Dyack Part 2303402: ArsTechnica Interview

[demi]

http://arstechnica.com/articles/culture/dyack-interview-e3.ars

Speaking of the hardcore gamers, talk to me about the NeoGAF situation. That was the cult, online, hardcore gamers talking a lot of smack mostly about the length—

They talked a lot of smack about everything, I think.

Heh, yeah. How do you, as a developer, how do you deal with that direct access and exposure to thoughts of a small group that can be influential?

I don't want to spend too much time on this, but I would, of course, deal with it the way that I did. And I want to point out to everyone exactly what it is: how inaccurate, how full of hyperbole, how nonsensical it was. The problem is that with all these new convergent medias, and with the way that technology is affecting society, these things are having an effect. You can't roll back technology—I'm not a Luddite in any way, shape or form—but I want people to be aware of its effects. The way to deal with it is to speak out and say "Hey, look at this phenomenon. Is this a good thing? And that's it; I've said my piece on that.

One last thing on that: would you tell other developers to speak out and to be vocal about backing their project? We see lots of people shy away from answering the tough questions and really getting behind and being proud of what they made. Is that essential for other developers?

I think developers need to choose their own path. I think it's safe to say that not many would do what we did. But you have to do what you think is right. Speaking out publicly is very, very difficult. A lot of what you do you have to really play to the mob, and that's one of things that I don't do. It's really polarizing. Some people like it, some people hate it: it is what it is. But I'm always going to stand up for what is right and I'm a very straightforward guy. These are the things that I believe in. But it's not really the right path for everyone, so people need to choose their own path.

Was there any reverberation from Microsoft?

*smirks* I'm done with it.

[MCD]

Eurogamer: You're a high-profile figure in an industry that still doesn't have very many--

Peter Molyneux: Well, of course, you know why? This is my conspiracy theory: the last thing the publishers want is high-profile figures, because it works counter to everything that they do. What does a high-profile person do? They either go mad, or they leave, or they start developing a game that the publisher doesn't want to promote, and it takes the power away from the publishers. That's why you don't see high-profile figures at companies like EA, because they can't control these people. I'm going to get in trouble now - publishers are wonderful and I really like them.

:hippolol

[pilonv1]

ahahahaha

[MCD]

no.

the solution for dyack is to make a great game.

[MCD]

the solution for dyack is to make a great game.

at least my solution was realistic!!

ahahaha

[drohne]

yeah denis, you probably are done with microsoft

[MCD]

sega?

[Hitler Stole My Potato]

I know I'm in the minority around here but even with Denis suffering from his foot in mouth disease and Too Human being a pile of poo, the ammount of hate for the guy is completely ridiculous.

[Andowsky]

Who wouldn't be bitter and in a bad mood if you spent 15+ years of your life making that fucking turd of a game? And then you know you still have to make 2 more?  :'(

[dark1x]

Who wouldn't be bitter and in a bad mood if you spent 15+ years of your life making that fucking turd of a game? And then you know you still have to make 2 more?  :'(

Well, it's not as if they were working on Too Human the entire time (they released two other games during that period ), but still, I would feel pretty bad if people were tearing into a game I had spent so much time working on.  The problem is, the game has a lot of problems.  It's as if he just covers his ears and ignores what people have to say.  I think there is perhaps a bit too much negativity surrounding the game, but having played the demo, I can say that it is a fairly unpolished game with a lot of problems.  It's not BAD, but it's not great.

If they had actually delivered a GREAT game, I think people would have been much more forgiving in the end.

[Hitler Stole My Potato]

If they had actually delivered a GREAT game, I think people would have been much more forgiving in the end.

And I really thought that was going to happen....TH being a great game that is, not so much about people forgiving them.  I just can't believe how fucking shitty that demo was.  I remembing hearing him state how important a good demo was and then he puts that out.  smh

[duckman2000]

I know I'm in the minority around here but even with Denis suffering from his foot in mouth disease and Too Human being a pile of poo, the ammount of hate for the guy is completely ridiculous.

The dude just has a serious problem with admitting fault. Not that he deserves all the blame for everything that has happened, but I think it'd probably help his cause a bit if he was a bit more honest, and willing to admit that maybe he himself played some part in it. He really sounds like a self-righteous, pompous, bleeding martyr. Instead of ever really facing criticism head on, he has moved the goalposts and revised history as he has seen fit, and shown a general lack of ability to absorb criticism. And he also hasn't challenged the positive attention his unfinished game has received, so his whole spiel about the evils of judging an unfinished product is dodgy as hell.

