yeehaw, Modern Warfare 2, commit genocide on your PS3 for the NWO, coool

[Paul-w]

Bwahahahaha you are so full of shit with that statement. Mainly because all those genetic arguments come directly from the teachings of eugenics you fool. Let's find out who the unborn killers will be through genetics and abort them then eh? You idiot.

So your best arguement is to come in and act like a child and call me names? Ok...

So what you're suggesting is every human being is the same and that the only way we're different is by brainwashing. Ok buddy. 

[unbound]

Arguing that video games are completely innocent is a foolish arguement to make. If you're on these boards and you've read and understand the agendas and power of control then you should be able to put 2 and 2 together.

[ekimdrachir]

Shhhh, we're not supposed to have those remember.

We can have choices, its freedom we arent supposed to have.
Coke or Pepsi, mcdonalds or BK-- choice is the problem, and the solution.

[Dig]

So your best arguement is to come in and act like a child and call me names? Ok...

So what you're suggesting is every human being is the same and that the only way we're different is by brainwashing. Ok buddy. 

He exposed how the arguments follow arguments by eugenecists to justify such things as the experiment in Nazi Germany.

Using the argument that a eugenecist would exposes how insane it is. It has been proven wrong time and time again and the arguments only keep being conditioned as plausible because of mass marketing by elitist scumbags via Bilderberg drones.

[Dig]

So, just because they make violent video games they are brainwashing us? I don't think so. Thats where this thing called FREE WILL comes in. Thats like saying every B-rated horror flick is out there to brain wash us to make us become violent animals. Its not like GE is saying "put this in your game" or anything because if that was the case it would piss off the developers because there is a lot of art involved also. Thats like someone taking your painting and editing it and then saying "okay now you can show it to people."

The developers are pissed off and GE does not give a flying shit, they are getting fired left and right anyway.

WELCOME TO THE MACHINE BITCHES NOW GROVEL AND BOW TO YOUR MASTER!

The developers thought they were all cool and shit, but they are about to see true evil as the corporate heiarchy comes crushing down on all free will and creativity.

Also, im not trying to be a dick but can you post some info or proof of GEs influence on the gaming industry?

Dude, are you incapable of using Google, this is a fricking fact...look up VIVENDI and NBC UNIVERSAL

[Paul-w]

He exposed how the arguments follow arguments by eugenecists to justify such things as the experiment in Nazi Germany.

Using the argument that a eugenecist would exposes how insane it is. It has been proven wrong time and time again and the arguments only keep being conditioned as plausible because of mass marketing by elitist scumbags via Bilderberg drones.

What you're suggesting is we are all born mind-numb robots who act a certain way and are only molded by the influences in our daily lives.

Free-thinking is not possible by the standards you are saying.

Eugenecists use their arguements to try and 'create' the mind-numb robots you think are already here naturally. In a world that doesn't want homosexuals, pedohphiles and free-thinkers, you'd take those abilities out of the DNA.

People are born what they are. People have inherent traits in themselves as well as in their DNA history.

Eugenics isn't about trying to point out the fallacies of man. Eugenics is about taking the fallacies out of man by genetic engineering.

Those fallacies exist either way. Pointing them out doesn't mean governments will necesarrily kill people off before birth. Though there are plenty who would love the oppurtunity to try and do so.

[HAZMAT]

The developers are pissed off and GE does not give a flying shit, they are getting fired left and right anyway.

WELCOME TO THE MACHINE BITCHES NOW GROVEL AND BOW TO YOUR MASTER!

The developers thought they were all cool and shit, but they are about to see true evil as the corporate heiarchy comes crushing down on all free will and creativity.

Dude, are you incapable of using Google, this is a fricking fact...look up VIVENDI and NBC UNIVERSAL

Just curious. Why do I have to find evidence to prove YOUR argument. If you were going to say that you should have posted a source.

[thnkfstpal]

So your best arguement is to come in and act like a child and call me names? Ok...

So what you're suggesting is every human being is the same and that the only way we're different is by brainwashing. Ok buddy. 

no I said none of that, read my post again.

What makes us different is cultures, upbringing, values, and a number of other things. Genetics is eugenics under a different name in order to justify the elites rule over the genetically weaker populace. Wake up!!!!

[Danis]

Recently I purchased Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2, mainly to check out the controversy on the "No Russian" part of the game. The game was entertaining, but full of propaganda, and recruitment action. I had a laugh reading the Times Online article as I've never had the feeling of rage or violence from any game or movie. I knew from watching friends how mesmerised they become when looking at a screen and how it would take myself 5 minutes to get their attention, but this video clip(here), which I hope is fake, just disturbs me how it can affect, what I can only guess as, the weak minded.

