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Very Interesting - Some Zenimax Business News

  • Lodestar
    Lodestar
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    Lalai wrote: »

    What about 200 temporary people hired specifically for when the console releases were suppose to go live, and then laid off when those consoles got delayed? The jobs were no longer needed at the time, and as a temp worker in a call center specifically that kind of turn around and short notice really is not unheard of.

    I was laid off with 40 other people who were going to work under a temp contract for AT&T halfway through training... and that was just our building. Amazon has let people go from their temp Christmas jobs early, or moved the permanent folks around when they've dropped a certain type of support from the site you're working at (sometimes only a week or two after you got the new position).. and a lot of times they don't give notice. Specifically when it's related to an announcement that they don't want leaked.

    There is more than one explanation for the why that makes perfect logical sense. If people are insisting on spinning it only one way, and saying that no other way could be an option then they are indeed just trying to be negative. I don't even deny that the whole "omg they aren't do well" is a possibility.. however I just don't think it's the logical conclusion from this article. Heck, I would take all the anecdotal evidence on guilds being empty as more solid proof of that than this article. I've done the whole call center temp thing though, so I've been that employee, and I know how often crappy stuff like this actually can/does happen.

    This is much more believable. And I actually thought about that myself.

    Call centres being what they are. I have experience myself. Often call centres are an outsource building, where staff get shifted around the company to various contracts.

    While that is not quite what happens here, I do know call centre contracts come and go.
  • isengrimb16_ESO
    isengrimb16_ESO
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    wrlifeboil wrote: »
    This is not our grandfathers' job environment. I think a lot of young people are going to be in for a shock when they realize even "good" jobs aren't all that secure any more:

    http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/rbc-replaces-canadian-staff-with-foreign-workers-1.1315008

    It's a race to the bottom. No job security. No loyalty on the part of the company or the employee.

    The difference there is the ones in the article were permanent workers. Temps are temps - although in that case, it was a sneaky way to outsource jobs to a scab labour country.

    The point is, anyone who knows that they are working on a TEMPORARY basis has no right to expect "job security" when major companies (a lot more major than Zenimax) refuse to offer it to actual employees?

    My husband spent 14 years as a school custodian in a small town. When a city board (two hours away) took over the rural schools, one of the first things they wanted to do was make all the custodians go contract. To his credit, he quit and took a job downgrade rather than accept the weasel-ware that is a contract job.

    But that's the way of the world at the moment. Some blame can maybe be put on unions, for pushing a little too hard, and of course business for always being penny-wise and pound-foolish; the rest of it is simple politics. What wasn't said in that article is that "temporary" foreign workers can also be paid less than Canadians (less than minimum wage, even, though that was supposed to have been changed), and that the programme is really little more than a form of "back door" immigration. I think we were also supposed to be very happy for India that it got these jobs, because, you know, it's so poor and hard done by, by people like lazy, greedy Canadians, you know.

  • Ragnar_Lodbrok
    Ragnar_Lodbrok
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    Other than some temporary contractors coming off and on at various stages, we have had no change in our staffing and are still hiring. Our future plans, such as moving the European megaserver to Frankfurt and launching ESO on the next-gen consoles, are not impacted.

    Good to hear... it will be even more believable once a date is set and we get past the "we will, we swear!" type of conversation.

    You do realize she is paid to lie to you?
  • Lalai
    Lalai
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    Lodestar wrote: »
    Lalai wrote: »

    What about 200 temporary people hired specifically for when the console releases were suppose to go live, and then laid off when those consoles got delayed? The jobs were no longer needed at the time, and as a temp worker in a call center specifically that kind of turn around and short notice really is not unheard of.

    I was laid off with 40 other people who were going to work under a temp contract for AT&T halfway through training... and that was just our building. Amazon has let people go from their temp Christmas jobs early, or moved the permanent folks around when they've dropped a certain type of support from the site you're working at (sometimes only a week or two after you got the new position).. and a lot of times they don't give notice. Specifically when it's related to an announcement that they don't want leaked.

