Posted by unregistered user at 10/11/06 11:09 p.m.

Lewis said,
"We hired a lot of people and whenever you hire that many people you are trying to predict where the business is going, and sometimes your predictions aren't perfectly accurate," said Thelen, adding that it "eliminated skill sets who didn't match our priorities."

Oh really? How many companies do you know of who's VP of marketing, the marketing director, the one and only staff content manager/writer, the art director, the director of creative services, (just to name a few), are considered "non-priorities?" If you think you're getting the truth from Thelen and Lewis, you've fallen for a BIG FISH story... hook, line and sinker!

Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 12:20 a.m.

Wow! Sounds like Mr. Thelen is not a man with whom anyone should want to work. Stay away from this man and his company!! Doesn't smell so good over there ... I hope the rest have a chance to jump ship before he throws the rest over!!

By the way, I am not a casualty. I have a cush job with Microsoft.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 3:08 a.m.

The whole thing is repugnant. I spent hours agonizing over a good response that covered all my thoughts, but that's the important part.

Every aspect of this repulses me. I hate the fact that a small, successful company sees a need to lay off any number of employees. I detest the fact that we were all reassured that nobody's job was at risk just as the slow trickle of layoffs and suggested resignations began. I despise the sneaky way it was handled: spread them out over a couple of weeks so that nobody really knows what's going on. I was only able to find out some of the names by following a hunch and messaging somebody who I hadn't seen at work recently. I can't stand the spin that I'm reading.

I've worked at companies that were guilty of most of these, but even the worst of them weren't as deceptive about their plans. The contrast between words and actions at Big Fish over the last few days and weeks makes me assume that some of the spin is false, too. We can't make any assumptions about the future plan for this company. Big Fish went from being one of my favorite employers to near the bottom in the span of some thirty hours.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 8:07 a.m.

If any of these comments are true, every one of the laid off people should be talking to an employment attorney.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 9:29 a.m.

Let's see, they let go the following skills (the limited number of ones I have heard about so far):

Marketing

• VP of Marketing (guess they no longer say that marketing is their core competency)
• Director of Marketing (again, marketing seems not to be one of their core focuses)
• Marketing Research Specialist (who needs focus groups, usability studies and research)
• Director of Creative Services (no marketing brochures, postcards, animations or other materials needed)
• Copy Writer/Editor (guess they're thinking Word's grammar check makes for a good editor)

Information Technology

• VP of Information Technology (do they plan on crossing their fingers and hope all the systems work?)
• Windows Systems Administrator (Funny, I didn't hear them talk about switching their operational corporate network to Linux. One of the best bits of all is the only person left to replace the Windows systems administrator, even though the replacement person was learning a great deal and worked very hard, was stuffing tacos a year ago.)

Game Development and Management

• Product Manager for Multiplayer Games (hmm, what will be happening to their online game play site?)
• Game Programmer (gee, I thought they made and sold games)
• Game Tester (I guess quality control is no longer one of their focuses)

Web and Database Development

• Program Manager/Internationalization Specialist (maybe their sites in German and Japanese are no longer a focus)
• Program Manager/Database Warehouse Architect (I guess analysis of customers and financial reporting is no longer a focus)
• HTML and PHP Developer (funny, I thought they still ran several Web sites)
• Database Developer (This person was a critical developer on the "My Big Fish Games" project into which basket Big Fish seems to be putting all of their eggs. Considering the project has a long way to go (according to the Wall Street Journal article) how can they explain letting go of a developer critical to their most critical project?)
• Art Director (This person was the creative director for the "My Big Fish Games" project, I guess they plan on keeping everything just as is and not expanding the site)

What do all of these people have in common? None were poker buddies of the CEO - a very select group indeed - in fact there was another developer (who was older of course) on the chopping block and one of the poker buddies successfully lobbied to keep the developer around. Some of the poker buddies had even offenses the rest of us would probably get fired over, such as staging a strike and walking out when one of their friends was fired for performance reasons. Yet the poker buddies were untouchable. Interesting indeed.

Posted by Snydley at 10/12/06 9:55 a.m.

