




PS3 Developer Fired For Comments 131
Next Generation reports on the unfortunate fallout from one PS3 developer's unflattering comments. Early in January, a developer made comments on his feelings regarding the Xbox 360 and its power/design ease vs. the PS3. Thanks to widespread internet reaction, he has been fired from his development position. From the article: "I can't believe how out of control everything got ... It's absolutely absurd how the Internet can take something relatively harmless and turn it into something so insane... Did I knowingly break NDA? I absolutely did not. I would never do that and I would never want to hurt Sony Online. Did I dance in the grey area by even opening my mouth? Yes I did and I was fired for it. So I guess the new rule for me is, don't ever say anything at all about anything. Ever...ever."
"I work for for "Big Company USA... (Score:5, Insightful)
Just what the hell was he expecting would happen? They'd give him a reward for breaking ranks and giving his subjective views about Sony's PS3?
Good luck finding a new job Asshat.
Re:"I work for for "Big Company USA... (Score:5, Insightful)
At the same time, a new issue has emerged, digital rights, an arena where Sony (a giant corporation representing the MPAA *and* RIAA) is the devil figure (rootkit CDs, locked out storage formats, and the upcoming Blu-ray ultra restrictive DRM).
Much as IBM, for it's own financial convience, became a "good guy" by supporting Linux and open source, Microsoft may make a similar transformation: They split with Sony over Blu-ray because they demanded that the next DVD format allow consumers to use media they had purchased the way they wanted to (i.e. store on a Microsoft powered media center). Microsoft's position of having no interest in content (Sony) or hardware (Apple) makes it to their financial benefit to demand both sides provide a positive experience for consumers (since Microsoft will have Windows something running in the middle).
Even Microsoft's own DRM lends to this: It isn't tied to a single music store or mp3 player, and it isn't fixed in what it controls - companies protecting content can choose how restrictive it should be, resulting in open competition for consumers without fractured standards - if consumers don't like the restrictions placed on them by music store A, they can just go to music store B and get the same music, that will play on the same mp3 player, but with less restrictions. Instead of consumers being held hostage to a set of DRM demands, it's the content sellers that have to compete for the sweet spot between protecting the content and giving the user fare use of what they've purchased.
Re:"I work for for "Big Company USA... (Score:3, Informative)
Much as IBM, for it's own financial convience, became a "good guy" by supporting Linux and open source, Microsoft may make a similar transformation: They split with Sony over Blu-ray because they demanded that the next DVD format allow consumers to use media they had purchased the way they wanted to (i.e. store on a Microsoft powered media center).
That's weird. . . I thought they split
Re:"I work for for "Big Company USA... (Score:2)
Now you're falling for the "Microsof
Re:"I work for for "Big Company USA... (Score:2)
Re:"I work for for "Big Company USA... (Score:1)
Re:"I work for for "Big Company USA... (Score:5, Insightful)
I would have let this guy go even for stating these opinions privatly. He obviously really does not want to work for Sony. This guy didn't get fired, he quit.
Re:"I work for for "Big Company USA... (Score:1, Insightful)
Great idea.
Step 1. Fire everyone who finds legitemite weakness in your product, partner or customer.
Step 2. ????
Step 3. Profit
Re:"I work for for "Big Company USA... (Score:2)
Bitching to another employee who can't do anything is counter-productive and reduces morale (and should be handled with a polite request not to disillusion colleagues), and bitching in a public forum should be slapped for gross indiscretion.
This was an o
Re:"I work for for "Big Company USA... (Score:2)
how can one artist [not a programmer] give a full say so on the inner workings of the ps3? he works within his package: 3d studio max or whatever. does the product play nice with 3d studio max? if it doesnt... the guy himself stated that he was familiar with other packages. find one that works. if hes echoing complaints from the programmers on his team, thats another beast. [and what i suspect happened] who is to say that his teams' programmers have the be
Re:"I work for for "Big Company USA... (Score:3, Insightful)
Chalk this up to a lesson learned the hard way.
On the other hand, this doesn't leave Sony management covered in glory either.
First, they called a huge amount of attention to a somewhat amateurish screed that would have fallen into the bitbucket otherwise. In this sense the develper was right. They'd be better off if they publicly laughed it off and said, "We're our own toughest critics. Our platform is the best one there is, and we're not standing still."
I think a more sutb
does the word OOOPPPSSS come to mind? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:does the word OOOPPPSSS come to mind? (Score:2)
But "I think you wife is a fat slag" is not quiet the same thing as this article....
