Business, Casual Games, Game Design
Can Indie Games Ride Out The Recession?
Alright, people… it’s time to face reality. C’mon, don’t look at me like that. We’ve all had to do it hundreds of times before (though in my case, it’s usually because the power’s out.)
This time around, however, I mean facing reality in a broader sense than simply turning off your console of choice. Despite our collective hopes and dreams, it now appears video games don’t exist in some mythical fantasy land untouched by the recession. (Granted World of Warcraft still takes plays in a mythical fantasy land, but just the regular kind.)
Electronic Arts and THQ are the latest video game publishers to punctuate holiday quarter losses with impending layoffs. EA indicated they would lay off 11% of their workforce, including employees on all levels. THQ plans to reduce their own workforce by 24%. EA suffered a loss of $641 million while THQ suffered a loss of $191.8 million.