[thnkfstpal]

Just curious. Why do I have to find evidence to prove YOUR argument. If you were going to say that you should have posted a source.

Hasmat check the call of duty modern warefare 2 thread it's all in there. Sane didn't post because spoon feeding the sheep gets tiring

[Rini200]

Video games serve as a distraction and a means to make a profit.  They do not cause people to murder.  If anything, they might dumb down the herd and pacify them so that the elites can brainwash them later with the television programming and movies they watch.  But as with anything, this doesn't apply to all people either as it's obvious there are gamers here and they are awake and very much in the know.

yes I totally agree with you! they are a distraction!

The "ratings" are there for a reason. Its the parents that aren't watching out what the kids are playing and stuff.  Look at GTO.

[thnkfstpal]

Eugenics is sold as taking fallacy out of man when in practice it is in fact to take out genetically inferior men up to 90% then use the others as slaves. They have no interest in removing fallacies genetically they do have a. I terest in removing you though. Why are you defending eugenics anyway?

What you're suggesting is we are all born mind-numb robots who act a certain way and are only molded by the influences in our daily lives.

Free-thinking is not possible by the standards you are saying.

Eugenecists use their arguements to try and 'create' the mind-numb robots you think are already here naturally. In a world that doesn't want homosexuals, pedohphiles and free-thinkers, you'd take those abilities out of the DNA.

People are born what they are. People have inherent traits in themselves as well as in their DNA history.

Eugenics isn't about trying to point out the fallacies of man. Eugenics is about taking the fallacies out of man by genetic engineering.

Those fallacies exist either way. Pointing them out doesn't mean governments will necesarrily kill people off before birth. Though there are plenty who would love the oppurtunity to try and do so.

[Dig]

What you're suggesting is we are all born mind-numb robots who act a certain way and are only molded by the influences in our daily lives.

Not at all, that is a very sensationalistic argument but it lacks depth, knowledge, understanding, basic skills of communication, and a propensity to shift things to an extreme. So A+ for sensationalism and an incomplete for coherent content.

Nice try though, let's move on shall we to some of your more stellar Berneys talking points...

Free-thinking is not possible by the standards you are saying.

I have no idea what that means. Seems to be more of the absurd method of arguing by making shit up about what someone else says and then blasting it, perhaps this refers to a different topic. Not sure.

Eugenecists use their arguements to try and 'create' the mind-numb robots you think are already here naturally. In a world that doesn't want homosexuals, pedohphiles and free-thinkers, you'd take those abilities out of the DNA.

Not at all, eugenecists want to use science to justify genocide, suffering, and slavery. They do not give a flying shit about what is really going on, they just want an excuse to rule the world. They used to use religion but Jefferson, Paine, Washington, Adams, and Franklin ripped that tactic from the heart of the beast. Then Darwin wrote some shit and they decided to now use SCIENCE as the new model of control.

As the dialog in THE PRISONER goes...

"It is not important for me to believe it, it is important for [the slaves] to believe it."

People are born what they are. People have inherent traits in themselves as well as in their DNA history.

People are born with the spirit of god, with free will, and with the rights of man. Dissecting these things in a way that tries to control and depopulate humans is just as f-d up as can be.  It just ain't a good thing and is a crime against humanity IMO. This has nothing to do with video games, they are just another tool for propaganda/mind control. But you keep distorting every single thing i say so i thought i would cruise down this rabbit hole for a while.

Eugenics isn't about trying to point out the fallacies of man. Eugenics is about taking the fallacies out of man by genetic engineering.

Again this is a lie. All sub-elites in the eugenecist fild are fed these lies.

Elites do not believe this shit, they just use eugenics to kill, rape, tortue, and enslave. They did the same thing with religion...

"we do not want to torture, enslave, rape, or kill you; we just want to remove the evil in you and clense you for a higher purpose."

ALL ELITE BULLSHIT!

Those fallacies exist either way. Pointing them out doesn't mean governments will necesarrily kill people off before birth. Though there are plenty who would love the oppurtunity to try and do so.

Again, just more nonsensical ramblings of a conditioned sheep IMO. We are fallible, we are imperfect. It is these imperfections that assist in us being human and the imperfections make us all separate (but equal )

[thnkfstpal]

Just curious. Why do I have to find evidence to prove YOUR argument. If you were going to say that you should have posted a source.

http://forum.prisonplanet.com/index.php?topic=143527.0

there you go pal

[Dig]

Just curious. Why do I have to find evidence to prove YOUR argument. If you were going to say that you should have posted a source.

prove my argument?

