117 replies to this topic

[Runic]

I'm surprised it hasn't been mentioned here, of all places. But there's word going around that JS downsized more TNT staff, including Comastar and Viola. Ex-staffers had posted this on their Facebooks and other social media sites, which players found and reported on, only for Neopets to come in and remove any posts relating to the massive lay-offs.

 

On Twitter, Snarkie posted this eerie, cold message:
 

 

@snarkie: "If anyone is looking to hire content geniuses, designers, monitors, producers, et al, please do tell. I have awesome folks to send your way."

 

https://twitter.com/...003463534723073

 

In the following comments on the same post, it is confirmed that Comastar and Viola were two of an unknown amount of staff let go.

 

There is also this post from a reputable blogger about the same situation, a former Jellyneo staff:

https://nynex.wordpr...petsdownsizing/

 

Combined with the unusual lack in Friday's news, along with the fact that part of Comastar's job was updating the news, the evidence is pretty compelling and very likely to support the claim.

 

I'm now currently hunting down any further evidence, such as actual statements from ex-staff themselves, but for now, I figured I'd at least post what I've uncovered this morning.

 

Opinions? Comments?

edit: I wish I could edit the topic title; no one was technically fired, they were simply let go and those positions are not going to be filled yet.

Edited by Runic, 08 March 2015 - 10:01 AM.

[KaibaSama]

That explains why nothing's been fixed. I heard they lost the coding for KQ so they can't put it back up because there's no coding for it anymore. 

The ship is sinking, slowly. I don't know if JumpStart plans to add their own people to run neo, but from the way it looks, they don't plan to do anything at all with neo.

[Tailwind]

This is only the beginning of the end unless Jumpstart has something up their sleeve. It was known well in advance that there would be downsizing and layoffs, however things are looking a bit grim what with the familiar names we all know (and love? Least in my case) being dumped from the site.

 

There are also reports of Mr. Insane (PHP game creator -- Neoquest and Neoquest II, etc) being laid off as well, however I cannot find any proof.

[iKate]

It has been mentioned, scroll down here; http://www.neocodex....-7#entry1851993

 

Also:

https://twitter.com/...461676176547840

https://twitter.com/...462406228750336

 

I think these two were ex-staffers (they also replied to snarkie's status)

[Eggie]

Not good. Not good at all. I personally don't see a way out of this in the future.

 

This is looking alarmingly similar to Meteor Games' bankruptcy closure a few years back. Their Island Paradise FB game stopped being updated and started glitching with no fix, and was eventually abandoned altogether along with their forums until suddenly everything was gone.

[Adam]

I think Waser, and sLaughter should take this opportunity to infiltrate TNT's ranks, and offer JS a...jumpstart (hehehe) to their shitty, failing website. Or perhaps bring it down from the inside muwhahaha

[Tailwind]

I think Waser, and sLaughter should take this opportunity to infiltrate TNT's ranks, and offer JS a...jumpstart (hehehe) to their shitty, failing website. Or perhaps bring it down from the inside muwhahaha

 

Immunity for select members maybe? 

[Adam]

Immunity for select members maybe? 

I could get behind this

[Kway]

Maybe they are culling the team so they can hire people that can do stuff correctly without a huge mess.

[Salade]

neo feels like a sinking ship. time to knock jack off the floating door

[KaibaSama]

neo feels like a sinking ship. time to knock jack off the floating door

Jack could have fit on that door and we all know it. The Mythbusters proved it.

I head something on the boards about Adam and Donna kickstarting another similar site, but their history with failed sites...

[Tailwind]

Jack could have fit on that door and we all know it. The Mythbusters proved it.

 

He could have fit, but the door wouldn't have been able to float due to its level of buoyancy compared to Rose and Jack's combined weight. They also proved that.

[Salade]

Jack could have fit on that door and we all know it. The Mythbusters proved it.

I head something on the boards about Adam and Donna kickstarting another similar site, but their history with failed sites...

i remember seeing that episode and being sad all over again. jack </3

 

you mean http://en.wikipedia....ki/Meteor_Games ? their actual website is broken, so yeah

[KaibaSama]

i remember seeing that episode and being sad all over again. jack </3

 

you mean http://en.wikipedia....ki/Meteor_Games ? their actual website is broken, so yeah

They way they said it made it seem like they were kickstarting something else, but I'm not too sure.

[Eggie]

They way they said it made it seem like they were kickstarting something else, but I'm not too sure.

They were most recently trying to start up another site called Moglings, which was supposed to be some sort of open ended game where you can create your own levels. Last I heard it was put on hold to give them time to raise their growing family.

[HiMyNameIsNick]

Everyone is crying but nobody thought that they can hire better staff yet. 

[CaptainDantes]

Maybe they are culling the team so they can hire people that can do stuff correctly without a huge mess.

I agree. Jumpstart has been around a long time - they must be a smarter business than buying neo for millions just to watch it sink. Especially since they're a game developer.

[Eggie]

http://www.jellyneo....?comments=10057

 

It's official.

[Elindoril]

http://www.jellyneo....?comments=10057
 
It's official.

[Runic]

Just to re-iterate, no one was technically fired. I made an error in the topic title.

They were let go without advanced notice, and the positions are not going to be filled at this time.

 

So far, it is only known that Comastar and Viola were two of an undetermined amount of staff let go. Comastar was responsible for writing and uploading the daily news--among other tasks she did--while Viola worked in the Content department.

[CaptainDantes]

http://www.jellyneo....?comments=10057
 
It's official.

I still think this is JumpStart's way of making the site what they want it to be. They were probably getting a lot of resistance from the programmers that have been there for 15 years. Just like a new NFL owner, they're cleaning house and rebuilding in their own vision.

[Tailwind]

I still think this is JumpStart's way of making the site what they want it to be. They were probably getting a lot of resistance from the programmers that have been there for 15 years. Just like a new NFL owner, they're cleaning house and rebuilding in their own vision.

 

Sooo basically taking on Neopets because of its online presence and familiarity, and using the trademark and IP for mobile games and FB game clones?

[CaptainDantes]

Sooo basically taking on Neopets because of its online presence and familiarity, and using the trademark and IP for mobile games and FB game clones?

Haha who knows. I just don't think this is the end of neopets yet. I may be proven wrong in the coming weeks, but I hope not.

[Runic]

I still think this is JumpStart's way of making the site what they want it to be. They were probably getting a lot of resistance from the programmers that have been there for 15 years. Just like a new NFL owner, they're cleaning house and rebuilding in their own vision.

 

Exactly.