Re:does the word OOOPPPSSS come to mind? (Score:2)
Re:does the word OOOPPPSSS come to mind? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:does the word OOOPPPSSS come to mind? (Score:2)
Frankly, I doubt many people are going to miss him. If he's an artist and the game he's working on doesn't look good, isn't that his responsi
Who didn't see that coming? (Score:2, Informative)
what's the problem (Score:2)
He acts likes it a threat, but I bet no one really cares if he ever talks again.
Re:what's the problem (Score:2, Insightful)
Welcome to the Real World (Score:5, Insightful)
Seriously, welcome to the Real World. In college, perhaps, you were encouraged to speak your mind and be free like a little birdie. Big difference: you *paid* to go to college. Within limits, you could do what you want. Things are different when you're the one receiving the money. Within limits, you have to do what *they* want.
Or to misapply the meme: In college, you owned a Sony. In Corporate [America|Japan], SONY own YOU!
Re:Welcome to the Real World (Score:1)
Re:Welcome to the Real World (Score:1)
So the case where you were receiving money was terminated, but not where you were paying the money.
So the OP's point still stands
Re:Welcome to the Real World (Score:2)
Re:Welcome to the Real World (Score:3, Interesting)
I started working for a startup WISP, and was on the front-lines designing, engineering, building, and installing the network. Being in that position, I knew a HELL of LOT MORE than the owner about what was and wasn't going to work. It also helped that my co-worker saw eye to eye on the wireless network implementation, but the po
Re:Welcome to the Real World (Score:1)
Re:Welcome to the Real World (Score:1)
He's surprised about this? (Score:5, Funny)
I'm guessing this is what got him fired (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:I'm guessing this is what got him fired (Score:2, Informative)
Re:I'm guessing this is what got him fired (Score:2)
Hmmmm... somehow his X360 > PS3 claims don't hold much water...
Re:I'm guessing this is what got him fired (Score:2)
Do he know many people from Microsoft? (Score:2)
That comment sparked a big question in my head right away. Do this guy have much contacts in Microsoft and if so, why? I would assume its not that smart talking to the opposite side about your own products capabilities and release dates and other sensetive information. My tinfoil is getting worn out but somehow i get the fealing something is wrong with this picture. I have a hard time imaging an engineer who have put enormous amounts of ti
Re:Do he know many people from Microsoft? (Score:2)
More to the point (Score:2)
Re:I'm guessing this is what got him fired (Score:2)
The kind of boss that is open to negative opinions -- a rare, but very powerful beast.
Re:I'm guessing this is what got him fired (Score:2)
The kind of boss that is open to negative opinions -- a rare, but very powerful beast. ''
When you look at your companies products, you have to realise: It is not your job to praise them or to damn them (in public), that is what you have marketing people for. They can take anything, and talk it up to be the best invention since sliced bread. Your competitor's marketing people can do the same thing.
Often you compare your view of your
Re:I'm guessing this is what got him fired (Score:3, Insightful)
That's like saying that it's not the job of the parents to damn or praise their own kids, because the neighbors can do the same thing.
It's much better to not only allow, but rather, to encourage intern
Re:I'm guessing this is what got him fired (Score:2)
> a rare, but very powerful beast.
A boss that will listen to your negative opinions when you bring them to him is indeed a powerful (and, alas, rarer than they should be) beast. A boss that will put up with you *publicly trashing your own project to the world*, is, uh, no. They don't do that. Especially when it's a consumer product that will survive or fail on how it is perceived by the public.
Chris Mattern
Re:I'm guessing this is what got him fired (Score:3, Insightful)
Maybe just some internal listening and acknowledging would have kept this kind of opinion from hitting the web.
I think, generally, while people are selfish and greedy, they are not malicious. So when something happens that appears malicious, it's most likely because something else
Re:ZOMG FIRST (Score:3, Insightful)
Obviously you didn't hear about the former Microsoft manager who accidently let a little too much info slip on his blog.
Google is the LAST place that would hire this guy. The reason why we never know what they're doing is because Google employees don't talk about Google. Period.
Re:ZOMG FIRST (Score:1)
Re:ZOMG FIRST (Score:1)
This guy has no-one to bitch to about his job, and needed the release.
Here's a link to his blog (Score:5, Informative)
To avoid
http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:jgeFRxdfvuIJ
Great Rule (Score:4, Funny)
I found this rule to work best at home and at work. The less you talk, the less trouble you get yourself into.
Re:Great Rule (Score:2)
Chris Mattern
Tough issue, this... (Score:5, Insightful)
It is a tragedy to lose one's job, no doubt. I would wish joblessness on no-one. However, one must always converse about one's product in a very careful way - always think of oneself as a public representative of the company. It is generally best to preserve the interests of one's company. Comments made on the internet are nearly intractable, and will generally find their way to unexpected places.
