I'm going to officially declare January as the worst month in the history of the gaming industry in terms of employment. By my count there have been over 10 separate instances of job loss with over 30,000 people having lost or about to lose their job.
It all started back in early January when a good chunk of the 1UP Staff was let go and EGM shut down as Hearst Inc purchased 1UP from Ziff Davis. This resulted in over 30 job losses and many industry journalists scrambling to find jobs.
From there, things just sort of steam rolled with daily layoffs, studio closures and more being announced every day.
Gusto Games closed down their Derby based studio in the UK. Gusto is most famous for the Championship Manager series. Fourteen members of their staff lost their jobs as a result. Another small studio named Oxygen games has gone up for sale as well resulting in another 14 jobs lost.
Haze developer Free Radical shut it's doors due to the lack of buyer interest after reopening. Over 140 people lost their jobs as a result.
And I'm just getting started.
Eidos cut 30 jobs at Tomb Raider developer Crystal Dynamics after poor sales of the latest game in the franchise. And by poor sales I mean 1.5 million copies.
Sega cut 30 members of their staff as well, citing difficult economic times.
Factor 5, makers of Lair, has also cut half of their staff with 37 employees being let go.
Aspyr Media has let go one third of their staff due to the troubling economic times. Aspyr is famous for numerous PC ports including Call of Duty 4 and Guitar Hero.
Then there's mega company Electronic Arts. While not all reports are confirmed there are multiple studio closures and cuts by the company. First up was EA Studio Pandemic Brisbrane in Australia. The rumor reported the studio was in the process of shutting down with all members losing their jobs. Two hundred members of EA's Black Box studio were also let go and shortly the entire studio will be closed down - one of the nine in total EA plans on shutting down. EA's Mythic was also hit with 15 jobs being lost. The big shocker for EA is their Tiburon Studio, makers of the Madden series, has cut their work fore as well.
Microsoft is up next, with an announced 1400 job cuts coming yesterday there's some big players being hurt here. First up is the Flight Simulator Studio ACES - it looks like the entire staff here has been let go. Of course we also have the announced Ensemble Studios closure coming in March after Halo Wars launches. Microsoft's community outreach blog, The Gamerscore Blog, has also been shut down - and while it first looked like the staff members would have a job elsewhere in the Xbox group - most have now been laid off. Some members of the Games for Windows team were also affected.
It's a bleak bleak picture. And it wouldn't be complete without mentioning mega electronics retailers and game retailer Circuit City is liquidating their 567 stores and closing up shop for good resulting in 30,000 unemployed workers.
Update: And since I wrote this article this morning, we have another closure. This time Eidos has closed their Manchester Studio which employs 14 people.
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Even before the economic fallout, this industry was never a stable industry for jobs.
Personally, I think that if you can't find a job in 26 weeks that pays better than federal benefits do (a mere portion of your previous 52-week mean income), then 13 more weeks isn't going to help, because you're being too picky.
With all of the job loss going on right now, the government is going to be paying out BIG time...and now that the extension is in place, all of those willing to milk the extra weeks will cost taxpayers 50% again on top of the usual payout.
Like I said on Twitter: it boggles me that all of these people are being unceremoniously canned, and yet Wal-Mart's parking lots are still cluttered with abandoned carts, and it still takes 20 minutes to check out with one item.
I hope that's not too insensitive. I know that it's not the employees' fault. But they have to survive.
Also sometimes you have to suck it up.
Basically it's not a black and white answer. It'll never be. None of us will ever understand each individuals situation. For instance, some of these people I know have gotten severance pay for a few months. So technically they aren't even claiming unemployment.
Most people, I know I do, pay into an unemployment tax. I have for most of my life. I would think that when the time comes I have the right to use what I paid into.
I hear you. I like your answer...I think it's one of the most painfully honest statements I've heard in a while -- pride has a lot to do with it, I think.
But do you think that everyone else has the right to use what you paid into? For 39 weeks?
Personally, I think that 39 weeks is a bit much. But the world keeps turning, I suppose.
No, but I'd like to think if ever the time comes that I need it, that I could have the luxury as well. It's like any insurance policy.
39 Weeks is excessive, and I think most people would simply get bored. I know if I had 39 weeks off I could do a shit ton with this site.
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