Guild Wars 2 – How ArenaNet’s Layoffs Affect Us - MMORPG.com

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Guild Wars 2 – How ArenaNet’s Layoffs Affect Us - MMORPG.com

In an unexpected turn yesterday, ArenaNet's employees confirmed a rumor related to massive layoffs that are planned to permeate throughout the company soon. While we have no confirmed amounts of how many of the nearly 400 members of staff that ArenaNet employs will be out of work, the confirmations came in the form of tweets from current staff. After massive rounds of layoffs have hit EA and Activision in recent weeks, we, the gaming faithful, look on with solidarity and hope that those that have lost their jobs will find a new home soon.

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Bananable

"we won’t be seeing new races"

LOLZ

Seriously? They didnt added (atlest) one with HoT (when people was excited)...

I dunno what kids hope for, but like i said before all their updates were weak and expacks are awfull ( i regret i bought HoT, but i guess that was good lesson for me - HoT pissed me that much so i just couldnt make myself to buy PoF.)

HoT. BEHOLD! Gliders - just to sell skins in store.
PoF. BEHOLD! Mounts - just to sell skins in store. (Note: adding mounts was absolutely Devs brilliant idea...not like people asked for em for years).

SIGH.

P.S. What else can they add...so they can sell skins in store later?

paul43

I really appreciate that they don't run out new games all the time like some others do. But when income is falling after 7 years it's perhaps time to invest in a new game. Could create a different type of game and still focus on GW as the only mmorpg.

jj7009

Honestly at this point the only way ill ever invest more money into GW is if a third game came out, with early yearly mini xpacs (like they used to do and like eso does) or with a sub. Tired of all this cash shop bs game has released with close to 300 skins. SInce launch over 1200 skins have been added to the game with only 350 being available as rewards for in game activities (drops, merchants, or legendary/ascended grinds). Thats 650 skins earnable and 1200+ you can only get from black lion store. Over 80 mount skins, but only 5 earnable. Don't even talk to me about gliders. The only investment this game rewards is money. Time will get you legendaries sure, but if you don't want to look like a neon sign's gaudy metrosexual uncle you better pay up. Don't say that in game or else you'll be flooded with "But Jigsaw, you can earn cash shop items. Just grind gold to trade for gems." which would be a fine argument if they didn't tax the exchange by 25% for some arbitrary reason.

kitarad

This is just an opinion mind you please don't pile a bunch of hate on me but I feel that this game should have tried right from the beginning to mix and match the way the game worked.

Taking away roles in the beginning was novel but they should have done it like how City of Villains/Heroes handled it. City of Heroes and Villains had healers and tank roles but because you could handle missions without healers or tanks by using the different classes like the shielding,crowd control, debuffs and pets, it allows the players to play in a variety of ways that did not feel like you were taking away options instead they were opening up other avenues of group compositions. It allows characters like me who played a controller with empathy to both heal a bit and at the same time do crowd control. Or as a pet class mastermind who shielded to shield the whole group (yes those shields were individually cast and a pain to do and refresh periodically when they faded and this included the top pets too in the rotation) to contribute a great deal to the whole group's survival.

The biggest mistake Guildwars 2 made was to take away roles. By the time they gave it back the popularity the game initially gained had no more traction. If they had right from the beginning not reduced a lot of game to DPS before you die mechanic it might have garnered players who not only bought the game but stayed on for years. People bought the game in large numbers many millions but if they do not stay the end result is this.

I am fully aware that good players did work well and used conditions and group tactics but by and large a large number of people who bought the game were not looking for that type of game and were disappointed. They could have done both and had way more success with both having roles and allowing players who enjoyed the challenge to enjoy the other classes that needed more complex game play to feel rewarded when they too completed the fractals and other content. The developers were short sighted in this regard.

[Deleted User]

The user and all related content has been deleted.

TheDarkrayne

Why are people acting like it's the end of GW2?

