The Great Video Game Business and Financial (In)Stability Thread

I'm really disappointed that the Polygon headline focuses on the money allegedly stolen by Pitchford and not on this:

“Upon information and belief, Randy Pitchford’s USB drive also contained Randy Pitchford’ s personal collection of ‘underage’ pornography.”

The complaint also alleges “Peacock Parties” thrown by Pitchford where “adult men have reportedly exposed themselves to minors, to the amusement of Randy Pitchford.”

"upon information and belief"?

BadKen wrote:

"upon information and belief"?

Based on what the person filing the suit believes and has been told by others.

I think one of the tell tale signs of these accusations is the retort that we should ask Pitchford what he did with the drive when the accuser was pressed on evidence. This sounds like such a sham in the "am not, are too" vein of childish arguments.

The leaked stuff sounds really interesting for Borderlands 3 though.

Well, one thing is for sure, either the plaintiff or the defendant is scum.

BadKen wrote:

Well, one thing is for sure, either the plaintiff or the defendant is scum.

I'm going to go with Pitchford:

"This was before I learned I should probably have password-protected memory sticks," Pitchford says, before admitting that he had indeed left a USB flash drive at a Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament restaurant. "Some kid, an employee of Medieval Times, discovered this memory stick, took it home... and discovered secrets of my company and future games in development, and also discovered the pornography. It was 'barely legal' porn. This girl's handle was 'Only 18.'" The USB flash drive was returned to Gearbox, Pitchford says, in exchange for "swag" and video games.

Pitchford claims his interest in this was mostly to figure out, as someone interested in stage magic, how this cam girl ejaculated.

Meanwhile, a former vice president of Gearbox has simply tweeted out, "Yes, it's true".

None of this about Randy Pitchford would shock me if true.

Well, since they are suing each other, then both plaintiff and defendant are scum.
I am going to officially classify a new disease: CEOitis because you almost have to be
and become a dick to be a CEO.

garion333 wrote:

None of this about Randy Pitchford would shock me if true.

Yep. It's entirely in keeping with his history.

fangblackbone wrote:

Well, since they are suing each other, then both plaintiff and defendant are scum.
I am going to officially classify a new disease: CEOitis because you almost have to be
and become a dick to be a CEO.

Absolute power...

Bunch of Napoleons, the lot.

Maybe it belongs in a Nintendo thread because I don't think there is literally any other game company whom this affects. Nintendo's perfectionism causes problems. Certainly it makes for great games most of the time. Whenever something doesn't live up to expectations though, they think it's because people don't like that type of game or that series anymore, when really, we're just annoyed at how it was executed, but they literally don't know how to think such thoughts because to them, the game is perfect.

What?

Not really for this thread, Roland.

Great summation/take on the Bungie-Activision split begins @ 2:30.

That EA/Disney deal is going great.

EA Cancels Open World Star Wars Game

Iridium884 wrote:

That EA/Disney deal is going great.

EA Cancels Open World Star Wars Game

might be for the best. Disney needs to hand the license over to someone else. Preferably mid90's LucasArts.

Iridium884 wrote:

That EA/Disney deal is going great.

EA Cancels Open World Star Wars Game

... And then there was one.

Chairman_Mao wrote:
Iridium884 wrote:

That EA/Disney deal is going great.

EA Cancels Open World Star Wars Game

might be for the best. Disney needs to hand the license over to someone else. Preferably mid90's LucasArts.

In today's market, I wonder if it's possible to release a commercially and critically successful AAA Star Wars game. There have been a ton of Star Wars games released, and the vast majority have been not all that good. X-Wing, TIE Fighter, Dark Forces, KOTOR are the exceptions not the rule. Star Wars is one of the biggest IPs out there so expectations for games are sky high.

garion333 wrote:

Great summation/take on the Bungie-Activision split begins @ 2:30.

To be frank, I feel like this guy hardcore elides one crucial detail regarding Activision's role--he mentions once that Activision set a DLC release timetable and revenue expectations, but thereafter only refers to the DLC timetable, when the revenue expectations are the crux of the matter. I think anyone expecting Destiny to transform into a microtransactionless utopia is in for a rude awakening, buying dances and sh*t is, I have no doubt, a central pillar of Bungie's plans, but reducing Activisions role in decisions made to meet their demands feels either dishonest or ignorant, if I can keep it 100%. The characterization of "indie" may be on nefarious and vague social media, but it shouldn't be conflated with "privately owned." Then again being privately owned didn't stop Bethesda from trying a lot of similar sh*t this past year, so, anyways.

Aristophan wrote:
Chairman_Mao wrote:
Iridium884 wrote:

That EA/Disney deal is going great.

EA Cancels Open World Star Wars Game

might be for the best. Disney needs to hand the license over to someone else. Preferably mid90's LucasArts.

In today's market, I wonder if it's possible to release a commercially and critically successful AAA Star Wars game. There have been a ton of Star Wars games released, and the vast majority have been not all that good. X-Wing, TIE Fighter, Dark Forces, KOTOR are the exceptions not the rule. Star Wars is one of the biggest IPs out there so expectations for games are sky high.

I personally got burned out on Star Wars a long time ago, so "yet another Star Wars game" of ANY variety just leaves me going "meh".

I'm not a Star Wars fan, but if someone made a one similar to Uncharted or Assassin's Creed, and it didn't stink I'd buy it in a heartbeat

Fastmav347 wrote:

I'm not a Star Wars fan, but if someone made a one similar to Uncharted or Assassin's Creed, and it didn't stink I'd buy it in a heartbeat

The idea of a SW-Uncharted game, where the protagonist is climbing up and jumping ad nauseam (a la Amy H.'s games) has absolutely no appeal to me.

I just want someone to make Jedi Academy 2.

Nevin73 wrote:

I just want someone to make Jedi Academy 2.

This please.

Thirded.

They can’t get it together enough to even make a proper Tie Fighter space sim game.

TheGameguru wrote:

They can’t get it together enough to even make a proper Tie Fighter space sim game.

Actually Battlefront 2 ship combat is amazing and almost worth getting the game for that alone.

ranalin wrote:

Actually Battlefront 2 ship combat is amazing and almost worth getting the game for that alone.

Agreed.

yeah I was surprised that the ship combat was the part I've enjoyed the most.

I just want Super Star Wars: The Force Awakens. I loved that series as a kid back on the SNES.