Threading Needles In Front Of A Live Studio Audience
Thanks to the magic of Bloglines, I noticed that SunSword updated his blog tonight. And it’s a doozy. Basically, he hasn’t updated his blog because, well, I’ll let him say.
Now, there are some people at the producer-level and up in the industry who really say what they think in their blogs, but I’ve found that the most active/interesting posts are by people who aren’t directly responsible for the kinds of things they comment on.
Most of the really interesting blogs out there are by people who are independent of censorship, either because they’re at the very top of their organizations, or because they aren’t directly responsible (or aren’t generally perceived to be) for the kinds of things they comment on.
And of course, some of the most popular and respected bloggers in the online game industry don’t even deal in reality. Most of it is academic bullshit and spin. Which is understandable, because again, if people dealt in reality, they’d probably get censored by their organizations. Unfortunately, it means that most of the audience for this kind of material is having a very confused discussion fueled by misinformation, hype and guesswork.
Hard for me not to take that personally. Let’s see, am I full of beardy bullshit, a spin doctor, or merely irrelevant? Choices, choices.
However, the dilemma he posits is a real one, and one I’ve dealt with ever since registering this domain name (5 years now, if you’re keeping score somewhere). Basically, posting about something that I have direct experience with is usually not a good thing. Why?
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- It’s not public knowledge. My current project, for example. It’s not announced yet. It may not make it to the point where it gets announced (lots of projects are canceled before you ever hear of them). The MMO industry is a competitive one, and despite all of us being gossipy old hens in person, it’s a little different when you have, you know, stuff out on the Internet getting sucked into Google’s search engines. So while I’d love to tell you about all the bad craziness I’ve been furiously typing away at for the past year or so, that’s not gonna happen. At least, not yet.
- It’s not something you’re responsible for. SunSword refers to this in passing, but honestly, there’s no one really who is 100% “responsible for everything” in an era of 100+ person dev teams. My time with DAoC is a good example of this. I worked on a lot of stuff when I was there, some of which directly impacted players visibly, most of which didn’t. But even if I discussed something I *directly* touched, say, line of sight fixes for Necromancers, there were still Producers who mandated the change, Designers who wrote up how it should work, Programmers who implemented it, QA testers who let us know that everyone in the above list was on crack, and Players who wondered when the hell we were fixing LOS for necromancers. Anything I say about the subject? Has the possibility to blow back on everyone else in that above list. And one thing about live MMO teams – you tend to be loyal to the people you work with. You don’t particularly want to cause them heartburn for the sake of a witty blog post.
- It’s something that could reflect badly on who you work for. RMT is a good case in point; many times I’ve thought that my flaming certain large companies could blow back on the people I work for. Thankfully, they seem more worried about Vanguard fan sites than lil’ ole me. But legal liability is something most people don’t want to touch – at all.
- And finally, the one SunSword briefly hints at – office politics. Honestly, this never fazed me that much. Both at Mythic, and especially at NCsoft, it’s not like my blog is some kind of secret that is waiting to be discovered. If I say something about my coworkers in public, it’s probably not going to bitching about the guy who keeps kicking my tail at lunchtime Company of Heroes matches. (Which, really, is all the office politics I’ve got going on at the moment. Sorry!) But again, this falls under the heading of “none of your business”. If I’ve got personnel issues at work, I’m not going to post about them on my blog. That’s just, well, kind of silly, really. Those things are best left for venomous lunchtime rantings!
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So, there’s all the self-censorship I indulge in. What about the other kind? Has anyone ever lowered the boom and said “You can’t go there, girlfriend”? Not really. Really risky topics I usually run past a friend or two (/wave Sanya) but it got to the point that if I was asking, I knew it was out of bounds. After 5 years of this, you get a pretty good meter of self-censorship that nips anything else in the bud. If I *didn’t* have that 5 years of experience, I could see the boom being lowered a few times. Most companies have “blogging policies” now, which mainly consist of “don’t talk about stuff that is secret, and don’t talk about stuff that you aren’t the point man for”. In other words, the points above.
However, that leaves a lot of room to talk, and it’s certainly not academic bullshit. The MMO industry right now is faced with something of a crisis of innovation, or to be more precise a lack thereof. We’ve done the hit points and levels thing. And we’ve done it again. And again. Because, well, it works. (Damion Schubert – another one of those hopelessly irrelevant designer bloggers – gave an AGC talk on that topic, and it’s highly recommended for a good review of why we do the same things over and over again, hopefully he’s put the slides online somewhere. Poke.) And game companies tend to have no institutional history, at least that they’ll admit to. Talking points in blog format help to address this lack of memory. God only knows something has to.
Because lord love a duck, it’s not like there’s a single person in this industry, from Mr. Koster to Mr. Smedley to Mr. Jacobs to Mr. Garriott, that couldn’t learn a thing or two or twelve from the most important bloggers in our little blogosphere fiesta – the players themselves. Most of whom have blogs refreshingly free from academic bullshit.
