Activision Closes Another Studio

[Andy Chalk]

Activision Closes Another Studio

Band Hero [http://www.activision.com] games on the PlayStation 2.

It's not a good day to be an Activision studio. Earlier today we got word that Psychonauts [http://www.amazon.com/Project-Gotham-Racing-4-Xbox-360/dp/B000UKZ20S/ref=sr_1_1?s=videogames&ie=UTF8&qid=1289957633&sr=1-1] before being bought out by Activision in 2008, has been shut down.

According to Gamasutra [http://www.pcgamer.com/2010/11/16/activision-shuts-down-bizarre-and-budcat-studios/].

"We continue to streamline our music development resources to ensure that they are aligned against our slate and strategic goals," the statement said. "As a result, we are implementing a targeted reduction in jobs in our Quality Assurance team in California and closing our Budcat studio in Iowa."

"Budcat has been a great partner to Activision and has created a lasting impact on the Guitar Hero franchise," it continued. "Approximately 88 positions, or approximately one percent of our global workforce, will be impacted by these reductions. We are working to redirect those employees that are impacted to other parts of the company where possible, as well as offering them outplacement counseling services."

Activision is obviously feeling the decline of the music game genre and it looks like we've seen the end of the Guitar Hero line on the PS2. And while one percent of the workforce is a tiny slice, that can't be much consolation to the people at Budcat. We wish all the best to everyone affected by the closure.


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[teh_Canape]

on the bright side, it's good they stopped it before guitar hero went any further

on the realistic side, I miss old late 90s early 2000s Activision

also, fire them THAT suddenly?

dick move right there, they should have at least noticed them night before, 'cause letting them go all the way to work just to tell 'em they got up of bed pointlessly is just cold

 

[AngelOfBlueRoses]

Spoiler

According to PC Gamer, "anonymous sources" inside the studio reported today that when they arrived for work this morning, they were greeted outside their office by security guards and "'too cheerful' consultants" who told them they were being fired. Activision later confirmed the closure in a statement to Gamasutra.

That's absolutely terrible. :< If any of the employees there are reading this, though they probably aren't, I wish you and your families well. I hope they can find another job.

Side note: So, this is why Kotick is spouting sugar-coated bullshit that sounds nice: it's in the hopes of people forgetting stuff like this.

 

[MentalBakura]

Why are security guards always involved when something like this happens with Activision? Brings to mind the Infinity Ward stuff at the beginning of the year.

 

[killamanhunter]

what...the....heck?

 

[matrix3509]

Why are security guards always involved when something like this happens with Activision? Brings to mind the Infinity Ward stuff at the beginning of the year.

The security guards are there in case someone snaps and goes postal.

 

[SnipErlite]

"impacted by these reductions"

God I hate corporate bullshit expressions...

Feel bad for these guys =/

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

So let me see if I've got this right:

Activision kicks Bizzare Out [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/105339-Update-Breaking-Activision-Shutters-Project-Gotham-Dev-Bizarre-Creations],
Lucasarts kicks people out [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/105353-Rumor-LucasArts-Hit-With-Layoffs] ,Kotick says be patient - [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/105359-Kotick-Activision-Blizzard-Merger-Allows-More-Patience]while he builds a better place for WoW HQ [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/105358-Blizzard-Expands-Its-Creep-By-40], but Budcat can eff off [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/105361-Activision-Closes-Another-Studio].

Or, simply, Kotick says he'll be nice to us, while shafting two studios and building himself more office space. Oh, and Lucasarts seem to have milked Star Wars dry.

Conclusion: Kotick is a dick. I don't see how anyone can even defend that man now.

 

[Gralian]

Budcat, huh? Cute name, but i haven't even heard of the company up until now. So it's hard to really feel anything as a consumer. The job loss sucks and all, but people are hired and fired every day. No reason to get all weepy-eyed over this story.

And considering these guys only seem to have made PS2 games, it's hardly surprising they've been shut down to cut costs and keep things economical.

 

[Jfswift]

I understand sometimes you have to make difficult decisions with a large company.. but they could have at least given them more warning than that.

 

[Michael826]

I can understand this, from an economical point of view. The fact of the matter is that music games are just a fad, a very short lived fad. The falling sales in both Guitar Hero and Rock Band games supports this view. If a studio isn't going to make any money for a publisher, there is no point in keeping them on.

Yes, job loss is sad, but it's something that happens every day and can't really be stopped. These people, if they're good at what they do, will either be reintegrated into the company some other way, or find work elsewhere. It's not much of a sop-story, it's just life.

 

[DTWolfwood]

man those statements are always so heartless when they just straight up list statistics. Although the sugarcoated ones are just as bad. Guess there just isnt a good way to say "we're firing people."

Well hope they find work or is placed into more successful companies quickly.

 

[xscoot]

Conclusion: Kotick is a dick. I don't see how anyone can even defend that man now.

I can do it:

Bizzare and Budcat made shitty games. That's why they were fired.

 

[Worgen]

oh cmon thats just an ass move, at least let them loot work a little bit if your going to be ass enough to make them drive all the way to work to tell them they are fired

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Bizzare and Budcat made shitty games. That's why they were fired.

On the runup to Christmas still makes you a dick, even if justified.

 

[killamanhunter]

Is it just me or are they becoming the new EA...

 

[Nouw]

Damn it even if the games are 'crap' (I don't think so) shutting it down would leave hundreds of people jobless! That's cold man, cold.

 

[Vaccine]

I'm confused, you don't need fucking security guards to fire people.

 

[MR.Spartacus]

Why are security guards always involved when something like this happens with Activision? Brings to mind the Infinity Ward stuff at the beginning of the year.

Big BrotherKotick the clown sees all? Why would anyone willingly work for a company that's so ham-handedly tyrannical? Activision is worse than EA ever was. Worse than pretty much ANY can think of. Save sweatshops and such.