If editors are going to have such heavy handed treatment over an article to make it all their own then what’s the point of having a byline?
— Alan
I recommend keeping your money in your wallet (or whatever) until you actually know something about the product you are buying if you aren’t willing to take the risk when it doesn’t live up to expectations. I understand being annoyed at glitches, but demanding a refund isn’t how you do it. Stop putting money down on pre-orders you aren’t sure about, wait until you can do research, then make an informed decision. (I’m just using you as an easy target in this thread; frankly the same can be said about a lot of the bitching going on.)
There needs to be more thought on the part of gamers about their purchases. At least admit you made the mistake and then correct the behaviour so it doesn’t happen again.
That’s not to say I don’t agree with there needing to be a way for consumers to get recompense for poor products. I do. But there are return/refund policies folks should read before their purchase.
Which is exactly why I said Frank was being a jerk for lording over Brad some post where Brad said from now on he was only going to post as a company representative.
By the way – and here’s that prickly context issue again – wasn’t Brad’s post in response to him getting tangled up in some P&R conversation? I don’t know and I guess I don’t really care. I wouldn’t hold him to it any more than I’d hold someone to a post in which he says he’s leaving the forum and never posting again. We’re all human here. We all put ourselves into these posts. As far as I know, except for DanVerrsen, no one’s posting on this forum in a purely PRbot capacity.
-Tom
Kebooo
3204
Regarding the divisive point: yes, Qt3 is a special forum. But it’s a public forum. Everyone writing here knows it. And a public figure writing on it certainly does.
This is what bothers me. In terms of the gaming industry, I’m only a fan, irrelevant, the chances that I would be able to participate in some private forum where developers and journalists have discussions are probably close to zero. QT3 is one of the few forums I’ve ever frequented that has developers like Brad that post openly (not masking their identity). It’s this kind of drama-driven reporting that can help drive them away, especially considering most people at one point or another will say something they regret in the heat of the moment. Yea, that’s exactly what he did. It was obvious that he was going to regret it as soon as I read it.
What was newsworthy about it? Developer gets angry amid hostile reactions toward his game at launch? That’s newsworthy? Perhaps in some kind of celebrity tabloid it is. If you sincerely believe that Brad meant what he said to Ben, I have some stock to sell you. If not, then it seems little more than gossip.
Adree
3205
The RPS article went up before his official apology. It should be updated to reflect that though. And while I agree rescind was an exceptionally poor choice for the headline the “Gamer Bill of Rights” press release no longer exists on the Stardock site which is a bit odd isn’t it?
idrisz
3206
Amusement: I propose we use a syntax similar HK47 whenever we post here, so we can be sure what’s the real intention behind every sentence!!!
I don’t have a dog in this fight other than hoping Elemental turns into a worthy successor to MOM.
I think one of the most important functions of good journalism do is to point out hypocrisy. We all laugh when a politician on other side gets caught on tape saying one thing in the past and then doing or saying opposite in the present. Are game executive somehow exempt from this?
To be fair, I thought Brad’s Mea Culpa was sincere and I accept it. (But of course I haven’t bought the game yet) I also commend Gamebomb for featuring it quickly and prominently. Frankly, both MSNBC and FOX could learn some good journalism from this incident.
I learned more about the state of Elemental by reading the Gamebomb piece than I have by trying to catch up on the last couple of weeks on the thread. Of course the drama is more fun on the forums.
I don’t know what the trigger was for Brad’s post, though the original quote has of course made it’s way around the 'net already. It’s bad press and the PR person Stardock employs probably is not happy.
Also not sure of the people representing companies here in that capacity, I don’t think so. It’s easy to cross that line, though, and get caught up in an argument or attack like that. I didn’t check out the Braid threads to see what Jonathan Blow was saying. Brian Reynolds doesn’t post much and hasn’t in awhile (since before he left Firaxis I think). Schilling I’m sure still lurks around. I think Charles got sick and tired of the whole AC thing and gave up commenting about anything regarding current dev. I’m sure there are other examples…
— Alan
I actually pre-ordered the “Limited Edition” because I thought it’d be in short supply and it had old-school goodies that you typically don’t get anymore (Cloth map, pewter figurine). They also said only 10,000 would be produced when it was announced, if I’m not mistaken. How was I supposed to know the game would be so incomplete when they had the internal beta that was so much better than the public ones?
Do Stardock refunds also re-imburse shipping costs? I’m guessing no?
Sarkus
3210
I think that argument would work better if Brad hadn’t started this thread himself and then used it to effectively sell his game with what amounted to blog updates about the development. Let me make clear that I am not opposed to that practice, but it does put his posting into a gray area that other developers who post here do not enter.
Like I posted above, Brad chose to post here about his job and this is a public forum. RPS sourcing that may not be the height of journalism, but the state of Elemental is a story and so whatever Brad says about that state, whether here, on the Stardock forums, or on Kotaku, is part of that story. And Brad himself knows that.
Sure, I’m a jerk, but Jason isn’t? Poe isn’t? Cory isn’t? Tom, you just called Rock, Paper, Shotgun part of the problem. What the fuck is wrong with you today?
And how did I lord it over Brad, exactly? I was just saying to KG that I think that post makes what Brad said newsworthy.
Because it was, but a very different problem.
— Alan
Lots of people are jerks, Frank. Especially in this thread. Heck, I’m being a jerk for cussing out overseas dudes. But you’re one for expecting that everything Brad says is an official statement of company policy because of some petulant comment he made when he was defending some silly point about Obama, or whatever. You know better than that. Allow the man the opportunity to talk amongst friends. If sites like Rock Paper Shotgun won’t do that, maybe at the very least you could do it?
-Tom
P.S. Who’s Poe?
Oghier
3214
No… the headline was the part that was factually incorrect, “Stardock Rescinding Gamers’ Bill of Rights?” I realize it has been edited since, but it took me 45 seconds of googling to find the GBoR still up on their servers. Presumably, you could have found it, as well.
Cubit
3215
It has nothing to do with Obama or politics at all. That Brad quote I posted was from the Warlord Battlecry 3 DRM thread.
Holding Brad Wardell’s feet to the fire over the shit he says just might get him to stop acting like such a turd in public. I am all for accountability on the internet, which would make it a lot less of a cesspool.
Ah, I see you have an axe to grind. That explains a lot.
-Tom
I don’t think “fuck” counts as cussing out overseas people. I think you have to use fancy English cuss words. Step up your game!
Totally not it, Tom. I pre-ordered Elemental. I love Demigod. I gave it an 8 at review. I think Brad’s goofy.
To summarize: I have about as much of an axe to grind with Brad Wardell as you do with Matthew Gallant.
For insulting people overseas. Or anywhere, really. If one wants to stay classy while doing it.
