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[TeamGhobad]

maybe they're not even making a game..

 

[Lionel Richie]

They poached three more people from Sony Santa Monica this weeks, all level designers from God of War. This is after already poaching Westergaard, a lead designer and others from Naughty Dog.

This is more underhanded behavior from the Xbox team, which in my opinion always choose the shortcuts over actually nurturing talent and building something themselves.

Previously Darryl Gallagher said he would recruit from universities and other disciplines in the area but I think their true motives have become clear.

 

[flashfire926]

Those devs, WILLINGLY joined The Initiative. It's the person's decision to choose where to work, who is anyone here to question them?

 

[Slings and Arrows]

They could have asked for a raise.... lots of other options.

What if it wasnt about money but new opportunities or a chance to relocate or a new team or...?

 

[Jigsaah]

It's the choice of the developers to go. When opportunity knocks, the onus falls to the individual to decide if they will answer.

 

[zenspider]

Don't really care for the fanboy angle, like "MS stole Sony's boyfriend oooh!'

I admire the swashbuckling and was hoping it was a callback to the OG XBox/early 360 creative push under the Microsoft Game Studios umbrella, but the "games nobody else is making TM" so far rings hollow. Looks to me like they're coveting Sony's portfolio of summer blockbuster styled walk-em-ups.

 

[Bryank75]

Don't really care for the fanboy angle, like "MS stole Sony's boyfriend oooh!'

I admire the swashbuckling and was hoping it was a callback to the OG XBox/early 360 creative push under the Microsoft Game Studios umbrella, but the "games nobody else is making TM" so far rings hollow. Looks to me like they're coveting Sony's portfolio of summer blockbuster styled walk-em-ups.

Pretty much, they just updated the Xbox UI to look almost exactly like PlayStation.... so I guess imitation is the greatest form of flattery.

 

[VAL0R]

Phil Spencer: Wow, nice bunch of talent you've got there. I mean, nice bunch of talent I've got here.

 

[sonomamashine]

maybe they're not even making a game..

please enlighten us of what possibly they would be doing otherwise.

 

[Psykodad]

It's the choice of the developers to go. When opportunity knocks, the onus falls to the individual to decide if they will answer.

Pretty much.

At the end of the day, it's all. just business.

 

[skneogaf]

Excellent idea from the xbox team, they're great at what they do. More great games on both systems is likely from these moves.

 

[baphomet]

Good for the devs.

Anyone saying otherwise is an idiot.

 

[Jigsaah]

Pretty much, they just updated the Xbox UI to look almost exactly like PlayStation.... so I guess imitation is the greatest form of flattery.

Da fuck?
I dont see the resemblance. Id be happier about it if it was more similar

 

[KingdomHeartsFan]

I don't have a problem with this. If they are offered a better job they should take it.

 

[Tesseract]

if they are getting paid more, what's the problem

 

[Stilton Disco]

Sounds like MS is finally taking the competition seriously and moving to take them on at their own game.

Good, I hope we get great new single player focused titles on Xbox out of it, and that the toxic, far left, regressive and bigoted politics were left behind with Sony.

 

[MiyazakiHatesKojima]

[Billy Ray Cyrus:]
Oh, oh-oh
Oh

Yeah, I'm gonna take my horse to the old town road
I'm gonna ride 'til I can't no more
I'm gonna take my horse to the old town road
I'm gonna ride 'til I can't no more
(Kio, Kio)

[Lil Nas X:]
I got the horses in the back
Horse tack is attached
Hat is matte black
Got the boots that's black to match
Ridin' on a horse, ha
You can whip your Porsche
I been in the valley
You ain't been up off that porch, now

Can't nobody tell me nothin'
You can't tell me nothin'
Can't nobody tell me nothin'
You can't tell me nothin'

Ridin' on a tractor
Lean all in my bladder
Cheated on my baby
You can go and ask her
My life is a movie
Bull ridin' and boobies
Cowboy hat from Gucci
Wrangler on my booty

Can't nobody tell me nothin'
You can't tell me nothin'
Can't nobody tell me nothin'
You can't tell me nothin'

Yeah, I'm gonna take my horse to the old town road
I'm gonna ride 'til I can't no more
I'm gonna take my horse to the old town road
I'm gonna ride 'til I can't no more

[Billy Ray Cyrus:]
Hat down, cross town, livin' like a rock star
Spent a lot of money on my brand new guitar
Baby's got a habit: diamond rings and Fendi sports bras
Ridin' down Rodeo in my Maserati sports car
Got no stress, I've been through all that
I'm like a Marlboro Man so I kick on back
Wish I could roll on back to that old town road
I wanna ride 'til I can't no more

[Lil Nas X & Billy Ray Cyrus:]
Yeah, I'm gonna take my horse to the old town road
I'm gonna ride 'til I can't no more
I'm gonna take my horse to the old town road
I'm gonna ride 'til I can't no more

 

[BlackBuzzard]

Sounds like MS is finally taking the competition seriously and moving to take them on at their own game.

