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

[fantadomat]

I'm only on page 23 but I really cannot wait for the twist when it is revealed that Fairfax and MCA are the same person.

It is at page 68,keep going.

 

[Ninjerk]

 

[ColonelTeacup]

I'm really surprised that this didn't get more coverage from mainstream media like kotaku since they usually report studios drama

Reporting one man's allegations without verifying with another source or at least getting a comment from Obsidian might not reach sufficient journalistic standards for the higher tier sites (yes, believe it or not). If nobody from Obsidian is willing to talk, there might be nothing.

There has been a deafening lack of communication from the other side, which in my opinion would hint at the veracity of Avellones claims. Even the only Obsidian dev in thread is avoiding the questions like the bubonic plague.

I'm really surprised that this didn't get more coverage from mainstream media like kotaku since they usually report studios drama

Reporting one man's allegations without verifying with another source or at least getting a comment from Obsidian might not reach sufficient journalistic standards for the higher tier sites (yes, believe it or not). If nobody from Obsidian is willing to talk, there might be nothing.

Everyone loves to point out that MCA is "one man," but he's a man that Obsidian trotted out onto the runway countless times to show off: "YOO-HOO! WE'VE GOT AVELLONE ON BOARD, HERE! CHRIS AVELLONE, EVERYBODY! GOT CHRIS AVELLONE WRITING, BUY OUR GAMES! YOU'RE GONNA LOVE 'EM!". The point being, his word carried a lot of weight with both Obsidian and the fans up until yesterday at least. He's not the building janitor or an intern.

They have zero journalistic standards and can and do report rumors prematurely, if they want to. The only reason they won't in this case is because their paymasters (i.e., developers and publishers) wouldn't like it for reasons that should be obvious. If it were any other kind of unfounded juicy rumor that could get them clicks, it'd be up in an instant.

Your ability to delude yourself and remain in denial about certain things even in the face of so much obviousness truly beggars belief. Is it a special Israeli talent?

He's probably still a bit flustered about the "not really news" comment. Easily the funniest part in the entire thread.

 

[Mebrilia the Viera Queen]

He he you noticed that too mh?

 

[AwesomeButton]

I didn't get what this comment meant either. Was Chris frustrated that Infinitron publicized the interview further, posting to the Obsidian forums, etc? Seems illogical - if it wasn't Infinitron, news would have gotten out from someone else. The stuff Chris said couldn't be contained in this thread. "Why contain it?" And if you're going to be dissed, why post it in the first place?

 

[Blakemoreland Hybrid Boss]

Yet this whole thread suggests that my positive view was a luxury of being an offsite hobbyist dabbling in games without having to actually be part of the process. ... Fitting that the Codex should be the place such naivety is disabused.

I bet you don't see those edgy posts as unresonable now, do you?

 

[Imoens pet]

Augh lame sauce, this shit has died down. Well that was fun, back to shitposting on a place far away from here.

 

[ga♥]

I didn't get what this comment meant either. Was Chris frustrated that Infinitron publicized the interview further, posting to the Obsidian forums, etc? Seems illogical - if it wasn't Infinitron, news would have gotten out from someone else. The stuff Chris said couldn't be contained in this thread. "Why contain it?" And if you're going to be dissed, why post it in the first place?

Nope. He just found hilarious that he wrote his forum posts under "I post news". That's it.
It's literaly much ado about nothing.

 

[fantadomat]

I didn't get what this comment meant either. Was Chris frustrated that Infinitron publicized the interview further, posting to the Obsidian forums, etc? Seems illogical - if it wasn't Infinitron, news would have gotten out from someone else. The stuff Chris said couldn't be contained in this thread. "Why contain it?" And if you're going to be dissed, why post it in the first place?

If he wanted,he would have posted in obsidian forums and not here. Maybe MCA does like it here?! Also i don't see why Infinitron would go around posting it in other forums. Actually i wouldn't very pleased if it was done to me.

 

[Crispy]

Okay, we're pretty much done here now.

The next 15 pages will be Codex basically eating itself from the inside out as usual, nothing more.

Thanks for the laughs, Chris.

 

[Projas]

Don't say it's over until it's 3 am in California again.

 

[ColonelTeacup]

Non-compete clause is the least controversial news out of this whole fiasco. I'm not sure why is it generating so much butthurt in these comments, when it is just good businesses practice. You can't have a guy who has so much in-depth knowledge of inner workings of the company joining the competition within 24 hours.

These clauses are increasingly common nowadays and they rarely last longer then 6 to 12 months. It really is not that big of a deal.

Although, to the best of my knowledge, a non-compete clause is usually tied to a generous severance package. You can't work but we will give you a bucket of dolla for the time you have to sit on the sidelines. It's a fair deal then. So how does Chris go from being a co-owner, co-founder and practically a public face of the company, to having no money, no insurance AND a non-compete on top of it all, I have no idea, but it boggles the mind.

Because it was implied the non-compete was for forever. A ridiculous attempt to either terrify, abuse or control a disgruntled owner and former friend who decided to leave the company. And this is all after he had been continuously ignored by others at obsidian. So his work isn't getting used, he's not getting any lines of communication with feargus at work, and then suddenly when hes had enough and tries to leave feargus tries to slap him with a non-compete to never write RPGs again forever?

