Combining purchasable RNG items with a limited time event was especially uncool.

Limited time event or not, I disapprove. I also hate lotteries. It's a stupidity tax, for one thing. it's worse when a government does it, but Bungie has no reason to be proud of allowing that dynamic.

I'm still bitter about that Spartan Laser shot you barely managed to duck under on Valhalla. :P

Not the last second targeting of you on your Mongoose and blasting you out of the sky? ;)

That was more a sight to behold than to be bitter at! Haha.

Takeaway from this threadjack: Valhalla was amazeballs.

For real. What a great map.

I'm still bitter about that Spartan Laser shot you barely managed to duck under on Valhalla. :P

Not the last second targeting of you on your Mongoose and blasting you out of the sky? ;)

Takeaway from this threadjack: Valhalla was amazeballs.

Hmm.

Don't disagree. I do think it's arguable on which side the problem is, the secrecy or the reactionary culture.

What is wrong with secrecy? As long as the game comes out fine, it doesn't matter does it? But I don't think Destiny came out fine.

Nothing from my perspective in this context. I like when people or organizations underpromise and overdeliver.

I think the "problem" with secrecy (more scare quotes here), is when gamers/customers feel like they are being misled. Case in point: No Man's Sky. I enjoyed the game, but there is no question that the promotion of the game and communication from the developers prior to release was horribly handled. Again, when so little is known about the development of a game, every little glimmer of info we do get is taken as gospel. Personally, I am absolutely aware that development is a flaming train wreck right up until launch, and anything and everything can change. But I do also think it is fair to say "That's fine... if you talk about a feature, and then things change and the feature gets cut, we understand. Just TELL US". Otherwise, it comes across as lying just to trick people into buying a product.

No Man's Sky is a particularly bold example. I don't think Bungie has made any mistakes on that level. But there have been bumps in the road over the past couple years with regards to communication with the community. I think Bungie realizes this, and they seem to be making real efforts to improve. It is a very challenging task; figuring out which information needs to be provided, and what needs to stay secret.

I agree that it's a tough balancing act. Gaming has become so competitive and high-stakes that any kind of walkback can be spun as a betrayal and that spin can take over the narrative (and cost mucho delores). It's one thing when it's just us chickens and Matt talking about character designs in BLAM! in the weekly update. It's another when Forbes is writing articles based on fan's post on NeoGAF.

Don't disagree. I do think it's arguable on which side the problem is, the secrecy or the reactionary culture.

What is wrong with secrecy? As long as the game comes out fine, it doesn't matter does it? But I don't think Destiny came out fine.

Nothing from my perspective in this context. I like when people or organizations underpromise and overdeliver.

I think the "problem" with secrecy (more scare quotes here), is when gamers/customers feel like they are being misled. Case in point: No Man's Sky. I enjoyed the game, but there is no question that the promotion of the game and communication from the developers prior to release was horribly handled. Again, when so little is known about the development of a game, every little glimmer of info we do get is taken as gospel. Personally, I am absolutely aware that development is a flaming train wreck right up until launch, and anything and everything can change. But I do also think it is fair to say "That's fine... if you talk about a feature, and then things change and the feature gets cut, we understand. Just TELL US". Otherwise, it comes across as lying just to trick people into buying a product.

No Man's Sky is a particularly bold example. I don't think Bungie has made any mistakes on that level. But there have been bumps in the road over the past couple years with regards to communication with the community. I think Bungie realizes this, and they seem to be making real efforts to improve. It is a very challenging task; figuring out which information needs to be provided, and what needs to stay secret.

My preference is to not get carried away with this kind of conclusion-drawing and to try as much as possible to let the game succeed or fail on its own merits. If there’s something rotten in Denmark, exports from Denmark begin to stink. We can sniff the air and be sensitive that, sure, but if we don’t live in Denmark, there’s a limit to what we can say is happening there.

About the quote, I would not be surprised if I guessed who made this statement in three tries or less. I’m saddened to see it shared in this way here. Yes, it’s cool when we the fans get access to devs or former devs and we get to hear these points of view. That window for that continuing to happening closes a bit every time we repeat things out of context. Don’t get me wrong: if a former or current Bungie employee wants to criticize Bungie, that’s absolutely his or her right. If a journalist wants to report on this, that’s a good thing, too, but fairness and objectivity is integral to good journalism. I value balance.

