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

[Kaivokz]

Chris Avellone,

I liked your work on Prey and D:OS2, and I look forward to System Shock remake and Kingmaker.

Sincerely,
Kaivoks

 

[Molina]

'Murica's healthcare system FTW.

Haha, yes. it's not Obsidian fault. The american healhcare system is just shitty. None should choose between a shitty job and health.

 

[Blaine]

System Shock remake

Delayed indefinitely, AKA

 

[Maculo]

Chris Avellone,

I look forward to System Shock remake

I have some bad news for you...

 

[Daedalos]

Chris Avellone It is quite disheartening reading your confessions about how Obsidian treated you, and how hostile the workspace seemed/seems to be at Obsidian. If it is the truth, then it is quite surprising, especially because so much talent seems to have been wasted on bad management and just internal strife. What a wasted opportunity for everybody involved

A different question, though - Have you played Underrail, and if so, what did you think of it? And what are your thoughts on Vince Dweller's "The New World"? I'm not sure if you have been keeping up with the game's progress. Very interested in your thoughts if any.

I hope you get back to making the RPGs you really want to, with a team of people that will go beyond what is expected of them, as you put it. You deserve that much, man. We need more great cRPGs, and I honestly can't think of a more capable writer than you to do it.

Cheers!

 

[Chaotic_Heretic]

Chris Avellone
A different question, though - Have you played Underrail, and if so, what did you think of it?

The first couple of rathounds probably butchered him and he ragequit.

 

[Delterius]

Herve Caen was not the hero we wanted but he was the hero we needed.

 

[MicoSelva]

WTF is going on in this thread.

Spoiler

Alright people, own up, who hacked MCA's account?

 

[Quillon]

39 pages of MCA thread, yet still something was amiss...

There.

 

[Anthony Davis]

This might be pointless here at the Codex, but I will share some of my experiences at Obsidian.

When my daughter had to go to the emergency room THREE times in 6 months, and I missed a lot of time, the company stood by me and told me not to worry, to put my family first.

When my wife's grandmother died suddenly, the company told me not worry, and to put my family first.

When my wife's grandfather died shortly after at Christmas time, the company told me not to worry and to put my family first.

I am currently dealing with a very serious health issue, the company has stood by my and told me to worry, but to focus on getting healthy.

This doesn't just extend to me. Many employees here have dealt with things that were even worse, and time and time again, the company has stood by them.
For example, when a fellow programmer and friend, his father died suddenly and unexpectedly, the company told him not worry, paid for his plane ticket, and got him home to his family (in another country) and told him to put his family first.

I actually could keep going, but something else speaks to me about this company: many former employees have returned to this company, myself included.

Also, people who still work here don't write reviews on Glassdoor.

 

[SausageInYourFace]

I am currently dealing with a very serious health issue, the company has stood by my and told me to worry, but to focus on getting healthy.

Get well soon, best wishes!

 

[ArchAngel]

This might be pointless here at the Codex, but I will share some of my experiences at Obsidian.

When my daughter had to go to the emergency room THREE times in 6 months, and I missed a lot of time, the company stood by me and told me not to worry, to put my family first.

When my wife's grandmother died suddenly, the company told me not worry, and to put my family first.

When my wife's grandfather died shortly after at Christmas time, the company told me not to worry and to put my family first.

I am currently dealing with a very serious health issue, the company has stood by my and told me to worry, but to focus on getting healthy.

This doesn't just extend to me. Many employees here have dealt with things that were even worse, and time and time again, the company has stood by them.
For example, when a fellow programmer and friend, his father died suddenly and unexpectedly, the company told him not worry, paid for his plane ticket, and got him home to his family (in another country) and told him to put his family first.

I actually could keep going, but something else speaks to me about this company: many former employees have returned to this company, myself included.

Also, people who still work here don't write reviews on Glassdoor.

All of this is normal in EU (except maybe paying for plane tickets).
What kind of shitty country do you live in that you need to put this stuff as a Pro...

 

[Projas]

We should have set up some kind of a signal to make sure Tina Parker isn't holding a gun to his head.

 

[Quillon]

All of this is normal in EU (except maybe paying for plane tickets).
What kind of shitty country do you live in that you need to put this stuff as a Pro...

He's implying: Do you think such a company would leverage someone with their mother's disease?

Who to believe...

 

[Maculo]

This might be pointless here at the Codex, but I will share some of my experiences at Obsidian.

When my daughter had to go to the emergency room THREE times in 6 months, and I missed a lot of time, the company stood by me and told me not to worry, to put my family first.

When my wife's grandmother died suddenly, the company told me not worry, and to put my family first.

When my wife's grandfather died shortly after at Christmas time, the company told me not to worry and to put my family first.

I am currently dealing with a very serious health issue, the company has stood by my and told me to worry, but to focus on getting healthy.

This doesn't just extend to me. Many employees here have dealt with things that were even worse, and time and time again, the company has stood by them.
For example, when a fellow programmer and friend, his father died suddenly and unexpectedly, the company told him not worry, paid for his plane ticket, and got him home to his family (in another country) and told him to put his family first.

I actually could keep going, but something else speaks to me about this company: many former employees have returned to this company, myself included.

Also, people who still work here don't write reviews on Glassdoor.

