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Denver, 6:35 PM
Sun Nov 29
8 posts in the last 24 hours

AU

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  • posts about #denisdyack more →

    Dyack Brags that 'Staggering' Layoffs Make His Studio 'Oldest'

    E3 Activity Book: Fun With No Purpose

    Silicon Knights Hires Bean Counter as VP, Has Him Hand Out Swords

    Silicon Knights Exec Leaves Company

    What's Working for Denis Dyack Like

    Too Human Review: Dyack's Human Too

    Microsoft Compares Too Human To Star Wars And Lord of The Rings

    Dyack: Canadian Town's Future Riding on Too Human

    Epic Has "Defrauded Us, And Major Portion of Industry"

    It Finally Happened. Too Human Went Gold.

  • Your version of Internet Explorer is not supported. Please upgrade to the most recent version in order to view comments.

    Dsmvwl  Admin  Promote to frontpage Approve user Ban user ×
    Image of ninjaDance ninjaDance
    12:06 AM

    In reply to Dyack Brags that 'Staggering' Layoffs Make His Studio 'Oldest'
    Is this really 'bragging'? I mean. Dyack has said some things before that can be politely called 'trolling', but I don't... really think this is one of them. If the folks at Silicon Knights have managed to keep their jobs while much of the rest of the industry is being fired left and right, shouldn't that be applauded?

    Are we all so pissy and bitter now that we're going to rag on people that are proud of keeping their jobs and optimistic about the future?
     Reply
    ninjaDance was starred ninjaDance was unstarred
    Image of ThisCharmingMan ThisCharmingMan
    08:05 AM

    @ninjaDance: I agree. I think a lot of people's distaste for Dennis Dyack in general are making small comments about layoffs in the game biz seem like some kind of machismo 'look-at-me' self-congratulations. I mean, he IS right, Too Human wasn't a blockbuster, to say the least, so the fact that they've remained a company at this point is something to be proud of themselves for...
     Reply
    ThisCharmingMan was starred ThisCharmingMan was unstarred
    Image of ChicagoRyan ChicagoRyan
    11/28/09

    In reply to Dyack Brags that 'Staggering' Layoffs Make His Studio 'Oldest'
    Legacy of Kain: Blood Omen was the best in the series in my opinion. I was so bummed out to see the series change direction after Silicon Knights allowed other studios to carry it on.

    I was also hooked to Cyber Empires as a kid, it was a really fun mech action type game around the time that Activision was also beginning to publish Battletech and Mechwarrior games.

    I haven't really checked out any of their games since Blood Omen, but I wish them the best regardless.
     Reply
    ChicagoRyan was starred ChicagoRyan was unstarred
    Image of CustomFirmware CustomFirmware
    11/28/09

    In reply to Dyack Brags that 'Staggering' Layoffs Make His Studio 'Oldest'
    Nintendo is the oldest. End of. :D
     Reply
    CustomFirmware was starred CustomFirmware was unstarred
    Image of DaveKap DaveKap
    11/28/09

    In reply to Dyack Brags that 'Staggering' Layoffs Make His Studio 'Oldest'
    Dyack Brags "I'm a moron!"
     Reply
    DaveKap was starred DaveKap was unstarred
    Image of Bouchart Bouchart
    11/28/09

    In reply to Dyack Brags that 'Staggering' Layoffs Make His Studio 'Oldest'
    Anyone can be a "potential global leader" in a good economy. In part that's the definition of a good economy.
     Reply
    Bouchart was starred Bouchart was unstarred
    Image of Rachel Fogg Rachel Fogg
    11/28/09

    In reply to Dyack Brags that 'Staggering' Layoffs Make His Studio 'Oldest'
    I'm...a little confused...aren't there other studios like Naughty Dog, Ubisoft, SE etc that are functioning pass or approaching ten years...?

    Am I missing something or is this guy just loops?
     Reply
    Rachel Fogg was starred Rachel Fogg was unstarred
    Image of Bouchart Bouchart
    11/28/09

    @Rachel Fogg: Maybe it's both.
     Reply
    Bouchart was starred Bouchart was unstarred
    Image of MooglesInMyFace MooglesInMyFace
    11/28/09

    @Rachel Fogg:

    Silicon Knights is approaching their 20th anniversary. He does have a point though. There are few independent(external as he said) developers around that have lasted that long.

    Epic Games has been around since 1991, and are still independent AFAIK. Same with id software.

    But look at other veterans like Bioware, Blizzard etc and you'll see that they are all owned by companies.