GE and Vivendi own NBC Universal.

NBC Universal owns Activision Blizzard

Activision Blizzard owns 50% of the Video Game industry.

This ain't rocket science [wtf?]

What connects Vivendi and General Electric? 

BILDERBERG! The Nazi cabal of elite psychopaths who are deperately trying to rip the heart out of all humanity.

Please watch ENDGAME to get a grip on reality. Thanks

[gEEk squad]

prove my argument?

GE and Vivendi own NBC Universal.

NBC Universal owns Activision Blizzard

Activision Blizzard owns 50% of the Video Game industry.

This ain't rocket science [wtf?]

What connects Vivendi and General Electric? 

BILDERBERG! The Nazi cabal of elite psychopaths who are deperately trying to rip the heart out of all humanity.

Please watch ENDGAME to get a grip on reality. Thanks

Your overall argument is correct but one fact is wrong.

Vivendi owns 20% of NBC Universal and GE owns 80%.

Blizzard Activision is only owned by Vivendi.

Their Bilderberg connection is undeniable. The change in Blizzard and Activision games are also undeniable.

In the current expansion of World of Warcraft there are numerous quests where you can become engaged in COINTELPRO and torture.

In one quest chain added in the new expansion you harrass dissidents, steal pamphlets, edit them, then pass them out as disinformation, then go assassinate the leader.

You can engage in torturing of children (baby gorillas) with sticks in order to piss off their mother, then kill them, you engage in electroshock torture, firebombing starving trolls and a few other I can't remember.

[Paul-w]

Again, just more nonsensical ramblings of a conditioned sheep IMO. We are fallible, we are imperfect. It is these imperfections that assist in us being human and the imperfections make us all separate (but equal )

So me saying people are born killers, born homosexuals, born pedophiles, born to be what they are and have been what they are all throughout human history makes me a conditioned sheep?

People don't change. People have never changed from what they really are. The only thing that EVER changes in the human spirit of things is 'society.' The element of control isn't human beings themselves, it's the societies we are put into. It's those societies that are controlled by the elites by outlawing practices that just come naturally. Turning people against one another by supposed 'morality.' -- To some, that 'morality' in society pushed by the elites just so happens to be waging war against other setup societies who act differently, and so on...

[RoadRunner]

You can write your own books about murder

banning video games does not stop fantasy from taking control over someones reality.

[Dig]

Your overall argument is correct but one fact is wrong.

Vivendi owns 20% of NBC Universal and GE owns 80%.

Blizzard Activision is only owned by Vivendi.

Their Bilderberg connection is undeniable. The change in Blizzard and Activision games are also undeniable.

In the current expansion of World of Warcraft there are numerous quests where you can become engaged in COINTELPRO and torture.

In one quest chain added in the new expansion you harrass dissidents, steal pamphlets, edit them, then pass them out as disinformation, then go assassinate the leader.

You can engage in torturing of children (baby gorillas) with sticks in order to piss off their mother, then kill them, you engage in electroshock torture, firebombing starving trolls and a few other I can't remember.

fricking gEEk squad always trumps sane!

DAMMIT!!!

You are correct sir, I guess it is important to note that Vivendi and GE do work together at high levels via their conspired interest in NBC Universal (which might be soon sold to Comcast).

[Dig]

You can write your own books about murder

banning video games does not stop fantasy from taking control over someones reality.

absolutely, but when all books able to be published/distributed is controlled by the CFR/Rockefeller foundation it has an impact on society.

When all of the video games being produced/distributed is controlled by a few Bilderbergers it also has an impact.

This is about free market and a controlled market.

This is about the entertainment of video games being controlled and manipulated to act as a propaganda arm for the New World Order. The evidence is overwhelming.

We should not ban video games, we should allow free market enterprise to enter again and cut the diverting of funds from taxpayers to the elites that control the content.

[Dig]

So me saying people are born killers, born homosexuals, born pedophiles, born to be what they are and have been what they are all throughout human history makes me a conditioned sheep?

People don't change. People have never changed from what they really are. The only thing that EVER changes in the human spirit of things is 'society.' The element of control isn't human beings themselves, it's the societies we are put into. It's those societies that are controlled by the elites by outlawing practices that just come naturally. Turning people against one another by supposed 'morality.' -- To some, that 'morality' in society pushed by the elites just so happens to be waging war against other setup societies who act differently, and so on...

RENEW RENEW RENEW!!!!!!!!!

Let's all go to Carousel!

[thnkfstpal]

So me saying people are born killers, born homosexuals, born pedophiles, born to be what they are and have been what they are all throughout human history makes me a conditioned sheep?

