27 votes

Blizzard confirms departure of veteran developers amid cancelled projects

33 comments

  1. [15]
    Grzmot
    Link
    Blizzard has been going through some tough times. A leak doesn't make the situation look very rosy. Personally I think the 4chan post is probably real, as that's the same person that leaked...

    Blizzard has been going through some tough times. A leak doesn't make the situation look very rosy. Personally I think the 4chan post is probably real, as that's the same person that leaked Overwatch 2.

    I don't understand why people go into video game development anymore. I really don't. The brain drain that companies have been experiencing over the last few years is quite intense, a decent chunk of veterans have left either the industry or AAA studios to form indie studios. I suppose they'll be able to make it work somehow by abusing their employees with crunch, but I wonder how long that's going to work while the quality of AAA releases continues to fall.

    We'll how accurate those leaks are when Blizzcon hits, but I can't imagine Diablo fans being happy with getting another looter-shooter.

    24 votes
    1. [10]
      babypuncher
      Link Parent
      I'm taking a lot of these claims with an enormous grain of salt. I get strong RWNJ vibes from a lot of his greentext. He also clearly has an axe to grind, and he doesn't even hide it seeing as he...

      I'm taking a lot of these claims with an enormous grain of salt. I get strong RWNJ vibes from a lot of his greentext. He also clearly has an axe to grind, and he doesn't even hide it seeing as he claims Blizzard fired him. I also don't see the connection between this anonymous poster's leaks and the more recent Overwatch 2 leaks.

      His comment about "flabby white dudes excited to make a game with no white people in it", is just comically absurd, to the point that I don't even think it's worth acknowledging this guy. Then again, the mere fact that he hangs out on 4chan tells me everything I need to know about him.

      There are so many valid reasons to shit on Blizzard, we don't need to buy into alt-right conspiracies just to validate our own distaste for the company.

      12 votes
      1. [9]
        Grzmot
        Link Parent
        On one hand, it's a greentext. On the other, there's good chance that the things the leaker describes are real. I can totally see a boardroom of a bunch of white dudes making a game without white...

        On one hand, it's a greentext. On the other, there's good chance that the things the leaker describes are real. I can totally see a boardroom of a bunch of white dudes making a game without white people because diversity sells. I could totally see an actual POC rolling their eyes on that prospect. Obviously the leaker is not using very neutral or even calm language, but reading between the lines, I can totally see the described situations being real.

        4chan in it's entirety isn't that bad. You've got /pol/ and /b/ which are of course cesspools, but there are fairly normal communities in there too.

        6 votes
        1. [6]
          moocow1452
          (edited )
          Link Parent
          I don't want to derail the thread, but that last bit is similar to the "Nazi Bar" argument made in this video that was making the rounds earlier, in that even if the Nazi's meet in the basement on...

          I don't want to derail the thread, but that last bit is similar to the "Nazi Bar" argument made in this video that was making the rounds earlier, in that even if the Nazi's meet in the basement on Wednesday's in the dead of night, it's still pretty much a Nazi Bar by virtue of providing a space for Nazi's to Nazi. Might just have to agree to disagree on this one, but this is where I'm coming from.

          8 votes
          1. [5]
            vakieh
            Link Parent
            That's kinda silly if you have an 'everyone bar' that everyone goes to, but different types of people self segregate, so there's a Nazi corner, a videogame corner, etc. That logic says the...

            That's kinda silly if you have an 'everyone bar' that everyone goes to, but different types of people self segregate, so there's a Nazi corner, a videogame corner, etc.

            That logic says the internet is a Nazi Internet, since it provides a space for Nazis to Nazi.

            5 votes
            1. [4]
              Grzmot
              Link Parent
              The comparison falls apart if you see the internet as the bar, but it sort of works if you see 4chan as the bar, at least I can see where the person you're replying to is coming from.

              The comparison falls apart if you see the internet as the bar, but it sort of works if you see 4chan as the bar, at least I can see where the person you're replying to is coming from.

              4 votes
              1. [3]
                vakieh
                Link Parent
                The distinction between them is so arbitrary though. We don't want morality policing on the internet because the internet is supposed to be free (common carrier, utility treatment etc) - so we see...