Interesting. How does one define most important bloggers?
Interesting. “Talking points in blog format help to address this lack of memory. God only knows something has to.”
There is of course a tight knit group that wants to decide who has a voice even in the blog world. That goes for game company employees and others as well.
“Well, sunsword.com is going to change quite a bit. I’m going to separate the personal from the professional. I’m also going to take a new tact with the professional, to be revealed in January. I’m also considering bringing the forums back, let me know what you think about that. I found forums to be a more satisfying, interactive experience than blogs and comments.”
Couple of things;
I believe most of Sunsword’s comments to be pretty much on the mark.
I don’t believe it was directed at you but perhaps better words could have been chosen to express the idea that there is always some self interest for the bloggers.
Some of us like the hype and guesswork. They are more interesting then the games themselves.
There is of course a tight knit group that wants to decide who has a voice even in the blog world.
Huh?
“Huh?”
Surely, you jest?
“Interesting. How does one define most important bloggers?”
Mine, of course. Duh.
Also, yes as an employee of a company, you probably shouldn’t be commenting on details of your work. But take Lum, for instance, he spends most of his blog time commenting on other’s work. That seems pretty fair game to me.
Abalieno, the intelligensia of the blogerati is conspiring to keep D-one down. You must not have gotten the memo.
“Abalieno, the intelligensia of the blogerati is conspiring to keep D-one down. You must not have gotten the memo.”
Please, speak for yourself. I know how hard that must be when you have nothing of interest of offer other than your self assured superiority over others.
When http://www.mmogchart.com is listed under the mmo google search but other sites with more traffic aren’t, gosh why is that?
Spnidoc,der
Lum doth quote
“Hard for me not to take that personally. Let\’e2\’80\’99s see, am I full of beardy bullshit, a spin doctor, or merely irrelevant? Choices, choices.”
Ya see, I’d put you more at mustachy-mischief than beardy bullshit, and I don’t think you’re grey enough to be irrevelant. *grin*
D-one, are you seriously hinting that the fellows at Google are conspiring with Sir Bruce to limit easy access to information about MMOs? Seriously?
I like Sunsword’s reply because it misses even more the point. The point of blogging in particular.
THAT ONE was a truly pointless defense.
If Sunsword original thing wasn’t aimed at Lum then Lum’s reply surely wasn’t aimed back at Sunsword.
There was a topic offered and Lum wrote interesting things about it.
It’s just that you read things and those things provoke thoughts. That’s how it works with blogs. You don’t need to call names, nor really have a referent. You just tag what makes you think and write about it.
From who the critics come, or to who they are directed is irrelevant. If not for that irritating “we are all friends because everyone could be useful (or a potential danger) eventually”.
Well, I’m sure that Bruce is one of their investors….
He’s talking about the subset of Google I put up to the side. No dark conspiracy, I just missedit in my pass through of link lists. Believe me, I wouldn’t want to rank lumthemad.org below ragnarokonline.com!
‘If not for that irritating \’e2\’80\’9cwe are all friends because everyone could be useful (or a potential danger) eventually\’e2\’80\’9d.’
I rather have to regard that as being akin to common courtesy. It is easy enough to start trouble on the internet, bereft as it is of anything but what you actually say. Witness my interaction with D-one in this thread.
D-one, I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings, but I’m an atheist on conspiracies. It’s going to take more than a throwaway line to make me believe in one. Most people aren’t sufficiently competent to pull off a surprise birthday party, never mind subtly twisting the views of the gaming public. Not that there aren’t those who would try, but how many of us really trust game reviews?
Scott.
Kids,
Good to see the defamation machine still works as usual. Should I expect harassing phone calls soon? Which of you “good people” will it be this time? Will you fess up to calling my children and making death threats and screaming obscenities anonymously five years later again?
http://www.corpnews.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=58288#58288
As to my point, No. I’m talking about the sheer number of blogs, sites, and in general the incestuous nature that is online gaming that leads everyone in it, to believe that they themselves are the center of the universe.
God save me from the good people.
I’m not sure if you’re trying to accuse me of anything. I’m not even sure if you’re sure any more. However, I am quite content that I am nowhere near the center of the universe, and wonder why you keep showing up anywhere close to where I am if you are so horribly tormented and persecuted by so being.
At any rate it’s safe to say this is wildly off topic, save to point out clearly one of the dangers of publiclly blogging.
It’s true. I live at the center of the universe, and haven’t seen Scott in weeks. Which sucks because he still has my mower.
Also (and more on topic) I’ve only been reading Lum for about 5 years, so I could be wrong, but when he says “hard for me not to take that personally,” I’ve generally always understood it to be with tongue planted in beardy cheek, or at least with an implied “on behalf of other people in my social/professional group.”
But please, let the indignity continue. I’ll even make a harassing phone call if that helps. The best drama is self-imposed drama.
