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Cingal · 11-20-2009, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Early this morning we broke the news that Electronic Arts planned to close down Pandemic Studios, laying off 200. Now we have confirmation.

An internal Electronic Arts memo confirms that Pandemic Studios was shut down today with a "core IP team" being moved to Electronic Arts' Los Angeles office. Among those let go were the studio's top three employees: Andrew Goldman, formerly the studio's CEO; Josh Resnick, formerly the studios president; and Greg Borrud, vice president of product development

"I want to make it clear that the Pandemic brand and franchises will live on," Nick Earl, EA Games Label Senior Vice President, wrote in the memo. "In the months ahead, we will announce plans for new games based on Pandemic franchises.

"This type of change can be difficult. But the situation calls for us to act decisively, to take control of our destiny and to run a stronger, more focused development operation. That's how we will continue to make great games in our LA studios."

Earl said that the move was made to "improve our cost structure, ensure quality and build schedule integrity for this studio."

Electronic Arts confirmed that about 200 people were let go.

Pandemic was formed in 1998. Following on the success of Full Spectrum Warrior, Mercenaries and Star Wars: Battlefront, they were purchased in 2007 by Electronic Arts.

After the purchase Pandemic released a succession of lacklustre sequels culminating in the cancellation of the costly Dark Knight game, which resulted in the closure of Pandemic's Brisbane studio.

These cuts appear to be part of EA's latest cost-cutting measures which includes the elimination of 1,500 jobs, cutting a dozen in-development games and closing "several facilities." According to multiple sources, those cutbacks include studios like Pandemic, Maxis and nearly the entire Command & Conquer team.

We first heard of the Pandemic layoffs a week ago. The same sources told Kotaku that the team working on Command & Conquer 4: Tiberian Twilight was warned of its fate last week, with almost the entire team expected to be let go after the real-time strategy game ships some time in 2010.

Also said to be affected heavily are Spore and former-Sims studio EA Maxis, social network gaming acquisition Rupture Studios, and Mercenaries and The Saboteur creators Pandemic Studios LA. Those development studios are said to be hit with substantial layoffs, according to a source, with remaining employees relocated to EA headquarters in Los Angeles and Redwood Shores.

EA is rumored to have already laid off staff at Tiburon, Mythic Entertainment and Black Box, reports which the company has yet to confirm.

The closing of Pandemic Studios is the latest in a long line of acquisitions and then closures or "integrations" in the company's long history. Over the years EA has acquired and later closed or absorbed employees from Origin Systems, Bullfrog Productions, Black Box Games, Maxis, Westwood Studios and Pandemic's Brisbane, Australia and Los Angeles locations.

http://kotaku.com/5406830/confirmed-...d-will-live-on

Basically EA closes Pandemic and fires the staff but says they'll keep using the games they've made.

Froob · 11-20-2009, 04:22 PM

aww shit, just realised this was the company what made Star wars battle front 2.

I hope we get SWBF3.

rip anyway

Elegy · 11-20-2009, 04:26 PM

They made Mercenaries as well. I've never played it, but have heard good things.

Kinda bullshit that they are like "We're gonna fire all of those guys, but the stuff they were working on... yeah keeping it, can make some money off that shiz".

shadowsworn · 11-20-2009, 05:43 PM

They also made lotr conquest, which was an incredibly bad game.

This doesn't surprise me though. Everyone's heard about how EA has money problems now. It seems like consolidating their resources would help deal with that.

Cingal · 11-20-2009, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadowsworn

They also made lotr conquest, which was an incredibly bad game.

This doesn't surprise me though. Everyone's heard about how EA has money problems now. It seems like consolidating their resources would help deal with that.

Yeah. Still, it annoys me that they should get away with this.

Analysts are calling for the CEO of EA to resign for it however.

Xenonight2 · 11-20-2009, 06:54 PM

Seems like the proper decision.

Sandman53 · 11-20-2009, 07:38 PM

If EA made quality games they wouldnt have this issue. They hardly have any original ideas as it stands and have bought basically everyone of their IP's to date. The only exception being sports games, and that is nothing to hold your head up high about.

EA needs to stop rushing their deadlines for games. Each time they do that they shit out a game that could have been good given more time. They also need to stop being dicks about needing to buy out every ****ing gaming company in existence. They are ruining a lot of games this way, and by that I mean games that could have been but will never be.

Im tired of EA and hope they die, or at least reform the company to be more consumer friendly. They also need to stop using this Securom bullshit!

brutzer · 11-20-2009, 07:41 PM

blizz should buy ea

Espio0 · 11-20-2009, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brutzer

blizz should buy ea

and then fire the incompetent retards who keep shitting out these crappy games

brutzer · 11-20-2009, 07:48 PM

Have you seen NFS Nitro on WII? it sux so hard lol

11-20-2009, 05:43 PM	#4 (permalink)
shadowsworn Super Moderator Join Date: May 2006 Location: in the pipe, five by five Posts: 7,936 Reputation: 241	They also made lotr conquest, which was an incredibly bad game. This doesn't surprise me though. Everyone's heard about how EA has money problems now. It seems like consolidating their resources would help deal with that. __________________ there is no ground below to break your fall

11-20-2009, 07:38 PM	#7 (permalink)
Sandman53 ಠ_ಠ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Land of the Lost Posts: 4,267 Reputation: 45	If EA made quality games they wouldnt have this issue. They hardly have any original ideas as it stands and have bought basically everyone of their IP's to date. The only exception being sports games, and that is nothing to hold your head up high about. EA needs to stop rushing their deadlines for games. Each time they do that they shit out a game that could have been good given more time. They also need to stop being dicks about needing to buy out every ****ing gaming company in existence. They are ruining a lot of games this way, and by that I mean games that could have been but will never be. Im tired of EA and hope they die, or at least reform the company to be more consumer friendly. They also need to stop using this Securom bullshit! __________________ "The only dependable thing about the future is uncertainty." - Amarant Coral "People who commit war are stupid, but the blood they spill is not meaningless." - Dr. J.

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11-20-2009, 04:22 PM	#2 (permalink)
Froob Banned Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: ░░░░░░░░░░░░ Posts: 174 Posts: 1,088 Reputation: 31	aww shit, just realised this was the company what made Star wars battle front 2. I hope we get SWBF3. rip anyway

11-20-2009, 04:26 PM	#3 (permalink)
Elegy Banned Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,446 Reputation: 28	They made Mercenaries as well. I've never played it, but have heard good things. Kinda bullshit that they are like "We're gonna fire all of those guys, but the stuff they were working on... yeah keeping it, can make some money off that shiz".

11-20-2009, 06:54 PM	#6 (permalink)
Xenonight2 OH MY GOODNESS Join Date: May 2006 Location: LOOK OUT Posts: 8,199 Reputation: 295	Seems like the proper decision.

11-20-2009, 07:41 PM	#8 (permalink)
brutzer Banned Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 600 Reputation: 28	blizz should buy ea

11-20-2009, 07:48 PM	#10 (permalink)
brutzer Banned Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 600 Reputation: 28	Have you seen NFS Nitro on WII? it sux so hard lol