L.A. Noire Creator: I'm Not as Bad as Steve Jobs

[Greg Tito]

L.A. Noire Creator: I'm Not as Bad as Steve Jobs

Team Bondi imploded after the game's release, but the CEO doesn't think he was that bad.

The gaming world anticipated 2011's crime drama L.A. Noire with excitement. Everything we saw coming out of the Australian offices of Team Bondi looked interesting and fresh. An open world L.A. crime story with real emotions displayed on suspect's faces was a really compelling pitch for a videogame. But The Whore of the Orient [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/reviews/8898-L-A-Noire-Review]. Speaking about his time at Team Bondi, McNamara is understandably upset with what was said about him and compared his performance to other "terrible bosses" such as Steve Jobs.

"It was a long, painful process, but making games is like making films in that it's a marathon, not a sprint - and some people come into the process not knowing that," he said.

"Everybody has their view on who's the worst boss in the world, and maybe that's me," McNamara admitted. "I've read some amazing things about Steve Jobs in his biography, and I've never seen him get as vilified any way as much as I have. [Film director] Sam Peckinpah fired people off one movie, and nobody said a thing. Werner Herzog pulled a gun on Klaus Kinski to get him to finish a movie! Obviously, I don't compare myself to any of those people."

When McNamara was asked point blank about the mistreatment of his employees, he demurred. "I think I've said all I want to say about that kind of stuff."

It's always difficult to know what your legacy will be. Will McNamara go down as a tyrannical genius? Or just a blowhard with big ideas? Hard to say, but a lot will depend on how his The Whore of the Orient turns out.

The game, I mean.

Source: PlayStation Magazine [http://www.officialplaystationmagazine.co.uk/2011/12/28/brendan-mcnamara-on-the-end-of-team-bondi-it-was-a-long-painful-process/]

Permalink

 

[unacomn]

Maybe, but those people have legions of dedicated PR and Marketing goons who's sole purpose is to turn them int deities, or at least have them sanctified after they die.

 

[Irridium]

He didn't really say he's not as bad as Steve Jobs...

Granted, Jobs was a pretty horrible boss if you believe the stories, and considering Apples business practices I wouldn't be surprised if they were true. But even if that's true, McNamara still sounds like a pretty shitty boss.

Just because you're a piece of crap and don't stink as bad as the others doesn't mean you're not a piece of crap.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

I punch in the gut isn't as bad as a kick in the balls, but I won't be lining up to get one anytime soon.

 

[PeePantz]

He's comparing himself to innovative legends (despite what he says). Who the fuck does he think he is? There's a reason people overlook the aggressive nature of the people that were mentioned, and some in fact, think it adds to their greatness.

The reason? They didn't put out lackluster, underwhelming dribble that alienated many workforces. You only get a free pass when you create genius work.

*Also, please don't get cheeky with quotes. I already know the Steve Jobs hatred that runs deep.

 

[PeePantz]

-Double post.

Hit quote instead of edit. Wow, first double post ever.

 

[Freaky Lou]

Stanley Kubrick was a pretty miserable guy to work for, too! He poured bugs on, insulted and otherwise tormented Shelley Duvall on the set of The Shining so that she could be a more convincing trembly, terrified, insecure wife onscreen.

That doesn't have anything to do with McNamara, but neither do the working conditions Steve Jobs fostered.

 

[Treblaine]

I don't know about you, but if he delivers the goods then I'll look forward to move of his work.

Being a director isn't a popularity contest, as a person who buys and uses these products/services I really don't care if everyone in a creative workplace loves their boss if they churn out some generic low quality crap.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

"Obviously, I don't compare myself to any of those people."

Obviously, you just have.

 

[Treblaine]

He's comparing himself to innovative legends (despite what he says). Who the fuck does he think he is? There's a reason people overlook the aggressive nature of the people that were mentioned, and some in fact, think it adds to their greatness.

The reason? They didn't put out lackluster, underwhelming dribble that alienated many workforces. You only get a free pass when you create genius work.

