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Today the merger between EA Games and Digital Illusions CE (DICE) became official. Unfortunatly for me, and supprisingly to all of us in the DICE Canada office, EA decided to shut down the DICE Canada office. We all expected it deep down inside but it makes sense really, the DICE Canada office was pretty small and was getting smaller over the past year from people leaving in fear of the merger.

To be honest, I'm actually relieved. Relieved in not having to wonder what's going to happen is the main thing. This does not mean that we are all out on our ears. EA has offered all of us placement in other EA studios around the globe of our choosing. Either that or take a severence package and move back to my home in Salt Lake City or perhaps take the severence and a position with another company. Since there is nothing going on in Salt Lake City, I'll be seeking placement at another EA studio. My choices are of course vast, but I'm thinking on staying here in Canada and going to work for EA Vancouver.

I'm not unhappy about it at all. I came to London to work on Battlefield2 and since no more work on BF2 will be taking place, I've completed my goal. I now have the opportunity to set and undertake new goals. Either with EA Games or with another game developer.

Oh well... life goes on!

As much as that sucks - at least they've left some pretty shiney doors open for you! Dont most companies tend to say "So long and thanks for all the fish" when they close down small offices that are getting smaller naturally?

Thats funny... a guy who sits across from me was singing that as he was clearing off his desk! "So long and thanks for all the fish!"

EA claims that they are in deperate need for programmers (heads up for anybody watning to get into the industry) but thier severence package is so pretty, it seems almost like it encourages you not to take an EA job.

But yes, when a studio gets small, they either cut it or consolidate it into the bigger studios.

I've also been offered to move to Sweden and continue working on the BF franchise but thats a HUGE life change.

A very similar thing happenned to me when I was working for Take 2 in the UK. Internal dev was just starting and was only one team (where I was the gfx engine coder) working alone in one of the company's sites (literally across the road from Windsor Castle).

When they bought DMA in Dec 1999, all of a sudden they already had a couple of ready made internal studios, with a great track record (GTA anyone?). So they shelved our game "Pendragon" (a.k.a. Siege) and sent us all on our merry way. We could've gone to Scotland if we wanted, but we all said naaaah....

That would be pretty sweet. There's two EA buildings here, the large one where I am just ouside Vancouver in Burnaby (EA Canada) and then there's EA Blackbox in Vancouver.

Who knows, maybe I'll see you around the hallways one day