People don't change. People have never changed from what they really are. The only thing that EVER changes in the human spirit of things is 'society.' The element of control isn't human beings themselves, it's the societies we are put into. It's those societies that are controlled by the elites by outlawing practices that just come naturally. Turning people against one another by supposed 'morality.' -- To some, that 'morality' in society pushed by the elites just so happens to be waging war against other setup societies who act differently, and so on...

yes you are a conditioned sheep that will stop at nothing to defend eugenics and the elites ideology. Move along and go support genocide somewhere else

[Unintelligable Name]

I don't think they understood your post Paul-W, oh well. Isn't it odd how every single thread turns into an argument? Hrmm....

[Paul-w]

yes you are a conditioned sheep that will stop at nothing to defend eugenics and the elites ideology. Move along and go support genocide somewhere else

Are you retarded or what?

I'm not defending anything. I'm spelling out exactly what the elites do. They use our differences against us in different societies. People have done this since the dawn of time though, but usually it's a vast minority of people. The elites choose to make the bias' seem much larger than what it really is so we wage war on each other and not wage war against them.

[Paul-w]

I don't think they understood your post Paul-W, oh well. Isn't it odd how every single thread turns into an argument? Hrmm....

I'm beginning to wonder. 

[Dig]

I don't think they understood your post Paul-W, oh well. Isn't it odd how every single thread turns into an argument? Hrmm....

damn you are right, I did not understand.

Yeah well reading it again and understanding it (at least i think) makes a good point

[thnkfstpal]

I understood it. People are people and only societies change. Pedophilia and genocide are not natural human behavior. Period.

[wvoutlaw2002]

http://synworld.t0.or.at/level3/text_archive/hart_text.htm

Sam Hart
Guns, Games, and Glory:
The Birth of Home Video Games

Ralph Baer has been called "the Tom Edison of video games," and for good reason. It was under his supervision that a team of 500 engineers and technicians built the first video game console in 1966. What is not commonly known is how and why this came to be.

There was not a demand for the product. Only a handful of persons in the world had played previous computer games. Those games were usually variations of a game called "Spacewar" and could only be played on $40,000 computer terminals. Thus the question must be asked, who would have funded such a project? The answer is: The Pentagon.

Baer worked for a military electronics consulting firm innocently named Sanders Associates. In the past, Sanders Associates had been employed by the United States military to design weapon circuitry, wire missiles, and generally develop classified military equipment. In 1965 military strategists came to Sanders with a project. They desired computer simulations to help refine their soldier's military prowess by teaching strategy and magnifying reflex skills. They wanted the system to be compact enough to be portable (portable in those days meaning "luggable" or lighter than eighty or so pounds) and to use relatively inexpensive equipment, namely an ordinary television screen. The project was given high security precautions, as most projects were during the height of the Cold War, and Baer was chosen to head it.

After struggling for months on the project by himself, Baer finally succeeded in getting two white dots to chase each other around a black and white screen. This impressed the military representatives enough to warrant a dramatic increase in funding, which lead to the hiring of more assistants. Originally, Baer hired two engineers, Bill Harrison and Bill Rusch, to work full-time on the secretive "TV Game" project. Together, they worked in a ten-by-fifteen foot windowless office affectionately referred to as "the game room." The office was always locked, and the only people with keys were Baer, Harrison, and Rusch.

As time went by, more and more were employed in the project. Within a year the team had a working ball-and-paddle game. Over the next six months this would evolve into a moderately sophisticated hockey game. By the end of 1966, Baer and his team had a working prototype of a video game console ready to show members of a Pentagon review board.

The project leaders beamed with pride as they switched on the device for those present. The television hummed and slowly blocks of light came into focus. The members of the Pentagon review board were not impressed. They felt that insufficient progress had been made on the project, but acknowledged there was enough reason to continue research.

It was at this meeting that Baer first expressed his personal theory that a device such as this could be a very profitable form of entertainment. The review board, however, felt that the military could benefit from such a technology more than a consumer, and decided that the project was to continue under it's "top secret" classification. It would be four years before a non-military company would be approached with a similar system.

-------------------------------
(Sanders Associates is now part of BAE Systems through BAE's acquisition of Sanders' former owners, Lockheed Martin.)

[kushfiend]

im torn on this.

on the one hand, I've played hundreds of video games.  Going all the way back to Nintendo with duck hunt/mario, thru the years of Golden Eye on the N64.  I played all the GTA series, HALO, etc at various times at different people's houses, as well as my own.  No one I have ever known has ever acted out "violently" because of video games, no not once.

on the other hand, I do think that just the gaming lifestyle in general is unhealthy and a gateway to nothing good.  Take it from someone who used to play World of Warcraft upwards to 12 hours a day sometimes that it is unhealthy and unnaturally addicting, not to mention a huge time sink.  The endless quests and raids and battles for what? 

