March started out with a bang, hey? On one side you had loads of PlayStation 3 gamers unable to do much with their precious consoles (it only does…nothing?) because of a date-processing error. On the other you had a few high-ranking execs from Infinity Ward ousted under curious conditions. Which story was the bigger deal to you?
I’m telling anyone that will listen that both stories are being overblown. Yes, the 8005010F PS3 error was a massive inconvenience for (probably) millions of gamers, but comparing it to the Xbox 360’s red ring of death is moronic. There’s a huge difference between an issue that can be solved through a software update and faulty manufacturing leading to hardware failure.
The Infinity Ward situation is also being extremely exaggerated. Yes, it’s a big deal that popular execs from a hugely successful developer were dismissed and a giant franchise was given to a “lesser” developer, but the “security guard” issue isn’t that big a deal. It’s common for security to be present when people are dismissed — mostly to protect against IP theft, but also to prevent a scene from being caused. The way this aspect of the story was being played up, it sounded like Activision hired Mafia goons to keep the remaining Infinity Ward employees inline — that’s just complete B.S.
Anyway, which story was the bigger deal?
[poll id=”29″]
In like a lion and out like a lamb, huh? I just thought they were talking about the weather.
Umm, I still don't know what is going on over at IW and most likely won't till sometime later this week. Bad Co. 2 takes priority here. The PS3 error WAS a big deal though. Not being able to play your games for any period of time is more than just inconvenient to many gamers.
@Sandrock323 Here's a summary:
– Activision's SEC filing mentioned that it would possibly be getting rid of some execs for insubordination
– Execs were ousted
– Security was present at IW
– Sledgehammer (headed by ex-Visceral peeps) is working on an action-adventure CoD game
ApocalyPS3 was the bigger story. I don't see why this Infinity Ward stuff is getting so much attention. People losing jobs is quite normal these days.
Conditioner is better!!!
@RROD
I think the PS3 story probably should be a bigger deal, like Sandrock said earlier, "Not being able to play your games for any period of time is more than just inconvenient to many gamers." What I think is making the IW story so big is we all know that people getting fired or let go from a job happens all of the time, but I don't know of the last time I have heard of it happening in such a mysterious way where there are rumors (however ridiculous they may be) of mafia like bouncers being present, wild accusations, etc.
There is more flair involved rather than a seemingly boring date glitch.
The Infinity Ward story is bigger. Will likely have much longer lasting ramifications than a one day glitch for the PS3, no matter how inconvenient it was for 24 hours.
@ray
The lack of information at the beginning when the news was first announced. Maybe not mysterious to people closer to IW, or someone who pays closer attention to news within the video game industry; but to a more casual video game news reader or MW2 fan who just happened to hear something about IW in the news, and then heard sketchy details about the company that just put out such a hit game- it causes people to react with thoughts of conspiracy. Hence people dramatizing the security people who were there as I believe you have mentioned before as just a safety precaution for things like IP, the lack of details allows for other people to fill in the blank spots with what sounds good to them. And since people naturally tend to gossip, that news travels fast and is consumed by someone who simply doesn't know any better.
The information is public, but accessibility plays a factor in that as well. Information searches can be long and frustrating for those who do not know what they are doing, but the imagination is only one neuron firing away.
@bsukenyan I find the whole "security guard" thing terribly amusing. It seems like more than a few people thought Activision sent "enforcers" over to Infinity Ward. Really?!? A publicly traded company is going to send hired muscle to one of its development houses to rough people up and/or keep them inline? I can't believe that's the conclusion some people were leaping to.
As for the poll argument, I see both sides but maintain that neither is as important as people — especially news bloggers — are making it.
@bsukenyan What was so mysterious about the IW dismissals? I don’t see that point at all. How mysterious was it if the information was publicly available in an SEC filing?
Oh please, the ps3 issue was just an inconvienance, nothing more. Still more exciting then the IW issue. Execs of companies get fired all the time, for w/e reasons. Not really a big issue.
read my Heavy Rain review please
http://www.gamerswishlist.com/news/490-Heavy-Rain…
@ R Pad
-"Really?!? A publicly traded company is going to send hired muscle to one of its development houses to rough people up and/or keep them inline?"-
*cough* Halliburton *cough*
@shockwave
no problem.
@RROD, thanks man that means a lot. I tried to be fair and honest about all aspects of the game.
@Ray
I agree, it does seem ridiculous that a publicly traded company would do something like that. But you and I have some of the skepticism about events like that simply because we pay closer attention to news like this on a regular basis. I would still maintain that to a more casual audience, that sort of news could easily be blown out of proportion and made into a bigger story than is necessary.
I don't think that people should be jumping to conclusions about the security guard issue either, but that does not mean that it cannot and does not happen.
I don’t think the IW firings will have a lasting effect at all. MW2 proved that Activision will have far worse effects than any firing could ever achieve.
great review shockwave. I agreed with everything you wrote about with gameplay with only playing the demo. This is a for sure rental for me.
@tokz, thanks for taking the time to read it man, I’m glad you liked it.
@Shockwave
That was one of the best reviews of Heavy Rain that I’ve read. Respect.