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[exorzist]

Is David Gaider BioWare's unofficial figurehead, or is he just a sharp-tongued nuisance?

Anybody who has spent a significant amount of time on BioWare’s Social Network, will have witnessed at leastone of the regular exchanges between Community members and BioWare employees. Whether it is a complaint about the price of DLC, the near-vapour-ware status of PS3-RtO, or how Dragon Age is inferior to Baldur’s Gate 2, the Community is there to post–and so are BioWare.

In the experience of this Warden, having a forum where you can regularly converse with the game’s creators is a significant point to note. Not only does this activity make the Community feel more involved in the object of their interest, but it also allows the creators to see first-hand reactions to their creation. In an ideal world, Community and Creator would live alongside each other, exchanging well thought out remarks and feedback. Striving, in a land of butterflies, exploding toffees and popcorn, to produce–in union–examples of gaming zenith.
Of course in the real world such does not occur (excluding, of course, my self-detonating home-made toffees).
More often than not certain vocal members of the Community are found at loggerheads with BioWare’s representatives. The Social Network becomes a proverbial boxing ring of complaints and counter-arguments; of
bad-spelling and an ill-used caps lock.

With Victor Wachter employed as BioWare’s Community Facilitator it may come as a surprise to find that, more often than not, it is David Gaider who hoists BioWare’s banner. Just a glance at their profiles tells a tale: Wachter has his ten visible posts spread out across 12 days, while all ten of Gaider’s have been made within the past 20-hours.

Read the rest of the article here and debate.

Modifié par exorzist, 11 février 2010 - 05:52 .

[David Gaider]

Hmm.

I don't know how to feel about the implication that I am either a figurehead or a "sharp-tongued nuisance", but GreyWardens.com is usually a pretty decent site. Despite how some of you might feel about this article, I wouldn't judge the site by it alone.

It seems as if I should post less than I do. I knew that some people took me as Bioware Man, as if I represented and was responsible for everything Bioware simply by way of my visibility, but sharp-tongued figurehead wasn't exactly what I was going for.

Peace.

[David Gaider]

Dahelia wrote...
And admit it...it is sooo funny to read even if you are the one getting verbally whipped, I would die of laughter if I was the one getting verbally whipped, I couldn't get mad.

I don't think I remember a single case where someone I "whipped" (intentionally or not) was the one getting offended. It is, in fact, always a third party that gets offended on their behalf, wagging their finger at me about how unprofessional I am.

Perhaps I sometimes deserve that remark. I do get heated from time to time, I'll admit it. I'm a professional game developer, however, not a professional public relations expert or customer service provider. If I had to be either of those things I wouldn't come here, period -- as the vast majority of Bioware employees don't. They probably think those of us who do are crazy, and sometimes I don't blame them.

Perhaps my comments do more harm than good, however -- not unlike the WoW employee mentioned earlier. Something to think about.

[David Gaider]

dark-lauron wrote...
Well, perhaps there is something... I sent him a friend request and he refused it!

Sorry. I tend to refuse any friend requests and invitations here that come without context. No offense intended.

[David Gaider]

imported_beer wrote...
The 'lives on locusts, spreads his word, and roams aimlessly in desserts ranting at the sky' prophet.

I'm trying to picture you roaming aimlessly about on a field of whipped meringue and chocolate cookie trees.

Less threatening image than your usual locust-driven prophet provides, but hey -- I'll take what I can get.

[David Gaider]

aries1001 wrote...
I think the writer of the article has misunderstood why and how Gaider, and other Bioware devs. are here.

I'll just point out that I don't think this is necessarily true. If you read the article you'll see that the writer doesn't really agree with the sentiment of some... if anything, the article perhaps didn't really paint a very balanced picture. Even so, the writer amended the article title and clarified a few points within to make that clearer.

I don't have a beef with Illiani, and this is just a misunderstanding. Like I said, don't hold it against GreyWardens.com ...I shouldn't be above criticism, and all I'd personally like is a balanced picture if one's going to shine the spotlight on me. Not that anyone's obligated to do so, here or anywhere.

Modifié par David Gaider, 12 février 2010 - 09:41 .

[David Gaider]

Kalfear wrote...
If you removing something or not having something in your game, straight out say so and why, dont **** foot around making it sound like "maybe its there"

I'll just point out that none of us here are at liberty to discuss elements of any project until they are OK'd by the powers that be, who will sometimes want to figure out how to say something. Information release on games is done gradually, and sometimes we need to be careful with it because answering questions can just cause more questions -- so just because someone can ask about a project on these forums does not mean we are being deceptive by not being able to immediately answer.

I tend to simply avoid such discussions altogether, but those who work in a more official capacity have to address them as best they can.

Modifié par David Gaider, 16 février 2010 - 08:13 .

[David Gaider]

Sure, but if you're going to point at me and say you appreciate that I "tell it like it is" but that others are "dishonest" then you also have to respect the fact that I am simply not going to discuss things I'm not allowed to talk about. I'm no more "honest" than anyone else who comes here in an official capacity -- they're simply obligated to discuss things that I don't have to. So while I appreciate the thumbs-up, it certainly isn't because I'm discussing things that otherwise wouldn't get discussed.

