Paragon Studio Layoffs [Oct 07, 2010, 4:43 pm ET] – Share – Viewing Comments
There is a report of layoffs at Paragon Studios on MMORPG.com saying as many as nine jobs were lost, possibly including that of senior animator/VFX lead Christopher Bruce. They have confirmation from NCsoft of job losses at this development studio NCsoft formed to support their acquisition of City of Heroes, the superhero MMORPG originally created by Cryptic Studios. They received the following statement about this from NCsoft, where they spin the cuts as a way to put a greater focus on the game: "In an effort to put a greater focus on the City of Heroes franchise, Paragon Studios is shifting resources within the studio. In order to optimize the refocus, there has been a reduction in force that has impacted a small amount of people. Paragon Studios is an integral part of the NCsoft West family and will continue to prosper, delivering the world’s most popular superpowered hero MMO game, City of Heroes, to fans around the world."
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I think I can safely confirm that this is true.
These different dev studio names are confusing.
So Cryptic Studios made the game, then sold it to NCsoft, NCsoft made Paragon Studios to support city of heroes...and so Paragon let 9 ppl go today.
And cryptic is trying to make STO work? And the made champions...right?
So how does firing people who work on City of Heroes refocus resources to focus more on city of heroes...were those guys working on some other project that got canceled?
This game still seems to be the best super hero game in my opinion, and those recent clips of DC Online have to make me wonder what the fuck they are thinking releasing another game like this one, it's like trying to make a wow-like MMO, who in their right mind is putting money into a fantasy MMO development that looks exactly like the existing products on the market. Sorry, got a little off track there.
So Cryptic Studios made the game, then sold it to NCsoft, NCsoft made Paragon Studios to support city of heroes...and so Paragon let 9 ppl go today.
And cryptic is trying to make STO work? And the made champions...right?
So how does firing people who work on City of Heroes refocus resources to focus more on city of heroes...were those guys working on some other project that got canceled?
This game still seems to be the best super hero game in my opinion, and those recent clips of DC Online have to make me wonder what the fuck they are thinking releasing another game like this one, it's like trying to make a wow-like MMO, who in their right mind is putting money into a fantasy MMO development that looks exactly like the existing products on the market. Sorry, got a little off track there.
Actually just about everyone on the game is from the original development team and those that aren't have been on the post-release development team since before the game was sold to NCSoft. In fact when the game was sold every single person on the team went with it. So it's sad to hear that folks that have likely been working on the game for 4+ years are being let go.
CoX is certainly the best current superhero game. Champions didn't turn out to be much of anything (I was in the beta for many months, though I didn't pick it up at launch. Frankly I am surprised they haven't announced that the game is closing it's doors.) Unfortunately for NCSoft and these employees, CoX just doesn't have numbers it needs. I've always considered it one of my favorite games and I haven't played but for short stints in a few years.
CoX is certainly the best current superhero game. Champions didn't turn out to be much of anything (I was in the beta for many months, though I didn't pick it up at launch. Frankly I am surprised they haven't announced that the game is closing it's doors.) Unfortunately for NCSoft and these employees, CoX just doesn't have numbers it needs. I've always considered it one of my favorite games and I haven't played but for short stints in a few years.
This is fairly disturbing.
I have no idea why they would fire Christopher Bruce(Back Alley Brawler). That guy has stayed with COX and done a lot of good work on the game. Firing someone that knows the inner workings of the animation system seems idiotic. I would have thought they would let go some of the newer hires first.
I haven't been to the forums there yet to see if there is more info, though.
I have no idea why they would fire Christopher Bruce(Back Alley Brawler). That guy has stayed with COX and done a lot of good work on the game. Firing someone that knows the inner workings of the animation system seems idiotic. I would have thought they would let go some of the newer hires first.
I haven't been to the forums there yet to see if there is more info, though.
Wow, didn't know who Chris Bruce was until ya mentioned his... Forum name.
Still think they need to get rid of Positron instead.
Still think they need to get rid of Positron instead.
The Half Elf wrote on Oct 7, 2010, 19:01:
Wow, didn't know who Chris Bruce was until ya mentioned his... Forum name.
Still think they need to get rid of Positron instead.
They kind of did. He's not lead designer anymore. That position went to Melissa Bianco(War Witch). She was the one who spearheaded most of the Going Rogue work. Which was very well done for the most part.
I haven't played Going Rogue yet but I'm happy to hear that War Witch is behind it. She's always had great events in game and a great story-line for her character.