Mr. Davis, I believe the issue is not whether Obsidian is some amoral, corporate machine, but rather how interpersonal issues have driven wedges between certain writers and may (or may not) have had an impact on Pillars or even NV. Outside a few on the Codex, I do not believe anyone wants to see Obsidian employees suffer or make bad games, but there are concerns about what priorities are driving the ship if that makes sense.

As with any blind speculation, it will always lead to self-serving or crude posts at someone's expense.

Edit: Plus, for months (years?), a lot of Codexers (Sensuki ?,etc.) piled on Sawyer for all the mistakes/issues in PoE, but this thread potentially opens a different angle of analysis.

 

[Blaine]

Also, people who still work here don't write reviews on Glassdoor.

And if they want to keep on working there, then by God it had better stay that way!

 

[you know what time it is]

 

[conan_edw]

But in MCA situation there was already a conflict so who knows

 

[Brancaleone]

This might be pointless here at the Codex, but I will share some of my experiences at Obsidian.

When my daughter had to go to the emergency room THREE times in 6 months, and I missed a lot of time, the company stood by me and told me not to worry, to put my family first.

When my wife's grandmother died suddenly, the company told me not worry, and to put my family first.

When my wife's grandfather died shortly after at Christmas time, the company told me not to worry and to put my family first.

I am currently dealing with a very serious health issue, the company has stood by my and told me to worry, but to focus on getting healthy.

This doesn't just extend to me. Many employees here have dealt with things that were even worse, and time and time again, the company has stood by them.
For example, when a fellow programmer and friend, his father died suddenly and unexpectedly, the company told him not worry, paid for his plane ticket, and got him home to his family (in another country) and told him to put his family first.

I actually could keep going, but something else speaks to me about this company: many former employees have returned to this company, myself included.

Also, people who still work here don't write reviews on Glassdoor.

I'm happy for you that your personal experience was of that kind.

Any ideas on why treatment by the company varies so much? As far as I remember, quite a few of the Glassdoor reviews mention how things at Obsidian can be radically different depending on who is buddy-buddy with Obsidian top-knobs and who is not.

 

[Stainless Veteran]

This might be pointless here at the Codex, but I will share some of my experiences at Obsidian.

When my daughter had to go to the emergency room THREE times in 6 months, and I missed a lot of time, the company stood by me and told me not to worry, to put my family first.

When my wife's grandmother died suddenly, the company told me not worry, and to put my family first.

When my wife's grandfather died shortly after at Christmas time, the company told me not to worry and to put my family first.

I am currently dealing with a very serious health issue, the company has stood by my and told me to worry, but to focus on getting healthy.

This doesn't just extend to me. Many employees here have dealt with things that were even worse, and time and time again, the company has stood by them.
For example, when a fellow programmer and friend, his father died suddenly and unexpectedly, the company told him not worry, paid for his plane ticket, and got him home to his family (in another country) and told him to put his family first.

I actually could keep going, but something else speaks to me about this company: many former employees have returned to this company, myself included.

Also, people who still work here don't write reviews on Glassdoor.

And those who do still work there and want to keep their health insurance sure won't be badmouthing the company. Which is understandable, but kinda morbidly funny in context.

 

[Prime Junta]

This might be pointless here at the Codex, but I will share some of my experiences at Obsidian.

It's good to hear your perspective and be reminded that the place perhaps isn't an unmitigated den of stinking evil. Do take that advice and get better.

Even so I have to point out that these aren't the issues that Chris has been complaining about at all. A company can treat its employees well as humans, while being a complete clusterfuck about process and organisation, as well as hosting a whole bunch of other pathologies. Moreover, it can go full Mr. Hyde if a valued employee doesn't show sufficient appreciation for all the nice things the company does for him.

 

[The Great ThunThun*]

This might be pointless here at the Codex, but I will share some of my experiences at Obsidian.

It's good to hear your perspective and be reminded that the place perhaps isn't an unmitigated den of stinking evil. Do take that advice and get better.

Even so I have to point out that these aren't the issues that Chris has been complaining about at all. A company can treat its employees well as humans, while being a complete clusterfuck about process and organisation, as well as hosting a whole bunch of other pathologies. Moreover, it can go full Mr. Hyde if a valued employee doesn't show sufficient appreciation for all the nice things the company does for him.

You shouldn't forget that even *humane* treatment can be preferential based on whom to bestow it.

 

[Lycra Suit]

a huge loss for Obsidian in writing talent (much like George Ziets and Travis Stout). All could have been prevented, imo.

About George Ziets, what happened to him? He was promised as a kickstarter stretch goal but then he promptly disappeared from the team.

I noticed the lack of his trademark style in much of the world building and plot, both coming off as more banal than expected. Did Fenstermaker just eclipse all the writers with a glimpse of originality or was it Sawyer's decision?

 

[Blakemoreland Hybrid Boss]

Jaesun grab some popcorn

 

[ArchAngel]

All of this is normal in EU (except maybe paying for plane tickets).
What kind of shitty country do you live in that you need to put this stuff as a Pro...

He's implying: Do you think such a company would leverage someone with their mother's disease?

Who to believe...

MCA situations is not of an average employee.
In this case he pissed off the CEO.