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.
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.
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Contest:
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.
i thought so...
poor sterling to write this newspost
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.
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.
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.
Yes.
Welcome to the real world Mr. Barnett. Nice of you to visit.
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.
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.
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.
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.