A lucky few from Pandemic will continue the studio's work under the EALA roof in Playa Vista, reporting to GM Sean Decker. Here's hoping that those who aren't as fortunate won't have to go too long without work.
A lucky few from Pandemic will continue the studio's work under the EALA roof in Playa Vista, reporting to GM Sean Decker. Here's hoping that those who aren't as fortunate won't have to go too long without work.
Reader Comments (36)
Posted: Nov 17th 2009 3:15PM (Unverified) said
man it is sad to see good studios being shut down, hopefully they will recover soon and still make great games.
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Posted: Nov 17th 2009 5:32PM TheyDidItFirst said
while I agree that it is sad, and I hate to hear about people losing their jobs, I don't think Pandemic has made a good game in 4 years, and in this industry that seems to be about as long as a developer is allowed to survive. Its last two games, Mercenaries 2 (2008) and LoTR: Conquest (2009) had the potential to be great games, but fell decidedly flat. Not only that, but the programming was subpar. Yeah, you can try to blame that on EA, but at some point you have to realize that EA has plenty of other studios that seem to be able to put out at least relatively polished games (Dice, Bioware) or at least games that can be patched. Conquest and Mercenaries 2 were both completely broken in some ways, and the earlier Battlefields weren't much better. I hate to say it, but I feel like this decision IS justified from a business standpoint, even if it seems cruel
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Posted: Nov 17th 2009 3:42PM (Unverified) said
Actually... that particular IP belongs to Lucasarts, not EA/Pandemic. Sorry. :(
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Posted: Nov 17th 2009 4:25PM Drake Lake said
First Free Radical and now Pandemic. Who will get the curse of Battlefront III next?
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Posted: Nov 17th 2009 3:23PM Shadsy said
I bet this is just part of an elaborate plan to kill off anyone who's ever touched the Battlefront IP. First Free radical, now Pandemic.
Either way this is shitty horrible news. Studios and their franchises getting absorbed has never been historically good for a series (see: most C&C after Westwood Studios got eaten up).
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Either way this is shitty horrible news. Studios and their franchises getting absorbed has never been historically good for a series (see: most C&C after Westwood Studios got eaten up).
Posted: Nov 17th 2009 3:26PM Nook said
I'm not going to repeat what I have already said in the rumour post from earlier.
Wish those out of a job all the best and a new home in a company where they can let their creativity flourish.
and...Holly Rockwood?
Are you serious? Holly Rockwood?? I'm having a hard time buying this is a real person, and not to laugh at that name. Childish, yes.
Sounds like a name from Boogie Nights.
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Wish those out of a job all the best and a new home in a company where they can let their creativity flourish.
and...Holly Rockwood?
Are you serious? Holly Rockwood?? I'm having a hard time buying this is a real person, and not to laugh at that name. Childish, yes.
Sounds like a name from Boogie Nights.
Posted: Nov 17th 2009 3:29PM (Unverified) said
I really liked full spectrum warrior on the xbox. Too bad there was never a next gen sequel
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Posted: Nov 17th 2009 3:30PM (Unverified) said
This sucks. They haven't put anything great out in a while but they have done a few really good games. Hopefully this doesn't fuck up the Saboteur too much.
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Posted: Nov 17th 2009 3:33PM (Unverified) said
Yeah, pretty bad to see an established studio shut down. I think the game industry is hiring across the board though so the people out of a job right now might not have to look too hard.
Uh, so what's this mean for The Saboteur anyway? Hiatus?
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Uh, so what's this mean for The Saboteur anyway? Hiatus?
Posted: Nov 17th 2009 5:35PM TheyDidItFirst said
I think its almost (maybe even totally) done, so I assume it will still come out on time
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Posted: Nov 17th 2009 3:38PM Crusty Magic said
Wow, I didn't realize that Pandemic had such a big studio.
This has been a bad year for EA.
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This has been a bad year for EA.
Posted: Nov 17th 2009 3:53PM HighFiveJesus said
the commercials led me to believe those guys are in for an exciting career with their game development degrees! They'll be tightening up the graphix in level 3 in no time.
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Posted: Nov 17th 2009 4:45PM (Unverified) said
So we are never getting a decent Lord of the Rings:Conquest
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Posted: Nov 17th 2009 5:04PM SpartacusMagnus said
I'm not a business major or an owner of a developer studio, but this trend of huge publishers buying up developers only to crank out a few titles then dissolve said developers would make me a little leery of letting any mega corporation buy my precious studio.
Instead of being eaten by a publisher then crapped out a few short years later, why not just retain your independence for pete's sake!
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Instead of being eaten by a publisher then crapped out a few short years later, why not just retain your independence for pete's sake!
Posted: Nov 17th 2009 7:45PM (Unverified) said
The Saboteur looks very interesting, hopefully the shutting down of pandemic hasn't changed it. (I dont think it has, the game is out in less than a month, but still!) Oh and interestingly enough just yesterday i went through and looked at all the games that Pandemic published... Not too hot :( so it's not that surprising.
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Posted: Nov 17th 2009 9:09PM SecondTomorrow said
Probably would've lasted longer if Mercenaries 2 was good. I loved the first one.. 2 was just a PS2 game wrapped in new skin with even more bugfest action..
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Posted: Nov 17th 2009 11:05PM Abalistar said
Ouch. I can understand if their games had underperformed, but the scary part is this happening less than a week after what riccitiello said during the investors' meeting kinda leans toward "old EA" really being back.
I do understand that they hadn't really put out a hit in a few years, but didn't EA just buy them last year?
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I do understand that they hadn't really put out a hit in a few years, but didn't EA just buy them last year?
Posted: Nov 18th 2009 6:36AM (Unverified) said
That reminds me, when do we get those Pyro and Medic TF2 promos from Valve?
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