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

[HanoverF]

If we get less than 12 days of MCA posts I blame Infinitron.

 

[MuscleSpark]

While we're waiting for Chris to get drunk and post more saucy info, somebody recommend me some recent movie to watch. A thriller or a war flick preferred.

The Strange Thing About the Johnsons

 

[IHaveHugeNick]

While we're waiting for Chris to get drunk and post more saucy info, somebody recommend me some recent movie to watch. A thriller or a war flick preferred.

The Longest Day

1962? Recent?

 

[Briosafreak]

While we're waiting for Chris to get drunk and post more saucy info, somebody recommend me some recent movie to watch. A thriller or a war flick preferred.

The Longest Day

1962? Recent?

This one is more recent. It's an international thriller, if one pictures the protagonist as MCA it gains a lot.

 

[AwesomeButton]

Chris Avellone , since there is a new round of questions, I'll just ask again my last one:

I have inspected the manual and credits of IWD, but I never was able to find who specifically should I be thankful to for the tight and evocative fantasy prose style in the introductions to the chapters, the cinematics, and the longer expositions which single characters were giving the player. I just can't get enough of that style, and I wanted to know who was behind the writing and editing, in case you still remember.

 

[Quillon]

Speaking of Boyarsky, how come he leaves cozy high level position at fucking Blizzard of all places, and goes to Obsidian if its such a horrible place to work?

Leonard would probably tell you if asked, but I will say that he likely would have more creative voice at Obsidian and for all the company’s problems, they would probably give him more control over his own work. For example, I believe the company specifically asked the Design Director not to interfere (beyond advice) for their project, which I don’t know would be true of every company where you might have many, many people weighing in and changing your work – having a “cozy” job isn’t usually something a real creative wants.

Creative freedom is a powerful motivator. Still, Leonard and Tim did leave Feargus/Black Isle once already and may have concluded over time the experience with Feargus/BIS wasn’t as bad as they remember – although memory can fade over time, and I wouldn’t be surprised if many of the issues that led to the initial departure are starting to resurface as they are reminded of practices they had forgotten about, and the closer you get to the top, the more you see.

There was some mention that Leonard’s story for their upcoming game was attacked unfairly by the Obsidian owners as being lacking, when, in fact, PoE2’s story had all the same “problems” that were being raised except at a much higher level - but PoE2 got a pass for it. This kind of disparity can get increasingly frustrating over time because it can come across as favoritism. Me, every design and quest arc I’ve read from Leonard in the past was pretty good, so I’m dubious that there would be anything wrong with his story proposals, and the Obsidian owners are probably the last people I would listen to when it comes to game story critiques.

Would you have liked to direct FNV base game instead of the Design Director? Does it bother you that people associate him with Fallout, as much as, if not more than they do you atm? Do you think he's favorited in the company more than he deserves? Did it trouble you that he became the go-to guy for overseeing the most important games company was gonna make? If so was knowing all this made you more aware of the problems in the company which you prolly justifiably used to stir up the pen half-expecting you'll leave the company/they'll make you?

I ask the obvious questions your fanbois won't :D

 

[Blakemoreland Hybrid Boss]

Jedi Master Radek is also a communist? LOL, prosper!

 

[karoliner]

This thread is fucking great, thank you codex.

 

[Rostere]

This one is more recent. It's an international thriller, if one pictures the protagonist as MCA it gains a lot.

The ending track is really awesome:



Great lyrics, too.

 

[Wild Slop]

While we're waiting for Chris to get drunk and post more saucy info, somebody recommend me some recent movie to watch. A thriller or a war flick preferred.

I think you know. I'll state the obvious anyway.

Kelly's Heroes



That songs been caught in my head for the last two weeks


* Yes i took liberty with "recent"

 

[Mustawd]

Soon TM

 

[Ninefingers]

What a wild ride. Old now probably but in the UK you can write it into an employee's contract that they can't work at a competing company but usually only for a short timeframe (6 months is the standard in my industry) and only within a small geographic area...though I guess that's redundant for game development. Pretty sure a ban FOR EVER AND EVER would be unenforceable either way - surely US law can't be that declined.

Anyway, this has been a great read, thanks Chris. Yesterday I asked my work colleague what he wanted for his birthday and he suggested PoE2 - is this grounds for dismissal? Should I make him an honorary owner so that I can promptly de-owner him? I tried to explain that the Codex has brought down a Jihad upon Obsidian but I'm not sure it sank in.