Now that Mr. Thelen and Mr. Lewis have decimated their Marketing team, they must be planning to rely solely on the viral marketing campaign of their My Big Fish Games initiative (as well as the bad PR from this fiasco). The My BFG initiative is a disaster--sure, people will sign up for the free games, but who wants to take the time to annoy friends with this thinly-disguised pyramid scheme.

Morale at the company must also have been decimated, after so many skilled people were suddenly laid off. At least other companies have the foresight to warn employees of imminent lay-offs, rather than assure them their jobs are safe! It's unfortunate that after spending 15 years at Goldman Sachs Mr. Lewis failed to learn their philosophy for success--loyalty between a company and its employees.

With all of their employees suddenly faced with the terrifying realization that their jobs are not safe and that they cannot trust anything the executives tell them, I'm sure every one of them will be looking for a job elsewhere. And with all of this negative publicity, no one with any worthwhile skills is going to want to work there. Here's a tip from Management 101: It's hard to offer your customers products when you have no employees!

Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 9:59 a.m.

Wow. I am a survivor, fortunately, and was not involved in any of the decisions made this week. The people who were let go were good people and many of them friends. It is unfortunate for everyone involved on both sides of this restructuring. Back here, we are glad this is over. I wish all of the people and their families the best and believe they will be able to secure good jobs in this market which will allow them to fulfill their goals and dreams. It will suck here for the next few days during this grieving process, and I hope most people will be able to move on.

Posted by Snydley at 10/12/06 10:20 a.m.

"It is unfortunate for everyone involved on both sides of this restructuring. Back here, we are glad this is over."
"during this grieving process, and I hope most people will be able to move on."

--So Speaketh the BFG HR dept! (LOL!)

Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 10:24 a.m.

I'm currently employed at Big Fish Games and I will simply say that I can think of validating reasons for each person who was let go.

The only surprise to me is that these people hung on to their jobs for as long as they did.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 10:47 a.m.

Considering the lay-offs occured across such a large and diverse spectrum of company duties, the only people at BFG who could possibly know of "validating reasons for each person who was let go" are the CEO, the President, and the HR dept.

More spin from the executive team at BFG.

Truly sad.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 10:55 a.m.

It is interesting the length a spiteful ex-employee will go to to try to smear a company that made some hard decisions that I for one as a current employee am very happy about the change.
In spite of the comment below, ony 3 or 4 of the 15 were over 40, and the demographics of those let go seem pretty representative of those that were not.
I have only known of 2 people in the past 4 years that have quit the company...a 0% turnover is not indicative of a bad company culture but quite the opposite.
The energy level of the company is now alive and I feel it was a great move to reposition the company. We are growing at an incredible rate and the management are very good at the hard decisions that need to be made to stay ahead of all the competitors in this space. We are still a company of 125 and my group alone has 8 active job openings.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 10:57 a.m.

"I'm currently employed at Big Fish Games and I will simply say that I can think of validating reasons for each person who was let go.

The only surprise to me is that these people hung on to their jobs for as long as they did."
.....................
Really? Then who is responsible for the 400% growth of the company in the past year if not the key management level people they just let go? You're either one of the execs or one of the most ignorant people to walk the earth. I'm still here but ashamed to say so... I'll be leaving a.s.a.p. also!

Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 11:00 a.m.

"I have only known of 2 people in the past 4 years that have quit the company...a 0% turnover is not indicative of a bad company culture but quite the opposite."

This sentance has Paul's signature all over it... Lameo!

Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 11:35 a.m.

Did you just use "Lameo" in a sentence? hahahaha. dork.

i'm sure paul took some time off of running the company to respond to your comments. yeah, right. maybe you should just face the facts: it wasn't just the ceo, prez, and hr that didn't want you at the company.

hey, i've got an idea, if you're so "cream of the crop" how about ya'll go make your own company? you could call it Endless Meetings and Lameo Inc.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 11:36 a.m.

"The energy level of the company is now alive and I feel it was a great move to reposition the company."

energy level might be high in your cozy windowed office overlooking the sound paul but out here where the rest of us are still choking on the dust, it sucks. who do you think you're kidding on this blog anyway. everyone knows how you talk... we've heard enough of your b.s. to last a lifetime.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 11:38 a.m.

this is turning into a BFG company blog. interesting comments. I truly wonder if any these comments are from Exec's currently @ BFG.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 11:53 a.m.

