Turbine hit with another round of layoffs.

Sorry for those who liked the work there and now have to find a new job.

Everything else is pure speculation. Who knows if Turbine is in the process of trying to survive or in the process of optimizing profit?
I have heard and seen enough to know that both could be true and that we will only know more at a later time - or if Turbine chooses to play with an open deck.

http://www.lazygamer.net/general-new...faces-layoffs/

The GoogleDoc 'contact sheet' mentioned by someone else is linked there if anyone wants to take a look. Seeing as a few names that have confirmed on their own twitter they have been let go, seems this could be legit.

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Originally Posted by Firemane0

Word of mouth can be a great and terrible thing perhaps your personal experience differs from mine and that is ok but I have personally talked with young MMo players about Lotro and other games and can you guess some of the negative things I have heard and where the information, false, has come from? This community and of course the forum that shall not be named who from what I understand are having a big party right now. While I am not saying that Turbine is faultless given the current playerbase they have little choice in what they can implement at any given time but what is said or infered on these forums carries alot of weight in the gaming community as it would for any game elsewhere.

When you have a segment of the population take their ball and go home, financially speaking, but stick around to take the time to troll, publically humiliate, bully and run roughshod on thsoe who remain it paints a poor picture for those walking by. I love this game and am afraid that the Road to Mordor will be much shorter then intended not only due to a declining population but also due to a toxic player base.

Players here thought that by tightening their purse-strings they could effect change, they were wrong, this is what it has wrought and it will get worse because they simply to longer have the budget for big projects like multiple instances and raids every few months the more players that fall by the wayside the greater the impact their loss will have on the quality of the game. Accusing the community leaders of pedophilia to try and get them fired because they banned a favorite poster due to MULTIPLE infractions does not help this.


I feel sorry for the workers that have been let go but I also feel sorry for the ones left behind that still have to deal with this #### with even less resources.

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A third-party forum with only a handful of posters could completely bring World of Warcraft to it's knees because...


BTW, no one is "having a big party" about this news over on the other forum, despite your personal delusions. People on those forums love this game, and want to discuss it even though some of them have been banned from here.

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Originally Posted by Firemane0

Players here thought that by tightening their purse-strings they could effect change, they were wrong, this is what it has wrought and it will get worse because they simply to longer have the budget for big projects like multiple instances and raids every few months the more players that fall by the wayside the greater the impact their loss will have on the quality of the game. Accusing the community leaders of pedophilia to try and get them fired because they banned a favorite poster due to MULTIPLE infractions does not help this.

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Seriously?

Players express their opinions with their wallets as is their right and you are blaming them for Turbine making people redundant? and you honestly think that that accusation has any bearing on up to 100 getting the axe?

Just lol...there is nothing more than can be said.

A heartfelt thank you to all the people that were let go. Those I "knew" by their Dev name, and those I didn't know but were an equal part of my Lotro experience. I thank you for all your ideas, creativity and efforts to implement them. I wish you a wonderful new adventure and hope you will soon find a new place to reignite your professional passion. (Last thing I heard, Sauron is still hiring).

To +Amlug: you have been awesome. I bow to you and your team and the way you implemented Lalia's market. /salute

I wish all you guys all that is good in this game world. There's a lot more XP to be had out there!

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Originally Posted by Firemane0

When you have a segment of the population take their ball and go home, financially speaking, but stick around to take the time to troll, publically humiliate, bully and run roughshod on thsoe who remain it paints a poor picture for those walking by. I love this game and am afraid that the Road to Mordor will be much shorter then intended not only due to a declining population but also due to a toxic player base.

Players here thought that by tightening their purse-strings they could effect change, they were wrong, this is what it has wrought and it will get worse because they simply to longer have the budget for big projects like multiple instances and raids every few months the more players that fall by the wayside the greater the impact their loss will have on the quality of the game. Accusing the community leaders of pedophilia to try and get them fired because they banned a favorite poster due to MULTIPLE infractions does not help this.

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People leave because a game no longer is entertaining to them. Trying to find a way to blame players 'on another forum' or that have left for what has happened at Turbine is misguided fingerpointing at its worst. Take their ball and go home, indeed.

My thoughts and gratitude are with those that have lost their jobs. You are all very talented people and I am sure new doors will open now that this one is closing . Many of the people that are going have worked with dedication , tiredly for many years. They have all my respect because I know for a fact they love the game and Tolkien's work as much as we do. It is a very very sad day in Middle-earth . Together with them we travelled for many years , many dreams were lived, many friendship formed, and one of the most amazing gaming community was born.

I am very sad , I don't know what the future holds for us in game, but I am more sad to see people like Amlug going. No matter how much criticism you have for the game and its 'direction' , just remember behind it there are real people with real lives and feelings. Just log on your favourite character and spend a day just exploring the beauty of what they have created...the places, the little hidden surprises, the enchantment of the Shire , Rivendell, Lothlorien , and more.....it was created and cared for by those people we are not losing.

