- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
Posted by: Recon Number 54
Disclaimer: I am merely a fan of Bungie's, I am not an employee, I am not a spokesperson, and I in no way speak on their behalf or at their request or urging. These opinions are my own and I am responsible for them.
Game development is not a debate between the developers and the consumers. At least not when it comes to this company.
People wonder why Bungie is so reluctant to give out details of the process. "Why don't you give us more info?", "Why can't we see some pre-release screen shots?"
Bungie are not politicians, politicians are swayed by petitions because a petition is an adversarial poll. A petition is a way of challenging that "we the undersigned don't like what you are doing and by the volume of our voices, we demand that you change your course." Politicians respond to petitions because it is a threat to what they hold dear, their position and their power.
Bungie on the other hand are artists. They create, the public then have the opportunity to decide if they appreciate the product or not. If they were insecure or inconfident artists, they would ask their audience, "What do you think of this?", "Should we do it this way? or this?"
You may have noticed that Frankie wasn't asking for input, opinions or suggestions on the matter. The decision has been made.
Some thoughts to consider.
"A camel is a horse designed by committee."
"Too many cooks spoil the broth."
"Game player ≠ Game designer"
Lastly, Halo is theirs. Not ours, not yours, not mine, theirs. They created it, we fans have purchased a license to play our copies of it. If the person who was able to create the work decides to change it, that is their right and their prerogative (just ask Lucas and Spielberg).
Petitions are confrontational and adversarial. Bungie has always (and I mean ALWAYS) adored their fans. I've been a fan for over 10 years now and I know of no other company that treats their fans as well as Bungie treats theirs. But I have noticed a change.
For a long time, the adoration was bi-directional. The fans loved Bungie and the feeling was returned. Such a relationship resulted in generous gifts from them such as what they did with the Marathon property (they made it freely available to any and all fans, including the engine code). Those are the acts of a company that cares about their community.
Lately, the tone on the fan side has changed. Not completely and not throughout the entire community, but the attitude of entitlement and lack of compassion is very disturbing to me. I don't understand how someone can be a fan and at the same time insult and challenge your benefactors with a "we want you to change this" demand.
I just don't get it.
Not a demand, but a pleading request.
Not a lack a passion, but a deep wanting to see Bungie do the best they can. remember we're not all perfect people, "human beings" can make mistakes except for who ever does your A.I.
I LOVE BUNGIE, ive played myth the fallen lords,soulblighter,the thrid one i misplaced.
I have been a loyal fan ever since my uncle setup my first computer and installed his copy of myth: the fallen lords onto. the art was amazing(killed my consoles), the nmes A.I. was fairly impressive. the wide variety of charecters and enviorments were great. playing that level with alric was so much fun( he kicks ass.) killing all but one zombie and then making a circle around him. Whoops went off on a ramble of memories.
point is i love everything that bungie does, a sort of unconditional love i have for my dog(tears things apart). sure they can do somethings wrong and you try your best to tell them no, but at the end of the day you either hit the fourms, pop in myth, or play Halo with your friends over XBL. and nothing lets me sleep at night like knowing bungie is doing their best to create the best gameplay experiance.