January 11, 2010 at 12:56 pm (Uncategorized)
It’s hard to write a blog about community when you are working community, and my hat is off to those who do it. Me, I find myself writing posts that cross all kinds of lines. I had two paragraphs of a rant about people who pick inappropriate names just to try and be all shocking, and that the only thing worse than that kind of asshole is the guy who isn’t doing it to be shocking, but actually believes the stuff he’s spewing. Then I realized I shouldn’t post.
The trouble is, examples are what make rants worthwhile, and I simply won’t use examples from a job I’m actively performing. I lack filters, and the only way for me to stay out of trouble is to not get in a position where filters are necessary.
But here’s a PSA: “Jokes” about raping, lynching, or genocidal maniacs are never actually funny, even when they involve people you don’t like! Okay, I take back the bit about genocidal maniacs. “Springtime for Hitler” was hilarious. But unless you are Mel Brooks, you are not allowed to make those jokes with your avatar name. And if you ARE Mel Brooks, and playing a casual online football name… call me!
Anyway, just wanted to dust the blog off to post a fascinating link from the NYT, one that I, ahem, think might apply to lots of game companies suffering growing pains: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/10/business/10corner.html?em
5 Comments
October 2, 2009 at 2:11 pm (Just Thinking, Related To Work I'm Doing)
1. The work you do is on the game, not endless rounds of “executive demos” and “press event demos” and other assorted Potemkin villages that ultimately accomplish nothing but make the team feel like hamsters running on a wheel.
2. Pre-launch expectations aren’t skyhigh (that is to say… delusional).
3. There are few conventions/features that you have to include lest everyone cry, “why,” and die.
4. There’s an assumption among users that “launch” is not the starting point, but rather a milestone on a multi-year plan.
8 Comments
September 29, 2009 at 9:28 am (Just Thinking)
“We’re community - we SURF the catastrophe curve.”
3 Comments
September 18, 2009 at 6:14 pm (Related To Work I'm Doing)
My last column at MMORPG just went up.
Now you know why I’ve been so quiet. Closed beta! New websites! Designing tools! Forums! Slipped milestones and understandably cranky players!
God, I missed it. I feel like I’m home.
More when I’m not so crazed.
8 Comments
June 29, 2009 at 8:57 pm (Links Of Interest, Related To Work I'm Doing)
If you don’t stalk me on Examiner, I posted the news about Mark, and then I did a followup post to explain some nuances missed by people who read the strangely written announcement boilerplate and emerged confused.
A slightly more nuanced take on the general topic, if not specifics, appeared ten written drafts later at MMORPG.com. Gonna be my final word for awhile. My feelings are… mixed.
As soon as preorders are available for the tell all, I’ll let you know.
But I don’t just navel gaze, no sir. I’m still working on the football game. To that end!
If you are/were a Steelers fan, and if you ever wanted to ask Coach Cowher anything, my Quick Hit friends are doing a podcast with the illustrious coach as a guest. If you want to submit a question, send it to askacoach AT quickhit DOT com. Send your real name and address too - the chosen questions will get the asker’s name read out on the air, and you’ll get a thank you t-shirt. The contact information will go on a spam list over my dead body, so please send your real address.
Finally, if any of my team leads or guild leaders are reading this, and you think your various groups of players would like to take a break from elves and beta test a browser based football game, give me a buzz, please. Each “game” is 20 minutes long, maybe a half hour with the various extra bits.
Thanks!
11 Comments
June 10, 2009 at 4:55 pm (Related To Work I'm Doing)
So, I’ve been waiting until there was something I could actually, you know, show you. And at last there is!
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24 Comments
June 1, 2009 at 12:07 pm (Links Of Interest, Tales)
I meant to throw this link out there earlier, but I was too busy hitting deadlines 
I have a column series at MMORPG.com called the MMO Underbelly, where I try to show the seamy, dirty, behind the scenes stuff of MMO production. The latest one is here, and you can find links to all the older ones under my cartoon picture. I love that picture, by the way. That’s how I wear my hair as a civilian, yes, and go ahead, make fun.
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5 Comments
May 8, 2009 at 10:41 am (Related To Work I'm Doing)
I’m running a Haiku contest at my Examiner page: Go here to enter.
Why? Because I can’t post any more about Darkfall without overdosing on popcorn.
10 Comments