Interview Chris Avellone is still pretty mad about Obsidian

[Infinitron]

What, were you expecting him to type in all-caps and use the F-word? He called Obsidian's owners incompetent sell-outs and couldn't even bring himself to say anything positive about their (and his) most successful game. I think it's safe to say he's disgruntled.

 

[Andyman Messiah]

I was promised a "mad Chris Avellone" and I knew I wasn't gonna get it. The man exudes a calmness that could right all the wrongs in the world, dot all the i's and cross all the t's. No, really this was pretty fucking tame as far as fishing for shitflinging goes quite frankly. I mean, to the point where I think some people are reading too much into it. Maybe I have different standards. Chris doesn't even say anything negative. His responses are the equivalent of shrugging.

Hey, aren't you that horse from Horsin' Around?

Long face. Horses have long faces. I am a horse. My face is long. You get that?

 

[Sentinel]

he was provoking MCA into badmouthing another company working on the same franchise. You... don't do that.

Especially if your current wage depends on that company.

God forbid that a company that churns out self-determined blockbuster after blockbuster on a yearly basis and regularly(!) pays their employees well(!!) offers a more enjoyable work experience than some badly managed fly-by-night operation that barely clinges to life with badly thought-out and forgettable publisher grunt-work every 5 years and that this factors significanly into an employee's evaluation of said companies.

If you're implying that he quit because of constant delays in paying Obsidian's employees and low wages, why didn't he do something? He was one of the founders and CFO. He was responsible for all the employees as well.

 

[evdk]

he was provoking MCA into badmouthing another company working on the same franchise. You... don't do that.

Especially if your current wage depends on that company.

God forbid that a company that churns out self-determined blockbuster after blockbuster on a yearly basis and regularly(!) pays their employees well(!!) offers a more enjoyable work experience than some badly managed fly-by-night operation that barely clinges to life with badly thought-out and forgettable publisher grunt-work every 5 years and that this factors significanly into an employee's evaluation of said companies.

If you're implying that he quit because of constant delays in paying Obsidian's employees and low wages, why didn't he do something? He was one of the founders and CFO. He was responsible for all the employees as well.

Guess that's why he quit.

 

[Kane]

he was provoking MCA into badmouthing another company working on the same franchise. You... don't do that.

Especially if your current wage depends on that company.

God forbid that a company that churns out self-determined blockbuster after blockbuster on a yearly basis and regularly(!) pays their employees well(!!) offers a more enjoyable work experience than some badly managed fly-by-night operation that barely clinges to life with badly thought-out and forgettable publisher grunt-work every 5 years and that this factors significanly into an employee's evaluation of said companies.

If you're implying that he quit because of constant delays in paying Obsidian's employees and low wages, why didn't he do something? He was one of the founders and CFO. He was responsible for all the employees as well.

Guess that's why he quit.

 

[Drax]

We need this one:russia: with MCA's face on it.

 

[Tigranes]

MCA not happy with Obsidian, news @ 11.

Call me when he starts making a whole game again, not 2% of one.

 

[Sentinel]

he was provoking MCA into badmouthing another company working on the same franchise. You... don't do that.

Especially if your current wage depends on that company.

God forbid that a company that churns out self-determined blockbuster after blockbuster on a yearly basis and regularly(!) pays their employees well(!!) offers a more enjoyable work experience than some badly managed fly-by-night operation that barely clinges to life with badly thought-out and forgettable publisher grunt-work every 5 years and that this factors significanly into an employee's evaluation of said companies.

If you're implying that he quit because of constant delays in paying Obsidian's employees and low wages, why didn't he do something? He was one of the founders and CFO. He was responsible for all the employees as well.

Guess that's why he quit.

So he deserted his responsibilities and is now shit talking the management who, according to him, were trying to sell Obsidian to a publisher, effectively saving 200 jobs.
Yep, Chris is totally in the right here. I guess they should have done as he did, quit the company and leave everyone at Obsidian facing unemployment. Congrats Chris, you're a genius and a very brave man.

 

[eXalted]

I've always been wondering how guys like CA feel when fans keep asking them questions about games that they have worked on nearly 20 years ago...

