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Layoffs at SCEA

from kotaku
---
Roughly 80 to 100 employees of Sony Computer Entertainment of America's Foster City headquarters were laid off today, Kotaku has learned from a source who was among those asked to hand in their badge and keys before leaving the premises.

"In an effort to accurately align the company to meet the changing needs of our consumers and of our industry, Sony Computer Entertainment America has found it necessary to analyze our current business and to restructure the company as necessary to continue our standing as the market leader," SCEA spokesman Dave Karraker told Kotaku this evening, when contacted for comment. " These restructuring efforts are currently underway and do include the streamlining of our operations and other initiatives to further strengthen the business, reduce costs and increase operational efficiency. "

Karraker declined to comment on the number of employees effected.

The lay-off meetings, which came as a surprise to even middle management, started in the morning and ran throughout the day, the source said. Departments were separated into two groups, with those being laid off meeting first and those remaining behind meeting next in half-hour sessions. Those who were laid off were asked to leave their belongings at the office and either have their manager pack up their desk for them or schedule an appointment some evening to fetch their possessions. Those laid off were give a fair severance package, the source added.

The lay-offs, which were proceeded by a months long hiring freeze, were prompted by SCEI's call for cut backs which in turn was spurred by the company's multi-billion dollar lossesand the sky-rocketing cost of PS3 game development, upper management told those who remained at the office.

The day of across-the-board lay-offs come just month after SCEE was hit by mammoth lay-offs which hit hundreds.

-Brian Crecente
---


Would these people still have their jobs if the Wii didn't exist??? N'Gai?
 

Ryu1999

Member
monchi-kun said:
from kotaku
---
Roughly 80 to 100 employees of Sony Computer Entertainment of America's Foster City headquarters were laid off today, Kotaku has learned from a source who was among those asked to hand in their badge and keys before leaving the premises.

"In an effort to accurately align the company to meet the changing needs of our consumers and of our industry, Sony Computer Entertainment America has found it necessary to analyze our current business and to restructure the company as necessary to continue our standing as the market leader," SCEA spokesman Dave Karraker told Kotaku this evening, when contacted for comment. " These restructuring efforts are currently underway and do include the streamlining of our operations and other initiatives to further strengthen the business, reduce costs and increase operational efficiency. "

Karraker declined to comment on the number of employees effected.

The lay-off meetings, which came as a surprise to even middle management, started in the morning and ran throughout the day, the source said. Departments were separated into two groups, with those being laid off meeting first and those remaining behind meeting next in half-hour sessions. Those who were laid off were asked to leave their belongings at the office and either have their manager pack up their desk for them or schedule an appointment some evening to fetch their possessions. Those laid off were give a fair severance package, the source added.

The lay-offs, which were proceeded by a months long hiring freeze, were prompted by SCEI's call for cut backs which in turn was spurred by the company's multi-billion dollar lossesand the sky-rocketing cost of PS3 game development, upper management told those who remained at the office.

The day of across-the-board lay-offs come just month after SCEE was hit by mammoth lay-offs which hit hundreds.

-Brian Crecente
---


Would these people still have their jobs if the Wii didn't exist??? N'Gai?

Condolences to any of our [ex]-Sony employee friends here on GAF
 

goomba

Banned
monchi-kun said:
from kotaku
---
Roughly 80 to 100 employees of Sony Computer Entertainment of America's Foster City headquarters were laid off today, Kotaku has learned from a source who was among those asked to hand in their badge and keys before leaving the premises.

"In an effort to accurately align the company to meet the changing needs of our consumers and of our industry, Sony Computer Entertainment America has found it necessary to analyze our current business and to restructure the company as necessary to continue our standing as the market leader," SCEA spokesman Dave Karraker told Kotaku this evening, when contacted for comment. " These restructuring efforts are currently underway and do include the streamlining of our operations and other initiatives to further strengthen the business, reduce costs and increase operational efficiency. "

Karraker declined to comment on the number of employees effected.

The lay-off meetings, which came as a surprise to even middle management, started in the morning and ran throughout the day, the source said. Departments were separated into two groups, with those being laid off meeting first and those remaining behind meeting next in half-hour sessions. Those who were laid off were asked to leave their belongings at the office and either have their manager pack up their desk for them or schedule an appointment some evening to fetch their possessions. Those laid off were give a fair severance package, the source added.

The lay-offs, which were proceeded by a months long hiring freeze, were prompted by SCEI's call for cut backs which in turn was spurred by the company's multi-billion dollar lossesand the sky-rocketing cost of PS3 game development, upper management told those who remained at the office.

The day of across-the-board lay-offs come just month after SCEE was hit by mammoth lay-offs which hit hundreds.

-Brian Crecente
---


Would these people still have their jobs if the Wii didn't exist??? N'Gai?

Too late
 
goomba said:

Why does everyone have to turn everything into ****ing console war bullshit? People lost their jobs, that's some serious stuff that'll impact a lot of families. Leave the "PS3 sux lolz" shit elsewhere.
 
80 to 100 people?