 

[Fry]

Don't say it's over until it's 3 am in California again.

Don't be a pessimist. Happy Hour starts at 5pm.

 

[ColonelTeacup]

Non-compete clause is the least controversial news out of this whole fiasco. I'm not sure why is it generating so much butthurt in these comments

Because we are selfish assholes, and at the end of the day the only thing that truly matters is moar RPGs being produced - or not. The rest of the fiasco only concerns MCA's well-being. That non-compete clause concerns us.

I said my piece of the evil nature of using his mothers cancer treatments as leverage against a former owner/friend already.

 

[Delterius]

Lord British went mad after going to space.

Chris Avellone started posting on the Codex.

 

[AwesomeButton]

Non-compete clause is the least controversial news out of this whole fiasco. I'm not sure why is it generating so much butthurt in these comments

Because we are selfish assholes, and at the end of the day the only thing that truly matters is moar RPGs being produced - or not. The rest of the fiasco only concerns MCA's well-being. That non-compete clause concerns us.

I said my piece of the evil nature of using his mothers cancer treatments as leverage against a former owner/friend already.

Realizing my family issues and the debts therein, however, they did make an attempt to leverage that into a far more confining separation agreement that would remove my right to work on RPGs, and my silence on all issues that could pertain to Obsidian or any other company they were involved with or the CEO had a % in (Fig, Zero Radius, Dark Rock Industries, etc.). This included an inability to critique games I’d worked on – much of my critiques on my own games tend to be blunt, and not being able to speak to them felt unnatural to me.

Although many people ITT reacted to this impulsively, note that it's never made clear if the "attempt to leverage" was made overtly, in a one on one conversation with Chris, or it's Chris' interpretation of the separation agreement he was offered.

I'm not trying to stand as anyone's advocate, just saying.

 

[ColonelTeacup]

Non-compete clause is the least controversial news out of this whole fiasco. I'm not sure why is it generating so much butthurt in these comments

Because we are selfish assholes, and at the end of the day the only thing that truly matters is moar RPGs being produced - or not. The rest of the fiasco only concerns MCA's well-being. That non-compete clause concerns us.

I said my piece of the evil nature of using his mothers cancer treatments as leverage against a former owner/friend already.

Realizing my family issues and the debts therein, however, they did make an attempt to leverage that into a far more confining separation agreement that would remove my right to work on RPGs, and my silence on all issues that could pertain to Obsidian or any other company they were involved with or the CEO had a % in (Fig, Zero Radius, Dark Rock Industries, etc.). This included an inability to critique games I’d worked on – much of my critiques on my own games tend to be blunt, and not being able to speak to them felt unnatural to me.

Although many people ITT reacted to this impulsively, note that it's never made clear if the "attempt to leverage" was made overtly, in a one on one conversation with Chris, or it's Chris' interpretation of the separation agreement he was offered.

I'm not trying to stand as anyone's advocate, just saying.

Avellone has already said his piece, try to damage control all you wish.

 

[Abu Antar]

I've called him Feargod Orcheart, for years. People thought I was joking. His true self has been revealed to other people than me.

 

[Ninjerk]

Waitaminute, now Fairfax is Chris Avellone, AwesomeButton appears to have become Infinitron, cats and dogs are living together, just what in the HELL is going on?!

 

[Chris Avellone]

If he wanted,he would have posted in obsidian forums and not here. Maybe MCA does like it here?! Also i don't see why Infinitron would go around posting it in other forums. Actually i wouldn't very pleased if it was done to me.

I can't post to the Obsidian forums, they locked me out of my account after my departure.

When I realized this, I asked them to at least delete my account since I can't access it, and they said that was impossible to do (or Darren Monahan did, anyway).

I do realize they were trying to keep up appearances that everyone was getting along (which is something they've kept doing), but it misrepresents my actual role and ability to participate in the community and really, I just want my account deleted. It seems like a simple thing to do, so I don't know the logistics of why it's impossible.

 

[Crispy]

You'll never get locked out here, MCA.

As long as you keep paying us, that is.

 

[Jasede]

Stop shitposting and work on Prey 2 or something else vaguely interesting you lazy alcoholic!

We love you, Chris! ...
We really love you... ... ...

 

[Sentinel]

Why the hell are you talking about all this now, Chris Avellone ?

can you stop using that gif/image
thanks

 

[Kyl Von Kull]

Hey Chris, when Eric talked about some members of management having personality disorders, who do you think he was referring to?

Follow up: which personality disorders?

 

[Mebrilia the Viera Queen]

If he wanted,he would have posted in obsidian forums and not here. Maybe MCA does like it here?! Also i don't see why Infinitron would go around posting it in other forums. Actually i wouldn't very pleased if it was done to me.

I can't post to the Obsidian forums, they locked me out of my account after my departure.

When I realized this, I asked them to at least delete my account since I can't access it, and they said that was impossible to do (or Darren Monahan did, anyway).

I do realize they were trying to keep up appearances that everyone was getting along (which is something they've kept doing), but it misrepresents my actual role and ability to participate in the community and really, I just want my account deleted. It seems like a simple thing to do, so I don't know the logistics of why it's impossible.

Wow really? That is indeed petty.... Obsidian you should be ashamed... What a bounch of cowards..Don't worry Chris you are way better than them.