 

[Rostere]

Soon TN

Post what you're drinking or it's not legit

 

[Brancaleone]

Sawyer's face should also be pasted onto Miami Heat's number 34

Why so much hate for poor Ray Allen?

 

[Brancaleone]

That said, what I’ve spoken about is only 30% of what transpired, along with other issues.

So we are looking forward to a 300+ pages thread. I cannot possibly keep up with that.

 

[Ninefingers]

That said, what I’ve spoken about is only 30% of what transpired, along with other issues.

So we are looking forward to a 300+ pages thread. I cannot possibly keep up with that.

Of course you can, you just need to use your time more efficiently and be reading this thread non-stop at work. Priorities!

 

[Rostere]

1962? Recent?

Why would you want to specifically watch a recent movie anyway? My brain redacted that part subconsciously.

 

[Ninjerk]

As (allegedly) seen on Obsidian.

 

[Fenix]

I actually like her. How sad I was born too late and in different country...

The Obsidian shills at the obsidian boards are making my piss boil. I don't want anyone to take MCA's comments as 100% facts, but there are some idiots who are brushing everything aside, saying that this is how good businesses are ran.

But that's true. Business is unethical by itself. Poor FU management is a poor management, but what he did with CA was a good business move.
If you intended to disagree, better google Protestant ethics which is a foundation of modern business ethic, and how it mutated today.

Sounds like Cleve hacked MCA's account

Sounds like Cleve was right in everything, and was moking all who was mocking him.

GO MAKE YOUR "THE WIRE" RPG FFS!

We already have Disco Elysium, that draw inspiration from it and few other similiar things.

 

[Fenix]

Also, Chris Avellone, really short question.

Do you have in mind some RPG you want to play more than other, and even eager to do it?
Is it Disco Elysium?

 

[J_C]

The Obsidian shills at the obsidian boards are making my piss boil. I don't want anyone to take MCA's comments as 100% facts, but there are some idiots who are brushing everything aside, saying that this is how good businesses are ran.

But that's true. Business is unethical by itself. Poor FU management is a poor management, but what he did with CA was a good business move.
If you intended to disagree, better google Protestant ethics which is a foundation of modern business ethic, and how it mutated today.

I know that this is how big companies do business, but I can't agree with this being the only way. What did FU and Obsidian gain with a departure in this style? Some money, but I hardly believe that it would have bankrupt Obsidian if they pay Chris' due, and not act like an ass with him. So no, I can't accept that there is only unethical business.

 

[Fenix]

What did FU and Obsidian gain with a departure in this style?

They did't get much because it's FU - clumsy soab. Execution was bad, that's why MCA telling as all he telling.

I can't agree with this being the only way

Yes, I can't agree too, but I'm a "communist" - looks like you are too.

Business ethics going as such - what brings money IS ethical and good, if it brings BIG money - then it's probably god's Hand that helping you, and you are practically the saint, because god doesn't help bad people. That's basics of protestant ethics.

Be careful with such "I believe there is a diffrent way" - communism which is long dead and decomposed still is a useful bogeyman.

 

[J_C]

What did FU and Obsidian gain with a departure in this style?

They did't get much because it's FU - clumsy soab. Execution was bad, that's why MCA telling as all he telling.

I can't agree with this being the only way

Yes, I can't agree too, but I'm a "communist" - looks like you are too.

Business ethics going as such - what brings money IS ethical and good, if it brings BIG money - then it's probably god's Hand that helping you, and you are practically the saint, because god doesn't help bad people. That's basics of protestant ethics.

Be careful with such "I believe there is a diffrent way" - communism which is long dead and decomposed still is a useful bogeyman.

Hey, we are a post-communist country, so maybe there is some communism in me afterall. :D

 

[Jedi Master Radek]

Companies can be more or less fair, the management can think in the long term or not, they can value their workers to a greater or lesser extent -- and especially in knowledge- and creativity-intensive industries valuing your workers more than the next guy does often translate to success in the marketplace -- but when the rubber meets the road, the interests of the owners and the workers are irreconcilably opposed. The owners want to extract value out of the workers, and the workers want -- or should want! -- to retain as much of the value of their work as they can. The most effective way to keep the workers docile is to hoodwink them into believing that they are the corporation. They're not. All they are is a means of production

"Human Resources" is the greatest slip of tongue in recent memory.

 

[Fenix]

maybe there is some communism in me afterall. :D

All today's "communists" are just socialists, that hopelessly lose their battle. Russian "communistic" party isn't a communistic at all, even if it have that word in it's name.
Communism is dead. There comes a time of feudalism.