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NWR Interactive => TalkBack => Topic started by: NWR_pap64 on August 09, 2010, 10:49:34 AM

Title: High Voltage Software Lays Off 25 Employees
Post by: NWR_pap64 on August 09, 2010, 10:49:34 AM

According to the company, the layoffs will not affect current game development.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/23844

High Voltage Software VP, Eric Nofsinger has confirmed via GameSpot that the studio has laid off 25 employees. A studio representative confirmed in an IGN report that "based on our current production requirements and predictions of what is needed for the remainder of 2010."  "These changes are necessary to bring our organization to a healthy operational size."

Nofsinger, however, stated that these decisions will not affect the development of current games. Some of these include The Conduit 2 for the Wii and the multi-platform The Grinder. "No other reductions are expected", concludes Nofsinger.

High Voltage Software's most recent release was the fighting title, Tournament of Legends for Wii last month.

Title: Re: High Voltage Software Lays Off 25 Employees
Post by: Dirk Temporo on August 09, 2010, 02:53:02 PM
Didn't they just go on a hiring spree after The Conduit came out? This seems pretty fast.
Title: Re: High Voltage Software Lays Off 25 Employees
Post by: TJ Spyke on August 09, 2010, 03:30:17 PM
This is very common though. Many developers hire new workers for a big game, then lay-off some of them when they are not needed anymore. This is especially true for smaller developers that can't afford to just keep extra employee on staff.
Title: Re: High Voltage Software Lays Off 25 Employees
Post by: Kytim89 on August 09, 2010, 03:50:21 PM
Any chance that Tournament of Legends played a hand in these layoffs?
Title: Re: High Voltage Software Lays Off 25 Employees
Post by: broodwars on August 09, 2010, 03:55:03 PM
Quote from: Kytim89 on August 09, 2010, 03:50:21 PM
Any chance that Tournament of Legends played a hand in these layoffs?

As TJ Spyke said, this is probably the Tournament of Legends team getting laid-off because the project is finished and shipped.  They have no need for those people without a new project to transition to.  Tournament of Legends being horrible probably played a big role in them not getting assigned to a new team, though.
Title: Re: High Voltage Software Lays Off 25 Employees
Post by: Kytim89 on August 09, 2010, 03:59:47 PM
They should have used the resources for Tournament of Legends towards Conduit 2 to make that game even better.
Title: Re: High Voltage Software Lays Off 25 Employees
Post by: Stratos on August 09, 2010, 04:42:52 PM
Quote from: Kytim89 on August 09, 2010, 03:59:47 PM
They should have used the resources for Tournament of Legends towards Conduit 2 to make that game even better.

Any resources used on ToL should not be used on Conduit 2. I want Conduit 2 to actually be a good game.
Title: Re: High Voltage Software Lays Off 25 Employees
Post by: Kytim89 on August 09, 2010, 05:14:12 PM
Quote from: Stratos on August 09, 2010, 04:42:52 PM
Quote from: Kytim89 on August 09, 2010, 03:59:47 PM
They should have used the resources for Tournament of Legends towards Conduit 2 to make that game even better.

Any resources used on ToL should not be used on Conduit 2. I want Conduit 2 to actually be a good game.

Resources =  Man Power = Better quality.
Title: Re: High Voltage Software Lays Off 25 Employees
Post by: Sarail on August 09, 2010, 05:17:32 PM
Quote from: Kytim89 on August 09, 2010, 05:14:12 PM
Quote from: Stratos on August 09, 2010, 04:42:52 PM
Quote from: Kytim89 on August 09, 2010, 03:59:47 PM
They should have used the resources for Tournament of Legends towards Conduit 2 to make that game even better.

Any resources used on ToL should not be used on Conduit 2. I want Conduit 2 to actually be a good game.

Resources =  Man Power = Better quality.
Not when that manpower doesn't know how to make a good, quality game, Kytim.  There's a difference, ya know. Hopefully the team working on Conduit 2 has gotten their act together.  I'm expecting the sequel to be much better in terms of content -- play control was already top-notch. Just give me MORE.
Title: Re: High Voltage Software Lays Off 25 Employees
Post by: Mop it up on August 09, 2010, 10:09:06 PM
Don't let the Tournament of Legends team near The Conduit 2! They'll probably suggest making the controls entirely motion-based, with no involvement from Wii Motion Plus or the pointer.
Title: Re: High Voltage Software Lays Off 25 Employees
Post by: ThePerm on August 15, 2010, 05:18:57 PM
4 retro studios employees are worth 10 high voltage employees.

The quality vs quantity argument works for making games too. All the guys who were working on the Metroid games were all long time industry veterans that probably worked on some random great game you played well before Metroid. A lot of the guys at HVS are younger, it isn't to say they aren't any good, and they could be really good someday. The temporary work setup is how they sort out the pros vs the noobs. I don't think they fired the entire TL team. They probably kept the top people of that group.