News EA cancels 12 games, lays off 1500 jobs

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/gaming/2009/11/10/ea-cancels-12-games-lays-off-1500-jobs/1

EA has announced that it has cancelled 12 games and made 1500 staff redundant.

 

That's a bit harsh no?

The worst of it is they'll be cancelling anything remotely innovative and ploughing more cash in to ea sports

 

How pssed off would you be if you were laid off as they bought a flash games studio.

OUCH!

 

So what games were cancelled?

 

if they start releasing sport franchise games bi-anually, they better keep updating the roster or else they will hear a crapload of bitching from players

 

Oh look, Mythic having staff let go, I wonder why? Could it be because Warhammer Online was a dismal failure due to Mark Jacobs complete mismanagement.

 

"devisions", Divisions...

 

So, EA tried being innovative. It didn't generate huge amounts of money, so they fall back to their old ways?

Look out, Activision - seems like EA might want their crown of crap back

 

Anyone else think that EA got a little bit jaded a year or so ago, now only concerning themselves with bottom line sequels?

It was only the beginning on 2008 that EA tried to 'reinvent' itself with a new image, shouting about new IP. They wouldn't stop bragging about Dead Space and Mirror's Edge.

I understand both games underperformed (Dead Space particularly) but they really should of reconsidered their expectations.

While a $391m quarterly loss is not to be sniffed at, I still had (admittedly naive) hopes that EA would ultimately find a good balance between new IP's and annual sequels.

 

hang on they just bought a company for $300m and made a net loss of $391m !!!!!!!!!!

how about dont buy the company when you dont have the cash you idiots and you would be only $91m down

 

Even then they would still lay off those individuals as the are only shaving off 100 mil with those 1500 jobs.

 

does this mean the Dead Space trilogy is no more?

 

Maybe on the Wii, or something. It's pretty obvious that if they keep going with it (it is a strong name after all), they're going to seek to lower production costs as much as possible. Dead Space Extraction was an attempt to do just that.

 

They should have made and then erm.. released BF3 in 2009.

That would surely have rejuventated their coffers !

 

If they want to make money they need to look into the Online Multiplayer Market and stop churning out **** like they usually do.

 

You will find that this happens quite a lot, as companies dont pay taxes on loses, and aquiring more asserts. Also makes a good excuse to not pay staff so much.

 

I bet you also have no idea how these things work (not that I do) so you should try not to overreact and call anyone idiots

 

If I was one of the 1500 employees.. seeing how 300M was spent on buying more, to only to get laid off. Also working on a game isnt easy, it's not a 9 to 5 job, the amount of life, time and missed oppertunities that goes into an AAA game to get told you're being laid off just isnt nice.

 

I'll give you that

 

EA have needed a clean up for a while, they are on top form with their big franchises now, just a shame so many people have to lose their jobs....