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Get fired for playing Layoff: The Game
One of the first things we were going to do as soon as we became super-private-island rich was to create a giant chess game where the pieces were played by people. Well, we were actually planning on man-sized Bejeweled, because chess so often makes our think-meat sore. Tragically, we've been beaten to the punch by tiltfactor's new release, Layoff: The Game, which lets you save companies billions by laying off matching sets of workers. We suspect there's a deeper message to be taken away from it, but we're a little busy wondering how we're going to make man-sized Zuma. [Via Game Politics]
Vodafone to slash hundreds of jobs in Britain
Yet another company has succumbed to making tough choices in the face of a rough economy, as Vodafone is reportedly preparing to lay off "hundreds" of workers in Britain. The report stated that the cuts could come as soon as this week, and while there was no definite number given as to how many of its 10,000 employees would be asked to leave, we do know that the operator is aiming to "boost free cash flow by cutting one billion pounds of costs." Predictably, Voda declined to comment on the report, but it'll probably have to talk soon whether it wants to or not.
Sprint lays off all in-store greeters and hosts?
We're hearing rumors today that Sprint has laid off greeters and hosts from its stores -- a likely scenario considering the company's ongoing financial struggles and the fact that Verizon appears to be making similar moves. By the same token, it'd seem like these cats would want to be ramping up in preparation for the Pre, not down, so this doesn't bode too well -- making room for more straight-up sales reps, perhaps?[Thanks, anonymous tipster]
Motorola hacks a thousand from China-based R&D team
Details are starting to flow in regarding those 4,000 job cuts that Motorola announced in January, and evidently a thousand of 'em are coming from a single Chinese facility. According to the People's Daily Online, 1,000 Moto workers are being dismissed, and every last one of 'em are from the research and development team of the mobile phone department. We're told that the software platform project team suffered the most, and all told, there's just 100 staffers that remain at the plant. For whatever it's worth, Motorola has affirmed that its commitment to growth in the Chinese market remains the same -- apparently it thinks it can still succeed with far fewer heads doing the work.[Via mocoNews]
Nokia to close Jyvskyl plant, scale down Salo facility in Finland
As with most other cellphone makers (and companies in general), Nokia managed to lose a bit of cash, market share and dignity in the completely brutal past quarter. That said, it's still doing leaps and bounds better than most, but that glimmer isn't stopping it from shutting down its Jyväskylä site and scaling back at its Salo production facility (pictured). According to Nokia, this is all part of its ongoing plan to "increase cost-efficiency and adapt to the market situation," and with the closings, it'll concentrate mobile devices R&D in Finland at Tampere, Oulu, Salo (though to a lesser extent) and the Helsinki metropolitan area. It's expected that all of the 320 employees at Jyväskylä will be sent packing by the end of this year, while temporary layoffs will be issued on a "rotational basis" (sounds thrilling, no?) at Salo. More details are stored away in the read link, but we'd avoid the depression that's lurking unless your day has just been entirely too awesome.
Game industry still hiring, notable job postings listed
It's easy to get bummed out reading about industry layoffs day in and day out. Trust us, writing about them isn't any day at the beach either. Still, there is hope for industry hopefuls scouring want ads openings, and Gamasutra blog GameSetWatch has compiled a list of what it's deemed the most "notable" openings recently posted to its sister site's job board.Among them, Other Ocean Interactive, the studio responsible for the Xbox Live port of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, is seeking a new producer to join its team, while Warner Bros. is hoping to cull an engineering director from the ranks of the unemployed. Namco is looking for multiple folks willing to tinker with mobile games, and LEGO Universe dev NetDevil is interested in hiring someone to head up programming on its space combat MMO, Jumpgate Evolution. Even Midway wants in on the hiring action, though we'd advise anyone interested in signing up there also get fitted for a life vest.
THQ mobile shake up leaves 100 staffers without jobs
True to its word, THQ downsized its wireless division. According to THQ's Brian Farrell, the realignment will see the company "focus only on games for high-end handheld devices," sending around a hundred of its mobile phone staff to the unemployment line.The company stated plans to "restructure" its European wireless subsidiary earlier this week, though Moconews reports that THQ has also shuttered is San Diego mobile studio in addition to its wireless offices in both the UK and Germany. For now, the company's Universomo studio in Finland will be the hub for THQ's wireless efforts, promising that iPhone users will have all the Worms they can handle for the foreseeable future.[Via VG247]
THQ: Rumored closure false, Euro wireless subsidiary restructured
Earlier today, a rumor circulated across the interwebs, stating that THQ had closed its doors and laid off* all its employees. The origin of the story seems to be a "source" close to N-Europe. We've already heard of "significant business realignments," as well as one analyst's proclamation that the publisher's franchises were slumping, but just this week it hinted at sequels to de Blob -- so what gives? As it turns out, this is (probably) much ado about nothing. We've got an official statement from the publisher rebuking the story. Said THQ, "Today, we advised our staff of a restructuring of our wireless subsidiary in Europe. That's all that has happened." N-Europe has also updated a retraction to the story. False alarm, folks, go back to your Spongebob games.* Feel free to substitute with axed, sacked, made redundant, karate chopped, etc.
