http://www.funcom.com/wsp/funcom/fro...&table=CONTENT
The announcement by FC...
Probably not really communicated internally ;P so don#t expect Means knowing much more about it.... (just my guess)
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http://www.funcom.com/wsp/funcom/fro...&table=CONTENT
The announcement by FC...
Probably not really communicated internally ;P so don#t expect Means knowing much more about it.... (just my guess)
No changes to the AO team, we're all still here.
Well that was a fast response. At least they take bad rumors seriously =)
so Macrosun, u got an offer to go to Montreal as well?
because I get my news from sources who arent in habit of publishing stuff like phonenumbers of CEO's. http://e24.no/boers-og-finans/article3293731.ece
I would have considered giving the call if macrosun hadent settled my worries allready.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...t-of-workforce
Norwegian developer Funcom has announced that it plans to cut 20 per cent of its workforce in order to cut costs, with the axe falling heaviest in its home country.
The company, which created the Age of Conan MMO, will now have to delay the release of its next project, The Secret World, by several months as it reshuffles its pack, reports E24.
Funcom, which currently employs around 300 staff worldwide, is attempting to shift the bulk of its workforce to Canada to take advantage of a 37.5 per cent salary reimbursement from the state of Quebec, and with salaries generally lower there the company could stand to cut around half of its wage bill.
According to reports, company management wrote to staff earlier this month to offer relocation packages.
Last year Funcom's financials revealed a loss of USD 34 million, and while the company is currently running a loss of USD 1.2 million this year it's roughly in-line with expectation.
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So the cut was known to be coming by the employees. I seem to recall someone from Funcom previously saying they were moving their graphics engine work to Canada. I wonder if that means the ppl working on the conversion of the Dreamworld engine to AO are part of that relocation, and if so, will that delay progress on the new AO engine?
On the positive side, they look to now be in arms-reach of profitability, compared to the situation last year.
Glad to hear AO is still going strong you had me worried for a moment there.
Um, Perhaps I'm reading this wrong...
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From the FC site:
The Company's development of the Age of Conan expansion pack and its preparations for launch in Korea will continue as planned, as will the preparations for the limited beta of its first free- to-play MMO scheduled to take place during Q4. The development of The Secret World will be some months extended due to the initiatives with even more focus on ensuring the delivery of a game that is fully in line with the high expectations amongst fans and gamers across the world.
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Um...AoC isn't free to play and The Secret World development just got delayed....AO's been out a while (even the froob program) so it can hardly be called beta..
So what's this about a limited beta of its FIRST free to play MMO?
They have been working on a batch of F2P games for a while. Been in their quarterly reports and in a few press releases, I think. Am thinking I read somewhere that one may be a browser-based game, but really don't have any hard details.
Oh look, I was right after all. To all the people who lambasted my commentary that the move to Quebec wasnt based purely about the abillity to pay people less for the same work... haha well lookie there. It wasnt a surprise to me when I posted in the other thread and it isnt now. Its damn good buisness sense to make a move like this when trying to get back in the Black. 50% savings is damn good move.
Yes their free to play MMO is a java based browser MMO and is to be supported by in game or in browser advertising. For those social network folk think "Farmtown" style MMO. Ok it is not that chessy but the idea is the same. Plays in the broswer and has ad's around it. The quarterly financial reports have screen shots. F2P has potential to be big money if the game catches on.
Not surprised that TSW is getting pushed back. The Videos they did for it give the impression the game is going to be amazing but then you see the screen shots and go WTF.
I do like the idea of FC saving money and not being in the negative. Maybe they should not have tossed AO to the roadside as a legacy game so soon and put all their bets on AoC and TSW.
Of course the 20% reduction in staff won't affect AO... After all, there's only 3 people working on AO right now, so a 20% reduction in staff would mean having to cut someone's arm and leg off. And I don't see Funcom doing that... well, not LEGALLY! :D
(Just kidding. I know there's supposed to be around 10 people working on AO. ;-) )
Catgirls?
Did means say "catgirls"?
Im pretty sure he said "catgirls"....
Yes, i am absolutely positively sure means infact did say "catgirls"...
*blinks*
Mew! ^__^