Whoever had the bright idea that the Pacific North West is good place to start a software business was wrong. *Glares at Bill Gates* Whoever it was must have thought two things, no taxes, and the weather is so shitty that nobody will want to be outside, hence would be more productive.
After my pilgrimage to the greater Seattle area I was left wondering why anyone would choose to work in that area if your career didn't revolve around utilizing the port. The weather sucks, and the traffic is even worse.
I think understand why Bungie moved there from Chicago, on the behest of Microsoft, and I think I understand why they stayed after the separation from Microsoft, they had laid down roots and it is where their families lives. But if Bungie does decide to ever expand, I would hope it would be in a better place where people would be happier and actually enjoy normal things, like sunshine.
If I was asked where I would recommend a software company should start or expand to, I would recommend Sonoma County California, specifically Santa Rosa, near the Charles M. Schulz Airport. From Santa Rosa your forty-five minutes from San Francisco, you in the heart of the wine country, there is sunshine, the ocean thirty-five minutes away, and a plethora of other amenities. Seriously, it could be much better!
(On a side not, if Bungie offered me a position at Bellevue or heck even a remote outpost in Alaska, I'd go in a heartbeat. Sometimes the company out weighs the location...)
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Edited by Mystical: 2/7/2013 4:09:42 AMhey no bashing the west coast specifically Seattle. I've been living in Seattle / Redmond area for a good 7 years now and it's wonderful. I love how many game companies are here specifically since I am part of that industry. As for the weather, [i]I love it[/i]. I am about as anti-sun as you can get. Some people get depressed in the winter because of no sun but it actually makes me happier the darker and more rain we get. There is just a sense of peace when its cloudy and dark out and no loud annoying crap is happening outside like other places I have lived. All of the sunshine lovers can go anywhere else in the states if they want. They won't take away my dark rainy cloud in wonderful Seattle =)