It's common for development teams to grow during the creation of a game and shrink following that game's completion, a tendency that Martin himself notes. Regardless, we wish the best to all of those who find themselves riding into the sunset.
It's common for development teams to grow during the creation of a game and shrink following that game's completion, a tendency that Martin himself notes. Regardless, we wish the best to all of those who find themselves riding into the sunset.
Reader Comments (47)
Posted: Jul 15th 2010 9:42AM Frivolous said
You know how they have blood diamonds? This game has blood DLC
Posted: Jul 15th 2010 9:52AM That Burning Sensation said
@(Unverified)
Yes, getting laid off is just like blood diamonds. Except for the mass murdering, war, and exploited poverty.
Internet morons- belittling tragic world events since 1989.
Reply
Yes, getting laid off is just like blood diamonds. Except for the mass murdering, war, and exploited poverty.
Internet morons- belittling tragic world events since 1989.
Posted: Jul 15th 2010 10:05AM That Burning Sensation said
@(Unverified)
I don't know where the materials came from and neither do you. There are plenty of diamonds that people do not need to buy useless shiny rocks that fund wars and genocide. If this computer was made under such conditions, then I am unaware and if I were, I would not make an unfunny comment about it.
So there, you still fail.
Reply
I don't know where the materials came from and neither do you. There are plenty of diamonds that people do not need to buy useless shiny rocks that fund wars and genocide. If this computer was made under such conditions, then I am unaware and if I were, I would not make an unfunny comment about it.
So there, you still fail.
Posted: Jul 15th 2010 10:45AM Captain Planet Planeteer Power said
@(Unverified)
You make me want to punch babies repeatedly in the face.
Reply
You make me want to punch babies repeatedly in the face.
Posted: Jul 15th 2010 11:08AM thisredengine said
@Captain Planet Planeteer Power
Linka's cousin Boris dies in one episode. Where were you then, you useless blue man?
Reply
Linka's cousin Boris dies in one episode. Where were you then, you useless blue man?
Posted: Jul 15th 2010 9:48AM postpwn said
With RDR on their resumes, I'm sure they'll be sought after.
Posted: Jul 15th 2010 11:13AM thisredengine said
@postpwn As long as they did significant work on the game. Maybe they were in the "Special thanks to" section of the game credits.
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Posted: Jul 15th 2010 9:51AM InvaderDem said
"Hey guys, thanks for working on this successful game! Oh, by the way - you're fired."
Sorry, but that's just a crappy move.
Sorry, but that's just a crappy move.
Posted: Jul 15th 2010 11:14AM thisredengine said
@Dusse Why did everyone downvote this person? It is indeed crappy but this is what happens in many studios and in virtually all private, non-union businesses.
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Posted: Jul 15th 2010 9:59AM deedubbadoo said
So basically they are comparing this to retail stores hiring more employees over the holidays and letting them go after the rush.
Posted: Jul 15th 2010 10:29AM swooded said
@deedubbadoo
It sucks when anyone loses their job, but Yeah that is the general comparison. And like those employees who get hired during the rush, most of these people likely knew their positions were likely temporary. Once the game goes gold, you don't need a bunch of people rendering plants, clouds etc etc anymore. The difference is that these designers can say they worked on Red Dead Redemption & with Rockstar
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It sucks when anyone loses their job, but Yeah that is the general comparison. And like those employees who get hired during the rush, most of these people likely knew their positions were likely temporary. Once the game goes gold, you don't need a bunch of people rendering plants, clouds etc etc anymore. The difference is that these designers can say they worked on Red Dead Redemption & with Rockstar
Posted: Jul 15th 2010 9:59AM That Burning Sensation said
CEO: Great job guys.
Employee: So why am I getting axed?
CEO: Did you see that Porsche with the platinum rims outside?
Employee: Uh, no. . .
CEO: No you didn't, because I parked it in a handicapped spot at the childrens hospital next door. But my point is, I need four of them to complete my collection and I can't very well do that if I keep you employeed after you make me a buttload of money now can I?
