The only way for EA to bounce back from this is to not be a publisher for The Secret World, remove Origin from existence, and NEVER put an Online Pass Requirement for EA published PS3 games.

^QFT

Originally posted by Axllow18

Originally posted by Sith2112

Originally posted by TwwIX

Originally posted by Sith2112

Originally posted by Ecoces

Originally posted by Fadedbomb

Here's hoping that the industry crushes SWTOR, and the linear WoW model, into oblivion so that future MMOs are actually half decent :D!

 

 

I can dream can't i   :s?

 

 

 

so you're happy that 1000 people got laid off because a company didn't make a game that you like? thats real nice of you. geez i mean i understand people are haters and all that but i didn't think people would actually be happy about people losing their jobs so they (the haters) can pat themselves on the back and offer this as proof that they were right.

This - on so many levels...

Haters are happy and people with a sense of common decency are concerned about the folks being impacted.

nuf said.

 

Why should he be concerned about them? He's not responsible for their job loss. They chose to associate themselves with a shitty company like EA. They've got nobody but themselves and their employer to blame for their sacking. This isn't the first time EA has done this nor is it the last. So, get off your high horse already.

[Mod Edit]

The people who lost their jobs were well aware of what they were getting into when they made the choice to work for EA.

I hate to be so straight forward about it, but that is all there is to it. Since starting college myself for Game Art I have heard from not just other students, but also counselors and even teachers about the way EA and Activision as well as several others tend to kick employees to the curb with not a second thought. There are places in the industry that are notorious for the poor treatment of employees, and EA happens to be at the top of the list and has been for years. (Did you not even hear about the EA Spouse business?)

Considering the way EA treats its employees and the kind of reputation they have for it in the industry, you would have to be either extremely dense or just plain stupid to take a job at EA and not keep other options open.

This^

The people working for EA knew how bad of a company EA was, and kept working for them because it was a JOB earning MONEY. At no point should it be considered "ok" to keep supporting a horrible company such as EA. They beat out Bank of America as one of the WORST companies of 2011 for heavens sake! 

It's called a "Free Market" people. When a BAD company makes BAD decisions they start to feel those decisions, and when push comes to shove that very same BAD company will lay people off to keep the higher-up suits in their nice fluffy jobs until the investors start crying foul.

 Sure, I feel bad when anyone's livelyhood is threatened by a layoff, but for heavens sake people it's a business. If EA continues on its current path it'll be 10 to 100 x larger than just 1000. Did you ever stop to think that there is an "MMO Bubble" that companies like EA & Blizzard are inflating only to pop some time soon causing MMOs to completely spiral down into the pits of hell causing countless layoffs in our market? No, you didn't.

SWTOR being crushed into oblivion & REAL hard work put into newer products is what the market needs, and is what will generate more jobs! 

At the end of the day, a BAD company laying people off for the decisions of the company's suits is on those very same few whom caused the layoffs. I'd feel bad if it were MY fault, but it's not now is it?

tldr;

YES I feel GOOD that EA is feeling the pains of making horrible business decisions, and consumers are biting back

NO, it's never a "nice" thing when people get laid off, but there are bigger things out there than simply 1000 jobs.

I have to laugh at all the MBA's from Wharton on MMORPG with your astute finacial advice based on hearsay and loathing of a game. I'm surprised EA doesn't come here for their quarterly analysis. I'm sure after this "suposed" financial calamity, they'll be quite fine.

I wonder if EA and fudgecom are still ready and willing to push TSW out the door half finished and send funcom into bankrupcy?

I feel for the people that lost their jobs but i also feel for the gamers that threw their money and hopes away on one of these overhyped under produced products..

EA is a seriously dishonest and untrustworthy mmo game publisher and the gig is about up..

This company needs to either get out of the mmo business now or make some serious changes in management and policy alike..

Maybe the people who lost their jobs are glad to move on to a better company.  I used to work for Circuit Shitty and I was actually quite happy when it tanked due to the horrible management and the way they treated their customers.  Hopefully these people can find a better work environment.

EA does try hard to improve their image, but I think its gone a bit to far, most people have lost faith im EA over the questionable choices they have made over the past couple of years.

I hope those 1000 people arnt hurt by this layoff, no one likes to see this sort of headline for any company :(

Originally posted by Fadedbomb

How many months is this now since SWTOR has been out? Hmm, seems to be coming a BIT short on my 6month prediction that SWTOR would start bleeding numbers enough to show financially.

 

My predictions aside, I would have thought at least a MINIMUM of 3 diehard Bioware fans would have come in here by now to explain it away as "Natural market fluxuations" or something to that effect.

 

Bottom line is that even EA internals figures & numbers are trouncing all over apparent "wild" speculatorial numbers. 1,000 jobs is something you can't really afford to lose when your game has such high up-keep as SWTOR's "Voice Over" quest design has.

 

Here's hoping that the industry crushes SWTOR, and the linear WoW model, into oblivion so that future MMOs are actually half decent :D!

 

 

I can dream can't i   :s?

 

 

[edit]: Forgot to mention that outsourcing to Asia for programmers is nothing new. When Bioware was first bought by EA they moved a good portion of their programming dev centres to Asia. Where do you think Origin & BattleLog for Bf3 were developed? They were outsourced to Asia. I thought this was common knowledge :x?

This post really points to the real problem here. You're essentially seeking retribution over a type of game you don't like. That's all this boils down to. The people who made the decision to make a game like this are not going to be victims of that retribution.

This isn't a representation of capitalism, it's one of sadism.

Those saying these employees asked for this are sadistic individuals who get their jollies off seeing the hardships of others. Over something as trivial as a game genre. Lot's of blocking to be had in this thread.

