Post by Steve Farrelly @ 11:22am 10/08/11 | 62 Comments
"With this realignment, we are narrowing our focus to high-quality owned IP with broad appeal that can be leveraged across multiple platforms, and to work with the best talent in the industry. By right-sizing our internal development capacities for our console portfolio, our five internal studios are focused on delivering high-quality games with talented teams driving the execution of those titles to market,” said Brian Farrell, President and CEO, THQ via press release.
“As we have outlined in our business strategies, we are making shifts to reduce movie-based and licensed kids’ video games in our portfolio, which underscores our strategy to move away from games that will not generate strong profits in the future.”
According to the release, all 200 staff let-go in the "strategic realignment" are able to apply for positions within any of THQ's global offices still standing. And while it is good to hear a company moving away from licensed products and games for children, to focus more on core, new and original IPs, it's always sad to hear about Aussie studio closures.
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Posted 11:46am 10/8/11
Think its time to change industries, after Krome went down also :(
Posted 11:46am 10/8/11
Also, forcing people to reapply for the same job they had yesterday is bollocks.
Posted 12:00pm 10/8/11
You do an MBA (Master of Backstabbing and Arsekissing) and you'll be well versed in these terms, and more.
Posted 12:00pm 10/8/11
Posted 12:06pm 10/8/11
Posted 12:10pm 10/8/11
Posted 12:13pm 10/8/11
time to make a game = GFC2
Posted 12:56pm 10/8/11
Posted 01:05pm 10/8/11
Posted 01:47pm 10/8/11
There goes my job...
After being part of this, and the demise of Krome -- I (and I assume many many more) am all but ready to give up on the industry which I love.
Was sooo excited to get back into an artist job (was doing QA for a bit to pay some bills) -- but now I don't know.
10yrs of experience, and the second slap in the face in 12months.
Massive sigh's.
Rumour I heard was that the people doing the licensing of the (unanounced) title were asking for ridiculous amounts of cash ($10 million), forcing the closure of the projects and companies.
last edited by Hemerage at 13:47:39 10/Aug/11
Posted 01:28pm 10/8/11
An easy statement to make if you have no friends, assets, family, kids, visa worries etc.
The common stories with these collapses is always that people on Visas now have 28 days to find work, or they have to go home.
It's s***.
Posted 01:28pm 10/8/11
Posted 01:35pm 10/8/11
last edited by Linker at 13:35:54 10/Aug/11
Posted 01:51pm 10/8/11
You make new friends, assets can be sold, family can be visited at christmas (because that's the only time you see them anyway), kids come with you, visa's are easy to get if you have a job offer. You'll also learn how things are done in different countries, you're network of people you know grows substantially, and it looks good on your cv having worked in another country.
Posted 01:57pm 10/8/11
I'm not one to just willynilly uproot and lose all my excellent friends and family for a job.
My wife has connections here too, so it's not just a choice for me.
It's not out of the question, but just saying....
Hard to feel passionate about it right now, given whats happened to both companies I've worked for.
Posted 02:07pm 10/8/11
Posted 03:03pm 10/8/11
Posted 02:59pm 10/8/11
Posted 03:15pm 10/8/11
Don't forgot Euclideon!
Oh wait... yeah, forget Euclideon.
Posted 03:33pm 10/8/11
Why should a business run something when they can get more money doing something else? Businesses aren't community services, they exist to make money.
Posted 03:40pm 10/8/11
Posted 04:37pm 10/8/11
Posted 05:03pm 10/8/11
Yes businesses are about people, people making money and profit.
Businesses are not a community service and will pursue anything that will make them more money ho matter how unpopular the decision, just aslong as there is more money.
Posted 05:03pm 10/8/11
Posted 05:46pm 10/8/11
there are ALOT of talented ppl in aus going to waist tho, and with the big indy wave atm im not sure why more of u lads arnt trying it out with small titles u can push out thru steam.
Posted 05:48pm 10/8/11
no press release or information just a picture.
Pretty sad day in the Australian Game Development community I bet.
Posted 06:05pm 10/8/11
Since it sounds like you've never worked in the industry, you wouldn't understand that establishments like these ARE community related.
If you work with a team of like minded, enthusiastic and talented artists/coders/design/etc people -- you bond.
But when the suits money get's pulled, well, this happens.
Posted 06:13pm 10/8/11
Everyone I know that worked in games as a programmer or artist left the industry in the last five years. I don't know anyone in the industry anymore personally. They are mostly all web devs now essentially.
Posted 06:47pm 10/8/11
Well, I can't speak for anyone else, but personally even though I'd love to do that, its just not feasible. I have bills to pay, rent, a car loan, I need money coming in from a regular job. Or I need a previously unknown rich relative to die and leave me a giant inheritence.
