Feldon This week’s Daybreak Games layoffs have begun with a shocker. Linda “Brasse” Carlson, long the public face of Sony Online Entertainment as its Global Community Relations lead, and emcee of the annual SOE Live convention for the last five years, she first caught the attention of SOE through her popular TheBrasse.com fansite for EQ2 and her work in the player community. She has also spoken at conventions on behalf of SOE and also moderated panels on the subject of Community Management such as the popular Game Developer’s Conference. With the friendships she’s built in the gaming community, we expect she’ll land on her feet at another firm very soon.
From Linda Carlson‘s Facebook:
Good morning, my friends. Almost exactly six years ago today, I had just lost my job, I posted then, “So, if anyone needs a proper Dwarf…” and my adventure with SOE began.
Today I post again… so, if anyone needs a proper Dwarf…
I have been released from the best and most challenging job I have ever had. I thank you all for being part of that incredible experience. Too many people to thank personally, but know that I am extraordinarily grateful and very curious where life takes me now.
🙁
Getting very worried about the future of my beloved EQ2. No other MMO comes close.
Not the last, I bet. So it begins……
This a shame. I sincerely hope that this is an isolated incident and not the beginning the end.
Wow… Very sad news. Brasse has been the face of SOE for a long time. I wish her the best. That said, isn’t her position the last one you would want to change out in the face of all this uncertainty? Keep the reassuring familiar face while you whatever you want to do.
The beginning of the end? Or did that happen with the sale . . .
Wishing all the best for Ms. Carlson and appreciation for all her hard work.
Kotaku is reporting that Georgeson is gone too.
Wow if true, armageddon has commenced. I’m stunned.
Dave is gone, confirmed via his Twitter.
https://twitter.com/DaveGeorgeson/status/565587111353778179
Dave? Dave’s not here!
Have had the pleasure in the past to meet many of the employees of the old SOE and this is a shame, but not at all expected.
Many years ago I worked for a company that was sold. The new owner came in, assured us all was well and our jobs were secure. They were, until we had trained their people and then we were all laid off.
Best of luck to Linda and Dave, and anyone else ultimately caught in that fall out.
And Endymion…
Damn, she was a wonderful person to meet in real life and definitely a big loss for all of (former) SOE’s games.
I’m really not liking the direction Daybreak have taken, but then again I’ve not liked the direction of things for a few years now.
I personally do not know a single person I have know from EQ, EQ2, or PS2 who is a fan of the direction things have been going in any of those games for a while now. That being said since they are not all headed up by the same people I feel the blame falls squarely at the feet of the people above game specific titles, primarily Smedley.
Daybreak Games (Rising Sun) really knows how to instill confidence to the customers, by axing the human face of the late SOE. Oh wait. To an Investment Management Company, gamers are not the customers, it’s the CA$H people.
Expect the paid social media consultants flooding the old SOE forums to come here and praise the changes.
Now I know why Feldon suggested month-to-month subscriptions.
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“Five billion years and it still comes down to money.”
The Doctor
At least with all these lay-offs, they’ll have something for the weekly update. 🙂
WHAT…THE…HELL !?!?!