Jennifer Hepler leaves Bioware due to threats by fans

[captainballsack]

It's part of online culture now.

I reject that, and so should you if you think this is wrong.

I wish more people had your attitude. I'm sick of people just saying "Well that's the internet" and dismissing an actual problem.

Gamers have presented themselves as absolute scum, and unless we reject the "way things are", that isn't going to change. We need to shun these degenerates who post on /v/, /r/gaming and the like and maintain some sort of credibility.

But how will you "reject" the "way things are?" Simply saying that changes NOTHING! You're talking about altering the mindset of hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people, who have spent years learning that being a total fuckwad leads to no consequences. This is not going to go away by changing your facebook profile picture. If you're even remotely serious about changing the state of the internet, you have to give it real thought.

What can *you* do to clean up the internet? What can anyone do? Have you contacted your local politicians, senators and congressmen and told them your issue? Have you inquired at your local police departments as to the state of their cyber divisions? Have you gone even higher up and talked to the state officials who oversee said police department?

That's seriously the scope of what needs to happen to effect any change to the internet. There will be backlash, and, on the whole, the internet will be worse off for being so strictly regulated (setting up a means to silence the vitriol will be a perfect framework for silencing anyone). The entire concept of free speech and free sharing is why SOPA and PIPA were brought down; but in order to truly combat the hatred and disgusting behavior you see, you have to seriously question the trade-offs. Would you rather see an internet without freedom, but also without hateful, spiteful comments sections? Is keeping the current freedom we have worth dealing with a few racist nutters or various other mentally ill netizens?

This is a serious issue with far-reaching consequences. Pushing too hard one way could undermine the entire strength of the internet; freedom of information. Is it worth it? Is losing that worth gaining slightly cheerier comments sections on cat videos on youtube, and the knowledge that the already incredibly rare graphic death threats sent by some nutter to someone they don't even know won't happen as often?

Rejecting the mindset of that lowest rung of internet netizens is not a simple task; and depending on how you go about fixing it, given the severity of the problem and its deep roots, many more problems could easily be created. Tread carefully; and above all, stay logical. Weigh the pros and cons of each action. Don't be blinded by "omg we must do ANYTHING to stop these guys from saying mean things" appealing to emotion; going down that path will have very dark consequences.

Ye have too little faith in people. How you instantly think that the only solution to cut down on this stupid behavior is to let the government control the internet is ridiculous and really quite fearful. Okay, there will never be a way to cut it out completely, but there are ways to reduce it significantly.

While I tend to stay away from reddit these days, the reddit model works perfectly when it comes to this. Comments that contribute nothing and are particularly vulgar get downvoted and hidden by the community, combine that with reddit's higher community standards (well, I mean, it's once high community standards; now it's more questionable, but the model still works so this example is okay), you don't get visible death threats or other primitive internet commotion (you just get people a little too hung up on justice).

If it becomes uncool to be a fuckhead on the internet, and if the community around them are given a downvote justice system, you would see considerably less of it.

I mean, of course you're not going to get rid of all of it, but that's no different from the real world; there are always assholes. All we need to do is give consequence for what people say on the internet, it doesn't have to be real life, authority, police state consequences, just consequences that might taint their pen-names or the visibility of their freedom of speech. If you reward people for saying the right things, and ignore people for saying the wrong things, things will be a lot more civilized, because in the end, all these people want is attention.

 

[babinro]

Ever more reason to hate the very culture I embrace...thanks for being an overwhelming disappointment. At one point in time I considered us above the rioting sports fans that destroy a city after winning the big game. It's hard to be proud about your hobby when people use it as an excuse to threaten the lives of children and promote suicide.

 

[Knight Templar]

It's not something anyone should accept; it's deplorable behavior.

And yet you do exactly that, and when I say we shouldn't accept it, you rail against me.
I don't think you understand what I mean when I say "I reject that", normally I would assume that was a problem on my end but others got the point just fine.

People are social creatures, if you contribute to something being seen as socially acceptable, then you are part of the problem here. Will this do that much by itself? No, but given how easy it is to stop acting like we should accept this as ok and normal there is zero reason not to.

 

[DjinnFor]

What the flippity fuck is wrong with some people? Is there any information on WHY they were sending death-threats, or is this just a case of crazy people being crazy?

The only thing crazy is taking these death threats seriously.

 

[Ragsnstitches]

She doesn't want to avoid it, she wants an alternative to shooting...

