So… kiss and make up, or is the honeymoon over?
I’m no psychologist, but I can’t help but wonder how this might parallel an abusive relationship.
Party A: *pulls stupid stunt*
Party B: Forget it, we’re through!
Party A: I’m so sowwy, I didn’t mean it!
Party B: OK, you’re so hot I can overlook the stupid crap you pull time and again, here’s my credit card, let’s go party!
Repeat as necessary.
When do the blinders come off, or do inertia and sex appeal perpetuate the cycle?
***
Hattip to Sev over at Ysharros’ place
Oh, and I love the escape clause: ”at this time”
Party A: Don’t worry baby, it won’t happen again
OK, OK, silver lining, they are responsive to complaints. Granted.
That said, may I take a moment and remind people that this was still a stupid jerk move in the first place, and recanting after people get pissed doesn’t tell us that they have changed, or that they are sorry, just that they dance well. They never should have done this in the first place, and their claim that they have been thinking about this for a long time should tell us that they are still either incompetent or arrogant. That doesn’t change with a slap on the proverbial wrist. They aren’t sorry that they tried this, they are sorry they got called on it and that their revenue was threatened. There’s a world of difference.
Oh, and this was a textbook example of goodwill withdrawal. They might yet staunch the blood flow, but the point remains that this was a totally unnecessary and avoidable self-inflicted wound.
There’s no way I would ever want Blizzard to have my real name on my account.
I think what happens at such companies is that issues like this split the staff. I’m sure this was internally at least as divisive. I bet there are a lot of creatives ranting around the water cooler about the “fucking suits”.
It will remain a balance of power thing and if the suits get the upper hand again this may come back in another guise, like Turbine’s offerwall or something.
Time to scrub your footprints off the internet.
“Time to scrub your footprints off the internet.”
Indeed.
The little guy won the battle, but the war isn’t over, and the suits have a lot of money.
Blizzard “listened” to the players in the same way the government “listens” to rioters. I mean, I think I’m about the only MMO blogger who didn’t write about this whole thing (but I’ve been active in comments). It made the BBC. One company, GamersFirst, made a advertising campaign about how they’ll let you keep your anonymity. Some big names like Randy Farmer came out and said it was a stupid mistake.
Oh, joy of joys! They’ve deigned to change their policy after this section of the internet pretty much riots about the stupidity of it all. But, as you said, the “at this time” shows what is likely to be the truth of the matter: they’ll introduce it again but in a much more palatable form. It’s the Blizzard way(tm)!
In reference to your post over at Ysharros’ place, one of my all-time favorite quotes:
“Beware of he who would deny you access to information, for in his heart he dreams himself your master.”
- Commissioner Pravin Lal, from Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri
Blizz/Activision is not disclosing the full scope of their vision for RealID. What exactly are they hoping to achieve? They are a business, a very big business… so ultimately their goal is to increase their bottom line. Forcing people to post on the official forums using real names doesn’t affect the bottom line, so that wasn’t too hard to give up.
I can’t help but wonder if this debacle was a cold and calculated move. It’s hard to believe that anyone at Blizz/Activision thought this would be well received. Certainly not at Blizzard. Are the folks at Activision that ignorant? I’d like to think that’s the case and the Blizzard community just told them off. But if I’m cold and calculating, I’d rather my customers *think* they made a difference and return to their blissful state of happily playing my game.
Brian, I’d be surprised to see you post about this at your place, actually. It’s something your comments here and there have addressed well, and honestly, it’s better to see that cyberpunk thing at the top of your page, methinketh.
Leave it to us, the more… pithy, to be the “faces” for the argument. You’ve better things to do. (Absolutely no aspersions behind that, by the way, I’m quite sincere. I almost didn’t cover this either, but it lets me blow off some political pressure while I’m at it, and I can put off my better articles for later.)
Indeed, Mama. See? Mama bear knows best.
(Good to “see” you again, by the way.) Fantastic quote, by the way, thanks!
The notion that this is calculated might be “tin foil hat” territory, but it’s also the modus operandi for abusive relationships and arrogant jerks. This isn’t about repentance from Blizzard, it’s guilt with just enough placation to keep people paying that sweet, sweet subscription.
Tin foil hats are good for the imagination.
Part of me (small) hopes I just witnessed Kotick having a “Ratner moment”.
The rest of me knows bad weeds are notoriously hard to kill.
Oh and I love Mama Druid for quoting AC.
I dunno if I’m willing to be quite so harsh yet. Everyone fucks up now and then.
The reason I’ve always seen Blizz as being the ‘good guys’ is that they do listen to the people that buy their games. Excoriating Blizz because they’re just after your money is silly. Business is about making money, after all. But the smart ones know that quality is worth more money than shit, and that treating your customer base like crap is a good way to lose it.
Now, if they try to pull this shit again a few weeks down the road with that ‘at this time’ stuff, we’ll see it. And we’ll be doubly pissed at the Borgia-esque manipulation.
But for now, we have this sequence of events:
- Blizz screwed the pooch in a truly monumental display of stupidity.
- An outcry like no other in the company’s history locks down the forums and sweeps the blogosphere like a tidal wave.
- Blizz, a *giant multinational corporation*, responds to the outrage *within 48 hours* by publically backing down and rescinding the announced change.
Policy decisions generally don’t get made that quickly. Someone at the top looked at the response and said ‘Holy shit, they’re pissed. Better back off this before it gets any worse.’
Given the data, I’m willing to forgive. At this time.
I’m harsh because they claim to have been discussing this for a long time, and still pushed it through. That, to me, shows either gross incompetence or pure arrogance. I do not trust either, though I will predict the actions of each a little differently.
There’s nothing wrong with a tinfoil hat if the Men in Suits are pointing Flashy Things at you.
Speaking of which, I’m off to make a tinfoil tricorne. No reason the paranoid can’t be fashion forward! Tally ho!
(It’s Friday afternoon, my Serious Gene (such as it is to begin with) has turned off.)
Now I know what crafty project we’re going to do with my nieces and nephews and kids this weekend. Thanks, Ysh!
I like your analogy Tesh, and to continue it, part of a successful long term relationship is to forgive mistakes and give people second chances. This is Blizzard’s second chance. Let’s hope they make the most of it!
I’m glad it’s over, but it was just forum moderation. While customers had a lot to lose, blizzard had virtually nothing to.
They only retracted the forum posting element
They’ve still introduced realid by degree’s in other areas.
They will just wait and bring it in latter. With a new name. And with a new cute pet you get for ‘transfering over’.
It’s classic salami tactics – one slice at a time.
People think their outrage made a difference, but it makes about as much difference as it does to the hunter waiting for the ducks to calm down and settle onto the waters again, after the last shoot. The hunter just works in the bigger picture.
[...] Something like Braid might have allusions to previous games, like Super Mario Brothers, but it also has to function on its own if someone doesn’t have that in their “gamer vocabulary”. It’s a fine line to walk sometimes, but it’s worth the effort it takes to make the gamer/designer conversation as clear as possible. Talking past each other just results in frustration and other assorted PR nightmares. [...]