"this is turning into a BFG company blog. interesting comments. I truly wonder if any these comments are from Exec's currently @ BFG."

I think you can be certain that some are. If you even have a doubt, you are naive.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 12:00 p.m.

QUOTE: The only surprise to me is that these people hung on to their jobs for as long as they did.

This is because management didn't know what these people really did, all of the hard work and devotion and concentrated, effective effort that moved the company forward. Virtually all of these people were stars - excellent hires -- and they would have eaten raw meat (well, 'cept maybe the vegetarians!) and taken a bullet for you.

Well not anymore.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 12:03 p.m.

What I find interesting (if not shocking) is that a mailing list I'm on just received a post saying there were 5 open positions at Big Fish (systems administrators mostly). I'm half tempted to reply to the list with a link to this post. Don't know why anyone would work there with the way they treated the laid-off employees.

If these people were fired, just say it. If they were laid off because (like Infospace) you lost a big chunk of current/future revenue, just say it. It's the obfuscation and outright lies that get to people.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 12:03 p.m.

Well I got the axe this week also and I can tell you right now that this company was a tight knit company until Monday night and Tuesday morning. I've worked for a lot of companies and until this week I would have placed BFG at the top of my list. We were still small enough to be like family and people worked well together. We also worked long hard hours. We were emailing each other into the late hours of the evenings and over weekends, just to keep on top of projects. It wasn't like a normal job where you go home and forget about it. We were BFG employees 24/7 and we truly cared and loved what we were a part of. We also trusted the management. We trusted everything they told us, including the promises to reward us for the countless numbers of overtime hours we devoted to building this company and growing it to the +400% they are now bragging about. No average employee from this company would come onto a public blog and degrade the people that were let go the way a few have in here, unless they were part of the executive team who made the decisions. That is just not possible. That is not the kind of people that were working there and if you only knew the people that were let go you would see how false their claims are. Most of the people who were let go were some of the most respected and carried much of the weight this past fiscal year. This company took the hearts that these people invested and stomped on them to save some stocks and middle management wages at a time when the company was in full growth. Someone mentioned greed before. That is what this is about.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 12:26 p.m.

I wonder if Paul has "other Fish to fry" on his list of heads.

this blog is provides a window in a sad situation. company morale is key in such a young company. sounds like it's been bruised pretty bad.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 12:28 p.m.

Interesting... The very first comment that had responded to this post (around 9pm last night) has now been removed.

Could it be that BFG is now trying to manage spin by clicking the "Report violation" button of the posts they don't like? I hope the PI has enough integrity not to fall for that ploy.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 12:39 p.m.

Are they really growing 400% and cash flow positive with 120 employees? If so, seems like a strange action.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 12:43 p.m.

"Interesting... The very first comment that had responded to this post (around 9pm last night) has now been removed.

Could it be that BFG is now trying to manage spin by clicking the "Report violation" button of the posts they don't like? I hope the PI has enough integrity not to fall for that ploy."

This just goes to show you what caliber of people we are dealing with at the executive level of BFG... I for one am glad to know now and be gone from there.

Good riddance gentlemen! You're welcome by the way! Oh and thank you for that "lovely" 3-hour tour on the Argosy boat last week. I guess that was the "we'll do you right" Paul promised us for the countless overtime hours we gave you. Now I know what Gilligan and crew felt like... Shipwrecked!

Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 12:45 p.m.

Before the summer began, the CEO took the entire IT group into a meeting and promised everyone they would be rewarded for all the long hours and effort they were putting in to support the organization. I guess the "reward" was getting canned?

I guess the thing I'd like to say to the BFG execs is "shame on you". You let go people who were bringing true value to the company. You let go a large number of people who were actually major contributors to "My BFG". You let go of people that literally bent their schedules and lifestyles around the needs of the company... people who spent countless hours of overtime only to be thanked with an escort to the elevators with no chance to say goodbye to their friends.

