Lucas Arts

[Bromptonboy]

Some bloodletting at Lucas Arts:
http://variety.com/2013/digital/news/lucasarts-lays-off-staff-1200332457/

Lucasfilm is getting out of the videogame making business.

LucasArts has laid off all of its game development and support staff, with a small team to remain to handle licensed products like the Lego "Star Wars" games.

Company declined to disclose just how many staffers were pinkslipped or will be involved in the layoffs.

"After evaluating our position in the games market, we've decided to shift LucasArts from an internal development to a licensing model, minimizing the company's risk while achieving a broader portfolio of quality 'Star Wars' games," LucasArts said in a statement. "As a result of this change, we've had layoffs across the organization. We are incredibly appreciative and proud of the talented teams who have been developing our new titles."

[billybob476]

Kotaku is saying around 150 people are affected but that's based on their 'reliable source'.

Here's the Kotaku article: http://kotaku.com/disney-shuts-down-lucasarts-468473749

[Jobydrone]

ARGH Star Wars 1313 is cancelled...that game looked amazing at last years E3.

[ChrisMC]

Oh, man...that game looked like it was gonna be really great.

[billybob476]

Waiting for King's head to explode

The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) and Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) today announced a new multi-year exclusive licensing agreement to develop and publish globally new games based on Star Wars characters and storylines.

http://ea.newshq.businesswire.com/press-release/company-news/walt-disney-company-and-ea-announce-multi-year-star-wars-games-agreement

[Dangelus]

Waiting for King's head to explode

The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) and Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) today announced a new multi-year exclusive licensing agreement to develop and publish globally new games based on Star Wars characters and storylines.

http://ea.newshq.businesswire.com/press-release/company-news/walt-disney-company-and-ea-announce-multi-year-star-wars-games-agreement

Well it makes sense. A property that had been commercially exploited for years is being handled by two experts in the field.

[Jobydrone]

I don't mind seeing what EA does with the license.  They make high quality games, I bet they'll be awesome. 

[KingIsaacLinksr]

Well, this just makes it really easy for me to completely ignore any Star Wars games for the next couple of years. Because why would I want to deal with Origin and always-online DRM when playing Star Wars. Maybe, and dear lord I stress MAYBE, they'll surprise me. Maybe they'll actually make GAMES and not MOVIES out of these and make really high quality stuff worth chewing on. Or maybe they'll make another broken experience. Again. Considering their recent track record, their bone-headed CEOs and such...well...vote of no confidence here. Honestly, it's still not the worst news but considering the kind of (gaming) year I've been having, my standards are really low on that front. That's really sad now that I think about it...

Again, love to be surprised but handing the Star Wars franchise off to EA doesn't fill me with any confidence.