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Post by Shinko on Mar 9, 2015 17:21:22 GMT -5
Sites with daily updates and added content are pretty rare to begin with- I wouldn't be surprised if the constant stream of new content is one of the cuts that JS makes to try and save money- and pad out their backlog until they can hire new content creators and artists, if that is their intention.
I am not optimistic about the creative contests in general though... which is going to suck if they go, because as far as I've been able to tell that was one of the site's biggest draws.
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Post by Geodude 🌻 on Mar 9, 2015 17:28:54 GMT -5
Oh JumpStart. Aren't you an edutainment company? Aren't you supposed to foster creativity and learning? Instead you lay off a creative bunch and will probably ignore the gem of creativity that the NT was. How ironic.
There are other things I want to say but I shall not repeat them here.
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Post by Herdy on Mar 9, 2015 17:34:32 GMT -5
I think news today is unlikely - the first of the new miniMMEs morphed today. The scripted part (that the sacked staff set up) worked to award the first stage and the bonuses - but the part they actually have to trigger, the morphing into the final stages, hasn't happened.
If they can't sort the mall content, we're probably not getting free content sooner XD
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2015 17:42:01 GMT -5
Ugh, I'm thankful that we're gonna still have the site, but I'm pretty disgusted by this. TNT's always been working hard to fix the lag and other site problems alongside doing events for the users, and they did NOT deserve to lose their jobs. The old TNT was always working hard for us, so it's really terrible JS would do this to them. Still, I hope the new team does well. They'll never replace the old TNT, but I'm still going to give them a fair chance.
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Post by Nova on Mar 9, 2015 17:43:18 GMT -5
:/ I wish I could be more positive about this. I'm usually first in line to jump at Neo's defence for whatever the reason may be, but I can't say I'm too certain about Neo's future. The letter - while nice to have a response - doesn't really do much for me. As one who worked for a year at a failing company who repeatedly said "we're fine we're fine we're fine we're committed to serving you!!" til the day they pulled the plug, I've learned to not be naive and take their word for it. I do believe they're going to try and make it work, although I'm interested in how, but the future seems pretty shaky right now.
I feel awful for the staff though. Hopefully they can find jobs soon, that really sucks. =(
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Post by Komori on Mar 9, 2015 19:02:55 GMT -5
It doesn't leave a good taste in my mouth either. When Viacom bought Neo, people freaked out and TNT was like, "Don't worry, everyone's sticking around." When Jumpstart bought Neo, people freaked out and TNT was like, "Don't worry, (most) everyone's sticking around!" And then they didn't.
I'm not saying the site can no longer be great. I'm not familiar with JS's other products, but it's totally possible this site is being staffed with artists and designers who are able and willing and raring to go for the challenge. Maybe we'll get something we never would've thought possible. And it's not like it's THEIR fault specifically that all the creators we loved are gone. And I type this all out and it makes sense in a logical way, but I can't help but feel kind of bitter and resentful and suspicious about this new direction. And I resent this David Lord most of all, being the name I've assigned the entirety of this blame, as he is the CEO.
And of course, very importantly is what's going to happen to the NT. It makes up like a HUGE part of my Neopia, and I don't know what I'd do otherwise.
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Post by Allison on Mar 9, 2015 19:07:20 GMT -5
I mostly feel bad for the staff who were let go. Especially Droplet. I can't say I "knew" any of them, really, Droplet included, but... man. To be let go en masse with 30 minutes notice... That's just horrible. And I realize the risk of "sabotage" if people are given too much notice before a layoff, but I think TNT loves the site too much to sabotage anything. I've seen some people (not on here, I don't think?) that suggested they were let go because of the lag. But if that were the case, wouldn't it have been the other way around? Wouldn't it have been the content team and artists that they kept, and the programers let go? Don't get me wrong. I am NOT pinning the lag on the pgrogramers. I'm just saying it seems like a more logical step IF the lag was the main reason. All to say, I don't think the lag has much to do with the layoff.
This whole situation, though, still leaves me feeling so sad, and with a bit of a bad taste in my mouth. I will be praying that those let go can find jobs. I am well aware, more than most people, perhaps, just how difficult it is to get a job these days. *sigh*
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Post by Geodude 🌻 on Mar 9, 2015 19:09:17 GMT -5
I never thought I'd say this but the Viacom days were better. At least promises were kept (even if they were delayed). Either Jumpstart blatantly lied to us, meaning they had no intention of keeping TNT around, or they failed miserably at management. I mostly feel bad for the staff who were let go. Especially Droplet. I can't say I "knew" any of them, really, Droplet included, but... man. To be let go en masse with 30 minutes notice... That's just horrible. And I realize the risk of "sabotage" if people are given too much notice before a layoff, but I think TNT loves the site too much to sabotage anything. I've seen some people (not on here, I don't think?) that suggested they were let go because of the lag. But if that were the case, wouldn't it have been the other way around? Wouldn't it have been the content team and artists that they kept, and the programers let go? Don't get me wrong. I am NOT pinning the lag on the pgrogramers. I'm just saying it seems like a more logical step IF the lag was the main reason. All to say, I don't think the lag has much to do with the layoff. I don't think it was the lag either. I think Jumpstart had this already planned out from the beginning but if you are an employee, you probably don't know what goes on high up in executive offices. If it was the lag, only a few programmers would be gone like you said. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2015 19:10:58 GMT -5
@komori: Oh God, if they get rid of the NT, I'd go berserk :/
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Post by Shinko on Mar 9, 2015 19:12:51 GMT -5
And I realize the risk of "sabotage" if people are given too much notice before a layoff, but I think TNT loves the site too much to sabotage anything. Well by her own admission Donna thought Xweetok and Ogrin were the stupidest neopets she'd ever seen, hated their names, but greenlit them anyway because she was bitter about the direction the site was going. So... there's no telling what someone will do in a moment of anger. But I do agree with you, this is horrible for the site staff. For a lot of them this has been fifteen years of their lives. And now it's all gone on the whims of one spur of the moment corporate decision. It's painfully obvious no one saw this coming, as in her message announcing her maternity leave Droplet talked about the upcoming April Fools issue like it was a done deal, and talked about how to best get in contact with the people running the Times in her absence. It's just sad. |
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Post by Stephanie (swordlilly) on Mar 9, 2015 19:40:14 GMT -5
Which will probably be never. XD; Who knows, though. Someday, a little computer bug or something might stumble upon this remnant bit of code, and go: "What's this?" Is Neopets Still Neopets
Is Neopets still Neopets
without the old war-plots,
the old Battledome,
the pre-customisation art,
the Neoadventure Spotlight,
the old Neohome spotlight,
and several of my playmates
from primary school and high school?
