lol we have no free market we have the market thats free when it suits the ppl who have the $$ and protectionist when it no longer suits their needs(brought to you by carl's jr) now i don't mean the free market miltard freidman invisions where there is not one step made by anyone where profit isn't to be made. I mean a free market that consumers actually benefit from, not one where we're cattle prodded and manipulated into being profit vending machines.

proper implimentation of a socialist education system wouldn't have schools run into the ground with shit like no child left behind. you wouldn't get ass/wallet raped trying to go to the best universities. teachers/nurse/general practicioners would be paid what their worth to society if we didn't try to run it like a profit farm. not only that, the vast majority should have coverage, and access to the services. Even if in principle that is what a free market should give you, it hasn't, and we're going in the complete opposite direction, or at least have been for the past few decads. 1/2 of america wouldn't be medicated into submission as a source of income for pharma either. the list goes on, whether one's too gifted by one's position that one can't see that far down, or one just chooses not to see it, things aren't sunshine and lolipops. the screws haven't been twisted against the low/middle class this severely in ages, and ppl need to realize even the concept of middle class hasn't been around that long, and it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to have it taken away completely. there's not enough ppl left around who remember how things actually were,and if they are most of em are batshit crazy by now. instead were are told how it was from a system that relies on it's ppl ignorance to sustain itself.
(brought to you by carl's jr)

This comment was edited on Nov 11, 2009, 21:28.

I would personally favour a true free market myself, mixed with a more socialist slant on things like social services, art, education, hospitals.

Dude, that's what we have now.

the "pampered western worker" may have it good compared to other countries, but how can you ignore the fact that the average standard of living has been in decline since the early 60's. expendable income has dropped considerably while expendatures have increased without relent. perhaps you need a taste of what average really is here in wonderland. maybe you should come for a visit to vancouver say around main and hastings, have lunch at carnege centre to see how great things are here. take a stroll thru pidgeon park take in the scene. things are the way they are because ppl afraid to change, or even give the idea of change the light of day. this current status quo will not lead us anywhere but down. unless of course you are one of the top 3% of society, then things are just rosey i guess, and heck why would you want to change that?

i'm sorry, but as for usa being socialist, i'm just gonna have to stand back and shake my head. i'll admit there are a few socialist ideas, but there are far more fascist principles indoctrinated within american society than would allow for any form of socialist society to take place.

I would personally favour a true free market myself, mixed with a more socialist slant on things like social services, art, education, hospitals. these things profit margins should not be asscociated with, the debts on society will far be overshadowed by the benefits of a healthy well educated, and cultured society. profit farming in those areas allows for ppl to pull too many dirty tricks when chasing that carrot. only problem with current government control of these items is the fact that lobbyist's paid for by so called free market capitalist companies corrupt the dick bag politicians into fucking everything up setting up the plays for the cut throat umbrella corps to fill the gaps after the supposedly untennable government system has let ppl down. some politicians will always be corrupt, humans will always be greedy, rewarding those traits with a near no limits approach is the real issue that makes capitalism such a burden to humanity in it's current form. we need real change in this society not just a different colour of asshole running the show.

I predict delays in the release of C&C4. Many delays.

Game creation staff are nothing but contractors with an employee status. I am not sure why people are still angry or surprised when they hear staff will be laid off at the end of a game project. The problem is the words 'laid off' are too strong of a term, but have to be used because they are 'employees'. Sure, it would be good to keep a few around for bug fixes and patches, but again, they are hired in a contractor mind-set and those getting into the game industry better understand that.

saying their source tells them the Spore team and Pandemic Studios LA (Mercenaries and The Saboteur) are also part of the massive cuts.

Argh, as if Pandemic games weren't buggy enough already.

you're in need of some serious perspective if you think the only alternative to capitalism must be communism, and fear any sort of talk against one or the other. capitalism is flawed.. horribly, just like any system of control. at the ultimate end of the rich getting richer, consolidating wealth into the hands of the very few, where do you think that finally leaves ppl like you or I that would bother posting in a forum like this? a wonderful life for all in your ultra-capitalist society? it probably wouldn't hurt to have a look at the options while the riaa isn't suing ppl for it. now i'm not saying thats going to happen in your or my lifetimes, but try to see past your and capitalism's nose plz.

i'm not going to argue whether capitalism has brought forth many things that are good, and of course bad but who's to say any other system of control wouldn't have brought them at a different time in a diff order, perhaps a more reasonable pace, perhaps, perhaps not, but you're a fool and a communist to believe otherwise.

Dude, my life and living conditions are awesome. I live better than most people in the world by a longshot, and I don't even make that much money. There is some weird quality in successful Western countries that makes people think they are SO bad off because the rich "keep 'em down", but if you spend any time visiting or learning about other countries you will see how fucking awesome your life is.

As for alternatives to capitalism other than communism, I already mentioned socialism and how we can have a debate over that. In a lot of ways the US is socialist already, and in a lot of ways it isn't. The end point is that more government control is not a good thing for gaming in any way, shape or form. I would love to hear an arguement that states otherwise, purely for the comedy of it.

