With rumors swirling last month that Australia's Krome Studios was closing its doors, CEO Robert Walsh informed IGN Australia that while ongoing reports of layoffs are true, the developer is "still open" and still has working employees. Additionally, Walsh insisted the studio has projects currently in production, as well as more "on the horizon."
"I wouldn't say our industry is doing well at the moment, but we are really focusing on more digital and social work and not as much box product," Walsh clarified. He added that such projects don't require large teams.
Walsh admitted that Krome had kept too many employees on staff -- somewhere around 400 before the layoffs began -- even when there was no work for many of them. "To be really honest, that's pretty much led to our current position," Walsh explained. "We probably kept 100, 120 people on, waiting for work to come in." Now, Krome will focus on paying work and keeping a "smaller, core team" that should range from 40 to 100 staff depending on the number of the studio's projects at any given time.
Despite the trying times, Walsh is determined to keep as many people on board as possible. "My goal right now is to try and find as much work as possible for the people we've got, and still look for more work to get people back."
Reader Comments (10)
Posted: Nov 9th 2010 6:11PM Gaddes said
I hadn't heard of these guys... what games had they done?
Posted: Nov 9th 2010 6:15PM Chief Oddball said
@Gaddes
Blade Kitten most recently, and Ty the Tasmanian Tiger -- off the top of my head.
Reply
Blade Kitten most recently, and Ty the Tasmanian Tiger -- off the top of my head.
Posted: Nov 9th 2010 6:24PM PhilipJWitow said
@Gaddes.
They were also responsible for implementing Microsoft's Game Room and doing some of the ports if I'm not mistaken.
Still, 400 people for Game Room + Blade Kitten? In comparison, God of War 3 had 132 staff when it was finally finished.
Reply
They were also responsible for implementing Microsoft's Game Room and doing some of the ports if I'm not mistaken.
Still, 400 people for Game Room + Blade Kitten? In comparison, God of War 3 had 132 staff when it was finally finished.
Posted: Nov 9th 2010 6:25PM oOWallaceOo said
@Gaddes
Appartently they made something called "Game Room" for 360.
Reply
Appartently they made something called "Game Room" for 360.
Posted: Nov 9th 2010 6:29PM Faenix said
@oOWallaceOo
Scene It? Box Office Smash
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (PS2/Wii version)
Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Republic Heroes
360's Game Room
Blade Kitten
Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole,
In closing: They make shitty licensed games, and really im surprised there still around.
Reply
Scene It? Box Office Smash
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (PS2/Wii version)
Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Republic Heroes
360's Game Room
Blade Kitten
Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole,
In closing: They make shitty licensed games, and really im surprised there still around.
Posted: Nov 9th 2010 9:52PM KaBob799 said
If your projects don't why require large teams, why not have more projects? Theres got to be a better reason than that =p
Posted: Nov 9th 2010 11:41PM Jack Kevorkian said
ive recently gotten into Game Room i'm glad they are hanging on. Jackal is the shiz.
Posted: Nov 9th 2010 11:59PM GlassAgate said
Want more arcade games! Cadillacs and Dinosaurs,
Double Dragon 1-3, Battletoads, Cabal, Snow Bros.....
MORE!
Double Dragon 1-3, Battletoads, Cabal, Snow Bros.....
MORE!
Posted: Nov 10th 2010 10:21AM Flakk said
Glad to hear it, Krome! Now get back to work on Game Room. This week's offering of "Golf" for 2600 and "Miniature Golf" for 2600 was not impressive. If that's what you're down to on the 2600, how about moving on to a different console? For home consoles, I'd like to see 5200, 7800, and Colecovision (and how about some Imagic games - I'd love to play "Demon Attack" and "Cosmic Ark" again!). For arcade, how about adding games from Taito, Data East, and Midway? I'd happily pay for "Elevator Action", "Zookeeper", "Jungle Hunt", "Space Dungeon", "Darius", "BurgerTime", "Heavy Barrel", "Gorf", "Wizard of Wor", "Rampage", and "Xenophobe".
I can only imagine the licensing headaches, but I'm telling you Krome: by focusing solely on 2600, Intellivision, Atari, and Konami, you're leaving money on the table.
I can only imagine the licensing headaches, but I'm telling you Krome: by focusing solely on 2600, Intellivision, Atari, and Konami, you're leaving money on the table.





