OMGPOP team relieved by studio closure

A member of OMGPOP, the maker of Draw Something, has said they’re relieved at the closure of the studio by Zynga.

The studio, renamed Zynga New York, was purchased by Zynga for $180 million at height of Draw Something’s popularity. But just 15 months later, and two-and-a-half months after the launch of Draw Something 2, Zynga closed the studio.

One staff member at OMGPOP said he was unsurprised by the action, as the studio had not been assigned any new projects following Draw Something 2’s release.

“You could almost feel things were slowing down,” the employee told Business Insider. “We were all champing at the bit for something new.”

In April, the studio’s founder Dan Porter departed, and was followed by other senior staff.

When the Zynga HR and senior management turned up, the OMGPOP employee said it was expected.

“There were no hard facts or figures. No real explanation. Just typical corporate BS. Everyone was just like, ‘Yep’. Not surprised at all. It was like the weight had been lifted off our shoulders, that a decision had finally been made.”

And this staff member adds that the atmosphere in office was not one of sadness, as most layoffs are.

“Most layoffs are sad. You imagine big corporate settings where security is there to lead people out of the office so they don’t make a scene. This was the opposite. Music was being played loudly, and people were ripping up Zynga hoodies and T-shirts. Anything that was Zynga was completely left there. The sentiment felt positive.”