Is Neopets still Neopets
without Adam and Donna?
Is Neopets still Neopets
without achievable avatars,
World Challenges,
Invasion of Meridell,
Lenny Conundrum,
the Random Contest,
Key Quest, Bilge Dice,
Plushie Tycoon,
the Kadoatery?
Is Neopets still Neopets
without Snarkie?
Is Neopets still Neopets
without the Storytelling Competition,
the Poetry Contest,
the Art Gallery,
the Beauty Contest,
the Gallery Spotlight,
the Userlookup Spotlight,
the News Features,
the Neopian Times?
Is Neopets still Neopets
without Comastar, Viola,
the entire content team?
Is Neopets still Neopets
without Droplet?
When I was a child I babbled.
Over time I lost
my childish way of speech.
I learned new words,
new gestures, new behaviours.
Am I still me?
What if I were to lose my habits?
What if one day I walked totally different,
and had a totally different manner?
What if I changed my name?
What if I lost my memory?
Would I still be me?
I'm taller than I used to be.
I no longer fit into the clothes
I wore when I was little.
My nails grow and I trim them.
My hair grows and I cut it.
Food, water, air comes into me,
Gets processed, and goes out different.
Materially my body is totally different
from my body years ago.
Am I still me?
What if I were to lose
my teeth, my hair,
my sight, my hearing,
my lungs, my heart?
What if one day I needed a robot heart?
Would I still be me?
And when I am fully dead and gone,
What will there be left of me?
Is there a soul of Neopets?
A generation of Neopets memories?
Of what it is to be a human child
Growing up in the Internet Age?
Is that what will remain?
In this world of everlasting change.
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Post by Jae on Mar 9, 2015 19:47:27 GMT -5
Which will probably be never. XD; Who knows, though. Someday, a little computer bug or something might stumble upon this remnant bit of code, and go: "What's this?" Is Neopets Still Neopets
Is Neopets still Neopets
without the old war-plots,
the old Battledome,
the pre-customisation art,
the Neoadventure Spotlight,
the old Neohome spotlight,
and several of my playmates
from primary school and high school?
Is Neopets still Neopets
without Adam and Donna?
Is Neopets still Neopets
without achievable avatars,
World Challenges,
Invasion of Meridell,
Lenny Conundrum,
the Random Contest,
Key Quest, Bilge Dice,
Plushie Tycoon,
the Kadoatery?
Is Neopets still Neopets
without Snarkie?
Is Neopets still Neopets
without the Storytelling Competition,
the Poetry Contest,
the Art Gallery,
the Beauty Contest,
the Gallery Spotlight,
the Userlookup Spotlight,
the News Features,
the Neopian Times?
Is Neopets still Neopets
without Comastar, Viola,
the entire content team?
Is Neopets still Neopets
without Droplet?
When I was a child I babbled.
Over time I lost
my childish way of speech.
I learned new words,
new gestures, new behaviours.
Am I still me?
What if I were to lose my habits?
What if one day I walked totally different,
and had a totally different manner?
What if I changed my name?
What if I lost my memory?
Would I still be me?
I'm taller than I used to be.
I no longer fit into the clothes
I wore when I was little.
My nails grow and I trim them.
My hair grows and I cut it.
Food, water, air comes into me,
Gets processed, and goes out different.
Materially my body is totally different
from my body years ago.
Am I still me?
What if I were to lose
my teeth, my hair,
my sight, my hearing,
my lungs, my heart?
What if one day I needed a robot heart?
Would I still be me?
And when I am fully dead and gone,
What will there be left of me?
Is there a soul of Neopets?
A generation of Neopets memories?
Of what it is to be a human child
Growing up in the Internet Age?
Is that what will remain?
In this world of everlasting change.
I highly doubt this'll get accepted, but it's not because it's a bad poem. Beautiful and sad. |
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Post by Shinko on Mar 9, 2015 19:47:47 GMT -5
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Post by Carolyn on Mar 9, 2015 20:18:38 GMT -5
Why does this make me want to rage more? Like seriously, I read this and I become all but furious. I don't even know this man and I already hate him. :K
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Post by thedoggirl on Mar 9, 2015 20:28:12 GMT -5
Why does this make me want to rage more? Like seriously, I read this and I become all but furious. I don't even know this man and I already hate him. :K Yeah... It may be just me projecting my feelings, but it doesn't feel sincere. :/ I get wanting to have more of JS people in the staff and TNT was never perfect, but this seems like a bad move. (But I don't know much about running a business.) |
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