                The distinction between them is so arbitrary though. We don't want morality policing on the internet because the internet is supposed to be free (common carrier, utility treatment etc) - so we see the pipes as moral free when they deliver piss but the reservoir of water is now responsible for people pissing in it?

                It frustrates the hell out of me how we have such convoluted bullshit around 'idea management' when all that is required is proper funding for open education.

                1 vote
                1. [2]
                  Grzmot
                  Link Parent
                  I think proper education would certainly help, but I don't know how well it's going to keep people from willingly following an authorian regime. Look at China for example. Lots of smart people...

                  I think proper education would certainly help, but I don't know how well it's going to keep people from willingly following an authorian regime. Look at China for example. Lots of smart people there, but also concentration camps, among other awful stuff.

                  1 vote
                  1. vakieh
                    Link Parent
                    There's a huge difference between education that is politically controlled and proper education.

                    open education

                    There's a huge difference between education that is politically controlled and proper education.

                    1 vote
        2. [2]
          babypuncher
          Link Parent
          It just sounds either made up or like he completely misinterpreted a joke. If he went around the office complaining about shit like that, then he was probably fired for a very good reason.

          I can totally see a boardroom of a bunch of white dudes making a game without white people because diversity sells.

          It just sounds either made up or like he completely misinterpreted a joke. If he went around the office complaining about shit like that, then he was probably fired for a very good reason.

          4 votes
          1. Grzmot
            Link Parent
            Ultimately we don't have all the information, so it can both ways I think.

            Ultimately we don't have all the information, so it can both ways I think.

            1 vote
    2. smoontjes
      Link Parent
      If that leak is true, then this is simply absurd That's why you need unions, people... That stuff is unacceptable and ought to be more than enough grounds for a huge lawsuit or something.

      If that leak is true, then this is simply absurd

      Massive crunch on projects like Diablo 4. People sleeping under desks. Grown men and women weeping openly as births and a few deaths are missed. A graphics artist has been put on paid leave after being caught self harming on his break.

      That's why you need unions, people... That stuff is unacceptable and ought to be more than enough grounds for a huge lawsuit or something.

      9 votes
    3. [3]
      babypuncher
      Link Parent
      Yep, that gameplay trailer sure looks like a looter shooter.

      Yep, that gameplay trailer sure looks like a looter shooter.

      1. [2]
        Grzmot
        Link Parent
        Maybe that statement was hyperbole, because the rest of the info about D4 seems to be on point. D4 is known to have gone through many iterations with quite a few complete restarts, which would...

        Maybe that statement was hyperbole, because the rest of the info about D4 seems to be on point. D4 is known to have gone through many iterations with quite a few complete restarts, which would explain the bad crunch and why, after last year's terrible Blizzcon and Blizzard's latest fuckups, the company is moving back towards nostalgia land. I could totally see it as a looter-shooter before Blizz needed a guaranteed success release.

        1 vote
        1. babypuncher
          Link Parent
          But most of what he says that has been confirmed has also been rumored in one form or another for quite a while now. Jason Schreier was talking about Diablo IV being fast tracked and its troubled...

          But most of what he says that has been confirmed has also been rumored in one form or another for quite a while now. Jason Schreier was talking about Diablo IV being fast tracked and its troubled development history right around last year's Blizzcon. According to him, the previous attempt was a Dark Souls inspired third person affair.

          I think the best case scenario for this greentext is that he's mixing fact and fiction on purpose, to create a narrative engineered to be the perfect 4chan wet dream of reasons to hate Blizzard (hence the alt-right politics infused throughout). The proven inaccuracy of some of his claims means we can't really give any weight to any of his other unverified claims.

          1 vote
  2. [14]
    Adys
    Link
    Veterans understates what these guys were. They've been with the company practically forever. They make veterans look like juniors. I met with Dodds a couple of years ago, he accidentally let it...

    Veterans understates what these guys were. They've been with the company practically forever. They make veterans look like juniors.