*snip*

I'm confused by your post and you seem to have misunderstood me as well. I completely agree sweeping new ideas is precisely what the industry needs to find more interesting and enjoyable games, but that is most certainly NOT what Jennifer Hepler was suggesting. Jennifer Hepler doesn't care about the changing of gameplay, nor the evolution of it's mechanics and new ideas. Jennifer Hepler wanted to ignore all of it, sweep it all under the rug and forget about it's existence because she didn't like it. Her's was not a brand new ballsy idea, it was a lazy slur from someone whom does not have an interest in the subject she was asked about.
If she did have a passion for games, her answer would have been much more similar to yours.

On a slightly different note, in a perfect world everyone making games would be passionate about making games, it wasn't that she was hurting anything per se, but her being in that position meant that someone else, who could be passionate about games and do a better job than her, couldn't be.

She suggests that maybe having an option to skip past a tedious action segment to get back to the narrative that had you slogging your way through it. Would it be better not have tedious action segments? Sure... but try and make that universal. Try to imagine making a combat sequence that is both engaging and stimulating to both the "Lore Whores" and The "True" gamers. Where absolutely no one feels any form of tedium, but also no one feels unchallenged.

Not that easy to imagine. You can argue about fiddling settings or giving players cheat like abilities, but why not just give them an option in the start menu to "Skip to Next event", rather then grinding against something that is only taking their enjoyment away. This isn't exclusively for people who struggle with a game. Suppose you get to a point on subsequent playthroughs and you think "Aw shit, not this segment again", because you can't deny we all have those moments in games where a portion is utter tedium, wouldn't it be far more satisfying to cut the crap and get to the thing you want to do like Confront the Villain or reach the conclusion of a characters plot line?

Games like Mass Effect and Dragon Age are 40 to 50 hours long with competent players who are also following the story. How much of that 40 to 50 hours is fighting your way through large samey dungeons using a limited skill set, with the only events standing out being boss fights and particularly intense and thrilling sequences. The slog from corridor A, fight random NPC configuration, move on to corridor B, is NOT a thrilling experience. Neither is a unnecessarily punishing conflict that feels like a total grind.

Now imagine you have certain physical limitations, like poor co-ordination. When the game advertises its story as a selling point, don't you think it would be fair that there would be an option for people invested in the story to follow it and participate in the gameplay separately or at least have a lite version they can switch on to minimise exposure to combat without sacrificing the punch it may have in the narrative?

Her view is perfectly valid and far from damaging. Right, so she isn't going to reinvent the medium... so? Very few people make that push and achieve an end. What she has is an idea for a very VALID option for gamers who aren't "hardcore".

How about the stats cited before on this site that only a minority of gamers ever complete their games. Not talking full blown 100% achievements completion, but simply seeing the end credits. Why would that be? Bad games? Possibly. People getting frustrated and dropping? Also possible. People having a life that interferes with their ability to invest in a game. This too is possible.

An option to see the narrative without the gameplay can mean that both the gameplay and the narrative can be experienced, since the player can play the game to the point where they are content or bordering frustration, then switch to narrative mode that gives them a Lite version to primarily observe.

 

[TallanKhan]

I really do worry about the state of the world when i read articles like this. I consider DA2 to be one of the most dissapointing purchases I have ever made, i didn't like it in the slightest, and I felt it was a betrayal of the first game. In my opinion anyone involved with DA2 should be deeply ashamed of themselves.

That said, even my deep rooted hatred for DA2 doesn't give me any understanding of how someone can take a starting point of "Didn't like game" and get to "Death treats against chidren = Justified". It must take a special kind of sicko-logic to make that jump.

But if we were in the mood to look for a silver lining, at least thats one less of the DA2 team having input on DA3...

 

[Sehnsucht Engel]

If it weren't for the gamers I know IRL, I'd think all gamers were a bunch of retards, based on what I see on the internet what seems like every fucking day. I wouldn't even want to be associated with the gamers as a group, even if I play games a lot. The only sane gamer group I know on the internet is my guild in GW2, which is a pretty small guild too. >_>

I love DA2. It's one of my favourite RPGs.

 

[ArmorArmadillo]

But if we were in the mood to look for a silver lining, at least thats one less of the DA2 team having input on DA3...

Sh left because of death threats to her family and you find a way to slip in "Awful, but I'm glad she's gone." Classy.

I hate being a gamer. I hate being part of this toxic, entitled community.

The problem isn't her, the problem isn't even trolls and the "vocal minority" we're all so fond of shunting blame onto. It's you. It's everyone like you. It's everyone who quietly puts up with trolls and then celebrates themselves when they make a shouting mob to force Microsoft to change DRM.

It's all connected. We feel entitled to believe we have any right but to vote with our wallet, that we're an integral part of the process and not just consumers, and then wonder why trolls appear.

We've all become a bunch of arrogant monsters. We should be happy, because we're convincing a whole generation of artists that we're not worth producing for. And problems like this are about to get worse, since trolls now know that their harassment tactics work.

