Gamasutra Interview - Bioware co-founder Ray Muzyka on the new Mythic/Bioware Group

[Rer]

Originally Posted by stiltskin

You have to look at it a bit like a couple living under same roof . The large wife with rolling pin in one hand ( Bioware) and hen-pecked under the thumb husband ( Mythic) hoping if he's good then she might let him go to his potting shed for a smoke . Two different people , but ultimately they love each other and that's all that matters in the end.

Ahh stereotypes, I love them so. Except I wouldn't call Bioware fat by any means, they're a lean, mean, RPG making machine.

[kazamx]

Originally Posted by Thok

I think if you read some of the posts in this thread, you'll find you're not so alone. Also, unlike too many people on these boards, if I'm still posting I'm still playing.

Its because the site is owned by Curse. Curse need to keep a good relationship with studios to keep getting interviews and easy access to the devs. If the people running the game cross a line set by the studio then there is a dam good chance Curse will boot them. To see what I mean look at what happened at aionsource.com (like wha but for aion) the guy released some pics on the site that were being passed around already on many many sites and was sacked 24 hours later. He built the site pretty much from nothing but was booted the moment the studio contacted them to say they weren't happy.

For all the good PhoenixRed and Co have done. If they cross the line they are out in a hearbeat.

[Darlos]

Originally Posted by Thok

Doomsayers will see this as the end, fanboys will herald the second coming of WAR.

Sounds about right, heck you can see it on this thread already.

[stiltskin]

Originally Posted by Rer

Ahh stereotypes, I love them so. Except I wouldn't call Bioware fat by any means, they're a lean, mean, RPG making machine.

Very true . I was just trying to put over the point to all the chicken little's out there that being under same roof ain't always a bad thing , noone's taking over anyone , and maybe having someone else taking the reigns and giving new instruction may be a good thing .

[spirit]

Originally Posted by kazamx

For all the good PhoenixRed and Co have done. If they cross the line they are out in a hearbeat.

Generally though they speak their mind, if you look at their posts and especially the WAH, they do criticise WAR, they just dont join in with the paranoid finger-pointing and doomsaying that inevitably leads nowhere other than a bad mindset and a sour community.

[OrcishOpera]

I think it is just a matter of organization and collaberation. I am sure both organizations can learn from each other and improve what each is working on. I don't see how that could be a bad thing.

From what I can tell Bioware seems to have their command structure down IE software engineering between their various groups. Mythic from what I can tell lacks in this department with groups of people making changes but not knowing the full extent of the impact of those changes.

Mythic on the otherhand has much more first hand experience with patch delivery and while they made mistakes I am sure they would be more than happy to impart that experience to Bioware.

I see both studios as having something to gain. I do not buy into merger speculation because Bioware has taken great pains to make a name for themselves and I think it would be a bad marketing decision to go with a name change. Mythic still has a chance to come back as I do not believe they have passed a point of no return and EA would be smart to allow them that chance before dissolving their name.

[Monkeyboyen]

this "oh this will be the end of warhammer for sure!" is realy starting to get borring. Personaly I think that this new MMO group will be a good thing for warhammer and im exited to see what will happen in the future.

[PhoenixRed]

Originally Posted by kazamx

To see what I mean look at what happened at aionsource.com (like wha but for aion) the guy released some pics on the site that were being passed around already on many many sites and was sacked 24 hours later. He built the site pretty much from nothing but was booted the moment the studio contacted them to say they weren't happy.

For all the good PhoenixRed and Co have done. If they cross the line they are out in a hearbeat.

I won't comment on Aionsource since I don't know the exact details there, but what you're posting about what could happen to Warhammer Alliance is most likely not happening any time soon. The two sites from what I understand are run quite differently.

Curse is not going to sack the staff just because we are critical of the game or have something negative to say about it. There's a distinct difference between productive, constructive criticism that is essentially negative, and the kind of unproductive ranting and raving we give out infractions and moderate for. We walk a line every day between being overly defensive about a game the site is dedicated to and the aforementioned unproductive ranting. Our ideal presentation is a balanced outlook that gives Mythic praise when it's deserved and criticism when needed. Do we make mistakes? All the time. But overall, I think we're doing pretty well in our "voice".

The people who are currently managing the relationship between this site/Curse and Mythic are comprised of myself, Garthilk, and a couple folks from the Curse side, but I'm the primary driver and point of contact for that management. The community has received huge benefit from the discussions that have happened on this site because of the opportunities given to us from Curse and from Mythic, and everyone knows that while they may not always agree with our opinions of the game, we've presented them as respectfully as possible.

Mythic isn't going to force Curse to force us out because they don't like an article. Our relationship is good enough that any concerns will most likely travel through me. We've never been afraid to level a criticism that was productive for fear of destroying this relationship, and like any fansite-developer association, it's symbiotic. We respect their space and they respect ours.

[Bluucandi]

Originally Posted by beav2rd

I believe, PhoenixRed, that you and I are of a rare breed. We seem to be the only people on this website, and one the official forums, who seem to think that this game isn't a complete failure...

I don't think it's a complete failure. It's certainly needs a lot of kinks worked out. I'm disappointed about shortcomings but I have not canceled yet. So... I'm not qualified for the Fanboy label.

I'm still making plans for my main. Still thinking while I'm here at work about what I'd like to do in-game when I get home tonight. I actually dread the thought of this game dying. Does this sound like the typical musings of a doomsayer?

So count me in with your little band of brothers.

[ManCaptain]

Oh great, maybe Bioware can beat some sense into Mythic, them being a 1st class developer, which is more than can be said about Mythic. Maybe they can lend Mythic their QA & Testing departments, because clearly Mythic sure as hell doesn't have them.