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[Bryank75]

They poached three more people from Sony Santa Monica this weeks, all level designers from God of War. This is after already poaching Westergaard, a lead designer and others from Naughty Dog.

This is more underhanded behavior from the Xbox team, which in my opinion always choose the shortcuts over actually nurturing talent and building something themselves.

Previously Darryl Gallagher said he would recruit from universities and other disciplines in the area but I think their true motives have become clear.

Microsoft studio The Initiative continues to bolster ranks, adds former God of War developers

All Star Team While new Xbox studio The Initiative is yet to develop its first video game, it has succeeded...

www.destructoid.com

 

[Horsemama1956]

This is common in the business world.

 

[The Bloody-Nine]

The Xbox fanboys will be livid at this news. THEY MAKE WALKING SIMULATORS!

 

[Pejo]

Part of the free market economy. I just hope for all these moves that MS have been making we finally start seeing some good fucking games.

 

[FeldMonster]

Employees are not allowed to seek out alternative employers?

Anti-poaching behavior among companies has been roundly criticized within Silicon Valley for causing downward pressure on wages and limiting personal growth.

And you support that?

 

[Bryank75]

This is common in the business world.

Doesn’t mean it should be tolerated or not frowned upon in our (gamers) industry.

 

[Otterz4Life]

The Xbox fanboys will be livid at this news. THEY MAKE WALKING SIMULATORS!

Maybe they want to make games again?

/s

Doesn’t mean it should be tolerated or not frowned upon in our (gamers) industry.

Devs should be shamed for finding new, presumably better paying jobs?

Let the console war rage on!

 

[Cynn]

It's underhanded to hire the best people for a job? C'mon now. This is work and life for people, not a banner war between consoles.

 

[sonomamashine]

Good, hopefully we'll see some (good) games on xbox.

 

[The Bloody-Nine]

Maybe they want to make games again?

They've been making some of the best rated and received games in the history of gaming. Probably why they were head hunted.

 

[Bryank75]

It's underhanded to hire the best people for a job? C'mon now. This is work and life for people, not a banner war between consoles.

Wouldn’t mind if it was 2 or 3 from Sony studios in total.... but it seems that they are trying to poach everyone from Sony. It’s a scummy move.

 

[LuvOfThaGame]

MS has no games! Why don't they make more games and 1st party studios?

Why is MS buying these studios? Probably will just shut them down in a year. Greedy MS buying studios just to have more games. Why don't they build their own studio from the ground up!

Why is MS poaching talent to build their own studios? Fucking greedy bastards are like vultures and taking developers from Sony!

...next year...

Why does MS have games? Don't they know it's about powerful hardware!

Scarlett and PS5 release.

Why is MS making powerful hardware? It's about the fucking games!

See #1. Repeat.

 

[SonGoku]

Please poach duckman!

 

[Cynn]

Wouldn’t mind if it was 2 or 3 from Sony studios in total.... but it seems that they are trying to poach everyone from Sony. It’s a scummy move.

I feel like I'm not getting that these posts are sarcasm and am falling for it.

 

[The Bloody-Nine]

Wouldn’t mind if it was 2 or 3 from Sony studios in total.... but it seems that they are trying to poach everyone from Sony. It’s a scummy move.

It's just business.

 

[Bryank75]

MS has no games! Why don't they make more games and 1st party studios?

Why is MS buying these studios? Probably will just shut them down in a year. Greedy MS buying studios just to have more games. Why don't they build their own studio from the ground up!

Why is MS poaching talent to build their own studios? Fucking greedy bastards are like vultures and taking developers from Sony!

...next year...

Why does MS have games? Don't they know it's about powerful hardware!

Scarlett and PS5 release.

Why is MS making powerful hardware? It's about the fucking games!

See #1. Repeat.

I don’t think anyone had any problem with them buying the studios they did. Nor recruiting talent, as long as they recruited from diverse sources.... not just trying to erode Sony ones..... where people were actually built up and mentored to get to a standard.
Xbox have the powerful hardware.... What difference has it made?

 

[1.21Gigawatts]

When you view it through the lens of a fanboy, this must be an outrage.

When you view it for what it is - IT companies seeking out talent - it is business as usual.

 

[Dthomp]

The Xbox fanboys will be livid at this news. THEY MAKE WALKING SIMULATORS!

Can't wait to see the mental gymnastics xbox fans will pull when they actually like these games and are the ones saying "It's not a walking simulator, you just don't understand artistic games".

 

[LuvOfThaGame]

Please poach duckman!

Hey. "Two things you'll hear alot on PS4. 1080p @ 60fps."

We, the xbox delegates, deny your trade request. However, we would be willing to trade Major Nelson for a PS gift card and a plush Sackboy.

 

[Otterz4Life]

I don’t think anyone had any problem with them buying the studios they did. Nor recruiting talent, as long as they recruited from diverse sources.... not just trying to erode Sony ones..... where people were actually built up and mentored to get to a standard.
Xbox have the powerful hardware.... What difference has it made?

I doubt MS forced anyone to come work for them. If they did of their own free will, what’s the issue?

Sony does underhanded stuff, too.

 

[Bryank75]

When you view it through the lens of a fanboy, this must be an outrage.

When you view it for what it is - IT companies seeking out talent - it is business as usual.

They have no shame and Darryl Gallagher is a hack who made his name on established franchises and remakes. He’s an unimaginative bloodsucker.

Tomb raider: uncharted edition.

 

[Slings and Arrows]

These people worked hard and should be rewarded for their achievements. Are you saying that all of their efforts shouldn't be rewarded?

Are you a commie?

 

[LuvOfThaGame]

They have no shame and Darryl Gallagher is a hack who made his name on established franchises and remakes. He’s an unimaginative bloodsucker

See. MS is trying to help Sony dump the dead weight with the Sony/Azure contract It's all good.