    People are gonna jump on what he said, but he does have a point.
     Reply
    Rachel Fogg promoted this comment MooglesInMyFace was starred MooglesInMyFace was unstarred
    Image of Rachel Fogg Rachel Fogg
    11/28/09

    @MooglesInMyFace:

    Oh, I really wasn't sure what he was saying, I wasn't going to go after him or anything...

    But what you said makes more sense so he's kinda right...
     Reply
    Rachel Fogg was starred Rachel Fogg was unstarred
    Image of mikhailian mikhailian
    11/28/09

    @MooglesInMyFace: I'm pretty sure id software is now owned by bethsoft/zenimax.
     Reply
    Toasticus promoted this comment mikhailian was starred mikhailian was unstarred
    Image of Eastwing Eastwing
    11/28/09

    @Rachel Fogg: Well he said "external developers". SE and Ubisoft are also publishers, which probably helped them maintain themselves (or at least, that can be used as an excuse).

    I think he's pretty much just saying "Ha, all of you are going down and we're not!", which is a bit petty to be honest. I guess anything goes if it gets you another kotaku post!
     Reply
    Rachel Fogg promoted this comment Edited by Eastwing at 11/28/09 9:51 PM Eastwing was starred Eastwing was unstarred
    Image of CrimsonKnight13 CrimsonKnight13
    11/28/09

    @MooglesInMyFace: id is no longer independent as they are now owned by ZenMax
     Reply
    Toasticus promoted this comment CrimsonKnight13 was starred CrimsonKnight13 was unstarred
    Image of Rachel Fogg Rachel Fogg
    11/28/09

    @Eastwing:

    LOL! Corporate bloating again....which is cool, I was just confused with his statement.

    But isn't Dyack kinda...like a mini Molyneux?
     Reply
    Rachel Fogg was starred Rachel Fogg was unstarred
    Image of Eastwing Eastwing
    11/28/09

    @Rachel Fogg: Ergh, don't even mention Molyneux... I'm still getting over Fable 2's hype; that man could make people buy a peice of crap on a stick...
     Reply
    Eastwing was starred Eastwing was unstarred
    Image of MooglesInMyFace MooglesInMyFace
    11/28/09

    @mikhailian:

    Oh yeah I forgot about that.
     Reply
    MooglesInMyFace was starred MooglesInMyFace was unstarred
    Image of Toasticus Toasticus
    11/28/09

    @MooglesInMyFace: edit: What mikhailian and CrimsonKnight said above.
     Reply
    Edited by Toasticus at 11/28/09 10:30 PM Toasticus was starred Toasticus was unstarred
    Image of Toasticus Toasticus
    11/28/09

    In reply to Dyack Brags that 'Staggering' Layoffs Make His Studio 'Oldest'
    It's worth pointing out that what he's referring to in the second quote block is Ubisoft opening up a giant new studio next door, not the fact that his studio has survived up until this point. Cutting that info and putting the two quote blocks in a row makes it sound like he's excited about the hard times, which was clearly not the case in the source article. He's excited about more developers moving to Ontario, which will make it easier for his company to recruit talent, which is a perfectly reasonable thing.

    I don't understand the "serious business beyond ten years" bit though. One of five what? Independent third party developers? That's the only qualifier that would make the least bit of sense of that statement.
     Reply
    Toasticus was starred Toasticus was unstarred
    Image of crabperson crabperson
    11/28/09

    @Toasticus: I agree, he has to be talking about third party devs, because a sane person wouldn't make a general statement like that about all of the studios. Still though, does he expect a couple more studios to collapse or something? Because I can think of more than five.

    Or maybe he's talking about Canadian developers. In which case I can't even name five.
     Reply
    crabperson was starred crabperson was unstarred
    Image of Toasticus Toasticus
    11/28/09

    @crabperson: Yeah, I guess he was talking about third party independent developers after all. Maybe there actually aren't very many still around that are as old as SK and still independent. I can only think of Epic and Digital Extremes -- everyone else is owned by some publisher or another.
     Reply
    Toasticus was starred Toasticus was unstarred
    Image of GohanGVO GohanGVO
    11/28/09

    @crabperson: Perhaps Dyack expects even more acquisitions of major third-party studios in the future, and he does not foresee Silicon Knights being sold off to another entity.

