This was an interesting week. The day before April 1st an online video game news website reported that SOE had layed off a third of its employees. This got everyone buzzing around the office. An email went out to everyone at the studio for a meeting. An hour before the meeting they sent out emails to everyone (me included) who they have decided to let go. Needless to say many people were very upset at the way things were handled. Receiving the news to not come back the next day by an online news source rather than by the leadership in the studio was not the best way to handle things. It was a weird sight to see half of the studio packing up their personal belonging while the others had to watch. To me the day didn’t feel real. Although I was bummed out that I no longer had a job, I look back and realize that I am grateful for the opportunities, experiences and friends that I have gained. Hopefully people will recognize my experiences and open doors to other great opportunities.
Here is the original article I read on the eve of April fools.
http://www.industrygamers.com/news/sony-online-entertainment-slashes-workforce/Sony Online Entertainment Slashes Workforce
Posted March 31, 2011 by M.H. Williams
Yesterday evening, Duke Nukem co-creator George Broussard dropped a few messages on Twitter about impending job cuts at Sony Online Entertainment.
"Word that Sony Online Entertainment Seattle is having layoffs and that studio closure is possible. To be more clear, the layoffs may be SOE wide and not just limited to Seattle,” read the first two Tweets from Broussard.
He later followed with, “SOE Seattle and other studios (Denver is rumored) will be closed tomorrow. Good luck to all impacted.”
Kotaku later spoke with an anonymous source who said that SOE had shuttered studios in Seattle, Tucson, and Denver. In addition, the source confirmed layoffs at SOE’s Austin and San Diego. All told, nearly one-third of SOE’s workforce has been laid off in a single day.
A number of titles could be in jeopardy: Denver was responsible for the company’s online card games based on its Free Realms, Star Wars Galaxies, Clone Wars, and Everquest brands; Tuscon handled PoxNora; and Seattle was responsible for the unreleased MMO The Agency. Most of SOE’s larger brands including Everquest, DC Universe Online, and Free Realms, are handled at SOE San Diego and SOE Austin. Cuts at those studios are rather surprising for the company, as new versions of Everquest and Planetside were reportedly in development.
IndustryGamers hopes that those laid off get back on their feet quickly.
No comments:
Post a Comment