Comments on: The Cesspit’s Dead End http://www.raphkoster.com/2006/09/11/the-cesspits-dead-end/ Raph Koster's personal website: MMOs, gaming, writing, art, music, books Sun, 12 Feb 2012 06:02:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: The original mission | The Cesspit.http://www.raphkoster.com/2006/09/11/the-cesspits-dead-end/comment-page-1/#comment-51652 The original mission | The Cesspit. Thu, 16 Nov 2006 09:52:03 +0000 http://www.raphkoster.com/2006/09/11/the-cesspits-dead-end/#comment-51652 <!--%kramer-ref-pre%-->[...] Those communities were and are important. They may degenerate into cesspits, but you can find a lot that is valuable in there. Even if I don't think, contrarily to what Raph wrote (about me, even), that this is a growing trend. What I see is that game companies actively suffocate that kind of dialogue because they think it's an attack to their own identity, a risk. So we get empty community support, PR and all the current "politically correct" and "professional" behaviours that are concretely just a determinate removal of that kind of direct relationship that we fought for. A few like Raph are left. But they are now just outsiders and unique cases instead of a growing trend that we contributed to build and develop. The point is: we are losing that battle, if not lost already. [...]<!--%kramer-ref-post%-->

[...] Those communities were and are important. They may degenerate into cesspits, but you can find a lot that is valuable in there. Even if I don’t think, contrarily to what Raph wrote (about me, even), that this is a growing trend. What I see is that game companies actively suffocate that kind of dialogue because they think it’s an attack to their own identity, a risk. So we get empty community support, PR and all the current “politically correct” and “professional” behaviours that are concretely just a determinate removal of that kind of direct relationship that we fought for. A few like Raph are left. But they are now just outsiders and unique cases instead of a growing trend that we contributed to build and develop. The point is: we are losing that battle, if not lost already. [...]

]]> By: Michael Chuihttp://www.raphkoster.com/2006/09/11/the-cesspits-dead-end/comment-page-1/#comment-20831 Michael Chui Tue, 19 Sep 2006 06:15:53 +0000 http://www.raphkoster.com/2006/09/11/the-cesspits-dead-end/#comment-20831 Incidentally, he made <a href="http://www.cesspit.net/drupal/node/1510" rel="nofollow">one more post</a>. Those of you who weren't following or dropped him from your feeds might've missed it. Incidentally, he made one more post. Those of you who weren’t following or dropped him from your feeds might’ve missed it.

]]> By: Brian Ruckerhttp://www.raphkoster.com/2006/09/11/the-cesspits-dead-end/comment-page-1/#comment-20827 Brian Rucker Tue, 19 Sep 2006 05:41:24 +0000 http://www.raphkoster.com/2006/09/11/the-cesspits-dead-end/#comment-20827 I think older folks, like me, just don't have enough time, or inclination to learn how to code from scratch or want to try to wrestle at a late stage in life with trying to break into a whole new industry. I really can't speak to what HRose was trying to do, or achieve, but the reason I participate (to the extent I do) in forums talking about games isn't to influence developers or to get a job. I want other players, engaged consumers, to see my ideas and say, "Oh, yeah, that's what I was thinking but I didn't know how to say it." And then they do. And they will. And when enough of them are saying it maybe then developers will listen. Doesn't matter much to me if my name's attached or not at that point. I'm just in it for the games. At least that's my subversive plan. I think older folks, like me, just don’t have enough time, or inclination to learn how to code from scratch or want to try to wrestle at a late stage in life with trying to break into a whole new industry. I really can’t speak to what HRose was trying to do, or achieve, but the reason I participate (to the extent I do) in forums talking about games isn’t to influence developers or to get a job. I want other players, engaged consumers, to see my ideas and say, “Oh, yeah, that’s what I was thinking but I didn’t know how to say it.”

And then they do. And they will. And when enough of them are saying it maybe then developers will listen. Doesn’t matter much to me if my name’s attached or not at that point. I’m just in it for the games.

At least that’s my subversive plan.