 

[iconmaster]

There've been a lot of stories about crunch in the games industry.

Surely allowing developers to seek out more preferable job situations is part of the solution.

Sony is free to offer more.

 

[Bryank75]

These people worked hard and should be rewarded for their achievements. Are you saying that all of their efforts shouldn't be rewarded?

Are you a commie?

They could have asked for a raise.... lots of other options.

 

[NahaNago]

My inner fanboy is like "this is messed up" but this is just business and this stuff happens all the time.

 

[Bryank75]

My inner fanboy is like "this is messed up" but this is just business and this stuff happens all the time.

Yeah, I’m in that zone.... I can understand the human and business perspective but I’m fucking furious despite everything.

 

[LuvOfThaGame]

They could have asked for a raise.... lots of other options.

Traitors. All of them. Must be shamed before their peers, ran through, set fire and burned at sea.

 

[Otterz4Life]

They could have asked for a raise.... lots of other options.

What if they were denied?

 

[Bryank75]

Traitors. All of them. Must be shamed before their peers, ran through, set fire and burned at sea.

...... that’s too much, just run them out of town! Maybe a branding as a permanent warning.

 

[LuvOfThaGame]

...... that’s too much, just run them out of town! Maybe a branding as a permanent warning.

Yes! Brand them with M$ like the Scarlett Letter! Sinners!

 

[SonGoku]

My inner fanboy is like "this is messed up" but this is just business and this stuff happens all the time.

Yeah, I’m in that zone.... I can understand the human and business perspective but I’m fucking furious despite everything.

You shouldn't, competition is good. If they jumped ship it means that their contract was up or that Sony wasn't paying them enough
AAA Game development its not a one man job, losing lead talent can be a blessing in disguise as it gives the new talent a chance to spread wings.

Top talent devs seek new challenges they dont want to be stuck with a single IP, its only natural they rotate.

 

[NahaNago]

Yeah, I’m in that zone.... I can understand the human and business perspective but I’m fucking furious despite everything.

Being furious is a bit much, I think one eye twitching is suitable though.

 

[Gavin Stevens]

This is like football, I mean, why the fuck do players go to different teams? I mean, what the hell?!

Oh wait...

 

[Bryank75]

You shouldn't, competition is good. If they jumped ship it means that their contract was up or that Sony wasn't paying them enough
AAA Game development its not a one man job, losing lead talent can be a blessing in disguise as it gives the new talent a chance to spread wings.

Top talent devs seek new challenges they dont want to be stuck with a single IP, its only natural they rotate.

I need a green tea or something.... these first world problems are too much!

 

[Otterz4Life]

“Muahahahahaha!”

-Phil Spencer, probably.

 

[Deputy Moonman]

Good, hopefully we'll see some (good) games on xbox.

Part of the free market economy. I just hope for all these moves that MS have been making we finally start seeing some good fucking games.

All you have to do is open your eyes. There are plenty.

 

[Psykodad]

Good, hopefully we'll see some (good) games on xbox.

Doubt it. MS is where talent goes to die.

 

[Bryank75]

“Muahahahahaha!”

-Phil Sencer, probably.

I can imagine him in his big corporation building..... being all corporationey!

So, we are all agreed that these developers are traitors of the highest order!?

 

[NahaNago]

You shouldn't, competition is good. If they jumped ship it means that their contract was up or that Sony wasn't paying them enough
AAA Game development its not a one man job, losing lead talent can be a blessing in disguise as it gives the new talent a chance to spread wings.

Top talent devs seek new challenges they dont want to be stuck with a single IP, its only natural they rotate.

I'm not that stressed about it since I'm more in to Japanese third party games anyways. I just like the sports team drama. This still isn't a big enough move in my opinion by Microsoft and Sony has been needing to step up the first party non souls Japanese gaming side of things. Now if Microsoft bought like Square or Capcom I'm not gonna lie , I'd lose it and then kick myself and proceed to make fun of myself for losing it over video games.

 

[BlackBuzzard]

Have fun making GaaS trash and gamepass filler.

 

[Son_of_Zardoz]

This is the dumbest fucking thread I have seen in quite some time unless (and I believe this is definitely a possibility) you believe poaching means MS actively kidnapped these people and in that case this may be the best thread I've seen in a while.

 

[Otterz4Life]

This is the dumbest fucking thread I have seen in quite some time unless (and I believe this is definitely a possibility) you believe poaching means MS actively kidnapped these people and in that case this may be the best thread I've seen in a while.

Now THAT would be underhanded

 

[squarealex]

Xbox fanboy hate Sony games, but Microsoft make Sony game...

Delicious

 

[DForce]

The Xbox fanboys will be livid at this news. THEY MAKE WALKING SIMULATORS!

This is what I find funny.


They have no problem calling the games overhyped, overrated, walking simulators etc. but they're excited to see news like this? lol

Literally makes no sense.

 

[Bryank75]

 

[StreetsofBeige]

Looks like the Sony devs had enough getting crunch timed doing walking simulators.

 

[Bryank75]

This is the dumbest fucking thread I have seen in quite some time unless (and I believe this is definitely a possibility) you believe poaching means MS actively kidnapped these people and in that case this may be the best thread I've seen in a while.

They did, here is a re-enactment....

 

[Otterz4Life]

If I can get a new, modern Crimson Skies, idgaf what underhanded shit MS had to do to make it.

 

[Potato Chip PRO]

Money talks bullshit walks I guess. I don't know why you're upset about this tbh, It's that persons decision to work WHERE ever the hell they want to. You almost make it seem that MS had all those people at gun point and forced them to work for that studio.