    There is more than one explanation for the why that makes perfect logical sense. If people are insisting on spinning it only one way, and saying that no other way could be an option then they are indeed just trying to be negative. I don't even deny that the whole "omg they aren't do well" is a possibility.. however I just don't think it's the logical conclusion from this article. Heck, I would take all the anecdotal evidence on guilds being empty as more solid proof of that than this article. I've done the whole call center temp thing though, so I've been that employee, and I know how often crappy stuff like this actually can/does happen.

    This is much more believable. And I actually thought about that myself.

    Call centres being what they are. I have experience myself. Often call centres are an outsource building, where staff get shifted around the company to various contracts.

    While that is not quite what happens here, I do know call centre contracts come and go.

    You're definitely not a gloom and doomer then :) At least not by my standards. The gloom and doomers I generally think are the folks who spin all things as negative, regardless of any other explanations that may exists.. and insist theirs is the only logical one.

    Besides, I've seen you around. While I may not always agree with you.. you do make good points and don't just shout the game is gonna fail and laugh at anyone who thinks otherwise. So, props!
    Fisher extraordinaire!
    Send me your worms, crawlers, guts, and insect parts.
    Templar Healer
    Daggerfall Covenant, NA
  • Ragnar_Lodbrok
    Ragnar_Lodbrok
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    I want to point out TSW, which started layoffs and the path to f2p EXACTLY the same way. And the fanboy's of TSW said the EXACT same things as you defenders are, yet it still happened. Go ahead and keep your head in the sand.
  • sagitter
    sagitter
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    Other than some temporary contractors coming off and on at various stages, we have had no change in our staffing and are still hiring. Our future plans, such as moving the European megaserver to Frankfurt and launching ESO on the next-gen consoles, are not impacted.

    Good to hear... it will be even more believable once a date is set and we get past the "we will, we swear!" type of conversation.
    Moderator Edit: Removed moderated content.

    Do you realize that you are defaming her? It's a slender and prosecutable if not true.
    Edited by ZOS_AlexD on June 11, 2014 6:30PM
  • Lalai
    Lalai
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    I want to point out TSW, which started layoffs and the path to f2p EXACTLY the same way. And the fanboy's of TSW said the EXACT same things as you defenders are, yet it still happened. Go ahead and keep your head in the sand.

    TSW laid off permanent workers.. and that's the point at which I stated I would start to have some concern regarding F2P propaganda. Even then I'm still going to play the game until a point at which I stop having fun. Absolutely nothing is going to change that.
    Edited by Lalai on June 11, 2014 5:52PM
    Fisher extraordinaire!
    Send me your worms, crawlers, guts, and insect parts.
    Templar Healer
    Daggerfall Covenant, NA
  • Nathan
    Nathan
    sagitter wrote: »
    Other than some temporary contractors coming off and on at various stages, we have had no change in our staffing and are still hiring. Our future plans, such as moving the European megaserver to Frankfurt and launching ESO on the next-gen consoles, are not impacted.

    Good to hear... it will be even more believable once a date is set and we get past the "we will, we swear!" type of conversation.

    You do realize she is paid to lie to you?

    Do you realize that you are defaming her? It's a slender and prosecutable if not true.

    He just deleted his comment, but with the only purpose to be correct about what he wrote before delete, if prosecuted, the "alleged slanderer" has to prove that what he said was true, not the inverse ,-)
  • Bromburak
    Bromburak
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    Other than some temporary contractors coming off and on at various stages, we have had no change in our staffing and are still hiring. Our future plans, such as moving the European megaserver to Frankfurt and launching ESO on the next-gen consoles, are not impacted.

    But the sky is falling, Jessica. You supposed to acknowledge the signs, not repeat what most of us were already aware of!

    And you supposed to acknowledge that clear minded people give a *** on prophets of doom and gloom and iliterate conspiracy fanatics.

