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EA Mythic's creative designer Paul Barnett has criticized the annual Game Developers Conference, slamming it for being a "combative" experience where narrow-mindedness and boredom runs riot. He also wants GDC to be hosted by a dancing bear wearing a fez. He never said that bit, but who doesn't want that?

"I'm not going to GDC because it's combative, it's a peacock display and it's full of people who do what I do or want to do what I do or are doing what I do and don't want me to do it anymore. It's not open-minded. It's very narrow-minded. We're all talking about the same thing. We've all sharpened our knives for years at it, so we get into … well, not a fight, but it's always about the same things.

We talk about design, mechanics, philosophy of design. All I was going to hear about was: WoW and the Activision merger. Whether Spore is going to be any good. How do I get into the games industry? Would you like a job? You're going to be fired. Why don't you start a label?

While that's interesting, it's not interesting enough. It confuses me. I have to start to explain things I find blindingly obvious. I have to listen to people who say things which I find ultimately stupid. And I have to pay attention to people I don't want to pay attention to.
That's a huge lump of disillusion if I've ever seen one. So, GDC = boring and stupid peacock display. That's surprising, as I always felt we had some good stuff coming out of that conference, and really, are other shows any better? I can't imagine E3 being anything less than all of the above. That said, until the GDC organizers get a dance instructor, a bear, a fez and the desire to make all our dreams a reality, GDC will never live up to its potential.







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Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize. Likes PS2, iPod Touch, Silent Hill 2, Metal Gear Solid, Dynasty Warriors 3 Meet the rest of the team



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19 comments | showing # 1 to 19
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Aurvant's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/07/2008 07:38
Aurvant
Dear Paul Barnett,

If EA Mythic would hurry the fuck up and release something actually tangible on Warhammer Online then people might actually talk to you about stuff other than the crap you just mentioned. Your going to hear about Spore and WoW (and the merger) because your section of EA hasn't done jack shit regarding WAR.

Well, except continuously delay the hell out of it. How's that for combative, ya prick.
shaun's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/07/2008 07:54
shaun
whats with EA this days,its like they have a opposite opinion on everything these days,and may i say that it is pretty ironic that that this "critism" comes from a company that has nothing actual good releas in a while now,so what is it what you want to show to us at the GDC mr bartnett???
i thought so...
poor sterling to write this newspost
shaun's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/07/2008 07:57
shaun
i meant released,jesus im so pissed that im writing engrish
glipe's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/07/2008 07:58
glipe
Seems to me you talk about what you want to talk about. If he's not getting what he wants from GDC it's probably a good thing he doesn't go. Other people get a lot of inspiration and knowledge from GDC and it'd be a shame to drag the party down.

I'm not condemning what he's said, a lot of it seems to be quite true, but I'd be trying to change it rather than walking away.
Cowzilla3's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/07/2008 08:07
Cowzilla3
Yea but E3 is supposed to be a peacock display GDC is supposed to be where developers discuss the FUTURE OF THE INDUSTRY (load echoing voice), kind of sad if they don't get anything out of it.
RJG's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/07/2008 08:14
RJG
Well, EA would say that. They're not a developer, they're a purchaser, and when they've purchased, they become a whipper, and when the whip stops, they grind them, and when the actual developer is broken over the wheel of yearly sequels, they say the market has changed because the fifth game in a row didn't sell as well as the last one, so people must not like it anymore, and they dissolve the team that had so much potential in the first place, and then they buy another team, and begin again.

The only reason Wright hasn't broken yet is because he's bigger than EA, and they know it, and he sets his own terms.
loki d20's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/07/2008 08:54
loki d20
Gotta agree with Paul here. Nothing comes out of GDC other than just slap in the face or slap on the back commentary that is discussed on a daily basis on the Web. It's a face-to-face version of all of the developer blogs, honestly. Kind of, hey, we're developers, we should have a conference for developers, cool! Some of them like it, cool, some of them don't, whatever. But it's not like GDC has really lead to anything greater in the MMO industry, just more talk.

And, as far as EA/Mythic releasing information on WAR, there's tons of crap out there already with almost every gameplay element other than specific class abilities spelled out in detail. And, pushing it back because they don't think they're ready is about the smartest thing any MMO company can do today. Heck, and I don't even like the game.
BattyAdroit's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/07/2008 09:26
BattyAdroit
So one guy's negative opinion warrants a news article?
Jim Sterling's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/07/2008 09:28
Jim Sterling
"So one guy's negative opinion warrants a news article?"

Yes.
Aaron Mxy Yost's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/07/2008 09:41
Aaron Mxy Yost
Will the bear's name be State 'o Maine?
Malovane's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/07/2008 10:15
Malovane
"I have to listen to people who say things which I find ultimately stupid. And I have to pay attention to people I don't want to pay attention to."

Welcome to the real world Mr. Barnett. Nice of you to visit.
Seamus's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/07/2008 10:41
Seamus
Well, EA would say that. They're not a developer, they're a purchaser, and when they've purchased, they become a whipper, and when the whip stops, they grind them, and when the actual developer is broken over the wheel of yearly sequels

LoL Paul and Mythic both are a recently bought developer, he isn't high on the totem poll in EA, it's his opinion not EA's, which he is entitled to, just how many GDC's have any of us been to, to know exactly what he is talking about.
Alexradl's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/07/2008 10:46
Alexradl
Dear Paul Barnett,

EA is full of ultimately stupid ideas.

Sure, he might have some relatively good points about GDC, but all of the division of EA are pretty much the same. They complain about everything.

Well put, RJG, well put.
cchance's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/07/2008 10:58
cchance
holy crap that guy sound arrogant as hell
timtheterrible's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/07/2008 11:31
timtheterrible
Is that the Blaster Master in that pic?
13thDragon's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/07/2008 12:32
13thDragon
That's a big ass frog.
Milkman519's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/07/2008 13:50
Milkman519
More EA flamebait. Hooray! Jesus christ guys, give it a fucking rest.
listereo's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/07/2008 15:01
listereo
I love how one man represent EA around here.

Going back into the article, it seems that Barnett's dig is that people at GDC act like they know it all, and all that's left to work out is the details, when the industry is, at best, in a turbulent adolescence, isolated from the rest of the world. He opted to go to a completely unrelated conference his friend ran, and it was more about the kind of creativity that seems crazy and stupid to most people. And he like that more, because it gives him something new to chew on instead of muttering about network code and microtransactions.

Can't blame him. It's a wide world full of wild and new ideas, and when you've gotten used to the ebb and flow of the industry, you'll get bored by people tooting their own horns for a week. He's the kind of guy who needs to be refreshed, shuffled up. To keep the fire in his belly, he needs fresh fuel, and not spent ash.
Blue Ryd3r's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/08/2008 03:53
Blue Ryd3r
I read some of the comments of people looking down on this guy and I have to wonder if any of them have ever gone to a conference before. I think this guy is just giving a frank account of his own personal experience.

Also he isn't the first person to voice their displeasure for the event. It's supposed to be a place to discuss new ideas and gain new perspectives and instead it's just full of assholes trying to make it into another E3: "Lets discuss dynamic AI by talking about the game I and my studio have been working on for the past year during this entire panel"
And so you now sit through a three hour Ad. Whoopiee!

They guy had a miserable time, don't ride his ass because he told you about it.
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