Poster: Chewable at 12/30/2005 3:04:05 PM PST
Subject: Is Blizz still Blizz? |
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When people talk about great past accomplishments of Blizz like WC1, WC2, Diablo 1 & 2, Starcraft, etc...then compare it to the WoW Blizz we know today are they talking about the same Blizz?
Blizz is a company, run by people, who change jobs, die, move away, get fired...Are the same people who worked at Blizz back then working at Blizz now?
And if not, can we expect the same type of ground breaking game development they had back then? Or even, is the lore used in WoW always consistent with the lore from the old days?
The answer to these questions I think is NO...but then I don't work there so I really have no idea.
Comments?
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Poster: Tseric at 12/30/2005 3:52:48 PM PST
Subject: Re: Is Blizz still Blizz? |
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Q u o t e:
...but then I don't work there so I really have no idea.
Pretty much QFT.
I do work there and in fact attended the 15th anniversary party of the company. There were quite a few acknowledgements of the contributions of founding members still at the company, along with artists and contributors who worked with them in those early days of Blizzard. There were a great number of people in many areas of the company which were acknowledged for their long-standing contributions. We have a "lore-master" of the company that has been involved with Warcraft lore since the inception of the first Warcraft game.
Your comments are so way off-base as to strike me as a tad absurd. If you're going to make assertions based on internet rumors, it might be a good idea to have as many facts as you can so as not to make yourself look ridiculous.
This is my inside voice.
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Poster: Tseric at 12/30/2005 4:07:01 PM PST
Subject: Re: Is Blizz still Blizz? |
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Q u o t e:
No, this is not the same Blizzard that we have come to love years ago. While WoW is a kick ass game, it fails to live up to other Blizzard titles when it comes to the "feel" of the game.
And what exactly do you mean by that? I'd like to understand what you are getting at, but it is a rather general comment. I've played quite a few MMOs in my time and this game very much has a "feel" to it. In fact, it is very much a continuation of many aspects of Blizzard games. Ease of play, distinct character models, unique lore, accessible UI format, etc.
Could you be more specific?
This is my inside voice.
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Poster: Tseric at 12/30/2005 4:17:44 PM PST
Subject: Re: Is Blizz still Blizz? |
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Q u o t e:
What assertions did he make? Reread the post Tseric, he was asking a direct question with an acknowledgement he didnt know the answer.
How the hell do you turn that into an assertion.
Par for the course on blizzard customer service.
You're right. In my haste I hear some of the slant which usually comes up on these boards:
-Blizzard lost all its talent, etc.
-Blizzard's vision has changed for this game
-Blizzard is nothing but a puppet to it's parent company
etc.
So, I came out in defense of the company that has provided some of the most fascinating experiences in my life and somebody got checked into the glass a little hard. Foul on me, fair enough. Chewable, if your listening, it wasn't my intention to target you. It's the issue that bothers me.
This is my inside voice.
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Poster: Tseric at 12/30/2005 5:05:19 PM PST
Subject: Re: Is Blizz still Blizz? |
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Q u o t e:
And your bald faced lying is so far from reality as to strike me as laughable. You want some facts, Tseric? How about this:
Castaway Entertainment
http://www.castawayentertainment.com/about.html
"Founded in the summer of 2003, Castaway Entertainment is a video game development studio started by a team of animators, character artists, programmers, level designers, background artists, producers, and designers who brought you Diablo and Diablo II"
Arena.net
http://www.arena.net/about/team.html
Mike O'Brien, Founder and Programmer, was also a company director of Blizzard...
Patrick Wyatt, Founder and Programmer, was previously Blizzard Entertainment's Vice President of Research and Development.
Jeff Strain, Founder and Programmer, was the team lead and lead programmer of Blizzard's massively multiplayer role-playing game, World of Warcraft.
Flagship Studios
http://www.flagshipstudios.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=section&id=7&Itemid=29
Flagship Studios is a creator of innovative entertainment software, designing games that focus on ease of play, replayablility and fun. The studio was formed in 2003 by former executives and developers from Blizzard North® and represents the creators of the worldwide, best-selling Diablo® franchise.
Red5 Studios
http://www.red5studios.com/
"Welcome to Red 5. We are quietly at work, building the world's best MMO team here in Southern California. Red 5's founders share a history of making hit games for companies such as Blizzard Entertainment®. After our most recent project, World of Warcraft®, we decided that we wanted to take things in a new direction and push the limits of our creativity"
All the top talent got wise and left when Vivendi Universal swept in. They went off to form multiple new companies where they could maintain their creative control over their work. Don't listen to Vivendi Universal mouthpieces like Tseric, who is only here to give you the party line.