  • ShedsHisTail
    ShedsHisTail
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    Other than some temporary contractors coming off and on at various stages, we have had no change in our staffing and are still hiring. Our future plans, such as moving the European megaserver to Frankfurt and launching ESO on the next-gen consoles, are not impacted.

    <3
    "As an online discussion of Tamrielic Lore grows longer, the probability of someone blaming a Dragon Break approaches 1." -- Sheds' Law
    Have you seen the Twin Lamps?
  • DireKit
    DireKit
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    Other than some temporary contractors coming off and on at various stages, we have had no change in our staffing and are still hiring. Our future plans, such as moving the European megaserver to Frankfurt and launching ESO on the next-gen consoles, are not impacted.

    Oooh, burn on those people calling us naive and gullible. ME RAKASTAMME SINUA, JESSICAAAA.
    sagitter wrote: »
    Do you realize that you are defaming her? It's a slender and prosecutable if not true.

    Also, Slenderman would like a word with you.
  • frwinters_ESO
    frwinters_ESO
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    They were temps. Contract workers. If they are let go early most of them still get some pay especially if its a breach of a contract. Plus it is a sketchy website as it does say to check out another article for the source yet it doesn't link it on there site. I would take this as a grain of salt.
  • Soliduparrow
    Soliduparrow
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    Other than some temporary contractors coming off and on at various stages, we have had no change in our staffing and are still hiring. Our future plans, such as moving the European megaserver to Frankfurt and launching ESO on the next-gen consoles, are not impacted.


    So I guess what we have all learned from this thread is that "some" = 300

    Someone (does that word mean like 300 ones?) should informa websters because they have an error with their definition.
    Edited by Soliduparrow on June 11, 2014 8:09PM
  • ShedsHisTail
    ShedsHisTail
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    Other than some temporary contractors coming off and on at various stages, we have had no change in our staffing and are still hiring. Our future plans, such as moving the European megaserver to Frankfurt and launching ESO on the next-gen consoles, are not impacted.


    So I guess what we have all learned from this thread is that "some" = 300

    Someone (does that word mean like 300 ones?) should informa websters because they have an error with their definition.

    "Some" is a relative term.

    If you have 400 employees, 300 is more than "some."
    If you have 4000 employees, 300 makes less of an impact.



    "As an online discussion of Tamrielic Lore grows longer, the probability of someone blaming a Dragon Break approaches 1." -- Sheds' Law
    Have you seen the Twin Lamps?
  • GreySix
    GreySix
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    Other than some temporary contractors coming off and on at various stages, we have had no change in our staffing and are still hiring. Our future plans, such as moving the European megaserver to Frankfurt and launching ESO on the next-gen consoles, are not impacted.


    So I guess what we have all learned from this thread is that "some" = 300

    Someone (does that word mean like 300 ones?) should informa websters because they have an error with their definition.

    "Some" is a relative term.

    If you have 400 employees, 300 is more than "some."
    If you have 4000 employees, 300 makes less of an impact.
    To add to the confusion, if your company expects and has extraordinarily high turnover, even the first example might not have that much of an impact.
    Crotchety Old Man Guild

    "Hey you, get off my lawn!"
  • ShedsHisTail
    ShedsHisTail
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    GreySix wrote: »
    Other than some temporary contractors coming off and on at various stages, we have had no change in our staffing and are still hiring. Our future plans, such as moving the European megaserver to Frankfurt and launching ESO on the next-gen consoles, are not impacted.


    So I guess what we have all learned from this thread is that "some" = 300

    Someone (does that word mean like 300 ones?) should informa websters because they have an error with their definition.

    "Some" is a relative term.

    If you have 400 employees, 300 is more than "some."
    If you have 4000 employees, 300 makes less of an impact.
    To add to the confusion, if your company expects and has extraordinarily high turnover, even the first example might not have that much of an impact.

