The Perils Of Working In The Video Game Industry: Employees Fired During Holiday At Six Flags

Life is full of risk and it appears that even the wonderful world of video game design can be a very dangerous place. Over the years we have heard some truly amazing adventures here at The Inquisitr but very few can top this story from our friends at The Trenches website. The tragedy you are about to read vividly illustrates the perils of working in the video game industry and it will introduce you to a person who may possibly be the world’s meanest boss.

Many gamers dream about becoming a game designer. You may have superb programming skills or be an absolute wizard at computer animation. Perhaps you have won several awards for your artwork or even earned a four year degree in game design from a major university. You struggled for years, doing every low end job you could find in the industry and you finally earned a spot on a team designing a major game.

Everything is going great. Your employer loves your work and your company is negotiating with a larger firm to become their next acquisition. To celebrate the completion of your company’s current project and the pending merger, the boss decides to send the entire staff to Six Flags Amusement Park to celebrate.

What comes next is truly an epic for the ages and I will allow one of the victims of this exercise in evil to narrate the drama. For the sake of avoiding lawsuits, the companies involved have not been named; YET. Now, therefore, read ye this tale of woe:

” Have a GREAT time.”

“10/18/2012 – Anonymous”

“The finale of our project coincided with the acquisition of our development house by the publisher. The title had passed CERT earlier in the week, and we were being rewarded on Friday with a day out at Six Flags for our wrap party.”

“Everyone came dressed for a sunny day in the park, complete with shorts, sandals, and sunscreen. The buses rolled up to the company parking lot promptly at 9am, we loaded in for the trip, and our project manager handed out the tickets. We rolled right up to the main gate, and everyone quickly rushed out. The PM stood and waved and wished everyone a good time, and told us to be back here at sundown (about 9pm), and he departed with the buses.”

“We all went inside and had a fabulous time. The day rolled on and finally the sun was hanging low in the sky. Many of us began our exodus towards the exit, but no buses were to be found.”

“Ok, technically the sun wasn’t DOWN yet. I mean it was sunset but not actually NIGHT yet, so we all grabbed some burgers from that little front restaurant.”

“Still no buses.”

“The PA announced the rides are closing but the shops are open, so we head back to the main square and shop a little, checking periodically.”

“Still no buses.”

“Fair enough, maybe he meant they would be there at the official “Closing Time” and not just when the rides stop.”

“Still no buses.”

“Ok, the park is closed, maybe they would be there once the parking lot had cleared a little bit and in/out had cleared. It was beginning to get the evening chill.”

“Still no buses.”

“Everyone with was trying to reach ANYONE about transportation. Some called family members and friends, others began to call taxis. Team members asked and bribed each other for rides home. I simply cannot properly describe the dark humor and delicious chaos of the situation.”

“By the end of the night, I ended up just getting dropped off at home, and intended on picking my car up the next morning.””

“On Saturday morning, I (and everyone else who came in the morning to pickup their car) was greeted with a surprise. The security code had been changed and the building was locked up. Literally locked up with heavy chain around the door.”

“As it turns out, the “friendly acquisition” was a “passive dissolution.” While we were gone on Friday, the building and our accountsemailsservers had all been put into lockdown to prevent anyone from deletingdamagingdestroying the publishers “new property.””

“We were all out of a job, without so much as a pink slip and a “Goodbye” to show for it.”

How would you handle this situation? Would you maintain a sense of humor like the victim or would you be looking for your former boss to give him a lesson in pain? Did the fired employee find a good way to get even by going public with his story or can you think of a better way to take revenge on a very cowardly boss?