id Software Suffers Layoffs

[Andy Chalk]

id Software Suffers Layoffs

An unknown number of id Software employees have been laid off.

It's safe to say that Rage [http://www.amazon.com/Rage-Xbox-360/dp/B00354NAYG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326236326&sr=8-1] wasn't id Software's finest moment. It's apparently not a bad game but neither is it particularly good [I haven't played it myself, so I'm in no position to render judgment], and even though Bethesda insists that it's all perfectly normal, that might just have something to do with the fact that the studio suffered an unknown number of layoffs today.

Word of the layoffs first came via the Twitter account of 3D artist Joystiq [https://twitter.com/#!/adambromell/status/156799198770114560].

"As part of its standard business practice, id regularly evaluates staffing to ensure it has a workforce that meets the needs of the studio," it said in a statement. "As part of that process, some id employees were recently let go."

Rather oddly, perhaps, the id Software website [http://www.idsoftware.com] is still sporting a "we're hiring" banner and Bethesda said that it is "still recruiting and hiring qualified developers" for the studio. The company also stated that development on new id games, which I take to mean Doom 4, "continues unabated."

Whatever the reason, it's always unfortunate to see game devs put out of work, and while this is clearly my own deeply biased opinion, it's also a little sad to see id, which 20 years ago gave the world Doom with less than a dozen guys, fall victim to the vagaries of the modern game industry. Best of luck to everyone affected by the cuts.


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[SovietSecrets]

Its a shame RAGE was only a test to show off the engine before Doom 4. I would have rather just gotten Doom 4.

 

[Chemical Alia]

This is upsetting. I worked there just a little over a year ago, I'm glad I got out when I did. I'd probably be gone. We recently reabsorbed some guys from id who used to work here, and there's been a bit of interviewing. I just feel bad because there's not too many developers in the area and some people need to stay local.

Still, I'm sad to say I'm not too surprised. Especially not since getting bought out by Zenimax.

 

[Waaghpowa]

I wonder if that driver debacle had some involvement in this. I recall Bethesda/Zenimax saying that they lost confidence in Ids' ability to oversee their own projects. I could be wrong.

 

[Baresark]

I'm not all the surprised. At this point, id is just a name with very little recent good work behind it. RAGE was ok, but ultimately not worth the asking price. I bought it on the big Steam sale and I played it for a couple of hours. It was not a bad game, but in the face of everything that was better that came out, it's hard to say it was a worthwhile game. It's a damn shame, looking back at my gaming past and id makes me yearn for the days when it was not all massive corporate entities that control everything. But, there is always indie development.

 

[Avae]

I'm not all the surprised. At this point, id is just a name with very little recent good work behind it. RAGE was ok, but ultimately not worth the asking price. I bought it on the big Steam sale and I played it for a couple of hours. It was not a bad game, but in the face of everything that was better that came out, it's hard to say it was a worthwhile game. It's a damn shame, looking back at my gaming past and id makes me yearn for the days when it was not all massive corporate entities that control everything. But, there is always indie development.

Yeah, I think it was all over after Quake.

You should read The Masters of Doom, iD was always reliant on John Carmack and when the original team left it was pretty much game over.

 

[RA92]

Whatever the reason, it's always unfortunate to see game devs put out of work, and while this is clearly my own deeply biased opinion, it's also a little sad to see id, which 20 years ago gave the world Doom with less than a dozen guys, fall victim to the vagaries of the modern game industry.

Well, that was rather well put.

 

[I-Protest-I]

Rage had such potential, it's just a shame it was so short. Give me Borderlands graphics and length to Rage's though.

 

[Baron_BJ]

I say good fucking riddance, to this day my copy of RAGE on the PC still DOESN'T CUNTING WORK! THE GRAPHICS ARE STILL COMPLETELY FUUUUUUCKED. If a game company is too PATHETIC to pump out a working game then they don't deserve to have a god damned job.

"But Baron you incredibly sexy man-beast, people are out of a job, how can you be so cold?"

Those assclowns took my money and ran and apparently even if you got a copy that worked it was LAME.

 

[Tiamat666]

Especially not since getting bought out by Zenimax.

As far as I'm aware Zenimax didn't "buy out" Id. Id decided to sell itself.

With the talent working at Id, you'd think they should be able to accomodate people into open positions at Bethesda or some other Zenimax subsidiary.

I don't know what's wrong with people. Everyone is so crazy about the next Modern Warfare iteration but interesting, innovative shooters like Doom 3 and RAGE that attempt to do something different get all the flak. Seriously, people suck.

I suspect that Id is having financial troubles because they spent way too much time developing the new IdTech 5 engine. It's sad to see that their technical finesse and innovation didn't pay off (yet). With any luck, they'll make some good money on licenses.

Personally I loved playing RAGE and I can't wait to replay it in hard mode, once I have a few days to spare.

Rage had such potential, it's just a shame it was so short.

I'm not sure if I agree that the game is too short. I spent 26 hours in RAGE, which is pretty good for a shooter, but I really explored every nook and cranny and finished all of the races and minigames. I do agree that the ending comes a little aprupt. It feels as if someone said "let's ship this game already!" so we ended up with that one final Authority level. There definitively could have been more Authority fighting at the end.

 

[Jimbo1212]

Well there is no surprise.
Seeing that their last title is already at bargain prices 3 months after release, I couldn't imagine they would be doing well. This is what happens when you produce average games that don't even work.

 

[Chemical Alia]

Especially not since getting bought out by Zenimax.

As far as I'm aware Zenimax didn't "buy out" Id. Id decided to sell itself.

With the talent working at Id, you'd think they should be able to accomodate people into open positions at Bethesda or some other Zenimax subsidiary.

I don't know what's wrong with people. Everyone is so crazy about the next Modern Warfare iteration but interesting, innovative shooters like Doom 3 and RAGE that attempt to do something different get all the flak. Seriously, people suck.

I suspect that Id is having financial troubles because they spent way too much time developing the new IdTech 5 engine. It's sad to see that their technical finesse and innovation didn't pay off (yet). With any luck, they'll make some good money on licenses.

Personally I loved playing RAGE and I can't wait to replay it in hard mode, once I have a few days to spare.

Zenimax more or less absorbed id's massive multi-million dollar debt that had accrued over the years. It's what allowed them to continue on and presumably grow the studio during the production of Rage. In a two-year time, I think they added something like 70 people. Nobody ever wants to lose their status as an independent game developer, it's always a last resort.

I say good fucking riddance, to this day my copy of RAGE on the PC still DOESN'T CUNTING WORK! THE GRAPHICS ARE STILL COMPLETELY FUUUUUUCKED. If a game company is too PATHETIC to pump out a working game then they don't deserve to have a god damned job.

"But Baron you incredibly sexy man-beast, people are out of a job, how can you be so cold?"

Those assclowns took my money and ran and apparently even if you got a copy that worked it was LAME.

Lol, do you actually think that those who lose their jobs when this happens are ever the ones responsible for the game's problems?