Layoffs hit Paragon Studios

A rumor has just broken that Paragon Studios, the team responsible for City of Heroes, has just undergone a round of layoffs. This comes following the launch of Going Rogue, the game's second boxed expansion and center of a major re-arrangement for the game. Among those rumored to be laid off is Christopher Bruce, known to the fans of the game as Back Alley Brawler and the senior animation lead for the studio.

While there have been rumors for some time that the team had been expanding and working on an additional project, possibly a sequel to the now-venerable City of Heroes, it's unknown what long-term impacts these layoffs might have on both the existing game and any future projects. We contacted NCsoft and received official confirmation of the layoffs, but the company thus far has been unable to provide information on who, exactly, has been let go. Our condolences go out to all employees affected by the layoffs.

Reader Comments (28)

That may have something to do with how they're selling the expansion. As I found out today from Gamestop, I can't buy the expansion without re-buying the entire game. Since it appears that there was no box set that sold Going Rogue seperately. (Just think of being forced to re-buy WoW and all 3 expansions so you get Cataclysm....even if you have already have all that to begin with.)

So potential customers that have no access to credit cards are shit out of luck when it comes to upgrading their account to Going Rogue. Unless they want to buy double the price for the box set with a second account they don't want, where they would have to start all your toons from scratch. Sorry...that's a no sale right there. And I won't play the game without the expansion.

So the short of it: The descerning customers such as myself walks out from Game Stop with no Going Rogue purchased = Back Alley Brawler looking for a new job. /sorry

Thank you for clarifying the existance of that option for me, Tempes...you're are more helpful than any staff at Game Stop will likely ever be when it comes games that are not consol. If they would of said that option was their when I asked about it from the beginning instead of shrugging their shoulders...I may have contemplated in purchasing it. Perhaps we can owe BAB's layoff to Game Stop instead.

However, I am still mythed that I will have to pay for the entire game which I already have in order play GR expansion. That smells a bit too Cryptic to me. I agree with you it's great for someone who has never had the game before...not so great for us veterans who already have it.

I'll see though how my budget is...I may have to hold off in purchasing it for a bit. But again, thanks for clarifying that.

@Utakata:

I can't tell if you're deliberately trying to spread FUD here, or if the Gamestop rep you talked to was an idiot, but you're pretty far off-base here.

Here, let me break it down for you. If you buy the retail box version of Going Rogue, yes, CoH/CoV is included along with the expansion. You're not being charged for that, though. The box costs $40. For that $40, you're getting the core game, GR (the bare-bones download version of GR alone costs $30), one month of play time for the game ($15 - and that can be applied to an existing account; I don't know where you got that nonsense about having to make new characters from scratch from), -and- the stuff in the Complete Collection Item Pack (which sells separately for $7).

Man, those 'descerning customers' are really getting ripped off, aren't they? Selling $52 worth of content to people for $40 is totally shameless. :p

I maybe off base, but I can assure you Blade I am not deliberately trying to spread FUD. But rather conveying my experience attempting to buy this expansion for this game, which was remarkabley different from buying expansions from other games. I was surprised that it came with the whole game. You would be to if that's not what you where expecting.

My first natural question was, "Does this mean I get a new account?" The staff at Game Stop where unable to answer that question. And it's not my first experience of them unable to answer my questions in the past either. Perhaps I happen to luck out going to GS stores with idiot reps. /shrug

But either way though, I've said I'll think about this for now. Now that Tempes has kindly set the record straight...there really isn't much more to say on it. Other than I am maybe looking at it from the cup being half empty. :)

@Utakata

Yeah, GameStop reps are notoriously bad. It's unreasonable to have a rep that knows everything about every game, though. I'd recommend asking your questions on the official boards or through NCsoft's support line, tbh. I realize this makes it a bit harder to make an impulse buy, but the last thing you want to do is make an informed decision that is based off the opinions of your average GameStop employee.

VERY sorry to hear BABs getting layed off. I don't understand that move at all as he's one of the very best animators in the industry.

Here's hoping SOE hires him so he can correct the crappy animations in DCUO.

COH remains my all-time favourite MMO. So my condolences and my thanks go to those who've lost their jobs.

Though I have to admit that I haven't tried Going Rogue yet. I considered it but the fact that it would cost more to upgrade my existing account than buy a whole new one puzzled me so much I decided to pass for now.

This is still the case. From the NCSoft store you can buy COH for $40, including one month's access. Or you can upgrade an existing account (with GR) for $30, but with no free month included you end up paying $5 more.

Again let me start out with the fact that I am sorry to hear about anyone losing their job. That always sucks.

I did not then, nor do I now, think CoH is a terrible game, and I really was NOT trying to bash the game.

Why did I play it for 2 expletive years? I actually have 2 years 9 months paid according to my veteran rewards count, so it's even MORE than 2 expletive years!

I really liked the character creator, I had a lot of friends I enjoyed talking to and I never consciously thought about if the game was fun or not.

Press power 1, press power 2, press power 3, etc, etc for a full cycle on a baddie, then start again on a new baddie.

I never found that type of play especially fun, which is why I could play for more than 2 expletive years and never get a character above level 39. In fact the majority of my characters sit around the level 12-13 mark which is where I started feeling the game turned into a grind and lost interest in advancing through it....so I would go back to what I *did* really enjoy and create another character, with different powers.

It was a Super Hero RPG, I like Super Heroes, there was nothing else I could play, so it was the only deal in town. Less than $15 a month was not a concern for me, so I didn't worry about the monthly cost.

I was also pointing out that this weekend is FREE REACTIVATION for those who didn't know...so maybe they will go back and WILL find the game fun again and start playing it again and prevent further lay-offs.

Layoffs hit Paragon Studios

Reader Comments (28)

Posted: Oct 8th 2010 6:55PM Its Utakata stupid said

Posted: Oct 8th 2010 11:58PM Its Utakata stupid said

Posted: Oct 9th 2010 12:42AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 9th 2010 3:59AM Its Utakata stupid said

Posted: Oct 12th 2010 9:20PM Patrick Mackey said

Posted: Oct 8th 2010 12:44PM Daemodand said

Posted: Oct 9th 2010 12:21AM DancingCow said

Posted: Oct 9th 2010 10:10PM Monitor2112 said

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