RPG Codex Interview: Chris Avellone on Pillars Cut Content, Game Development Hierarchies and More

[Durandal]

Chris what is you doing

Nobody even asked about New Vegas

Are you going to turn away from the fire you helped start?
We're all about to embark on a beautiful journey.

 

[I ASK INANE QUESTIONS]

When I was scrounging through his comments, he did have one post complaining about the capitalist system requiring you to work for money.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[Iskramor]

We've had some cross-contamination between the Codex and the chan that was founded for weeaboos to doodle their noodles over cartoon drawings of little girls, but when will this get even more meta?

Will we be appearing in concert on Reddit tomorrow, perhaps? Any guesses?

Decided to check if reddit had anything to say about this. Found:

Small Indie Company
Enough said right there.

Gibe free stuff socialist state indie company

 

[TT1]

Chris Avellone you were one of founders of Obsidian. I always tought that you had power, as a founder, to rule the staff, show the cards on the table and prevent this kind of situations. As a founder, you had no power at all?

 

[Infinitron]

It's like asking you to report the news, what's wrong with that?

I...don't get the joke. But I guess at 3 AM maybe I'm not supposed to.

My interlocutors are right however, please continue.

 

[ColonelTeacup]

We've had some cross-contamination between the Codex and the chan that was founded for weeaboos to doodle their noodles over cartoon drawings of little girls, but when will this get even more meta?

Will we be appearing in concert on Reddit tomorrow, perhaps? Any guesses?

Decided to check if reddit had anything to say about this. Found:

Small Indie Company
Enough said right there.

Gibe free stuff socialist state indie company

Wouldn't surprise me if they had a patreon, and rarely made any updates.

 

[Bocian]

I...don't get the joke. But I guess at 3 AM maybe I'm not supposed to.

He's spilling the beans and going all out, so doesn't need to be asked about NV specifically. Same as you don't need to be asked to shill post news.

 

[whydoibother]

A thousand year lurker here, finally registered to post in this epic thread. Best of luck to our lovable arrogant rogue in his fight against da man.

 

[Iskramor]

Durance and GM implemented as envisioned would result in less content elsewhere.

Sounds like an improvement.

But how about the amazing writing and quests of important figures such as Carrie Patel and Olivia Veras??? You are losing the touch, Roguey. Get a grip.

carrie patel is a cutie

More like race traitor.

 

[Chris Avellone]

Oh, Infinitron, the joke is simple: That you report the news, as your unfortunate profile tag claims, which always make me wince when I see your claim. C'mon, don't be ridiculous. You are so biased, we can't even see you through the glare, but embrace it: It's part of your charm.

EDIT: I really mean this. I love Infinitron's comments, but it's not news, it's just... Infinitron. Change your profile tag, bud.

 

[ColonelTeacup]

Oh, Infinitron, the joke is simple: That you report the news, as your unfortunate profile tag claims, which always make me wince when I see your claim. C'mon, don't be ridiculous. You are so biased, we can't even see you through the glare, but embrace it: It's part of your charm.

Oh damn, Avellone throwing some shade.

 

[Chris Avellone]

Oh damn, Avellone throwing some shade.

It really is charming. I refuse to back away from my stance. If you take anything, don't take my Infinitron.

 

[meanwhileInPoland]

BEST THREAD EVER this shitstorm is better than anything obsidian created since dead money

 

[Prime Junta]

Oh, Infinitron, the joke is simple: That you report the news, as your unfortunate profile tag claims, which always make me wince when I see your claim. C'mon, don't be ridiculous. You are so biased, we can't even see you through the glare, but embrace it: It's part of your charm.

EDIT: I really mean this. I love Infinitron's comments, but it's not news, it's just... Infinitron. Change your profile tag, bud.

Ask him why he's not reporting on Disco Elysium.

 

[ColonelTeacup]

Oh damn, Avellone throwing some shade.

It really is charming. I refuse to back away from my stance. If you take anything, don't take my Infinitron.

Indeed, who would then post the news™

 

[Infinitron]

Well, this is a first.

I'm not a hater, Avellone. I've said several times that you are an order of magnitude more talented than other writers, including the other writers at Obsidian typically considered "good". I do feel compelled to push back against groupthink - sorry if that ruins something for you.

Monty Markland did something similar to this to inXile not long ago. He seemed unwell (and disappeared shortly thereafter). I hope you aren't.

 

[Prime Junta]

This is working. I can tell he's feeling better already.

 

[TT1]

What the hell is happening here?

And, most important, why MCA is not working on Black Geyser?

 

[Artyoan]

Can't tell if this thread deserves to be Hollowborn or Godhammer'd.

 

[J_C]

When I woke up this morning, I never thought that this will the the highlight of my day. This thread is incredible. I wonder what made Chris drop this bomb right now? I mean, he was hinting about having problems with Obsidian's management before, but telling this story suddenly is very much unexpected. Maybe he had enough of being silent? Or this Codex interview triggered something inside of him?

 

[Iskramor]

So far ITT or at least spectating it we've had:

• 8channers
• Goons
• almost certainly Redditors
• probably closet RPG Watchers
  
• possibly NeoFAG/Reshitera spies
• Codex lurkers risen from the dead
  
• Obsidian Software development team

You forgot me

 

[Durandal]

Oh, Infinitron, the joke is simple: That you report the news, as your unfortunate profile tag claims, which always make me wince when I see your claim. C'mon, don't be ridiculous. You are so biased, we can't even see you through the glare, but embrace it: It's part of your charm.

EDIT: I really mean this. I love Infinitron's comments, but it's not news, it's just... Infinitron. Change your profile tag, bud.

Infinitron is immunized against all dangers: one may call him a Jew, shill, sellout, paperboy, it all runs off him like water off a raincoat. But call him biased and you will be astonished at how he recoils, how injured he is, how he suddenly shrinks back: "I've been found out."

 

[Sensuki]

I do feel compelled to push back against groupthink

 

[Cross]

Between engaging in everyone's favorite pastime of criticizing Obsidian/PoE and questioning Infinitron's journalistic integrity, Chris Avellone has become the poster child for the ideal Codexer.

I fully expect him to file a complaint with DarkUnderlord once Infinitron inevitably starts moving/merging his posts to other topics.

 

[Tim the Bore]

Last night: huh, great interview, 6 pages of comments. That should be interesting.
Next day: All right, let's see if they reach 10 already...