They will be missed and never forgotten by many of us, all my gratitude and respect to them, and best wishes for a brighter future....

Still round the corner there may wait
A new road or a secret gate,
And though I oft have passed them by,
A day will come at last when I
Shall take the hidden paths that run
West of the Moon, East of the Sun.

i would like to suggest the devs of the shops, stores and vendors of middle earth to start selling black arm bands (dont know the right word in english, but those binds that shows that you are in mourning)
that way we can show our sympathy for those who are now lost to us on the production side of this game we love and enjoy...
and to those who dont love and enjoy this game... if you dont have the smallest feeling for this game, why are you still around?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Firemane0

When you have a segment of the population take their ball and go home, financially speaking, but stick around to take the time to troll, publically humiliate, bully and run roughshod on thsoe who remain it paints a poor picture for those walking by. I love this game and am afraid that the Road to Mordor will be much shorter then intended not only due to a declining population but also due to a toxic player base.

Players here thought that by tightening their purse-strings they could effect change, they were wrong, this is what it has wrought and it will get worse because they simply to longer have the budget for big projects like multiple instances and raids every few months the more players that fall by the wayside the greater the impact their loss will have on the quality of the game.
.

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I don't understand how you can be blaming some of the player base for being toxic and refusing to pay for things they don't want or in this case.. nothing. So the people who are dissatisfied should just pay up and shut up and pretend everything is fine? I think you've blurred the lines a bit. A majority of people are here BECAUSE they love the game and don't want to see it ruined or let go into infinite maintenance mode. This is why some are so passionate..

Perhaps your cable company should stop showing you the channels you really liked and wanted.. instead of being vocal and telling them how you feel about those channels and since they took them away there is nothing for you to watch that interests you.... you would still subscribe and 'take it'? Just shut up and pay it and don't you dare have an opinion on what you would like to have and HOW DARE YOU think you should decide how to part with your own money!
Yes...bad choices were made for the game, but not by the player base in regards to the game. The player base is simply responding.
Blaming the player base for people losing their jobs is a smoke screen.

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Originally Posted by Firemane0

Word of mouth can be a great and terrible thing perhaps your personal experience differs from mine and that is ok but I have personally talked with young MMo players about Lotro and other games and can you guess some of the negative things I have heard and where the information, false, has come from? This community and of course the forum that shall not be named who from what I understand are having a big party right now. While I am not saying that Turbine is faultless given the current playerbase they have little choice in what they can implement at any given time but what is said or infered on these forums carries alot of weight in the gaming community as it would for any game elsewhere.

When you have a segment of the population take their ball and go home, financially speaking, but stick around to take the time to troll, publically humiliate, bully and run roughshod on thsoe who remain it paints a poor picture for those walking by. I love this game and am afraid that the Road to Mordor will be much shorter then intended not only due to a declining population but also due to a toxic player base.

Players here thought that by tightening their purse-strings they could effect change, they were wrong, this is what it has wrought and it will get worse because they simply to longer have the budget for big projects like multiple instances and raids every few months the more players that fall by the wayside the greater the impact their loss will have on the quality of the game. Accusing the community leaders of pedophilia to try and get them fired because they banned a favorite poster due to MULTIPLE infractions does not help this.


I feel sorry for the workers that have been let go but I also feel sorry for the ones left behind that still have to deal with this #### with even less resources.

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Yeah I blame all this on the other site. And on the raiders. And pvpers. You know, the single digit percentage of the population... /sarcasm off

On topic: wishing nothing but the best to you guys, I can only imagine how hard it is to let go all these years of hard work.

Yes, the direction of the game is what it is, but I'm pretty sure it isn't because of you.

Cheers and good luck.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Firemane0

Players here thought that by tightening their purse-strings they could effect change, they were wrong, this is what it has wrought and it will get worse because they simply to longer have the budget for big projects like multiple instances and raids every few months the more players that fall by the wayside the greater the impact their loss will have on the quality of the game.

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Turbine is a business, players are the customers. Customers have a right to pay or not based on the value they feel they are receiving. The consequences to a non-monopoly business of not providing what the customers want is pretty universal. Applies to MMOs or the restaurant down the street. If you no longer like the food at that restaurant, do you still need to eat there to keep it going in the hopes it will get better? That said, anyone who then revels in the restaurant closing and its people losing their employment is lacking compassion/empathy/maturity, as are the (thankfully) few in this thread who appear gleeful about those at Turbine who are now out looking for a new job on a dreary snowy day here.

I agree with the other part of what you say, people who have left the game for good and stay around carping rarely provide much of use to anyone. Apparently it somehow makes them feel good about themselves though? If I leave the game totally (hard to imagine, as lifetime sub means I always could come back) I'd not linger on bitterly posting - I'd just move on to another entertainment product.

