Studio to focus now on Just Cause 2 and The Hunter
According to a report on Game Reactor, Swedish developer Avalanche is to almost halve its studio headcount after the termination of two publishing contracts.
The 160-strong studio will lose 77 staff from its offices in Stockholm after development deals for two games, worth a total of $34m, fell through.
The two unannounced games will now be ditched as the studio works on its Just Cause sequel for Eidos and its Emote co-development, social game The Hunter.
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First of all ...this news sucks. Sorry to anyone effected by this.
gamesindustry.biz mentioned in their article that avalanche do a last in, first out policy when it comes to redundancy. So it doesn't matter where you are positioned, how good your are, or how important you are.
This is presumably so they have a standard rule so they can say "hey, nothing personal" when people get sacked and is nice to those who have been loyal for a long period.
But I can't help but think that they should 'grow a pair' and make well considered decisions of who should stay and who should go.
While it may be more awkward now, it should surely be better in the long run. If I were a client I'd like to think that they were only keeping on the better staff or those involved in a remaining project. It would also put people off from taking a job from them in the future, and I'm sure those who remain will be worried about being sacked no matter how good a job they do.
I think it's more to do with Swedish employment laws as opposed to the need to "grow a pair".
Fair enough
Whatever the reason, I think BC's point is well made - why would I take a job there knowing that I'll be the first out the door if the s**t hits the fan as it often does in this industry?
Seems counter productive, to me.