[David Gaider]

Sabriana wrote...
I wish I had millions and millions to throw at you, David. I also wish you girls and guys wound never had to join up with a certain publisher, I have such bad memories about that. I appreciate yours and all the others who made a great game. However, the practices to milk the customers for all they are worth is saddening.
We might just be a niche market, but we are loyal. Until we realize that we are taken for a ride. Not by you. or anyone we so fondly remember, but by the urge to milk us for whatever you can get out of us. That's not what we remember. Be as kind to us, as we are loyal to you. I've already done the unthinkable, I won't buy any DLC. Because it's not what it should be. WK was alright, RoO is terrible., in my (personal opinion).

The people who will buy anything with BioWare on it are in multitude on these forums. The silent majority is not. How much easier is it to just shrug it off and move on to another game? It's so easy to say we made X amount of money. It's so hard to say we could've made X + X amount of money? I guess I just don't want BioWare to die just as Maxis an Westwood, and many others. I would be so very sad.

Is there a reason you're addressing this to me? I have nothing to do with DLC.

And, to be honest, if your supposition is that it's the "multitude on these forums" that are buying it and the silent majority that are not I think you you have it backwards. If the silent majority was not interested in DLC then it wouldn't sell and it wouldn't be made. What we have on these forums is a very vocal minority that oppose the idea of DLC being made for anybody because they believe everybody should only want more extensive content and that that's all we should be spending our time on. I get it, but I'm not sure why these people also believe they are speaking on behalf of others any more than the people in favor are. At the end of the day it's your right to decide what's worth your purchase and what isn't -- as it is theirs -- and the sales will dictate whether we as a company decide to move forward with this type of content. As it should be, if you ask me. Which you are.

[David Gaider]

kyles3 wrote...
it was probably addressed to you because (whether or not you have the answers people are looking for) nobody else at bioware seems to be listening.

If by "listening" you mean "doing what I personally want", then I suppose you're correct. If by "listening" you mean "willing to come here and engage in a debate about it", then you're also correct -- the matter isn't up for debate. If, however, by "listening" you mean "aware of how some community members feel", then you're wrong. That's the point of the forums, to allow people to express their opinions, and we'll always take them into consideration when we can.

Modifié par David Gaider, 16 février 2010 - 11:21 .

[David Gaider]

Sylvius the Mad wrote...
During development, you (and Mary, Sheryl, and Georg) would routinely discuss minutia that were never going anywhere near a press release.  There were long discussions about inventory management (which you mostly avoided), camera control, and conventions of story-telling that I doubt would have ever reached the community through official channels.

And this isn't unique to the DAO team.  Patrick Weekes and Chris L'Etoile discussed ME's dialogue wheel with me at great length.  This is a feature of BioWare generally, and it's terrific.

Well, this is true -- but these are not what I would call "information sensitive" topics. I certainly enjoy coming here to discuss these sorts of things, as do other Bioware folk, and getting that type of feeback is important so we aren't developing in a complete vacuum.

[David Gaider]

purplesunset wrote...
So you made a heartfelt post, and what was Mr. Gaider's response? "Money is the bottomline. Sales, not sentiment will determine our plans for DLC."

Hopefully that was  a wake up call to you. My wake up call was much more harsh than that.

If that's how you wish to characterize my post, than so be it. I have no input when it comes to DLC, but if a "wake up call" is required for someone to realize that a business will be run as a business -- whether it is EA or Bioware without EA -- then I guess it's required. Our place as a developer is to make sure we make the content we put out there as high quality as we can, whether it be shot or long.

[David Gaider]

DragonDefender wrote...
No mister Gaider when the poster said listening he did not just mean himself personaly, but to the masses of people who are telling you what the would like to see. Not just DLC but over direction of the game, remember yes you have creative control but if you go from a place where your customers are happy to completely pissing them off in a matter of months then unfortunately you will lose money. Am I just saying this no Sir I completely took your advice and had a refund issued for a paid in full pre-order.

As you wish. That is your right -- and you are absolutely correct: if we put out something that nobody enjoys, we will lose money. Happily, we do put out stuff that people enjoy -- or you wouldn't be here. And we love making it. Hopefully you end up playing Awakening and enjoy it (I'm assuming that's what you're referring to) but you are indeed free to spend your money however you like.

[David Gaider]

DragonDefender wrote...
Agreed Mr. Gaider I think my panties are just in a bunch over the DLC content I am sure a week after DA:A releases that I will be kicking myself in the arse for getting my refund.

Maybe so.

Some people have their hearts on getting very particular things from the expansion. I get that, and in a way it's a compliment because of how very invested they are in what's gone before. It's very difficult to imagine liking new characters or new stories until they're right there in front of you -- why, hello there! They and you will have to decide whether they want to jump in, though.

And no matter how hard this community critisizes Bioware you or any other dev, we do respect the work that goes into these game. I believe alot of us old school gamers are afraid we are seeing Bioware going the way of some other software giants. To alot of us who saw these companies grow it is always rending when you see it go under because of any kind of disconnect from the developer and their fans.

While I don't doubt that's possible, I have to say I don't really see a lot of developers going under because of a disconnect with their fans. Mostly you see developers going under because they don't take care of the business end of things -- sometimes despite how much their games are enjoyed. I don`t want to think of making games as ``just business`` any more than you all do... this is something I love to do, and it will never be ``just business`` to me... but treating it as if it isn`t a business at all would be foolish. That business side is what keeps us creating. With any luck we can find that happy medium.