addink on 22/9/2008 at 21:05
He is (
http://blog.wired.com/games/2007/11/montreal-2007-h.html) admirably candid about what went wrong with BlackSite. So I'd cut him some slack on that one.
There's still the debate on BlackSite's subversiveness, but since I haven't played it, I can't comment on it.
june gloom on 22/9/2008 at 23:09
Admirably candid, but no longer working for Midway- which is unfortunate because a mediocre company like Midway is exactly where he belongs. He's a douchebag, doesn't know how to lead a project, and I think he got lucky with Deus Ex.
That article is pretty much horseshit, too. They fawn over the game like it's somehow "high art" as if criticizing US government policies is somehow daring.
gunsmoke on 22/9/2008 at 23:16
dethtoll beat me to the punch, and he's dead-on.
addink on 23/9/2008 at 08:30
Quote Posted by dethtoll
They fawn over the game like it's somehow "high art" as if criticizing US government policies is somehow daring.
Please quote the text where they do that. (hint: they don't)
The article is one of those rare occasions that the journalist does the right thing and doesn't impose his own opinion. All they do is state what Smith said. State that BlackSite was supposed to be subversive. And point out that a lot of critics don't really agree with Smith on the subversiveness.
Also, if Smith manages to implement the lessons learned, it will be good for the final result. Whether he will, we'll have to see. Somehow I doubt that EA's productmanagers will give him six months of internal gameplay testing in beta, but it would be good for the result if he does pull it off.
Fafhrd on 24/9/2008 at 02:49
Quote Posted by addink
Somehow I doubt that EA's productmanagers will give him six months of internal gameplay testing in beta
This is the bigger concern, I think. How much leeway is EA going to give Arkane (a company that has yet to make a game that is either a massive critical or financial hit) in development time, resources, and overall design direction. If they're going to be under constant pressure to deliver a product by a set deadline, chances are the product will come out sub-par.
