Once again, there’s no set list of topics; the guys just discuss the news of the week off the cuff and what they’ve been playing.
Let us know what you think.
Episode 721: More Random Chatter
Categories:
Related Post
Episode 489: Late to the PartyEpisode 489: Late to the Party
This week’s episode is a little late due to a power outage. However, despite the lack of really interesting news, the crew still finds plenty to chat about.
This week’s news includes:
- Switch outsells entire lifetime of Wii U in Japan
- The Tomb Kings bring crazy new units and crafting to Total War: Warhammer 2
- State of Decay 2 is still on for a spring release
- Rebellion buys studio Radiant Worlds
The Question of the Week is, “What popular game did you play long after its initial release?”
Episode 324: Next-Generation ShowdownEpisode 324: Next-Generation Showdown
This week’s podcast has no Listener Feedback, and is sort of short because of it. However, in addition to the news items that were on script, there was the surprise news of how much Grand Theft Auto V cost to produce.
This week’s news includes:
- Xbox One gets November 22 launch date
- Each Xbox One to be sold at a profit
- PS4 only supports 4 controllers
- PS4 and Xbox One won’t support external hard drives for now
- Sony refunds Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn PSN purchases
This week’s Question of the Week asks if you’ve ever gotten a new version of the console you already owned.
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.