Eugen Systems

Eugen Systems is a French video game developer based in Paris, France. It was founded in January 2000 by Alexis Le Dressay, a DPLG architect, and Cedric Le Dressay, a software engineer.[1] The company currently focuses on developing real-time strategy games for the PC and Macintosh platforms, but also has developed games for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in the past.[1]

Eugen Systems
TypePrivate
IndustryVideo games
FoundedJanuary 2000[1]
FounderAlexis Le Dressay
Cedric Le Dressay
Headquarters
Paris
,
France
ProductsAct of War series
R.U.S.E.
Wargame series
Steel Division series
Number of employees
44[2]
Websiteeugensystems.com

List of video games
Year Title Platforms Publisher
Microsoft Sony Apple Other
2000 Times of Conflict Windows No No No Microids
2002 The Gladiators: Galactic Circus Games Windows No No No Arxel Tribe, Tri Synergy
2005 Act of War: Direct Action Windows No No No Atari
2006 Act of War: High Treason Windows No No No Atari
2010 R.U.S.E. Windows, Xbox 360 PS3 No No Ubisoft
2012 Wargame: European Escalation Windows No MacOS Linux Eugen Systems
2013 Wargame: AirLand Battle Windows No MacOS Linux Eugen Systems
2014 Wargame: Red Dragon[3] Windows No MacOS Linux Eugen Systems
2015 Act of Aggression[4] Windows No No No Eugen Systems
2017 Steel Division: Normandy 44 Windows No No No Paradox Interactive
2019 Steel Division 2 Windows No No No Eugen Systems

2018 Labour Strike

On February 14, 2018, a statement was released through Le Syndicat des Travailleurs et Travailleuses du Jeu Vidéo (STJV, Union of Video Game Workers) in which 21 out of 44 workers claimed that Eugen Systems had denied overtime pay, delayed paychecks, reduced gross wages below French minimum wage requirements, and failed to honour contractual and collectively bargained obligations, and that they were going on strike until their demands were met. Eugen Systems released a statement denying the majority of these allegations, but admitting to two instances of delayed payrolls due to technical issues, rather than malicious intent. STJV set up a crowdfunding campaign to raise money to support the employees on strike.[5][6][7] A statement from STJV a week later indicated that the strike was representative of a deeper lack of respect within the video game industry of programmers' experience and other abilities.[8] Employees who were on strike met at each other's homes to support each other and plan meetings with the press, labour advocates, and politicians.[9]

Staff representative Félix Habert stated that it took two weeks for Eugen Systems leadership to approached him and others to resolve the issue and the first meeting did not take place until March 5.[10][9] A statement from STJV about this meeting stated that Eugen Systems denied that the employees' contracts were accurate or enforceable, and that the following day they sent a proposal for ending the strike that was "incomplete" and "not serious."[9]

French Deputy Sébastien Leclerc spoke out against the strike in favour of Eugen Systems, saying that the strike was motivated by the "political positioning" of the strikers and calling it a "hostage taking".[11] Le Monde later revealed that Leclerc and the wife of the CEO of Eugen Systems knew each other very well and that she was one of his supporters during his 2017 election campaign, creating a conflict of interest in dealing with the strike.[12]

On April 3, 2018, the strike was ended by employees saying: "We do not think we will gain any additional ground with this strike, despite the fact our grievances are simply about conforming to labour laws and collective labour agreements". Fifteen of the 21 employees sought to take their grievances to the French Labour Court. The website for collecting donations was shut down a few days after this announcement.[13]

References
  1. "Eugen Systems". eugen.fr. Retrieved 2016-05-14.
  2. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-01-04-eugen-responds-to-accusation-of-retaliatory-firings. Retrieved 2020-02-03. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. "Gamescom 2013: Wargame: Red Dragon". playnation.eu. August 23, 2013. Retrieved 2013-08-25.
  4. Priest, Simon (March 11, 2014). "Focus Home announces Act of Aggression from R.U.S.E. creator, GDC line-up". Strategy Informer. Archived from the original on March 15, 2014. Retrieved 2014-03-16.
  5. Bell, Brian (15 February 2018). "Employees of French Videogame Developer Eugen Systems Go on Strike". Paste Magazine. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  6. Perricone, Marcello (19 February 2018). "Eugen Systems Employees Are On Strike Due To Work Conditions And La... | GameWatcher". Game Watcher. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  7. Sinclair, Brendan (15 February 2018). "Eugen Systems employees on strike". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  8. "Eugen Systems strike workers are holding on – STJV". Le Syndicat des Travailleurs et Travailleuses du Jeu Vidéo. 21 February 2018. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  9. Gach, Ethan (16 March 2018). "Developers At One French Game Studio Have Been On Strike For A Month". Kotaku. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  10. Tarason, Dominic (12 March 2018). "Nearly a month on, Eugen Systems staff remain on strike". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  11. "Question n°6124 - Assemblée nationale". Assemblée Nationale (in French). 6 March 2018. Retrieved 29 March 2018. La grève qui a débuté le 14 février 2018 au sein de l'entreprise Eugen Systems semble, sous couvert de revendications liées à leur condition salariale, motivée par un positionnement politique de ces grévistes. […] Il regrette l'impact que ces mouvements ont sur l'activité de l'entreprise Eugen Systems, entreprise française indépendante, ayant fait ses preuves depuis vingt ans dans un secteur hautement concurrentiel et il lui demande quelles mesures elle compte prendre pour mettre fin à cette prise en otage de ladite société.
  12. Audureau, William; Baruch, Jérémie (13 March 2018). "Un député LR soupçonné de conflit d'intérêts après avoir critiqué une grève dans le jeu vidéo". Le Monde.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  13. O'Connor, Alice (13 April 2018). "Eugen Systems strike is over but the fight continues". Rock Paper Shotgun. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
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