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[kyser73]

his position was eliminated

Interesting choice of language. I've never head anyone describe having their position removed like this.

Might explain this then

There's a happy chappie

That's quite the back pedal lol

That's a backhanded backpedal - a soft soap, generic 'great place to work' comment followed by something about 'my own agency' - guy felt constrained.

Of course, for all that, don't MS practice bottom slicing or whatever that practice of annually culling the bottom performing 5% is called? Stacking? Something like that.

 

[Silky]

Restructuring?

Games first?

awwww shit

 

[SEGAvangelist]

Of course, for all that, don't MS practice bottom slicing or whatever that practice of annually culling the bottom performing 5% is called? Stacking? Something like that.

That practice has ended supposedly.

 

[PoloBlue28]

MS has a good few inactive and useless studios that haven't done anything for a while, and some don't even work on games, so getting rid of studios like that with layoffs and restructuring them actually falls in line with Spencer's claim to be making it "all about the games."

 

[Servbot24]

I just can't stand his fake mannerisms. It really riles me when people behave in a way that's not their own in order to get attention.

seems like a genuine fellow to me. what seems fake about him?

 

[Stumpokapow]

I would expect producer layoffs simply because in Xbox 360, a lot of downloadable games were published by Microsoft and had internal producers that today they presumably wouldn't have.

 

[Goldenroad]

Spencer laying the hammer down.

Hopefully it's mostly Kinect dev's that were hit. Not that I want anyone to lose their jobs, but if these people can focus more of their talent on real games it will probably be better for everyone.

 

[SEGAvangelist]

I would expect producer layoffs simply because in Xbox 360, a lot of downloadable games were published by Microsoft and had internal producers that today they presumably wouldn't have.

Makes sense since ID@Xbox makes some of these positions irrelevant.

Spencer laying the hammer down.

Hopefully it's mostly Kinect dev's that were hit. Not that I want anyone to lose their jobs, but if these people can focus more of their talent on real games it will probably be better for everyone.

If the restructuring adds money to the budget for a new studio, that would be nice, but if it's just to save a little money for MS... that's a real bummer. Obviously I feel for anyone who lost a job yesterday. I was unemployed for quite some time, and it's very stressful.

 

[jelly]

Anyone that gets in the way of Midtown Madness 4 should be shown the door!

Can someone with Twitter ask Phil Spencer about Midtown Madness on Xbox One ?

 

[Exploratory]

I just can't stand his fake mannerisms. It really riles me when people behave in a way that's not their own in order to get attention.

It really irritates me when people act like they know people on the internet. You have no idea if he's like that in real life or not.

 

[pieman]

Seconded, it's a must have game.

 

[hohoXD123]

Goddammit Druckmann, now you're targeting the other companies too?!

 

[Hoo-doo]

When are we going to stop dragging Neil Druckmann's name through the mud as if he's somehow involved in layoffs?

Funny meme, sure. But that's a man's name and career you're now attaching a negative stigma to.
Cut it out.

 

[Dunlop]

Spencer laying the hammer down.

Hopefully it's mostly Kinect dev's that were hit. Not that I want anyone to lose their jobs, but if these people can focus more of their talent on real games it will probably be better for everyone.

This site just gets fucking retarded with the Kinect hate sometimes

The entire world is not "hardcore" gamers

 

[Jigolo]

y no 20 pages

 

[Bold One]

When are we going to stop dragging Neil Druckmann's name through the mud as if he's somehow involved in layoffs?

Funny meme, sure. But that's a man's name and career you're now attaching a negative stigma to.
Cut it out.

oh relax, its just a bit of fun, no one REALLY believe Druckmann is responsible.

Its just a silly meme, like the 'Thanks Obama' one, in time people will move to the next fad.

besides its just Gaf, not like its an internet wide phenomenon

 

[Chettlar]

Damn what the hell is happening at a Microsoft? Obviously they think they don't need first party games any more.

What? They're restructuring. That often involves laying people off. In fact, Spencer said he was going to try to stream line the process so that games and the software division and what all else could communicate and work together much more efficiently. That often involves getting rid of people.

