As my last post reported there were significant layoffs today at Black Box, the studio that I work at. As of this writing, many of us still don't know the extent of the layoffs as no clear number has been reported.
Unfortunately, today's action was not a complete surprise. For months, rumours had been swirling that Black Box was going to be affected by EA's cost-cutting measures. Just last week there were new rumblings of impending action. It finally came to a head yesterday afternoon when a studio-wide e-mail went out, asking all employees to be at work by no later than 9:30am the next day. Management would be addressing all the rumours at that point.
To make a long story short, it all went down like this today. Some employees got an e-mail at 10am to proceed downstairs for more information. The rest did not get any e-mails at all initially. Once the first group had vacated for the ground floor conference room, the remaining employees finally received their e-mail. The ones who had left were now out of a job. The ones still at their desks still had a job... for how long, who knows? For whatever reason due to whatever strategy they used, I was in the group that made it through.
We were told to leave the studio immediately so that the others could pack up in private. We had the day off from then on but we were told to report to work the next day at 10am sharp. At that time, we were to meet at a nearby hotel ballroom so that more info could be dispensed. If you want to read the whole e-mail yourself, you can find it here. To be clear, I was not the one who forwarded this e-mail to outside sources.
Because we all left hurriedly in random groups and didn't want to stick around outside the studio, we dispersed into mixed clumps of people. I wound up at a nearby pub with remaining skate team survivors, mainly engineers with a random designer mixed in. We started drinking immediately and it wasn't even 11am yet. The mood was a mix of shock and disappointment, sombre overall. There was an intial flurry of texts and cell phone calls as people phoned to let loved ones know they were ok. We were also phoning to determine who had made it and who had not. I remembered I had my Dell Mini with me and I was soon connected to the free pub wi-fi. Almost immediately I was inundated with queries across Facebook, e-mail, and Messenger about my status. After allaying people's fears, I started using the power of the Internet to attempt to figure out who had made it and who had not. It was tough finding out more information. Then things got a bit weird as we all wanted to read what gaming sites were writing about the situation. The layoffs were reported across nearly all the major gaming sites and in quick fashion, given we hadn't been out of the studio for even half an hour yet.
For the next three hours we basically spent the time having a few drinks, eating, talking and making random calls to get a better idea of who had made it and who had not. In the end, we still didn't figure out exactly who got the axe and who didn't. As you can guess, it was a very unpleasant day overall. Several of the people that got let go had become good friends of mine. Some I have known for going on three years now. In a few cases, those who got laid off had significant others laid off as well in the same week or previous week. I will find it quite difficult not seeing some of my friends at work on a daily basis.
As I made my way home, I was able to contact a friend that was part of the unfortunate group. He told me that the severance package he received was quite generous so that was good to hear. He also said that he felt no ill will towards EA which is only his own personal feeling but it hopefully shows me that EA was as professional and polite as they could be in handling the situation. Still, it sucks. Also, I was informed that where possible, people were given opportunities to find employment on other EA teams.
If I could be completely selfish for a moment, today's events have a significant impact on whether or not I complete the deal for my apartment. Tomorrow, Friday, is the absolute point of no return for the transaction. I either go ahead tomorrow and drop all subjects and give my realtor 5% of the purchase price or I walk away from this completely. I'm going to have a brutally honest sit-down meeting with my manager tomorrow to get some clear indication of what's going on with my job. Only then can I decide what to do.
Despite all the real estate stuff I need to do the in next 24 hours, the whole day has left me exhausted. I just want to space out for the rest of the evening and go to bed early. To everyone who lost their jobs today, I hope all of you bounce back soon and better than ever. I will pour some out for you tomorrow at beer and cake. You are all in my thoughts.
Today, there were considerable layoffs at the studio I work at. It's been a very tough day for everyone. I made the cut but considerable questions remain. People I worked with directly were let go. I will have more later.
The product of the hard work of many people (of which I am honoured to be included) is out today or tomorrow at the latest. Skate 2 should be out on the shelves of most retailers in your area.
This is the third game I've shipped and the first sequel I've ever had the chance to work on. Sequels are a touchy thing to be working on. If you helped make a great first entry, then it often becomes very difficult to follow up with something just as good or even better. In a way, it's slightly easier if the previous iteration had numerous shortcomings because it's just real clear what needs to be done for the next game.
For our first game, we received a lot of praise from the gaming community and it set us up for some high expectations for our second game. I was worried for a while we wouldn't have something that would live up to the quality of the original. I fully admit that Skate 2 is not without its faults but it turned out to be a pretty damn good game, even if I'm biased. So far, the reviews have backed up my claim.
If I could put on my marketing hat for a minute, please consider checking out Skate 2 if you're at all interested in an action sports title. Download the demo for the PS3 or Xbox 360 and take it out for a spin. If you like it, consider buying it at your local store.
I'm incredibly proud of and amazed at the team that put the game together. I hope we can share some of our hard work with you.
