It's a standard "Contact journalist with sob story to get publicity" story. Non-Compete clauses for a small window are standard in the games industry and in any creative industry. Both HMX and Activision had staff under those clauses, many of the Neversoft staff let go after Warriors Of Rock mentioned that they had non-compete clauses which meant they couldn't sign with non-Activision developers who were making music games. They could go to other developers (A few HMX designers who left or were let go ended up in Twisted Pixel for example), just not anyone developing a music game. Not to be all "BOOTSTRAPS" and internet libertarian, but I couldn't understand why he just didn't go "OK, that's not going to work out while my clause is active, lets look elsewhere" since 38 Studios were hiring a lot of people last year, or at even move to Canada. Lots of developers looking for staff and Tim Hortons. It's a win/win situation.@notdrew said:
@Slaker117 said:
@OldGuy said:
@yoshimitz707 said:It's a non-compete clause. Tough cookies. If he got an offer to work at, say Bungie, no worries. But he was going to work at a company that makes product that would directly compete.@Hailinel said:
@RazielCuts@RE_Player92 said:I am curious to know this as well.@MethodisWhat story are you referring to?Yeah I read that story too, real shady stuff.I look forward to the next game by a company who forces a man to go unemployed and look for a job for a year because they are scared of other companies stealing their entirely original games.
Agreed. Maybe I'm just naive, but this doesn't sound like that big of a deal.
yeah, i didn't feel like this was a big deal either. I think it just sucks that he was offered a job at the competing company and wasn't allowed to take it because of the Non-Compete clause. But as much as it sucks, businesses have to protect their most valuable assets any way possible.
After the whole fall-out with Activision and losing their grip on the Guitar Hero IP, you can understand their interest in protecting themselves from any problems with staffers potentially jumping ship and taking Harmonix know-how, ideas, and potentially technology to competing developers.
Also, dude signed a contract that said he couldn't work for any company making a rhythm game for a year, and boo-hoo he is being expected to honor that contract. I think it is disgraceful that he made it into a news item to begin with.
Also Methodis' stupid grudge against Harmonix continues through space, time and multiple websites.
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