In the SF-MMO WildStar , the reviews from current and former employees regarding management are not exactly flattering. There are mentions of a “Boy’s Club” and rigid hierarchies.
The site “glassdoor.com” is a kind of “employees rate their company” site in the USA. Glassdoor aims to give job seekers a taste of what they can really expect at the company. They collect anonymous reviews and experiences from alleged employees of these companies. These need to be taken with caution, as people are not exactly super balanced and objective when writing such things. The anonymity also tempts people to let loose. However, other major software studios have received good reviews and reports on glassdoor. So it’s not just a pure “trash” site for venting.
According to anonymous reports, the fish at Carbine stinks from the top
The reviews for Carbine, the studio behind WildStar, have been mixed for a while. Now, the US site “The Escapist” has drawn attention to this – and MMO sites like massively are already reporting on it.
The criticism from employees mainly refers to the management behind Carbine. There is said to be a small circle of “boys” who promote and support each other, according to a report. Doubts are cast on the competence of the supervisors.
Colleagues and employees, on the other hand, receive good reviews. The game WildStar also comes out excellently. According to the reviews, the fish at the top seems to stink. Issues in communication, a toxic work environment, and incompetence in management are identified. The pressures are extremely high, salaries low, and promotion opportunities nearly nonexistent.
Former employees: The departure of Gaffney hit the studio hard
The Escapist managed to get a former Carbine employee to provide a statement. However, the individual wishes to remain anonymous. According to this anonymous source, it’s not as bad as in the worst reports. However, the departures of key employees have left a void that needs to be filled. In particular, the departure of Jeremy Gaffney for personal reasons reportedly hit Carbine hard: “When the head of a studio leaves, passion and dedication often go with them.”
The layoffs of employees are seen by the anonymous source as part of the industry. Once an MMO is released, it requires significantly fewer employees to maintain it. Therefore, the frequent layoffs in the industry occur: “Like in any other job, things just happen.”