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Originally Posted by Crell_1

For those of us who still support the games LOTRO, DDO, AC, and Infinite Crisis, now's the time to put our money where our mouth is if we want to see long-term development continue.

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Lol. Turbine isnt a charity, and customers don't work like that. The vendor needs to provide something the customer actually wants, and then the customers hands over the coin. Turbine has been given a free ride in that their customers have told them what they want, and turbine ignored. Meaning customer stops giving coin.

No, it wasn't the dev's fault, although they are the ones that have to pay unfortunately.

I love MOBAs but I won't be touching IC because a) it looks rubbish, and b) it took massive development resources away from lotro.

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Originally Posted by XJnine

Sapience (Community Manager), Thursday 02/13/14 04:50:39 UTC
Confirmation
100 full time employees were laid off. I was one of them. They wouldn't even let me take my ban hammer with me when I left.


from the layoff website. Anyone know if it is true?

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Guys, obviously this is a fake account trying to create drama. There are those who, sadly, take pleasure in these things and enjoy misleading those of you with heartfelt concern and compassion for those have been impacted. I can’t comment on yesterday’s events beyond saying that there are many false reports and you should take them as an indicator of the content of the poster’s character and nothing more.

I will say that some of those affected have read this thread and are very thankful for the warmth you have shown. It has meant a lot to them. Beyond that I won’t comment because neither I nor anyone else has the right to invade their privacy at this time. If they feel the need to share their thoughts, I’m sure they’ll do so in a time, manner and place they feel appropriate. I hope you all understand and respect that.

For those who don't feel they can restrain themselves, I ask only that you refrain from hitting the 'reply' button long enough to consider what words you would choose if it was your spouse, child, or friend in the same situation.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sapience

Guys, obviously this is a fake account trying to create drama. There are those who, sadly, take pleasure in these things and enjoy misleading those of you with heartfelt concern and compassion for those have been impacted. I can’t comment on yesterday’s events beyond saying that there are many false reports and you should take them as an indicator of the content of the poster’s character and nothing more.

I will say that some of those affected have read this thread and are very thankful for the warmth you have shown. It has meant a lot to them. Beyond that I won’t comment because neither I nor anyone else has the right to invade their privacy at this time. If they feel the need to share their thoughts, I’m sure they’ll do so in a time, manner and place they feel appropriate. I hope you all understand and respect that.

For those who don't feel they can restrain themselves, I ask only that you refrain from hitting the 'reply' button long enough to consider what words you would choose if it was your spouse, child, or friend in the same situation.

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hey +sap.
thanx for sharing just a little light on the matter, its always best to get the words from the persons involved...
still its sad to hear that turbine is throwing gold out the door, but i hope that the people involved now can take som time and sit and enjoy the world they have created, in there own time, and have a bit of the blast i have on a daily base when i turn on my pc.. its rare that i turn it on without going lotro, and im online every single day, after work hours..

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Firemane0

Word of mouth can be a great and terrible thing perhaps your personal experience differs from mine and that is ok but I have personally talked with young MMo players about Lotro and other games and can you guess some of the negative things I have heard and where the information, false, has come from? This community and of course the forum that shall not be named who from what I understand are having a big party right now. While I am not saying that Turbine is faultless given the current playerbase they have little choice in what they can implement at any given time but what is said or infered on these forums carries alot of weight in the gaming community as it would for any game elsewhere.

When you have a segment of the population take their ball and go home, financially speaking, but stick around to take the time to troll, publically humiliate, bully and run roughshod on thsoe who remain it paints a poor picture for those walking by. I love this game and am afraid that the Road to Mordor will be much shorter then intended not only due to a declining population but also due to a toxic player base.

Players here thought that by tightening their purse-strings they could effect change, they were wrong, this is what it has wrought and it will get worse because they simply to longer have the budget for big projects like multiple instances and raids every few months the more players that fall by the wayside the greater the impact their loss will have on the quality of the game. Accusing the community leaders of pedophilia to try and get them fired because they banned a favorite poster due to MULTIPLE infractions does not help this.


I feel sorry for the workers that have been let go but I also feel sorry for the ones left behind that still have to deal with this #### with even less resources.

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If Turbine is in decline it is due to business decisions, product implementation, marketing and communication as relates to their products... if these had been done well there would be more than enough new blood anxious to take the place of any irrational malcontents out there. LOTRO has an IP that is beloved by many, many millions and also has the benefit of one of the most successful movie franchises in history and still fails to capitalize. No "vocal minority" caused this failure, layoff or game maintenance mode.

