Schafer: People Have to Take Responsibility for Their Words

[Logan Westbrook]

Schafer: People Have to Take Responsibility for Their Words

Tim Schafer thinks that people should speak from that heart, whatever the consequences might be.

Double Fine founder and Psychonauts creator Tim Schafer alluded to his recent comments [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/102062-Psychonauts-Creator-Calls-Bobby-Kotick-Names] about Activision CEO Bobby Kotick, and said that people shouldn't say anything that they aren't prepared to take responsibility for.

Speaking at a publicity event for Double Fine's latest game, Costume Quest, he said that it was easy to make idle conversation with someone and have an innocuous comment pulled out and made into a headline. He implied that media outlets were more willing to take things out of context to put a certain spin on a story and this was something you became more mindful of the longer you worked in the industry.

Schafer is unlikely to stop speaking his mind however, as he said that one of his goals was to make people realize that developers and publishers weren't monolithic, singular entities, but rather actual people. "I think that people should know that games aren't made by companies," he said. They're made by people who are just like them, and publishers are the same way - they're just people who are looking to protect their investments."

Costume Quest will be released on Xbox Live Arcade and PSN later this Fall.

Source: Edge [http://www.next-gen.biz/news/tim-schafer-on-spin-and-videogames]



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[ThaBenMan]

Nice - goes to show once again the integrity that Tim Schafer has as a game developer.

Can't wait for Costume Quest!

 

[Albino Boo]

I'll follow his advice then. Time Schafer is a total narcissist with an overblown sense of his own importance.

 

[Irridium]

Oh how I wish more people would speak their mind rather than the standard PR speak we hear every single time.

Sadly that would anger publishers which would in turn means you will have a harder time trying to find someone to publish your game.

 

[thenumberthirteen]

Breaking News! "Publishers are only interested in protecting their their investments" says Schafer

 

[AfterAscon]

Breaking News! "Publishers are only interested in protecting their their investments" says Schafer

See, this is part of the problem he mentions about people/the media taking quotes out of context and spinning articles. You added the word 'only', which now implies he believes that all publishers are just out to protect investments and that some care worry about the quality of the games.

 

[Satin6T]

Shafer can continue to speak his mind, i've seen what has come out of it

 

[RvLeshrac]

Breaking News! "Publishers are only interested in protecting their their investments" says Schafer

See, this is part of the problem he mentions about people/the media taking quotes out of context and spinning articles. You added the word 'only', which now implies he believes that all publishers are just out to protect investments and that some care worry about the quality of the games.

Really? You think? You... you think that might be part of the problem? Seriously?

I mean, there's no way the quoted could possible have been a facetious, sarcastic comment designed to illustrate the point.

 

[ShadowsofHope]

"Time Schafer thinks that people should speak from that heart, whatever the consequences might be."

I completely agree with this.

 

[icame]

I've been taught this since i was a kid, its landed me in a few situations but its helps you not worry about things i find.

 

[AfterAscon]

Breaking News! "Publishers are only interested in protecting their their investments" says Schafer

See, this is part of the problem he mentions about people/the media taking quotes out of context and spinning articles. You added the word 'only', which now implies he believes that all publishers are just out to protect investments and that some care worry about the quality of the games.

Really? You think? You... you think that might be part of the problem? Seriously?

I mean, there's no way the quoted could possible have been a facetious, sarcastic comment designed to illustrate the point.

I realised that there was sarcasm in it, but it was more along the lines of 'obvious comment is obvious' because of the use of "breaking news".

 

[open trap]

Has EA decided to let Brutal Legend 2 go through yet?

 

[binvjoh]

Well said. Schafer seems like a really cool guy.

 

[Nailz]

Hot damn I love Schafer.
A man after my own heart.

 

[Tireseas_v1legacy]

He doesn't play multiplayer shooters, does he? Because I think he would opt for "the total removal of all vocal cords at birth" instead of "speaking from the heart" if he did.

 

[Therumancer]

Okay, well I can't say I take this paticularly seriously given all the drama involving the corperate game industry, and a lot of things I've been reading about the review and approval process to even get a project green lit. I generally respect Mr. Schaefer, but he seems to be saying the industry is exactly the opposite of what it is today. Of course being an indepedant he exists somewhat seperatly from the whole rat race.

As far as the general philsophy of standing by your words and being prepared to take responsibility for them, well I have mixed opinions about that. I'm a big defender of anonymity as a part of free speech. I do understand the down side, but I feel that if everyone was to be made accountable for what they say, or could at least be identified, it would make criticism of those in positions of power nearly impossible in many cases. After all, just because a criticism is fair does not mean a big wig is going to like it, and isn't going to lay the smackdown on you in response.

A boss, businessman, politician, or even just a really motivated person can do a lot of damage for something they don't like, and they don't have to even make it look related. Criticize the company you work for and get identified, and guess whose getting fired or laid off in a month or so when people are paying less attention.

Sort of unrelated to the actual topic, and what this is actually about, but I just figured I'd say that I disagree with the principle in general. Until such a time as people can be protected from backlash (such as being fired by a boss they criticize) we can never fairly implement an ideal of accountability for free speech, because it will be impossible to have both at the same time, the accountability being the shackle that will prevent people from speaking their mind even when nessicary.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

Has EA decided to let Brutal Legend 2 go through yet?

If you took out the RTS, you'd have one hell of an amazing game!

LET THE SEQUEL SHINE!

OT:

Time Schafer is awesome. I love Time Schafer. He has quite a future in downloadable games, I think.

 

[Disembodied_Dave]

Time Schafer

He doesn't only have all the powers of regular Tim Schafer, but also of Time itself!

How dastardly!

Now there's a game I'd like to see Double Fine make.

(though Costume Quest looks so awesome!)

 

[Nimzar]

Well, they guy has a point.

But when company suits start spouting made-up-bullshit-that-is-clearly-not-true and try to sell it as truth... the point kinda crumbles away.