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

[Infinitron]

Do you seriously think the consequences of a high word count lie only in the text itself, and not the budget, time and resources needed to voice that text?

I think the consequences lie in the scripting that ties together that text. Once you've already got the voice actor in the room, the additional budget required for some more lines is probably not that big a deal. As Chris Avellone says in the interview:

As for VO, I’d agree that was an issue, but not in the way it’s explained in the answer.

And then he talks about all sorts of VO consistency issues instead, which don't seem to relate directly to budget or amount of text. So it seems like he's actually denying or minimizing what Eric said in his interview.

 

[Imoens pet]

GOD DAMMIT HOW DO I USE USERTAGS FOR FUCKS SAKE

IVE BEEN HERE FOR DAYS NOW AND STILL DONT KNOW BASIC SHIT LIKE USERTAGS!!

 

[Infinitron]

GOD DAMMIT HOW DO I USE USERTAGS FOR FUCKS SAKE

IVE BEEN HERE FOR DAYS NOW AND STILL DONT KNOW BASIC SHIT LIKE USERTAGS!!

@_username_ without the underscores

 

[Imoens pet]

GOD DAMMIT HOW DO I USE USERTAGS FOR FUCKS SAKE

IVE BEEN HERE FOR DAYS NOW AND STILL DONT KNOW BASIC SHIT LIKE USERTAGS!!

@_username_

@_Infinitron_ :D

 

[Imoens pet]

K

I'm stupid

 

[Imoens pet]

Infinitron :D

 

[Imoens pet]

K

I'm just gonna stick to lurking instead.

 

[Edmund Spenser]

I mean, speaking as a freelance writer who is also a creative, working within constraints is quite obviously one of the most important aspects of the job. If I have a client that wants a 1000 word article and I deliver a 2000 word one, that isn't good for anyone.

The biggest issues in regards to the cuts seem to revolve around 1) the fact that the PoE story didn't even seem set at the point at which Chris began working on GM/Durance and 2) that these technical expectations were not even set initially going forward.

I feel like Chris understands limits and that this wouldn't have even been an issue if X lead told him, "two companions, 200 lines each" or something. Bonus points for having a coherent plot draft/outline before writing began.

 

[fantadomat]

K

I'm just gonna stick to lurking instead.

Don't,we need stupid posters to remind us how superior we are.

 

[Imoens pet]

I mean, speaking as a freelance writer who is also a creative, working within constraints is quite obviously one of the most important aspects of the job. If I have a client that wants a 1000 word article and I deliver a 2000 word one, that isn't good for anyone.

The biggest issues in regards to the cuts seem to revolve around 1) the fact that the PoE story didn't even seem set at the point at which Chris began working on GM/Durance and 2) that these technical expectations were not even set initially going forward.

I feel like Chris understands limits and that this wouldn't have even been an issue if X lead told him, "two companions, 200 lines each" or something. Bonus points for having a coherent plot draft/outline before writing began.

The issue from what I've gathered, is that management did a terrible job at supervising. They were very off hands, and left Chris to his own devices.

 

[Edmund Spenser]

The issue from what I've gathered, is that management did a terrible job at supervising. They were very off hands, and left Chris to his own devices.

Absolutely. Whether it was either timeframe (issues at the outset/issues during the development) or both, it still is shoddy management.

If it WAS both, well, that's just complete managerial incompetence.

 

[ERYFKRAD]

Fucking finally caught up.
I suppose it's far too late to ask Chris Avellone if he played the outcast game or its remake and what he made of it.

 

[Imoens pet]

Yo Infinitron what do you think about this reddit post?

"I'm a AAA project manager and here's the thing, from reading all of this synopsis, I believe that Avellone may have some legitimate complaints and cause for a lawsuit; however, he has just raised his legal bill as he's given Obsidian grounds for a slander counter-suit (though it will be more difficult to prove as they will have to show losses and that is almost impossible with the way games work). For this reason, slandering an employer (whether or not you are correct) publicly in the game industry is not just unprofessional, but is career suicide. We all know that Avellone is a capable writer and that he brings a certain fandom and legitimacy to the projects he works on, but I will never be able to hire him now - even if he eventually gets a public judgment that is completely in his favor (unlikely - especially the public part)."

-Some reddit poster; source: https://www.reddit.com/r/Games/comments/8h57zx/chris_avellone_criticizes_obsidians_upper/dyhi82c/

 

[Elex]

K

I'm just gonna stick to lurking instead.

Don't,we need stupid posters to remind us how superior we are.

this is why internet exist after all.