    Truth.
    "As an online discussion of Tamrielic Lore grows longer, the probability of someone blaming a Dragon Break approaches 1." -- Sheds' Law
    Have you seen the Twin Lamps?
  • Audigy
    Audigy
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    Alphashado wrote: »
    It may or may not be true, but just take a look at your guild rosters... scroll down and look at how many people have been gone for 5 days or more... It's depressing

    People can be gone for various reasons my friend!

    I didn't log on for 3 weeks due my work and I try to get a few hours tomorrow and next week, before my schedule gets very demanding again.

    Don't forget its summer, people go on holiday, others work and again others have their exams.

    Yes people have left, but if someone has gone missing then this doesn't automatically mean he or she stopped.
  • Audigy
    Audigy
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    Other than some temporary contractors coming off and on at various stages, we have had no change in our staffing and are still hiring. Our future plans, such as moving the European megaserver to Frankfurt and launching ESO on the next-gen consoles, are not impacted.

    @ZOS_JessicaFolsom

    I applied for the position of the team cook last month..., so you are telling me that this position is still open? :D

    I know that serving frog legs might have been a bit... unexpected and the cake on your shirt was a mistake, but I mean its food and all food will be the same in or on your belly soo :#

    Still hoping for a positive answer from your company don't let the first impact influence your judgments!


    :o:p
    Edited by Audigy on June 11, 2014 10:12PM
  • Sandmanninja
    Sandmanninja
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    Lodestar wrote: »
    Lodestar wrote: »
    So... A bunch of temp employees are upset that their temporary position was more temporary than they expected?

    While I do take your point as I even thought something similar myself. I think your missing something. Who hires that many people and lets them go in such a short space of time, if things are going well?

    Be quiet troll. The horse has been officially beat to death. No matter how many different people tell you, "it happens - get over it", you try to spin it to be a doom fore-teller for ESO.

    If you hate the game that much, stop logging on to this forum. I think you've trolled Zone Chat so much everyone has you on ignore, so you try it in the forums.

    http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/06/15/layoffs-are-back-this-time-public-sector-will-bear-the-brunt/

    Uh oh! Looks like the US Govt is going F2P! Lolz!

    Make me be quiet. Go on. Try your hardest.

    As for spinning a doom sayer on ESO, find where I did that. And apologise for accusing me of it when you have no proof. I have NEVER once done that. In fact in another thread I pointed out how subscribers often drop off by large amounts during first 3 months.

    I certainly never said I hated the game. And where is the proof I speak so much on zone chat everyone has me on ignore?

    Oh. Protip, spinning and twisting my comments into "you said this and obviously, or clearly..." is not proof.

    (reverts to 4th grade Elementary School mindset, which is where this conversation belongs)
    I don't make trash, I burn it.

    I'm not sure what a Protip is. Is it like a Q-Tip?
    [Hard Mode Dungeoneers] is recruiting all players of all levels for this new Guild.
    THIS IS A NEW-BUT-GROWING GUILD. We are focused on doing vet pledges, vet dungeons, getting achieves, & doing hard mode bosses.
    Most active GMT+10 (Australia time zone) in the afternoon Mon-Fri and all day Sat/Sun.
    Pst/email for info/invites.
  • jvh808
    jvh808
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    Gisgo wrote: »
    Its a Hib newspaper btw.

    Hib/Pellinor forever!
  • Tripp3r
    Tripp3r
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    seems to me like a lot of you guys feel as though you DESERVE this game.
  • DaGhostDS
    DaGhostDS
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    Temp Customer service workers hired for the Console Launch, nothing to see here, just get your fact straight.

    They probably should have read their contract, the part that says they can be terminated *terminator song* anytime.

    Those jobs will be back in 6 month anyway.
    Edited by DaGhostDS on June 13, 2014 3:35AM
  • Lkory
    Lkory
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    Ya they did let go 300 12 Euros an hour employees to hire 500 indian ones.

    This does not mean alot and mostly as they are contractuals.
  • bugulu
    bugulu
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    You do realize she is paid to lie to you?

    World Trade Center was an inside job, government lied to you!
    We never landed on a moon, it was just to get ahead of Soviet Union!


