Gamer Builds Memorial for Defunct Studios Outside EA's Vancouver Office
··4 min read
VANCOUVER, CANADA — A gamer has constructed a memorial outside Electronic Arts' Vancouver office to honor studios that have been shut down by the publisher. The memorial, made of cardboard, features tombstones for seven studios that Electronic Arts has closed. The action follows the closure of BioWare's Edmonton studio, which was announced in March 2023. The memorial has sparked conversations about the impact of studio closures on the gaming industry and the role of publishers in supporting developers.
The memorial includes tombstones for Visceral Games, which was closed in 2017, and Maxis, which was shut down in 2015. Other studios featured on the memorial include Pandemic Studios, which was closed in 2009, and Danger Close Games, which was shut down in 2013. The memorial also includes tombstones for Mythic Entertainment, which was closed in 2014, and EA Black Box, which was shut down in 2013. The final tombstone is for BioWare's Edmonton studio, which was closed in March 2023. The memorial has been installed in a public space outside Electronic Arts' Vancouver office, and has attracted the attention of passersby and industry professionals alike.
The memorial has sparked conversations about the impact of studio closures on the gaming industry. Studio closures can have a significant impact on the gaming industry, as they often result in job losses and the cancellation of projects. The memorial has also raised questions about the role of publishers in supporting developers, and whether they are doing enough to ensure the long-term viability of studios. Some industry professionals have praised the memorial as a powerful reminder of the impact of studio closures, while others have criticized it as a form of protest that may not be effective in bringing about change.
Electronic Arts has not yet responded to requests for comment on the memorial. The company has a history of closing studios, and has faced criticism for its treatment of developers in the past. In 2017, the company was criticized for its handling of the closure of Visceral Games, which was working on a Star Wars project at the time. The closure of the studio resulted in the cancellation of the project, and left many developers without jobs. In 2015, the company was criticized for its handling of the closure of Maxis, which was working on the SimCity franchise at the time. The closure of the studio resulted in the cancellation of several projects, and left many developers without jobs.
EA has faced criticism for its treatment of developers in the past. In 2017, the company was criticized for its handling of the closure of Visceral Games, which was working on a Star Wars project at the time. The closure of the studio resulted in the cancellation of the project, and left many developers without jobs. In 2015, the company was criticized for its handling of the closure of Maxis, which was working on the SimCity franchise at the time. The closure of the studio resulted in the cancellation of several projects, and left many developers without jobs.
The memorial has also raised questions about the role of publishers in supporting developers, and whether they are doing enough to ensure the long-term viability of studios. Some industry professionals have praised the memorial as a powerful reminder of the impact of studio closures, while others have criticized it as a form of protest that may not be effective in bringing about change.
Electronic Arts has not yet responded to requests for comment on the memorial. The company has a history of closing studios, and has faced criticism for its treatment of developers in the past. In 2017, the company was criticized for its handling of the closure of Visceral Games, which was working on a Star Wars project at the time. The closure of the studio resulted in the cancellation of the project, and left many developers without jobs. In 2015, the company was criticized for its handling of the closure of Maxis, which was working on the SimCity franchise at the time. The closure of the studio resulted in the cancellation of several projects, and left many developers without jobs. The memorial has also raised questions about the role of publishers in supporting developers, and whether they are doing enough to ensure the long-term viability of studios. Some industry professionals have praised the memorial as a powerful reminder of the impact of studio closures, while others have criticized it as a form of protest that may not be effective in bringing about change.