VUDU looks to integrate with TVs, DVD players
VUDU's been doing its darnedest of late to keep up with the slew of rivals looking to steal away every piece of market share they can, and a recent report over at CEPro sheds a little light onto how the company plans to both stay afloat and take off. As with most every other outfit, VUDU has also suffered through a few rounds of layoffs. Currently, the company employs about 50, which is down from a high of around 110. Co-founder Tony Miranz seems pretty optimistic about the future, though, noting that the outfit is being "bombarded with inquiries" from potential partners. Speaking of which, he also asserted that VUDU was -- at its heart -- a software company, and thus it was currently looking to integrate its top-shelf UI and movie delivery network into HDTVs, DVD / Blu-ray players and other standalone boxes. It's tough to say how such a shift would affect the firm. On one hand, you've got CinemaNow barely breathing, while Netflix has managed to execute this plan to perfection. Go on VUDU, roll the dice -- we'll be watching.[Thanks, Ben]
Recession roundup: Monday morning edition
It wasn't that long ago that Monday mornings in the office were a depressing time -- another cheerful weekend gone; another long week of work ahead. But, these days, being in the office on a Monday is a good thing, because if your login still works you've survived another scary layoff Friday. Spare a thought, then, for those whose system access has been cut off, including 1,300 from Sun (the first wave of a total of 6,000 planned job cuts), 8,000 workers at Sprint who are due to receive pink slips, 6,000 from Philips, and an unannounced number of IBM workers (rumored to be 16,000) who have also found themselves to be on the wrong side of the cost-cutting ax. In one final bit of cheery news, AMD has reported a $1.4 billion loss in the fourth quarter of 2008 and, after shedding its handheld graphics unit, is now selling its manufacturing operations to Advanced Technology Investment. Oh, sorry, you were hoping for some genuinely good news? How about this: that loss is smaller than AMD's $1.8 billion loss from the same time last year. Now have a great day!Read - Sun confirms 1,300 layoffsRead - Sprint Nextel Plans to Cut 8,000 Jobs in QuarterRead - Philips to Release 6000 Employees into WildRead - Several IBM employees report being laid off on Alliance@IBMRead - IBM Confirms LayoffsRead - AMD Reports $1.4 Billion Loss
Motorola axing 77 in Windows Mobile development facility
We'd already heard that Motorola would be focusing on Android alone for its future smartphones, and this here report certainly gives a good bit of credence to that notion. The flagging handset maker has just announced that 77 employees at its Plantation, Florida facility would be axed effective March 27th. Now, we knew thousands in its handset division were being laid off, but this sect is different than most -- with these departures, Moto will reportedly stop conducting new Windows Mobile development at the plant. We can't say we're totally against an all-Android approach, but it's a shame these 77 couldn't have been given new job descriptions with "Google" replacing "Microsoft" in the fine print.[Via wmpoweruser]
Sony to shutter Japanese TV plant as part of restructuring efforts
Hey Sony -- we know that experiencing your first annual operating loss in 14 years calls for drastic measures, but this is bordering on downright rash. Barely a month after announcing that 16,000 employees would be axed, Sony has now revealed plans to close one of its two television plants in Japan and rid itself of 2,000 domestic full-time jobs as it attempts to "revive its electronics business." Of note, it's stated that those 2,000 -- which seem to be a part of the previously mentioned 16,000 figure -- will be shed via "early retirement and other programs." Just think what a 40-inch XEL-1 would do for business. No, seriously Sony, just think.[Image courtesy of DigitalWorldTokyo]
Next on Sega's release schedule: 30 employees
For a "recession-proof" industry, there sure is heck of a lot of people losing their jobs in the games business. Sega of America has joined EA, Pandemic, Eidos, Free Radical, and others in this disturbing trend, asking thirty of its workers to clear their desks, all in the name of "[reducing] cost structure and ensure long-term success." Sad face.Also, concerned face. What a scary time it is to be employed in this any industry! Needless to say, our best wishes go to those who were laid off; we hope you find work soon, guys and gals!
