I noticed this on Giant Realm earlier today:
First up, we have Midway Austin. What are they known for? Nada. So it comes as no surprise that they’re about to lay off at least 50 people.
Next up is Vigil. That’s all. More later. Consider this a warning shot for the people thinking of applying there.
Finally, and possibly the biggest blow to Austin’s development scene, NCsoft is about to axe the vast majority of their staff. About 150 NCsoft Austin folks are on the chopping block. Ironically, Tabula Rasa’s crew is being given a chance to turn this around. So, while the first round of layoffs will consist of 20-30 unlucky souls, I’m confident enough to say that it’s only a matter of time. Mostly because Tabula Rasa is not a good game. I’m sure a lot of these folks are wondering if what they’re hearing is Richard Garriott laughing. Unfortunately, you can’t hear people laugh in space.
Ouch. My condolences go out to everyone now looking for a gaming job in Austin. That’s going to be a harsh market. Might be time to consider that move to California or NC or the Seattle area you’ve been considering. I hope everything works out for everyone involved.
So yeah, that sucks…but then I read this:
Ok this is basically a blog post to announce that I won’t be continuing in videogames.
[...]
I thought the videogame industry was different, but no it’s actually harder and worse than any other one, I still wonder why people hate Dennis Dylack for no reason and Uwe Boll, I don’t think if people realize the psychological things it can do to people.
People love to hate for no reason, and well I’ve got enough problems in my personal life to do another game after Eternity’s Child.
Turns out, he felt kind of silly about the original post (I found the full text in the google cache) and then cut it down to this:
I wrote something here and then realised everyone has posted a news about it, and right now I am slapping my head, wondering like what the fuck have I done again, so basically if you’re here you already know what I wrote :D fucking shit
And yes I AM STILL SUPPORTING EC PC AND I WILL BE DOING THAT FOR A LONNGGGG TIME, AND EC WIIWARE IS STILL COMING OUT
Just no more future games that’s all.
Phew god, what have I done or said again, I am quite embarrassed right now, especially i never knew big sites would report this
Have a little drama with your day.
So 200+ people are losing their job all pretty much at once and this guy is complaining it’s too hard to be in the game industry because people are critical.
I don’t mean to belittle your situation, Luc, but when you use Dyack and Boll to try to prop up your claim of how the media destroys people in the gaming industry it starts to ring a bit hollow. I mean really really hollow. If you don’t like working in games, great. But if you’re leaving because you have a thin skin and can’t take criticism…it starts to seem pretty silly in the face of hundreds of people being forced out of their jobs doesn’t it.
What Would Matt Do: Were I one Luc Bernard, I’d probably refrain from posting drunk first and foremost. Then maybe I’d grow some balls… Well, maybe that’s kind of mean, but his original post isn’t a post about how hard the game industry, it’s a post about how mean people can be. Well no shit, welcome to life, good sir.