This is what I'm gathering from the OP, anyway, but I still think "They think they don't need first party games any more" is just a little extreme.

 

[Goldenroad]

This site just gets fucking retarded with the Kinect hate sometimes

The entire world is not "hardcore" gamers

The "kinect hate" is pretty damn warranted if you ask me. I paid $120 for my 360 Kinect and have yet to play a game that even remotely made it worth it. Yeah, my girlfriend's nephew loves Kinect party and I get a kick out of him enjoying, but since Microsoft has not made one good game (not "hardcore", just good) for this device, I think at a certain point you have to cut your losses and try to allocate your resources efficiently to make the best possible games. That's all I'm saying. I don't care if they make more "casual" games to try to grow their audience, but the way to do it isn't with these broken Kinect experiences.

 

[unapersson]

Interesting choice of language. I've never head anyone describe having their position removed like this.

It normally means you've been let go because your job no longer exists or is no longer considered necessary, e.g. you're a Mr Miyagi level floor waxer who's expertise is replace by an automatic floor waxing machine.

 

[Exploratory]

The "kinect hate" is pretty damn warranted if you ask me. I paid $120 for my 360 Kinect and have yet to play a game that even remotely made it worth it. Yeah, my girlfriend's nephew loves Kinect party and I get a kick out of him enjoying, but since Microsoft has not made one good game (not "hardcore", just good) for this device, I think at a certain point you have to cut your losses and try to allocate your resources efficiently to make the best possible games. That's all I'm saying. I don't care if they make more "casual" games to try to grow their audience, but the way to do it isn't with these broken Kinect experiences.

http://m.neogaf.com/showthread.php?t=794390&page=1

People seem to like Kinect Sports Rivals.

 

[ironcreed]

Good luck to all those affected.

 

[Hoo-doo]

http://m.neogaf.com/showthread.php?t=794390&page=1

People seem to like Kinect Sports Rivals.

You link a two-page OT for a game coming out tomorrow.
If anything, it shows that GAF don't care.

 

[Prototype Viktor]

When are we going to stop dragging Neil Druckmann's name through the mud as if he's somehow involved in layoffs?

Funny meme, sure. But that's a man's name and career you're now attaching a negative stigma to.
Cut it out.

Everyone is just waiting for Amy to start somewhere and replace someone so the DeathNote melee can start using her and her writing

 

[Chettlar]

Man he's not holding back. Good he's happy I guess.

Lol look at the post right above yours.

 

[PanicFreak]

That's a backhanded backpedal - a soft soap, generic 'great place to work' comment followed by something about 'my own agency' - guy felt constrained.

I'm surprised you delved so deeply into this man's psyche after reading 280 characters or less.

 

[PsihoPerihelion]

I knew the first post was something related to Darth Druckmann. Never change, Gaf.

God this guy irritates the fuck out of me.

He looks like a poor man's Spike Jonze.

Not surprised, the games division at MS may appear to be doing well but there have been cracks appearing at MS for a long time. Selling game studios to Amazon, having to install Windows on their games console to compete, heads like Don Mattrick leaving. The writing was on the wall for a mass exodus of talent.

So much ignorance. Double Helix was never owned by MS.

 

[Dunlop]

The "kinect hate" is pretty damn warranted if you ask me. I paid $120 for my 360 Kinect and have yet to play a game that even remotely made it worth it. Yeah, my girlfriend's nephew loves Kinect party and I get a kick out of him enjoying, but since Microsoft has not made one good game (not "hardcore", just good) for this device, I think at a certain point you have to cut your losses and try to allocate your resources efficiently to make the best possible games. That's all I'm saying. I don't care if they make more "casual" games to try to grow their audience, but the way to do it isn't with these broken Kinect experiences.

You are hoping that the layoffs effect a group because you did not like the games. You even mention you nephew likes it.

I'm not a huge fan of Kinect outside of when I had parties, but my kids and their friends absolutely loved it. Tons of kids on their sports teams had it (360, doubt for xb1), anecdotal of course but show there is a market for this segment.

Why so many people want MS and Sony to have the same machine that shits out the exact same games outside of Halo or Uncharted honestly baffles me.

