Rockstar Vienna, previously known as neo Software Produktions GmbH, has recently bitten the dust - May 11, 2006 to be exact. The reason behind this is "the challenging environment facing the video game business and (the) Company during this platform transition".

This is sad not only because they brought us great games, but because Rockstar Vienna was arguably the biggest game development studio in Germany and Austria, with over a hundred employees who are now left jobless. Later on, a rockstar spokeperson tried to console the said employees by promising that they "will be offered packages in accordance with Austrian law, as well as other job opportunities within Take-Two and Rockstar Games where possible."

Apparently, unsuspecting workers were handed with papers from Take Two (the owner of Rockstar Games) stating the sad news. There were lots of security personnel in every inch of the office making sure that no one gets to their respective desks, then they were led to a meeting that verified everything written on that Take Two paper they received earlier.

May 11 is just a sad day for the gaming community. All that the employees could hope for is that whatever it is they are working on before this happened would still see the light of day and won't be flushed down the toilet.