Before you go defending Phil Fish...

[KOMega]

Wow that was.... actually not too bad.

I keep hearing about all this hate and backlash towards this Fish fella.
I finally watch the video and that was what it was all about? Really?

He just comes off as... some dude.
Not an asswipe, not a dickwad. Just... some dude. Who happens to design games, but just some random dude.

So he doesn't like japanese games. So what? I love japanese games, but I don't care what he says about them. I believe his comment was on recent japanese games too, not all.

What is this about bullying the guy by the way? He said that he thinks japanese games kinda suck. He then proceeded to explain why he thought that way afterwards when he was talking about zelda. Nowhere did he even talk about that guy specifically.

Man, internet witch hunts man... They scary.

 

[wulf3n]

He wasn't personally attacking this guy.

It turns out he was. Fish was attacking Japanese Games Developers, and the guy was a Game Developer who happens to be Japanese.

He wasn't saying all Japanese people are idiots or anything,

I never said he was, or that said quote is why people are upset.

basically just saying that Japanese developers, in general, are behind the curve now in video game design and development.

That's kind of the point. He's making a generalization based on nationality about issues that exist within the entire industry not just Japan.

Which they are, and pretty much anyone who follows the industry would readily admit.

No more or less than games made in the west.

 

[somonels]

I take the video, thread and endless campaigns against him as proof that people are just bitchy. He's a rude man, big fucking deal. Ask him an opinion and he gives it to you, unlike more publicly correct douches who sidestep the question or start off by saying how good those things are and how they admire them but lack in certain aspects.

That whole panel was a pretty decisive lot who knew what they didn't like about them, said it, and gave some reasoning for it. They kind of have to be this direct about these issues. They are in a position where they have very little power to improve the games industry so if they are asked they can't talk sideways about the issue.

It would be interesting to see what it would say if we would apply canine vocalization behaviour to such situations.

 

[CriticalMiss]

I've never heard of this "Fish" before, was it the guy in the glasses? If so what an asshole. Has he done kind of thing before? I require more information.

He made a game once. Then proclaimed himself the 'face of gaming'. He has awards so it must be true.

EDIT: And who the hell are those other people? They're idoits. I wish I didn't watch this I'm upset now. I hope you're happy OP.

I don't know them all but Johnathan Blow (creator of Braid) and at least one of the guys from Team Meat (who made Super Meat Boy etc) are there. They were people who starred in Indie Game: The Movie doing a Q&A session to promote the movie.

Who was the well spoken man sitting to the right of the lectern though? The one who looks suspiciously like Gabe from Penny Arcade.

That's J Blow, he made Braid. I wouldn't say he looks all that much like Gabe though.


I wouldn't say that this video really does a good job of highlighting Fish's poor attitude at times. He just gave his opinion on the state of Japanese development, most of the panel agree with him so I guess we have to call those guys pricks too.

 

[Shadow-Phoenix]

And so the great and pointless witch hunt of 2013 against one man continued with some effort to try to accomplish so little.

I will forever be amazed at how the community of gamers can be so cruel yet claim the one they are against is far worse when it's really not that way at all.

Yeah sure Fish has been known to be a bit of an asshat but come on it's hundreds if not thousands more vs one man who's had shit thrown at him over the years and you expect continued shit flinging is going to make him a better guy, no it actually does the complete opposite like an abused child that sees the world as a shit bleak place and only the bigger groups witch hunting have themselves to blame.

 

[xPixelatedx]

Take a good long look at this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pD9P2uyx6fQ
If Fish hasn't tried to have it removed again before you look, that is.

This man flew thousands of miles to meet people he idolizes, he wants to be just like them. All he asked was what inspired them, and instead of answering the man he was humiliated and bullied. The hurt on this man's face

I have plenty of words, and none of them are pleasant.

But I can say that he has no place crying about being "abused" or "bullied" when he himself crushes people that look up to and respect him.

THANK YOU! I was actually going to make a post like yours (nearly word for word) today, but I've been having trouble keeping stable links for this video as it keeps getting taken down. It seems someone doesn't want their dirty laundry out in the open, especially when they are trying to look sympathetic in such a current public fiasco.

Someone in Jim's 'One Fish Two Fish' thread actually defended the video to me, saying "that's how he feels about japanese games, did you want him to lie?" clearly not understanding what the actual problem was. I am guessing this is above some people's head, given that anyone is defending Fish at all. That or some people have an actual social disorder (like Aspergers) preventing them from seeing whats wrong with the interactions in this video. So let me spell it out:
Doing what he did to a foreigner (who hardly understands English) is NOT OK. The japanese guy couldn't possibly defend himself in any way. Fish utterly disrespected him and his culture to his face, in front of a crowd of people while endless laughing echoed through the room. It was cowardly, to say the least. There a 100 more respectful ways he could have shared his disappointment with japanese gaming; this was the worse one. Fish outed himself as just the most vile type of person that day, happy to walk over anyone he sees as smaller then himself, especially if they cannot fight back in any way. He has no shame in doing it in front of a crowd, either, which suggest he has a social disorder as well.


Also take this into consideration: Had any random person in the crowd stood up (at any other game convention) and said those exact words to that same Japanese man, they would have been escorted out of that place for being disruptive and a racist troll. Fish isn't only vile, he's COWARDLY AS FUCK. He picked a fight he couldn't possible loose while holding a status that made him apparently immune to regular rules of etiquette. I'd like to see him fight with people who can actually fight back... oh wait, that happened. That's why he left.