Employee: . . . . . . . . . . . .
Employee: So why am I getting axed?
CEO: Did you see that Porsche with the platinum rims outside?
Employee: Uh, no. . .
CEO: No you didn't, because I parked it in a handicapped spot at the childrens hospital next door. But my point is, I need four of them to complete my collection and I can't very well do that if I keep you employeed after you make me a buttload of money now can I?
Employee: . . . . . . . . . . . .
Posted: Jul 15th 2010 10:00AM Zeakk said
The people that made this game don't deserved to get fired! But, like postpwn said they have RDR on their resume and they should be able to find another great job.
Posted: Jul 15th 2010 10:02AM Temidien said
I guess these developers...
*puts on sunglasses*
...will be seeing Red.
*puts on sunglasses*
...will be seeing Red.
Posted: Jul 15th 2010 10:06AM Haywire said
Off-topic, sorry: I can't always see the second page of comments. Clicking the links on some pages, including this one: http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/13/onlive-the-first-few-weeks just takes me to the front page: http://www.joystiq.com/#comments
Has anyone else experienced this? Is there a workaround? It's pretty annoying, I thought Futurestiq was gonna solve all of life's problems :(
Has anyone else experienced this? Is there a workaround? It's pretty annoying, I thought Futurestiq was gonna solve all of life's problems :(
Posted: Jul 15th 2010 10:12AM Revving Injuns said
@Haywire Yes I experienced this yesterday in Fire Fox. Don;t know if the behavior would be different in IE but I am too lazy to care.
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Posted: Jul 15th 2010 3:56PM (Unverified) said
@Haywire I experience the same and it's starting to bug me...Hopefully futurestiq will fix it xD.
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Posted: Jul 15th 2010 5:34PM Haywire said
Ok, I emailed Chris about it and it turns out it's caused by the url not having a trailing "/" i.e. the url was http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/13/onlive-the-first-few-weeks and not http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/13/onlive-the-first-few-weeks/ (try it out, the second link works fine). The profile page gives links without a trailing "/", so hopefully that will be fixed soon :)
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Posted: Jul 15th 2010 10:10AM BoBsS said
Most of these guys knew going into the game they're most likely being canned afterwards, sorta like contract/seasonal personnel you see major retailers like Best Buy hire during busy times.
Posted: Jul 15th 2010 10:23AM That Burning Sensation said
@BoBsS
Actually I imagine only half of those laidoff are actually project specific employees, but a better solution for both parties could have been simple restructuring of talent to different studios.
Reply
Actually I imagine only half of those laidoff are actually project specific employees, but a better solution for both parties could have been simple restructuring of talent to different studios.
Posted: Jul 15th 2010 10:29AM Liquidfingers said
Well this is no good..."Nice work on Red Dead Redemption, it is a great game...and now you're fired!"
Posted: Jul 15th 2010 10:30AM commonperson said
What people need to understand is the entire method of making video games is changing. Before you had large staffs with many employees who were hired on as company employees. This is changing, it's moving to a model much more like the film industry where you have a large pool of skilled workers who move from project to project and work as independent contractors.
Knowing people who work in the film industry this can be quite rewarding where they take just the projects they want and control their work schedule (I know some people who work for six or eight months a year doing work on films and then take off for the rest of the year traveling.) It's all about proper management of your money. This more flexible model is the way of the future in development unfortunatley. Working in IT yes it sucks but it's just the nature of the beast.
Knowing people who work in the film industry this can be quite rewarding where they take just the projects they want and control their work schedule (I know some people who work for six or eight months a year doing work on films and then take off for the rest of the year traveling.) It's all about proper management of your money. This more flexible model is the way of the future in development unfortunatley. Working in IT yes it sucks but it's just the nature of the beast.
Posted: Jul 15th 2010 11:02AM Art84 said
Sad to hear this RDR is an awesome game, hopefully these employees can find work soon. Maybe start their own company?