    I met with Dodds a couple of years ago, he accidentally let it slide he was working on something new at a time it wasn't public he had left hearthstone. Seemed like a big deal and he was pretty passionate about it.

    These guys are among Blizzard's top talent. All the good ones are leaving. I think it's official that the soul of Blizzard has left the building...

    I've known these games .. what.. seventeen, maybe eighteen years. Worked with or around them for fourteen. They built my career and shaped my life. I'd have the sword by now if I had applied to work there. This hurts.
    Blizzard Entertainment: 1991-2019. Good run.

    17 votes
    1. [4]
      Grzmot
      Link Parent
      I've been waiting for Warcraft 4 for over a decade. I've always had the slight hope that they might repackage and clean up WoW's story with campaigns for a new Warcraft RTS. I doubt that it's ever...

      I've been waiting for Warcraft 4 for over a decade. I've always had the slight hope that they might repackage and clean up WoW's story with campaigns for a new Warcraft RTS.

      I doubt that it's ever going to happen and even if it did, it'd probably be a cashgrab or filled with predatory MTX.

      2 votes
      1. [3]
        Thrabalen
        Link Parent
        Warcraft for Mobile, coming 2021.[1] What, you don't have phones? [1] Completely fabricated, which is not the same thing as wrong.

        Warcraft for Mobile, coming 2021.[1]

        What, you don't have phones?

        [1] Completely fabricated, which is not the same thing as wrong.

        1 vote
        1. Grzmot
          Link Parent
          Warcraft 3 Reforged cancelled, Warcraft 3 Reforgered announced, coming to iOS 2065.

          Warcraft 3 Reforged cancelled,

          Warcraft 3 Reforgered announced, coming to iOS 2065.

          2 votes
        2. unknown user
          Link Parent
          No, it's not even wrong. :)

          Completely fabricated, which is not the same thing as wrong.

          No, it's not even wrong. :)

          1 vote
    2. [9]
      synergy
      Link Parent
      blizzard top talent / soul has been gone since Blizzard north got shut down and they haven't made any great games since.

      blizzard top talent / soul has been gone since Blizzard north got shut down and they haven't made any great games since.

      1. [8]
        Adys
        Link Parent
        Thats somehow both subjective and yet objectively untrue. Overwatch and Hearthstone are both fantastic games. And blizzard still had, even today, a lot of top talent.

        Thats somehow both subjective and yet objectively untrue.

        Overwatch and Hearthstone are both fantastic games. And blizzard still had, even today, a lot of top talent.

        2 votes
        1. [7]
          synergy
          (edited )
          Link Parent
          an inferior TF clone with an auto win EZ button that makes people think it actually requires skill. Insane balancing issues and so much going on in the screen spectators have no idea what they are...

          Overwatch and Hearthstone are both fantastic games.

          an inferior TF clone with an auto win EZ button that makes people think it actually requires skill. Insane balancing issues and so much going on in the screen spectators have no idea what they are watching. And a dumbed down pay 2 win card game.

          if that's your standard for fantastic games then I think there is no discussion to be had.

          7 votes
          1. [6]
            Adys
            Link Parent
            Balance issues have been a thing since we'll before Blizzard North disappeared. Diablo 2 was ridiculously unbalanced. In fact you just described Diablo 2 altogether, which I also think was a great...

            Balance issues have been a thing since we'll before Blizzard North disappeared. Diablo 2 was ridiculously unbalanced.

            In fact you just described Diablo 2 altogether, which I also think was a great game.

            And hearthstone is neither dumbed down nor p2w. My previous company was built on hearthstone, I think I know what I'm talking about here.

            Stop being so hostile and do accept you're being extremely subjective. You can say you've not liked any of Blizzard's games since North. You can't say Blizzard hasn't made any good games since North.

            5 votes
            1. [4]
              unknown user
              Link Parent
              Could you elaborate without doxxing yourself or the company? I'm curious about what kind of a company you could build around someone else's game. Match analysis?

              My previous company was built on hearthstone

              Could you elaborate without doxxing yourself or the company? I'm curious about what kind of a company you could build around someone else's game. Match analysis?