    How many major third-party developers are there, anyway? Only Insomniac comes to mind. Most other companies are also publishers.
     Reply
    GohanGVO was starred GohanGVO was unstarred
    Image of crabperson crabperson
    11/28/09

    @GohanGVO: Right...
    Forgot about that. Thinking about companies that are just developers is harder.
     Reply
    Edited by crabperson at 11/28/09 10:59 PM crabperson was starred crabperson was unstarred
    Image of robpe36 robpe36
    04:36 PM

    @GohanGVO: Look up Sony Computer Entertainment wiki. Insomniac is listed as a second party developer for SCE.
     Reply
    GohanGVO promoted this comment robpe36 was starred robpe36 was unstarred
    Image of GohanGVO GohanGVO
    04:55 PM

    @robpe36: Touché.

    I did manage to think of a replacement, though!

    TOSE.

    [en.wikipedia.org]

    [www.1up.com]
     Reply
    GohanGVO was starred GohanGVO was unstarred
    Image of astidcrisse astidcrisse
    11/28/09

    In reply to Dyack Brags that 'Staggering' Layoffs Make His Studio 'Oldest'
    I might just have been a side effect not completely related to the economic, just raising a point for discussion here :

    It has been said often in the last years that game development cost has risen almost exponentially in the last decade yet games have broken all kind of sales record in the last years but it is imaginable that even with great sales number some if not most of these developpers were not able to break even at all. I am stepping in unknown territory as I haven't made any research before making this claim but relied on memories from post past, to make a holiday bridge here, hehe
     Reply
    Edited by astidcrisse at 11/28/09 8:23 PM astidcrisse was starred astidcrisse was unstarred
    Image of deanbmmv deanbmmv
    11/28/09

    @astidcrisse: Its the same thing with Movies.
    You bank roll big budget stuff, and if it flops you've got the guaranteed money spinners lined up to take their place. So the summer blockbusters, the harry potters, Marvel films etc, will bring in the pennies to bank roll a few Cannes films and the odd mistake.
    For example in gaming terms, Assassins Creed 2 will of been funded by Imagine Babiez.
    And Avatar will take out several studios and cinema chains.
     Reply
    astidcrisse promoted this comment Edited by deanbmmv at 11/28/09 8:46 PM deanbmmv was starred deanbmmv was unstarred
    Image of Ueziel Ueziel
    11/28/09

    @astidcrisse: There have been multiple articles on Kotaku citing that the majority of games (something like over 70%) do not make a profit now.
     Reply
    astidcrisse promoted this comment Ueziel was starred Ueziel was unstarred
    Image of astidcrisse astidcrisse
    11/28/09

    @Ueziel: Thanks for the info
     Reply
    astidcrisse was starred astidcrisse was unstarred
    Image of Boom-Chicka-Ah: Here to Create a Star Commenter Empire Boom-Chicka-Ah: Here to Create a Star Commenter Empire
    05/31/09

    In reply to E3 Activity Book: Fun With No Purpose
    shigeru looks like satoru without the glasses
     Reply
    Boom-Chicka-Ah: Here to Create a Star Commenter Empire was starred Boom-Chicka-Ah: Here to Create a Star Commenter Empire was unstarred
    Image of KainReborn KainReborn
    05/31/09

    In reply to E3 Activity Book: Fun With No Purpose
    I can't figure out the following "dream game" jumbles:


    EWN ZLADE

    CATERSAMD 2

    OEEEGDNLY KAREME


    Any ideas?

     Reply
    KainReborn was starred KainReborn was unstarred
    Image of bigman88zz bigman88zz
    05/31/09

    @KainReborn: CATERSAMD 2 = SCAT DREAM 2!!!!


    nah, just kidding. its DREAMCAST 2

     Reply
    bigman88zz was starred bigman88zz was unstarred
    Image of Komrade Kayce Komrade Kayce
    05/31/09

    @bigman88zz:


    I think you were right the first time.


    Scat Dream 1 was one of my all time favourites.

     Reply
    Komrade Kayce was starred Komrade Kayce was unstarred
    Image of Unoriginal username is unoriginal Unoriginal username is unoriginal
    05/31/09

    @Komrade Kayce - Soviet Attack Dog: What are you talking about? Scat Dream was a nightmare to play. Get it? Get it? ... Get it?
     Reply
    Unoriginal username is unoriginal was starred Unoriginal username is unoriginal was unstarred
    Image of bobtheduck in Korea bobtheduck in Korea
    05/31/09

    @I jizzed in my pants like a boss on a boat: I thought the more obvious joke was that Scat Dream was sh**...
     Reply
    bobtheduck in Korea was starred bobtheduck in Korea was unstarred
    Image of Last Face Last Face
    05/31/09

    @KainReborn: I can't figure out what IDEROMT is an anagram for.
     Reply
    Last Face was starred Last Face was unstarred
    Image of Taiyz Taiyz
    06/01/09

    @Last Face; Use a Green Shell like a man!: It's supposed to be Metroid DS, friend.


