"f13.net: Let me backtrack a little bit, simply for background - what was the hierarchy like within Sigil?
Ex-Sigil: There was input all around, but at each level, that input was simply discarded by the decision makers. Basically there were a handful of people who made decisions, regardless of input from anyone else.
f13.net: When it came down to actually making game content, how much freedom did designers have?
Ex-Sigil: Quite a bit. The content itself was done almost entirely on their own. The designers on Vanguard did amazing things with the horrific tools and systems in place.
f13.net: What tools were used to make the game?
Ex-Sigil: In-house stuff for the design side... but there was no scripting language for example, even though nearly everyone wanted one except for the people who decided if we got one or not.
f13.net: Because it would cost money to make these tools?
Ex-Sigil: No... because the people in charge just didn't want one
f13.net: How much do you think the lack of reasonable tools hurt the project?
Ex-Sigil: Immeasurably. You can't expect people to create interesting content, and then not give them the means to do it."
Wasn't it mentioned in the f13.net interviews that the employees were putting in a lot of extra hours (which if I am correct was salary based and not an hourly wage, thus no overtime pay) to see Vanguard launched?
The employees of Sigil did great work, given the limited resources, incompetent management, stressful environment and the other many problems.
They put in a great amount of effort and had talent.
And that is why...
Conservatives' pessimism is conducive to their happiness in three ways. First, they are rarely surprised -- they are right more often than not about the course of events. Second, when they are wrong they are happy to be so. Third, because pessimistic conservatives put not their faith in princes -- government -- they accept that happiness is a function of fending for oneself. They believe that happiness is an activity -- it is inseparable from the pursuit of happiness.
It's good to hear that some of the poor unfortuantes that got run over from the Sigil train wreck have found new jobs with a respectable company like Mythic. Mythic is gone, EA is not respectable at all... though I don't doubt this will be a "servicable" game, don't expect innovation But those scars were inflicted by mis-management. Not just Brad M, he was just the most visible and obvious problem. The people Brad chose to make the everyday management decisions were just as incompetent. What kind of idiots don't give their people the proper freaking TOOLS to do their job and then force them to work insane numbers of hours? The same idiot who hires incompetant people unqualified for their jobs... in the end all responsibility falls to Brad... did you even read what you wrote? "The people Brad chose to make the everyday management decisions were just as incompetent. " Which was BRAD's choice and BRAD's fault... there is enough blame to cover all the people to blame, but never enough to Brad himself as well... That's like telling people they need to build a house designed by a clueless architect in only 2 weeks and there aren't any nails because the foremen bosses think they're not needed. Brad M was the architect, the foremen were the rest of Sigil management. It should be noted THEY didn't lose their jobs. I think we can be safe in assuming Mythic works differently. Anyway best wishes to those folks who have found new jobs on WAR.
Yes Mythic works very differently, but having constant benchmarks and a suit always looking over your shoulder... the game WILL be done, and it WILL play, but don't expect anything but tried and true MMO formulas
Of all that is written, I love only what a person has written with his own blood. -Nietzsche
Well if you want monkeys that will just do whatever they are told even if they think its a bad idea - hire some ex sigil employees. I mean c'mon they put up with that crap for 5 years. Anyone with half a brain would have left years ago. But seriously - hopefully with better management and tools their talents will be properly recognized.
Hahaha i totaly forgot that every person who has a job feels like they in heaven or its paridise when working...yeah right
Oh yeah i really love my own job (seriously wouldn't want to do anything else as a job then what i'm doing now), but it would be ignorant to think everyone one who works feels that way now wouldn't it?
Your serious thought i agree with as its not only a employe's faults but also those who are expected to be their guides, in which we all can agree the guides where pretty much lacking with Sigil.
But those scars were inflicted by mis-management. Not just Brad M, he was just the most visible and obvious problem. The people Brad chose to make the everyday management decisions were just as incompetent. What kind of idiots don't give their people the proper freaking TOOLS to do their job and then force them to work insane numbers of hours?
The same idiot who hires incompetant people unqualified for their jobs... in the end all responsibility falls to Brad... did you even read what you wrote? "The people Brad chose to make the everyday management decisions were just as incompetent. " Which was BRAD's choice and BRAD's fault... there is enough blame to cover all the people to blame, but never enough to Brad himself as well...
