Electronic Arts Lets Go of 350 Employees Amidst Internal Restructuring

[Chrispy_]

Of course EA had to **** on Apex Legends with their battle pass. They can't help themselves.

The sooner EA collapses, the better - they haven't done anything positive for gamers in almost two decades now, but the list of IPs and developers they've murdered is truly saddening. RIP to Visceral, Mythic, Bullfrog, Origin, Westwood, DreamWorks Interactive, Danger Close, EA Los Angeles (Medal of Honor), Phenomic, Black Box Games, Pandemic, PlayFish, NuFX. We also have to watch current devs like Maxxis and DICE die a slow death as EA ruin great ideas with stupid greed and monetisation.

 

[INSTG8R]

Of course EA had to **** on Apex Legends with their battle pass. They can't help themselves.

The sooner EA collapses, the better - they haven't done anything positive for gamers in almost two decades now, but the list of IPs and developers they've murdered is truly saddening. RIP to Visceral, Mythic, Bullfrog, Origin, Westwood, DreamWorks Interactive, Danger Close, EA Los Angeles (Medal of Honor), Phenomic, Black Box Games, Pandemic, PlayFish, NuFX. We also have to watch current devs like Maxxis and DICE die a slow death as EA ruin great ideas with stupid greed and monetisation.

Yeah man that list causalities really doesn't make me feel much sympathy. Some groundbreaking and amazing games were made by those studios only to have EA destroy them all. Yeah and the Apex thing is kinda funny, they just can't not "EA" stuff no matter what and again shooting themselves in both feet...

 

[lexluthermiester]

Some cancerous comments in here.

Irony..

Disney could buy them out and destroy them once and for all.

That could actually work. Either Disney would destroy EA or turn it back into something good.

they haven't done anything positive for gamers in almost two decades now

That's a bit of a stretch. The rot started late 2008..

 

[bug]

The level of immaturity and downright meanness is in this thread is so sad and disheartening. People actually glad that other people are losing their jobs is totally sick. These are human beings, not the faceless entity known as EA everybody loves to hate.

I don't think anyone is happy because of people losing their jobs. We're just happy EA's actions seem to have caught up with them.
Personally, I haven't touched anything EA since they ruined NFS.

 

[juiseman]

I hate Reddit

 

[rtwjunkie]

I don't think anyone is happy because of people losing their jobs. We're just happy EA's actions seem to have caught up with them.
Personally, I haven't touched anything EA since they ruined NFS.

Then go back and read. There are several people either glad they got fired or don’t feel bad for those employees.

 

[Mescalamba]

Think if they removed whole marketing department, it wouldnt make a difference (apart having more funds to actually use for making something of value).

Marketing today is overestimated thing. You can market and sell products with success without actually needing any of normal ways of marketing. Ofc it requires a) not being an idiot and b) not being greedy idiot, which unfortunately rules out nearly any "major" publisher.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Then go back and read. There are several people either glad or don’t feel bad for those employees.

What do you expect us to do? Reach out to those people and give them warm fuzzies? We don't know who they are and, again, we're not talking about helpless children. Those people will find other work. While there might be some unpleasantness here and there, the reality is having EA on the resume is not going to hurt them at all, especially given the very publicly announced "restructuring", showing clearly that the lay-offs were not their individual fault.

 

[Vayra86]

The level of immaturity and downright meanness is in this thread is so sad and disheartening. People actually glad that other people are losing their jobs is totally sick. These are human beings, not the faceless entity known as EA everybody loves to hate.

While true, these people do choose to work in the company. Yes, choose, let's not act like EA was the only option here. First you choose to study marketing which is one the most empty professions you can imagine, and then you apply at EA. Not exactly a set of virtuous moves I'd say. Marketing is one of those typical 'zero benefit' jobs. Society gains nothing from these people.

So yeah. I hope they find another job quickly, but compassion? No. Anyone can lose their job, for any sort of reason, and the way you take that is personal. No need for sympathy, for some people getting fired is a necessary step and for others its the push they needed to make something of their lives. I think the latter applies in this case, if you had any spine you'd have stepped out by yourself years ago if you had to work with false info.

But this topic really isn't about the individuals but about EA as a company restructuring. The fact it happens in marketing is telling, you only do that if your current strategy isn't working.

 

[rtwjunkie]

While true, these people do choose to work in the company. Yes, choose, let's not act like EA was the only option here. First you choose to study marketing which is one the most empty professions you can imagine, and then you apply at EA. Not exactly a set of virtuous moves I'd say. Marketing is one of those typical 'zero benefit' jobs. Society gains nothing from these people.

So yeah. I hope they find another job quickly, but compassion? No. Anyone can lose their job, for any sort of reason, and the way you take that is personal. No need for sympathy, for some people getting fired is a necessary step and for others its the push they needed to make something of their lives. I think the latter applies in this case, if you had any spine you'd have stepped out by yourself years ago if you had to work with false info.

But this topic really isn't about the individuals but about EA as a company restructuring. The fact it happens in marketing is telling, you only do that if your current strategy isn't working.

Yes it happens. Yes EA generally sucks for us as gamers. And yes Marketing is volatile. But people feeling glee over things that happen to people and their misfortunes is wrong, no matter where you live if you are even remotely a decent member of the human race. Correct, the story isn't about individuals, but some cancerous individuals decided to make it about the employees. That is wrong.

As to our other point about leaving, you don't know everyone's situation. for some it may be the last stop. Others may be three-quarters of a way to retirement, and by that time, they are trapped if they don't want to be destitute in their retirement years. We can never presume to know anyone's situation and think we know better where they should work, based on our imposition of our values on them.