 

[ArchAngel]

I think people read too much into this one. MCA just calmy said that he wouldn't go back to Obsidian because there are some managerial issues there. But this doesn't mean that he is an angry, mad ex-developer. He seems more apathic than angry towards Obsidian.

Sure, sure, keep sucking on that Obsidian cock. You have lots of work to do if you want to beat Infinitron in the line for that sweet designer job.

Especially after Infinitron got InXile mad at Codex on purpose so there could only be one true love left (Obsidian).

 

[Ninjerk]

Interview has to be a hoax... if there's one thing I've learned from Obsidian fanboys it's that only clueless Codex trolls think MCA left on bad terms

 

[Roguey]

That said, previous games both Tim and I have worked on have definitely focused on combat to the extent of damaging the storyline, especially enforced/mandatory violent path options, and ones that had obsessive weapon design schemes that had a priority over narrative aspects.

Avellone's definitely not a fan of Sawyer-style development. In other words, as far as gameplay goes, Obsidian is better without him.

Also New Reno was MCA's child, wasn't it?

He was responsible for the execution, but he didn't conceive it.

 

[duanth123]

What, were you expecting him to type in all-caps and use the F-word? He called Obsidian's owners incompetent sell-outs and couldn't even bring himself to say anything positive about their (and his) most successful game. I think it's safe to say he's disgruntled.

Maybe in your pussified world where bitchy back-biting is the absolute expression of anger.

Seems to me like Avellone simply never intends to work for Obsidian again and so need pull no punches concerning his views on management.

In contrast to your stupid clickbait caricature, he's even-tempered throughout the interview, which is exactly what you'd expect of a man who can appreciate the realities of life, as evidenced by his entire career.

 

[almondblight]

Also, you would expect better from the man who is responsible for some of the best characters/story arcs in the industry than to speak well of a company which usually has this kind of writing quality:

Never understood how that was supposed to be worse than the writing in places like San Francisco or Modoc.

 

[Pirata Alma Negra]

Lost five minutes of my life getting baited by infinitron.

He seems too much disconnect from management as the senior dev and one of the owners although.

 

[Irenaeus]

Praising Bethesda... ugh

At least the thread was entertaining and, yeah, he's pissed with the management (they threw 90% of his work in the garbage).

 

[Fairfax]

What, were you expecting him to type in all-caps and use the F-word? He called Obsidian's owners incompetent sell-outs and couldn't even bring himself to say anything positive about their (and his) most successful game. I think it's safe to say he's disgruntled.

You don't know if he's "mad", however, so the headline is pure sensationalism.
As for FNV, he's praised the game countless times, the first part of a short interview with loaded questions doesn't mean he "couldn't even bring himself to say something positive".

 

[Metro]

Confirmed MCA to work on next Fallout game.

 

[AArmanFV]

I think that's a bit unfair. It's an average Fallout fan asking about stuff a lot of them think or wonder, surely MCA knows that as well.
Also, the more people ask Chris these Obsidian questions, the more he seems to open up.

When I talked to Chris about an interview, I asked if there was any topic that was off-limits. He said:


And when I asked about uncomfortable topics, he said:


Chances are MCA told the guy something similar. If he did, there was no reason for the guy to assume there was a problem with the questions (though some are definitely poorly worded).

Ok, but I can't think that isn't unconfortable to answer that kind of questions, even if he agrees (Your words can have some consequences if you don't chose them correctly). I was talking about myself in his positition, but if he has no problem then it's not a problem.

 

[Rev]

Never understood how that was supposed to be worse than the writing in places like San Francisco or Modoc.

You're right, I'm sure it's a perfectly fine reaction to say "you've been a bad boy but if you say you're sorry and don't do it again it's all fine", after seeing your hometown nuclearized and being turned into a ghoul as a result.
Forgive me for doubting the mastery of Pagliarulo and the other geniuses at Bethesda writing departure.

 

[MRY]

Infinitron meant "mad about Obsidian" in the sense of "mad about you." He was emphasizing how passionately fond Chris was for his old chums.

 

[evdk]

We need this one:russia: with MCA's face on it.

 

[Rivmusique]

"I don't like x,y,z, you don't either, right???"

Good interview.

 

[Darth Roxor]

 

[Black]

If he's working for bethesda he's worse than obsidian.
Race traitor.