Seattle's tech community may be large, but it's close; word of this will spread like wildfire and earn the company a negative reputation that will be difficult to clear. Good job, BFG. Is that the "vibe" you wanted?

To all my friends and former co-workers there, I wish you the best wherever you go.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 12:49 p.m.

I wonder if BFG will add this to their "Press Releases" section......oh wait, but the everyone in Marketing is gone. guess the torch will have to get passed to someone else.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 12:53 p.m.

Quote:
"Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 10:24 a.m.

I'm currently employed at Big Fish Games and I will simply say that I can think of validating reasons for each person who was let go.

The only surprise to me is that these people hung on to their jobs for as long as they did."
End Quote:

Do you have the guts to list in detail the validating reasons for legally terminating each person? Better yet, if you're such a supporter of the decisions, why don't you have the guts to post your name? If you're supporting the company what have you got to hide?

Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 1:01 p.m.

I wonder if BFG will add this to their "Press Releases" section......oh wait, but the everyone in Marketing is gone. guess the torch will have to get passed to someone else.

Not very forward-thinking after all, huh?

Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 1:45 p.m.

"But I, being poor, have only my dreams. I have spread my dreams under your feet. Tread softly because you tread on my dreams."-Yeats

Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 2:01 p.m.

Any developers that got canned (and any coders still at Big Fish) should rate the company itself at Coderific.com. Might as well collect all your thoughts on BFG in one place, along with an "official" score for the company.

Posted by rayburt456 at 10/12/06 2:01 p.m.

29 comments! John, is that some kind of record for your site?

Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 2:02 p.m.

What happened is horrible. I wouldn't wish a surprise like that on my enemies.

But not a single one of us has the right to mention "guts" when you're posting as an unregistered user or under a cleverly disguised screenname. Hiding behind a monitor is the childish last resort of the technology age.

I completely understand and sympathize with the anger and feelings of betrayal, but please remember you're ADULTS. Accusing every supporting post as being from the CEO? Your maturity and common sense was not relieved from you along with your position...

I don't expect the sarcasm and berating comments to stop - people have a right to feel angry. All I ask is that you not regress to childhood tactics.

And I honestly wish you all the best of luck in the future.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 2:02 p.m.

Post #14348 Great comment.

"Do you have the guts to list in detail the validating reasons for legally terminating each person? Better yet, if you're such a supporter of the decisions, why don't you have the guts to post your name? If you're supporting the company what have you got to hide?"

well, where are you Post #14321 ?? Care to elaborate on those 'validating reasons' ?

Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 2:43 p.m.

Dear post #14362,
From the sounds of things people lost their jobs in a less than respectful way at BFG and thanks to this day in age they have the opportunity for the first time in history to voice their side of the story where in the past only the employer got the final word in the media. BUT, those voicing their pain do not have the luxury of doing so without further ramifications if they were to post their names. For you who take a stand "for" the company in an open blog, you have nothing to lose. It is a true coward that would anonymously add insult to injury, to people who from the sounds of things were dedicated to that company and lost much, by making blanket accusations they have yet to support. Please don't talk to us about maturity. From the sounds of things the dirty diapers go all the way to the top.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 2:46 p.m.

Jack Welch said, "Control your own destiny or somebody else will." As an employee of any company you surrender that control. Such is life in a startup.

So sad to hear about the layoffs. Unfortunately this scenario is played out across many companies in our fine city. Rest assured the "reason" for termination can always be traced back to the lining of the executives (or investors) pockets. Certainly there were "opportunity" terminations in there as well (getting rid of somebody you don't like but use the reduction in force as an excuse).

Those of you that have been laid off are somewhat fortunate. The current market is robust and eager to hire great people. You're also fortunate to no longer be a part of a company that doesn't value its employees as much as you thought it did or honors its commitment to them.

Best of luck to you all. Tomorrow is s much brighter day.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 3:03 p.m.

Perhaps its time to consider organizing a union - not being glib, deadly serious. Time for Labor in America to take back some power.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 3:21 p.m.

I have been through layoffs before and it's never easy for thise that stay or go, but I don't think Joe public should exposed to this cat & mouse banter. Go get some drinks and see a therapist. Did someone say sour grapes?

Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 3:29 p.m.