Which was part of my point in the first place! Heh.
“the intelligensia of the blogerati” lol, thanks for the coffee out of the nose moment Evangolis.
Pah, I for one certainly know I’m not the center of the universe, I -AM- the universe. nuff said.
Scott,
I’m sure I’m not accusing you of anything. You’re not any different than any of the other game designers and developers.
Except, in the general sense, of supporting the BS, all of it. From the centric nature of the business in general to your (a company man) ability to define worthiness.
Surely you can see the irony of it all?
Yes, you can call SunSword out and then spin it and your fan club will say you didn’t. That isn’t important to me.
What is imporant to me and has been from the moment I was banned from the old site is the issue of inclusion and the ability to define the criteria of worthiness, Hell the very soul of online games, being placed in the hands of the gaming industry.
What is important is the ability of an industry to have a strangle hold on what is and what isn’t, good, bad or even indifferent. That is what SunSword really was talking about.
As to our relationship…
I remember leaving it all behind… We’ve already had this conversation.
The dangers of public blogging? Really Scott? It’s amazing what your kids have done and yet you still can claim victim hood.
Amber, don’t be a dumbass. You don’t know anything about what happened and Scott lacks the Balls to admit what happened.
So, as with any good conspiracy, where do the Jews figure in?
Maybe more MMO bloggers should post more threads pertaining to actual discussion about games and what makes games fun, instead of one ’state of the industry’ or ’state of the state of the industry bloggers’ post after another?
What does this have to do with Shadowbane?
Ah, where have all the good times gone?
On the scale of dramanadoes, this one is a very disappointing F1.
“But even if I discussed something I *directly* touched, say, line of sight fixes for Necromancers”
Holy shit, YOU did that!?
I didn’t play a necro, but I knew a few guys who would’ve liked to punch in the face the monkey(s) responsible for having the necro pet spazm out of control and leave a shit in the middle of rvr fights.
I feel bad for you man, cuz now I gotta break them the news.
Holy crap. I thought I knew crazy before.
D-0ne is new and improved crazy.
I’m happy to see that there are still some exchanges for which “WTF?” is an appropriate comment.
*strolls in*
Hey guys, what’s goin’ on in this threa…
.. Oh, my.
Hot damn Grade-A drama.
MMO blogs/bloggers/blogging/Thrakkorzogs can’t prevent other people from posting their own brilliant, scintillating blogs and site of their own.
And D-0ne, put out an e-restraining order on the Jennings clan if they terrify you and your precious children so damn much.
Bring back pre-casting, biyotch!
“D-0ne is new and improved crazy.”
And kinda sad, clinging to a half-decade old e-grudge.
http://www.zenofdesign.com/images/MBMIT.zip
There’s the slides from Damion’s AGC speech, “Beyond Men in Tights.”
Yes, Scott called Anthony (SunSword) out, but I think he was being deliberately ambiguous about whether he was going to take offense about the comments. I for one don’t buy Anthony’s original point about lack of free time, however. This is the Internet, and we’re talking about a video game professional. One with kids who’s been moving around a lot in the past year, granted. But he could have found time to update his blog (in the way I haven’t, lately) if he really wanted to. It was his choice. If he wanted to blog, he could find the time.
Just like he did yesterday in reply to Scott’s post. It’s not something he really had to do, but maybe he felt it was important enough to restate his intentions. Maybe, as he stated, it was out of genuine respect for Scott.
I don’t really care either way, frankly, and that’s not a slur against Anthony. I only care when someone’s got something relevant to say, that’s worth my time to read it. Worrying about the whys behind every post on the Internet is very rarely worth my time.
Unless you work for SOE.
Not this again.
L2Drama plzkthx.
What did SunSword ever did deserving a notice, other than fucking up UO, to be worthwhile to listen to? What next, discussing Abashi’s opinions on community management?
What next, discussing Abashi\’e2\’80\’99s opinions on community management?
Why not? I’d be interested – it’s hard to screw up that much and not learn something. At the very least, it’d be good for a laugh.
We\’e2\’80\’99re under attack. It\’e2\’80\’99s J., the voice of rational thinking! I demand an MXC challenge to settle these shenanigans once and for all.
I don\’e2\’80\’99t really care either way, frankly, and that\’e2\’80\’99s not a slur against Anthony. I only care when someone\’e2\’80\’99s got something relevant to say, that\’e2\’80\’99s worth my time to read it. Worrying about the whys behind every post on the Internet is very rarely worth my time.
Exactly
Schlecht: I’m Jewish and I post here.
Does that count?
But…eh, I should start blogging.
All this drama and Vanguard isn’t even out yet. Is this like a warm up lap before the NDA is lifted?
This thread makes me wish that blog comment threads had ignore features.
There’s a couple webforums I read that are immensely improved by ignoring a few specific posters. Many of the blogs I read could benefit similarly.
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