    Let's face it, people who advocate free 2 play are the same ones leeching on the players carrying the free 2 play business by not buying a single item and expect the game to be fully accessible without having to spend a dime.


    The whole, if they deny, they are guilty and lying, attitude is tiresome and in most cases should be given Darwins Award.
    Edited by bugulu on June 13, 2014 6:59AM
  • S1L3NTKiLLaH
    S1L3NTKiLLaH
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    Nathan wrote: »
    sagitter wrote: »
    Other than some temporary contractors coming off and on at various stages, we have had no change in our staffing and are still hiring. Our future plans, such as moving the European megaserver to Frankfurt and launching ESO on the next-gen consoles, are not impacted.

    Good to hear... it will be even more believable once a date is set and we get past the "we will, we swear!" type of conversation.

    You do realize she is paid to lie to you?

    Do you realize that you are defaming her? It's a slender and prosecutable if not true.

    He just deleted his comment, but with the only purpose to be correct about what he wrote before delete, if prosecuted, the "alleged slanderer" has to prove that what he said was true, not the inverse ,-)

    lolololol, this place is full of lawyers too!

  • DarioZ
    DarioZ
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    Can't believe there could be so many naive people... Really all of this imho is just a child of the "MMO zombie horde" of people not even knowing what game are they gonna play, or they would like to play, that migrate from a MMO to the next every two months.

    The horde is gone, we can finally keep to play happily to our fav MMO. Now they can really start to have a realistic idea of the server sizes needed, of the CS required size and so on...

    I'm really happy to hear this, it means that the commercial-op is ended and they can start to really make the game as it has to be...
  • AleriSadasIndoril
    AleriSadasIndoril
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    Zenimax is not just ZeniMax Online Studios, there are also ZeniMax Online Ireland.
    It's completely normal to have many time contracts and after the release also ends your contract and not all employees pass their probation periods.
    There is no reason to close correctly to economic difficulties, it is just a normal procedure. Before anyone asks, I work as freelance game character designer.
    Edited by AleriSadasIndoril on June 13, 2014 9:33AM
    Aleri Sadas Indoril: - Sorcerer - Dunmer- Ebonheart Pact
    Aléri Sadas Indoril: - Templar -Dunmer- Ebonheart Pact
    Valérie Sadas Indoril: - Templar - Dunmer- Daggerfall Covenant
    Valérie Colomba: - Dragonknight - Redguard- Daggerfall Covenant
    S'sháni: - Nightblade - Khajiit - Aldmeri Dominion
    Shánij: - Templar - Khajiit - Aldmeri Dominion - Werewolf (immer einen Biss frei)
    Valéri Indoril - Templar - Dunmer - Aldmeri Dominion
  • ForTheRealm
    ForTheRealm
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    Other than some temporary contractors coming off and on at various stages, we have had no change in our staffing and are still hiring. Our future plans, such as moving the European megaserver to Frankfurt and launching ESO on the next-gen consoles, are not impacted.

    Good to hear.
    It would be even better if you could provide us with some basic business information on a more regular basis - some people care about the game and its future :)
  • steveb16_ESO46
    steveb16_ESO46
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    DireKit wrote: »

    Where's your evidence? That's a pretty outlandish claim.

    MAY WE INTEREST YOU IN ONE OF OUR SPECIAL TIN-FOIL HATS? Guaranteed to block out the signals from Zenimax' Satanic microwaves being beamed to your teeth or your money back!

    It's not outlandish at all. Zenimax, if in any way competent, will have a range of options planned for differing financial scenarios. That's how business works, nothing conspiratorial.

    There'll even be plans for if income = x then we just pull the plug.

    Or there may be plans that says if income projections = y per month we sell the game to an FTP specialist company.

    In fact investors would have insisted on contingency plans.
  • isengrimb16_ESO
    isengrimb16_ESO
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    Zenimax is a private company, it doesn't have investors to worry about.

    But any smart company would have contingency plans. Surely they teach about that in business courses?
This discussion has been closed.