 

[LordLundar]

But if we were in the mood to look for a silver lining, at least thats one less of the DA2 team having input on DA3...

Sh left because of death threats to her family and you find a way to slip in "Awful, but I'm glad she's gone." Classy.

I hate being a gamer. I hate being part of this toxic, entitled community.

The problem isn't her, the problem isn't even trolls and the "vocal minority" we're all so fond of shunting blame onto. It's you. It's everyone like you. It's everyone who quietly puts up with trolls and then celebrates themselves when they make a shouting mob to force Microsoft to change DRM.

It's all connected. We feel entitled to believe we have any right but to vote with our wallet, that we're an integral part of the process and not just consumers, and then wonder why trolls appear.

We've all become a bunch of arrogant monsters. We should be happy, because we're convincing a whole generation of artists that we're not worth producing for. And problems like this are about to get worse, since trolls now know that their harassment tactics work.

Well, put. The sad fact of people here justifying it by saying "it's the internet" and other such garbage proves that maybe more devs need to say "to hell with these assholes" and walk away, citing this abuse as a reason. Maybe when enough of it happens things will change but given these troglodytes actually have hit lists of people who "wronged" them by saying or doing something that doesn't cater to them I doubt it.

 

[blalien]

But if we were in the mood to look for a silver lining, at least thats one less of the DA2 team having input on DA3...

Sh left because of death threats to her family and you find a way to slip in "Awful, but I'm glad she's gone." Classy.

I hate being a gamer. I hate being part of this toxic, entitled community.

The problem isn't her, the problem isn't even trolls and the "vocal minority" we're all so fond of shunting blame onto. It's you. It's everyone like you. It's everyone who quietly puts up with trolls and then celebrates themselves when they make a shouting mob to force Microsoft to change DRM.

It's all connected. We feel entitled to believe we have any right but to vote with our wallet, that we're an integral part of the process and not just consumers, and then wonder why trolls appear.

We've all become a bunch of arrogant monsters. We should be happy, because we're convincing a whole generation of artists that we're not worth producing for. And problems like this are about to get worse, since trolls now know that their harassment tactics work.

Thank you for saying this so well. For every shit who sends death threats to a woman for speaking her opinion, there are ten smaller shits holding them up by saying, "Well I don't support the death threats, but..."

Here's a tip people, if you really need to start your statement with, "Although I agree that threatening to kill people's children is wrong," ask yourself, is your opinion really going to contribute to the conversation? Can't we just uniformly agree that threatening to rape and kill people is a really bad thing and just leave it at that? Not everything needs to be overanalyzed and tediously examined from all sides. Stop being part of the problem and start being part of the solution.

 

[blalien]

What the flippity fuck is wrong with some people? Is there any information on WHY they were sending death-threats, or is this just a case of crazy people being crazy?

The only thing crazy is taking these death threats seriously.

See if you're so bold when it's your children who are being threatened.

 

[Monster_user]

What the flippity fuck is wrong with some people? Is there any information on WHY they were sending death-threats, or is this just a case of crazy people being crazy?

The only thing crazy is taking these death threats seriously.

It is a serious problem, and the large number of threats likely makes it difficult to identify those who might seriously consider it.

Also, it makes it a smaller leap from an expression of emotion, to an actual action one considers.

Think of it as a hill or slope. Once you start down the slope, you get closer to that bottom. If everybody is hanging out nearly halfway down the slope, it is easy to work your way down even further to navigate around them (be heard/noticed). Without realizing it the crowd may get close enough to the halfway point where it gets steeper or more slippery, and not notice when others fall/slide down to the bottom.

...ask yourself, is your opinion really going to contribute to the conversation? Can't we just uniformly agree that threatening to rape and kill people is a really bad thing and just leave it at that? ... ... Stop being part of the problem and start being part of the solution.

Well put.

Q (???): What is your least favorite thing about working in the industry?

A (Hepler): Playing the games. This is probably a terrible thing to admit,...

Well this to me is a problem with the English language as it can be interpreted several ways.

The key thing here is "Least favourite" doesn't equal dislike.

She went on to clarify that it was actually a dislike, and not just a "least favorite".

She further elaborates that she outright hates combat, and wishes she could skip it like many players skip dialogue. Otherwise she says has little gaming skill, poor instincts, poor hand eye coordination, and poor reflexes.

She sounds as if she is one of those parents who have to look down at the controller to figure out which button to press.

She doesn't want to avoid it, she wants an alternative to shooting...