Jeez, I wish all of them best of luck for future endeavors. I feel for them. God, I can barely imagine what deep trouble I'll be in right now if I suddenly lost my job tomorrow. :(
 

davepoobond

you can't put a price on sparks
monchi-kun said:
lets get a better idea of the employee spread at SCEA

Marketing?
Development?


well, Foster City is their ex-sports (it used to be 989 studios) division as far as i remember. and they just do Quality Assurance and that sort of thing over at Foster City as far as i know....

maybe the top executives work out of there too?
 

YYZ

Junior Member
goomba said:
th_inout.gif
 

loosus

Banned
They didn't spell "effected" incorrectly so much as they misused the word.

80 employees x $100,000 yearly wages x 5 years = 67,000 unsold PS3 units now accounted for
 

kamikaze

Member
hopefully the newly unemployed will find jobs at other game companies. if they know anything technical about the ps3, they shouldn't have a hard time though; experienced ps3 tech people are a rare commodity. :)
 
kamikaze said:
hopefully the newly unemployed will find jobs at other game companies. though if they know anything technical about the ps3, they shouldn't have a hard time; experience ps3 tech people are a rare commodity. :)

Well, looks like SCEA is still hiring but it looks like they're focusing on the dev studios in Santa Monica and San Diego now
 

superbank

The definition of front-butt.
Damn that sucks. I hope the former employees planned in advance for future jobs after the SCEE layoffs.
 
Why do the small guys always get the axe when something unexpected happen? The decision makers should be the ones replaced without those hundred million dollar ballooning bonuses.
 

tak

Member
monchi-kun said:
EA, Namco, Capcom, Ubisoft, Eidos....lost of places for people to go.
Yeah, true, but it does not mean they are going to get a job right away. Getting laid off is not a planned thing, and it often means months of unemployment. Its hard finding good jobs in some lines of work.

To make matters worse, finding a new job often requires relocation, which is a hard thing for families to go through. It often means leaving long time friends, and the stresses of finding a new place to live, schools, doctors, etc....

These people came into work like normal and left with their entire life changed.

Things might turn out to be better for them in the long run, but right now they are all probably going through a hard time.
 
titiklabingapat said:
Why do the small guys always get the axe when something unexpected happen? The decision makers should be the ones replaced without those hundred million dollar ballooning bonuses.

it's just the way it is...people always pay for their superor's mistakes and miscalculations

tak, Foster City isn't too far from the publishers I mentioned. And there are other developers scattered through the bay area so hopefully no serious relocation.

the headhunters must be happy though, the bay Area development scene is very competitive and people are always on the look out for talent
 

YYZ

Junior Member
monchi-kun said:
Well, looks like SCEA is still hiring but it looks like they're focusing on the dev studios in Santa Monica and San Diego now
Extra manpower for God of War III? San Diego does the Sony NBA and MLB games.
 

Y2Kev

TLG Fan Caretaker Est. 2009
Odysseus said:
oh sure, some kids turn it into a console war but you call me out for poking fun at wollan.

there is no justice in this world. :/

now now, I can't be expected to read the thread.
 

Tobor

Member
titiklabingapat said:
Why do the small guys always get the axe when something unexpected happen? The decision makers should be the ones replaced without those hundred million dollar ballooning bonuses.

In Sony's defence, they showed Ken the door as well.
 

YYZ

Junior Member
Well it's not like Kutaragi did squat over the last 10-15 years. The PlayStation was the shining light for Sony in its slower years.
 

Hcoregamer00

The 'H' stands for hentai.
That means that there is more competition for the game market, as in job competition.

Good luck for you guys who just got out of college.

I wish the SCEA guys well, hopefully they are in another job soon.
 
titiklabingapat said:
Why do the small guys always get the axe when something unexpected happen? The decision makers should be the ones replaced without those hundred million dollar ballooning bonuses.
I doubt that it was because of something unexpected. Things like this have to be planned years ahead, in company as big as SONY.

Good luck to those guys, hopefuly they will be able to find better employees.
 

PistolGrip

sex vacation in Guam
monchi-kun said:
with a severance package much more generous than these blokes will ever get

If you leave you don't get one of those... As far as what is announced He left to pursue other opportunities so who knows really if he got a package at all.


Anyway With Stringer on board, I'm puzzled why you people think it's a surprise Sony is cutting the fat out. PS3 selling below expectations or not. Not to mention they are still hiring which is a sign that they are just getting rid of positions no longer needed.
 

Sharp

Member
Ynos Yrros said:
I doubt that it was because of something unexpected. Things like this have to be planned years ahead, in company as big as SONY.

Good luck to those guys, hopefuly they will be able to find better employees.
It was according to the article. Poor guys.
 

PistolGrip

sex vacation in Guam
Assistant Producer - NBA RR10910 CA, San Diego Full-Time 02/09/2007
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Director of Promotions ST10988 CA, Foster City Full-Time 03/27/2007
District Merchandising Manager SS10979 TX, Dallas Full-Time 05/15/2007
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Programmer - Ruby on Rails ST11029 CA, San Diego Full-Time 06/05/2007
Project Manager SF11026 CA, Santa Monica Full-Time 05/03/2007
Retail Merchandising Manager SS10926 CA, Foster City Full-Time 04/13/2007
Security Systems Specialist RR10913 CA, San Diego Full-Time 04/24/2007
Software Engineer - Collada/PS3 ST11036 CA, Foster City Full-Time 05/29/2007
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