Krome Studios announces development of Viva Pinata: Party Animals

<q>GS: Why did you decide to move the next installment of the Viva Pinata franchise away from Rare and give it to Krome?

SK: We decided to work with Krome on Viva Pinata Party Animals because they're great game developers. They've got a long history in the industry and we have a ton of respect for their work. And Rare was really happy to work with them because Rare is obviously the creators of VP. Rare is hard at work on a number of different projects. The next Banjo Kazooie title that's coming next year is obviously one that we've announced, but they're also working on some other things.</q>

Personally I've only ever done the overtime I think is valid to helping my team or project out of a current issue or to get ahead of things, if someone ever demanded it of me unreasonably I'd tell them no...simple.

Over the several years I've been at Krome I really haven't done that much overtime and most of what I have done has been self imposed.

I think before people go spouting rumours about a company they should think about those innocent people who's careers they might hurt, people who never harmed you, people who love working in games industry, people who actually like there jobs, people who try to improve any issues they encounter by being proactive not just whining quietly in a corner like some Emo.

If anyone in any company has an issue with how they are currently being treated, were treated or think others are being treated I'd suggest they take there grievances to the company themselves, if you have and nothing has been done then by all means take it up with more formal avenues, thats your rights and one I would use if I had issues.

Trolling games sites bad mouthing 300+ people who had nothing to do with how YOU decided to ALLOW someone to treat you is not helpful and it is about the weakest way to stand up for yourself.... grow a spine.

Personally I've only ever done the overtime I think is valid to helping my team or project out of a current issue or to get ahead of things, if someone ever demanded it of me unreasonably I'd tell them no...simple.

Over the several years I've been at Krome I really haven't done that much overtime and most of what I have done has been self imposed.

I think before people go spouting rumours about a company they should think about those innocent people who's careers they might hurt, people who never harmed you, people who love working in games industry, people who actually like there jobs, people who try to improve any issues they encounter by being proactive not just whining quietly in a corner like some Emo.

If anyone in any company has an issue with how they are currently being treated, were treated or think others are being treated I'd suggest they take there grievances to the company themselves, if you have and nothing has been done then by all means take it up with more formal avenues, thats your rights and one I would use if I had issues.

Trolling games sites bad mouthing 300+ people who had nothing to do with how YOU decided to ALLOW someone to treat you is not helpful and it is about the weakest way to stand up for yourself.... grow a spine.

Although I must say that it does sound as though you have a problem with getting blotto.

Although I must say that it does sound as though you have a problem with getting blotto.

Very few take these posts seriously. It mainly affects people new to the industry. If the company being shemeared goes on to be succesful, the resentment and bitterness grows and the number of posts grows with them. The shemearers are few in number, but produce a very large volume of posts. Many shemearers have conversations and arguements with themselves.

I may be wrong though. It happens often enough. :)

It's a shame to see terms like "sumearing" coming up. I remember the good old days when Sumea was seen as a valuable resource, the times when the future of Sumea was in doubt, and how our local industry banded together to sponsor Souri's great work and keep this dream alive.

Remember when the forums were full of posts (not just limited to a place to host the competition art)? How those times have changed. The ratio of trolling to constructive posts became so great, that if you ask a lot of "sumea-veterans" if they still read the forums, they'll say "hah, you're still reading those? I stopped reading them years ago when they became saturated with crap." Gamasutra it ain't. Sad to say.

I wonder if it's possible to pick up our game at all.

Yeeah, it's fun to hate Krome. They're "the man"... the big corporation. I've been spending some time at Krome recently, and all of the guys (and girls) I've met there are switched on, passionate and working towards something better.

If they're doing something wrong, then you need to "be the change you want to see in the world", and affect change by example. It would be easy to bounce from company to company being a quiet, grouchy kicked puppy that knows all but changes nothing. What good is a cynic without a better plan? :)

Yeah I've been burnt out at companies too. A number of times. In my experience, no one company is better than all the rest at this. After moving companies, you generally feel that you've escaped from the worst of it and have found the promised land... after a few months though, you realise it's the same situation.

