Rockstar Vienna closed.

[Sup 0]

http://www.intelligent-artifice.com/2006/0...ienna.html#more

Really unfortunate, I heard about it over on polycount. Apparently one of their projects was only two weeks out from completion.

One of the members posted this on his site (http://www.stephko.viranyi.de/) :

So, ok Yesterday:

I come to the buisness park where Rockstar Vienna is located. I go to the supermarket, fetch my breakfast and stand in line of the cash and while waiting I see this crowd of people from the studio sitting there, drinkin beer. I think to myself "Ooookey, Wolfgang (our beloved senior programmer) is going, earlier then expected, but hey." I walk to them. Some are happy some are upset and I think "W-T-F". I was heading to the office while our producer was walking in front of me. We get into the elevator and he says "Oh, did you already hear it?" "No, what?" "We are closing" "Your kidding me" "No". Elevator stops, we are at the front of the office. Our Keys disabled, Security securing the doors and try to prevent data theft. We get a handout:

Subject: Closing of Rockstar Vienna

Ok, wow. I think to myself "That´s it. It was a nice guest performance"

Ok so we were let in in groups of 5 and had a talk with our chef and finance manager, both 14 year veterans and founders of neo, now known as ex Rockstar Vienna. They were standing in the middle of the room. Two lawyers - from Take2 probably - sitting at a table, watching our chefs tell 105 workers that the company is closed. Decision by Take2.

For me, I worked there for 4 months, still I liked to work there. The people were nice the general climate was extraordinary. I try to see this event as a chance to go study or do something nice with my life in the next 2 months like learning traditional paiting maybe?

Still, I feel sorry for my coworkers and wish them all the best and good luck. Some In-Depth:

One programmer, just had a newborn and started a family.

Our concept artist, came back from Sweden where he told his parents-in-law that he will marry their daughter. He just came back yesterday and break into tears cause he loved this project.

Our Senior Artist, worked for 6 years in the company. He will start as a real rockstar on the guitar, hopefully. haha.

Our animator is in Vietnam, I hope sombody called him.

I think about 3 people are newlyweds and just relocated to a better (and more expensive ) flat.

My junior fellow is a dumbass after all. Consequently he wants to build a space shuttle.

Our Senior Level Artist, he is celebrating his third closing.

One of our Programmers, hit the fifth closing.

The guys who relocated -including me- need to stay here since the flats have a one year contract in which you cant liquidate your flat.

107 people lost their job. Some have family or roots here to stay. And in Austria, there is NOTHING like that. If you want to work in this industry, you need to relocate again.

Overall, ###### happens. I am glad that I got out that good and feel very lucky to be young and talented and didnt burn down the bridges to my outsourcing studio of choice.