]]> By: Michael Chuihttp://www.raphkoster.com/2006/09/11/the-cesspits-dead-end/comment-page-1/#comment-19716 Michael Chui Thu, 14 Sep 2006 17:14:02 +0000 http://www.raphkoster.com/2006/09/11/the-cesspits-dead-end/#comment-19716 No problem. I have a record of my copy, so worst comes to worst, you could just ask me to send it again. There's no rush. Or I could paste it here... it's not like it's super secret anyways. =P No problem. I have a record of my copy, so worst comes to worst, you could just ask me to send it again. There’s no rush. Or I could paste it here… it’s not like it’s super secret anyways. =P

]]> By: Allen Sligarhttp://www.raphkoster.com/2006/09/11/the-cesspits-dead-end/comment-page-1/#comment-19713 Allen Sligar Thu, 14 Sep 2006 16:54:17 +0000 http://www.raphkoster.com/2006/09/11/the-cesspits-dead-end/#comment-19713 I'll have to check it this afternoon. I'm deep in cost containment report purgatory today :( I’ll have to check it this afternoon. I’m deep in cost containment report purgatory today :(

]]> By: Michael Chuihttp://www.raphkoster.com/2006/09/11/the-cesspits-dead-end/comment-page-1/#comment-19711 Michael Chui Thu, 14 Sep 2006 16:41:20 +0000 http://www.raphkoster.com/2006/09/11/the-cesspits-dead-end/#comment-19711 I was talking about him anyways. And Allen, did you get my email? Just wanted to be sure you received it. I was talking about him anyways.

And Allen, did you get my email? Just wanted to be sure you received it.

]]> By: Slyfeindhttp://www.raphkoster.com/2006/09/11/the-cesspits-dead-end/comment-page-1/#comment-19617 Slyfeind Thu, 14 Sep 2006 10:14:28 +0000 http://www.raphkoster.com/2006/09/11/the-cesspits-dead-end/#comment-19617 I think he wanted people to talk about him. And we fell for it! :P I think he wanted people to talk about him. And we fell for it! :P

]]> By: covert.c.http://www.raphkoster.com/2006/09/11/the-cesspits-dead-end/comment-page-1/#comment-19336 covert.c. Wed, 13 Sep 2006 16:31:56 +0000 http://www.raphkoster.com/2006/09/11/the-cesspits-dead-end/#comment-19336 Psychochild said... <blockquote>People ask my advice all the time, and I am happy to give them information as I can. If someone came to me with an idea, I would be happy to help them form the idea, start development, launch the game, etc.</blockquote> I can personally vouch for this. Brian - you totally rock, man. :-) Psychochild said…

People ask my advice all the time, and I am happy to give them information as I can. If someone came to me with an idea, I would be happy to help them form the idea, start development, launch the game, etc.

I can personally vouch for this. Brian – you totally rock, man. :-)

]]> By: Allen Sligarhttp://www.raphkoster.com/2006/09/11/the-cesspits-dead-end/comment-page-1/#comment-19332 Allen Sligar Wed, 13 Sep 2006 16:28:31 +0000 http://www.raphkoster.com/2006/09/11/the-cesspits-dead-end/#comment-19332 Michael Chui- I think I understood what you were suggesting insofar as an archive for game ideas/blog like a searchable repository or forums? If thats what you had in mind I have plenty of server space just email me directly via contact@gamemarketmetrics.com, I can hook you up as long as it dosnt impact our development schedule (100 days to go!) Michael Chui-

I think I understood what you were suggesting insofar as an archive for game ideas/blog like a searchable repository or forums? If thats what you had in mind I have plenty of server space just email me directly via contact@gamemarketmetrics.com, I can hook you up as long as it dosnt impact our development schedule (100 days to go!)

]]> By: Craig Huberhttp://www.raphkoster.com/2006/09/11/the-cesspits-dead-end/comment-page-1/#comment-19256 Craig Huber Wed, 13 Sep 2006 12:41:31 +0000 http://www.raphkoster.com/2006/09/11/the-cesspits-dead-end/#comment-19256 I would be interested in knowing a little more about the specifics behind this decision (not that it's really any of my business). It's the loss of an inspired voice, never an easy thing to let go. For example: was it a result of indecision on what path to attempt, how best to achieve his goals in a reasonable amount of time, without too much side-tracking? (That one I can easily understand... I wrestle with it constantly.) Somehow, however, simple "disappointment that it wasn't easy" just doesn't seem to fit his personality, at least as much as could be gleaned from his writing. I would be interested in knowing a little more about the specifics behind this decision (not that it’s really any of my business). It’s the loss of an inspired voice, never an easy thing to let go.

For example: was it a result of indecision on what path to attempt, how best to achieve his goals in a reasonable amount of time, without too much side-tracking? (That one I can easily understand… I wrestle with it constantly.)

Somehow, however, simple “disappointment that it wasn’t easy” just doesn’t seem to fit his personality, at least as much as could be gleaned from his writing.

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