After you've experienced this a few times, you realise that it's not the workplaces that are hurting you, it's that you don't have your shit together. You learn that you can't stay up late AND expect your body to be able to perform. When you look at developers that have young families, life pressures, and are still pumping along with consistent quality at their work, it shows that it's all possible.

Game developers are not Robinson Crusoe. A recent AUS survey showed that a majority of Australians consistently work 8 hours or more of unpaid overtime per week. Every week.

Some companies, like Red Tribe for example, have taken the initiative to improve this situation. Champs.

My Mum used to tell me that if I don't have anything good to say, I shouldn't say anything at all. ;)

Peace out.

Scott.

As for trolling being the cause for regulars moving on, I wouldn't know. Has it caused a decrease in forum posts? I think this is what has happened. In the old days, you couldn't comment on news items on Sumea. If there was a newstory worthy of discussion, then someone may post about it in the forum. Now that people can comment directly under the news story, the discussions have moved from the forum to the comment areas. In fact, people are talking and responding to local news more than ever before due to the Sumea comments sections than the forum.

As for Sumea veterans moving on, I think it's to be expected. This site has been going on for five years already and those who regularly visited Sumea for multiple years are probably reaching or past their thirties now, and hold much different priorities in their lives. Can't really expect people to post regularly after five or so years. Or in many cases I've seen already, they've finally got their foot in the industry and just don't have the time to contribute anymore. Heck, when I was working as a web designer, the last thing I wanted to do at the end of the day was to get back on the net and post in design forums. You know, a lot has been written in the forums, topics have been covered again and again, and it's hard to be enthusiastic about contributing to a thread which you've already spoken about many times before.

But I do agree, the community aspect of Sumea has seen better days. But I don't think the decrease in community has been due to trolling in the news comments area.

I work for Krome now, and used to work for another local company here in melbourne. I been with Krome now for over a year and a half now.

Krome are awesome, they go out of their way to be good to their employees. There are some annoying quirks but in general its a good place to work for (for example, they don't mind spending money on equipment, they are flying all of us up for a party in october (from the 3 offices)).

Other company were having problems paying on time, and the managers were after a lot of sweat and expected it out of you. Moral was pitiful as well.

Oh and i've not done any forced overtime at Krome, I have on occassion stayed back when I'm in the vibe and wanna get something finished though, but the company hasn't forced me to do so.

As for trolling being the cause for regulars moving on, I wouldn't know. Has it caused a decrease in forum posts? I think this is what has happened. In the old days, you couldn't comment on news items on Sumea. If there was a newstory worthy of discussion, then someone may post about it in the forum. Now that people can comment directly under the news story, the discussions have moved from the forum to the comment areas. In fact, people are talking and responding to local news more than ever before due to the Sumea comments sections than the forum.

As for Sumea veterans moving on, I think it's to be expected. This site has been going on for five years already and those who regularly visited Sumea for multiple years are probably reaching or past their thirties now, and hold much different priorities in their lives. Can't really expect people to post regularly after five or so years. Or in many cases I've seen already, they've finally got their foot in the industry and just don't have the time to contribute anymore. Heck, when I was working as a web designer, the last thing I wanted to do at the end of the day was to get back on the net and post in design forums. You know, a lot has been written in the forums, topics have been covered again and again, and it's hard to be enthusiastic about contributing to a thread which you've already spoken about many times before.

But I do agree, the community aspect of Sumea has seen better days. But I don't think the decrease in community has been due to trolling in the news comments area.

I work for Krome now, and used to work for another local company here in melbourne. I been with Krome now for over a year and a half now.

Krome are awesome, they go out of their way to be good to their employees. There are some annoying quirks but in general its a good place to work for (for example, they don't mind spending money on equipment, they are flying all of us up for a party in october (from the 3 offices)).

Other company were having problems paying on time, and the managers were after a lot of sweat and expected it out of you. Moral was pitiful as well.

Oh and i've not done any forced overtime at Krome, I have on occassion stayed back when I'm in the vibe and wanna get something finished though, but the company hasn't forced me to do so.