"I don't think Joe public should exposed to this cat & mouse banter"

Why not? If I was considering a job or investing, I'd like to know both sides: so "Joe Public" especially needs to know.

Erratic behavior can be a tip off to things to come.

And yes the *qualified* IT/Developer community is quite small, it will have a direct effect on the companies bottom line.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 3:33 p.m.

Not having worked for or known anything about the inner workings of BFG before, I actually find this commentary very eye-opening as a member of the "joe public". Not only to find out about a company to stay away from but also to be reminded about an employee's true power/security in the corporate world. It's too bad the management of BFG didn't have the integrity to be honest with the workers they were going to fire/lay off.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 3:51 p.m.

John - where you at, amidst all these flurries?

Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 3:59 p.m.

A good friend of mine, a former co-worker, wss let go in this purge. I know for certain there couldn't have been a credible reason for his layoff; he's an extremely competent professional, and was one of BFG's biggest boosters as well. After hearing what has happened to him and others, I can say categorically
- I won't buy any more games from BFG
- I wouldn't consider applying for any of the
now-open positions in a million years
Way to go, BFG!

Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 4:26 p.m.

Something to keep in mind, most of these comments are from the "disgruntled" former employees. There is going to be some extra vitriol in these posts, it's not really fair to judge the company by these posts alone.

I don't think some of the layoffs were the right decision personally, but that's not my call. It's pretty brutal that they happened all at once, but a fair number of the layoffs have good reasons behind them (at least the ones I know about.) Some I disagree with, but not all.

Also, one other thing to consider is that I think quite a few got decent severance packages like a rumored month's pay. It could be much worse really.

Of course, I survived the purge, so my point of view is skewed the other way, but I did lose some good freinds in the cuts.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 4:36 p.m.

A month's pay is a decent severance package? A few thousand dollars in hush money is what it is. I wouldn't be surprised if everyone who was laid off declines the severance and launches full-force legal attacks against the company instead.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 4:45 p.m.

*cough*internet witch hunt*cough*

Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 5:04 p.m.

this is way better than the Ortiz v. Shamrock UFC match from Wednesday night, I wonder if this post will break the 50 comment mark.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 5:05 p.m.

"A month's pay is a decent severance package?"

It is marginally better than a kick in the pants, and better than I would have expected honestly.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 5:30 p.m.

#14385, #14374

Reminder to those still there; I wouldn't be so smug if I were you. You were in the same room 2 weeks ago when we were all told to:

"relax, shake it off... if you're in this room your jobs are secure."

You heard the same thing after the cuts this week, right? Are you really so naive?

Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 5:32 p.m.

Thing that ticks me off is that I didn't even get "2 free games" in my package!

Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 5:50 p.m.

I got my 2 free games, but I was only allowed to choose from five different ones and they all suck.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 6:11 p.m.

BFG Theme Song

Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale,
a tale of a fateful group.
That started from a Seattle port,
aboard the Argosy ship.
The Pres was a mighty hatchet man,
the Owner brave and sure.
Their associates all set sail that day,
for a three hour tour, a three hour tour………
The weather never got too rough,
but the tiny ship was tossed,
when the owner preached upon the bow,
he knew who would be lost; he knew who would be lost.
The axe did swing and heads did roll at BFG.com,
from the VP of Marketing, the Director too,
the Community Manager, but not his Wife,
the creative leads the VP of IT and the rest,
proving all the Big Fish lies.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 7:10 p.m.

#14390 said:
"A month's pay is a decent severance package?"

It is marginally better than a kick in the pants, and better than I would have expected honestly.

You're just the kind of person BFG is looking for. Fortunately, they have some openings!

Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 8:25 p.m.

"He said there were no patterns to the cuts, with people at all levels let go."

I find it hard to believe that the company was able to grow as rapidly as they claim without any pattern to their decision-making. Did the company use a dart board to decide who to let go? Or is there a pattern, but yet a few names tossed in to make it appear random?

The corporation will probably never reveal this to anyone. The compelling reason for a layoff will probably unfold over the next several months, but they whys of this group drawing the short straws in this particular layoff round will probably always be classified information.