He has had a problem with the game industry and gamers since day one, yeah, but I don't feel sorry for him because he's been starting shit since day one to. It always reinstates my faith in humanity to see someone like that get theirs in the end, especially knowing many people like that are usually so untouchable that no justice ever finds them.

 

[Meatspinner]

I don't know, my hateboner is kinda flaccid atm

Everyone is entitle to voice their oppinion, I guess

 

[Hero of Lime]

He totally has a right to his opinion, but there is a much nicer way to tell it. The man asking the question was as Japanese as you can get, and Fish seriously couldn't say something like "their best days may be behind them" or "Unfortunately things aren't looking too good at the moment."

Maybe it is just because I personally dislike blunt responses like that, but he rubs me wrong way. That being said, people should turn down the hate dial a bit, he is not worth it.

 

[NihilSinLulz]

Wow that was.... actually not too bad.

I keep hearing about all this hate and backlash towards this Fish fella.
I finally watch the video and that was what it was all about? Really?

He just comes off as... some dude.
Not an asswipe, not a dickwad. Just... some dude. Who happens to design games, but just some random dude.

So he doesn't like japanese games. So what? I love japanese games, but I don't care what he says about them. I believe his comment was on recent japanese games too, not all.

What is this about bullying the guy by the way? He said that he thinks japanese games kinda suck. He then proceeded to explain why he thought that way afterwards when he was talking about zelda. Nowhere did he even talk about that guy specifically.

Man, internet witch hunts man... They scary.

/This

From all the e-hate Fish was getting, I was expecting something of a Mel Gibson with glasses from his interviews. Instead, the more I watch, the more I agree with and appreciate his honesty.

Too often I hear dev interviews being little more than marketing for their latest products with ambiguous or simply non-answers given whenever they're asked to comment on the state of the industry.

I'm thinking the butthurt of neckbeards unable to deal with any sort of criticism (constructive or otherwise) is what has made Fish so demonized. Hell, Kevin Smith has been more blunt in his lectures and yet we all love him.

 

[The Preened Mr. Fust]

I suppose it can't be helped that some people will be alright with someone acting completely out of line in a professional environment, to say nothing of being vile and egotistical.

What gets me is that some people honestly think it's alright for the guy to cry foul play, as if him doing the exact same to others just doesn't count because REASONS.

But then everyone's opinions are different, this is basic understanding and really isn't what the entire point is about.

P.S.: And yes, the video I posted really is nothing but the tip of the iceberg.

 

[Ticklefist]

In fact if anyone in this thread wants to learn who phil fish is, go buy Indie Game the Movie and watch it.

http://buy.indiegamethemovie.com/

He's a regular guy who was just trying to make games.

I always thought of Fish as an asswipe, and this video confirmed it. I will never support or defend people like him, no matter how (un)intresting or indie they are (or appear to be).

With an attitude like that I suggest you change your avatar.

Apparently you went to refill your drink during the whole, "I'M GONNA FUCKING MURDER HIM!" emo-rage.

 

[Kai Kuhl]

So, Fish says what he believes in a bit too direct way for your own way of courtesy, and now we all can act like bitches to destroy that man? Im baffled. Is that american, to dickclubbing people if they dont act like you want? Im seriously asking, because I am from germany and my englishteacher once said to me that you have to conceal it if you are correct someone in english speaking countrys. But I dont ever thought that in any culture, you just can start destroying someone if hes hurting that rule. Or is that the infamous emotional detachment that comes with the new social media? I mean, he excused himself a sentence after he saw that he hurt that man, so calm down, people, to me he just seems to be very invested in gaming.

 

[hooblabla6262]

Fish was a little insensitive with his specific response, but I still agree with the board overall.

Sucks if it crushed that poor guy. Truth can be tough.
Next time best not ask anyone else's opinion.

 

[Piorn]

That's why I don't go to concerts, readings, press releases, anything.
I try to ignore the artist behind the art completely, because the former eventually dies and is usually just another human, the art on the other hand, is not.
I gain nothing from seeing a person who "did something", except being dragged into childish quarrels and whining.

 

[Deacon Cole]

Well, in case that video ever does get taken down, I'm downloading it now. His acts of douchebaggery will not be hidden on my watch.

Rock on, masked avenger of the night. Can't let that independent game developer get away with, whatever it is you're championing against.

 

[Kristian Fischer]

Phil Fish is not the issue here. He appears to be a world-class ****blister, but he didn't invent all the stupid, infantile namecalling that happens on Twitter, Facebook and all the rest of the Internet. Maybe we could stop, hmm?

 

[Wintermute_v1legacy]

Didn't he say he was cancelling Fez 2 and walking away from the game industry? Then it's over, isn't it? What's the point in arguing? Whether or not the man is an asshole, it hardly matters now. He quit, it's over, move on. Someone will step up to take his place, it's not like there's a shortage of indie developers.

 

[kgpspyguy]

Are the recent Zeldas and Marios not too hand-holdy? What exactly am I supposed to be disagreeing with? The majority of the video was people other than Fish talking, and they all happened to agree with him. Why is this video directed at Fish?

This is a witch hunt and a hate campaign. I will take no part in this.

Yeh, this.

They spoke their minds. If anyone can't handle that, that's their own issue... 'cause you should be able to handle a man with a job also having an opinion.

I actually think I agree with the sentiments too. I don't care for Japanese games.

The issue isn't what he said, its the fact that he can clearly dish it out but he cant take it himself.