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[TVexperto]

I think this deserves its own thread after https://www.neogaf.com/threads/star...ich-has-not-released-one-single-game.1667665/

A couple of weeks ago we caught word of Star Citizen’s game director leaving his position after nine years at CIG, with most assuming that he primarily left his job because he wasn’t willing to relocate to Manchester, UK. It looks as if his story is not unique, as followers of the alpha sandbox have uncovered additional layoffs at the company that were categorized as a restructuring and are presumed to be a result of CIG wanting employees to relocate.

In addition to game director Todd Papy, CIG also lost lead producer Jake Ross, assistant design director Dan Trufin (whose game profile was changed from “developer” to “backer”), Austin lead designer Dane Kubicka, Austin QA lead Vincent Sinatra, Austin senior QA analyst Andrew Rexroth, and Turbulent producer Annie Bouffard.

Information on most of these layoff reports are obviously piecemeal, but Kubicka references the layoff from his post is “due to restructuring,” while Bouffard references leaving a “highly toxic company” after the end of January saw “a mass dismissal, disguised as a ‘relocation of staff’ (when very few could/wanted to move to other countries/continents with little or no notice) occurred.”

Star Citizen followers uncover additional layoffs at CIG that reference relocation and restructuring | Massively Overpowered

it looks like a shrinking of developers who aren’t accepting marching orders to move to Manchester – presumably so CIG can pay lower taxes and lower dev wages – is happening instead.

Annie Bouffard (Turbulent\CIG producer) translated from the link in the article (linkedin) :

I have just resigned from a highly toxic company, without having signed a contract elsewhere. It's very anxiety-inducing, of course, but in the end it costs me much less in mental health costs than staying.

I was gaslighted when I expressed concern about potential layoffs, telling me I didn't know what I was talking about, just before the party. At the end of January, a mass layoff, disguised as a "relocation of staff" (when very few were able/willing to move to other countries/continents with little or no notice) occurred.

My boss hasn't spoken to me since November. At my annual evaluation, it was admitted that I was doing my job very well and that I met all the objectives, but we spent an hour on my character and my "negativity". I was mocked in a condescending way when I said that what mattered to me was the well-being of my teams.

Honestly, don't let anyone treat you like that. I know it's a labor of love, but you, me, everyone, deserves respect. Don't persist in trying to change managers who are incapable of giving you the basis of human decency.

 

[crackajack]

with me not being present on anything, and only reading this short info on one side this sounds like either completely valid points and actual victim of evil corps being evil, or a snowflake not understanding professional, detached behavior, who kinda wants to be victim so sees evil everywhere, ie negativity that was seemingly discussed... "condescending" was possibly a misunderstood joke or telling what should matter more for a business than some utopian everyones great and should feel awesome all the time fantasy or whatever...

 

[TVexperto]

with me not being present on anything, and only reading this short info on one side this sounds like either completely valid points and actual victim of evil corps being evil, or a snowflake not understanding professional, detached behavior, who kinda wants to be victim so sees evil everywhere, ie negativity that was seemingly discussed... "condescending" was possibly a misunderstood joke or telling what should matter more for a business than some utopian everyones great and should feel awesome all the time fantasy or whatever...

considering CIGs track record of gaslighting even paying customers I think its the first one

 

[Cyberpunkd]

considering CIGs track record of gaslighting even paying customers I think its the first one

 

[OmegaSupreme]

I'm shocked.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

do we know the gender of this individual?

 

[Gaiff]

A company that managed to raise $600M from promises isn't ethical?

 

[Zheph]

Urg I got friends working there, he never mentioned the toxicity (maybe he is part of it...) need to reach out

 

[night13x]

Does that mean we are getting another $100k ship skin anytime soon? I can take out my entire IRA to pay for it.

 

[Zheph]

My friends says she was a small contractor in Canada but things are good in HQ

 

[TVexperto]

My friends says she was a small contractor in Canada but things are good in HQ

is she working for turbulent? they got bought by CIG.

 

[AJUMP23]

Hello CIG my old friend, have you come here to disappoint me again.

 

[CamHostage]

A friend of mine gave me smart advice: if your company announces it is moving to a new building, go home that night and polish up your resume.

The bosses say that it's all a positive change, with room now to grow and do new things, but there always seems to be headcount reductions (even in good times) when shops move.

 

[ChuckeRearmed]

Not enough funding. People should help them more

 

[ClanOfNone]

This is Diminishing Returns: The Game. Even if Squadron 42 releases this year to great acclaim, was it really worth a 12+ year dev cycle and a 500+ million budget?
The Wing Commander series was so amazing when I was a kid. It had actual branching campaign missions, if you lost a mission you weren’t forced to replay it, it simply sent the narrative down a different path. Losing too many meant losing the war.
Wing Commander 2 with the voice pack installed was transcendent. Especially on my blazin fast 486/33mhz beast pc with a shiny new SoundBlaster.
If Squadron 42 can recapture that magic then I’ll gladly play it, but this entire dev cycle has been reeking for years now.