Posted: Jul 15th 2010 11:05AM ohheysean said
"great work fellas - http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/dailyrft/you_re_fired.jpg"
Posted: Jul 15th 2010 11:21AM thisredengine said
I'm amazed at many of the comments here. We don't know who these employees were, their positions in the company, what their contracts were like and people are writing ridiculous comments like "They worked on RDR which means they'll get hired instantly elsewhere" or 'Maybe these guys will start a company".
You can tell from here who works in/knows about the gaming industry and who's just an outside observer.
You can tell from here who works in/knows about the gaming industry and who's just an outside observer.
Posted: Jul 15th 2010 3:59PM thisredengine said
@thisredengine Hah, no one responded to my comment because I'm right. People not in the industry shouldn't comment and should just stick to buying the games of which they have no idea how they're made.
Reply
Posted: Jul 15th 2010 12:09PM Runewastaken said
Thats too bad this game is awesome. Hopefully they can keep up the good work still.
Profile:
http://rlgamer.com/ViewGamer.aspx?View=Rune
Profile:
http://rlgamer.com/ViewGamer.aspx?View=Rune
Posted: Jul 15th 2010 12:41PM MrAlex said
Does anyone else feel like a decent set of modders could have put this game together as a mod for GTA IV, the game is excellent and the team are brilliant, but other than making the environment in the game, I honestly can't see where all the work went.
Posted: Jul 15th 2010 1:07PM davebo said
@MrAlex Well it's hard to just say "other than making the environment" because the environment represents a massive amount of textures and modeling, including all foliage and animals/people. But sure, ASIDE from that and all the voice over work (how many mods have cut scenes?) then I could envision this as a really elaborate gta 4 mod. There's just one problem: companies aren't letting people mod games like they used to. On PC gta4 all the "mods" are just hacks that get blocked each time they update and then re-hacked by the community. The glory days of pc mods are long gone unfortunately. Although I still think you'd have a hard time "modding" the cars in gta4 to behave like horses, I certainly wouldn't mind an Infernus stallion.
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Posted: Jul 15th 2010 12:46PM finalstar2007 said
Why the layoffs? dont R game sell like hot cakes?
Posted: Jul 15th 2010 1:46PM altwaev said
You guys are overlooking how terrible the working conditions at R* San Diego were, especially during the development of RDR. (see http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/09/rumor-wives-of-rockstar-san-diego-rally-for-better-work-conditi/ )
Treated like slaves while creating this beautiful (and successful) game. Of course it sucks to lose your job, but they deserve better than R* anyway.
Treated like slaves while creating this beautiful (and successful) game. Of course it sucks to lose your job, but they deserve better than R* anyway.
Posted: Jul 15th 2010 1:48PM Breakdown said
They all complained about working too hard, or at least their wives did. Now maybe they can all complain that not working is even worse.
Posted: Jul 15th 2010 3:09PM HotDogWater said
stay classy, san diego
Posted: Jul 15th 2010 5:07PM Paladingo said
40 people would be pretty much their QA department, who only work on the last portions of a project and are completely unnecessary (save a few tools and general QA people) for the launch of the next project.
People know this, people who work QA are fully aware that they will work until the project hits certification, possibly a little longer if there's DLC, and that's it, they look for their next job. The nature of the industry is that because projects have different life cycles, someone else is always hiring. These guys have a AAA title on their resumes now, that's a huge boost, not to mention Rockstar will be calling them back next QA cycle start.
People know this, people who work QA are fully aware that they will work until the project hits certification, possibly a little longer if there's DLC, and that's it, they look for their next job. The nature of the industry is that because projects have different life cycles, someone else is always hiring. These guys have a AAA title on their resumes now, that's a huge boost, not to mention Rockstar will be calling them back next QA cycle start.
Posted: Jul 15th 2010 5:20PM kentuckyfried said
Feel sorry for these guys...this is like the aerospace or animation industries, where they hire like crazy until the project is done, and then fire everybody once the workload drops.
But yeah....if it's only the QA guys, I wouldn't worry about them too much.
But yeah....if it's only the QA guys, I wouldn't worry about them too much.
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