Obsidian hit with layoffs; South Park team affected, future next-gen title canceled - Polidicks

[IMG]http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2011/12/kylepassion530px.jpg[/IMG] [quote]Obsidian Entertainment experienced a round of layoffs this week, with the extent of the damage not entirely clear. The [URL="http://forums.obsidian.net/topic/57290-layoff-hits-obsidian/page__st__60"]company's forums[/URL] lay out an idea of the body count, with messages on [URL="https://twitter.com/#!/gelatin/status/179782683931582464"]Twitter[/URL] filling in more details. "Another project canceled, this time for a future next-gen project and the layoffs impacted that team, plus the existing South Park team." "Approximately 20-30 people from all disciplines, including one person who started yesterday, as well as one who started last week." It was around this time last year that Obsidian also [URL="http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/27/reports-obsidian-hit-with-layoffs/"]let staff go[/URL].[/quote] Not again [editline]14th March 2012[/editline] [url]http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/report-obsidian-hit-with-layoffs-south-park-team-affected-fut/[/url]

[quote]"Approximately 20-30 people from all disciplines, [B]including one person who started yesterday, as well as one who started last week.[/B]"[/quote] Ouch.

haha the guy who started a day earlier

[quote] including one person who started yesterday[/quote] "And here's your desk. Oh, by the way, you're fired."

I don't quite understand how a developer of Obsidian's size can so misinterpret their financial reports that they would hire a guy and fire him the next day as part of a group of layoffs. (And of course the guy who got fired a week after being hired.) EDIT: Oh right, forgot these are the guys who did Baldur's gate, Icewind dale, and the original fallout games and STILL SOMEHOW MANAGED TO FAIL. HOW DO YOU EVEN DO THAT.

[QUOTE=GunFox;35135635]I don't quite understand how a developer of Obsidian's size can so misinterpret their financial reports that they would hire a guy and fire him the next day as part of a group of layoffs. (And of course the guy who got fired a week after being hired.) EDIT: Oh right, forgot these are the guys who did Baldur's gate, Icewind dale, [B]Kotor 2[/B], and the original fallout games and STILL SOMEHOW MANAGED TO FAIL. HOW DO YOU EVEN DO THAT.[/QUOTE] Forgot one, but dammit this sucks. I hope they still continue to do a kick starter project for a classic RPG which is what they were planning as that would definitely help them out.

[QUOTE=GunFox;35135635]I don't quite understand how a developer of Obsidian's size can so misinterpret their financial reports that they would hire a guy and fire him the next day as part of a group of layoffs. (And of course the guy who got fired a week after being hired.) EDIT: Oh right, forgot these are the guys who did Baldur's gate, Icewind dale, and the original fallout games and STILL SOMEHOW MANAGED TO FAIL. HOW DO YOU EVEN DO THAT.[/QUOTE] They published Baldur's Gate 1 and 2, Bioware was the developer. [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baldur%27s_Gate_II:_Shadows_of_Amn[/url]

[QUOTE=bobsynergy;35135684]Forgot one, but dammit this sucks. I hope they still continue to do a kick starter project for a classic RPG which is what they were planning as that would definitely help them out.[/QUOTE] I meant before they were Obsidian. Not that KOTOR II even remotely belongs in the same category. I did forget Planescape Torment though, which I am ashamed to have forgotten. [editline]14th March 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Turnips5;35135709]They published Baldur's Gate 1 and 2, Bioware was the developer. [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baldur%27s_Gate_II:_Shadows_of_Amn[/url][/QUOTE] I know, I mean financially. They obviously should have made a great deal of money from Baldur's gate.

[QUOTE=GunFox;35135721]I meant before they were Obsidian. Not that KOTOR II even remotely belongs in the same category. I did forget Planescape Torment though, which I am ashamed to have forgotten.[/QUOTE] There is also Neverwinter Nights 2 which is supposed to be good (and damn did you just say Kotor 2 doesn't belong there, I'll fight you for that)

[QUOTE=GunFox;35135721]I know, I mean financially. They obviously should have made a great deal of money from Baldur's gate.[/QUOTE] oh right, I see what you mean. yeah

I thought obsidian was small with only ~20-30 employees

[QUOTE=Clio;35135772]I thought obsidian was small with only ~20-30 employees[/QUOTE] They hired people just to fire them!

Kotor 2 < Kotor 1. I love almost everything Obsidian develops, New Vegas is probably one of my favorite games released in a long time, and even Alpha Protocol had great ideas marred by weak gameplay. It's really sad to see that they never reach the success that their games deserve.' EDIT: I actually meant to say Kotor 2 was better then 1. I think even incomplete, Kotor 2 was a more enjoyable game then 1 and I liked the cast more.

