Comments on: Another dumb press release

By: Satanmonkey

Satanmonkey — Thu, 02 Feb 2006 00:40:14 +0000

Well, i don’t blame you. I’m at university in london, studying computer visualisation and games and of the 50 or so that started on the degree, there are now 12 of us left after a year and a half. Its quite depressing to see really, especially some of the attitudes shown, and the general lack of interest or understanding of the industry itself. I imagine that it must be the same in other areas of technology and this in turn spreads such an aversion to ‘outsiders’. I was actually wondering whether i could be cheeky and ask your advice on a few things game related and on the next steps to take to be the best i can be before i leave the safety of university. Its not every day you get to talk to one of the industry’s ‘founding fathers’!

By: mstibbe

mstibbe — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 19:50:56 +0000

Well, I’m probably guilty of a bit of this in my former life as a games industry executive but I’m trying to make good! Thanks for visiting the site and being my first commenter.

By: Satanmonkey

Satanmonkey — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 19:43:08 +0000

Video game pr facinctes/horrifies me the most. Generally they fall between two types; those that tell us about the ‘dazzling array of new features’ without actually telling you what those features are, or enigma-styled rubix cubes full of words like ‘cool’, ‘innovative’ and ‘popular’. I think, in the games industry at least, most pr departments simply don’t share the same understanding of the products they are promoting as those actually creating them, and because of the intrusive nature of the industry press, don’t tell us anything that we don’t already know.  As an aside, i’d like to comment on the great articles regarding games design on your personal web page. In the uk, us games design students are often looked upon as leperous flood by developers and it is difficult finding any information with regards to the industry other than ‘go get a degree’ (which isn’t very helpful for a degree student!). The articles have helped me a great deal. Ross Darvill.