Archive for January, 2009

Comment: Are Jagex’s days numbered?

January 30, 2009

I’ll readily confess that I am leaping to conclusions here, but I wonder if Jagex‘s days as the poster-child of browser-based MMOs are numbered. I have no special insight into the situation, but here is my analysis. CEO Geoff Iddison resigned last month. Geoff was formerly head of Paypal Europe and was brought in to [...]

Go to the post
Posted in: Featured, Opinion

Tagged with: insight venture partners, jagex, management, runescape, starred

1 Comment
THQ Wireless restructures with 100 job losses

January 30, 2009

Mobile Entertainment reports that THQ is restructuring its mobile division to focus on high-end games for iPhone, N-Gage, PSP and DS. 75% of jobs are affected, equating to approximately 100 people. Added to the Job Loss Tracker.

Go to the post
Posted in: Game Over Zone

Tagged with: job loss tracker, redundancies, thq, thq wireless

No Comments
50 US dev jobs to go at Disney

January 30, 2009

Disney has announced 50 layoffs in its US development team, according to Develop. Vancouver studio Propaganda is to lay off 30 staff Two Utah-based studios, Avalanche and Fall Line, are to consolidate with the loss of 20 jobs. Job Loss Tracker.

Go to the post
Posted in: Game Over Zone

Tagged with: avalanche, disney, fall line, job loss tracker, propaganda, redundancies

No Comments
Kuju latest developer to see redundancies

January 30, 2009

Develop reports that Kuju is cutting back staff as part of a ‘more cautious approach to the start of 2009′. 10 jobs are identified as at-risk at Brighton Studio Zoe Mode with other jobs lost at Kuju America, Sheffield-based Chemistry, and Kuju’s corporate headquarters in Shalford. We estimate total losses at 15, and these have [...]

Go to the post
Posted in: Game Over Zone

Tagged with: catalis, job loss tracker, kuju, redundancies

No Comments
Zavvi closes 15 more stores, loses 295 more jobs

January 29, 2009

MCV reports that Zavvi has closed 15 more stores with the loss of 295 jobs. 889 jobs have now been lost since the firm went into administration.

Go to the post
Posted in: Game Over Zone

Tagged with: insolvency, redundancies, retailing, zavvi

No Comments
Nexon closes Vancouver studio with loss of 90 jobs

January 28, 2009

MMO publisher Nexon has shut its Vancouver Studio with immediate effect. The studio, also known as Humanature and headed by Relic co-founder Alex Garden, employed 90 staff, all of whom have been made redundant. Korean publisher Nexon has stated that it remains “remains committed to publishing high quality, free-to-play online games for the North American [...]

Go to the post
Posted in: Game Over Zone

Tagged with: closures, humannature, job loss tracker, Nexon, redundancies

No Comments
Rumour: AOL considering giant reversal by selling Bebo

January 28, 2009

AOL bought Bebo for $850 million in 2008. Now less than a year later, TechCrunch reports a rumour that AOL has put Bebo up for sale. TechCrunch gives huge credit for the massive acquisition price to Bebo’s ability to pull huge advertising budgets out of undiscriminating TV ad buyers (pointing out that TV budgets are [...]

Go to the post
Posted in: Finance

Tagged with: aol, bebo, disposals, rumour, social networks

No Comments