For some reason that I'm still not sure of, I've always been a big fan of the inaugurations of the US Presidents. I remember as a kid, I taped the inauguration of President George H. Bush so that I could watch it after I got back from school. Today, was no different but instead of a VCR, I used the power of the Internets to watch President Barack Obama get sworn into office. The above video is of him taking the oath of office and his speech immediately afterwards. I thought his remarks were great but certain parts of it stuck out in my opinion:
"We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost."
"As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake."
"Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint."
Each of these excerpts were essentially a direct criticism of the previous administration's actions or lack thereof. The first was clearly a comment on the massive decline in science as a priority in the Bush government. From stem cells to intelligent design to global warming, look for the Obama White House to be lab coat friendly.
The second excerpt was a criticism of the loss of personal rights and freedoms suffered by US citizens, all in the name of being "safe". Whether or not the Patriot Act gets changed remains to be seen but it's clear that folks in the US might get a bit of dignity back.
The last comment was no doubt a direct comment on Iraq. To use an awful quote, it's so nice knowing that the guy in charge now understands that "with great power comes great responsibility". Maybe America will stop acting like a schoolyard bully now.
The great thing is that while President Obama was saying his remarks, just several feet behind him was the dude he was essentially taking to task for doing it wrong for eight years. When the camera was on Dubya during the speech I thought that was a priceless moment.
The last thing I'll mention about the inauguration was how different it was compared to Dubya's in 2000 and 2004. For each of those, there was tremendous ill will by many citizens in Washington. Organizers had to set up designated protest zones to accomodate those opposed to Dubya. He was booed both years during the parade and each time, people tried throwing things at his limo. In stark contrast, there was an overwhelming feeling of hope and happiness today. It's good when the people of America get what they deserve.
For a person that has been seriously looking to buy a home since April of 2008, I've discovered how little I actually know about the "buying" part. I've gotten really good at looking at places, reading at feature sheets, and asking the right questions. The stuff you do when you and seller agree, well I wished I had made a dress rehearsal some time before this first.
I didn't realize all the little things you have to do and all the paperwork you have to fill out. Here's a protip on how to cut down on all that stuff: have a massive amount of money sitting in a single (non-RRSP) account. You can probably guess why it's useful to have a massive amount of money. Having it in a single account though, it saves so much hassle. Your mortgage broker and/or lenders then only have to look in one place to see your assets. If you're drawing from six different accounts, that's six different accounts you have to get statements for, to prove you've got the money. Also, if those accounts happen to be RRSP accounts or stock accounts, you've got additional work to get at that money compared to a simple withdrawal.
I would also suggest asking your realtor to pretend that an agreement has been made upon. Ask him/her what steps happen next. Figure out how fast you can liquidate your assets and get at your money for all your sources. If you need to transfer money from one account to another, ask how long that will take. If you're selling stock, ask your broker how fast that can be done and what fees are involved. With RRSPs, that might be the most hassle if you're going to use them with the Home Buyer's Plan. It usually takes a couple business days to cash out RRSPs and depending on what type they are, you'll also have to pay fees on top of that.
The ability to close the deal in a relatively quick fashion can sometimes be the difference between getting the place or not. In this market, where some sellers can't afford to even pay an extra two weeks of their mortgage, coming in at a lower price but offering a quick completion can allow buyers to get a bit of an advantage.
Last but certainly not least, ask your lender or mortgage broker exactly what documents are required to prove your worth. I didn't have a great idea of what was required, so it's taken me a few extra days to gather up all the paperwork. Since I'm working against a date where I need all this figured out, gathering and faxing documents every day has left me a bit stressed. Had all the papers been just sitting in a folder from day one, that would have a much more smoother experience.
On Friday night, a co-worker brought his wife to "cake and cheer". I've met her before and knowing that she's a fairly new public school teacher, I asked her how that was going. She is indeed enjoying being a teacher, which was good to hear.
Hearing about her experiences as a public school teacher cemented a conclusion I came to about a year ago. I don't think I could be a public school teacher. I certainly like the teaching part. When I was a TA in grad school, it was one of the most positive and enjoyable things I did while I was there. In fact, I've always thought I'd try my luck at being a college instructor if I ever got out of the game industry.
The reason why I don't think I can be a public (or I guess private too) school teacher is the strict schedule they keep. Teachers have a rigid schedule that they must follow five days a week. Teachers can't be late for their own class, nor can they skip out early from teaching a class. I couldn't do that. I get to work at varying times: 9:55am, 10:07am, 10:16am, etc. No matter what time I start, I just leave eight or nine hours later. I'm allowed to be flexible like that. Sometimes, I'll take my lunch at noon or 11:45am or maybe later like 1:30pm. Teachers can't do that. They have to take lunch whenever their kids do and they have to be back on time, no matter what. Once in a while, I'll take an hour or two from my day to go to the dentist, doctor, or whatever errand I have to run. How can teachers do that? I don't think they can, they have kids to look after.
I am totally accustomed to a flexible working schedule. Seeing the constraints that teachers must work within, makes me additionally value their desire to provide a solid education to kids. They do get that awesome two months free in the summer but the rest of the year isn't that way. So no teaching for me.
