None of these developers are "helping RTW" or mounting "rescue efforts". They're picking over the carcass of thing, cherry-picking what they want from the best of RTW's redundant employees.

Which, of course, is a good thing since it gets talented people back into jobs, but can we drop the illusion that these developers are somehow flocking to the aid of a stricken brother studio?

As much as we appreciate feedback, it comes across as if your issue is with the business practice of the firms involved in this story rather than Develop's coverage of it.

I don't believe the phase "helping RTW" is used by me, it's a quote, and surely seeking to get people out of unemployment - whatever gain Codemasters or any other company will get out of it - counts as a rescue?

Stating that anyone is "picking at RTW's bones" would be editorialising in extremes.

Actually, no. Trepan has a point. All your headlines have revolved around studios helping Realtime Worlds. But they're not. They're helping the ex staff from Realtime Worlds - there's a distinction in this case between the company and its employees that you seem to have failed to grasp.

"surely seeking to get people out of unemployment - whatever gain Codemasters or any other company will get out of it - counts as a rescue?"

A rescue of WHO? Again, you're failing to understand the distinction between the company and its employees. Rescuing Realtime Worlds means going in and salvaging the company - which is exactly what the Administrators are trying to do. Rescuing the redundant employees is a different - albeit positive - matter altogether.

So Trepan is right - your headlines have all been, at best, erroneous.

Erroneous at best? Are they really factually incorrect when the notion of help in this context is a matter of opinion, and more than that, a matter of opinion being expressed by many of the companies heading to Dundee?

Furthermore, is it that bad to refer to those RTW employees currently loosing their jobs collectively in relation to the company they are currently most closely related too?

What are the headlines at worst if they are erroneous at best? 'Erroneous at best' is a little dramatic isn't it?

People seem so aggravated by the concept that these studios are helping RTW (who knows if they are?) rather than the individuals.

If you want real bad journalism, go watch Sky News!

When you distill it into its main essence,
its basic poaching of talented staff. Lets make no bones about this.

However I dont think it makes for palatable headlines eg. Company X sends 9 strong HR team to poach and seduce best talents to their studios.

So I guess a alternate tagline could be:

"Company XYZ offers lifeline to former RTW staff"

What utter bullshit Dr. Wong!

You can only poach and seduce from something that exists. These people have been made redundant.

I agree - these companies are not helping RTW they are helping the staff who face an uncertain future, and they are helping themselves in the process. there is nothing wrong with any of that.

But Develops headlines are just misleading and deliberately trying to portray a situation of brotherly love and assistance that just doesnt exist.

@ Walter

I'm not sure I follow. And there is no reason for strong language.

I agree the headlines are misleading. Companies offering alternate jobs are poaching because it gives not chance for RTW to recover elements of what it once was if its key talents are eaten off piecemeal.

Its as if, pieces of a ship have been chainsawed and thus, even to the best of interest keeping it afloat can range from challenging to abandon ship

I think the point Walter was making was that you can't poach staff if they've already been let go, which is a fair point.

I don't think anyone has a problem with other studios going up there. The issue originally raised by trepan (I know who you are now, I never cease to be amazed how small this industry is) was "can we drop the illusion that these developers are somehow flocking to the aid of a stricken brother studio?".

"Blitz jets in to help RTW" - so Blitz are jetting in to get RTW out of this mess and backup and running again?

http://www.develop-online.net/news/35657/Blitz-jets-in-to-help-RTW

I personally feel for every single one of the RTW and Cohort staff, redundant or otherwise. ALL of the dev team and support staff are going through utter crap right now and if Sony, Codemasters, Sega, or whoever, can help them pay their mortgages and buy food for them this month then I support that 100%.

However, I'm also VERY sad that Dundee may lose a pool of dev talent that has taken years to build up. Dundee is a brilliant city to live and work in. I moved back from Canada to live and work here as the lead artist on APB (before an injury put a sudden end to that :( )

My Point is this: There is a huge opportunity that exists here right now, especially for a forward thinking company. I truly hope one of the visiting studios will recognize the wealth of talent at RTW and Cohort and either set up a new studio, or a division, and maximize on the benefits of retaining these hard working creative relationships that brought GTA, Lemmings and Crackdown to this world. RTW may be on the brink of collapse, but the people that made these great games love living and working here, and have a rare gift of creating hit titles one after another - As a team!. That is something money can't buy easily.

APB, well, it was always a roll of a dice, but it does has some very lovely tech and art - Made in Scotland from Girders. MyWorld, great concept needs lots of love and attention.

Whatever happens, I wish all of the job seekers the very best, wherever they lay their digital hats. - PV

Love the fact that a parasitic recruitment agent is in these comments trying to muddy the waters around studios going direct to find staff.

What's the matter - gutted you didn't think of it first?

And who cares if the headlines imply one thing when they mean another? THAT"S THE POINT OF HEADLINES. And from the POV of the companies involved they are 'rescuing' the staff.

At least I have the balls to post my real name. Don't tell me, you're a recruitment agent yourself trying to stir up shite.

Yeah, thought so.