WTF is up with the game industry?! [Archive]

vertexguy

10-21-2009, 10:38 PM

Well...thanks to Sony's crappy budgetting, myself and about half the staff at Idol Minds were just laid off today. :mad:

If any onlookers know of any opportunitys please contact me directly.

Chris Kline
http://www.vertexguy.com

Kalki

10-21-2009, 10:42 PM

Sorry to hear that Chris. Good luck to you.

Steve

10-21-2009, 10:57 PM

Sorry to hear that, Chris :( I'm a big fan of your work!

ReadOnly

10-22-2009, 03:15 AM

How it has something to do with the game industry itself?

Danule

10-22-2009, 10:19 AM

the game industry is too focused on money and not on games, that's whats wrong with it.

Wamplet

10-22-2009, 11:48 AM

Sorry to hear vertexguy

Orochi Avlis

10-22-2009, 12:06 PM

Hopefully you'll bounce back quickly.

Kev_Boy

10-22-2009, 12:39 PM

Sorry to hear about this. I guess the games industry lives up to its notorious difficulty in finding and maintaining a job.

prophecy holder

10-22-2009, 08:40 PM

the game industry is too focused on money and not on games, that's whats wrong with it.

This, they are quickly becoming Hollywood. Only making games for pure profit and they don't give a crap if it's good or bad. :(

Danule

10-22-2009, 10:45 PM

This, they are quickly becoming Hollywood. Only making games for pure profit and they don't give a crap if it's good or bad. :(

YES exactly. its sad...

vertexguy

10-23-2009, 01:19 AM

How it has something to do with the game industry itself?

There have been several large layoffs and studio closures all over the place in the past year or so. 3d Realms falls into that category. Meanwhile there are corporate executives and producers high up getting bonuses on the same projects teams are downsized for. It's getting every bit as corrupt as wall street.

hanged_man

10-23-2009, 04:07 AM

this is saddening, hope you find another job soon

ReadOnly

10-23-2009, 08:45 AM

There have been several large layoffs and studio closures all over the place in the past year or so. 3d Realms falls into that category. Meanwhile there are corporate executives and producers high up getting bonuses on the same projects teams are downsized for. It's getting every bit as corrupt as wall street.

My point was that layoffs and other stuff were not exclusive to game industry. But that's just nitpicking.

Ironside

10-23-2009, 12:22 PM

The same thing thats wrong with every other industry, the bastards pulling the strings want to get as rich as possible by the shortest and cheapest way possible.

Jeff

10-23-2009, 08:30 PM

the game industry is too focused on money and not on games, that's whats wrong with it.

Quite a lot of people are like that though, and it's not just with games. I prefer quality over quantity myself.

StratonAce

10-24-2009, 10:28 AM

Hey Chris, you an Environmental Artist, we're looking for an Environment Lead at Gearbox...
http://www.gearboxsoftware.com/jobs/listing/47/

And Environment Artists...
http://www.gearboxsoftware.com/jobs/listing/53/

Kien

10-24-2009, 11:55 AM

Graphics!

peoplessi

10-24-2009, 05:20 PM

There have been several large layoffs and studio closures all over the place in the past year or so. 3d Realms falls into that category. Meanwhile there are corporate executives and producers high up getting bonuses on the same projects teams are downsized for. It's getting every bit as corrupt as wall street.

It's always been a windy industry, even more so lately. More money, means more suits controlling the stuff.

Damien_Azreal

10-24-2009, 06:03 PM

Blue Lightning

10-25-2009, 08:43 AM

Quite a lot of people are like that though, and it's not just with games. I prefer quality over quantity myself.

I agree...to a certain extent. Quality game is the goal of course. However, if it takes too long, thats no good. If the gmes are decently good, then volume is important too. I think it was Stalin who said "quantity is a quality, all on its own".

There has to be a balance I guess I am saying.

Monkey Butler

10-25-2009, 09:39 AM

I have a feeling Stalin and the head of Activision would agree on a thing or two.

ReadOnly

10-25-2009, 09:44 AM

Well, if Stalin was a complete POS it doesn't mean he coudn't be right on this one.

ZuljinRaynor

10-25-2009, 10:53 AM

I have a feeling Stalin and the head of Activision would agree on a thing or two.