 

[Gestault]

Welp, he certainly had no intention of holding back what he thought of them.

Or he reeally liked Aladdin. I'm happy with either, lol

 

[Goldenroad]

You are hoping that the layoffs effect a group because you did not like the games. You even mention you nephew likes it.

I'm not a huge fan of Kinect outside of when I had parties, but my kids and their friends absolutely loved it. Tons of kids on their sports teams had it (360, doubt for xb1), anecdotal of course but show there is a market for this segment.

Why so many people want MS and Sony to have the same machine that shits out the exact same games outside of Halo or Uncharted honestly baffles me.

Kinect Party was a Double Fine game. I imagine these layoffs are not effecting third parties. I just don't want MS wasting time making games that won't sell and will lead to even further layoffs. I want to see MS run efficiently and create games that will sell well so they can employ MORE PEOPLE and make MORE GAMES. I don't care if they are games I like or don't like...so long as they are putting out games that make them enough money to make even more games.

 

[Dunlop]

Kinect Party was a Double Fine game. I imagine these layoffs are not effecting third parties. I just don't want MS wasting time making games that won't sell and will lead to even further layoffs. I want to see MS run efficiently and create games that will sell well so they can employ MORE PEOPLE and make MORE GAMES. I don't care if they are games I like or don't like...so long as they are putting out games that make them enough money to make even more games.

fair enough, I'm firewalled at work so couldn't look for the sales of recent Kinect games even if I wanted to ; )

 

[Goldenroad]

fair enough, I'm firewalled at work so couldn't look for the sales of recent Kinect games even if I wanted to ; )

Based on the limited time I have at work here, I can tell you no Kinect game has broken that 1 million mark...not that sales numbers matter that much without knowing the budgets of these studios, but I've got to imagine with the R&D that would have to go into every Kinect game still, even a cheap, simple game like Fruit Ninja Kinect must be quite an undertaking to get working with a device that is just overall unproven.

 

[ThoughtsOfSpeaking]

After the carnival of stupid that led to FM's banning, you would think this type of sentiment would be less prevailent.

Im sure some of you expect people employeed at game studios to be employed indefinitely.

 

[Dr. Kitty Muffins]

So basically both Microsoft and Sony are trying to clean house to prepare for the upcoming "war" between them. Got ya.

 

[fasTRapid]

Microsoft just shot themselves in the foot.

I don't know how much the rest of you know about American culture (I'm an expert), but honor and shame are huge parts of it. It's not like it is in Japan where you can become successful by being an asshole. If you screw someone over in America, you bring shame to yourself, and the only way to get rid of that shame is repentance.

What this means is the american public, after hearing about this, is not going to want to purchase any MS game studios game for the Xbox One, nor will they purchase any of the 3rd party games. This is HUGE. You can laugh all you want, but Microsoft has alienated an entire market with this move.

Microsoft, publicly apologize and cancel Titanfall for 360 or you can kiss your business goodbye.

 

[Warewolf]

Phil getting them hands dirty.

 

[rrc1594]

Microsoft just shot themselves in the foot.

I don't know how much the rest of you know about American culture (I'm an expert), but honor and shame are huge parts of it. It's not like it is in Japan where you can become successful by being an asshole. If you screw someone over in America, you bring shame to yourself, and the only way to get rid of that shame is repentance.

What this means is the american public, after hearing about this, is not going to want to purchase any MS game studios game for the Xbox One, nor will they purchase any of the 3rd party games. This is HUGE. You can laugh all you want, but Microsoft has alienated an entire market with this move.

Microsoft, publicly apologize and cancel Titanfall for 360 or you can kiss your business goodbye.

ZING!

 

[shandy706]

Not surprised, the games division at MS may appear to be doing well but there have been cracks appearing at MS for a long time. Selling game studios to Amazon, having to install Windows on their games console to compete, heads like Don Mattrick leaving. The writing was on the wall for a mass exodus of talent.

Quite possibly one of the most entertaining posts I've ever read.

 

[Exploratory]

You link a two-page OT for a game coming out tomorrow.
If anything, it shows that GAF don't care.

