TeamXbox's staff was pretty much dissolved, as confirmed by their leadership on their forums. Chris Roper is the biggest name from the IGN main site that has come to light as being let go, he was the lead editor of the PlayStation channel.

That memo is a rather sour truth to how companies are handling this recession. No matter the industry, no matter how well they are doing, they will shave some fat to make that bottom line look even better.

IGN has been acquiring a lot of sites since News Corp bought them out, it was just a matter of time before people were going to be let go to streamline all of the content.

I have an idea... let the heads of IGN go and save all the money from their salary.

The search for short term profit is what kills the economy. People cannot buy products and services, even the basics for living day to day, unless you pay them a reasonable living wage, after all, and they certainly cannot invest or plan for their future unless you do so. There needs to be a change in perspective to long term investment in people rather than short term profits that run out and simply perpetuate the original problem(s) without offering a sustainable solution.

Good point you made Dave Endresak....I was part of the unlucky ones at IGN to be layed off today.....unreal, total contradiction from what came from IGN's memo in the article: "While we've been doing well -- we're profitable and our audience continues to grow -- we're still feeling the effects of the economy, and we need to make sure we can invest where there is opportunity."

Wow...that last part - "and we need to make sure we can invest where there is opportunity." Shows you can count on the company on taking care of its people/employees.

Any hiring? anerjaco@yahoo.com

To further Endresak's idea I'd create penalties for companies who layoff people while still profitable, or at least offer incentives to assist released staff in job placement or training.

I'm sorry to hear about your situation Sherry, best of luck.

And now to critique IGN: If they are stumbling in popularity/operating costs, could it be:
- Posting new features and content late afternoon/evening (PST!) isn't exactly timely compared to rival sites?
- That 'Daily Fix' video is also behind the eight-ball, and while Chobot is nice to stare at, does the production really need a dozen people behind the camera? Maybe a webcam might suffice.
- The constant changing of identity and focus that the site undergoes-- pricey and unnecessary.
- Too many channels, all diluted in content.

*Sigh!* But I still check in. IGN does have excellent game reviews-- written and video.

Ditto to what Sherry said...I was also let go but from a group within GameSpy & the cuts in that office were "questionable" and caught A LOT of people by surprise. I like how the memo downplays the # of departments that were effected.

Oh well, I hold no hate towards my fellow former co-workers because they are outstanding individuals. To bad the upper management running the show see the company as a whole as a web-based company...when that isn't the case for all divisions.

Anyone else hiring? :)

That is how the corporate game works - there's a certain part of upper-management that demands 'cut-costs' and layoffs, which middle-management happily provides, to keep their own jobs and everything is done just so they can report they did something? Business is cynical. People are commodities?

Whatever you do for a living, be sure you love it (because you will do it a lot and have to be excellent in it) and people need it, so the question "why should I hire YOU?" is easy to answer, next time around?

When laying off employees, did the IGN execs also reduce their salaries?

I just hope that existing employees will not have to work more overtime. I think it is absurd that there's people who work 10 - 16 hours per week, while hundreds go unemployed. It also reduces productivity.

@ Alex

Too true. And people have always been commodities in the general scheme of things.

@ Tawna

Absolutely. But the fact is that the industry execs who do this know this all too well but seemingly don't care.

The point of fact is that if you're not making revenue to support the company, then cuts have to be made. The problem is that all too often, they end up cutting the wrong people.

I have lots of friends and biz counterparts at various parts of IGN, so good luck in your job search all of you. It is *tough* out there atm but talent and experience gets everyone in the front door for the most part. Just keep the faith.

I'm a bit confused, if the company was profitable why did they need layoffs again? Sounds pretty stupid to me.

If I had to guess I'm guessing that the significant layoffs were meant to make the entire company or division's numbers look better. Had nothing to do with the performance of IGN by itself.

What I got from IGN's layoffs: "The upper management isn't making enough money."

"The economy" has become a scapegoat. Times are harder than they were 5 years ago, but... honestly, if you're profitable in a recession, you're doing it right. I have to wonder how much of IGN's profitability came from the very employees they just layed off...

Good luck, Sherry!

Sad to hear. I'm hoping that none of my boys got the axe.

Didn't anyone hear, web is dead, print is where the action is at :)

To repeat what others have said, sorry for the abrupt loss. Hope everyone is able to get back on their feet.

My best wishes to those who lost their jobs!
Maybe some good will come from this, and something wonderful born from the ashes IGN caused.