They should have stuck with sports games. Ever since they got their hands on mmos it has been a down hill process for them as well as a black eye for the mmo industry. Yeah they will hire over in Asia because it is cheaper labor over their with no benefits not to mention there is no economy in the US anymore. You are either rich or poor here, there is no inbetween anymore.

If there are problems with the staff not being competent enough it could be due to the field they are working is actually unhealthy.

A healthy body is a healthy mind.

Im sure EA, and the branches of video gaming companies are aware of good ergonomics, and general good work practises like meeting deadlines and organizations skills... but thats not enough.

Sitting on a chair all day to work, and then sitting on a chair to play video games will have negative effects on the body.

EA cant control what happens out of thier company on off hours, but at least during the work hours they can help to create an atmosphere that reduces the stress and damage on the human body by sittin on a chair all day. Its not just proper stretches but actual cardiovascular exercise.

Some people are different, and they can handle different amounts of stress, but if the company is facing a problem with the staff having certain issues by not excelling in a field they have passed in it could be due to several reasons that they need to do mroe cardiovascualr exercises, better ergonomics or have a healthier lifestyle out of work like not doing drugs.

Im not saying people are drug addicts but with popular culture and the ease of access its very easy for people in the entertainment industry to dabble with such things. Which might mean also a strong anti drug policy from EA.

Drugs are so popular that I have heard a million times that marijuana is not bad, that I was about to say well except marijuana, becuase you know maybe the entertainers need some fun... but thats the problem marijuana destroys the mind, since its affects the logic of the brain. Our brain is logic. And logic is math. These games are all math, and logic. So even marijuana. We have to be honest, marijuna is only useful for medical reasons. Recreationally its destroying peoples potential. This culture that drugs are cool is also making it too influential as well for people to try it which may begin a downwaqrd spiral. A culture brings us down trying to be 'cool'.

I am part of that culture btw. That is my identity. I listen to the same music, and watch the same T.V.. However, I am finally grown up. If I were a kid, growing up, then peer pressure would be a lot more effective. Which is why parenting is important, and EA should act like a parent to its emplyees. See, I was gonna make a point... I did not go into a complete rant. EA should act like a parent to its employee and be aware of the actual problems... and act on it.

Originally posted by Boatsmate

Sounds like they are punishing the poor saps at the bottom who probably do all the heavy lifting and know what they are doing , and ignoring the blithering idiots at the top who actually make the bad decisions. The result is that nothing changes. Except morale.

I see this so often... so depressing.

Electronic Arts Memorandum:

Please be advised that disciplinary action will contune across the board until morale and productivity improve!

That is all.

Thank you.

Originally posted by Mage_Francis

The majority of the people getting laid off were probably customer service employees.  Since SWTOR has declined in subscription numbers over the past couple months it wouldn't be a big surprise that they trimmed down some of there staff.  This is pretty normal in the gaming industry.  A 1000 people may seem like a lot but I'm pretty sure they aimed a little high during their initial hiring phase.  I just got hired at funcom doing customer service for TSW and if it doesn't sell well then I'll be released in 3 - 6 months.  The fact that those 1000 people have experience working around a big title such as swtor it should be no problem for them to find a new job in the industry.

This isn't true. Everyone knows EA doesn't have Customer Service.

my comment wont edit - i guess someone is quoting me :D

OK, I have a question that the article did not address.

How many of those layoffs are contracted employees coming to an end?

Originally posted by Bardus

Originally posted by Elikal

Guess work force is cheaper in Asia, eh? Kick some 1000 American jobs and hire 2000 Chinese for half the bucks.

I am so tired of locust capitalism.

That's true, they are hiring in Asia as they cut jobs elsewhere. It's going to show in quality and only drag EA down more (meaning no disrespect to Asians but sorry, child slave labor shows in quality)

They did a good job on my sneakers, and I hear they are all good at math. Sounds like just the innovative thinking that has taken EA to the top of the industry. Hopefully when it does all finally catch up to the CEO's they have the common sense to shoot the unbreakable glass before they try to jump out of it.

Originally posted by TruthXHurts

Originally posted by Bardus

Originally posted by Elikal

Guess work force is cheaper in Asia, eh? Kick some 1000 American jobs and hire 2000 Chinese for half the bucks.

I am so tired of locust capitalism.

That's true, they are hiring in Asia as they cut jobs elsewhere. It's going to show in quality and only drag EA down more (meaning no disrespect to Asians but sorry, child slave labor shows in quality)

They did a good job on my sneakers, and I hear they are all good at math. Sounds like just the innovative thinking that has taken EA to the top of the industry. Hopefully when it does all finally catch up to the CEO's they have the common sense to shoot the unbreakable glass before they try to jump out of it.

CEO's and common sense don't work in the same sentence I'm afraid.

Originally posted by Elikal

Guess work force is cheaper in Asia, eh? Kick some 1000 American jobs and hire 2000 Chinese for half the bucks.

I am so tired of locust capitalism.

Vulture Capitalism I call it.

The idea in general is that a company should use people from the best schools in EU/NA for the most qualified jobs. And that all other work should be done in Asia and perhaps also sometimes in Africa and south america.

Companies are doing that even if they are successful and profits are high. Because they always want more. If they can find people willing to work 14 hours/day for $1 its not possible for ordinary workers in NA/EU to compete.

Of course this also means that there will be growth in other parts of the world and sallarys will gradually get higher. Eventually there will be a balance. Because the price of work also depends on supply and demand. Demand will increase in Asia and decrease in NA/EU. Sallarys will get higher in Asia and lower in NA/EU until there is balance. Attempts to artificially keep sallarys higher in NA/EU will cause worse economical crisis and will eventually fail.

what?! they don't lay them off!

they just 'adjust the structures' because swtor was such a hit!