[duckman2000]

I doubt it will get banned. For all his bitching and moaning about unfair and malicious gaming press (or perhaps it's because of this bitching), they are going pretty easy on Too Human. And he has a few embedded buttbuddies too, so it will probably get at least a few high 8s - low 9s. Shit, imagine the stink Matty C would make if the game was panned by IGN?

[cool breeze]

Dyack is pretty annoying.  People have told him his game is bad in his face and he couldn't even respond to it with any valid arguments as to why it isn't.  Just give up already.

[Bocsius]

Who's Denis Dyack and what's a neogaf?

[duckman2000]

Dyack is pretty annoying.  People have told him his game is bad in his face and he couldn't even respond to it with any valid arguments as to why it isn't.  Just give up already.

But dude, he's always "going to stand up for what is right"

[y2kev]

A lot of people have enjoyed the demo after playing it 10 times....but that's like the worst possible way a demo should impress itself upon you :\

Denis sucks and is finished. What publisher is going to work with him now, seriously?

oh right, sega.

[cool breeze]

You shut the fuck up about Sega!

  Platinum Games
  Mad World
  Bayonetta
  Yakuza series
  Valkyria

  Everything else

[duckman2000]

As said, you can always train yourself to accept something. Eventually, your tolerance level will grow high enough to accept mediocrity, and at that point you've probably spent so much time and energy on the game that you feel like you have to sort of enjoy it on some level.  Perhaps I should try playing the Lair demo 10 times, maybe it will become almost not crap.

[y2kev]

You shut the fuck up about Sega!

  Platinum Games
  Mad World
  Bayonetta
  Yakuza series
  Valkyria

  Everything else

shenmue

i admit i like shenmue

ugh the agony

As said, you can always train yourself to accept something. Eventually, your tolerance level will grow high enough to accept mediocrity, and at that point you've probably spent so much time and energy on the game that you feel like you have to sort of enjoy it on some level.  Perhaps I should try playing the Lair demo 10 times, maybe it will become almost not crap.

I can enjoy some levels of LAIR if i play it enough. I really think you've got to totally rethink your perspective though if that TH demo is suddenly fun to you.

[Grecco]

I played the demo twice first time i thought it had faults but was ok

seccond time thought it was shit got frustrated with its faults and deleted it

dont know how others liked it after 10 times. id kill myself if i  had to play it 10 times

and Dennis deserves all hate hes a pompous ass. Just listen to him on the last 1up yours as to how much of an ass he is.

[cool breeze]

I played it twice.  First time I thought it wasn't bad and could see myself buying it for cheap in the future.  Second time I was bored as shit and amazed at how easy this game was.  I even took on that apparently difficult boss in the left door without being hit because the combat system is so broken and horrible.

[AdmiralViscen]

I played the first time for less than 5 minutes and thought it was pure ass.

The second time I actually tried to find the rhythm to the combat and started experimenting with the different weapons and abilities I was picking up, and I kinda liked it.

I'm not buying unless I can play it and enjoy it a third of fourth time, and even then only because nothing else is out.

[demi]

Game is hot... day one

[cool breeze]

As said, you can always train yourself to accept something. Eventually, your tolerance level will grow high enough to accept mediocrity, and at that point you've probably spent so much time and energy on the game that you feel like you have to sort of enjoy it on some level.  Perhaps I should try playing the Lair demo 10 times, maybe it will become almost not crap.

You inspired me to download the Lair demo right now.

It probably will take 4 hours, but I will play it.

[y2kev]

there's a lair demo? 

[cool breeze]

Only hong kong has it 

This is actually downloading pretty fast. 

[FlameOfCallandor]

Dennis: You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain.

[duckman2000]

there's a lair demo? 

Yeah. Worst. Demo. Ever. Or best ever, I guess; shitty demo for shitty game.

dont know how others liked it after 10 times. id kill myself if i  had to play it 10 times

Dedication desperation.

[cool breeze]

Lair is one of the worst games I have played this gen.  Even after I switched from the horrible motion controls to analog controls, it was still horrible.  It looks like shit and even runs like shit.  My gosh, this game is a sin.  Too Human is good by comparison.

[demi]

Too Human > MGS4

Lair > MGS4

[The Sceneman]

Game is hot... day one