Let us speculate, let us criticize microtransactions or whatever else bugs us, let us state our hopes and fears for Bungie and Destiny, but let’s not pretend that we know the big picture (that’s the problem with this quote like this: it give us false confidence in our opinions). Cody might get closer to giving us the big picture with this book project, if he talks to enough people and stays honest. It’s not like I don’t personally share many of the concerns shared in this thread. This quote, however, is only a perfect summation of one person’s opinion. A person with biases just like the rest of us and a point of view informed by a bad experience.

The reason quotes like this gain so much traction is that game development is treated with such absolute secrecy that any little grain of insight that comes "from inside" is held up on a pedestal as some form of gospel. As you pointed out, this quote is just 1 person's [scare-quotes]valid opinion[/scare quotes], and it gains weight due to the complete lack of any other valid opinions coming from inside Bungie.

I'm not saying that is a good or bad thing (that's an entirely different discussion, I think). I just think it is a predictable price to pay for the gaming industry's level of secrecy.

Don't disagree. I do think it's arguable on which side the problem is, the secrecy or the reactionary culture.

But the resonance of that quote is extraordinary. It just makes sense of so much.

That's the trouble. All these lightning storms make so much sense once we realize Zeus must be angry.

Don't disagree. I do think it's arguable on which side the problem is, the secrecy or the reactionary culture.

What is wrong with secrecy? As long as the game comes out fine, it doesn't matter does it? But I don't think Destiny came out fine.

Nothing from my perspective in this context. I like when people or organizations underpromise and overdeliver.

Don't disagree. I do think it's arguable on which side the problem is, the secrecy or the reactionary culture.

What is wrong with secrecy? As long as the game comes out fine, it doesn't matter does it? But I don't think Destiny came out fine.

My preference is to not get carried away with this kind of conclusion-drawing and to try as much as possible to let the game succeed or fail on its own merits. If there’s something rotten in Denmark, exports from Denmark begin to stink. We can sniff the air and be sensitive that, sure, but if we don’t live in Denmark, there’s a limit to what we can say is happening there.

About the quote, I would not be surprised if I guessed who made this statement in three tries or less. I’m saddened to see it shared in this way here. Yes, it’s cool when we the fans get access to devs or former devs and we get to hear these points of view. That window for that continuing to happening closes a bit every time we repeat things out of context. Don’t get me wrong: if a former or current Bungie employee wants to criticize Bungie, that’s absolutely his or her right. If a journalist wants to report on this, that’s a good thing, too, but fairness and objectivity is integral to good journalism. I value balance.

Let us speculate, let us criticize microtransactions or whatever else bugs us, let us state our hopes and fears for Bungie and Destiny, but let’s not pretend that we know the big picture (that’s the problem with this quote like this: it give us false confidence in our opinions). Cody might get closer to giving us the big picture with this book project, if he talks to enough people and stays honest. It’s not like I don’t personally share many of the concerns shared in this thread. This quote, however, is only a perfect summation of one person’s opinion. A person with biases just like the rest of us and a point of view informed by a bad experience.

The reason quotes like this gain so much traction is that game development is treated with such absolute secrecy that any little grain of insight that comes "from inside" is held up on a pedestal as some form of gospel. As you pointed out, this quote is just 1 person's [scare-quotes]valid opinion[/scare quotes], and it gains weight due to the complete lack of any other valid opinions coming from inside Bungie.

I'm not saying that is a good or bad thing (that's an entirely different discussion, I think). I just think it is a predictable price to pay for the gaming industry's level of secrecy.

Don't disagree. I do think it's arguable on which side the problem is, the secrecy or the reactionary culture.

But the resonance of that quote is extraordinary. It just makes sense of so much.

am almost 100% certain I won't use a big part of what I've been told and what I know.

My preference is to not get carried away with this kind of conclusion-drawing and to try as much as possible to let the game succeed or fail on its own merits. If there’s something rotten in Denmark, exports from Denmark begin to stink. We can sniff the air and be sensitive that, sure, but if we don’t live in Denmark, there’s a limit to what we can say is happening there.

About the quote, I would not be surprised if I guessed who made this statement in three tries or less. I’m saddened to see it shared in this way here. Yes, it’s cool when we the fans get access to devs or former devs and we get to hear these points of view. That window for that continuing to happening closes a bit every time we repeat things out of context. Don’t get me wrong: if a former or current Bungie employee wants to criticize Bungie, that’s absolutely his or her right. If a journalist wants to report on this, that’s a good thing, too, but fairness and objectivity is integral to good journalism. I value balance.

