Staff shed at LEGO Universe dev NetDevil

By Wesley Yin-Poole Published 24 February, 2011

What now for Jumpgate: Evolution?

MMOs LEGO Universe and Jumpgate: Evolution could be under threat after multiple reports emerged claiming developer NetDevil suffered crippling layoffs last night.

"Unfortunately a lot of talented folks lost their jobs as we have found out on Facebook!" reads a blog update from angry animator Toby Cochran.

"I personally think it's pretty terrible to find news out that way and not to be correctly notified. We all were receiving phone calls tonight and I just got mine about two hours ago.

"From what we've been told a handful of artists will be kept on board and continue working on LEGO Universe. But at the moment that will be a very, VERY small team. As the count continues to rise on FB, they've cut over 20 people."

An image doing the rounds on Facebook shows a tombstone with the words: "NetDevil RIP October 1997-Feb 2011."

NetDevil is owned by Gazillion, which is yet to confirm the layoffs.

In December last year publisher Codemasters filed a civil complaint in San Francisco against NetDevil and Gazillion for failing to deliver science fiction MMO Jumpgate on time.

Codemasters alleged NetDevil failed to meet contractual guidelines that stipulated Jumpgate would launch by 24th February 2009.

Codemasters wanted compensation for the $1.4 million it had spent on the game in the hope it would one day launch, but as an alternative it offered its share of interest back to NetDevil and Gazillion in return for all the money it invested.

Eurogamer last saw Jumpgate Evolution in May 2009, when Jim Rossignol went hands-on. "Jumpgate will enter beta testing soon, and I suspect it's going to prove a popular attraction, particularly for those who don't want the complexity and imagination-roasting depth of EVE Online," he wrote.

Two months later Codemasters Online announced that Jumpgate Evolution had reached 250,000 beta sign-ups across Europe and North America.

The MMO was originally down for release in 2008 before moving to - and missing - a June 2009 date. Currently, the official Jumpgate Evolution website features a greyed out box which reads, "Pre-order coming soon". It is still possible to sign up for the beta test.

Picture of Wesley.

About Wesley Yin-Poole

Wesley is Eurogamer's news editor. He likes news, interviews, and more news. He also likes Street Fighter more than anyone can get him to shut up about it.

Read more articles from Wesley by visiting the Wesley Yin-Poole archive page.

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Comments (8) Latest comment 1 year ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Shikasama #1 1 year ago

    Honestly, even if Jumpgate was released tomorrow I think I would be very weary about supporting a game as an ongoing concern from a studio that missed two deadlines by such a huge margin and only ever seems to be in the media when they are up shit creek.

  • Geordiemp #2 1 year ago

    What is it with all these MMO developer owners / management people expecting all these MMO riches from subs...

    Only a few do it, a game has to be exceptional to pay subs for.

    Feel sorry for the workers, if I was a worker I would be weary about working on any MMO

  • hulahoops #3 1 year ago

    :(

    Only the hardcore will ever pay subscriptions for games. Didn't The Sims Online well and truly prove that already? This should have been a free to play with virtual items game.

    Purchasing special lego components for cash, get the basics for free... it lends itself perfectly.
    Edited by 1 at 24/02/11 @ 11:24

  • Mkwone #4 1 year ago

    If i worked there i'd be brickin it.

    /bad taste

  • roquey Verified Lead Quality Assurance Tester and Compliance Specialist, Universally Speaking #5 1 year ago

    @Geordiemp you wouldnt be weary if it was what you were paid to do youd be getting on with it to earn your living. yes its sad to see people lose their jobs, for devs to see their games flop. but thats part of the business risk devs take when making these games.

    Sad to see jumpgate fail i really hope it doesnt. It has so much promise.

  • Geordiemp #6 1 year ago

    ^^ If I was a contractor I wouldnt care, would you.

    The fact its redundancy time suggests allot of these workers are not paid / work as contractors..

    If they were contractors they would not be entitled to redundancy.
    Edited by 1 at 24/02/11 @ 11:46

  • SAMagic #7 1 year ago

    I wonder whether they could go Free-to-play from the start? Or would they go for subs so they could get a wave of cash in first?

  • pinebear #8 1 year ago

    Gazillion also have the Marvel-licensed Super Hero Squad Online on their books (think DC Universe Online for kids) so perhaps they're focusing efforts on that?