Nah, Stalin would complain about Activision, too.

Jiminator

10-25-2009, 03:25 PM

eh, its a self-feeding loop. my industry unfortunately is in a permanent decline. more profit can only be obtained by reducing infrastructure. which can work for a time, until you reach the point where everyone left is critical, then you are looking at shutting down the entire company, breaking it up or reducing the core products it produces.

game companies by all measures have been less affected than others. but I think what has happened is that with all of these acquisitions there is just too much infrastructure to be supported by the current level of outstanding debt vs sales while still maintaining a profit ratio, end result being reflected in the share price.

anyway net result of the layoffs indicate where they think their near-term future is going to be and what their priorities are. new development is probably not one of them. Lots of projects in the pipeline have been suspended and for new projects, well, they have to be pretty far in the process.

For now, everything is getting pushed out so it will be in place for the holiday season. I think one or two years down the road you are going to see a new game drought, the only games coming out will be based in existing IPs.

Hudson

10-27-2009, 11:05 PM

May I ask what happened that caused the budget cuts? Were you guys behind schedule?

crunchy superman

10-28-2009, 03:36 PM

the only games coming out will be based in existing IPs.

Not far from that now.

vertexguy

10-29-2009, 07:01 PM

May I ask what happened that caused the budget cuts? Were you guys behind schedule?

Nope, we've always hit our deadlines and made solid products. Sony's hurting because of poor hardware sales. When they're the ones funding our only project, it has a ripple effect. They dropped the projects, so the studio is left with no income. Basically the guys doing all the work suffer because a suit somewhere in Japan thought all Americans were rich and would want to blow 800 dollars on a console. Nintendo is the only console company that's ever had a clue.

Hudson

10-29-2009, 08:38 PM

Well, I hope you find a new job man.. I know how hard it can be.

Kristian Joensen

10-30-2009, 05:26 PM

I am sad to hear that, good luck with finding a new job as soon as possible.

Danule

10-30-2009, 06:29 PM

Nope, we've always hit our deadlines and made solid products. Sony's hurting because of poor hardware sales. When they're the ones funding our only project, it has a ripple effect. They dropped the projects, so the studio is left with no income. Basically the guys doing all the work suffer because a suit somewhere in Japan thought all Americans were rich and would want to blow 800 dollars on a console. Nintendo is the only console company that's ever had a clue.

well this is what happens when console's try to be computers. or.. in fact ARE computers now. :)

Jiminator

10-30-2009, 08:01 PM

well, isn't it shortsighted for a company to put all of its eggs in one basket? not for you, vertex, but the management. it would be a risk at any time to depend on a single customer for all of your income.

0marTheZealot

10-30-2009, 10:11 PM

600 dollar console was the worst decision ever. No console should break the 299 barrier, otherwise, it's shooting itself in the foot from the second it comes out.

Jiminator

10-31-2009, 12:12 AM

but hey, people buy it to play blueray disks..... which cost an extra $10 from regular,
and regular people may not know the difference.

Feared

10-31-2009, 12:52 AM

but hey, people buy it to play blueray disks..... which cost an extra $10 from regular,
and regular people may not know the difference.

The PS3 is 299$ now...
Why are you guy's still going on about the price?

If you wanna complain about prices complain about the iPhone and the new PSP.

Monkey Butler

10-31-2009, 02:04 AM

Wouldn't be complaining about the cost of the iPhone, seeing as how it's a phone, not a games console. But the PSPGo is an absolute joke.

Feared

10-31-2009, 02:33 AM

Wouldn't be complaining about the cost of the iPhone, seeing as how it's a phone, not a games console. But the PSPGo is an absolute joke.

True, still. Seems expensive to me. But of course all phone's seem to be.
Yeah the PSPGo is a pretty big joke.

I'll stick with my trusty CFW PSP with a cracked ( more like it fell out ) start button.

Rapture_Rising

10-31-2009, 06:16 AM

That sucks... I and probably everyone knows what it feels like, I had an IT Traineeship and the company folded and i also lost my job:(:(:( (Damn i loved that job (Queue sad violin music;))).