Nothing is suggesting that. Where I work we just let a load of people go, it's business. They were not needed but the business is still doing great. Now that ArenaNet have let people go, or are going to soon, their profits will go 'up' not down. Unless, of course, all the players jump ship in this latest doom and gloom scenario. Saying they have been let go because profits are low is just PR talk. What they really mean is, paying them was costing too much vs what we got out of them.

Seriously, what is wrong with you lot? It's either all good or all bad for you. There's a LOT of space in between you know...

[Deleted User]

The user and all related content has been deleted.

Aeander

blueturtle13 said:

TheDarkrayne said:

Why are people acting like it's the end of GW2?

Nothing is suggesting that. Where I work we just let a load of people go, it's business. They were not needed but the business is still doing great. Now that ArenaNet have let people go, or are going to soon, their profits will go 'up' not down. Unless, of course, all the players jump ship in this latest doom and gloom scenario.

Seriously, what is wrong with you lot? It's either all good or all bad for you. There's a LOT of space in between you know...

I don't see too many people spelling the end of GW2 I think it is painful to see a company with only two games flounder to make a third. 

I'll be honest. I don't even know if I'd buy a third game unless it was a return to the form of the first game. MMOs aren't special or interesting anymore - not in the way a top-notch CRPG would be. 

Aeander

parrotpholk said:

Aeander said:

blueturtle13 said:

TheDarkrayne said:

Why are people acting like it's the end of GW2?

Nothing is suggesting that. Where I work we just let a load of people go, it's business. They were not needed but the business is still doing great. Now that ArenaNet have let people go, or are going to soon, their profits will go 'up' not down. Unless, of course, all the players jump ship in this latest doom and gloom scenario.

Seriously, what is wrong with you lot? It's either all good or all bad for you. There's a LOT of space in between you know...

I don't see too many people spelling the end of GW2 I think it is painful to see a company with only two games flounder to make a third. 

I'll be honest. I don't even know if I'd buy a third game unless it was a return to the form of the first game. MMOs aren't special or interesting anymore - not in the way a top-notch CRPG would be. 

You turned Orange! Would you like some ointment?

Grats though

I'd like to thank Gdemami for all the lols.

TheDarkrayne

blueturtle13 said:

TheDarkrayne said:

Why are people acting like it's the end of GW2?

Nothing is suggesting that. Where I work we just let a load of people go, it's business. They were not needed but the business is still doing great. Now that ArenaNet have let people go, or are going to soon, their profits will go 'up' not down. Unless, of course, all the players jump ship in this latest doom and gloom scenario.

Seriously, what is wrong with you lot? It's either all good or all bad for you. There's a LOT of space in between you know...

I don't see too many people spelling the end of GW2 I think it is painful to see a company with only two games flounder to make a third. 

Not on this post, yet, but across the other ones there's plenty doing it.

jj7009

parrotpholk said:

Aeander said:

blueturtle13 said:

TheDarkrayne said:

Why are people acting like it's the end of GW2?

Nothing is suggesting that. Where I work we just let a load of people go, it's business. They were not needed but the business is still doing great. Now that ArenaNet have let people go, or are going to soon, their profits will go 'up' not down. Unless, of course, all the players jump ship in this latest doom and gloom scenario.

Seriously, what is wrong with you lot? It's either all good or all bad for you. There's a LOT of space in between you know...

I don't see too many people spelling the end of GW2 I think it is painful to see a company with only two games flounder to make a third. 

I'll be honest. I don't even know if I'd buy a third game unless it was a return to the form of the first game. MMOs aren't special or interesting anymore - not in the way a top-notch CRPG would be. 

You turned Orange! Would you like some ointment?



Grats though

I still have no idea how ranks work on this site.

BillMurphy

paul43 said:

I really appreciate that they don't run out new games all the time like some others do. But when income is falling after 7 years it's perhaps time to invest in a new game. Could create a different type of game and still focus on GW as the only mmorpg.

To be fair, behind the scenes ANet has tried and failed many times to make a different game. Why have none come out of it? That's probably more complicated. But there's a reason only one founder is left from the core.