FYI for those who don't know wtf were are talking about with War Witch and Back Alley Brawler (yea it's really sad he's going). All the developers on City of Heroes have an in-game super hero or super villain persona.
FYI for those who don't know wtf were are talking about with War Witch and Back Alley Brawler (yea it's really sad he's going). All the developers on City of Heroes have an in-game super hero or super villain persona.
Slashman wrote on Oct 7, 2010, 19:18:Good, because Positron is a Grade-A idiot, almost up there in the Clueless Meter with Smedley.
They kind of did. He's not lead designer anymore. That position went to Melissa Bianco(War Witch). She was the one who spearheaded most of the Going Rogue work. Which was very well done for the most part.
"We can do this one of two ways. There's the hard way, which involves hours of discussion, tons of negotiation, half a dozen bribes, and no guarantee of success."
"What's the easy way?"
"Liberally placed high explosives."
"What's the easy way?"
"Liberally placed high explosives."
I heard from sources today that the "reduction in force" was due to office politics.
"Just take a look around you, what do you see? Pain, suffering, and misery." -Black Sabbath, Killing Yourself to Live.
“Man was born free, and he is everywhere in chains” -Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Purveyor of cute, fuzzy, pink bunny slippers.
“Man was born free, and he is everywhere in chains” -Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Purveyor of cute, fuzzy, pink bunny slippers.
I have an idea that things are being done that some of the developers may not like and things are being shaken up as a result. It's just a feeling on my part, of course.
Lately though, the forums have been amazingly quiet in terms of developer posts. The devs of COX have always had a closer relationship with the community than any other MMO I know.
In the past few months, that has dried up considerably.
Additionally, Christopher Bruce(one of the most vocal of the bunch) had stopped posting on the forums and was refusing PMs from the community on the boards. He gave the excuse that he needed to concentrate on work and could not continue his board presence at the same time, but now I wonder if there was something else brewing.
Lately though, the forums have been amazingly quiet in terms of developer posts. The devs of COX have always had a closer relationship with the community than any other MMO I know.
In the past few months, that has dried up considerably.
Additionally, Christopher Bruce(one of the most vocal of the bunch) had stopped posting on the forums and was refusing PMs from the community on the boards. He gave the excuse that he needed to concentrate on work and could not continue his board presence at the same time, but now I wonder if there was something else brewing.
Slashman wrote on Oct 7, 2010, 21:25:
I have an idea that things are being done that some of the developers may not like and things are being shaken up as a result. It's just a feeling on my part, of course.
Lately though, the forums have been amazingly quiet in terms of developer posts. The devs of COX have always had a closer relationship with the community than any other MMO I know.
In the past few months, that has dried up considerably.
Additionally, Christopher Bruce(one of the most vocal of the bunch) had stopped posting on the forums and was refusing PMs from the community on the boards. He gave the excuse that he needed to concentrate on work and could not continue his board presence at the same time, but now I wonder if there was something else brewing.
Cryptic had a very nice layer of transparency when it came to customer relations. Problem is, and I noticed this almost across the board at successive ComicCons, their egos were getting way too big for such a small company. Chris Bruce, honestly, was a decent guy at one time, but the last time I saw him, was nothing but a Grade-A jackass, barely talking with anyone, sitting with that smug look on his face. Hope they erase Back Alley Brawler, Marauder, and Praetor White from the game permanently, I'd just as soon forget him.
"We can do this one of two ways. There's the hard way, which involves hours of discussion, tons of negotiation, half a dozen bribes, and no guarantee of success."
"What's the easy way?"
"Liberally placed high explosives."
"What's the easy way?"
"Liberally placed high explosives."
Chris Bruce, honestly, was a decent guy at one time, but the last time I saw him, was nothing but a Grade-A jackass, barely talking with anyone, sitting with that smug look on his face. Hope they erase Back Alley Brawler, Marauder, and Praetor White from the game permanently, I'd just as soon forget him.
When and where was this, exactly?
Ruffiana wrote on Oct 8, 2010, 12:48:Chris Bruce, honestly, was a decent guy at one time, but the last time I saw him, was nothing but a Grade-A jackass, barely talking with anyone, sitting with that smug look on his face. Hope they erase Back Alley Brawler, Marauder, and Praetor White from the game permanently, I'd just as soon forget him.
When and where was this, exactly?
I'd like to know the same thing, because it sounds like BS.
No one on the COX boards has ever said anything like that after meeting him. And trust me...there are people who would readily call out any dev for acting like that.
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