Re:Tough issue, this... (Score:1)
Re:Tough issue, this... (Score:2)
The employer doesn't need a reason to fire him. They can simply say "We no longer require your services" and show him the door and there's nothing he can do about it.
Re:Tough issue, this... (Score:1)
Re:Tough issue, this... (Score:5, Insightful)
Not in this case. I think the correct word for costing your company more money and good will then you're worth, resulting in a firing, is "example".
Losing your job because your office building burned down and your employer doesn't want to rebuild is tragic. Losing your job because you don't have the common sense God gives a dog is just plain stupid and not really something worth pitying.
What's worse is that he doesn't sound like he learned a single thing from the episode.
Re:Tough issue, this... (Score:2)
Interesting analogy. I guess that means that we're all dogs to our herd/clan/mob bosses?
Re:Tough issue, this... (Score:2)
First, don't work too hard to build a local idiom into a full-blown analogy. Second, yeah, pretty much.
Any man who believes that freedom of speech places no responsibility on the speaker should try telling their wife or girlfriend that she has a fat butt. Before you do, though, remember that the jury probably won't convict her, regardless of whether you're expected to make a full recovery.
Re: (Score:2)
Re:Tough issue, this... (Score:1)
It's not "Right to Work" it's "Right to fire" or "Keep them yankee unions out"
Negras (Score:2)
It's hard to prove that the boss fired you because you were Black when they gave no reason at all...
Yah, I read his post, and... (Score:5, Insightful)
There isn't really that much of a "gray area." They give you an NDA that basically just says "SHUT THE FUCK UP." And usually when they give it to you, they narrate that bit for you too. You really aren't supposed to talk about anything to do with the job, ever, ever.
There are few things in the business more secrecy intensive than a platform launch like this.
The guy is a big idiot for thinking he could write this and keep his job, without doing a damn good job of remaining anonymous. For that matter, he's just kind of uninformed; this is a 3D artist who obviously doesn't understand much about the hardware or the engines or the development cycle of either, in general....
OK, you got your 15 seconds of fame. Bye.
Re:Yah, I read his post, and... (Score:2)
Heh heh, the post right below yours links to an interview the guy did.
Re:Yah, I read his post, and... (Score:3, Insightful)
In other words, I don't think all 3D artists would be unqualified to comment, as this question seems to imply. Just this particular 3D artist. It's more likely you'd get some more informed commentary from a developer or a hardware engineer, and the fact that he's not already should color your expectations a little from the outset, but... let me put it this way:
I've worked with a lot of 3D artists, and it's a to
Re:Yah, I read his post, and... (Score:2)
But I do still love games. It's not a job, it's a passion. It's also a tough dichotomy. The people most likely to hold strong opinions are the ones most likely to work in the industry. And the industry is small enough that chances are you will have worked with someone or will work with someone at some point.
For example, I own a DS, but don't own a PSP. I love the industry enough that I want the PSP to do well, so I will talk about its
Yes, you're absolutely right (Score:2)
I usually cope through a combination of anonymity, discretion, and just talking and daring them to do something. There have been a few times (not in the game industry, but with other big corporations) where I basically wanted to get fired for my opinion, and ended up
He does'nt seem to upset about it. (Score:2, Interesting)
http://www.ps3week.com/blogs/ps3week.php?title=tit le_6&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 [ps3week.com]
And yes, I'm karmawhoring.
If I were him (Score:4, Funny)
seems right up his alley
Re:If I were him (Score:2)
-nB
Launch titles (Score:1)
Note that I am not asking this rhetorically, just speaking from my own experience. I am only familiar with one console's launch titles (PS2), and I don't remember them being that spectacular. Take Dark Cloud (I think the first PS2 game I played): sure it was better than PSX graphics, but later titles for the system were much better (even DC2 looked
Re:Launch titles (Score:2)
Don't say anything, ever? (Score:5, Funny)
what's with the "dumb person got fired" news?? (Score:5, Funny)
Next up: a real estate agent is amazed, amazed!, when he loses a client after telling potential buyers "This is house is OK, but I wouldn't want to live here."
Re:what's with the "dumb person got fired" news?? (Score:1, Offtopic)
When I was working at a supermarket while schooling, I got sick of the job and started mentioning the potential for faeces to be smeared all over the necrotic decomposing flesh that customers were buying...
And thanks to Australia's "unfair dismissal" laws that were in effect at the time, I got to do it twice more before they could get rid of me.