PAIN was an awesome game to play when you are seriously drunk. But pick yourself up and get on with life and try to find a new job.

prophecy holder

11-01-2009, 05:19 PM

Hope you have it better when looking for a job. 32 applications in only a couple of days and not one interview/reply. Even went as low as McDonalds just to get some cash and nothing. :(

I bet if I had a large pair of breasts and a small tight shirt I could get a job in a second.

Feared

11-02-2009, 01:09 PM

0marTheZealot

11-02-2009, 04:04 PM

The PS3 is 299$ now...
Why are you guy's still going on about the price?

If you wanna complain about prices complain about the iPhone and the new PSP.

Well, it's 299 after what, 3 years? For 2.5 years, it was priced out of reach for many, many people.

prophecy holder

11-04-2009, 07:47 AM

Well, it's 299 after what, 3 years? For 2.5 years, it was priced out of reach for many, many people.

Why is it that people can spend 2k-3k-4k on a computer, 2k-3k on a new plasmid screen TV, damn near $100 for jeans that had holes in the knees but they are to cheap for a console over $299?

Monkey Butler

11-04-2009, 07:57 AM

The majority of people don't spend 2k-4k on a computer, a plasma TV is a status symbol that is used often for several hours a day and will presumably last a very long time, jeans are worn all the time, are a status symbol, and help get girls. A PS3 at its original retail price just seemed overpriced for something that for the majority of people did nothing more than a 360 (or even a Wii). At $299 it's good value, which is why it's finally selling in decent numbers.

wayskobfssae

11-04-2009, 10:41 AM

WTF is up with the game industry?!

The root of the problem is bolded and underlined.

MrAdidaking

11-14-2009, 03:31 PM

if people want good games, why don't they create them on their own and release them via steam? That way good games can be created and released??

Pansa

11-14-2009, 04:10 PM

if people want good games, why don't they create them on their own and release them via steam? That way good games can be created and released??

the same way that professionel studios fail at creating a "better mmo than wow".
Or put another way, we aparently have the choice between games with heart, or games with recources. A choice that is absolutly dishearting as a customer.

Its frustrating to see bad products with high production values OR good products without.
Its the same with dating, most people prefers reasonable beauty with apropriate smarts, its a special blend of people who like the extrems of nice but ugly or hot and personality of a cat in a papershredder.

wayskobfssae

11-15-2009, 11:59 AM

There's a saying, and I don't know where it originated. It goes something like, "You can have things made good, fast, or cheap. You can usually only pick two out of the three."

0marTheZealot

11-15-2009, 01:16 PM

Why is it that people can spend 2k-3k-4k on a computer, 2k-3k on a new plasmid screen TV, damn near $100 for jeans that had holes in the knees but they are to cheap for a console over $299?

Computers aren't that expensive anymore, maybe 1.5k at the most, and that's if you pimp the hell out of it.

The thing is that the PS3 JUST came down to 299. It was stuck at 499-599 for the longest time and that's out of reach for most people, especially when you consider that consoles do nothing but play games.

fast-1

11-15-2009, 04:07 PM

The credit crunch is bullshit, it's greedy politicians wasting money in stupid wars, and the rich being selfish that's causing these layoffs.

:dalek:

Monkey Butler

11-15-2009, 04:27 PM

That's not true.

fast-1

11-15-2009, 04:35 PM

How is the world in debt then.

Steve

11-15-2009, 04:39 PM

People borrowing money they can't afford to pay back.

fast-1

11-15-2009, 04:42 PM

I'm taking about the mega rich, not the average well off. ;)

Pansa

11-15-2009, 07:04 PM

I'm taking about the mega rich, not the average well off. ;)
well you are both right.
yes , the mega RICH people aren'T in debt.
THe problem is the companys who MAKE their owners a wagonload of money are.
todays companys are like mentaly challenged offspring.
They can't do anything for themselves, and are constantly supperwised by other people, but are a seperate individual "person" before the law.

And these retarded kids are all broke, which of course isn't the parents fault, especialy not because they take to much money for themselves and don'T spend any on the kids.

The money they take is BECAUSE they have to manage that retarded kid, which is alot harder than any other job, and you need to have special training. So if the kid isn'T getting any better, its not because they failed to provide proper care, but because the kid is ungratefull.

Oh and if people actualy your kid IS retarded, and not a figure of speech, they try to convince you with marketing that its not retarded, but special.