I may be wrong though. It happens often enough. :)

It's a shame to see terms like "sumearing" coming up. I remember the good old days when Sumea was seen as a valuable resource, the times when the future of Sumea was in doubt, and how our local industry banded together to sponsor Souri's great work and keep this dream alive.

Remember when the forums were full of posts (not just limited to a place to host the competition art)? How those times have changed. The ratio of trolling to constructive posts became so great, that if you ask a lot of "sumea-veterans" if they still read the forums, they'll say "hah, you're still reading those? I stopped reading them years ago when they became saturated with crap." Gamasutra it ain't. Sad to say.

I wonder if it's possible to pick up our game at all.

Yeeah, it's fun to hate Krome. They're "the man"... the big corporation. I've been spending some time at Krome recently, and all of the guys (and girls) I've met there are switched on, passionate and working towards something better.

If they're doing something wrong, then you need to "be the change you want to see in the world", and affect change by example. It would be easy to bounce from company to company being a quiet, grouchy kicked puppy that knows all but changes nothing. What good is a cynic without a better plan? :)

Yeah I've been burnt out at companies too. A number of times. In my experience, no one company is better than all the rest at this. After moving companies, you generally feel that you've escaped from the worst of it and have found the promised land... after a few months though, you realise it's the same situation.

After you've experienced this a few times, you realise that it's not the workplaces that are hurting you, it's that you don't have your shit together. You learn that you can't stay up late AND expect your body to be able to perform. When you look at developers that have young families, life pressures, and are still pumping along with consistent quality at their work, it shows that it's all possible.

Game developers are not Robinson Crusoe. A recent AUS survey showed that a majority of Australians consistently work 8 hours or more of unpaid overtime per week. Every week.

Some companies, like Red Tribe for example, have taken the initiative to improve this situation. Champs.

My Mum used to tell me that if I don't have anything good to say, I shouldn't say anything at all. ;)

Peace out.

Scott.

As for trolling being the cause for regulars moving on, I wouldn't know. Has it caused a decrease in forum posts? I think this is what has happened. In the old days, you couldn't comment on news items on Sumea. If there was a newstory worthy of discussion, then someone may post about it in the forum. Now that people can comment directly under the news story, the discussions have moved from the forum to the comment areas. In fact, people are talking and responding to local news more than ever before due to the Sumea comments sections than the forum.

As for Sumea veterans moving on, I think it's to be expected. This site has been going on for five years already and those who regularly visited Sumea for multiple years are probably reaching or past their thirties now, and hold much different priorities in their lives. Can't really expect people to post regularly after five or so years. Or in many cases I've seen already, they've finally got their foot in the industry and just don't have the time to contribute anymore. Heck, when I was working as a web designer, the last thing I wanted to do at the end of the day was to get back on the net and post in design forums. You know, a lot has been written in the forums, topics have been covered again and again, and it's hard to be enthusiastic about contributing to a thread which you've already spoken about many times before.

But I do agree, the community aspect of Sumea has seen better days. But I don't think the decrease in community has been due to trolling in the news comments area.

I work for Krome now, and used to work for another local company here in melbourne. I been with Krome now for over a year and a half now.

Krome are awesome, they go out of their way to be good to their employees. There are some annoying quirks but in general its a good place to work for (for example, they don't mind spending money on equipment, they are flying all of us up for a party in october (from the 3 offices)).

Other company were having problems paying on time, and the managers were after a lot of sweat and expected it out of you. Moral was pitiful as well.

Oh and i've not done any forced overtime at Krome, I have on occassion stayed back when I'm in the vibe and wanna get something finished though, but the company hasn't forced me to do so.

As for trolling being the cause for regulars moving on, I wouldn't know. Has it caused a decrease in forum posts? I think this is what has happened. In the old days, you couldn't comment on news items on Sumea. If there was a newstory worthy of discussion, then someone may post about it in the forum. Now that people can comment directly under the news story, the discussions have moved from the forum to the comment areas. In fact, people are talking and responding to local news more than ever before due to the Sumea comments sections than the forum.

