We like what you do but we don't like you

[OssK]

Nuf said, Pandemic studio (the guys making "Sabotour") are closing and being all fired.

http://www.edge-online.com/news/pandemic-studios-closure-confirmed

[syntheticgerbil]

Man is that a shame. I really hope all these firings and closings don't become regular throughout the rest of the industry.

[Fuzzy Lobster]

Agh, that's rough.

"I want to make it clear that the Pandemic brand and franchises will live on,"

..... just not anyone who had anything to do with their creation.

I hope those guys can find a place elsewhere.

[Psych]

This makes all too much sense. Pandemic's focus has always been on generating new IP, an expensive and risky strategy that EA has been shying away from recently. Now EA can dump the risk and keep the successful franchises that Pandemic developed.

Looking at it now it seems surprising Pandemic made it this far.

[JonCole]

For a second, I thought you were talking about Infinity Ward.

[Murdoc]

  Psych said:

Now EA can dump the risk and keep the successful franchises that Pandemic developed.

What would those be again?

It sucks people losing their jobs, but I'm really the other way around with Pandemic, I like who they are(what they represent and goals) I just don't like what they do 99% of the time.

[elmuerte]

What was it what they said again when EA "bought" bioware/pandemic?

[Sombre]

Things my girlfriend says when we're "Passionate"

[Marek]

Always sad to hear news like this. I think it's a talented studio, though the closure is also understandable given EA's situation.

EA bought Bioware/Pandemic for Bioware. Pandemic meanwhile has a history of games with fair or mixed critical reception, and I'm guessing sales are good but not great (or they would have kept them around).

EA is evidently trying to cut or reduce the studios that are weakest in their eyes (Pandemic, Mythic, EA LA, etc.) regardless of whether they work on new IP or existing IP.

[gojeffygo]

any rumblings about double fine? They seem to have a history of being punted by publishers. I just don't want schafer to have to get yet another mortgage.

[Patters]

  gojeffygo said:

any rumblings about double fine? They seem to have a history of being punted by publishers. I just don't want schafer to have to get yet another mortgage.

Double fine aren't owned by EA though?

[gojeffygo]

But when anything big happens, like mass firings or a solar eclipse, I assume that double fine will be looking for a new publisher.

[Lu]

I'm pretty sure that the EA Partners program licensing deal is on a per game basis.