Aeander

BillMurphy said:

paul43 said:

I really appreciate that they don't run out new games all the time like some others do. But when income is falling after 7 years it's perhaps time to invest in a new game. Could create a different type of game and still focus on GW as the only mmorpg.

To be fair, behind the scenes ANet has tried and failed many times to make a different game. Why have none come out of it? That's probably more complicated. But there's a reason only one founder is left from the core.

Considering the other founders have been squandering their potential on State of Decay, I'm not even sure how much they contributed to the GW franchise to begin with.

alkarionlog

blueturtle13 said:

Personally I don't feel GW2 did anything 'wrong' I just feel there were more IPs to make that they could never get to the quality they felt could make them a good ROI. It is not easy to create a new IP. Add to that delayed ongoing development and bloated payrolls and this kind of thing always happens. Pretty easy to see coming. 

but they did a hell a lot of wrongs, hence why they kinda lose a lot of players, they like to force players to play using metas, cutting customization,

when I started playing gw2 I used a build I like dto call commander, was a warrior rifle using shouts, I liked and was effective enoght for lone and group combat, and I could keep buffs focus and running speed 100% of time up, then they started to change everything, now I doubt it would be as fun or viable as it was, since now i'm forced to use skills who are useless, the old system had more customization the new one not, plus nerfs, I stoped when hot was anounced and really I don't miss it

Thupli

BillMurphy said:

paul43 said:

I really appreciate that they don't run out new games all the time like some others do. But when income is falling after 7 years it's perhaps time to invest in a new game. Could create a different type of game and still focus on GW as the only mmorpg.

To be fair, behind the scenes ANet has tried and failed many times to make a different game. Why have none come out of it? That's probably more complicated. But there's a reason only one founder is left from the core.

Ah, yes, I was wondering when Bill would smear mike O'Brien again. Better watch yourself, bill, it starts painting yourself when you start pointing fingers.

maskedweasel

Thupli said:

BillMurphy said:

paul43 said:

I really appreciate that they don't run out new games all the time like some others do. But when income is falling after 7 years it's perhaps time to invest in a new game. Could create a different type of game and still focus on GW as the only mmorpg.

To be fair, behind the scenes ANet has tried and failed many times to make a different game. Why have none come out of it? That's probably more complicated. But there's a reason only one founder is left from the core.

Ah, yes, I was wondering when Bill would smear mike O'Brien again. Better watch yourself, bill, it starts painting yourself when you start pointing fingers.

I don't think he specifically called out anyone. I also don't think we should shrug off this thing as "nobody is at fault".  What we know, based on their own internal staff is that they have at least several projects, unreleased or unannounced that we haven't seen, and the reasons for that most certainly lie somewhere on the management end as to why that is. 

Lobotomist

Well put. GW2 was one of most "cautious" games in long memory. With barely two ( relatively small ) expansions in its 8 year history. One have to ask what is actually generating revenue to this game that is so afraid of expanding in any direction ?

And if they didnt have another project already almost ready to release. One has to ask, what were they doing these 8 years ?

It is almost undoubtfull that ANet is another company ready to croak real soon

FlyByKnight

BillMurphy said:

paul43 said:

I really appreciate that they don't run out new games all the time like some others do. But when income is falling after 7 years it's perhaps time to invest in a new game. Could create a different type of game and still focus on GW as the only mmorpg.

To be fair, behind the scenes ANet has tried and failed many times to make a different game. Why have none come out of it? That's probably more complicated. But there's a reason only one founder is left from the core.

If you're a game company and you try and fail that many times at MAKING a game...

Aeander

maskedweasel said:

Thupli said:

BillMurphy said:

paul43 said:

I really appreciate that they don't run out new games all the time like some others do. But when income is falling after 7 years it's perhaps time to invest in a new game. Could create a different type of game and still focus on GW as the only mmorpg.

To be fair, behind the scenes ANet has tried and failed many times to make a different game. Why have none come out of it? That's probably more complicated. But there's a reason only one founder is left from the core.

Ah, yes, I was wondering when Bill would smear mike O'Brien again. Better watch yourself, bill, it starts painting yourself when you start pointing fingers.

