Joystiq

Proletariat Inc. rises up from Zynga Boston shutdown

Alexander Sliwinski — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 15:30:00 EST

Proletariat Inc. is a new Beantown-based studio formed out of the closure of Zynga Boston. The team of five is currently finishing up an arcade-style word-find game, Letter Rush for iOS, which should be out by next week.

"We have all known each other and worked with one another for so long that we've developed an organic way of making games together," said CEO Seth Sivak. Prior to Zynga Boston, members of the team had worked at Harmonix, Turbine and Insomniac. "We all want to make successful games, both creatively and as a business. This team has been on both sides and knows how to find that balance."

The team of five had worked on Indiana Jones Adventure World for Zynga, but were originally part of Conduit Labs, which was acquired by Zynga in 2010. The social media giant is currently picking itself up from the storm drain following a multi-year bender.

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Proletariat Inc. rises up from Zynga Boston shutdown originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 26 Feb 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zynga CEO Mark Pincus: Boston closing, Austin reducing, 5% of full-time staff laid off

Jessica Conditt — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 18:05:00 EST

Zynga is laying off 5 percent of its full-time workforce, closing its Boston studio and significantly reducing staff at its Austin studio, CEO and founder Mark Pincus writes in a letter to employees. Zynga is proposing closures of its Japan and UK studios, retiring 13 older games and "significantly reducing" its investment in The Ville.

"In addition to these studios, we are also making a small number of partner team reductions," Pincus writes. "In all, we will unfortunately be parting ways with approximately 5 percent of our full time workforce. We don't take these decisions lightly as we recognize the impact to our colleagues and friends who have been on this journey with us. We appreciate their amazing contributions and will miss them."

As part of a larger restructuing, Zynga is cutting "spending on data hosting, advertising and outside services, primarily contractors." Pincus says these measures will "improve profitability" and allow the company to "reinvest in great games."

Pincus will host a webcast tomorrow, following its earnings report. There is no word of the Zynga Chicago studio losing staff, as was rumored earlier today. Read Pincus' full letter below.

Continue reading Zynga CEO Mark Pincus: Boston closing, Austin reducing, 5% of full-time staff laid off

Zynga CEO Mark Pincus: Boston closing, Austin reducing, 5% of full-time staff laid off originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 23 Oct 2012 18:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Zynga shedding staff in Boston, Austin, Chicago [Update: Letter from CEO]

Jessica Conditt — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 14:00:00 EST

Twitter is on fire with messages that Zynga offices in Boston, Austin and Chicago are closing down. We have contacted Zynga and its employees for clarification.

An employee at Zynga Austin tells Joystiq, "So what I know as of now that The Ville and Bingo teams were cut. I don't know anything about Chicago at the moment." Zynga Austin is responsible for The Ville, Zynga Bingo and Slots, meaning this cut leaves just the Slots team. There are about 70 people left at Zynga Austin, the employee says.

Zynga Boston General Manager Fareed Mosavat is tweeting out job offers in the city, writing, "The outpouring of support for us has been incredible. Love this Boston scene."

Zynga Boston is behind Facebook game Adventure World, and comprises employees from Zynga's acquisition of Conduit Labs in 2010. In March 2011 it acquired Floodgate Entertainment, and by September 2011 Zynga Boston had 35 employees, some recruited from MMO developer Turbine.

Update: Zynga CEO Mark Pincus sent out a letter to employees that confirms the closure of its Boston studio and a significant reduction at its Austin studio, resulting in a loss of 5 percent of its full-time employees, among other changes. Read the letter here.

Rumor: Zynga shedding staff in Boston, Austin, Chicago [Update: Letter from CEO] originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 23 Oct 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Boston Festival of Indie Games starts on Sept. 22

David Hinkle — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 20:30:00 EST

A new show centered around the indie scene is set to kick off in Boston on September 22. The Boston Festival of Indie Games is taking submissions right now, gathering aspiring developers looking to show off their wares on the MIT campus this fall.

Organized by MIT Game Lab and Boston Indies at the MIT Campus, the Boston Festival of Indie Games is open to the public and, aside from giving indie developers a soapbox to stand on, will present a digital art exhibit, film screenings, a 12-hour game jam session, guest speaker presentations and a special area to showcase games made within the MIT Game Lab. Some of the names to already sign on and judge submissions are Harmonix Senior Designer Tim Stellmach, Fire Hose Games Creative Director Eitan Glinert, Zynga Boston Creative Director Paul Neurath, and Singapore-MIT GAMBIT Game Lab US Executive Director Philip Tan.

Awards will be given during the show based on public voting once cleared by the panel above. Those interested in submitting their digital game for showcase will have to pay a $10 fee if they are a student, or a $15 fee if they are a professional, by no later than August 10. If you're making something that doesn't fall into the digital category, you can submit it free of charge. Good luck!

Boston Festival of Indie Games starts on Sept. 22 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 16 Jul 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zynga acquires Floodgate Entertainment

David Hinkle — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 04:00:00 EST

Furthering Zynga's presence on the East Coast is Floodgate Entertainment, the latest acquisition for the social games giant. Floodgate will be assimilated into Zynga Boston, with the formerly independent developer's founder, Paul Neurath, overseeing as creative director.

Zynga has been giving its checkbook a workout over the past few months, purchasing Drop7 dev Area/Code (now Zynga New York), as well as snatching up Lou Castle, who was CEO for InstantAction before it went the way of the Dodo. Zynga's current worth is estimated to be in the billions.

Zynga acquires Floodgate Entertainment originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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