Topic: Most of Volition is laid off by THQ (Freespace, Descent, and Saints Row makers)

[MysterD]

Most of those working for Volition Inc. have been laid off by THQ.

Layoffs Hit THQ's Volition
By Brian Crecente, 3:54 PM on Tue Mar 3 2009, 7,575 views

Nearly all of Volition's quality assurance department were laid off today in Champaign, Illinois, THQ confirmed to Kotaku.

"Today we notified 86 of the 102 employees in the Volition quality assurance department that they will be let go," a THQ spokesman told Kotaku. "Our quality assurance will now be primarily conducted through THQ's centralized QA facilities, with a small staff remaining on-site in Champaign.

Volition developed games Descent, Freespace, Summoner, Saints Row 2, The Punisher and are working on upcoming shooter Red Faction: Guerrilla as well as Saints Row 3.

"It's important to note that this is not a new reduction, but part of the scheduled lay-offs announced during our last earnings call," the spokesman added.

THQ announced in February that they lost $191.8 million over the holidays and expected to layoff about 600 employees, or 24 percent of its total workforce.

Update: THQ contacted us to clarify who specifically the layoffs impacted:

"The layoffs include 47 temporary employees who will not be having their service extended. Unfortunately, fluctuating headcount among the temporary staff is common based on when our games ship. In addition, 39 full-time staff will be laid off.

"All laid off employees (both full-time and temporary) will be given at least sixty days' notice. We will do what we can to assist them in finding work in the community or elsewhere in THQ."

[Quemaqua]

Bummer.  But really, Volition hasn't done anything worthwhile in a long time.  They used to be cool, but honestly, who the fuck cares about Saints Row?

[PyroMenace]

Not only that but were they even the same people that made the Freespace games back in the day? Its the same name sure, but have they always had the same people?

[MysterD]

Bummer.  But really, Volition hasn't done anything worthwhile in a long time.  They used to be cool, but honestly, who the fuck cares about Saints Row?

Sure, it's a GTA clone -- and a good one, actually. Though, they ain't as good as the GTA's, of course. They so have their own cool spins on things and whatnot, but it's not GTA.

I just am tired of seeing all these game companies go and fold belly-up in this crummy economy. It just doesn't seem to be stopping, if companies folding and buy-outs happening left and right. And as we see this ever-growing tend of more and more studios go under in the gaming industry, it's just a shame to see folks lose their jobs.

[Xessive]

I just am tired of seeing all these game companies go and fold belly-up in this crummy economy. It just doesn't seem to be stopping, if companies folding and buy-outs happening left and right. And as we see this ever-growing tend of more and more studios go under in the gaming industry, it's just a shame to see folks lose their jobs.

It's a cycle. The same thing was happening through the 80's and into the early 90's. I think in the aftermath of this economic mess we'll see a comeback and a whole bunch of new studios.

[Quemaqua]

But who cares about a good GTA clone?  I'm sick of GTA itself, so why the hell would I need to play something that isn't even quite as good?