I don't think he specifically called out anyone. I also don't think we should shrug off this thing as "nobody is at fault".  What we know, based on their own internal staff is that they have at least several projects, unreleased or unannounced that we haven't seen, and the reasons for that most certainly lie somewhere on the management end as to why that is. 

This requires additional context. Past posting history from Bill, specifically during the Jessica Price debacle, established that he has a negative opinion of Mike O'Brien specifically. 

Hashbrick

They really need to get out from NCSoft, hasn't been good since they have been.

Thupli

Hashbrick said:

They really need to get out from NCSoft, hasn't been good since they have been.

Couldn't agree more.

bcbully

I remember all the hype about the pvp. Arena junkies added a forum. It was to be the next big e-sport.

It was also one of the first multi-million mmorpg “tell them what they want to hear” ad campaigns.

When it was all said and down we ended up with WoW lite.. completely pointless pvp and pve you could watch like a movie and complete.

velimirius

Hashbrick said:

They really need to get out from NCSoft, hasn't been good since they have been.

Not NCsofts fault that they turned incompetent with 400 ppl failing to produce anything except GW2 for 8 years and only two expansions, focusing on esport pvp lol

They had it coming and they have only themselves to thank for it.

Aeander

Torval said:

TheDarkrayne said:

blueturtle13 said:

TheDarkrayne said:

Why are people acting like it's the end of GW2?

Nothing is suggesting that. Where I work we just let a load of people go, it's business. They were not needed but the business is still doing great. Now that ArenaNet have let people go, or are going to soon, their profits will go 'up' not down. Unless, of course, all the players jump ship in this latest doom and gloom scenario.

Seriously, what is wrong with you lot? It's either all good or all bad for you. There's a LOT of space in between you know...

I don't see too many people spelling the end of GW2 I think it is painful to see a company with only two games flounder to make a third. 

Not on this post, yet, but across the other ones there's plenty doing it.

End of GW2? Not immediately, but they now own the NCSoft coveted spot for lowest performer. That never ever has worked well at NC for the bottom player. Probably not the end of the game at all, but could be the end of ANet as it's formed now if they don't get their act together. Reacting with ambivalence and 'business as usual' is probably the most self-destructive course the industry could take right now.

I'm not predicting demise. I am saying they should be worried like that and taking action accordingly.

I don't see any possible scenario for them to escape that. Primarily because the Eastern gaming market's terrible taste in games and excessive ingame spending habits will ensure that NCSoft's high-earners will be its eastern MMOs and mobile games.

But history also shows that Anet gets favorable treatment, possibly down to contractual terms at the time of their partnership with NCSoft. Realistically, there should be no reason why Guild Wars 1 has been kept running for this long past its prime, even on maintenance mode. Had this been any other developer under NCSoft's eye, Guild Wars 1 would be f2p or shuttered. 

TheDarkrayne

Torval said:

TheDarkrayne said:

blueturtle13 said:

TheDarkrayne said:

Why are people acting like it's the end of GW2?

Nothing is suggesting that. Where I work we just let a load of people go, it's business. They were not needed but the business is still doing great. Now that ArenaNet have let people go, or are going to soon, their profits will go 'up' not down. Unless, of course, all the players jump ship in this latest doom and gloom scenario.

Seriously, what is wrong with you lot? It's either all good or all bad for you. There's a LOT of space in between you know...

I don't see too many people spelling the end of GW2 I think it is painful to see a company with only two games flounder to make a third. 

Not on this post, yet, but across the other ones there's plenty doing it.

End of GW2? Not immediately, but they now own the NCSoft coveted spot for lowest performer. That never ever has worked well at NC for the bottom player. Probably not the end of the game at all, but could be the end of ANet as it's formed now if they don't get their act together. Reacting with ambivalence and 'business as usual' is probably the most self-destructive course the industry could take right now.

I'm not predicting demise. I am saying they should be worried like that and taking action accordingly.

Battle Royale mode for GW2?

I joke but I'd actually play it lol. I'd like to see someone have a good crack at an RPG Battle Royale instead of just first or third person shooters.