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06-19-2009, 09:01 AM #1
America's Army Devs Laid Off Following Launch
Just one day after the launch of America's Army 3, the U.S. Army has opted to close its main Emeryville, CA-based studio in an effort to "consolidate development."
A representative for America's Army confirmed the news with Shacknews, noting that future development of the free-to-play PC military simulator will occur at the program office in Redstone Arsenal, AL. Exactly how many developers were affected is as yet unknown.
"This consolidation will allow us to gain efficiencies between our public and government applications," the representative explained. " We appreciate all the hard work that every member of the America's Army team has contributed to the project, and we look forward to delivering future America's Army game releases in the months ahead."
http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/59202|TG-12th|Undead

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06-19-2009, 09:25 AM #2
Re: America's Army Devs Laid Off Following Launch
Ummm... yeah.... That's one hell of way to show your appreciation...



TG made me do it! :row__631: The 13th made me do it better! :madsmile:
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06-19-2009, 09:29 AM #3
Re: America's Army Devs Laid Off Following Launch
Post deleted at Americas Army forums:
source: http://forum.zwame.pt/showthread.php?t=419481&page=18I worked as a Dev at AA Emeryville for the last year and a half and I hope I can appeal to your rationality and common sense. I would like you to imagine trying to build a game with an impossible deadline, steadily declining workforce (via firings), A hiring freeze, constantly being fed misinformation, having the "higher ups" completely ignore your weekly plea for either A) more time, or B) more manpower, working a ton of unpaid overtime, pouring your heart and soul into a misadventure only to have the uniformed community scoff at you for uncontrollable variables..... RIGHT when you've just lost your job.
There are problems with the release beyond the devs control. In fact, the bureaucracy is so convoluted that you can't even begin to imagine the breadth and scope of B.S. the devs had to deal with daily. in short, imagine being the subcontractor of a subcontractor of a contractor to the government. Sure Millions of dollars may have been poured into this project, but how much do you think made it to the actual DEV team, the people MAKING the game, after it was filtered by the bureaucracy?
I realize if you are a gamer, you rightly expect a game to work. period. But I would ask that you imagine for a second that you actually DON'T understand what it takes to make this particular game, and you really don't understand the many obstacles that were placed in front of the Devs... in nerdy terms: A Kobiyashi maru.
What I would like you to understand is that the Devs did everything they could, worked a TON of unpaid overtime, put their time and passion into an un-winnable situation, and were effectively stabbed in the back. Many of these guys are my close friends, they have family to take care of, and overpriced rent to deal with. They just came off busting their butts for months, to be let go, without warning. Perhaps a little empathy is in order here.
Almost every multiplayer online game has problems upon release. These problems become exaggerated when a development team is kept in constant turmoil and paranoia via misinformation and a high rate of employee turnover. When the people you trust around you are being let go, it becomes difficult to emotionally invest yourself in the titanic sinking ship. Nonetheless, I can tell you the Devs STILL pushed themselves as hard as they could.
Furthermore, the problem with the game at this point, has everything to do with the authentication servers being slammed, A.K.A not a controllable variable by the Devs. Sure there are bugs, they WERE being fixed, and now you'll be lucky to see any fixes in the near future.
For those of you who think Redstone arsenal will do a better job, well.... I won't have to tell you that you're sadly mistaken because you'll see for yourself.
I'm not sure why i've felt compelled to write this when I'm sure it will get deleted, or even scoffed at further, but I hoped to let the fans know that we tried as hard as we could and are very bummed to see the fruits of our labor shoved at gamers like a heaping pile of crap.
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06-19-2009, 09:30 AM #4
Re: America's Army Devs Laid Off Following Launch
i'm guessing this happened due to americas army being almost unplayable and a waste of money for the government.
Edit: just read the above post, and its a shame as to what happened to the team, i gues they must have really had a ton of problems to release such a badly finished games.
Either way i think that americas army dose not really reprisent the army very well at all, As you wont be fighting in a pipeline/alley/on a bridge or any other scenario the game offered i hope they re-think their whole approach.PR ingame name - |TG-Irr| SilverJohn
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06-19-2009, 09:58 AM #5
Re: America's Army Devs Laid Off Following Launch
There's technology in Alabama?
Just to let all know the above is a joke.Last edited by Spyder228; 06-19-2009 at 11:45 AM. Reason: Just to clarify



TG-18th 18th SF Operational Detachment Delta
If you're playing the game, be in the correct TeamSpeak Channel.
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06-19-2009, 11:14 AM #6
Re: America's Army Devs Laid Off Following Launch
That's a damn shame..

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06-19-2009, 11:22 AM #7
Re: America's Army Devs Laid Off Following Launch
A captain of the most awesome IHS ever and remember to burn before you pillage.
Big-eye101: "A true catman post a day keeps the bad mood away"
Please do not take any posts made by Catman seriously. If you begin to take his posts seriously, please call us you are in need of serious psychiatric attention. We are available 24/7 at 1-973-409-3277, please scream into the phone as soon as it's answered, we will identify you as a catman follower from that and direct your call to someone who can attend to you immediately.


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06-19-2009, 11:23 AM #8
Re: America's Army Devs Laid Off Following Launch



TG made me do it! :row__631: The 13th made me do it better! :madsmile:
Required Reading - Wearing The |TG| Tag - Supporting Memberships
Call of Duty - Official Rules, Announcements, & SOPs - Contact Administration
Ikariam - Contact -TG- Alpha Alliance - Recruiting
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06-19-2009, 11:40 AM #9
Re: America's Army Devs Laid Off Following Launch
A captain of the most awesome IHS ever and remember to burn before you pillage.
Big-eye101: "A true catman post a day keeps the bad mood away"
Please do not take any posts made by Catman seriously. If you begin to take his posts seriously, please call us you are in need of serious psychiatric attention. We are available 24/7 at 1-973-409-3277, please scream into the phone as soon as it's answered, we will identify you as a catman follower from that and direct your call to someone who can attend to you immediately.


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06-19-2009, 11:42 AM #10
Re: America's Army Devs Laid Off Following Launch
Ridiculous! Completely insensitive.

"If men cease to believe that they will one day become gods then they will surely become worms."
-Henry Miller
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06-19-2009, 11:57 AM #11
Re: America's Army Devs Laid Off Following Launch
It's the military. Contractors get cut all the time.
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Blah blah blah.
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06-19-2009, 11:07 PM #12
- Join Date
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Re: America's Army Devs Laid Off Following Launch
That's a crying shame.
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06-23-2009, 10:21 PM #13
- Join Date
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Re: America's Army Devs Laid Off Following Launch
Wow sounds like a real mess. Maybe CMs could use the extra help to OPF2 out.
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06-24-2009, 10:02 AM #14
Re: America's Army Devs Laid Off Following Launch
I'm a little confused on what AA3 is supposed to be. Why didn't they license the ArmA2 engine and just build a "real experience", training, military doctrine on top of that. The ArmA2 game is based on the same engine used in training for soldiers and presents a far more strategic and tactical approach than the small mapped CS style shootouts of AA3.
They could have done this will much less expense and risk.|TG-12th| SHINER









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06-24-2009, 10:36 AM #15



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