I like how you aired the alternatives in a constructive and rational manner, instead of simply throwing about hyperbole and resorting to name-calling without any reasoning or critical thought process.

Oh, wait...

StingingVelvet:
Capitalism allows some talented programmers to start a million dollar game company from their basement. Communism allows... well... no games at all without government approval?

you're in need of some serious perspective if you think the only alternative to capitalism must be communism, and fear any sort of talk against one or the other. capitalism is flawed.. horribly, just like any system of control. at the ultimate end of the rich getting richer, consolidating wealth into the hands of the very few, where do you think that finally leaves ppl like you or I that would bother posting in a forum like this? a wonderful life for all in your ultra-capitalist society? it probably wouldn't hurt to have a look at the options while the riaa isn't suing ppl for it. now i'm not saying thats going to happen in your or my lifetimes, but try to see past your and capitalism's nose plz.

i'm not going to argue whether capitalism has brought forth many things that are good, and of course bad but who's to say any other system of control wouldn't have brought them at a different time in a diff order, perhaps a more reasonable pace, perhaps, perhaps not, but you're a fool and a communist to believe otherwise.

This comment was edited on Nov 11, 2009, 05:57.

Well at least they got a warning. I'm wondering how this will affect the games themselves though, what with the entire development team knowing they won't have a job when it goes gold. Is that motivation to do a damn good job as a farewell gift to the fans, or does it discourage any effort because they'll be gone anyway?

I'd imagine the fans desires won't enter into the equation when they're worrying about finding work. What probably will motivate them to make the game as good as they possibly can will be it's impact on their resume. A high scoring masterpiece is going to get them work a lot faster than if they lose motivation and don't bother with it, I'd assume.

Awww, did he hurt your religious feelings?

No, he made no sense.

Capitalism allows some talented programmers to start a million dollar game company from their basement. Communism allows... well... no games at all without government approval?

I think one is clearly superior there.

Now if you want to debate the different definitions and boundries of socialism we can do that, but the core point remains the same.

This comment was edited on Nov 11, 2009, 04:35.

Well at least they got a warning. I'm wondering how this will affect the games themselves though, what with the entire development team knowing they won't have a job when it goes gold. Is that motivation to do a damn good job as a farewell gift to the fans, or does it discourage any effort because they'll be gone anyway?

My broader concerns regarding EA are to do with what rubbish they'll churn out if all the decent, but not "mainstream", games are gone along with the talent. I sure as hell don't want the PC market filled with Wii-quality titles.

Capitalism is great. STFU.

Awww, did he hurt your religious feelings?

now THAT'S the way to motivate the team! do a good job and you're fired!

or not. you're still getting fired.

It happens this way everywhere in our capitalism-run-amok society. Take a look at checkout aisles in stores to see what appeals to everyone. Candy and gossip?

C&C RTS and oddball action games with proven-small audiences have no place in a billion dollar blockbuster business like EA. Wave goodbye.

Capitalism also allows a small group of guys to work hard and make a kick-ass game, release it on Steam or some similar place and make a boatload of money, opening them up to further and bigger development projects down the road and allowing them to make games for a living. Day of Defeat/Killing Floor/Ausiosurf/World of Goo/Braid/Zeno Clash/Etc. etc.

How horrid.

There will always be mainstream entertainment, and since it pleases the abundant majority of people, that is probably a good thing. More niche people get all kinds of indie options and smaller projects, and that is a good thing.

Capitalism is great. STFU.

While I don't agree with the practice, isn't it pretty well known in the industry that your studio typically only makes one game, and then you get sacked? Isn't that something you just plan for?

No, most studios have multiple projects going on at any given time. Devs roll off from one project to the other. There are always contractors that are hired for only one project but that's expected. What's not expected is when a salaried employee gets laid off when he comes in one morning. We've had a couple of big layoffs (some of them questionable) at my studio and nobody ever sees it coming.

As a past professional. Id just like to say its nice for once to see a game company actually WARN there employees. Rather then springing it on them in the morning when they come in and suddenly have no job.

While I don't agree with the practice, isn't it pretty well known in the industry that your studio typically only makes one game, and then you get sacked? Isn't that something you just plan for?

Not trying to point fingers at anyone, I'm just genuinely curious.

Creston

EA is a big company and big companies only give a shit about big money makers. That means big blockbusters. Mainstream audience. Lowest common denominator. Movies, music, games, it's all the same. If you want something out of the ordinary then you can't go to the big company for it.

It happens this way everywhere in our capitalism-run-amok society. Take a look at checkout aisles in stores to see what appeals to everyone. Candy and gossip?

C&C RTS and oddball action games with proven-small audiences have no place in a billion dollar blockbuster business like EA. Wave goodbye.

Tis the season for layoffs. Always happens a few weeks before Thanksgiving.

No surprise here.

This comment was edited on Nov 10, 2009, 22:41.