As for Sumea veterans moving on, I think it's to be expected. This site has been going on for five years already and those who regularly visited Sumea for multiple years are probably reaching or past their thirties now, and hold much different priorities in their lives. Can't really expect people to post regularly after five or so years. Or in many cases I've seen already, they've finally got their foot in the industry and just don't have the time to contribute anymore. Heck, when I was working as a web designer, the last thing I wanted to do at the end of the day was to get back on the net and post in design forums. You know, a lot has been written in the forums, topics have been covered again and again, and it's hard to be enthusiastic about contributing to a thread which you've already spoken about many times before.

But I do agree, the community aspect of Sumea has seen better days. But I don't think the decrease in community has been due to trolling in the news comments area.

I work for Krome now, and used to work for another local company here in melbourne. I been with Krome now for over a year and a half now.

Krome are awesome, they go out of their way to be good to their employees. There are some annoying quirks but in general its a good place to work for (for example, they don't mind spending money on equipment, they are flying all of us up for a party in october (from the 3 offices)).

Other company were having problems paying on time, and the managers were after a lot of sweat and expected it out of you. Moral was pitiful as well.

Oh and i've not done any forced overtime at Krome, I have on occassion stayed back when I'm in the vibe and wanna get something finished though, but the company hasn't forced me to do so.

I may be wrong though. It happens often enough. :)

It's a shame to see terms like "sumearing" coming up. I remember the good old days when Sumea was seen as a valuable resource, the times when the future of Sumea was in doubt, and how our local industry banded together to sponsor Souri's great work and keep this dream alive.

Remember when the forums were full of posts (not just limited to a place to host the competition art)? How those times have changed. The ratio of trolling to constructive posts became so great, that if you ask a lot of "sumea-veterans" if they still read the forums, they'll say "hah, you're still reading those? I stopped reading them years ago when they became saturated with crap." Gamasutra it ain't. Sad to say.

I wonder if it's possible to pick up our game at all.

Yeeah, it's fun to hate Krome. They're "the man"... the big corporation. I've been spending some time at Krome recently, and all of the guys (and girls) I've met there are switched on, passionate and working towards something better.

If they're doing something wrong, then you need to "be the change you want to see in the world", and affect change by example. It would be easy to bounce from company to company being a quiet, grouchy kicked puppy that knows all but changes nothing. What good is a cynic without a better plan? :)

Yeah I've been burnt out at companies too. A number of times. In my experience, no one company is better than all the rest at this. After moving companies, you generally feel that you've escaped from the worst of it and have found the promised land... after a few months though, you realise it's the same situation.

After you've experienced this a few times, you realise that it's not the workplaces that are hurting you, it's that you don't have your shit together. You learn that you can't stay up late AND expect your body to be able to perform. When you look at developers that have young families, life pressures, and are still pumping along with consistent quality at their work, it shows that it's all possible.

Game developers are not Robinson Crusoe. A recent AUS survey showed that a majority of Australians consistently work 8 hours or more of unpaid overtime per week. Every week.

Some companies, like Red Tribe for example, have taken the initiative to improve this situation. Champs.

My Mum used to tell me that if I don't have anything good to say, I shouldn't say anything at all. ;)

Peace out.

Scott.

As for trolling being the cause for regulars moving on, I wouldn't know. Has it caused a decrease in forum posts? I think this is what has happened. In the old days, you couldn't comment on news items on Sumea. If there was a newstory worthy of discussion, then someone may post about it in the forum. Now that people can comment directly under the news story, the discussions have moved from the forum to the comment areas. In fact, people are talking and responding to local news more than ever before due to the Sumea comments sections than the forum.