Let us speculate, let us criticize microtransactions or whatever else bugs us, let us state our hopes and fears for Bungie and Destiny, but let’s not pretend that we know the big picture (that’s the problem with this quote like this: it give us false confidence in our opinions). Cody might get closer to giving us the big picture with this book project, if he talks to enough people and stays honest. It’s not like I don’t personally share many of the concerns shared in this thread. This quote, however, is only a perfect summation of one person’s opinion. A person with biases just like the rest of us and a point of view informed by a bad experience.

The reason quotes like this gain so much traction is that game development is treated with such absolute secrecy that any little grain of insight that comes "from inside" is held up on a pedestal as some form of gospel. As you pointed out, this quote is just 1 person's [scare-quotes]valid opinion[/scare quotes], and it gains weight due to the complete lack of any other valid opinions coming from inside Bungie.

I'm not saying that is a good or bad thing (that's an entirely different discussion, I think). I just think it is a predictable price to pay for the gaming industry's level of secrecy.

Don't disagree. I do think it's arguable on which side the problem is, the secrecy or the reactionary culture.

Cody might get closer to giving us the big picture with this book project, if he talks to enough people and stays honest.

The book is not an exposè of Bungie's dirty laundry. As such, I don't even know how much I'm going to even do beyond Halo. I'm asking about Destiny, but am almost 100% certain I won't use a big part of what I've been told and what I know.

Don't go around saying or thinking the book is about that. Because it's not.

That's cool. I didn't mean to imply that it's an exposè--quite the opposite. Glad to hear you not characterize it that way, though.

Cody might get closer to giving us the big picture with this book project, if he talks to enough people and stays honest.

The book is not an exposè of Bungie's dirty laundry. As such, I don't even know how much I'm going to even do beyond Halo. I'm asking about Destiny, but am almost 100% certain I won't use a big part of what I've been told and what I know.

Don't go around saying or thinking the book is about that. Because it's not.

My preference is to not get carried away with this kind of conclusion-drawing and to try as much as possible to let the game succeed or fail on its own merits. If there’s something rotten in Denmark, exports from Denmark begin to stink. We can sniff the air and be sensitive that, sure, but if we don’t live in Denmark, there’s a limit to what we can say is happening there.

About the quote, I would not be surprised if I guessed who made this statement in three tries or less. I’m saddened to see it shared in this way here. Yes, it’s cool when we the fans get access to devs or former devs and we get to hear these points of view. That window for that continuing to happening closes a bit every time we repeat things out of context. Don’t get me wrong: if a former or current Bungie employee wants to criticize Bungie, that’s absolutely his or her right. If a journalist wants to report on this, that’s a good thing, too, but fairness and objectivity is integral to good journalism. I value balance.

Let us speculate, let us criticize microtransactions or whatever else bugs us, let us state our hopes and fears for Bungie and Destiny, but let’s not pretend that we know the big picture (that’s the problem with this quote like this: it give us false confidence in our opinions). Cody might get closer to giving us the big picture with this book project, if he talks to enough people and stays honest. It’s not like I don’t personally share many of the concerns shared in this thread. This quote, however, is only a perfect summation of one person’s opinion. A person with biases just like the rest of us and a point of view informed by a bad experience.

The reason quotes like this gain so much traction is that game development is treated with such absolute secrecy that any little grain of insight that comes "from inside" is held up on a pedestal as some form of gospel. As you pointed out, this quote is just 1 person's [scare-quotes]valid opinion[/scare quotes], and it gains weight due to the complete lack of any other valid opinions coming from inside Bungie.

I'm not saying that is a good or bad thing (that's an entirely different discussion, I think). I just think it is a predictable price to pay for the gaming industry's level of secrecy.

About the quote, I would not be surprised if I guessed who made this statement in three tries or less. I’m saddened to see it shared in this way here. Yes, it’s cool when we the fans get access to devs or former devs and we get to hear these points of view. That window for that continuing to happening closes a bit every time we repeat things out of context. Don’t get me wrong: if a former or current Bungie employee wants to criticize Bungie, that’s absolutely his or her right. If a journalist wants to report on this, that’s a good thing, too, but fairness and objectivity is integral to good journalism. I value balance.

Let us speculate, let us criticize microtransactions or whatever else bugs us, let us state our hopes and fears for Bungie and Destiny, but let’s not pretend that we know the big picture (that’s the problem with this quote like this: it give us false confidence in our opinions). Cody might get closer to giving us the big picture with this book project, if he talks to enough people and stays honest. It’s not like I don’t personally share many of the concerns shared in this thread. This quote, however, is only a perfect summation of one person’s opinion. A person with biases just like the rest of us and a point of view informed by a bad experience.