Well it makes sense that they'd lay off the new guys rather than veteran employees

[QUOTE=bobsynergy;35135740]There is also Neverwinter Nights 2 which is supposed to be good (and damn did you just say Kotor 2 doesn't belong there, I'll fight you for that)[/QUOTE] Neverwinter nights 2 is OK, but a let-down compared to NWN1.

[QUOTE=Inspector Jones;35135837]Kotor 2 < Kotor 1. I love almost everything Obsidian develops, New Vegas is probably one of my favorite games released in a long time, and even Alpha Protocol had great ideas marred by weak gameplay. It's really sad to see that they never reach the success that their games deserve.[/QUOTE] I've been kinda hoping they'd do another Fallout on Skyrim's engine. That would be amazing.

[QUOTE=parket;35135601]haha the guy who started a day earlier[/QUOTE] Indeed, absolutely fucking hilarious that he got laid off the day after he started his job. Maybe you should've gotten banned the day after you joined Facepunch.

The day after? That gotta feel like hell.

[QUOTE=Atlascore;35136333]Uh, New Vegas was pretty damn successful, it sold 5 million copies in a month, in other words they made almost 300 million dollars off of it.[/QUOTE] I was referring more to Obsidian's current state rather then the game's success. Still, I was unaware that New Vegas did so well, so it's nice to hear.

Oh God Obsidian get your shit together

Oh no =(

I know times're tight, but there was no reason to lay off so many devs. How big is Obsidian anyway, and which fat-cat is sitting atop his gradually-eroding throne of gold?

[QUOTE=Inspector Jones;35135837]Kotor 2 < Kotor 1. I love almost everything Obsidian develops, New Vegas is probably one of my favorite games released in a long time, and even Alpha Protocol had great ideas marred by weak gameplay. It's really sad to see that they never reach the success that their games deserve.[/QUOTE] If they'd actually finished Kotor 2, it would have been significantly better. Massive chunks of Kotor 2 were ripped out, I mean, take Telos, where there's a whole other level to the military facility on the planet there, and it seems to be implied that you can go there later. That's just the tip of the iceburg, unfortunately.

[QUOTE=Inspector Jones;35135837]Kotor 2 < Kotor 1.[/QUOTE] Only because LucasArts didn't give them enough time to finish. [editline]14th March 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Camundongo;35136007]I've been kinda hoping they'd do another Fallout on Skyrim's engine. That would be amazing.[/QUOTE] I don't think Bethesda would hand over their next fallout game to Obsidian quite so quickly.

[QUOTE=GunFox;35135635] Oh right, forgot these are the guys who did Baldur's gate, Icewind dale, and the original fallout games and STILL SOMEHOW MANAGED TO FAIL. HOW DO YOU EVEN DO THAT.[/QUOTE] They also did New Vegas, which was a pretty big hit.

[QUOTE=Asgard;35136000]Neverwinter nights 2 is OK, but a let-down compared to NWN1.[/QUOTE] go play mask of the betrayer, then come back with a rectified opinion.

[QUOTE=TestECull;35138079]They also did New Vegas, which was a pretty big hit.[/QUOTE] They don't get a share of the profits though because they're basically a independent contractor. They do get paid on milestones reached though

[QUOTE=GunFox;35135721] I know, I mean financially. They obviously should have made a great deal of money from Baldur's gate.[/QUOTE] Seeing as Obsidian was founded much later than that, nope. Interplay funded Baldur's Gate and IWD. [editline]14th March 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=GunFox;35135786]They hired people just to fire them![/QUOTE] That somehow reminds me of J.K. Simmons' J. Johah Jameson style of management. "Sir? our financial report is done and it seems we'll have to lay off 30 employees." "Ah, well. That's bad news! Alright. Hire 30 new employees and then fire them! Job done! Now for tomorrows headline; Spider-Man: Is he a Muslim?"

[QUOTE=Bomimo;35139374]Seeing as Obsidian was founded much later than that, nope. Interplay funded Baldur's Gate and IWD. [editline]14th March 2012[/editline] That somehow reminds me of J.K. Simmons' J. Johah Jameson style of management. "Sir? our financial report is done and it seems we'll have to lay off 30 employees." "Ah, well. That's bad news! Alright. Hire 30 new employees and then fire them! Job done! Now for tomorrows headline; Spider-Man: Is he a Muslim?"[/QUOTE] Obsidian is comprised of Black Isle devs. (The ones who didn't go form Troika) Black Isle was a dev/publisher working under Interplay.

Almost thought they were saying the South Park game was cancelled for a second. Hope it doesn't affect it too much, I'm really looking forward to it.