Layoffs at LucasArts

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Bells toll for more than two dozen studio staffers at the developer/publisher's San Rafael headquarters.

Dark clouds formed over San Rafael, California, today as LucasArts laid off 29 of its employees. Before the layoffs, the head count at the company stood at 418, less than the 430 listed on the LucasArts Web site.

A LucasArts spokesperson told GameSpot the cuts were made "to bring studio staffing levels into line with the current development slate." Other sources said the news was presented to LucasArts employees at a meeting held late Friday afternoon.

The layoffs are the latest staffing woes for the developer and publisher of the various Star Wars franchises. Last October, longtime president Simon Jeffery resigned, saying he wanted to return to his native England with his family. The position of president remains open to this day, as does the director of marketing post, which was recently vacated by Liz Allen.

LucasArts reps would not comment on the status of either of those managerial positions, stating only that the search to fill them is ongoing.

News source: GameSpot.com

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(5 replies) #1 cappuchok on 24 Apr 2004 - 15:39

Umm... does this perchance have anything to with the Sam & Max 2 team? Would seem to be likely. LucasArts has certainly become a losing company. When will they realise churning out infinite new generic Star Wars prequel games isn't going to get them anywhere... they don't need new programmers - they need new management!

#1.1 LordHatrus on 24 Apr 2004 - 17:42

What? We can't have 280 more star wars games before ANH? what?! NOOOOOOOO

#1.2 dougkinzinger on 25 Apr 2004 - 03:29

Agreed, #1. Sam & Max sequel? No. Full Throttle sequel? Didn't happen. Maniac Mansion sequel? Nadda.

Ten million Star Wars games? For sure.

As we can all see, LucasArts needs to concentrate on other markets!

#1.3 Chicane-UK on 25 Apr 2004 - 13:16

Amen to that dougkinzinger - I was really looking forward to a Full Throttle sequel (the original being one of my favourite games EVER) and when they canned it, I pretty much lost all faith in Lucasarts.

Please.. no more Star Wars games! Make some original titles!!

#1.4 HemaOne on 25 Apr 2004 - 22:42

Umm actually dude,the maniac mansion game DID have a sequell.It was called "Day of the tentacle" where you controlled 3 characters,(geek-bernard,Fat rocker type guy-hoagie,and a strange chick -laverne) It was an awsome game and its something lucasarts were really good at,(humerous point and click games) they just need sumthing to bring back the old magic that lucasarts once had

#1.5 dougkinzinger on 26 Apr 2004 - 03:46

Yeah, thanks genius, but if I said "Day of the Tentacle" sequel, no one would know what I was talking about. There was a "Maniac Mansion 3: Rise of the Tentacle" sequel planned which picked up with Hoagie and Bernard chasing after Green Tentacle, who was being held hostage for some reason, but it was also canned shortly after just a little animation was released.

(1 reply) #2 johnhood on 24 Apr 2004 - 17:59

LucasArts hayday has past! Outsourcing in recent years has lead to publishing success. Raven I salute you!

#2.1 HappyCar on 25 Apr 2004 - 00:15

Begone LucasArts
BEGONE i banish thee

#3 virtorio on 25 Apr 2004 - 01:05

I don't care. I can't think of a single LucasArts game I have played for more than 45 secconds before I un-installed it.

#4 Ivand on 25 Apr 2004 - 04:10

LucasArts needs to focus on anything different fron star wars

(1 reply) #5 DeMo_BR on 25 Apr 2004 - 06:37

I care!!
I loved every single Adventure game from LucasArts. Indiana Jones, Monkey Island, Maniac Mansion, Full Throttle, Sam & Max, The Dig.... they rocked!

These are my favourite games until today.
I don't feel like playing GTA3 again... but from time to time I reinstall one of those LucasArts' adventures.

Best news of 2002: LucasArts is working on sequels to FT and S&M.
Worst news of 2003: LucasArts cancels FT2... then LucasArts cancels S&M2

I agree with the guys at the start of the thread.
No more Star Wars games!!! Bring back the adventure genre!

#5.1 RanCorX2 on 25 Apr 2004 - 07:22

i liked the latest indiana jones game, and the rogue squadron series will never get old!! (battle for naboo excluded) eww sHamEleS

#6 Scorpion_2k4 on 25 Apr 2004 - 09:10

Full Throttle, The Dig And Day Of The Tentical. These were games everyone enjoyed. Star wars will only ever appeal to a certain % of the gaming population. They need to bring back classics otherwise they will die off and that would be a huge shame.

DOWN WITH STAR WARS!!! BRING BACK BEN THE BIKER!

(2 replies) #7 jmole on 25 Apr 2004 - 14:11

I do not think some of you people realize that today's generation does not like adventure games or they even do not know what the genre is. People like us still remember and enjoy it, but I do not think it is enough for Lucas Arts to make a profit. I have so many point and click adventure games it is rediculous and it is very sad to see a genre die out. The last adventure game I have purchased was "The Longest Journey" and I enjoyed every minute of it.

#7.1 g0at on 26 Apr 2004 - 01:09

I still think adventure games would do well today, and the audience is certainly there if you saw all the commotion cancelling Sam and Max 2 caused. It's just that they aren't being made like they used to be, Sierra and Lucasarts were pumping out one classic after another in the '90s.
And for the people complaining about Full Throttle 2 being canned, it was much more action oriented than adventure and Lucasarts said it wasn't that great. Sam and Max on the other hand was cancelled because they said the audience wasn't there, it was supposedly turning out great and really close to completion.

#7.2 Spaceman_Spiff on 26 Apr 2004 - 03:53

Ah come on! I'm currently playing Syberia 2; mainly because Syberia was so good. I will grant you that Syberia 2 has some translation challenges (". . . We shall never speak of this again" ) but the storyline is captivating. I think with the wit and creativity that lurks in the attic of LucasArts, they could draw in a whole new generation to the adventure game.

Spiff

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