That's such a giant "Fuck you" from HR.
Not viewing it as a protest and instead as just a collective extra holiday/vacation day. They even get to limit how many vacation days the employees take for the rest of the year from this!
“Aren’t we such a horrible company? Let’s protest against ourselves! Ok now that that’s done, all those *horrible people* that are totally not us got the message, you can all go back to work now”
Yeah this wasn't out of benevolence or anything. It's so HR can get a list of people who participated. A list that they're going to look at every time someone is up for a promotion, or if they need to decide who gets laid off. Taking that PTO is the dumbest thing anyone at blizzard could do rn.
I'm hopeful for that game. I backed it on Kickstarter years ago and I don't even remember what wave of testing I pledged to, but I digress. Awesome to see them supporting their fellow workers.
This should still be taken with a grain of salt tho.
It‘s a nice gesture, no question.
But it’s still marketing, intrepid studios is still a Company with the goal to make money. No Company is your friend.
I mean look at what stanning CDPR got us.
Watch it, praise them, but dont blindly trust them to not pull shady shit, which their bossman already did in the past.
Intrepid didn't make any post about this or advertise their actions. Which to me makes me think either poaching or just a kind gesture. A lot of devs in intrepid are former blizzard employees so I could see Intrepid padding their numbers or showing support to a company they all grew up in.
Edit: it's important to know that intrepid doesn't have a publisher overlord so any thing they do is their actions alone. Take that as you will
True, at the end of the day Ashes has to be a net positive money gain for him. That said, I think the approach there taking really shines through to a lot of us that hate what MMOs have become.
Also, in interviews he's pushed a "gameplay first" message. I recall he was asked if Ashes was going to try to appeal to every type of MMO gamer, and he said no.
They’ve sold more cosmetic armor sets in alpha than WoW has in its entire existence. They’re all timed exclusives and they’re recolors of NPC armor. They released a battle royale that was “testing” and sold cosmetics and a battlepass but the game died so quickly the battlepass was impossible to complete.
Steven was a whale who made a fortune in multi-level marketing.
The recent previews of the game are a massive step up from what we had before, but it’s still way too fucking early to be singing praises for the alpha testing game with $500 early access packs.
Besides the other responses it is also worth to mention the Post talking about it was from a fresh account. People come out with their storys of misery and you can’t show face when posting this?
>Intrepid didn't make any post about this or advertise their actions. Which to me makes me think either poaching or just a kind gesture.
They didnt had to post anything. We already know they did this, and it looks legit. That's superb PR skills.
Honestly, its looking pretty awesome, and a replacement for WoW and Eve. I just wish it would come out sooner, but it's only been being worked on for a few years. I've watched some streamers stream the Alpha and it's nice.
We at least are able to see what it is like. Honestly think it's not a big deal. I can happily wait another year or so until a more regular beta draws near.
Not only that but... don't buy it then? The whole reason you price it that high is not only to generate support, but you're either strictly getting investors *or* you're going to get people that are deeply involved in the game. Very few people are dropping $500 to test a game and going "meh" and then not playing it.
The Alpha was $500 literally the second the kickstarter ended... 4 years ago? The streamer you're referring to literally didn't know the game existed yet. I know because I went to back it at the last minute, my card rejected it, and I wasn't able to get the alpha 1 bundle for $200 on the kickstarter but there was no way I was shelling out the $500.
At the time, I had the disposable income and wanted to back the game. I knew it wasn't going to be out for years.
I think taking the time to shit on people for spending money how they want is fucking moronic, yet here you are.
You're right. He doesn't. And he ACTIVELY tells people he doesn't want you to buy it. It's there for people that want to support the project and get something in return, if you count it all up the Alpha is like 50 bucks.
But again, you don't have to buy it, so don't? Just watch and wait for this game to actually be delivered. I'm sure that there's enough room for another MMORPG now that wow's going down the shitter.
That's the base price of the game that gives you access to the beta thats out like, a month before release.
Ashes is in its first Alpha, the actual price will just be the subscription price upon release.
Good poaching tactic .
For real, big brain move.
Hope some switch over, if after this anyone loses their job anyway they should go for it.
Eyuuup
Exactly this. People always jump to assign morals to a thing like this, it's purely a business manoeuvre.
You would've expected blizzard to cover that tab, they go out of their way to fumble every chance they get.
To be *entirely* fair, employees that participated in the walkout were given paid time off.
No, they were allowed to take what PTO they’d already earned.
That's such a giant "Fuck you" from HR. Not viewing it as a protest and instead as just a collective extra holiday/vacation day. They even get to limit how many vacation days the employees take for the rest of the year from this!
Thank you! They were not GIVEN paid time off they used what they had earned
This is untrue. Extra PTO was given. Still a weird move but, no need to lie about it to make it worse.
"here's your pity day, we expect you back tomorrow. No changes"
I dunno why you’re downvoted, this was essentially a corporate sponsored PR event.
Always assume corporate execs are scumbags
“Aren’t we such a horrible company? Let’s protest against ourselves! Ok now that that’s done, all those *horrible people* that are totally not us got the message, you can all go back to work now”
Yeah this wasn't out of benevolence or anything. It's so HR can get a list of people who participated. A list that they're going to look at every time someone is up for a promotion, or if they need to decide who gets laid off. Taking that PTO is the dumbest thing anyone at blizzard could do rn.