*snip*

I'm confused by your post and you seem to have misunderstood me as well. I completely agree sweeping new ideas is precisely what the industry needs to find more interesting and enjoyable games, but that is most certainly NOT what Jennifer Hepler was suggesting. Jennifer Hepler doesn't care about the changing of gameplay, nor the evolution of it's mechanics and new ideas. Jennifer Hepler wanted to ignore all of it, sweep it all under the rug and forget about it's existence because she didn't like it.

Well,... Not entirely. She wanted a fast forward button for combat, not the death of all CoD clones. She cares about the plot, not challenges or combat. She cares about the adventure, not the puzzles.

She wants a world to explore, a story to unfold, and a world of people to get to know. Something more open than a movie, but not filled with fustrating puzzles and combat. An immersive world to get lost in for hours. This is something a lot of games have, and it is one of the main reasons I enjoy playing games.

Sometimes I want a game like she seems to want. Full of story and wonder, but no crisis to solve, no puzzles to hinder exploration, and no combat to frustrate/challenge. Just a world to go on an expedition in, and characters to share it with. An RPG without combat, and maybe some multiplayer (I don't like MMOs).

 

[xaszatm]

Sometimes I want a game like she seems to want. Full of story and wonder, but no crisis to solve, no puzzles to hinder exploration, and no combat to frustrate/challenge. Just a world to go on an expedition in, and characters to share it with. An RPG without combat, and maybe some multiplayer (I don't like MMOs).

So...you want Journey?

OT: This is absolutely disgusting, but what is even more appalling are the people on this site saying "She should just get over it." I'm sorry, maybe everyone gets personalized death threats everyday but what the hell!?! Do you know how much it hurts to even receive 1 of those things? The fear, horror, anger and the gambit of negative emotions that come with it? It isn't easy to go "It doesn't matter."

 

[Monster_user]

Sometimes I want a game like she seems to want. Full of story and wonder, but no crisis to solve, no puzzles to hinder exploration, and no combat to frustrate/challenge. Just a world to go on an expedition in, and characters to share it with. An RPG without combat, and maybe some multiplayer (I don't like MMOs).

So...you want Journey?

Not enough like Elder Scrolls, or Fallout, or Zelda, or KotOR or Mass Effect, etc. At first glance it seems almost Myst-ish. Which is fun sometimes, but very lonely and too quiet other times.

I like the scifi setting, and the characters to interact with, and get quests from. Also, wondering around and hearing random dialogue is very nice.

Then there is the story, though I don't know anything about Journey's story.

 

[oZode]

Anonymous threats tend to be the least credible. I can't see anyone actually going out of their way to violently torture and kill the kids of a game developer for overusing cinematic in video games. It seems like an overreaction to full on quit over the threats. It's submission to terrorists to let threats get to you and now those doing it will only continue using the tactic. Trying to stop the people sending death threats anonymously is like trying to make a rock not drop to the ground with just air.

 

[Kungfusam]

She didn't quit because of the threats, she quit simple to do other things

 

[Zeriah]

I thought Helper was a huge part of the reason why Bioware has been in such decline recently, but Christ this is disgusting. They are using terrorism to get what they want and there a bunch of man children cheering about it as loudly as any Jihadist.

 

[NiPah]

On the one hand nothing can excuse this type of abuse, some people have some serious issues, sure you can rack it up to group think, a culture of one-ups-manship, and "its ok its just a joke" but at the end of the day people should take a step back and take note on how sick they're really being. Hell maybe even seek some professional help since nothing good can come from a mentality where this is "ok".

On the other hand this completely detracts from the valid complaints some have with her writing style and mentality on how gameplay should be, the extremists have shot themselves in the foot by invalidating any civil discourse we may have had in discussing this and also hurt the gaming community as a whole...

And on the third hand how can we as a gaming community take active steps in stopping such actions such as threats and verbal/written attacks? One thing that comes to mind is how we should act towards school shootings (I know this is no where near as heinous but the mechanics are similar IMO):
-Do not bring notoriety to the individuals making threats and the websites that house those individuals, bad PR is still PR and the less a website is known for those "outrageous" threats and more for being a boring place where little is said the better.
-The term trolls and anonymous have a certain perverted mystique, instead of labeling them as such more boring terms such as "a person who made a threat" or "a person who posted an unwanted insult" would diminish the actions and not promote follow up copy-cats.
-While legal action should be taken, the idea that the individual was so aggressive that the police had to be called again gives the actions intrigue, maybe it would be better that contact of the police should be a foregone conclusion and never mentioned? Not quite sure on this myself.
-And lastly the greatest action we should all take is to step back and check on our own selves and how we write our posts. I know even I've going emotionally involved in a post and while in small doses this is completely ok we should keep in check those few posts that may cross the boundary of good taste, so what I'm trying to say is don't be one of those people either.

Also anime.