December 21st, 2008

Crisis – The Game

Oh, my, things seem to get really tough for everyone these days, and the worst part of it all is that we have to see so many layoffs announced around Christmas. After all, it's not such a tragedy to lose your job - if you're really good, you can always find another one - but finding out about this just before year's most important holiday, that's a bit nasty...

First of all, it seems the closure of Free Radical Design has been confirmed. The good part of it is that a new company is being founded by Dave Doak and Steve Ellis, and 20 staff positions were offered into this new company for people at Free Radical Design, so... crisis is a game, as I was just saying.

At last, we have EA, who decided to lay off almost 10 percent of the available workforce, so the number of soon to be former EA employees will reach the 1,000 mark. Now, that's what I can really call "crisis," but as long as they're moving in the studio in charge with Need for Speed: Undercover with EA Canada instead of sending them all to grow some tomatoes, instead of ruining great titles... that's enough for me to say.

Other than that, I think the gaming industry will slowly shift its focus toward mobiles, since the smartphone market still grows, and all those iPhone users out there are hungry for more games... but that's what remains to be seen. Anyway, as a final thought - if you're into the industry and just lost your job, or feel insecure, I advise you to think about it - you can always choose a completely different career, and that break after being sent home for good is priceless, believe me! ;)