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| [Jan 18, 2013, 10:08 pm ET] - Share - Viewing Comments |
Gas Powered Games has laid of some staff shortly after the launch of their Wildman Kickstarter seeking $1.1 million for a new action/RPG. This is reported by Kotaku, who confirmed that the company has cut some staff with honcho Chris Taylor after getting wind of them through the grapevine. Taylor did not confirm the extent of the layoffs, however, so there are dramatic elements to the Kotaku report which remain speculative, as one source told them these were due to the Kickstarter underperforming, while other sources have told them that almost everyone who worked for the company was let go. There's a follow up to this on Gamasutra. "The studio is still operating, but we had to slim WAY down to conserve cash reserves," Chris Taylor confirmed for them, confirming some earlier comments that they are all in on Wildman: "We spent all the last dough that we've had, and the last several months working on it. So we're betting the company on it."
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| 45. |
Re: Gas Powered Games Layoffs |
Jan 19, 2013, 16:46 |
Darks |
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DangerDog wrote on Jan 19, 2013, 15:35:
jacobvandy wrote on Jan 18, 2013, 22:45:
Here's the video update of the man himself explaining the situation.
He also asks at the end for people to sort of vote whether they should keep the campaign going or shut it down, in the KS comments. However, only backers can post comments, so that's bound to be biased (in a good way). I think there has been an uptick in pledges in the past hour or two, though, as well.
Think what you will about CT and GPG in general, or whether or not you think Wildman will be good or even get finished... I just hate to see people completely misunderstanding what's going on here. I've seen some comments on the KS page and elsewhere, of people flat out saying shit like FUCK YOU I HATE YOU THIS COMPANY IS DEAD GOOD RIDDANCE YOU FAIL HAR HAR, etc., purely because they're interpreting the layoffs as indication of a scam or poorly executed plan. They're taking a risk, sure, but I'm fairly certain it's a last resort that has been thought over way more than we'd ever realize.
I don't think that video was the right way to handle the situation, it just speaks more to bad preparation on GPG's part that they've put all their eggs in one basket for this game to make or break it for them. The same controversy hit Frontier Developers in the middle of Elite's kickstarter but you didn't see David Braben crying about lack of funding early in its kickstarter - which also started out poorly.
Lots of people buy into kickstarts based on the nostalgia factor, I would have probably "kicked in" for a continuation of Supreme Commander series if it meant a return to Total Annihilation form.
They should know by now what games they've sold the most copies of.
Danger, you have a complete lack of understanding of what is really going on with this company. They are at the end of their rope, the cash flow is about gone, and they have very little cash left to keep the company going. He had to lay off just about everyone or they were done.
This is why he’s going the KS rote. This is what it’s for, it’s not like he’s trying to device anyone about where the company is at or going. He’s at the end. There have not been many projects coming his way over the past three years. They had to put Kings and Castles on hold and go and work on Age of Empires online to try and stay afloat, that project only lasted so long. If this project funds, he will be hiring back several of those people who were let go.
This is not a lack of bad preparation. This is his last stand. Call it what you will be he’s just trying to survive. Also, why do you think he sold off many of his IPs, SupCom and Dungeon Siege. He needed money to keep going. Trust me; he did not want to sell that stuff off. He had no choice.
Imagine losing your job, your bank account is about empty and your still trying to pay for your cable, Electric, gas and water. What ones would you shut off first?
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