Roessing dot CA

Electronic Arts brings out the chopping block (again)

News is out that Electronic Arts is shutting down Pandemic Studios, half of a $775 million purchase that also included BioWare, putting up to 200 people out of a job.

Not to detract from what the people out of a job are going through now, but is it any wonder what happened to Mythic and WAR, knowing how EA treats its studios and developers?  Origin Systems, creators of the incredible Wing Commander series, was acquired by EA and then shut down in 2004.  Chris Roberts was the man that first got me heavily interested in computer gaming (and lit the spark that got me into programming)… EA’s “touch of death” killed them off not long after Wing Commander 4 (the only one in the series produced under their influence).  Westwood Studios, creators of the venerable Command & Conquer series, was gutted in 2003.  At least EA allowed any willing employees to assimilate under EA Los Angeles.  Now, another studio is going under and I can’t help but think Mythic is next on the chopping block.  They’re losing 40% of their staff, up to 80% of which is content developers.

I knew it was a bad sign when Mythic announced the EA buyout, as did many others.  I knew it was a bad sign when shortly after, Sanya Thomas left the studio.  More recently, Mark Jacobs left EA after the BioWare acquisition.  I can’t help but feel that Mythic, as well as Warhammer and DAoC, would have been much better off if they simply stayed independent and true to their vision.  It may have meant a later release of WAR, but given how things have turned out under the (mis)management of EA, it certainly could have meant a much better game as well.

Here’s hoping BioWare doesn’t come under the death-ray gaze of EA’s (mis)management in the future.  Dragon Age may have been a huge hit, but it seems that as soon as a studio has a mediocre release the chopping block comes out.

~MikeR.

Just… wow…

Sometimes I have a lot of faith in humanity, and what we are capable of accomplishing when “reaching for the stars” so to speak.

Then there are times when I shake my head sadly and wonder how society has gotten so far with so many stupid people around.  Apparently there are actually people out there who believe that the movie 2012 is real and are concerned for their future.  An astrobiologist at NASA has even gone so far as to post a FAQ on his NASA blog answering questions and assuaging fears from the unwashed masses.  What has me most concerned is that people are questioning whether they should off themselves and others prior to the year 2012 so that they won’t suffer.

My god, the stupidity here is almost corporeal.

~MikeR.

Christmas Dinner Test Run

This year we’re hosting Christmas dinner, what with having moved into a brand new house and having bought a nice big dining table and chairs.  I think Lisa is a little nervous.

This weekend we invited my friend Chris over for Sunday dinner so that she could have a practice run.  Saturday we bought a chicken and let it thaw.  Sunday after Lisa got back from an art expo she went straight to work.  Sweet Nikkole helped a lot, actually getting her hands nice and dirty stuffing the bird.  She was so proud that she actually worked up the nerve to do it!  All afternoon the house smelled incredible.  Potatoes boiled, vegetables steamed, and the chicken baked perfectly in a convection oven.  I even made the gravy (albeit a bit too thick, I think molasses would have thinned it out).

All in all, it went very well and I think she is (we are?) prepared for what’s to come.

Having mentioned the art expo, Lisa bought a nice piece of art for our front foyer.  We have a little “cubby” by the front door across from the dining room/den and we hung it in there. It looks fabulous.  She also got the business card of a fellow that does granite work.  I’m looking to get something special made in the future that involves three small squares of granite with rough edges, and Dwarf runes carved onto a polished surface.  I think it would look really good if done properly and actually be something significant to both myself (being such a Dwarf fan) and the family.

~MikeR.