This is another lesson in capitalism - corporations exist for one reason and one reason only - profit. They do not exist to take care of employees or to be a good corporate citizen. To the corporation, human resources are a line item expenditure, despite the bubbly statements on corporate Web sites about "our employees are our biggest assets." The execs were cutting an expense just like when General Motors deciding to close factories in Michigan.

It's just sad to see how many former employees felt otherwise and felt that the corporation truly valued them. It sounds like the corporation served especially flavorful Kool-Aid.

This was about money. How could it not be?

Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 8:25 p.m.

I can't say layoffs, ever make me feel good. I've been on both sides, and well it happens. I don't put much into trying to figure out why me, I don't figure it was personal. (Though it could be, but why the hell would I care, or how would I even know?)
Honestly I felt that many people in this cut, could have been used in other departments, but I think this is not the way of Mr. Lewis.
There are some people, for whom I have no sympathy, they didn't really do anything, and even when asked, would effectively tell me so.
All in all however, I will miss nearly everyone who was let go, while I am not a highly sociable person, I did enjoy the contact I had with these people.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 8:30 p.m.

"....despite the bubbly statements on corporate Web sites about "our employees are our biggest assets." The execs were cutting an expense...."

That's right the biggest assest of any corporation, is it's money. Pure and simple, no corporation would ever succeed if they chose to presume otherwise.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 8:34 p.m.

I wonder how potential investors will view a company that exhibits such a lack of respect for its employees and, apparently, doesn't hesitate to perpetuate untruths in an attempt to cover up its poor treatment of those let go. It may all be about the bottom line, but it is short-sighted to believe that practices such as these would help contribute to the further success of any company. I would think that ultimately,the bad publicity about BF and poor morale within the company resulting from the executives' actions will have a much greater impact than any of the gains they believe they have made with these lay-offs.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 9:01 p.m.

Poster #14406 needs to remember that employees are what enable a company to make money. A corporation can treat its employees in an honest, morally responsible manner and be a positive member of the community without compromising its profit. Conversely, acting without ethics does not guarantee success. In fact, many top companies have found that treating their employees well, and the resulting positive morale and public reputation that results from this, actually contributes to greater long-term success.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/12/06 10:05 p.m.

Folks, you must always remember, "the corporation is a soulless beast"...

Posted by unregistered user at 10/13/06 7:39 a.m.

As a CEO in this space for the last ten years, I can tell you that there are times when it is necessary to let 'good' people go - not because they suck. But often times because the company's needs outgrow thier abilities or skill sets. Cold and harsh, but true. And you can't fault Paul for confronting this - if this is indeed what happened.

But there is no excuse for being dishonest with your people about it. And there is no excuse for handling this in a way that costs people their dignity. Walking them out the door with security guards - come on.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/13/06 7:54 a.m.

As a total outsider - all I can say is four words "Rob Glazer, Real Networks". Going to work for anyone who was inducted into the corporate world under that dictatorial regime needs to go in with eyes wide open. My God, they eat their children at Real! My best wishes go out to those who fell under the axe.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/13/06 9:28 a.m.

"Read my lips your jobs are safe." Haha that's rich. These execs could work for pharmaceuticals and tell us that Vioxx is safe. Better yet, they could be politicians telling us they found weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Oops sorry, Iran, our bad.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/13/06 9:49 a.m.

This sort of layoff story is a classic--except for being marched out of the building with barely enough time to grab your coat! And sorry, this is what you get for working for someone else. I did the startup thang years ago, blood, sweat, tears, and long hours to make somebody else rich. Never again.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/13/06 10:57 a.m.

To the recent BFG causalities, I send you my regrets and empathy. I was precisely in your shoes earlier this year with a different game company that you will no doubt be interviewing with during the next few weeks.

Nearly every game company in Seattle has the inner ring of "poker buddies," although the game might not be poker. My advice to you is to try to get in on the game at your new company, no matter what it is: Cards, WOW, Counter Strike, bar hopping, whatever. Investment in any after hours extracurricular company activity will help secure your position in the company. Never forget that game companies are built and inhabited by young guys and the environment is permeated by a Culture of Cool. You're often not judged by your talent at game companies. You're judged by how much you strike your direct manager as "an old, favorite college roommate." If you can manage that kind of rapport, you're safer than other employees.

