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I have tinfoil hats for all! NCSoft next

Submitted by Abalieno on June 23, 2006 - 14:26.

Lum worries about his friends at Mythic, now lets not start worrying about Lum, please...

While I was writing the Prey review I noticed this comment:

Offtopic, but there are rumors about trouble in NCSoft Austin -- layoffs.

I checked the link provided but saw nothing relevant.

Then I start my usual blog tour and I see this on F13:

NC Soft (US) just had a big layoff today:

80% of GM's
90% of tech support
75% of QA

Numerous other staff, from producers to marketing/pr.

They are blaming the declining subscriber numbers for City of Heroes/COV which has slowly dropped to just over 100k total. Also to blame has been the disaster that is Auto Assault, which has yet to climb over 10k total subscribers since its launch in the third week in April.

Tabula Rasa continues to suck massive amounts of cash, yet still has no release date in sight.

Not good.

I'm sure we'll hear more about this later. It's starting to sound less of a rumor.

EDIT: Comment from Alan Dunking on Q23, and official announce here below in the comments:

We can't really comment on anything regarding this, honestly. I think I can safely say Lum & I are still employed.

I do want to give general advice for any kind of weird anonymous posting on the net:

* Don't believe everything you read.

and

* It's never as bad as it sounds (or looks).

--- Alan

EDIT2: For a mean chuckle notice Walt's comment on the Q23 thread:

EA Mythic's hiring.

From incestuous families only deformed childs.

What about new people?

Btw, I doubt that people in Austin (the Hollywood of mmorpgs) are going to move to Fairfax Virginia to join Mythic.

HIRE ME! I'll cross the seas like Christopher Columbus and discover the new world!

(J. also commented)

Filed in: The Cesspit | Tinfoil hats | Migratory Fluxes

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Re: I have tinfoil hats for all! NCSoft next

Kia (not verified) on June 23, 2006 - 17:51.

This just posted on the City of Heroes board by Cuppajo.

http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=info&Number=5847488&bodyprev=#Post5847488

NCsoft’s Austin business has announced an immediate restructuring within its organization that included the difficult task of reducing members of its workforce. The online games industry is one that is continually changing with the scaling up and down of business based on product launches and product development schedules.

Over the past two and a half years NCsoft has launched six major titles into the North American market and has grown with each title launch. As the company continues to grow its live products and prepares its next set of major online game releases for later in 2006 and 2007, the company sees a slowdown in its launch pattern and the need to streamline its business.

For this reason, NCsoft has reduced its 300 person workforce in Austin by approximately 70 people to accommodate this change. This decision has no impact on the schedules of any projects currently in development and service to NCsoft’s current games will continue without interruption.

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Re: I have tinfoil hats for all! NCSoft next

Stranger (not verified) on June 23, 2006 - 22:07.

So they hire some people and then lay some people off... Yes, they appear to be well managed, not.

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Re: I have tinfoil hats for all! NCSoft next

Observer (not verified) on June 25, 2006 - 09:54.

So they hire some people and then lay some people off... Yes, they appear to be well managed, not.

And you've clearly never worked in a business environment.

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Re: I have tinfoil hats for all! NCSoft next

Wolfkc on June 28, 2006 - 14:30.

Treating people like commodities may have short term benefit but many companies are learning that it isn't good for long term quality, production or profit.

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Re: I have tinfoil hats for all! NCSoft next

Brent Michael Krupp (not verified) on June 24, 2006 - 07:41.

I bet I know why CoH/V is losing people -- folks can't even log in! I've been trying to check it out again (I played it when it came out) but the game absolutely refuses to connect to their servers. I found a thread on their forums with dozens of people complaining of the exact same problem and not a word from anyone official (and the thread was weeks old).

With great customer support like that, how could they be losing people? =/

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Re: I have tinfoil hats for all! NCSoft next

Stranger (not verified) on July 2, 2006 - 09:56.

also keep in mind that most of the layoffs hit the departments that interface with the customers.

People that handle billing and tech support as well as the GM's. Take a look at the new customer service hours and the response times for anything you may sbmit that needs addressed by support.

NC always had at least good support IMHO, but i guess thats really not all that important in the long run.

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