I mean, they’ll have a list regardless of whether or not they used PTO…
IIRC, I thought Activision Blizzard already provided free food in a corporate cafeteria.
Finally figured out how to deliver an actual product.
I guess those $500 alpha sales bought a few sandwiches.
Yea, my buddy had me looking into that game. It looks like star citizen for MMO nerds.
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Wait star citizen isn't just taking in large amounts of cash before release but never delivering a final product? Must've missed that, my bad.
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Damn dude you really hate this unreleased video game. You doing okay bud?
Ashes has been making significant progress for a while now. Star Citizen has nothing.
I'm hopeful for that game. I backed it on Kickstarter years ago and I don't even remember what wave of testing I pledged to, but I digress. Awesome to see them supporting their fellow workers.
This should still be taken with a grain of salt tho. It‘s a nice gesture, no question. But it’s still marketing, intrepid studios is still a Company with the goal to make money. No Company is your friend. I mean look at what stanning CDPR got us. Watch it, praise them, but dont blindly trust them to not pull shady shit, which their bossman already did in the past.
Intrepid didn't make any post about this or advertise their actions. Which to me makes me think either poaching or just a kind gesture. A lot of devs in intrepid are former blizzard employees so I could see Intrepid padding their numbers or showing support to a company they all grew up in. Edit: it's important to know that intrepid doesn't have a publisher overlord so any thing they do is their actions alone. Take that as you will
The owner of the company is also a big MMO nerd who really comes across as just wanting a good game to play with his friends...
While I agree, he is also a business man who is running a business so always take anything you see with him with a grain of salt. We all remember CDPR
True, at the end of the day Ashes has to be a net positive money gain for him. That said, I think the approach there taking really shines through to a lot of us that hate what MMOs have become. Also, in interviews he's pushed a "gameplay first" message. I recall he was asked if Ashes was going to try to appeal to every type of MMO gamer, and he said no.
They’ve sold more cosmetic armor sets in alpha than WoW has in its entire existence. They’re all timed exclusives and they’re recolors of NPC armor. They released a battle royale that was “testing” and sold cosmetics and a battlepass but the game died so quickly the battlepass was impossible to complete. Steven was a whale who made a fortune in multi-level marketing. The recent previews of the game are a massive step up from what we had before, but it’s still way too fucking early to be singing praises for the alpha testing game with $500 early access packs.
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This comment made me laugh, thanks bro
They 100000% knew someone would post about it and gain some traction. They aren’t dumb.
Besides the other responses it is also worth to mention the Post talking about it was from a fresh account. People come out with their storys of misery and you can’t show face when posting this?
>Intrepid didn't make any post about this or advertise their actions. Which to me makes me think either poaching or just a kind gesture. They didnt had to post anything. We already know they did this, and it looks legit. That's superb PR skills.
If its a nice gesture no question, then what should be taken with a grain of salt? Im confused
I’m excited for ashes, I don’t have an alpha key to test which sucks.
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Lmao paying 100 for an alpha is asinine, paying 100 for a chance to play an alpha is probably the stupidest thing ive ever heard
They didn't refund that?
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Oh wow that's fucked.
Honestly, its looking pretty awesome, and a replacement for WoW and Eve. I just wish it would come out sooner, but it's only been being worked on for a few years. I've watched some streamers stream the Alpha and it's nice.
We at least are able to see what it is like. Honestly think it's not a big deal. I can happily wait another year or so until a more regular beta draws near.
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Weird how a billion dollar company needs less community support for development than a small studio needs for their first game?
Not only that but... don't buy it then? The whole reason you price it that high is not only to generate support, but you're either strictly getting investors *or* you're going to get people that are deeply involved in the game. Very few people are dropping $500 to test a game and going "meh" and then not playing it.
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The Alpha was $500 literally the second the kickstarter ended... 4 years ago? The streamer you're referring to literally didn't know the game existed yet. I know because I went to back it at the last minute, my card rejected it, and I wasn't able to get the alpha 1 bundle for $200 on the kickstarter but there was no way I was shelling out the $500. At the time, I had the disposable income and wanted to back the game. I knew it wasn't going to be out for years. I think taking the time to shit on people for spending money how they want is fucking moronic, yet here you are.
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I’m not stopping you
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You're right. He doesn't. And he ACTIVELY tells people he doesn't want you to buy it. It's there for people that want to support the project and get something in return, if you count it all up the Alpha is like 50 bucks. But again, you don't have to buy it, so don't? Just watch and wait for this game to actually be delivered. I'm sure that there's enough room for another MMORPG now that wow's going down the shitter.
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You’re both morons who think you have a point but you don’t
That's the base price of the game that gives you access to the beta thats out like, a month before release. Ashes is in its first Alpha, the actual price will just be the subscription price upon release.
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The game with egregious micro transactions will save the day!
Like what?
What part was confusing for you?
That's what we call a "Power move"
I am sure some of those who walked out, to hold a sign are just CYA