              1 vote
              1. [3]
                Adys
                Link Parent
                Match and deck analysis yes. I'm googlable so no doxxing there: https://hearthsim.net I founded the original HearthSim community and was CTO while I stayed there. Left to work on some different...

                Match and deck analysis yes. I'm googlable so no doxxing there: https://hearthsim.net

                I founded the original HearthSim community and was CTO while I stayed there. Left to work on some different challenges.

                5 votes
                1. [2]
                  unknown user
                  Link Parent
                  Thanks for the link. Interesting job you had. Now, pardon a little professional opinion: HearthSim could use some web design. It looks what websites for small companies looked like in the early...

                  Thanks for the link. Interesting job you had.

                  Now, pardon a little professional opinion: HearthSim could use some web design. It looks what websites for small companies looked like in the early 00s, when few people knew how to make it look appealing.

                  Are your former coworkers looking to make an update to that, by chance?

            2. [2]
              Comment removed by site admin
              Link Parent
              1. Adys
                Link Parent
                It's not biased to recognize quality. I don't enjoy playing hearthstone anymore (nor overwatch for that matter) especially the pvp content, yet unlike you apparently I can still recognize that a...

                It's not biased to recognize quality. I don't enjoy playing hearthstone anymore (nor overwatch for that matter) especially the pvp content, yet unlike you apparently I can still recognize that a game has had a ton of effort put into it. Incredible music, art, story, mechanics, content in general.

                And please, stop being so hostile. This isn't Reddit. You can express disagreement all while being courteous.

                5 votes
  3. [3]
    moocow1452
    (edited )
    Link
    I'm not a big fan of trusting green text, but there's nothing in there gameplay wise that seems unreasonable, am a touch curious about what Hearthstone VR would have entailed, since I had...

    I'm not a big fan of trusting green text, but there's nothing in there gameplay wise that seems unreasonable, am a touch curious about what Hearthstone VR would have entailed, since I had sideloaded the Android version on my Oculus Go for a bit. If they follow through with those Overwatch story beats, a couple of those are going to pull some serious heat from the fanbase.

    Specifically About... Killing off Emily so that you can put Tracer and Widowmaker together. Whatever fans you're going to make happy with that arrangement is going to sour real quick if you have to bury a gay to get there.
    2 votes
    1. unknown user
      Link Parent
      Valve had Dota 2 VR for a while. It was a fancy spectator mode, with player-tall hero previews and some auxiliary match view functions, like displaying the chosen heroes around you as you stare at...

      Valve had Dota 2 VR for a while. It was a fancy spectator mode, with player-tall hero previews and some auxiliary match view functions, like displaying the chosen heroes around you as you stare at an enormous screen of what's happening in the match.

      I know very little about Hearthstone, but if VR poker has taught me anything, it's that it shouldn't be a game where you can lean over and see what cards your opponent has.

      5 votes
    2. Grzmot
      Link Parent
      Killing a gay person isn't bad per se, but the fact that they're killing off a side character just so that they can implement a fanfiction level romance between two main characters reeks of bad...
      Killing a gay person isn't bad per se, but the fact that they're killing off a side character just so that they can implement a fanfiction level romance between two main characters reeks of bad writing. I don't see a way for a well written character to end up in a position where they date a previous enemy. Brain conditioning one way or the other, it would have to be a huge storyline where Widowmaker gets captured, put into some sort of rehab and perhaps Trace reconciles with her as most likely Talon had something to do with the death of her girlfriend. It could be a good story about grief and how to treat someone who didn't really have much choice in what they did, but implementing a romance would just cheapen the plot greatly. Worst of all things, I don't see this implemented in a gameplay fashion, as OW2 is probably going to be something like the seasonal events they had. There's not a lot of space for character growth there, just big action pieces.

      There's a chance that the greentext is just a random 4chan user taking the piss, but most of the leaks seem reasonable, except maybe that they're turning Diablo 4 into a looter-shooter. That just seems idiotic on a whole other level.

  4. dblohm7
    Link
    Like Blizzard (or any other triple-A studio) cares.

    Like Blizzard (or any other triple-A studio) cares.