Femmeworth
Banned
Their gain, they can work for a better publisher/developer.
There are a tons of talent at those studios.
Their gain, they can work for a better publisher/developer.
There are a tons of talent at those studios.
Between this and Bioware, it's been a fucking bloodbath for the dev industry in Austin this year.It's happening in alphabetical order.
- Austin
- Boston
- Chicago
This industry isn't as fluid as you think it is. Trust me, as someone who was axed an year+ ago, I think I'd rather be at a job right now than "the gain of work for a better publisher/developer".Their gain, they can work for a better publisher/developer.
While I am sympathetic to those that lost their jobs...
Burn Zynga, burn.
Any other companies firing their hiring signals?
Hope these guys can get back on their feet.
Current offices after the closure:
Zynga Headquarters (San Francisco).
Zynga East (Baltimore) started in May 2009
Zynga India (Bangalore, India)
Zynga Los Angeles
Zynga China (formerly XPD Media, based in Beijing) acquired May 2010
Zynga Austin (formerly Challenge Games) acquired June 2010
Zynga ATX (formerly MarketZero, Inc.)
Zynga Boston (formerly Conduit Labs) acquired August 2010
Zynga Japan (formerly Unoh Games, based in Tokyo) acquired August 2010
Zynga Germany (formerly Dextrose AG, based in Frankfurt) acquired September 2010
Zynga Dallas (formerly Bonfire Studios) acquired October 2010
Zynga With Friends (formerly Newtoy, Inc., based in McKinney, Texas) acquired November, 2010
Zynga New York (formerly Area/Code) acquired January 2011
Zynga Seattle, opened October 2010
Zynga Chicago
Floodgate Entertainment acquired March 2011
Zynga Toronto (formerly Five Mobile) specialized in mobile platforms, acquired July 2011
OMGPOP (Draw Something creators), acquired March 2012
Wild Needle, a casual games company that makes games which appeal to females, acquired May 2012
Zynga Eugene (formerly Buzz Monkey Software), acquired on June 4, 2012.
Holy crap, did Zynga really need that many studios?
We are picking up a few of the artists from Zynga Boston. Their talent was wasted there, anyways.
Fucking hell, it's shocking seeing in black and white how reckless this company was in expansion. The bubble was almost overdue in popping.
I was thinking in terms of the top talent. Obviously not everyone is going to be so lucky.This industry isn't as fluid as you think it is. Trust me, as someone who was axed an year+ ago, I think I'd rather be at a job right now than "the gain of work for a better publisher/developer".
It's happening in alphabetical order.
- Austin
- Boston
- Chicago
But seriously, it's fucked up to do it during the Apple conference, if they were doing it to keep it hush hush.
Journalist at Gameranx is tweeting that Zynga purposefully did the firings during the Apple keynote to avoid press. That's dirty as hell.
If I worked at Zynga Dallas I'd be working on my resume.
I was thinking in terms of the top talent. Obviously not everyone is going to be so lucky.
It's more about paying bills and getting work where you can.
I can imagine something like 80% of the employees at Zynga really are either indifferent or do not like the type of games they make. That kind of atmosphere is never a good thing for a company.
Zynga acquired a lot of talent to be sure, but part of the reason for that was Zynga was the only studio doing a lot of hiring while most other companies have been downsizing/outsourcing. Most people probably just wanted a job to pay the bills.
Onlive
Zynga
Ok, so whats the next gaming bubble we can run to guys? F2P?
Onlive
Zynga
Ok, so whats the next gaming bubble we can run to guys? F2P?
Remember a couple years ago when all of these established designers were going to Zynga because social gaming was the future? No one wanted traditional games. I hope the next time we get analyst out there saying this BS we hold their past predictions against them.
We are picking up a few of the artists from Zynga Boston. Their talent was wasted there, anyways.
There were mass layoffs at Zynga in Austin today, according to a former employee of the company, who said the announcement came during today's widely-publicized Apple iPad Mini announcement.
The company allegedly laid off more than 100 employees and shut down The Ville, a neighborhood-based reality simulation game that was released in June, a former employee told The Verge in an email. The company also laid off the entire team for a new unreleased game; both games "are now done," the ex-employee said.
The Ville had a strong debut, but its popularity dropped off drastically earlier this month. The game was also the target of a lawsuit filed in August by Electronic Arts, which alleged that Zynga had copied its game The Sims Social. Zynga counter-sued in September.
The news comes a day before Zynga is slated to announce its third quarter earnings results, which are projected to be another disappointment for the company's slumping stock.
We reached out to Zynga and were told the company will have a statement soon. We are still reporting this story and will update with a confirmation.
Update: A second source has confirmed there were layoffs in Austin, Chicago, and Boston today.
Developing...
Zynga seems to be the biggest scam in gaming history.
Just a few months back they were worth more than EA, TTWO, THQI, and Konami COMBINED.
Now they are worth less than the real estate they own.
Onlive
Zynga
Ok, so whats the next gaming bubble we can run to guys? F2P?
Onlive
Zynga
Ok, so whats the next gaming bubble we can run to guys? F2P?
I thought Zynga was well known for Facebook games and their mobile games started coming after that?Zynga is the only developer on the App Store? Damn, I guess it's time to sell my iPad...
Funny thing is that instead of this mass shift in demographic, traditional games are starting to adopt social integration. The Wii U is pretty much built for it with its Miiverse.Remember a couple years ago when all of these established designers were going to Zynga because social gaming was the future? No one wanted traditional games. I hope the next time we get analyst out there saying this BS we hold their past predictions against them.
Good reminder. I definitely remember all the news stories how Zynga was especially more valuable than EA and had such a promising future full of profit.Zynga seems to be the biggest scam in gaming history.
Just a few months back they were worth more than EA, TTWO, THQI, and Konami COMBINED.
Now they are worth less than the real estate they own.
Anyone who went to work at Zynga in the sincere belief that they had a sustainable business model is an absolute sucker.
Anyone who went to work at Zynga in the sincere belief that they had a sustainable business model is an absolute sucker.
Can we get this moved to Off-Topic?
Current offices after the closure:
Zynga Headquarters (San Francisco).
Zynga East (Baltimore) started in May 2009
Zynga India (Bangalore, India)
Zynga Los Angeles
Zynga China (formerly XPD Media, based in Beijing) acquired May 2010
Zynga Austin (formerly Challenge Games) acquired June 2010
Zynga ATX (formerly MarketZero, Inc.)
Zynga Boston (formerly Conduit Labs) acquired August 2010
Zynga Japan (formerly Unoh Games, based in Tokyo) acquired August 2010
Zynga Germany (formerly Dextrose AG, based in Frankfurt) acquired September 2010
Zynga Dallas (formerly Bonfire Studios) acquired October 2010
Zynga With Friends (formerly Newtoy, Inc., based in McKinney, Texas) acquired November, 2010
Zynga New York (formerly Area/Code) acquired January 2011
Zynga Seattle, opened October 2010
Zynga Chicago
Floodgate Entertainment acquired March 2011
Zynga Toronto (formerly Five Mobile) specialized in mobile platforms, acquired July 2011
OMGPOP (Draw Something creators), acquired March 2012
Wild Needle, a casual games company that makes games which appeal to females, acquired May 2012
Zynga Eugene (formerly Buzz Monkey Software), acquired on June 4, 2012.
Want to know why Zynga are in trouble? Because they have offices in Boston, Chicago and Austin - and thats only part of the business.
This is UTTERLY INSANE. Who the hell thought this was a good idea?!
Zynga Eugene (formerly Buzz Monkey Software), acquired on June 4, 2012.