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Monolith Layoffs In Wake of MXO Deal
Blues has details on the aftermath of the Matrix Online sale. Over 80 employees are now without jobs as a result of the MMOG's move to SOE. The 80 people are "out of a workforce of 200, although at least 25 of those being laid off are those being offered jobs at nearby Sony Online Entertainment."
I hope they left back doors in the code, and will go on to make loads of cash ebaying virtual items.
It really sucks that all of those people are being laid off, but I wonder if in the bigger scheme of things this was Monolith's plan all along. Monolith knew that the MMORPG market was a tough one and that it was probably saturated. But they had one of the premiere properties, The Matrix. Maybe they just decided to finish the thing and see what happened in terms of popularity. If the title was successful and generated good buzz, they would then cash out and sell to someone with the deep pockets needed to keep it going. Many of us MMORPG players complain about monthly fees and buggy releases and expansions. But it really takes truckloads of money to develop, release, and maintain even a successful and popular MMORPG. Perhaps Monolith knew they couldn't do this over the long haul.
Well, just my wild speculations...
To the making of books there is no end, so let's get started
I know a few different stories about businesses opening a new shop or starting a new department that used this exact philosophy. In some they will actually tell you up front when you're hired that they don't know how busy they will be, but they expect that not everyone will be needed after the startup phase. Sure it's sad to see people lose jobs, but in my experience the leftover staff was more than able to keep up the same level of productivity without resorting to overtime or weekend work.
Darwinism in action, combined with a "better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it" approach. Props to the business world for recognizing what wheels are really turning.
"...Why didn't I take the blue pill?"
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That's too bad for the employees being laid off, but this is probably the only thing that could save this game. Selling it to SOE really makes sense for both parties. WBIE still has creative control and (I'm presuming) would be paid royalties of some sort for the MxO and DC Comics MMO licenses. And SOE gets two new properties that make its Station All-Access Pass much more attractive.
You know the industry is completely stagnent when the following are considered earth shattering 'innovations' in gameplay.
1) The ability to change your skills.
2) The bare semblance of a story.
3) PvP arenas
4) "some unique areas"
Wake me up when the MMORPG industry shows even and the faintest signs of innovation. Until then, excuse me while I completely avoid these complete drought in creativity. Remember that period after Doom and before Quake when everyone and their dog made a shitty unoriginal FPS trying to capitalize off Doom? This period is roughly a hundred times worse, but for MMORPGs instead of FPS.