If you're appalled by this and believe that your after hours time is better spent with your significant other, family, or personal friends, then the game industry is going to be a difficult career path for you.

Good luck.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/13/06 11:56 a.m.

My recent layoff at BFG left co-workers wondering where the things I was working on might be on my laptop.

Gee, I'm laid off, but they still need me for something? Perhaps they could have planned a little better and retrieved my files BEFORE they unceremoniously dumped me on the 4th avenue sidewalk.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/13/06 1:04 p.m.

Gee, I'm laid off, but they still need me for something? Perhaps they could have planned a little better and retrieved my files BEFORE they unceremoniously dumped me on the 4th avenue sidewalk.

If the execs like card games so much, you could tell them to "go fish!" :)

Posted by unregistered user at 10/13/06 1:28 p.m.

The only piece that I found interesting about the timing of their layoffs, is that the end of October is when Bigfish typically gives raises and stock to the entire company. They only do performance evals once a year for everyone.

Funny, thats in 2 weeks. Guess they needed to lower their overall costs before giving others raises?

Posted by unregistered user at 10/13/06 2:13 p.m.

To Plead my faith where faith had no reward,
To move remorse where favor is not borne,
To heap complaints where she doth not regard, --
Were fruitless, bootless, vain, and yield but scorn.

I lov�d her whom all the world admired,
I was refused of her that can love none;
And my vain hopes, which far too high aspired,
Is dead, and buried, and for ever gone.

Forget my name, since you have scorned my love,
And woman-like do not too late lament;
Since for your sake I do all mischief prove,
I none accuse nor nothing do repent.

I was fond as ever she was fair,
Yet loved I not more than I now despair.

-deveraux

Posted by unregistered user at 10/13/06 2:18 p.m.

I hardly ever comment on these types of articles but this has gone way overboard.
First off sorry to see anyone get laid off. It has happened to me before in the past and it was hard to swallow.

However this company is a "startup" and that said anyone that is angry for being let go and for goodness sake posting angry comments on a website just about justifies your lay off.

It's like that ex-girlfriend that you had to let go that turned into a raging maniac tossing all kinds of slander about you to your mutual friends.

If you have any common sense you will learn from this unfortunate happening and move on and stop bashing the company that still employees 100+ of your ex-coworkers that are trying to make a living.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/13/06 2:36 p.m.

I've never known a layoff to be anything BUT a surprise. And I've been laid off a few times. Big Fish isn't doing anything any other company in this biz hasn't done. gimme a break.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/13/06 2:41 p.m.

every company escorts lay-offs out of the building, with a security guard or HR person or whomever. It sucks to be laid off, but life continues...you won't be working at the same place forever! Especially a start up!

Posted by unregistered user at 10/13/06 3:53 p.m.

Going to a newspaper makes you look really tempting to future employers.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/13/06 4:02 p.m.

If BFG is so strong and financially secure, why not offer its "no longer needed" employees other opportunities in the company? Surely they're doing well enough to figure out how to keep good people. As a former CEO and a former victim of such harsh tactics myself I can tell you that such measures absolutely indicate a deeper systemic problem. The emperor is naked folks. Big Fish Games has lived up to its name. The big fish eats the little fish and spits out the bones.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/13/06 4:55 p.m.

Obviously this company made the right choice to cut these folks that are posting on this site right now.

I love these posts about starting a law suit and such… This is an "At Will" state. Look it up... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/At_will

Posted by unregistered user at 10/13/06 5:16 p.m.

I hear Plexipixel in Seattle is looking for good people. Might be an option.

Posted by unregistered user at 10/13/06 5:20 p.m.

There are other good companies in the casual games space. Turn this into something positive and see how your knowledge and contribution to BFG's growth can benefit you and some of their competitors :)

Posted by unregistered user at 10/13/06 5:52 p.m.

"There are other good companies in the casual games space. Turn this into something positive and see how your knowledge and contribution to BFG's growth can benefit you and some of their competitors :)"

Which would be awesome if we hadn't signed a non-compete. :)