Commenting on individual decisions by former employees of the company would not be my place. However you seem to have no trouble thinking it's your place. This is a company and like any other, people will move on to other opportunities or directions in their lives. Natural course of things. From what you have indicated in this scathing expose, the various people you are referring to left for various reasons. If you're so convinced of some corporate conspiracy that drove out all of the top talent from the company, you are hanging pretty ornaments on a bare tree. Your individual assertions may be correct at face value (yes, these people did once work for Blizzard), but your unifying theme of connection is motivated by nothing more than your desire to make yourself look smart and this company look bad.
Call me a Vivendi mouthpiece all you want. I was hired by and have worked for Blizzard. You, however, are merely a mouthpiece for your own discontent.
Serious questions: Have you met or do you even know any of these people you indicated? Do you know the motivations for the choices they made in their lives? Are you so certain you know exactly what occurred and why with the limited information you have provided here?
And really, in the end, what is your purpose? To pull the curtain back and expose some hideous lie you think exists? Rather grandiose, don't you think?[ post edited by Tseric ]
This is my inside voice.
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Poster: Tseric at 12/30/2005 5:20:35 PM PST
Subject: Re: Is Blizz still Blizz? |
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Q u o t e:
did he just insult a customer? This is the kind of stuff i'm talking about. you have every right to defend the company, but your language and tone is just not right. i love this game and ill continue playing it. the developers, artists, and everyone who works on this game have done a fantastic job, but its being diminished by the lack of customer service skills you present.
Feo, I'm not in customer service. The sooner you understand that, the more fruitful our relationship can be.
This is my inside voice.
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Poster: Tseric at 12/30/2005 5:26:37 PM PST
Subject: Re: Is Blizz still Blizz? |
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Q u o t e:
I'm quoting the reasons the people themselves gave, in interviews to the press, for leaving:
"The pending sale of the gaming division was a major factor in the decision to leave Blizzard and Vivendi, Roper told me Tuesday morning. The quartet was seeking a higher level of involvement with Vivendi, but grew frustrated with the lack of response.
"If we know that something's going to be happening, we want to have a direct pipeline to talk to someone who's above Blizzard," said Roper. "We wanted to be able to have that level of participation and communication with Vivendi (V: Research, Estimates) and to be able to offer some insight and some knowledge in what they're thinking about in terms of a sale, particularly with Blizzard. And for the four of us, that opportunity wasn't going to be made available."
Anything else you need me to correct you on today Tseric? You're 0 for 2 so far.
So, I don't have all my history notes in front of me, but it seems like Mr. Roper may be referring to the sale of Blizzard to Vivendi. Doesn't seem the least bit odd to me that some people do not go along with a corporate acquisition. Well within his reason to make such a decision.
However, the people who have remained, particularly the top executives and founders, have pushed a great deal to maintain Blizzard's distinctions and qualities as a game company regardless of any subsidiary status.
Q u o t e:
Anything else you need me to correct you on today Tseric? You're 0 for 2 so far.
Of course you think you're infallible. Pretty much obvious to everyone here. Nothing I say will impact your little conspiracy theory, will it?
This is my inside voice.
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Poster: Tseric at 12/30/2005 5:37:01 PM PST
Subject: Re: Is Blizz still Blizz? |
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Q u o t e:
... originally, Tseric was claiming they never left at all.
This is the challenge in dealing with trolls. They get to make stuff up as they go along. Whatever proof you want me to illustrate, meditate on this...
If I say things that are inaccurate, I am accountable to my boss and company and the public. Proof or not.
If you say things that are inaccurate, you are likely accountable to no one, but I might try to hold you to it ;)
This is my inside voice.
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Poster: Tseric at 12/30/2005 5:46:00 PM PST
Subject: Re: Is Blizz still Blizz? |
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Q u o t e:
Right... I'm just making it all up!
Did you see the quote of you claiming I was denying anyone left? Are you even reading anymore or just responding with cut and paste?
This is my inside voice.
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Poster: Tseric at 12/30/2005 5:50:59 PM PST
Subject: Re: Is Blizz still Blizz? |
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Q u o t e:
Fact: The key people behind Blizzard's hit franchises are no longer working for Blizzard.
Fact: The key people behind Blizzard's hit MMO still work for the company. As Warcraft is a franchise and as I stated earlier that many who contributed to the franchise (lead developers, creative developers, lead designers, lead artists) are still with the company and working on the current project in the franchise your quoted comment is in fact false.[ post edited by Tseric ]
This is my inside voice.
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Poster: Tseric at 12/30/2005 5:53:42 PM PST
Subject: Re: Is Blizz still Blizz? |
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Q u o t e:
If you're going to make assertions based on internet rumors
This is the key point. I work for the company. My assertions are not based on internet rumor. You can not make the same claim.
This is my inside voice.
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