I like to think that I saved a cow or two during that week. (If only because the graphicness of my comments would have s
Re:what's with the "dumb person got fired" news?? (Score:2)
Re:Civ IV (Score:2)
At their designated day to meat their destiny, they're loaded up o
The subconscious mind. (Score:4, Interesting)
This has happened to me several times...where I've deleted a relationship, business or otherwise, by being brutally honest about it. The truth is that I always, deep down, wanted the relationship/job to end because I couldn't stand my internal bullshit meter going off every three seconds. Of course the opposite is also true, anything I truly want to be a part of will be afforded all maner of clemency.
Maybe this guy just knew that coming up with games for this thing was going to be an ordeal and his subconscious pre-empted him.
Then again, maybe this guy got fired because he is simply a classic dumbass.
Either way, you're now free to go make those soon-to-be-classic-Xbox-360-games now, former Sony developer guy.
Re:The subconscious mind. (Score:5, Funny)
Are you talking about people or databases?
;-)
Re:The subconscious mind. (Score:2)
-Jo5hua
Re:The subconscious mind. (Score:2)
that was the very last thing I will say...ever (Score:3, Funny)
no..wait..that was.
dammit.
I will never, ever say anything about anything ever. starting from.....now
I take a different lesson from this (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:I take a different lesson from this (Score:2)
At least my chances of getting a job at Sony now are better since i won't have to compete with your dumb ass... not that you have the skills anyway i'm sure.
What an complete idiot. (Score:1, Insightful)
I absolutely doubt this had anything to do with Sony being a big old baddy and this guy was just an innocent blabbermouth surrounded by fools on the internet blowing things out of proportion. To cite myself as an example, I work at a non-profit organization. We receive donations, grants, and contracts based
loyalty and lack of judgement (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:loyalty and lack of judgement (Score:1)
Comments Mild-No Reason to Pull Trigger (Score:2)
It's also interesting how grateful he is that their upper management remembers the lowly artist's names. Perhaps he doesn't realize how much harder it is to replace good artists and management drones. I say that as a Maya 3D user myself, and not nearly as talented
interview with a vampire (Score:2, Interesting)
Is he right about the lack of quality in games coming out for the PS3 compared to the Xbox 360? Yes.
Should his bosses have listened to him and attempted to improve the quality of the product they were working on? Yes.
Did they listen to him? No.
Are the games still going to be shit? Yes.
Did they fire him cause he revealed their incompetance? Yes.
Did he deserve it? Yup.
Do his managers deserve to be fired for hiring people who are producing crap and are going to ruin Sony
Re:interview with a vampire (Score:1, Informative)
He didn't offer any specifics of what was wrong though. His technical issues were ones where his workmates "proceeded to go into a lot of technical info that I don't understand".
There's not even any indication that he went to his bosses with any sort of issues or concerns. Where I work they would fire my ass if I went public with a rant saying my companies product sucked. That just has to
TS. (Score:1)
I bet.. (Score:1)
nice script. (Score:1)
Is it just me or does that sound like a corny dialog from a reallly emo character in a c grade movie....?
He is a martyr now... (Score:1)
hire Tyler Durden to write their NDA... (Score:1)
Why wouldn' he be fired? (Score:2)
Better yet, he repeats heresay that he doesn't understand, as to why the 360 is better.
If it were my decision, I'd fire him and kick him in the ass on the way out.
Moron violated NDA without knowing it. (Score:2)
Here's another snippet of the guy's post that isn't neutral:
"Now in my opinion it doesn't matter how good the PS3 is. If the XBOX 360 is better, then it doesn't really matter how the cell processors work or how good they say it is."
So, as an insider and as someone who worked on the PS3 content, you are making a statement
This is typical for a new non-Von architecture (Score:2)
The PS2 had many of the same problems. In the PS2, most of the processing power is in the vector units; the "main CPU" is relatively weak. It took about a year for developers to figure out how to push more of t
Re:Double standards: or, how Slashdot sold out (Score:1, Interesting)
Re:Double standards: or, how Slashdot sold out (Score:2)
Re:Double standards: or, how Slashdot sold out (Score:1)
No double standard here.
Re:Double standards: or, how Slashdot sold out (Score:2)
As for the government angle, all Sony did was fire him. They didn't take away his ability to continue to trash the company, nor did they execute him for doing so. Slight difference.
If you were his employers, p
Re:So what's new? (Score:1)
Re:So what's new? (Score:1, Insightful)
Seems the main argument against the new consoles is that most games don't lend themselves to a multi-processor architecture, as almost everything ties in with everything else, not that they use some new, wacky, graphics API...