 

[fantadomat]

This sounds as legit as me saying that i am the emperor of the world. Most people that claim to be X on the internet is pretty meh. On the codex alone we have like 20 commandos that know how to kill people with their thought. He is just pointing out some obvious shit and calling himself a AAA cocksucker. He didn't even use some industry jargon.

 

[ZagorTeNej]

Yo Infinitron what do you think about this reddit post?

"I'm a AAA project manager and here's the thing, from reading all of this synopsis, I believe that Avellone may have some legitimate complaints and cause for a lawsuit; however, he has just raised his legal bill as he's given Obsidian grounds for a slander counter-suit (though it will be more difficult to prove as they will have to show losses and that is almost impossible with the way games work). For this reason, slandering an employer (whether or not you are correct) publicly in the game industry is not just unprofessional, but is career suicide. We all know that Avellone is a capable writer and that he brings a certain fandom and legitimacy to the projects he works on, but I will never be able to hire him now - even if he eventually gets a public judgment that is completely in his favor (unlikely - especially the public part)."

-Some reddit poster; source: https://www.reddit.com/r/Games/comments/8h57zx/chris_avellone_criticizes_obsidians_upper/dyhi82c/

Setting aside that anyone can claim to be anything on the internet, what may be a career suicide for your regular game industry employee may not be one for Avellone who's highly sought out in his specific niche.

Not to mention that why would an AAA project manager want to hire Avellone in the 1st place? They don't make RPGs anymore and their target market doesn't care or can even recognize good writing or creative design.

 

[Kem0sabe]

Prey.

Setting aside that anyone can claim to be anything on the internet, what may be a career suicide for your regular game industry employee may not be one for Avellone who's highly sought out in his specific niche.

Not to mention that why would an AAA project manager want to hire Avellone in the 1st place? They don't make RPGs anymore and their target market doesn't care or can even recognize good writing or creative design.

 

[Imoens pet]

Yo Infinitron what do you think about this reddit post?

"I'm a AAA project manager and here's the thing, from reading all of this synopsis, I believe that Avellone may have some legitimate complaints and cause for a lawsuit; however, he has just raised his legal bill as he's given Obsidian grounds for a slander counter-suit (though it will be more difficult to prove as they will have to show losses and that is almost impossible with the way games work). For this reason, slandering an employer (whether or not you are correct) publicly in the game industry is not just unprofessional, but is career suicide. We all know that Avellone is a capable writer and that he brings a certain fandom and legitimacy to the projects he works on, but I will never be able to hire him now - even if he eventually gets a public judgment that is completely in his favor (unlikely - especially the public part)."

-Some reddit poster; source: https://www.reddit.com/r/Games/comments/8h57zx/chris_avellone_criticizes_obsidians_upper/dyhi82c/

Setting aside that anyone can claim to be anything on the internet, what may be a career suicide for your regular game industry employee may not be one for Avellone who's highly sought out in his specific niche.

Not to mention that why would an AAA project manager want to hire Avellone in the 1st place? They don't make RPGs anymore and their target market doesn't care or can even recognize good writing or creative design.

Oh no, I know the dude is BS. I was just wanting an opinion on his comment.

 

[Infinitron]

Not to mention that why would an AAA project manager want to hire Avellone in the 1st place? They don't make RPGs anymore and their target market doesn't care or can even recognize good writing or creative design.

Ask Ken Levine! http://www.rpgcodex.net/forums/inde...rarchies-and-more.121588/page-55#post-5593560

His lore is amazing. :D

 

[IHaveHugeNick]

Unless Chris starts busting planet-wide pedophile rings and posting Sun-Tzu quotes, let's assume he's a big boy and knows he is doing.

 

[Imoens pet]

Okay I now know how to tag, but how do I rate?

:thunking:

 

[Imoens pet]

Man, I wish there was some FAQ, or a tutorial on how to use this fossil of a website.

 

[Blakemoreland Hybrid Boss]

The double standards in this discussion:

• No one cares about Codex’s posts. This is just an obscure forum.

• This is career suicide. Avellone is toast.

I got the impression that Avellone would be better of if he had silently made a report of tax fraud ages ago.

 

[Bohr]

The double standards in this discussion:

• No one cares about Codex’s posts. This is just an obscure forum.

• This is career suicide. Avellone is toast.

In all fairness I don't see many people saying Avellone is toast

 

[Edmund Spenser]

I genuinely wonder how much of this backlash against Avellone is literally because the Codex broke the story.