 

[Vayra86]

As to our other point about leaving, you don't know everyone's situation. for some it may be the last stop. Others may be three-quarters of a way to retirement, and by that time, they are trapped if they don't want to be destitute in their retirement years. We can never presume to know anyone's situation and think we know better where they should work, based on our imposition of our values on them.

Still doesn't excuse the fact its an empty profession at a corporation that has been taking a pretty loose approach to ethical behaviour, and this is not something of the last five years either. These people are fine working in that twisted environment, and I'm totally fine with them finding greener pastures instead, and I also have no problem with them feeling some consequence to their choices. Regardless of individual situations. We all have a certain responsibility and this is a typical case of karma being a bitch in public opinion. If you're fine with people who spread misinformation to put bread on the table, I'm fine with them getting sacked.

I do agree with your basic sentiment, we can't begin to understand any individuals' walks of life, but we can get a pretty good impression based on their choices and actions, simply because those are the things that count to the outside world. You may not like that, but its the way we've built our society, always carefully looking at each other and passing judgement, its both blessing and curse.

 

[nickbaldwin86]

EA who.... oh yeah that company that made the few good Battlefield games and then after 3 were remakes of the same game and trash.

Other beef I have is C&C series... they killed that with fire, the first games were amazing and they just went to shit for a long time.

I cant remember the last time I launched Origin.

Sorry to hear about the employees but EA needs to learn some how

 

[Fx]

Sometimes it's not the company at fault, but the culture of the employees.
If they've been getting a free ride for too long and not pulling their weight, sometimes it's best to burn the dead wood and start afresh.

While I agree with this, the results of this are best felt when that 'dead wood' happens to be bad management or engineers.

 

[Tartaros]

@rtwjunkie nailed it. We don't know their situation nor they are the people who made the decisions, yet some people around here are willing to send them to the chopping block with a smile.

Quite ironic.

Well done twisting my words there, sir.

 

[Crustybeaver]

Irony..

That could actually work. Either Disney would destroy EA or turn it back into something good.

That's a bit of a stretch. The rot started late 2008..

Oh please do explain

No need for sympathy, for some people getting fired is a necessary step and for others its the push they needed to make something of their lives. I think the latter applies in this case, if you had any spine you'd have stepped out by yourself years ago if you had to work with false info.

So just to clarify you wouldn't sympathise with a family member or a close friend being made redundant? Ever considered that some may have families, mortgages, debt repayments. They could have been laid off with f**k all statutory pay. Work isn't always easy to come by. I've been through three redundancy processes and it's a stress that I wouldn't wish on anyone. The negativity and disdain towards companies and their wishful downward plight on this site really makes for some toxic reading.

 

[natr0n]

Let's not forget even though jobs are lost they still usually get compensation for a bit of time.

 

[64K]

EA just buys up Developers and use their reputation to sell mediocre games. Case in point BioWare. They bought BioWare in 2007. Mass Effect was already fished then and Dragon Age: Origins was already in development. What do we see happening after that? Mediocre games.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Oh please do explain

Explain what? You quoted my entire post which had several points to it. Which one do you refer to? Until you can make up your mind, pass.

Let's not forget even though jobs are lost they still usually get compensation for a bit of time.

Exactly, those folks are very likely to get a severance package. It's not like they're being tossed out on their ears.

 

[Fx]

EA just buys up Developers and use their reputation to sell mediocre games. Case in point BioWare. They bought BioWare in 2007. Mass Effect was already fished then and Dragon Age: Origins was already in development. What do we see happening after that? Mediocre games.

Thank you for mentioning Dragon Age. It had been a long time since I remembered to check the status of the series and BAM! Dragon Age 4 is in the works!!!

I just went through this entire list: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Electronic_Arts_games

It turns out I that I don't hardly play EA titles. I counted all of 8 games that I have ever played and enjoyed. Only one of those is still going: Dragon Age.

 

[lexluthermiester]

It turns out I that I don't hardly play EA titles. I counted all of 8 games that I have ever played and enjoyed. Only one of those is still going: Dragon Age.

You didn't enjoy Command & Conquer?

 

[Fx]

You didn't enjoy Command & Conquer?

I did. I counted that among the 8.

 

[lexluthermiester]

I did. I counted that among the 8.

To be fair, after RA3, it was all downhill. C&C4 wasn't the terrible mess everyone claims it is when judged on it's own merits, but compared to the rest of the franchise..

 

[Crustybeaver]

Explain what? You quoted my entire post which had several points to it. Which one do you refer to? Until you can make up your mind, pass.

Exactly, those folks are very likely to get a severance package. It's not like they're being tossed out on their ears.

Well obviously it was the one you quoted me on, FFS. Go figure

 

[Markosz]

They are at a better place now. Or will be.

 

[Vayra86]

Oh please do explain


So just to clarify you wouldn't sympathise with a family member or a close friend being made redundant? Ever considered that some may have families, mortgages, debt repayments. They could have been laid off with f**k all statutory pay. Work isn't always easy to come by. I've been through three redundancy processes and it's a stress that I wouldn't wish on anyone. The negativity and disdain towards companies and their wishful downward plight on this site really makes for some toxic reading.

For direct relatives I still dont hold you in high regard if you do shitty/pointless/wasteful work. That doesnt mean Ill be standing there laughing at them. But honestly, there are far worse thjngs that happen to people all over the world, being all teary eyed because some unknowns lost a job to me seems like misplaced and hypocritical altruism.

You read it as toxic, I write it being brutally honest. NONE of us truly cares about these 350, it just looks nice to say we do. None of us is doing anything to help them anyway. Lets just be real about it.