Yeah you're right and btw I'm not a fan of Kinect. I think the majority on GAF don't really like Kinect. There are people who like it though.

 

[Chris_C]

Chances are, seeing as he browses gaf and commented on the insider spectacle, he's not too fond of it.

I can understand that, but I think the meme serves as an open acknowledgment of how ludicrous the original story was.

 

[Off-Kilter]

Beginning of the end for Microsoft Studios?

 

[Steverulez]

I would like to know a figure but at least it doesnt seem like any studios were hit?

When are we going to stop dragging Neil Druckmann's name through the mud as if he's somehow involved in layoffs?

Funny meme, sure. But that's a man's name and career you're now attaching a negative stigma to.
Cut it out.

Its a joke.

You link a two-page OT for a game coming out tomorrow.
If anything, it shows that GAF don't care.

Also, its out on Tuesday, not a huge difference but perhaps you should spend less time backseat modding and more time checking your facts?

 

[Dr. Kitty Muffins]

Hopefully, this results in good games being made by fired devs forming their own studios or going elsewhere and really helping to make another studio better. This is what I always hope for when I hear this kind of news.

Maybe someone will start a passion project (like the dude that is already on kickstarter) and it somehow takes off. You never know, maybe someone is as nutty about SRPg's like NEOGAF, and he happens to make that one supposedly "niche" title (and evolves the genre) that takes the genre out of the woods and into the mainstream.

 

[RazielCuts]

I can understand that, but I think the meme serves as an open acknowledgment of how ludicrous the original story was.

Yeah this to me is the whole joke. It's ridiculing the ridiculous.

'I stubbed my toe.' 'DRUCKMANN!'

 

[boredandlazy]

Memes are making it increasingly hard to have a reasonable discussion on this forum.

If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem.

 

[Chettlar]

Not surprised, the games division at MS may appear to be doing well but there have been cracks appearing at MS for a long time. Selling game studios to Amazon, having to install Windows on their games console to compete, heads like Don Mattrick leaving. The writing was on the wall for a mass exodus of talent.

This is one of the most ridiculous posts I've ever read. Not only is it utterly inaccurate but the reasoning is just plain weird.

"having to install Windows...to compete" Really?

That's like saying Sony HAD to make Infamous SS to compete. Well, no shit. That's what competition is.

 

[infinit777]

What if only two people got fired..... cBoat and ntkrnl.

For what it's worth i know that isnt the case because if it was them something tells me there would be some lawsuits.

 

[Carl]

What? They're restructuring. That often involves laying people off. In fact, Spencer said he was going to try to stream line the process so that games and the software division and what all else could communicate and work together much more efficiently. That often involves getting rid of people.

This is what I'm gathering from the OP, anyway, but I still think "They think they don't need first party games any more" is just a little extreme.

Yes, i know... I think you missed the sarcasm. I was referring to the conclusions everyone leapt to with Sony layoffs. Just having a joke.

 

[Hoo-doo]

Its a joke.

A joke, which according to his twitter comments on the famousmortimer debacle, he probably doesn't enjoy.

In fact, after the rectification of famousmortimer's nonsense by the developer in question, I saw lots of gaffers comment on the fact that using Druckmann's name like this is kind of unwarranted and could do more damage than it's worth.
Naming and shaming people for perceived incompetence or them being involved in something without us knowing any of the circumstances, even in jest, is something I think we could do without.
The entire meme started because of his perceived involvement in the ND layoffs based on a poorly written IGN article.

I just thought we were done with this meme since the famousmortimer thing. That's all.

 

[Chettlar]

Yes, i know... I think you missed the sarcasm. I was referring to the conclusions everyone leapt to with Sony layoffs. Just having a joke.

Yeah I get ya. Maybe next time put a little "!!!1!!1!" or something to show you aren't being serious.

Cuz yeah, Poe's Law and all that.

 

[LukasTaves]

Aw, that sucks. Hope they find new jobs soon.

Do we know which studios are effected, exactly?

The two mentioned in the OP seems like they worked at Mgs creating art/promotion for first and second party titles.