Comments on: HAPPY HALLOWEEN! (AND THE NOT-SO-HAPPY VANCOUVER VIDEO GAME INDUSTRY)

By: Vancity Allie

Vancity Allie — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 06:27:46 +0000

Yeah, severance packages are awesome but are becoming less and less common.

In other news, THQ just closed down 5 game studios the other day and laid off a ton of employees.

By: Anonymous Neighbour

Anonymous Neighbour — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 00:09:51 +0000

I remember hearing about layoffs when I worked at EA. I went into work happy as ever, hoping to be one of the lucky ones to get the week off and a sweet severance package.

By: Vancity Allie

Vancity Allie — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 20:16:56 +0000

Maybe so, but here’s the interview from CTV with Onni’s VP Beau Jarvis with Shannon Paterson. It would appear otherwise…

” Jarvis: We’re postponing the project until the market changes. We’re not going to go build a project and have no one to sell it to.

Paterson: Why is the pre-sale office still open and still selling?

Jarvis: Well, uh, is that against the law? We’re still testing the market I guess, right?

Paterson: So someone who would’ve walked in there today would have no idea that what they were buying into has been put on hold?

Jarvis: That could’ve been the case, yeah.

Paterson: Is that going to change?

Jarvis: It probably will change.”

Sounds pretty sketch to me!

By: Shawn Woods

Shawn Woods — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 20:30:51 +0000

I feel compelled to make a correction to one of your statements. The original story published on the news regarding Onni was misleading and wrong. Onni is threatening to sue them (I think it was CTV) unless they correct their story.

“And the economy is also finally affecting the ridiculous Vancouver condo boom. Many Vancouver condos and housing developments are being stalled, including Concord Pacific’s West Georgia Cosmo, and Onni’s V6A condo development, that still has its sales office open and is selling to unsuspecting buyers. Oh man. Onni is doing some seriously criminal stuff.”

What happened here is the same thing that has happened to every developer in Vancouver. The banks lending money have put a freeze on their loans until every complex being built has pre-sold a certain number of suites. This is why the Sales Centers remain open but construction has stopped. Once they have met their target, construction will continue. Onni is not bankrupt.

It is a tough business for developers today and some companies will fall due to this. However, they just have to get clever with their sales pitches. Some companies are giving away a free car with a purchase. Others are take up to $40,000 off their sales prices (which means nothing to the developer since they are just re-adjusting for the future market).

All I can say is… good for the buyer.

By: Herbert

Herbert — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 16:13:53 +0000

The industry might be lookin down, but gesh, my wallet has been hurting for the past two weeks on games. The next three weeks don’t look good either.

If you need someone for Gears of War 2 horde, you can always ring me up.

By: Vancity Allie

Vancity Allie — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 07:38:24 +0000

Thanks Moe! Haha yes, do your best to support. I just pre-ordered Gears of War 2 and I’m pretty excited to get my grubby little hands on it!

Thanks Urban Dweller! You’re such an optimist

By: Urban Dweller

Urban Dweller — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 23:00:43 +0000

Welcome back to Lotus land Allie! Cool costume And yes the worlds economy is doomed for the next 12 to 18 months atleast :S

By: Moe

Moe — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 22:26:32 +0000

Hey, welcome back! Hope you had a blast in the Far East.

Poor video game industry though! I’m doing my part to support them – I just got Red Alert 3 and can’t wait to play through the campaign.

By: Vancity Allie

Vancity Allie — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 18:43:11 +0000

Haha yeah I know, blowing a three goal lead is pretty bad but that shootout was epic. Hey, at least we won

By: jamie

jamie — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 09:07:57 +0000

While you were running for mayor, we needed you really, really badly to settle a shootout marathon.