I read the news today, oh boy

by Dan on April 22, 2010

So I woke up to find that part of one of my recent public conversations has been picked up by the press, and some of my personal conjecture has been taken as official statements. I’m lucky it hasn’t happened until now, but it was inevitable that the lines would be blurred. Problem is, this time, I think I helped blur them.

Looking at the way I phrased my points this morning, I wish I hadn’t said things that way, and of course, some of what I said led to other points that were left out of the reporting. But you can’t get the whole summary of a conversation in a headline, and I know that. If you’ll allow, I just want to make two points.

One, I like being honest about my opinions, and they are, in fact, that – my opinions. But I also understand how people will see anything I say and will assume it’s policy. For what it’s worth, that’s not always the case. I’m trying to be a human conduit TO the information, but I risk becoming a source OF it. I’ll be more clear from now on when I’m speaking off the top of my head, the way I was in that conversation, and when I am referencing official info. (And yes, this post is me talking.)

Two, in the conversation in question, I tried to break down points in that are in the legal documents in a friendly way, but I came off as callously twirling my moustache and looking like a jerk instead. I cringed when I read it the way other people read it. That was totally not my intent and I am legitimately sorry for the way it came across. For all our technology, we still don’t have a good way to show tone of voice online.

And really, I shouldn’t be saying anything about the lawsuit anyway. The documents are out there; they should be read directly.

That’s all. Thanks for listening.

  • Kaziklu_Voyvoda

    Personally, I didn't see any moustache twirling or any such thing… lol
    Seriously though, I didn't see anything wrong with what you said. I do think that they should have personally spoke with you rather than just taking bits of what you said and making an article of it.

    At the very least they linked to the source… so any intelligent person would hopefully click over and read the full conversation. (And I do think most of the people who actually read their website should happen to be fairly intellectual people)

  • blasto

    Jeez, who knew joystiq users could be so harsh? The comments of the article are totally unfair and uncalled for.

  • GHKazoo

    Wow.

    The reporting is incredibly biased. That's a real shame.

    I worked my way through the links and read the FB thread. A very interesting conversation. Serious kudos for not only stepping in there, but replying to everything that came your way.

    For what it's worth, even though I had read the full transcript, I took Kotick's comments as what pretty much everyone said. He may have been posturing, but it seems to me that he sees writing games as serious business, and he wants to make sure that the entire development chain understands that. While he may not have been intending to imply that creativity would be taken away, most people outside the industry, I suspect, don't understand that making a good game is seriously hard stuff. They think it's all fun, fun, fun! Code some levels, play and debug levels. Every gamer's dream, right?

    But it's not. It's hard work and a lot of pressure. There are aspects of it that are probably very non-fun. Kotick say's he's going to emphasize those aspects.

    At least that was my take.

    Finally… in case it crossed your mind. I am NOT Choi, even though he brought up some of the same points. You can tell that he's not me, because he did a much better job of it.

  • http://twitter.com/h2o_ohmalley Michael Moore

    I really hated seeing you smeared like that. I saw it first on Destructoid, then on escapist.. and then after seeing yet another retweet from my friends from yet another “news source” I got really agitated by it. You have serious cajones for walking across the fire, expressing yourself as you saw fit, only to get burned by the very people you're trying to reach. You've definitely opened my eyes and changed my opinions about things, which I mention in my blog, the Card and Controller. Hopefully I can help change the minds of the friends of mine that are still rabid Activision haters for no other reason that it's trendy.

  • Price

    “You don't come across as badly as you think.”

    No, trust me. You came off really, really bad. I know you didn't intend it, but you came across insinuating that the dozen or so employees that left were all involved in stealing corporate secrets.

    There is a bonus pool worth tens of million of dollars. Instead of paying it out to the kick-ass employees of Infinity Ward, Activision says they will sit on it for 2 or 3 years while a complicated lawsuit plays out, and goes through the appeals process.

    Most employees won't see bonus money because they will leave a studio with declining morale and talent over the next couple of years. The remaining probably won't see much when Activision folds the studio and/or loses the lawsuit.

  • GHKazoo

    “… but you came across insinuating that the dozen or so employees that left were all involved in stealing corporate secrets.”

    Uh.. I guess I missed that part. Quote, please?

  • fubarjr

    This got brought up in the OXM forums on xbox.com today too. I haven't read the facebook thread, just to blurb on Katocku. Having listened to you on KOXM and One of Swords, I know HOW you speak, and knew WHAT you meant. But your comments don't say what I think you mean. Like you said, staying out of the discussion is really the way to go. As the “Major Nelson” of Activision, you need to ask yourself, “What Would Major Nelson Do?” (bracelets are all on back order!). Major would say, “It's a terrible thing, and hopefully everyone will come out better in the end. Until then, let's talk about Game X that I played last night!”

    Good luck Dan! (And watch your mouth! :) )

  • Patrick

    Whether an inadvertent or not, I wonder whether the ‘any publicity is good publicity strategy’ is going to work out for Activision in the long run. As they say it’s always darkest before the dawn & events can change in startling fashion. Just might depend on what you do next.

    In my humble opinion; STOP trying to come up with ‘angles’ that make Activision look good or ex IW look bad in the name of ‘balance’. Don’t you get it? They infuriate people because you just sound like some dreadful PR / ‘fanboy’ combo. Your being passive aggressive & folk out there can feel it.

    When shit happens be prepared to eat a few shit sandwiches & smile while you’re doing it. Whichever way you look at it the IW issue is regrettable shit for everyone. Perhaps empathise with the gamers out there that what is happening is terrible & you can understand their rage & willingness to lash out at Activision. Indeed it is OK for them to be as irrational as they like because you will be there to listen & try to be a conduit for the emotion back at Activision HQ. Your work needs to be a long term project. At the moment it looks like your trying to do it in 6 months & your earnest desire to do a good job is going to backfire. It’s too early for debating & engaging at a cognitive level – like putting out fire with gasoline. Listen (we have 2 ears & 1 mouth for a reason), empathise & keep the solid information flowing. I understand you have been trying to do this but your natural garrulousness is not doing you any favours in print.

    I am climbing down off my soap box now. I have been very harsh in the past however; I do wish you the best & hope you enjoy those sandwiches!

    Kind regards,
    Patrick

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