My point is not that video games are bad, as I still game when I can find the time and I find it to be a huge stress reliever and an interesting, always upgrading hobby.  I do agree tho that some games are ridiuclously violent, like GTA, but hey if you don't like it you don't have to buy it.  But ya, no kid should be playing GTA, games weren't violent like that when I grew up.  I would never let my small child play grand theft, that game is just too crazy for a kid imo, besides there are thousands of kid-friendly games to choose from.

Ya though I still think that the industry has changed gaming, it used to be way more social when I was growing up, throwing LAN parties and playing like 10 unreal tourny and stuff like that.  Now-a-days most games are 1 player, and you are encouraged to play online.  Very few cool games are multi player, this is to discourage you from hanging out with other people.

I don't like where video gaming is going, I feel it isolates you and modern day games require waaaaaay too much time to get any good at.

Also, my GF HATES VIDEO GAMES! lol she always yelling at me to stop playing civilizaiton 4, my current time sink.

wow i wrote alot!  im really faded lol peace my 2 cents

[Jackson Holly]

AS EASY AS 1, 2 3.

1.)  The US Military = The NWO Enforcement Arm

2.)  ENTERTAINMENT / MEDIA INDUSTRY = MILITARY BRAINWASHING / RECRUITMENT

3.)  THERE is NO Number Three.

[dkwannabe]

You guys gotta see this kid.

Just watch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQpcO8x6NNY   

[ChristSavage]

Do you know where at in the videos they mention Arcadia? Just wondering because if that's true, then it's also very odd.

Its @ the end of the 2nd part of the mission Wolverines (I watched a 2 part Youtube clip where someone played and beat that mission).  Basically, skip ahead to the final minute, where they are attempting to get to a waiting convoy once they have key Raptor stuff secure.  Then watch and listen from there...

[ES]

Are PAC MAN and Centipede involved in this conspiracy? Because I really don't want to throw away my Atari. But I will if they are somehow involved in a sinister plot to control my mind.

[ES]

Oh by the way, Ms. PACMAN is a tranny. All they did was put lipstick and a bow on regular PACMAN. Obviously they did this to prmote gender bending and other forms of debauchery.

[squarepusher]

Oh by the way, Ms. PACMAN is a tranny. All they did was put lipstick and a bow on regular PACMAN. Obviously they did this to prmote gender bending and other forms of debauchery.

No, it was just corporate America (Midway) trying to make a quick buck by taking a Japanese success story (Namco and Pac-Man) and applying some 'lipstick' (literally) to the main character. So obviously, this was just one of many instances of corporate America excelling at what it does best - ripping off genuine talent and originality from brighter minds and applying their Madison Avenue-lipstick to it.

I will not even get in to what I think about America's 'free-market' ideology - which is just total baloney and made-up crap. Even Webster Tarpley will consistently tell you that - it isn't hard to understand.

[catdog]

You guys gotta see this kid.

Just watch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQpcO8x6NNY   

Hilarious

No, it was just corporate America (Midway) trying to make a quick buck by taking a Japanese success story (Namco and Pac-Man) and applying some 'lipstick' (literally) to the main character. So obviously, this was just one of many instances of corporate America excelling at what it does best - ripping off genuine talent and originality from brighter minds and applying their Madison Avenue-lipstick to it.

I will not even get in to what I think about America's 'free-market' ideology - which is just total baloney and made-up crap. Even Webster Tarpley will consistently tell you that - it isn't hard to understand.

Super Pacman sucked compared to Ms Pacman.

[Dig]

Are PAC MAN and Centipede involved in this conspiracy? Because I really don't want to throw away my Atari. But I will if they are somehow involved in a sinister plot to control my mind.

dude, pac man had nothing on ms. pac man (BTW - watch the movie TRON, there is a scene where they are looking at an ominous wall of lights and a clever artist got a pac man into the wall, hilarious).

And nobody better mess with me when I am Milling some Pede!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ES]

Was space invaders really just conditioning us for project bluebeam? 

[Unintelligable Name]

3D centipede wasn't very good... they took the 2D centipede out of the Cattlemen's here... I could always emulate it.

[Dig]

Was space invaders really just conditioning us for project bluebeam?  

space invaders wasn't but pong was.

you do realize that the consolidation of video games by Bilderberg has led to dumping all individual creativity and assimilation to the corporate culture, message, and obedience system right?

