First and foremost if it were possible to rate the studio at zero stars I would have done so but I guess one star will have to suffice since that is the minimum. Perhaps they deserve the singular star for offering free parking in a busy upcoming city!
How does one start a review without sounding bitter about working at this studio? That's the challenge because this was without a doubt THE WORST experience I have had in the business of working in video game design and production. Perhaps it's easier to just bullet point these negatives -
* The design department only ever finalizes a clear direction when they're at the finish line then expect everyone else to bend to their wavering, indecisive, safe and ill conceived whims. What's worse is that Production/Upper Management allows them to do so.
* Studio management is a 'boys club', you are either a member of it and can expect career advancement or you are VERY much not a member. If you are not you can expect to never be asked what you would like to do with your career nor see your base salary increase.
* Company CEO seems oblivious to the ineptitude of the GluW studio management, they fail (repeatedly) and point the blame at others and they carry on regardless while those under them lose their jobs because of THEIR failures.
* Unable to identify exactly why Deer Hunter 2014 was a runaway success they played it safe and created the same game in Deer Hunter 2016 with barely a fresh coat of paint, it failed miserably. With this failure the studio has now been reduced to a single game studio, down from it's previous production highs and positive atmosphere.
*Management laid-off two entire teams (30+ people) just a week before Christmas 2015, just a miserable, thoughtless and uncaring thing to do.
*Individual Directors (especially in Creative, Art) are disengaged and play favorites. They do not engage with the individual (unless they are a personal friend), openly lie about the studios future and the individuals role in upcoming projects. Carrots are dangled but they are quickly pulled away or in reality simply do not exist.
*Pay is well below the industry standard, the stock options offered are basically worthless given the continued stock price fall. No 401k matching, now non existent bonuses (bonus plan was pulled back to a once a year payout, now the employees have been told not to expect a bonus at all come February 2016).
*Expect to see your work/job turned over to an employee from the India studio who will complete your tasks for a 6th of the cost! A fact that was openly shared just before entire teams lost their jobs!
*There is no longer a well spring of creative direction at the studio, no solid choices based on wisdom, knowledge, inspiration and experience. Now just a light tread across safe waters based on data from uninspired data/number spinners which has ultimately led them to a creative and money making dead end.
* Work on bland games based on old technology, raise awareness that this could be a problem, be ignored, see the games fail - rinse and repeat!
