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

[Daedalos]

I am black. But I got a bad case of vitiligo.

 

[SausageInYourFace]

So, when was the last time Chris and Feargus spoke as friends?

 

[AwesomeButton]

Wait... we don't have any out-of-the-closet black people, do we? Nevermind, clearly we're white supremacists after all.

Not on my watch, fellow white supremacist!

Spoiler

Actually, we have Roqua

 

[Bohr]

Thread just keeps on delivering, even if it's a bitch to catch up on. Have a feeling MCA is saving the biggest bombs for last... a mild bit of criticism thrown Sawyer's way would instantly add 300 pages


(The thing about the eternal capitalist vs commie debate is that it always ends up going in circles with nobody changing their minds, and a number of good threads around here met their demise that way in the past - would be nice if this epic read could avoid that fate for as long as possible)

 

[Kleptocratic debt serf]

RPGCodex is one of the only ones who asked - and when asked, I try to answer.

Feel free to ignore my inquiry if it has already been answered or does not rise to the occasion of warranting an answer, but have you thought about starting your own studio? A studio for, by and of the developers? Maybe crowd-source it if necessary?

 

[VentilatorOfDoom]

A studio for the PEOPLE

A studio where a fucking white male can work unmolested by feminazis and cultural marxists

one studio to rule them all

 

[ArchAngel]

I'm not privy to server data but I'm sure the stereotypical "straight, white, (Christian) male" they rail against is a minority here.

I really think it is. Look at the mod team. You got a jew. You got a woman. You have a 50 yr old man with down syndrome (Crispy ), you have a guy who used to think aobut being trans, you have a picky gay guy who loves tb games but is playing SOTA for some stupid fucking reason. You have a dirty greasy liberla Eyetalian living in mexico. Etc etc.


Yet all I read on RetardCetera and Obsidian forums is how shitty we all are and how we're all alt right white supremacists. Newflash. I voted for HRC. No. If you're reading this you're the short sighted ones. Fucking dumbasses.

Fucking Hell, you really are high on that CoolAid.

 

[Urthor]

Hasn't he said 20 something times he doesn't want to be a game director again?

Pretty sure running a studio would game under that heading

 

[Prime Junta]

Pretty sure running a studio would game under that heading

Probably. Also he has horrible ideas about management.

 

[TalesfromtheCrypt]

Chris Avellone

Can you elaborate on what role the other owners/members of upper management played in those shenanigans surrounding your departure from the company? Were they actively involved in screwing you over, or did they merely give their nod of agreement in a more passive way (which would be bad enough but still).

 

[Tacgnol]

So, when was the last time Chris and Feargus spoke as friends?

That's the other sad thing about all of this, I'm assuming the ownership were all good friends at one stage.

 

[AwesomeButton]

I have a feeling Chris is very similar in character to unfortunate people I know who are caught in a middle management position. Smart, talanted, and workaholic enough to be a lead, but not ruthless and sociopatic enough to make the step to the real management position. I believe he is on the best course where he is now.

Also, Chris, I am sorry if this has been asked already (by others than me), but what about IWD's chapter introductions and exposition style? :D

 

[Glaucon]

Hasn't he said 20 something times he doesn't want to be a game director again?

Pretty sure running a studio would game under that heading

Not as a director, just as a co-owner/founder who trusts the running of the company entirely to others while he diligently...oh.

 

[TT1]

Chris Avellone can you give us more details about Beamdog PST expansion/ sequel/ whatever?

 

[Jim the Dinosaur]

young avellone ran through the forest for quite a while before he finally found his parents again. as they embraced him and their worries for his safety faded, the screechings of the wart-covered gypsy continued to scrape at the inside of his skull: "fear gus, for he has an orc heart!"

 

[AwesomeButton]

It's my conviction that being a manager requires personal qualities which are at odds with what makes some people good at what they are doing.

 

[J_C]

Thread just keeps on delivering, even if it's a bitch to catch up on. Have a feeling MCA is saving the biggest bombs for last... a mild bit of criticism thrown Sawyer's way would instantly add 300 pages


(The thing about the eternal capitalist vs commie debate is that it always ends up going in circles with nobody changing their minds, and a number of good threads around here met their demise that way in the past - would be nice if this epic read could avoid that fate for as long as possible)

The biggest bomb would be saying this at the end of all of this:

"...and Josh was one of the coolest guys at Obsidian, he had a lot of great ideas and knew how to get work done. I respect him deeply".

 

[Mustawd]

I have a feeling Chris is very similar in character to unfortunate people I know who are caught in a middle management position. Smart, talanted, and workaholic enough to be a lead, but not ruthless and sociopatic enough to make the step to the real management position.

I know a Controller in a public company that was offered a partner position if she went to China for a couple years. Which of course she refused because she has 2 young children, all her family is n the states and her parents are not in great health.

Which resulted in some retard Sr Manager going to China instead and becoming partner.

Life is fucked up.

 

[Prime Junta]

Since we're doing brutal honesty, Chris Avellone did you get sexually harassed by Obsidian's HRM? There's rumours and some borderline-creepy public behaviour on record there.

 

[Blaine]

It's my conviction that being a manager requires personal qualities which are at odds with what makes some people good at what they are doing.

Those "personal qualities" are a state of not being particularly good at anything else, allowing them to focus entirely on being managers.

 

[Mustawd]

Since we're doing brutal honesty, Chris Avellone did you get sexually harassed by Obsidian's HRM? There's are rumours and some borderline-creepy public behaviour on record there.

 

[The_Time_Master]

A studio for the PEOPLE

A studio where a fucking white male can work unmolested by feminazis and cultural marxists

one studio to rule them all

By Gamers... For Gamers!

/oh wait...

 

[VentilatorOfDoom]

Since we're doing brutal honesty, Chris Avellone did you get sexually harassed by Obsidian's HRM? There's are rumours and some borderline-creepy public behaviour on record there.

It's impossible to sexually harass a white man, you bigot. Implying that it is possible constitutes rape.

 

[Infinitron]

Chris Avellone dream scenario:

1) Obsidian owners resign in shame
2) Tim Cain appointed acting CEO
3) During Project Indiana's development, Obsidian acquired by Take Two Interactive
4) Chris Avellone appointed as General Manager
5) The purge begins

 

[Kleptocratic debt serf]

Since we're doing brutal honesty, Chris Avellone did you get sexually harassed by Obsidian's HRM? There's are rumours and some borderline-creepy public behaviour on record there.

Ok but riddle me this, What do you call it when you like getting sexually harassed by female coworkers?