I still play the game and am sad to see this event, the current state of LOTRO and the direction LOTRO is heading in... I wanted to see a Sauron RAID one day and, sadly, it seems that LOTRO will not be the game that delivers that experience.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sapience

Guys, obviously this is a fake account trying to create drama. There are those who, sadly, take pleasure in these things and enjoy misleading those of you with heartfelt concern and compassion for those have been impacted. I can’t comment on yesterday’s events beyond saying that there are many false reports and you should take them as an indicator of the content of the poster’s character and nothing more.

I will say that some of those affected have read this thread and are very thankful for the warmth you have shown. It has meant a lot to them. Beyond that I won’t comment because neither I nor anyone else has the right to invade their privacy at this time. If they feel the need to share their thoughts, I’m sure they’ll do so in a time, manner and place they feel appropriate. I hope you all understand and respect that.

For those who don't feel they can restrain themselves, I ask only that you refrain from hitting the 'reply' button long enough to consider what words you would choose if it was your spouse, child, or friend in the same situation.

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Sapience , Not sure if what I was just informed to be true. with over 100 layoffs to turbine yesterday , and it was quoted as you was one of them . Not sure what is going on ,but as a new lotro player just 3 years now , and my hubby he is a lifer .. I will stand behind you and if they have gotten rid of you .. I will no longer play LOTRO , and neither will my husband , I have 12 toons 'freeps , and 6 creeps just on one server , and toons on alot of other server's . My morning coffee has not set well , and I am crushed if this is true . If you go alot of people will leave TURBINE and its games ...... I pray for those effected by this , and hope this is just a tale..cause I love LOTRO it is my only MMO i stay true too, and play everyday ,,,, Blessed Be . Witchypoo

I am vry sorry that folks lost their jobs. That is sad for them, I am sure.

IMO, the present state of the game says someone needed to be fired. LotRO went from a game that was fun and exciting to play, to a game that is largely boring to me. I log in for dances and such but that's about it. However, I have a hunch that the wrong people were let go. Again, just my opinion.

Good luck finding new jobs, folks. I wish you well.

I'm sorry to hear that.

Sapience, could you say us will ongoing projects in Lotro development be reduced or cut? Or 2014 plans were made with this layoffs in mind?

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Originally Posted by cavemanswoman

Sapience , Not sure if what I was just informed to be true. with over 100 layoffs to turbine yesterday , and it was quoted as you was one of them . Not sure what is going on ,but as a new lotro player just 3 years now , and my hubby he is a lifer .. I will stand behind you and if they have gotten rid of you .. I will no longer play LOTRO , and neither will my husband , I have 12 toons 'freeps , and 6 creeps just on one server , and toons on alot of other server's . My morning coffee has not set well , and I am crushed if this is true . If you go alot of people will leave TURBINE and its games ...... I pray for those effected by this , and hope this is just a tale..cause I love LOTRO it is my only MMO i stay true too, and play everyday ,,,, Blessed Be . Witchypoo

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I appreciate the kind words, but I wasn't impacted. I'm still here.

It's a sorry day.
My thanks and my best wishes for the future to employees laid off. May the Flame of Anor always light your path.
/hug

Gl to those effected.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sapience

Guys, obviously this is a fake account trying to create drama. There are those who, sadly, take pleasure in these things and enjoy misleading those of you with heartfelt concern and compassion for those have been impacted. I can’t comment on yesterday’s events beyond saying that there are many false reports and you should take them as an indicator of the content of the poster’s character and nothing more.

I will say that some of those affected have read this thread and are very thankful for the warmth you have shown. It has meant a lot to them. Beyond that I won’t comment because neither I nor anyone else has the right to invade their privacy at this time. If they feel the need to share their thoughts, I’m sure they’ll do so in a time, manner and place they feel appropriate. I hope you all understand and respect that.

For those who don't feel they can restrain themselves, I ask only that you refrain from hitting the 'reply' button long enough to consider what words you would choose if it was your spouse, child, or friend in the same situation.

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That was very well said.

It's starting to feel like a sad morning. Waiting to find out if the rumors circulating regarding Asheron's Call's demise are true - at this point I have no reason to think otherwise.

I'd like to thank all the LOTRO team members (employment not withstanding) for their years of dedication to the game. It's appreciated.

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Originally Posted by Treadstone87

My guess is that the 'eliminated positions' are content creation positions, and 'growth areas' basically means the cash shop and further implementation of microtransactions.

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I think the more appropriate term here is macrotransactions. : /

Quote:

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Originally Posted by matalan

http://www.lazygamer.net/general-new...faces-layoffs/

The GoogleDoc 'contact sheet' mentioned by someone else is linked there if anyone wants to take a look. Seeing as a few names that have confirmed on their own twitter they have been let go, seems this could be legit.

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Its revision history shows that the document was created yesterday. Obviously, it's fake.

I wish the best to those who have moved on from turbine. Amlug is a very old name here and will be missed. I don't know who else is gone, but good luck.

Amthridir