Schafer Claims Kotick Comments Were an "Accident"

[Logan Westbrook]

Schafer Claims Kotick Comments Were an "Accident"

Tim Schafer didn't sugar-coat his comments about Activision CEO Bobby Kotick, but he says that he wishes that he had.

Tim Schafer scored points in some quarters when he spoke his mind [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/102062-Psychonauts-Creator-Calls-Bobby-Kotick-Names] about Bobby Kotick and said that in his opinion Kotick was bad for the videogame industry. A day after those comments became public, however, and Schafer has backed away from them, saying he didn't mean for anyone to hear them.

Schafer says that he had been careless and not made sure he was off the record before he made his scathing remarks, and that it was important to maintain good ties in the industry, regardless of personal feelings. He didn't revisit or revise his statement on Kotick though, saying that after his slip he was nervous about what he wanted to say.

"I need to keep my mouth shut. It is shocking how you really burn bridges in the industry. You start your own company and you don't have to work for that jerky boss any more. Not naming names," he said. "Then it's like Empire Strikes Back - you walk in the room and, 'Holy s*** Darth Vader's at the table.' It's such a small industry, you see the same people over and over again. No-one ever goes away."

It's hardly surprising that Schafer is hesitant to say anything further; he's already dug a pretty big hole, and is understandably reluctant to make it worse. But considering how strident his comments were - and that Activision felt the need to issue a response [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/102090-Activision-Fires-Back-Over-Schafer-Name-Calling] - it seems pretty likely that the damage has already been done.


Source: Eurogamer [http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/tim-schafer-i-need-to-keep-my-mouth-shut]








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[Booze Zombie]

They ditched him already, I doubt they're even interested in him from a business standpoint, anyway.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

What are they gonna do? Not publish his game twice?

That said, it's understandable to NEVER want to burn bridges in an industry with only a handful of high profile publishers.

 

[Cabisco]

I thought the damage was already done when activision screwed him over with Brutal Legend to begin with?

Still I respect what Mr Schafer said, I'm not a fan of bobby kotick and activision either. Could someone tell me, did Brutal Legend make back their money?

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

You start your own company and you don't have to work for that jerky boss any more. Not naming names,"

Yeah. We call that "Molyneux Syndrome".

 

[Proverbial Jon]

He probably would have been better off to stand his ground despite Activision's comments. The damage has been done anyway and now he just looks like a creep that might whisper in the corner about you before he stabs you in the back!

I'm not saying that's the case of course, I love Schafer's games and tbh I agree with his comments, I'm sure most heads of these huge corporations think of nothing but money. But you have to wonder why someone would speak so harshly about someone else and then take it back. In my mind, once they've said it, even if they take it back, they'll always be thinking it.

Always best to stay out of these things!

 

[aaaaaDisregard]

Yeah, Darth Vader is definitely an appropriate name for Kotick.

 

[Michael Ellis]

People are somehow mad at Schafer? How dumb are you guys?

Though it's strange that he'd still want something to do with Activision of all things. What's up with that?

 

[Heart of Darkness]

It's too late for damage control, now, Tim. Instead of saying it was an accident, just man up and apologize if you really want to stop that bridge from burning down.

 

[The Great JT]

Don't apologize, Tim. The guy IS a giant prick and needs to be kicked in the head.

 

[Dorkmaster Flek]

It's too late for that. The bridge is gone. I say fuck it, call it like it is Tim. We'll respect you more and you still don't have to deal with that prick of a boss.

 

[Capo Taco]

This seems more like a double hit, especially using Kotick's previous comment:

"Now all my life I've seen myself as flying an X-wing with the Rebellion. Then, one day I woke up and I'm on the Death Star."

And now Schafer with:

"Then it's like Empire Strikes Back - you walk in the room and, 'Holy s*** Darth Vader's at the table"


I also like what Schafer said here:

"You don't have to work for that jerky boss any more. Not naming names"

Which is awesome in this context.

 

[skitzo van]

Yeah, Darth Vader is definitely an appropriate name for Kotick.

no, no, no, Darth Vader has too much class and adoring fans to be compared to Kotick...

Did he really need to apologize? I mean, he already went to court with them, wouldn't you having feelings of disgust for someone who acts like an abusive husband?

 

[Jared]

I can see why he might think he could be in some trouble...it wont do anything for any future tis with activision...but, im glad to see he didnt eat his words

 

[tehroc]

I don't know why he would want to detract his statement. It's something any one of us would say after being told our game wasn't sequeltastic enough and to hit the road.

 

[ProfessorLayton]

It's not really that huge of a deal... especially when you compare Schafer to Kotick, gamers are obviously going to side with Schafer. In fact, I'm pretty sure he could raise a dedicated army of nerds to do his bidding, so he really shouldn't have to worry about hurting anyone's feelings. It's not like Activision would publish any more of his games and even if they did there would be about three sequels in the next year that take away everything that was good about the original. He could release a game on his own and it would sell.

 

[Jaebird]

Schafer is right. He needs to keep his mouth shut. So, shut up and make some games, codemonkey!

 

[Moriarty70]

It's too late for damage control, now, Tim. Instead of saying it was an accident, just man up and apologize if you really want to stop that bridge from burning down.

It was an accident. He accidentally forgot to say "This is off the record." He accidentally forgot how much this could hurt him in a small community where everyone knowns everyone and executives from major publishers talk to each other.

On a side note, major props for the avatar. Not only advocating for proper English, but also supporting the proper use of the letter "u".

 

[Carnagath]

Wow, Schafer is really out of touch with the business aspect of the industry, isn't he? He really thinks that it matters what you say about other people? Look at Gabe and how he went from calling the PS3 a POS every chance he had to him being a centerpiece of Sony's E3 presentation. Even if Schafer kicked Kotick in the bollocks, Kotick would still publish his next game if he believed he could PROFIT from that. Mr. Schafer, you are a true artist, I grew up with your games, but you need to wake up.