Good, I hope we get great new single player focused titles on Xbox out of it, and that the toxic, far left, regressive and bigoted politics were left behind with Sony.

Meanwhile Microsoft bans smoking from an M rated game.

 

[Gamernyc78]

This happens on every level of dev work lol What you think some of those ppl working on Sony games never worked for Microsoft? There are many that did.

 

[zcaa0g]

This is more underhanded behavior from the Xbox team, which in my opinion always choose the shortcuts over actually nurturing talent and building something themselves.

You must be new to this whole running a business thing. Sony didn't have anything to do with Naughty Dog's success outside of funding. Naughty Dog made Naughty Dog in terms of talent, not Sony.

You sound like a butthurt Sony fan and it's silly to be a fan of a piece of plastic that plays games.

 

[godhandiscen]

If they got poached, the got a better offer. So either Sony didn't consider they were good enough to counter offer, or Sony was too cheap.
That's how businesses work.

 

[hunthunt]

Finally Xbox fans will like all those boring walking simulators.

 

[Bryank75]

You must be new to this whole running a business thing. Sony didn't have anything to do with Naughty Dog's success outside of funding. Naughty Dog made Naughty Dog in terms of talent, not Sony.

You sound like a butthurt Sony fan and it's silly to be a fan of a piece of plastic that plays games.

All gamers are a bit butthurt, it comes from Xbox, EA, Google and Activision trying to F us in the A all the time.

 

[Gamernyc78]

All gamers are a bit butthurt, it comes from Xbox, EA, Google and Activision trying to F us in the A all the time.

Lol Ewwww

 

[Porcile]

The Initiative? They might not have stolen those employees but they certainly stole the award for the most cunty studio name ever.

 

[captainraincoat]

The Xbox fanboys will be livid at this news. THEY MAKE WALKING SIMULATORS!

Think of it this way...you will have less walking simulators on the ps4 and they can then perhaps focus on some multiplayer titles like socom/predator

I think things will balance out

 

[Pidull]

Congratulations to all of these developers that are going to receive better compensation in exchange for their work!

This is great for the industry as it rewards talent and success, hopefully this opens up new opportunities to others as well!

 

[Deleted member 471617]

The more great talent that The Initiative signs the more the expectations increase. I'm expecting a 90+ open critic excellent single player AAA game from them in 2025 and they better hit. If they don't, then they're signing all this talent for nothing.

 

[its_justJEFF]

Pretty standard business practices... Can't beat'em, buy'em or something like that LOL The funny thing is bringing very talented people together doesn't guarantee that you'll make a great game. If they can come together as a team and a strong leader, then that'll yield some great results... but never a guarantee.

 

[Krappadizzle]

WE SHOULD REVOLT! How dare any company give an individual the opportunity for more pay or better work conditions or even more disgustingly; both. Those individuals should NOT be free to choose for themselves. This is OUTRAGEOUS.

 

[alabtrosMyster]

Microsoft doesn't care about competition they are all nice and friendly now.

OK, whatever... What can we do? a sit in? I just hope they use their talent properly over there.

You almost make it seem that MS had all those people at gun point and forced them to work for that studio.

Who are you to say they didn't? Can you prove it?

What if it wasnt about money but new opportunities or a chance to relocate or a new team or...?

Where did you buy those rose tinted glasses? I want them too! Let's just say that for most sensible people if they are to change job they will at the very least use the opportunity to negotiate a raise or some benefits increase while they are at it (obviously they want a project they prefer). I mean, I do it, if somebody comes to me with a job offer they better offer me more than what I am currently doing, after all they are the ones doing the recruitment.

If anything was illegal Sony would sue them, but employees don't belong to the corporation that hires them (yet).

 

[yet_another_alt]

I have no problems with Epic Store exclusives and I don't have a problem with this.

