Monolith Fires 80 Staff

[Evil Avatar]

The Seattle Times is reporting (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2002342525_monolith21.html) that developer Monolith has fired 80 staff members following Sony Online Entertainment's purchase of The Matrix Online.

Monolith Productions, a Kirkland computer and video-game developer, said yesterday it would lay off 80 employees after transferring two of its game titles to Sony Online Entertainment.

At least 25 of those employees have been offered jobs at Sony Online Entertainment's Bellevue office, about two miles away.According to the article, Monolith employed around 200 people...so about half of Monolith's staff lost their job as a result of this deal. Man, that sucks.

[Klade]

Saw this elsewhere as well.. As it turns out the DC Comic MMO was also in development at Monolith so some of these people and pretty much all their server guys got canned.

[eatme]

You know, it's generally accepted that "laid off" means as a result of business issues (i.e. not the fault of the employee), and "fired" means it was the employee's fault.

In this case, they were laid off, not fired.

[Evil Avatar]

You know, it's generally accepted that "laid off" means as a result of business issues (i.e. not the fault of the employee), and "fired" means it was the employee's fault.

In this case, they were laid off, not fired.

When you are told that you no longer have a job, you are fired. You can try to politically correct it all you want, but being out of a job is being out of a job.

[Herodotus5]

You are correct sir!

[eatme]

When you are told that you no longer have a job, you are fired. You can try to politically correct it all you want, but being out of a job is being out of a job.

One is, in fact, worse than the other. If you go to an interview and they say "why aren't you at Monolith any more?", you can try:

a) I was laid off with 79 other people.
b) I was fired for being a douche.

One of those will do better than the other.

[eatme]

Oh, addendum: mad propz for sticking it to the man by refusing to be politically correct! I acknowledge your crazy rebelliousness!

[Heretic Machine]

Advice for game developers: Make good games so you can keep your job.

[Evil Avatar]

One is, in fact, worse than the other. If you go to an interview and they say "why aren't you at Monolith any more?", you can try:

a) I was laid off with 79 other people.
b) I was fired for being a douche.

One of those will do better than the other.

I was thinking that they might try:

c) I was fired because our game sucked so bad it didn't last 90 days before it was sold at the company garage sale.

[eatme]

I was thinking that they might try:

c) I was fired because our game sucked so bad it didn't last 90 days before it was sold at the company garage sale.

I really think you're not getting the fine points of interviewing. You'd best stick with the web site. :)

[GunnyMo]

Monolith to it's employees:

"Thanks for putting in back breaking hours to make Matrix Online. We've sold it to SOE for buckets of money which you won't get a dime from, by the way. Oh, on your way out be sure to stick this big, black dildo with "MONOLITH" printed on the side up your ass so you know who's fucking you out of a job. Thanks!"

All my best to those who were laid off and I hope you find employment with a better company soon!

[Royal Fool]

Blah, this sucks.

The worst part is how some of those people will have the chance to switch over to Sony (But without their co-worker friends), but the rest have to go back out on the street.

[thecrazyd]

According to what I have heard, all the Monolith employees were offered jobs at SOE. Most did not want to relocate. Take this with a grain of salt though, cause I generally doze off during company meetings.

[OldEnoughToKnowBetter]

According to what I have heard, all the Monolith employees were offered jobs at SOE. Most did not want to relocate. Take this with a grain of salt though, cause I generally doze off during company meetings.

Relocate? You do understand that the difference between the location of the two offices is not more than 5 miles (as the crow flies)...?

That said, I hope the folks who got the axe can find something rewarding and engaging in short time...Having been on sides of the axe at various times in this weird business I know how hard it is to get and deliver the news...Monolith would not be a very fun place to be right now...

[Monroeski]

"At least 25 of those employees have been offered jobs at Sony Online Entertainment's Bellevue office, about two miles away."

That's right Phades, two miles away. And that is taken from the second paragraph of the article. Next time try to put at least a minimal effort into fact checking.

[Kefkataran]

It seems somewhat depressing that the guy who started this site is a bigger troll than 90% of the other posters. Blegh. Being politically incorrect is the new being politically correct.

[Phades]

"At least 25 of those employees have been offered jobs at Sony Online Entertainment's Bellevue office, about two miles away."

That's right Phades, two miles away. And that is taken from the second paragraph of the article. Next time try to put at least a minimal effort into fact checking.

Ha, I guess that does help! Or maybe just reading the actual subject of the article?

[Hellstorm]

See, no Shogo 2, this is what happens.

[Liquidize105]

It seems somewhat depressing that the guy who started this site is a bigger troll than 90% of the other posters. Blegh. Being politically incorrect is the new being politically correct.
Really? I find that refreshing actually.

I think people nowadays use the word downsizing, which is even more politically correct.

[Lunar Blue]

See, no Shogo 2, this is what happens.

My thoughts exactly. Another NOLF wouldn't have hurt either.

[Evil Avatar]

It seems somewhat depressing that the guy who started this site is a bigger troll than 90% of the other posters. Blegh. Being politically incorrect is the new being politically correct.

You must be new. We were politically incorrect when everyone else was busy kissing developers asses.

We have been doing this since Duke Nukem Forever was announced. Now, I'm talking about ancient history here.

[bradlay]

Oh, addendum: mad propz for sticking it to the man by refusing to be politically correct! I acknowledge your crazy rebelliousness!

heehee

Laid off is a universe away from fired. Good luck to these Monolith types. May they all not have to work for EA.

[bapenguin]

You must be new. We were politically incorrect when everyone else was busy kissing developers asses.

We have been doing this since Duke Nukem Forever was announced. Now, I'm talking about ancient history here.

Was the internet even around then? ;)

[Kefkataran]

You must be new. We were politically incorrect when everyone else was busy kissing developers asses.

We have been doing this since Duke Nukem Forever was announced. Now, I'm talking about ancient history here.

I've been reading the site for a couple years, so I knew all about the, um, "attitude." I've only just started posting though. So, I guess I can only just now bitch about it. Heh.

[Furious Wang]

Advice for game developers: Make good games so you can keep your job.

That's what I was going to say.

However, sometimes developers make good games and still lose their jobs =/

[Wyrm]

Yeah, I think they should have known this was coming when they had 40,000 subscribers and WoW had 230k in a week of being out.

[KNOTE]

According to what I have heard, all the Monolith employees were offered jobs at SOE. Most did not want to relocate. Take this with a grain of salt though, cause I generally doze off during company meetings.

You heard incorrectly.

[Phades]

My thoughts exactly. Another NOLF wouldn't have hurt either.

Well they are still around so it's not like it won't happen. F.E.A.R. looks awesome!

[Kefkataran]

I would almost definitely buy a third NOLF.