Posted 07:15pm 10/8/11
Posted 07:58pm 10/8/11
damn, that's pretty much the field I'm looking at if I can't get work in games in the next 4 or so months.
Also: Hire me!
>>> www.potatoz.net <<<
Posted 09:39pm 10/8/11
Posted 09:34am 12/8/11
Posted 10:09am 12/8/11
Posted 10:19am 12/8/11
Posted 10:25am 12/8/11
Posted 10:28am 12/8/11
i've looked into it as well, i love me some holidays and can handle kids alright :D but i don't think i'm going to head down that track.
Posted 10:45am 12/8/11
Posted 10:50am 12/8/11
Posted 11:43am 12/8/11
Didn't they cover anything that you could re-use outside the games development arena?
Posted 12:02pm 12/8/11
Posted 12:09pm 12/8/11
Dev's have to think smaller and casual in the current marketplace. Console/PC development is too risky.
Posted 12:15pm 12/8/11
Posted 12:39pm 12/8/11
Or if you have confidence in the investment write a business proposal and visit a bank, just like everyone else does.
Posted 01:42pm 12/8/11
Posted 03:00pm 12/8/11
So when game companies are going broke and closing down all over Australia, your solution is.... start a game company? Sound advice right there.
Posted 04:43pm 12/8/11
Posted 04:51pm 12/8/11
There was an 'if' in my sentence.
It seems pretty clear that indy devs can make a lot of money with the right idea - whether on games for mobile devices, XBLA, PC or whatever your chosen platform.
The caveat is having the right idea. Khel, every time an idea has come out of your mouth on this forum I've been blown away by it enough to want to start implementing - you know that, I've PM'd you and offered to code. You clearly have a lot of great ideas. If you don't have the business nouse maybe you can partner up with someone that does and find success in your ideal profession that way.
Posted 04:51pm 12/8/11
Heh I'd be happy if a few companies went broke in my industry!
Posted 05:25pm 12/8/11
Yeah, I guess, but how do you know when your idea is the right idea? Such a huge gamble, I don't think I'd have to the balls to do that, with the way the industry is going at the moment. Working on your own little indie games is one thing, and still something I'd love to do, but I don't think I'd get a good night's sleep ever again if I had actual real money tied up in the venture.
Posted 06:29pm 12/8/11
Why did u even start studying it 3 years ago? That's when it started crashing.. doesn't make sense to say "i'm going to study an area that's collapsing around Australia"
Posted 06:49pm 12/8/11
Good ideas are a dime a dozen though. The devil is in the execution of a good idea and bringing it into reality.
Posted 07:00pm 12/8/11
Yes, that is also certainly true.
The real beauty of being an indy dev is that it scales so well and the entry level is very low. Early on all tools/formats can be OSS/free/cheap (e.g., Blender, OGRE, VS.NET Express, Vorbis OGG, RakNet, whatever) and even a lot of media can be as well if you are careful with copyright ( http://www.ccmixter.org/ , http://www.freesound.org/index.php ) - so if you choose the right path you can get it done.
The first challenge (IMO) is doing just enough to get people excited by your idea. Once you can achieve that level then it becomes about satisfying the enthusiastic and positive members of your community (and ignoring the haters).
Posted 07:50pm 12/8/11
Posted 10:45pm 13/8/11
Was a good send off, for a s***** situation.
Posted 12:14pm 14/8/11
I didn't take QCS due to personal reasons, thus went to tafe first, on the sole premise of enjoying the industry. I was having trouble making my mind up so went with what I enjoyed. It's definitel been fun, and I've learnt a lot about the industry, and how it operates. But I think I've always wanted to be a teacher. English and history were my two favourite subjects, something that I'm very passionate of. And I have the patience for kids haha.
Posted 12:20pm 14/8/11
Posted 01:10pm 14/8/11
Posted 03:36pm 14/8/11
Posted 04:06pm 14/8/11
Private or Public doesn't mean s***. Just means the little c#$ts parents have money.
Posted 06:32pm 14/8/11
What I want to know, is why these studios are being shut down just because they are shifting their profiling to console age. Isn't that a bit late, with even Microsoft saying they want to get back to PC gaming? And also, is it starting to feel like even the indie scene is getting so bloated now because everyone wants to be a game developer or be like Notch or Bethesda or Infinity, rolling in the cash? So if you have the indie scene bustling with action but not doing any better, and the higher ups remaking the same game over and over, does this point to another game industry crash?
Posted 08:23pm 15/8/11
http://www.kotaku.com.au/2011/08/firemint-reaches-out-to-ex-blue-tongue-employees/