Game Developer Layoffs: The Real Story
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/3901/game_developer_layoffs_the_real_.php
By Paul Hyman Jan 12, 2009

[With layoffs hitting the allegedly 'recession-proof' game industry, Gamasutra talks to employees from Pandemic, Eidos, and Ensemble to find out the human story behind the corporate announcements.]

For an industry that's supposedly "recession-proof," there seem to be an awful lot of video game developers feeling the same pain as others laid off in so-called "more vulnerable" industries. Perhaps even more pain, if that's possible, because the games sector is supposed to be doing just fine, thank you.  Take artist R.C. Montesquieu. For him, being handed his walking papers was like crossing the street and getting hit by a Mack truck. He just never saw it coming.  Montesquieu had worked at LA-based Pandemic Studios for almost six years and was feeling "pretty secure" in his job as a concept artist. "I really didn't worry about layoffs," he recalls. "It wasn't a company prone to that sort of thing."  Then, the day before Halloween, he and his team members at the Electronic Arts-owned studio were told that almost 25 percent of the staff of 250 would be laid off.  Indeed, while no one has compiled the figures, headlines testify to the cutbacks by some of the industry's biggest players -- THQ making significant staff cuts and closing studios, LucasArts having layoffs, troubled Midway announcing a 25 percent headcount reduction.  Even the mighty Electronic Arts has been cutting back its global workforce by about 10 percent (or approximately 1,000 employees) and consolidating or closing at least nine studios and publishing locations.  How is this possible given the fact that the NPD Group recently described the pace of the industry's sales growth as "blistering"? Year-to-date total industry figures were up a whopping 22 percent to $16.04 billion, the research firm said in November.  And a recent report by Gamasutra sister publication Game Developer Research found that the current economic downturn had yet to really affect jobs in the games industry at that time. "While the effects of the current financial crisis and credit crunch could manifest itself in the longer-term," it observes, "there are no current signs of it in the aggregate numbers of people employed in game-related sectors."

No wonder few developers expect to be handed a pink slip.  Montesquieu and the Pandemic team had wrapped up The Lord of the Rings: Conquest for a mid-January release when word came from management that it "would be consolidating some studios, cutting some projects, basically shrinking the size of the company," he recalls. "They blamed the economic climate."  Had Montesquieu any early inkling? He remembers having heard smatterings of talk from his peers about layoffs elsewhere. "Just like everyone else, I have friends throughout the industry and had heard rumors about companies where things didn't seem to be going well."  "But I'd been at Pandemic for almost six years and didn't feel vulnerable. Still, there were these hints. Everyone was excited about a corporate meeting that kept getting scheduled and then postponed, and rumors started swirling that that wasn't a good sign. I remember saying something about it and people told me I was just being paranoid. Guess I wasn't."  Montesquieu admits he probably should have started looking around. "I don't want to sound like I was unprepared, but to tell the truth, I can't say I started looking for work," he says. "I mean, I really liked the company and everyone I worked with, and I didn't want to believe that anything bad was going to happen."  But when his office phone rang and he was summoned to an unplanned meeting, he began to suspect something was up.  "There were a lot of people in the room," he recalls, "and we were all told at the same time that we were being laid off. When it was over and we returned to our desks, practically everyone was gone. We were told we could come back and collect our things that Saturday." Montesquieu is thankful he's got a severance package that will keep him going for a while. "My first reaction was that this would be a good time to kick back and relax, maybe work on a project I had never had time for," he confides. "But then your responsibilities kick in. I recently got married and didn't feel right sitting home. So I started contacting companies to see what jobs are available."  Then reality set in. "You realize that EA owns a lot of the studios and they're still laying people off," he says. "Suddenly, your options are fewer. I even tried calling some of the contacts EA handed us when we left, but when I started getting turndowns, it hit me -- this is going to be more difficult than I thought."