Job loss roundup: like other roundups, only less fun
Remember yesterday... when everything was awesome and hopeful? Well, with this morning's coffee came the cold hard truth once more: the economy is seriously stinking up the joint, and it only seems to be getting worse. Logitech's announced their third-quarter earnings (down 70 percent) and simultaneously said it's going to shrug off 600 of its employees, while the folks over at Intel have said they're shutting down a manufacturing facility in the Philippines which houses 1,800 employees. Sony's vaguely announced a "restructuring" which is bound to result in misery and job loss, while Sega confirmed that "about 30" people have been vaporized from the pay sheet. So... everything's cool with this blogging job, right guys? Guys!?Read - Confirmed: Sega cuts staffRead - Sony announces restructuring planRead - Intel announces RP operation shutdownRead - Logitech third quarter profits fell 70 percent
AMD hacks another 1100 employees, cuts executive salaries by 20%
Barely two months ago we found that another round of layoffs would land 500 employees at AMD without a job. Now, we're hearing that the chip maker is looking to scale down its workforce by another nine percent, which means that around 1,100 positions will be vacated in Q1 2009. Also of note, the arguably overpaid Executive Chairman Hector Ruiz and his buddy Chief Executive Dirk Meyer will each see "temporary" (what, like a day?) 20 percent cuts in base salary. Oh, and in case you needed a little more doom and gloom with your wine and cheese, the outfit is also suspending its 401(k) company match. Awesome.[Image courtesy of DavidWSmith, thanks Spencer]
Motorola to lay off 4,000 starting immediately
It's official: Moto's pulling out the axe. The beleaguered manufacturer is no stranger to financial struggles at this point -- nor layoffs, for that matter -- but the latest round cuts some 6 percent of employees from Moto's global operations, and 3,000 of the 4,000 will come directly from the handset division. The news comes along with a preliminary fourth quarter earnings estimate of a 7 to 8 cent per share loss (which isn't really "earnings" when you think about it), so yeah, it's business as usual out in Schaumburg: get lean and start making awesome products. Soon, Moto. Please.[Via Boy Genius Report]
Lenovo, Dell and TDK layoff thousands, bum out thousands more
No longer content to sit on the sideline while companies like Logitech and Creative get all the press, Lenovo, Dell and TDK are all "restructuring." And you know what that means. Lenovo: cutting 11 percent of its work force. Dell: cutting 1,900 jobs, closing its plant in Limerick. TDK: cutting 8,000 jobs and closing four plants. This might be a tad depressing, but don't lose heart, people! As Sony's Gary Shapiro pointed out at the company's keynote this morning, tech companies "don't seek bailout money, we seek opportunity." After all, the company knows a thing or two about "opportunity."Read: Lenovo Expects Quarterly Loss, Plans Job CutsRead: Dell to axe 1,900 jobsRead: Japan's TDK to cut 8,000 jobs, close four plantsRead: Layoff BlogUpdate: Shapiro is the President and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association. Our bad.
Logitech axes 15% of salaried workforce as it restructures
Logitech may be bringing the heat at CES, but that doesn't mean it's not feeling the pinch. Alongside a few new pieces of kit, the outfit has also announced that it will be undergoing a serious restructuring as it moves forward. According to president and chief executive officer Gerald P. Quindlen: "During the December quarter, the retail environment deteriorated significantly, and moreover, we expect the economic environment to worsen in the coming months and we are therefore taking significant actions to align our cost structure with what is likely to be an extended downturn." Sadly, those "actions" involve sending home some 15% of its salaried workforce worldwide, and it's expecting the savings from all of this to show in Q1 of fiscal year 2010. Ouch.
Rumors of drastic cost cutting at Sony abound, Sony says not so fast
Sony already announced some pretty significant layoffs and other cost-cutting measures last month, but it looks like the company could be set to take things even further, with the Times of London now reporting that some major factory and division closings could also be in the offing as early as next month. Any details beyond that are a bit light, it seems, but Sony is denying that any such plan exists, with a spokesperson saying simply that the company does "not plan to announce additional restructuring measures at this time." Not exactly a flat out denial, to be sure, and it certainly wouldn't be the first time that a company revised their layoff estimates this season.
Creative axes 2,700 jobs, simultaneously lowers expectations for Zii
While the hype is bubbling over surrounding Creative's Zii "stemcell computing," the outfit obviously doesn't think whatever it is will turn things around. Instead, it has chosen to cut some 2,700 jobs -- nearly half of its workforce -- as "demand for its music players tumbled." According to a report filed to Singapore's stock exchange on December 31, 2008, the company had 3,100 full time employees at the end of June 2008, which is around 47% lower than what was posted a year prior. 'Course, we suppose the cuts aren't all that surprising after posting a net loss of $19.7 million on the lowest revenues in five years, but it still makes us wonder just how confident the company is about this whole Zii dealio.[Thanks, Grayson]
