trust me, I know all about this stuff, but I thought it would be better to be light-hearted than to go deathly serious on this subject...
Duke @ Oct 6th 2008 4:57PM
So, Denis Dyack was somehow let go then?
Titanium_Orchid @ Oct 6th 2008 4:58PM
Well that sucks.
Hopefully those people will be hired on as freelancers.
MC Double Def DP @ Oct 6th 2008 5:00PM
Is there any chance those 26 people hold the secret to creating an Eternal Darkness sequel?
Viridium @ Oct 6th 2008 6:48PM
I hope not, cause they just got laid off.
That is unless somehow they took the rights to the IP with them (if SK even had them - maybe Nintendo does?), will start their own dev studio, and release a sequel.
Mr Khan @ Oct 6th 2008 5:01PM
What new projects, though?
We know Too Human is supposed to be a trilogy, but i imagine them being quite burnt out on it.
Well Fed Troll @ Oct 6th 2008 5:29PM
You know i was so "Meh" testing out Too Human that i COMPLETELY forgot it was to be a trilogy!
Nevermind the game its self. I just couldnt swallow the SteamPunk-Futurama-Norse mythology...of it all.
Yes well umm, they best take there losses and not bother with 2 or 3.
Shrewd diplomacy of Dyack to use, "we hope to bring back", people for future games. By that time they will have found work elsewhere.
Dirty @ Oct 6th 2008 5:09PM
That city is so screwed.
Mr Khan @ Oct 6th 2008 6:02PM
lol +
PersonOfSorts @ Oct 6th 2008 5:12PM
That's what happens when you have very specialized employees at a company. At certain parts of the software lifecycle you simply don't need certain individuals.
Testers would be the obvious example. Why keep them on the payroll and have them come in at sit at their desk with nothing to do when there's no working project to test?
bVork @ Oct 6th 2008 6:02PM
Two solutions that don't involve layoffs:
Rather than hiring a bunch of full-time employees when a project ramps up and then laying them off after it's finished, use contract workers hired just for that individual project.
Have multiple development teams and projects that are timed to be in different stages of development at any given time, giving every department something to do. While one team is doing early prototypes and talking to people running focus testing, another could be finishing up a game and working on final bugfixes.
JoeTheBlow @ Oct 7th 2008 5:25AM
Criterion says hi.
Burnout released last year, we still get a whole year of content requiring programming and testing (i see Criterion testers on all the time online).
Game still sells, few copies available 2nd hand, PSN version sells bucketloads, 64000+ online everyday.
Now THATS the way to do it!
Robotochan @ Oct 6th 2008 5:21PM
Too (Many) Human(s)
Many + s = Manys
Manys is an anagram of "mynas"
mynas is a terrible spelling of Minus
Mynas are a type of bird
So Silicon Knights next game won't have birds?
Shmil @ Oct 6th 2008 7:26PM
hey if 1960's batman logic brought you to that conclusion then its probably right, he always was
Drew @ Oct 6th 2008 5:37PM
Too bad over 26 people work there....
Tom T @ Oct 6th 2008 6:20PM
Temporary layoffs! Good times!
Easy gaming ripoffs! Good times!
Dying and a-grinding! Good times!
Hanging 15 seconds when you die! Good times!
Ain't Dennis lucky We got em!
Good times!!!
Ant S @ Oct 7th 2008 12:39PM
I see what you did there. :-)
Clinton RRoD sept.3 @ Oct 6th 2008 5:49PM
well i would of quit after seeing how that game turned out. go work for Bungie or Bioware
Delgado @ Oct 6th 2008 8:16PM
Have any idea how difficult it is to get a job at either of those places?
...nevermind, of course you don't, or you wouldn't have said that.
Clinton RRoD sept.3 @ Oct 6th 2008 9:15PM
or would i hahaha. i dont really care so take that
EMaster @ Oct 6th 2008 6:24PM
...and next on eBay: A Sillicon Knights 10 year tenure employee sword. Reason for selling: "That F**ker Dyack laid me off!!" Bidding starts at $0.99 CDN or buy it now for $5500 (same amount of copies Too human sold)
JW @ Oct 6th 2008 6:44PM
Actually, its closer to 400k. But hey, why speak intelligently about something when you can berate it for your own childish pleasure. Cheers for ignorance! Its seems to be alive and thriving everywhere these days....
EMaster @ Oct 6th 2008 6:49PM
Sorry for insulting your game Mr. Dyack I promise to never do it again eh? By responding to my comment you have participated in my jest or "Childish pleasure" according to you. Responding again will only solidify that fact.
Delgado @ Oct 6th 2008 8:18PM
Do you actually own a Benz, or are you just a douche pretending to be a bigger douche?
Jeff @ Oct 6th 2008 7:04PM
Protip for them, stop making Too Human games and get back to your roots of Eternal Darkness k thx.
t3kni9e @ Oct 6th 2008 7:56PM
This probably has something to do with the fact that Too Human was in "developement" for 10 years and in the 10 years they used ALOT of money. That stacked on top of legal fees with their troubles with Epic and the unreal engine. Looking at it in a business point of view, Too Human could quite literally kill Silicon Knights depending if Silicon Knights had the money to spend on this game without hurting themselves, but with the lay-offs im guessing they're losing money.
ScottG13 @ Oct 6th 2008 7:39PM
No jokes here. It sucks to lose your job. Best wishes to these guys and gals.
Juno @ Oct 6th 2008 9:59PM
It should be taken into note currently Canadaian production of this type is seeing hard times with the USA economy drop, cuts from government funding and the high dollar value. Everything from game studios to 3D effects/animation houses are in a rough patch.
The whole blame can not be put on Too Human.. no matter how bad it was. My condolences to all those who are with out work at the moment.
BIGFAT @ Oct 6th 2008 10:36PM
man stuff like like this this makes me scared to work in the game industry, the fact that people in this industry have no job security what so ever, and on top of that its very hard to find a job in the first place is scary. but hey i love games so i do want to experience the joy of doing something you love for a living.
John @ Oct 7th 2008 9:43AM
I think a memo about 9 1/2 years ago simply stating "release in 18 mos. finish working out final bugs" Might have prevented this.
Frank @ Oct 7th 2008 2:56PM
NO such thing as "temporary" layoffs in games dev. They're fired. They'll be fine though, find other jobs. No one will wait out potential employment in St Catharines. There's no market there, or Toronto, it's closest other potential big city for games dev.