 

[pr0cs]

Don't really care for the fanboy angle, like "MS stole Sony's boyfriend oooh!'

Qft, I hope these "poached" people made mad bank and are on a much more upward mobile business path

 

[JoeyWestSide]

They poached three more people from Sony Santa Monica this weeks, all level designers from God of War. This is after already poaching Westergaard, a lead designer and others from Naughty Dog.

This is more underhanded behavior from the Xbox team, which in my opinion always choose the shortcuts over actually nurturing talent and building something themselves.

Previously Darryl Gallagher said he would recruit from universities and other disciplines in the area but I think their true motives have become clear.

Microsoft studio The Initiative continues to bolster ranks, adds former God of War developers

All Star Team While new Xbox studio The Initiative is yet to develop its first video game, it has succeeded...

www.destructoid.com

Or talented veteran devs want to work on a new project with respected leadership? Damon baker left Nintendo for MS, reggie stepped down (not moving but for personal reasons, still though, a big change in the industry), John Drake is at Disney, IW hired people from Sony too I believe, T2 has Mike condrey (shortly after getting promoted at Activision), Glen Schofield is with pubg, and Google is getting a grip of people transferring. People move around and at the end of a gen cycle, why not? This is an extremely exciting time.

 

[kevin_trinh]

But can they make the Xbox SAD happier?

 

[Shmunter]

Maybe it’s a diversity quota thing?

 

[Silent Viper]

Most stupidest thread ever. People switch around job based on salary and benefits they get. Its obvious you will make more bucks when working for MS than Sony.

 

[Silent Viper]

Money talks bullshit walks I guess. I don't know why you're upset about this tbh, It's that persons decision to work WHERE ever the hell they want to. You almost make it seem that MS had all those people at gun point and forced them to work for that studio.

OP sounds like a salty PS fanboy nothing else lol.

 

[Dirk Benedict]

Why even care? Especially if you're biased. PlayStation will continue to do what it does, how it does. Microsoft would have to poach the entire division to imitate it. Everything is fine.

 

[Silent Viper]

I can imagine him in his big corporation building..... being all corporationey!

So, we are all agreed that these developers are traitors of the highest order!?

No but we all agree you salty ps fanboy

 

[Neff]

I can afford both consoles.

 

[Bryank75]

No but we all agree you salty ps fanboy

Yo, stop hating on me in my therapy session!
And, at least use a gif if you call me salty.

 

[Burrito Bandito]

Doesn’t mean it should be tolerated or not frowned upon in our (gamers) industry.

not tolerated? What? You want employees to be forced to stay at a single location all their careers and not seek out better opportunities for themselves? If this resulted in higher compensation and better work conditions for someone how could you not support this? Seems a little...crazy to be upset with this imo. The nature of any new business means they “poached” employees from other companies unless you expect a AAA studio to just hire no-experience college interns?

 

[cireza]

Sony could actually try to keep these persons... Not like they don't have an option.

 

[Tumle]

Most stupidest thread ever. People switch around job based on salary and benefits they get. Its obvious you will make more bucks when working for MS than Sony.

Why is that obvious?
You don’t accumulate a lot of cash by throwing it around, like you’re a rapper at a strip club.
They definitely got a better offer.. but that doesn’t mean that Sony is not paying people enough.
It’s just recently that MS opened up for acquisitions of studios and personal..

 

[FranXico]

To be fair, there is such a thing as a non-compete clause that you include in your long term contracts.

The whole poaching talent and taking away third party partners (devs) thing is part of MS tactics 101. Sony should have seen this coming.

 

[Tumle]

To be fair, there is such a thing as a non-compete clause that you include in your long term contracts.

Well if you’re going to go work for xbox.. are you really competing anymore?

 

[Rest]

I remember watching the DVD that came with the special edition of God of War II where one of the Sony Santa Monica staff members beamed with pride while regaling the viewer with the story of Sony doing everything they could to entice the "rockstar" programmers and other developers from other studios to work on God of War II.

Who gives a shit about staff "poaching" at game studios? If someone offers a game dev a better job they should take it. There are no victims here.

 

[ph33rknot]

The Xbox fanboys will be livid at this news. THEY MAKE WALKING SIMULATORS!

they do I'm not that excited about it

 

[pqueue]

Holy crap. Out of everything you could possibly be outraged about, you pick THIS?