GameTrailers is live streaming the Xbox Reveal Event at 10am PST / 1pm EST – check it out in the video below after the break and let us know what you think!
Xbox Reveal Live Stream
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Episode 597: Demon’s XmasEpisode 597: Demon’s Xmas
2020 is coming to a close, and the crew talk about the absolute shitshow that Cyberpunk 2077 has been in the past few weeks. The Gaming Flashback this week is Demon’s Souls, which is a game that T.J. loves and hates. They also discuss how the PlayStation 5 is in trouble.
This week’s news items include:
- Cyberpunk 2077 devs reportedly angry with management about unrealistic deadlines
- Report finds PS5 scalpers are ‘threatening long-term health of the console’
- Report: No More Heroes 1 and 2 are coming to PC
Comments are currently having technical issues. Will update when fixed.
Episode 290: No One Listens ForeverEpisode 290: No One Listens Forever
No Paul this week, no Gaming Flashback this week – just Jonah, Dan and Jordan discussing a ton of news items where Jonah expresses shock that Jordan had never heard of No One Lives Forever.
The items this week include:
- Wii U sells 1.2 games per console
- BioWare was planning spy action title in 2009
- Sony Santa Monica outline reasons for sticking with God of War franchise
- Hitman Facebook app removed for off-color joke
- Activision: Black Ops II grossed $1 billion in 15 Days
- Spike VGA 2012: The Phantom Pain announced, probably MGS5
This week’s Question of the Week: “What’s the most offensive thing you’ve seen in a videogame?”
Electronic Arts Issues 1,000 Pink SlipsElectronic Arts Issues 1,000 Pink Slips
Electronic Arts is planning to lay off 1,000 employees, approximately 10% of their employees. In this layoff their also consolidating EA Black Box back into EA Canada. EA Black Box was spun off as a studio outside of EA Canada to work on such titles as Need for Speed but, with the layoffs arriving, they’re going to be merging the remainder of EA Black Box into EA Canada by June 2009. The remaining EA Black Box employees will continue working on Skate 2.
The pink slips should be issued by March 31, 2009 and we’re hoping the folks that have lost their jobs will find new jobs as soon as possible. An Electronic Arts representative said:
“This does not mean that the Black Box studio is closing. The studio is moving to our Burnaby campus to share the facility with EAC and other EA teams that operate out of our state-of-the-art facility. We will operate two distinct studios, each with their own distinct culture and teams, out of our Burnaby facility.” (gamespot)
EA hasn’t mentioned any specific franchise cancellation but we’re going to assume something is going to slip, it’s hard to imagine a company can lose 1,000 employees without impacting business operations. If EA was able to layoff 1,000 people without impacting day-to-day business, then they’re definitely hurting in the management department because that would be a ton of waste.
Big companies may cut costs during hard times but they said they’re, “implementing a plan to narrow its product portfolio to focus on hit games with higher margin opportunities. The company remains committed to taking creative risks, investing in new games, leading the industry in the growing mobile and online businesses, and delivering high-quality games to consumers.”
We’re curious just how much EA is willing to risk on “creative” endevours considering publishers are already hesitant to break new ground. The next few years should yield great opportunities for smaller developers to put on their creative hat and open new doors and opportunities for themselves.