Meanwhile, in Dallas, David Lewis has one foot out the door, having been similarly laid off from his job as a software test engineer at Ensemble Studios. Lewis has been there for 11 years, starting four years prior to Microsoft's acquisition of the company in 2001.  But, in September, Microsoft confirmed that it would be shuttering Ensemble with its team of 90-or-so developers following the completion of Halo Wars -- which is said to be scheduled for an early March release. It was a "fiscally rooted decision that keeps Microsoft Game Studios on its growth plan," said the company.  "It was kind of a shock, a little bit numbing," confides Lewis. "I came to work, we had a company meeting where we were told what would happen, and then everyone spent the day wandering around, talking about the day's events and what they planned to do."  Lewis admits that while he felt secure in his job, he wasn't completely surprised: "In our industry, there's a relatively high chance that once your game is finished, the studio will make some cuts. But I had no reason to suspect that the whole studio would be closed."  He says that some of his team members are looking for jobs within Microsoft, others are looking outside, and a few are hoping to start their own studios. Unfortunately, he says, there's little time for job hunting given the fact that almost everyone is in crunch mode in order to meet the Halo Wars deadline.  "We're working 50-55 hours a week," he says. "At least we still have these jobs until Halo Wars ships."  In the meantime, Lewis reports that there has been a wave of headhunters calling and e-mailing the soon-to-be-unemployed developers. "They know a whole studio is about to be closed and that there are people who will need jobs," he says. "While they may not have actual openings available, at least they can set the process in motion for when jobs do become available."  Given the fact that Ensemble had been one of the relatively small number of game developers in Dallas, Lewis says he expects there will be more opportunities elsewhere, perhaps Austin, perhaps California, maybe even Australia.

"I have to look at this as an opportunity to find something better," he says. "We have quite a large number of employees here who are married with kids, so I'm sure they have a different take on things. I have none of that. So I'm trying real hard not to get depressed. Sometimes when you're given a shove into the water, you learn to swim."  Speaking of swimming, the situation doesn't seem much different on the other side of the pond. Over in the UK, Michael Souto had been at Eidos Interactive for nearly 10 years, his last post as executive producer.  "I must say that I felt pretty secure, as I had been there for so many years, survived a number of 'consolidation periods,' and had put in a lot of great work," he says. He knew that game companies were increasing their cost-cutting measures and that Eidos was no exception. But what he hadn't expected was the degree of cost-cutting.  "I had actually experienced four 'headcount-trimming cycles' during my time at Eidos," he says. "Unfortunately, the last one resulted in my demise, as well as that of about 250 others out of a workforce of about 1,000. The day Eidos announced its intention to cancel 14 games -- some of which were in my care and early in development -- then the writing was on the wall, for me.  "It's a really tough and life-changing event if you don't find a replacement job quickly," he says. "It's tough in the best of times, but to go through it now in this sensitive economic climate only makes it worse. It's shocking when it first happens, but you have to take stock and move on."  But "moving on" hasn't been easy, reports Souto, who has been on a few interviews via conventional job advertisements, none of them yet successful. He's also signed up with several recruitment agencies which has resulted in a few leads.  "I'm still looking," he says, "but it's far harder than I expected. While there seem to be quite a few jobs out there, there are also quite a few people hunting, which means that employers are now able to find the perfect candidate who ticks all the boxes."  "In the past, a candidate could fulfill 90% of the role and it would be understood that the remaining 10% could be worked on. However, that '100% candidate' is potentially out there in the large job-seeking pool. So the difference between getting that job and missing out could be a very minor feature or attribute."

Souto had interviewed for one particular spot, and was one of the last two finalists. But he says the deciding factor wasn't his skill as a game developer, but his perceived lack of interest in a particular sport. "It was enough to sway the job in the other direction," he says. In another interview, he was informed that he had worked too long at Eidos.  "It's unbelievable!" he says. "I also have friends who didn't get jobs because they were told they had moved around too much. I must say that it's rather disheartening. All I can say is that if you're reading this and looking for a job, keep the faith and I sincerely hope that you find one soon. Good luck!"  But Marc Mencher, president of Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based GameRecruiter, says luck has nothing to do with it. Job seekers just need to buckle down and apply for the myriad of job openings that exist, he says.  "These layoffs are not the result of the economic downturn that is affecting other industries," Mencher maintains. "Our industry is having record sales. What we're seeing is a combination of the not-so-unusual year-end layoffs that we see every year at this time when games have been shipped... plus a few companies that are having troubles, like EA, which has been struggling for some two and a half years."  "Those companies are going through some much-needed restructuring, just like the banking industry, which had to restructure after the problems they encountered."  On the opposite coast, T.J. Summers, a senior partner and co-owner of LA-based recruiter Digital Artist Management, suggests that the industry -- especially the console sector -- is going through a "reset" regarding how it is using its developer resources.  "Distributed development and outsourcing are becoming more of a predominant part of the industry," he explains. "Publishers are taking a hard look at their portfolios, determining what they can do in-house, giving their core games to their best people, and handing off some of the others to outside resources. As a result, a lot of people are being let go."