As for Sumea veterans moving on, I think it's to be expected. This site has been going on for five years already and those who regularly visited Sumea for multiple years are probably reaching or past their thirties now, and hold much different priorities in their lives. Can't really expect people to post regularly after five or so years. Or in many cases I've seen already, they've finally got their foot in the industry and just don't have the time to contribute anymore. Heck, when I was working as a web designer, the last thing I wanted to do at the end of the day was to get back on the net and post in design forums. You know, a lot has been written in the forums, topics have been covered again and again, and it's hard to be enthusiastic about contributing to a thread which you've already spoken about many times before.

But I do agree, the community aspect of Sumea has seen better days. But I don't think the decrease in community has been due to trolling in the news comments area.

I work for Krome now, and used to work for another local company here in melbourne. I been with Krome now for over a year and a half now.

Krome are awesome, they go out of their way to be good to their employees. There are some annoying quirks but in general its a good place to work for (for example, they don't mind spending money on equipment, they are flying all of us up for a party in october (from the 3 offices)).

Other company were having problems paying on time, and the managers were after a lot of sweat and expected it out of you. Moral was pitiful as well.

Oh and i've not done any forced overtime at Krome, I have on occassion stayed back when I'm in the vibe and wanna get something finished though, but the company hasn't forced me to do so.

As for trolling being the cause for regulars moving on, I wouldn't know. Has it caused a decrease in forum posts? I think this is what has happened. In the old days, you couldn't comment on news items on Sumea. If there was a newstory worthy of discussion, then someone may post about it in the forum. Now that people can comment directly under the news story, the discussions have moved from the forum to the comment areas. In fact, people are talking and responding to local news more than ever before due to the Sumea comments sections than the forum.

As for Sumea veterans moving on, I think it's to be expected. This site has been going on for five years already and those who regularly visited Sumea for multiple years are probably reaching or past their thirties now, and hold much different priorities in their lives. Can't really expect people to post regularly after five or so years. Or in many cases I've seen already, they've finally got their foot in the industry and just don't have the time to contribute anymore. Heck, when I was working as a web designer, the last thing I wanted to do at the end of the day was to get back on the net and post in design forums. You know, a lot has been written in the forums, topics have been covered again and again, and it's hard to be enthusiastic about contributing to a thread which you've already spoken about many times before.

But I do agree, the community aspect of Sumea has seen better days. But I don't think the decrease in community has been due to trolling in the news comments area.

I work for Krome now, and used to work for another local company here in melbourne. I been with Krome now for over a year and a half now.

Krome are awesome, they go out of their way to be good to their employees. There are some annoying quirks but in general its a good place to work for (for example, they don't mind spending money on equipment, they are flying all of us up for a party in october (from the 3 offices)).

Other company were having problems paying on time, and the managers were after a lot of sweat and expected it out of you. Moral was pitiful as well.

Oh and i've not done any forced overtime at Krome, I have on occassion stayed back when I'm in the vibe and wanna get something finished though, but the company hasn't forced me to do so.

I may be wrong though. It happens often enough. :)

It's a shame to see terms like "sumearing" coming up. I remember the good old days when Sumea was seen as a valuable resource, the times when the future of Sumea was in doubt, and how our local industry banded together to sponsor Souri's great work and keep this dream alive.

Remember when the forums were full of posts (not just limited to a place to host the competition art)? How those times have changed. The ratio of trolling to constructive posts became so great, that if you ask a lot of "sumea-veterans" if they still read the forums, they'll say "hah, you're still reading those? I stopped reading them years ago when they became saturated with crap." Gamasutra it ain't. Sad to say.

I wonder if it's possible to pick up our game at all.

Yeeah, it's fun to hate Krome. They're "the man"... the big corporation. I've been spending some time at Krome recently, and all of the guys (and girls) I've met there are switched on, passionate and working towards something better.

If they're doing something wrong, then you need to "be the change you want to see in the world", and affect change by example. It would be easy to bounce from company to company being a quiet, grouchy kicked puppy that knows all but changes nothing. What good is a cynic without a better plan? :)

Yeah I've been burnt out at companies too. A number of times. In my experience, no one company is better than all the rest at this. After moving companies, you generally feel that you've escaped from the worst of it and have found the promised land... after a few months though, you realise it's the same situation.

