#1 - Nov. 8, 2011, 9:36 a.m.
http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/07/rumor-senior-titan-designer-laid-off-by-blizzard/
Keep in mind that this is strictly rumor, and that we have no evidence what Staat was fired for, if at all. However, I do wonder if it was money issue.
When I started WoW almost 7 years ago, I was amazed at how friendly the Blizzard employees were (both the GMs I dealt with as well as the CMs). And not just friendly, but passionate gamers themselves. Back then, even the community (albeit smaller) seemed more pleasant overall.
So I wonder what happened? On one hand, we have a game company who (to me) seems to have replaced it's zeal for games with it's desire for profits, and on the other hand, we have a community of gamers who, instead of working together to accomplish common goals, degrade each other and show no tolerance or patience.
Tonight I was in a ZA pug in which 3 people were all from the same guild. The healer and myself (a subtlety rogue) were both from different servers. Before the doors even opened for the first pull, one of the other dps was putting down my spec (I pull 12k-15k depending on the fight... but that is irrelevant). Regardless, we beat the timed run, and I won the bear. The three guild mates left (not because I won the bear, but because they decided to raid). As the healer and I made our way to the next boss, three new people joined. The healer (who had just caught up -- I think it was his first time there) asked the tank to wait so he could get mana. The tank, using expletives, expressed his displeasure at having to wait for mana, and next thing I know, a Vote-Kick was up to remove the healer with the reason given as "REMOVED him." Regardless of my voting no, the healer was kicked. Annoyed, I voted to kick the tank. It also passed. His guild mate who had joined with him attempted to pull the next group and get us killed... he was the only one to be hit though and quickly dropped before he died. This type of behavior has gotten progressively worse as time has gone by.
For instance, earlier in trade, people were arguing which music/bands were the best. I have no idea why anyone would argue something so opinionated.
Meanwhile, Blizzard is charging us $30 for faction changes, $25 for race changes and transfers, $15 for appearance changes, $10 for name changes, and $3 a month for WoW "remote".
I know nostalgia makes it easy to see the past with rose-colored glasses, but I think I am being fair when I say that both the community and the company have changed... and not necessarily for the best.
Granted, I know there are many players out there who do not fit the grim description painted above. Those people are lights in a dark world, and make this game worth playing (for me).
I should also say that not everyone at Blizzard seems money hungry. I think the CMs we have on these forums do a stand up job and they make this place much brighter. But that said, they seem tired to me. I get the feeling that the job is much harder on them than it used to be, with both increased pressures from their superiors as well as more negativity on the forums. But like I said, that's just a feeling... I could be dead wrong.
As far as Blizzard's charging for services goes, I can understand that.... they are, after all, a business. But that said, I think Blizzard could learn a thing or two from some of the decisions
of the other companies out there. Limited transfers, re-customizations, and loyal customer rewards at no additional charge are things I would want to give my customers, especially those that have spent years doing business with me. Unfortunately, I do not see Blizzard doing this, and I can't help but think that some executives in a big conference room, who have never even played WoW, are to blame. But what do I know?
Heck, it's not just Blizzard. We have game companies of every genre and platform charging an extra $10+ for access to character skins, levels, and game modes that are either available for download or are already on the game discs. We have studios closing right and left, executives firing developers, and big fish suing little fish. Pfft.... Horse Armor.
/endvent
/beginconstructivetalk
To the Community:
What are your suggestions to help make this a better community of gamers? What are your thoughts on ways that the game can be more accessible for newbies and veterans alike? What can WE do to improve?
To Blizzard (on the off chance a rep sees this):
You guys have been around for a long time. You have redefined the pinnacle of success. Certainly you must be proud of how high you have risen as a company. Are you still proud gamers?
Did you know your name used to be dropped in conversation about everything that was right in the gaming industry? Sadly, it is now being brought up in conversations about what is wrong with the industry. Will this criticism be used for good, or will it fall on deaf ears?
How do you intend to stay (or renew yourselves as) a company gamers will love?
