Haba
Harbinger of Decline
Why hasn't this been merged to the "General Microsoft Discussion" -thread yet?
Worst Place To Work
Feb 2, 2022 - Senior Environment Artist in Irvine, CA
Pros
The really like story based RPGs and are okay at them
Cons
The don't focus on anything other than story. The art department is kind of a joke and they don't focus on making a game great there. Instead the keep saying that story is everything and really everything should be important. I feel like they are so behind on tech, art and real game-play that they are doomed to fail. I couldn't stay there anymore. The art directors there, I feel, have given up on making great art or are are just extremely toxic.
Advice to Management
Look at the big picture and make better games.
Which? I'm seeing Rob Nesler, Dan Alpert, and Matt Hansen on Linkedin. The third guy's the only one who isn't a Troika or Interplay veteran.That art director being terrible isn't new, I recall other reviews complaining about him in the past. Still, Agenda Acknowledged, artist.
The don't focus on anything other than story. The art department is kind of a joke and they don't focus on making a game great there. Instead the keep saying that story is everything
people who use the word toxic this way should be ignored fyiare are just extremely toxic.
maybe their head artist spews poison idkpeople who use the word toxic this way should be ignored fyiare are just extremely toxic.
TOW's art direction looks dire.Seriously, did anyone ever criticize nu-Obsidian's games' art design?
I wanted to mention TOW in my original post, but I couldn't make up my mind whether I should blame the art direction or the boring setting itself. In terms of environmental design, I think Groundbreaker is a decent sci-fi/industrial hub, and the colony towns' design do suffer from the setting since the buildings are all supposed to be some ready-made corporate product.TOW's art direction looks dire.Seriously, did anyone ever criticize nu-Obsidian's games' art design?
That would just make them poisonous.maybe their head artist spews poison idkpeople who use the word toxic this way should be ignored fyiare are just extremely toxic.
Which? I'm seeing Rob Nesler, Dan Alpert, and Matt Hansen on Linkedin. The third guy's the only one who isn't a Troika or Interplay veteran.That art director being terrible isn't new, I recall other reviews complaining about him in the past. Still, Agenda Acknowledged, artist.
Then again, the Obsidian owners are Interplay veterans too so I guess it doesn't count for much anymore. People get old and jaded.
I wanted to mention TOW in my original post, but I couldn't make up my mind whether I should blame the art direction or the boring setting itself. In terms of environmental design, I think Groundbreaker is a decent sci-fi/industrial hub, and the colony towns' design do suffer from the setting since the buildings are all supposed to be some ready-made corporate product.TOW's art direction looks dire.Seriously, did anyone ever criticize nu-Obsidian's games' art design?
What is Senile Sawyer on about? Ziggurat Interactive owns Darklands (listed as publisher on GOG and they own the trademark).
Which? I'm seeing Rob Nesler, Dan Alpert, and Matt Hansen on Linkedin. The third guy's the only one who isn't a Troika or Interplay veteran.
Then again, the Obsidian owners are Interplay veterans too so I guess it doesn't count for much anymore. People get old and jaded.
Glassdoor reminder
Entrenched studio art director who doesn't want to further the look/tech at the studio, develop true pipelines for each of the art departments, or understands modern AAA studio art direction. - Highly political environment. - Art directors who don't listen. - A studio art director who is toxic. - Project art directors who cannot give clear direction. - Project art directors who only want to work with their friends.
Get rid of the toxic studio art director. He is literally keeping things from moving forward in the art department. He only jumps on new tech when a studio manager comes in as says, "Houdini is important to Microsoft games future." Otherwise he has said no to Houdini for years! - Find art directors who understand the art and technology from the ground up. Your art directors are a joke and really have no idea what makes a AAA look like a AAA.
No need to wait for a black guy, this guy needs to go back to the woods already.
Venomous?That would just make them poisonous.maybe their head artist spews poison idkpeople who use the word toxic this way should be ignored fyiare are just extremely toxic.
Story/writing of DS3 is actually pretty good too. Overall underrated game.similarly, the only thing dungeon siege 3 had going for it was looking good
pillows is just prerendered 3d though, and it does look really good
similarly, the only thing dungeon siege 3 had going for it was looking good
maybe the art team has changed in recent years considering outerworlds though
I agree with the sentiment in 2D but rendering technologies in 3D is far more important. Think matte paintings in early sci-fi films versus 90s/early 2000s CGI. Art direction only goes so far when you're dealing with technical limitations and visual artifacting.People who think tech has anything to do with a game looking good certainly should be looked down upon.