*Also, please don't get cheeky with quotes. I already know the Steve Jobs hatred that runs deep.

Well, why not? LA Noire is a really critically acclaimed work and technologically ground-breaking.

I'd say it is not the most unfair comparison to make. Now you may think LA Noire is "lacklustre underwhelming dribble" but many do not. Just like many would say Macs are crap, there are many who ABSOLUTELY LOVE them!

Steve jobs may not be loved by everyone (though Apple fanboys sure love him) you can bet he is respected, even by those who hate him. You have to respect him for his achievements, influence and vision.

Spoiler

What he's done is he's changed the future. Look at all those movies made many years ago but set in the future like Aliens and Blade runner, is just seems odd now how NONE of them have anything like an iPhone or iPod? Isn't it weird how Deckard uses a payphone? Even back in the 1980's it was not accepted the idea that computers were for personal use, but entirely professional use like controlling a larger mechanism, vehicle or device. Or to do a specific job or by hobbyists (War Games). The Apple II and later Macintosh really did change that. If he hadn't been pushed out of Apple in 1988 then probably Apple instead of Microsoft would have dominated home computing.

One place apple did get beaten by Sci-Fi was Star Trek: The Next Generation foresaw the iPad. They envisioned a thin, A4-paper sized, 1-pound screen with entirely touchscreen interaction with limited capability with the centrally installed main computer dign most of the processing. On the set the actors were simply given a piece of plastic with a green panel on the front that special-effects would add in a screen later, but from the early episodes you often see Captain Picard using it in between berating Wesley Crusher for being such a Wesley Crusher.

Microsoft and others of course had Tablet ideas since the early 90's, but their concepts seemed to be based around simply re-arranging a laptop so the screen was flush with the body. Their entire design brief was for a 6-8 pound device with cd drive, and everything. Certainly not something you could pick up and stably hold with one unsupported hand.

 

[scnj]

Col. Ghadafi: "I'm not as bad as Adolf Hitler."

Edit: The updated code of conduct popped up when I hit post, and I practically shat myself wondering if I'd crossed a line. Wow.

 

[Otaku World Order]

"Blowhard with big ideas" sounds more like David Cage to me. Still, the implosion of Team Bondi suggests McNamara is a pretty crappy boss.

 

[oldtaku]

Paul Christoforo thinks Paul's a great guy too. I've never met McNamara, so he could be right, but the really raging a#@$holes I've met all think they're fine fine people who you would love to hang out with. Though sometimes they admit people might be a little intimidated by their drive and brilliance and always being right.

 

[gyroscopeboy]

"Tobias...you blowhard"

Neve heard that word used outside of Arrested Development!

 

[ResonanceSD]

He didn't really say he's not as bad as Steve Jobs...

Granted, Jobs was a pretty horrible boss if you believe the stories, and considering Apples business practices I wouldn't be surprised if they were true. But even if that's true, McNamara still sounds like a pretty shitty boss.

Just because you're a piece of crap and don't stink as bad as the others doesn't mean you're not a piece of crap.

"Stalin, not as bad as Mao"

Totes right about Apple. Given what they do to their Chinese workers, I wonder what they're like inside?

 

[uzo]

I just bought LA Noire yesterday, and my wife and I played it for about 4 hrs last night, and thus far I've gotta say I am *damn* impressed.

The ambition, the technology, and the acting are all top-notch. When I was investigating the case where the young wannabe starlet was raped I was surprised at the frankness of the game. Most games would pussy foot around such adult material. Blowing the shit out of a thousand people with automatic weapons is ok, but mention the kind of life-destroying crimes that happen everyday seem to be a no-no in most popular media.

That said, he does sound like rather pretentious. As we all know, the only person who is allowed to be pretentious without reproach is Stephen Fry.

 

[Avae]

I don't care how good this LA Noire is supposed to be, i'm not playing it after reading how the employees there were treated.

 

[Smooth Operator]

Not as bad... yet, but it sure is looking like it will be a long trolling career because remorse clearly isn't in his vocabulary.