Yes Mythic works very differently, but having constant benchmarks and a suit always looking over your shoulder... the game WILL be done, and it WILL play, but don't expect anything but tried and true MMO formulas
It is true that the buck stops at the top, but we've all heard that Brad M wasn't spending much time at the Sigil offices anyway. Read the f13 interview again. Competent managers could have pulled things together, but they didn't. The problems with Sigil were more widespread than just the nut at the top.
I'm not saying Brad M shouldn't be banned from ever touching another online game again, but don't let his incompetence cover up and hide the others responsible so they get off totally scott-free.
And as for Mythic, after releases like Dark and Light and Vanguard, I'll take "tried and true MMO formulas" in a game that WORKS over a company that keeps touting their amazing "innovation". After months and months of listening to companies like Farlan and Sigil spouting and hyping their games, any sane person should be more than a little suspicious of companies claiming their game is going to turn the world upsidedown.
Comments
Are you always this cheerful and in real-life?
The dismissive quality of his communication skills remind me of Chairman Mao.
"The more books you read, the more foolish you become." - Chairman Mao.
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WoW and fast food = commercial successes.
I neither play WoW nor eat fast food.
Have you seen what just 2 people from EQ1 have done to WoW? They were not even devs on EQ, just guild leaders.
I've got faith in the Mythic guys though, they'll toss the chaff if that's what they end up being but it should concern anyone that wants a fun game.
http://www.greycouncil.org/
"f13.net: Let me backtrack a little bit, simply for background - what was the hierarchy like within Sigil?
Ex-Sigil: There was input all around, but at each level, that input was simply discarded by the decision makers. Basically there were a handful of people who made decisions, regardless of input from anyone else.
f13.net: When it came down to actually making game content, how much freedom did designers have?
Ex-Sigil: Quite a bit. The content itself was done almost entirely on their own. The designers on Vanguard did amazing things with the horrific tools and systems in place.
f13.net: What tools were used to make the game?
Ex-Sigil: In-house stuff for the design side... but there was no scripting language for example, even though nearly everyone wanted one except for the people who decided if we got one or not.
f13.net: Because it would cost money to make these tools?
Ex-Sigil: No... because the people in charge just didn't want one
f13.net: How much do you think the lack of reasonable tools hurt the project?
Ex-Sigil: Immeasurably. You can't expect people to create interesting content, and then not give them the means to do it."
Hope that clear some things.
eqnext.wikia.com
The employees of Sigil did great work, given the limited resources, incompetent management, stressful environment and the other many problems.
They put in a great amount of effort and had talent.
And that is why...
Conservatives' pessimism is conducive to their happiness in three ways. First, they are rarely surprised -- they are right more often than not about the course of events. Second, when they are wrong they are happy to be so. Third, because pessimistic conservatives put not their faith in princes -- government -- they accept that happiness is a function of fending for oneself. They believe that happiness is an activity -- it is inseparable from the pursuit of happiness.
Of all that is written, I love only what a person has written with his own blood. -Nietzsche
-----
WoW and fast food = commercial successes.
I neither play WoW nor eat fast food.
Well if you want monkeys that will just do whatever they are told even if they think its a bad idea - hire some ex sigil employees.
I mean c'mon they put up with that crap for 5 years. Anyone with half a brain would have left years ago.
But seriously - hopefully with better management and tools their talents will be properly recognized.
Oh yeah i really love my own job (seriously wouldn't want to do anything else as a job then what i'm doing now), but it would be ignorant to think everyone one who works feels that way now wouldn't it?
Your serious thought i agree with as its not only a employe's faults but also those who are expected to be their guides, in which we all can agree the guides where pretty much lacking with Sigil.
Yes Mythic works very differently, but having constant benchmarks and a suit always looking over your shoulder... the game WILL be done, and it WILL play, but don't expect anything but tried and true MMO formulasIt is true that the buck stops at the top, but we've all heard that Brad M wasn't spending much time at the Sigil offices anyway. Read the f13 interview again. Competent managers could have pulled things together, but they didn't. The problems with Sigil were more widespread than just the nut at the top.
I'm not saying Brad M shouldn't be banned from ever touching another online game again, but don't let his incompetence cover up and hide the others responsible so they get off totally scott-free.
And as for Mythic, after releases like Dark and Light and Vanguard, I'll take "tried and true MMO formulas" in a game that WORKS over a company that keeps touting their amazing "innovation". After months and months of listening to companies like Farlan and Sigil spouting and hyping their games, any sane person should be more than a little suspicious of companies claiming their game is going to turn the world upsidedown.