    Presumably referring to a non-Prime title; almost as silly a mistake as Killer Instinct 2.

     Reply
    Taiyz was starred Taiyz was unstarred
    Image of Gantz: Your Trusted Friend in Science. Gantz: Your Trusted Friend in Science.
    05/31/09

    In reply to E3 Activity Book: Fun With No Purpose
    I find it disturbing how accurate those little caricatures are even with their lack of features.


    I wish I could do stuff like that...

     Reply
    Gantz: Your Trusted Friend in Science. was starred Gantz: Your Trusted Friend in Science. was unstarred
    Image of Pult|Ost - Fortune Hunter Edition Pult|Ost - Fortune Hunter Edition
    05/31/09

    In reply to E3 Activity Book: Fun With No Purpose
    The cartoon Reggie is eerily similar to the real deal.
     Reply
    Pult|Ost - Fortune Hunter Edition was starred Pult|Ost - Fortune Hunter Edition was unstarred
    Image of Antiterra Antiterra
    05/31/09

    @Pult|Ost - Dark Days Are Coming: That's because the real Reggie... IS A MII !!!
     Reply
    Antiterra was starred Antiterra was unstarred
    Image of supo supo
    02/09/09

    In reply to Silicon Knights Hires Bean Counter as VP, Has Him Hand Out Swords
    Hey look! Port Dalhousie!
     Reply
    supo was starred supo was unstarred
    Image of jandlecack jandlecack
    02/09/09

    In reply to Silicon Knights Hires Bean Counter as VP, Has Him Hand Out Swords
    This generation, Silicon Knights has as much influence or prestige as Free Radical and Factor 5.


    None.

     Reply
    jandlecack was starred jandlecack was unstarred
    Image of Komrade Kayce Komrade Kayce
    02/09/09

    @Jandlecack:


    Cmon now. They managed to put Too Average out even after it was in development hell for ten years.

     Reply
    Komrade Kayce was starred Komrade Kayce was unstarred
    Image of okenny :) ...building bridges (to hide under) okenny :) ...building bridges (to hide under)
    02/09/09

    @Jandlecack: I think that's really short-sighted and reactionary. One game... not even a bad game... well that's how gamers are expected to react. Regardless, SK's still in business and has even hired someone... can't really put them on the same plain as those other two developers other than to make the contrast that SK was the only company (of the three) to make a game that bombed and still survive.
     Reply
    okenny :) ...building bridges (to hide under) was starred okenny :) ...building bridges (to hide under) was unstarred
    Image of jandlecack jandlecack
    02/09/09

    @okenny :) ...building bridges (to hide under): Well as you said it still bombed and I don't care if the company shuts doors or not, they're still off the radar for 80% of people, just like Guerilla was before the KZ2 reviews had their say.


    To put it in simple terms, if Silicon Knights's next game, or Free Radical's or Factor 5's for that matter, if there is one, has to be a mindblowing killer app. Else it will just be more of a disaster than their previous bomb, because they can't count on any hype or anticipation.

     Reply
    jandlecack was starred jandlecack was unstarred
    Image of jandlecack jandlecack
    02/09/09

    @Jandlecack: -if
     Reply
    jandlecack was starred jandlecack was unstarred
    Image of Madeira Madeira
    02/09/09

    @Jandlecack: I seem to remember a dust-up about the reviews for TH, Kevin Pereira and Adam Sessler even made their own soapbox vids in TH's defense. I don't remember that kind of thing happening for Lair or Haze.


    TH is a very cool game, one of the most memorable games of this gen for me when I really think about it.

     Reply
    Madeira was starred Madeira was unstarred
    Image of jandlecack jandlecack
    02/09/09

    @Madeira: laughingelfman.jpg
     Reply
    jandlecack was starred jandlecack was unstarred
    Image of Fnor Fnor
    02/09/09

    In reply to Silicon Knights Hires Bean Counter as VP, Has Him Hand Out Swords
    Magic is nice, but now Minsc is in charge! SWORDS FOR EVERYONE!
     Reply
    Fnor was starred Fnor was unstarred
    Image of Komrade Kayce Komrade Kayce
    02/09/09

    @Fnor:


    Boo?!?!?!? WHERE ARE YOU MY SPACE HAMSTER?!?!?

     Reply
    Komrade Kayce was starred Komrade Kayce was unstarred
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