After you've experienced this a few times, you realise that it's not the workplaces that are hurting you, it's that you don't have your shit together. You learn that you can't stay up late AND expect your body to be able to perform. When you look at developers that have young families, life pressures, and are still pumping along with consistent quality at their work, it shows that it's all possible.

Game developers are not Robinson Crusoe. A recent AUS survey showed that a majority of Australians consistently work 8 hours or more of unpaid overtime per week. Every week.

Some companies, like Red Tribe for example, have taken the initiative to improve this situation. Champs.

My Mum used to tell me that if I don't have anything good to say, I shouldn't say anything at all. ;)

Peace out.

Scott.

As for trolling being the cause for regulars moving on, I wouldn't know. Has it caused a decrease in forum posts? I think this is what has happened. In the old days, you couldn't comment on news items on Sumea. If there was a newstory worthy of discussion, then someone may post about it in the forum. Now that people can comment directly under the news story, the discussions have moved from the forum to the comment areas. In fact, people are talking and responding to local news more than ever before due to the Sumea comments sections than the forum.

As for Sumea veterans moving on, I think it's to be expected. This site has been going on for five years already and those who regularly visited Sumea for multiple years are probably reaching or past their thirties now, and hold much different priorities in their lives. Can't really expect people to post regularly after five or so years. Or in many cases I've seen already, they've finally got their foot in the industry and just don't have the time to contribute anymore. Heck, when I was working as a web designer, the last thing I wanted to do at the end of the day was to get back on the net and post in design forums. You know, a lot has been written in the forums, topics have been covered again and again, and it's hard to be enthusiastic about contributing to a thread which you've already spoken about many times before.

But I do agree, the community aspect of Sumea has seen better days. But I don't think the decrease in community has been due to trolling in the news comments area.

I work for Krome now, and used to work for another local company here in melbourne. I been with Krome now for over a year and a half now.

Krome are awesome, they go out of their way to be good to their employees. There are some annoying quirks but in general its a good place to work for (for example, they don't mind spending money on equipment, they are flying all of us up for a party in october (from the 3 offices)).

Other company were having problems paying on time, and the managers were after a lot of sweat and expected it out of you. Moral was pitiful as well.

Oh and i've not done any forced overtime at Krome, I have on occassion stayed back when I'm in the vibe and wanna get something finished though, but the company hasn't forced me to do so.

As for trolling being the cause for regulars moving on, I wouldn't know. Has it caused a decrease in forum posts? I think this is what has happened. In the old days, you couldn't comment on news items on Sumea. If there was a newstory worthy of discussion, then someone may post about it in the forum. Now that people can comment directly under the news story, the discussions have moved from the forum to the comment areas. In fact, people are talking and responding to local news more than ever before due to the Sumea comments sections than the forum.

As for Sumea veterans moving on, I think it's to be expected. This site has been going on for five years already and those who regularly visited Sumea for multiple years are probably reaching or past their thirties now, and hold much different priorities in their lives. Can't really expect people to post regularly after five or so years. Or in many cases I've seen already, they've finally got their foot in the industry and just don't have the time to contribute anymore. Heck, when I was working as a web designer, the last thing I wanted to do at the end of the day was to get back on the net and post in design forums. You know, a lot has been written in the forums, topics have been covered again and again, and it's hard to be enthusiastic about contributing to a thread which you've already spoken about many times before.

But I do agree, the community aspect of Sumea has seen better days. But I don't think the decrease in community has been due to trolling in the news comments area.

I work for Krome now, and used to work for another local company here in melbourne. I been with Krome now for over a year and a half now.

Krome are awesome, they go out of their way to be good to their employees. There are some annoying quirks but in general its a good place to work for (for example, they don't mind spending money on equipment, they are flying all of us up for a party in october (from the 3 offices)).

Other company were having problems paying on time, and the managers were after a lot of sweat and expected it out of you. Moral was pitiful as well.

Oh and i've not done any forced overtime at Krome, I have on occassion stayed back when I'm in the vibe and wanna get something finished though, but the company hasn't forced me to do so.