"In the case of some publicly traded companies -- like EA, THQ, and Midway -- it's part and parcel of their need to prove to their stockholders that they're being fiscally responsible. And given today's economic times, they are making significant cuts quicker than they ordinarily would."  Summers' best recommendation to developers who see obvious layoffs coming at their companies is to start collecting their work, updating their resume, and reconnecting with old colleagues, because networking is of primary importance.  Summers reports that, yes, companies are hiring... but not necessarily the ones that are on the top of developers' lists.  "If someone is passionate about creating games only, particularly console games, it's very hard to replace that type of satisfaction," he admits. "But there's a lot of good stuff going on elsewhere now in web, in mobile, in the simulation industry, in the Web 2.0 area. And these companies, many of which are hiring, have quite a few ways with which they can use game developers' skills."  Summers' bottom line is that while everyone should, without question, have a reason for concern, there are a lot of opportunities if you're flexible, if you're willing to adapt your gaming skills to some of the new growth sectors, and, particularly, if you're willing to relocate.  "Relocating cannot be overlooked," he says. "Some of the geographic regions that have traditionally been big gaming areas -- like Austin, Dallas, and Chicago -- are having their business slowly trickle away. People who reside there and want to stay there ought to either think about other options outside of games... or consider moving elsewhere."

Video game maker Electronic Arts announces layoffs
http://www.kansascity.com/business/story/1559242.html
Posted on Mon, Nov. 09, 2009 10:32 PM

NEW YORK | Electronic Arts plans to cut its work force by 17 percent as it tries to align its business with a transforming video game industry. The company announced the layoffs of 1,500 people just hours after it said it is paying at least $275 million to buy Playfish Inc., a maker of social online games popular on Facebook, MySpace and the iPhone. “We are focusing on what works and what matters,” Chief Financial Officer Eric Brown said. Digital content makes up about 12 percent of EA’s revenue. But it’s growing, while industry sales from packaged video games are on the decline. On Monday, EA posted a net loss of $391 million, or $1.21 a share, in the fiscal second quarter, wider than the loss of $310 million a year earlier. The company behind games such as “Madden NFL 10” and “The Beatles: Rock Band” reported net sales of $788 million in the July-September period, down 12 percent from the same time a year earlier. These results only paint a partial picture of how EA performed during the quarter. When counting deferred revenue from packaged games with online components and games that are completely digital, EA reported adjusted earnings of $19 million, or 6 cents per share. Shares of EA, which is based in Redwood City, Calif., fell 28 cents to $19.25 in after-hours trading, after closing up 53 cents at $19.53 in the regular session.

Sega to Close Arcades, Cancel Games, Lay Off Hundreds
http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2009/02/sega-layoffs/
By Chris Kohler  February 10, 2009  

The house that Sonic built is getting significantly smaller. Sega’s Japanese main branch said Tuesday that it will close 110 arcades, cancel some games in development and seek to lay off 18 percent of its staff. In a series of press releases, the game publisher said that these cost-cutting moves come in anticipation of its recording an annual loss of 25 billion yen (about $238 million) during the fiscal year that will end March 31.

Arcades: Sega owns and operates 450 videogame arcades in Japan, and said it would close 110 of them that show "poor future potential and profitability." This move "may" make the company’s arcades profitable even if the that segment of the business gets tighter in the coming fiscal year, Sega said.

Software development: Sega says it will chop 20 percent off its research-and-development budget for arcade and consumer games. The company plans to do this by "consolidating titles to be developed" and "enhancing the self-manufacture ratio." Running this through my Japanese-to-English translator, these phrases mean that Sega will cancel some games in development and develop more games internally, rather than outsourcing them to outside developers. (I’ve asked Sega for clarification.) That’s a lot of games.

Layoffs: Finally, Sega said it would "solicit the voluntary retirement" of approximately 560 of its 3,127 employees. I wrote in 2007 about the culture of Japanese layoffs: It’s simply not done. Laying people off is like disowning children — it’s a long process that may take weeks of consultation with employees to convince them to resign.  While I have no insider information about the inner workings of Sega’s Japanese branch, this would seem to be precisely what’s going on. In its official statement, Sega seems to leave no doubt that the "voluntary retirement" will take place as envisioned: Furthermore, to maintain the appropriate size of its work force compatible with its current revenues, Sega has determined to solicit voluntary retirement of approximately 560 employees. Consequently, Sega will be able to reduce labor cost by approximately 5,000 million [yen] for the year ending March 31, 2010 and thereafter to ensure improvement of the earnings in its amusement facilities business and consumer business, as well as whole businesses. Sega’s U.S. branch, based in San Francisco, reportedly laid off 30 employees last month. Sega is a division of Sega Sammy Holdings, which has a variety of other amusement companies under its umbrella. Tuesday’s announcements concern Sega specifically.

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