But, in running it now for the second half of January, the keyword that popped to the top was: Layoffs And this is definitely a sign of the times. When I drill down on that term, you can see why with posts like: Hollis-Eden Pharmaceuticals Lops A Third Of Company THQ Lays Off 100 Employees, Closes San Diego Office Citrix Cuts 10 Percent; Santa Barbara Hit And it's also interesting to see what geographies are being associated with "Layoffs" more often than others: Layoffs Woodland Hills Layoffs San Diego Layoffs Santa Monica Layoffs Los Angeles I guess

Agoura Hills-based video game maker THQ announced this morning that it has "substantially completed" its latest business realignment, which will save the firm $220M in annual costs. THQ announced in February that it was cutting 600 people, or 24 percent of the workforce. THQ said that it will record approximately $45M in business realignment expenses for its fiscal 2009 fourth quarter, plus READ MORE>> ...Tags: Tags: video game studio content employment jobs layof

Agoura Hills-based video game maker THQ said late Wednesday that it is cutting 250 employees, or 17% of its staff, after reporting disappointing results. THQ said it would undertake a "significant" business realignment as its looks to focus on fewer, higher quality titles. THQ blamed lower-than-anticipated international sales of WALL-E, and higher than expected sales returns and allowances. The firm said it is cancelling several titles under development, closing five studios, and reducing approximately 250 people and streamlining its corporate organization. READ MOR

Agoura Hills-based video game maker THQ said Wednesday afternoon that it is laying off around 60 employees, as part of a reorganization of its Juice Games and Rainbow Studios development studios. According to the firm, it has "refocused" the two units into THQ Digital Studios Warrington and THQ Digital Studios Phoenix, and reduced headcount at the studios by around 60. The firm said the new studios will focus on digitally distributed games. Juice Games is based in the UK, and Rainbow Studios is based in Phoenix, Arizona.

Agoura Hills-based THQ , a developer and publisher of video games, said Wednesday that it is making "additional cost reduction actions" which includes the layoff of approximately 600 people, or 24 percent of the company's workforce. THQ said the move was a response to the continuing uncertainty in the market. THQ also said it would The firm said that the cuts include a reduction in product development spending by an additional $70M, through "studio dispositions" and other project and headcount reductions. The bad news came in conjunction with its quarterly results,

Calabasas-based THQ , which develops computer game titles, is closing its San Diego, UK, and Germany offices, and has laid off 100 employees, according to an email to employees from CEO Brian Farrell. The move is part of a restructuring of the firm's THQ Wireless operations. According to the note, the firm is streamlining its THQ Wireless operations to only focus on high-end Tags: jobs employment layoff content games wireles

Agoura Hills-based THQ reported Wednesday that the firm is reorganizing the firm's management team and business units. According to THQ, it has created three new business units--one focused on "Core Games", another on kids/family and casual games, and another on online properties. The reorg at THQ follows a series of layoffs and cuts of a number of studios at the firm in the last few months. READ MORE>> ...Tags: The Core Games unit will be headed by Danny Bilson; the Kids/family unit by Doug Clemmer; and Online by Steve Dauterman. Tags: executive management

Agoura Hills-based THQ has swung back into the black, saying Tuesday evening that it had net income of $6.4M The quarter, which ended June 30th, reversed a string of big losses and declines for the company over the last year, which resulted in major layoffs and studio closures at the firm in November and February. on sales of $243.5M for its fiscal first quarter, on the strength of the firm's new UFC 2009 Undisputed title.

THQ - 250 employees, 17 percent. The technology industry’s panicked rush to lay off employees, in fear of impact from the economy, is starting to hit Southern California. The latest: Veoh - 20 employees, or approximately 18-20 percent of its staff.

According to layoff filings, required in California of certain companies, Activision Blizzard is looking to lay off 4 employees in El Segudno, and 23 employees in Los Angeles on December 19th. California requires companies to give employees at least 60 day notice of mass layoffs. Fellow computer game makers Electronic Arts and THQ have both announced layoffs in recent months as the industry Computer game maker Activision Blizzard is apparently cutting jobs in El Segundo and Los Angeles, according to a filing with the California Employment Development Department. A