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PS3 Developer Fired For Comments

Posted by Zonk on from the unfortunate dept.

Next Generation reports on the unfortunate fallout from one PS3 developer's unflattering comments. Early in January, a developer made comments on his feelings regarding the Xbox 360 and its power/design ease vs. the PS3. Thanks to widespread internet reaction, he has been fired from his development position. From the article: "I can't believe how out of control everything got ... It's absolutely absurd how the Internet can take something relatively harmless and turn it into something so insane... Did I knowingly break NDA? I absolutely did not. I would never do that and I would never want to hurt Sony Online. Did I dance in the grey area by even opening my mouth? Yes I did and I was fired for it. So I guess the new rule for me is, don't ever say anything at all about anything. Ever...ever."

131 comments

  1. "I work for for "Big Company USA... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ...and I think our product is a pain to use"

    Just what the hell was he expecting would happen? They'd give him a reward for breaking ranks and giving his subjective views about Sony's PS3?

    Good luck finding a new job Asshat.

    1. Re:"I work for for "Big Company USA... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ironically, at Microsoft, people would expect him to start a (potentially-unsanctioned) group to fix the problem.

      This is nothing but messengercide on Sony's part.

    2. Re:"I work for for "Big Company USA... by stankulp · · Score: 1

      The guy's middle name must be "Duh."

      --
      We must be alert to the danger that public policy could become captive to a scientific-technological elite. - Eisenhower
    3. Re:"I work for for "Big Company USA... by XenoRyet · · Score: 4, Insightful
      He very clearly stated that he does not like, and is not committed to his (formerly) current project. He also clearly stated that he dislikes the platform he's working on, as well as stating that he thinks the competitor's platform is better.

      I would have let this guy go even for stating these opinions privatly. He obviously really does not want to work for Sony. This guy didn't get fired, he quit.

      --
      If forums teach us anything, it is that logic and critical thinking should be required courses in the public schools.
    4. Re:"I work for for "Big Company USA... by Michalson · · Score: 5, Insightful

      In many ways it seems like Sony is becoming the new Microsoft, just as Microsoft replaced IBM as the Big Bad. With the shift in software distribution (internet making it easy to distribute and collaborate on free and open software like Linux) Microsoft's role of "evil" has become nearly moot, much like IBM's hold fell with open commodity architecture.

      At the same time, a new issue has emerged, digital rights, an arena where Sony (a giant corporation representing the MPAA *and* RIAA) is the devil figure (rootkit CDs, locked out storage formats, and the upcoming Blu-ray ultra restrictive DRM).

      Much as IBM, for it's own financial convience, became a "good guy" by supporting Linux and open source, Microsoft may make a similar transformation: They split with Sony over Blu-ray because they demanded that the next DVD format allow consumers to use media they had purchased the way they wanted to (i.e. store on a Microsoft powered media center). Microsoft's position of having no interest in content (Sony) or hardware (Apple) makes it to their financial benefit to demand both sides provide a positive experience for consumers (since Microsoft will have Windows something running in the middle).

      Even Microsoft's own DRM lends to this: It isn't tied to a single music store or mp3 player, and it isn't fixed in what it controls - companies protecting content can choose how restrictive it should be, resulting in open competition for consumers without fractured standards - if consumers don't like the restrictions placed on them by music store A, they can just go to music store B and get the same music, that will play on the same mp3 player, but with less restrictions. Instead of consumers being held hostage to a set of DRM demands, it's the content sellers that have to compete for the sweet spot between protecting the content and giving the user fare use of what they've purchased.

    5. Re:"I work for for "Big Company USA... by user317 · · Score: 1, Insightful
      I would have let this guy go even for stating these opinions privatly. He obviously really does not want to work for Sony. This guy didn't get fired, he quit.


      Great idea.


      Step 1. Fire everyone who finds legitemite weakness in your product, partner or customer.


      Step 2. ????


      Step 3. Profit

      --
      me fail english? thats unpossible
    6. Re:"I work for for "Big Company USA... by hey! · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Ever hear of naïveté?

      Chalk this up to a lesson learned the hard way.

      On the other hand, this doesn't leave Sony management covered in glory either.

      First, they called a huge amount of attention to a somewhat amateurish screed that would have fallen into the bitbucket otherwise. In this sense the develper was right. They'd be better off if they publicly laughed it off and said, "We're our own toughest critics. Our platform is the best one there is, and we're not standing still."

      I think a more sutble point is that it takes all kinds of people, and the kind of people who are good or even great developers don't necessarily hatch out of the egg understanding business. By all means punish -- the burnt hand is the best teacher. But if you go too far making an example of somebody, you may foster a culture in which bad news only travels underground.

      --
      Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.
    7. Re:"I work for for "Big Company USA... by puppetluva · · Score: 2, Informative

      don't count on it. Microsoft doesn't have a history of contributing to the community and I wouldn't hold your breath. . .

      Much as IBM, for it's own financial convience, became a "good guy" by supporting Linux and open source, Microsoft may make a similar transformation: They split with Sony over Blu-ray because they demanded that the next DVD format allow consumers to use media they had purchased the way they wanted to (i.e. store on a Microsoft powered media center).

      That's weird. . . I thought they split with Blu-ray because Blu-ray uses Java. . . which they compete with (and their customers want. . . but they tried to pollute and the refused to bundle it according contracts they had signed.)

      BTW: You are the first person I've heard of to congratulate a DRM vendor on their openness.

    8. Re:"I work for for "Big Company USA... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      if consumers don't like the restrictions placed on them by music store A, they can just go to music store B and get the same music

      Newsflash, it's not the music stores putting all the stupid restrictions on you, it's the labels, and as long as you keep getting the same music, it's not going to matter where you get it from, it's still going to be the same.

    9. Re:"I work for for "Big Company USA... by IamTheRealMike · · Score: 1

      Possibly so, but in this case he doesn't appear to know what the problem is. I read his post, then read it again, and it boils down to "Somebody told me the XBOX is better, and I didn't really understand why, but I believed them. PS I work for Sony" or whatever. If he had real, technical meat to his post, I might have more sympathy. But he's just badmouthing his companies product when it's WAY to early to call this one: if it's anything like the PS2 it'll take developers a while to get the most from the hardware. So I don't think he could have formed a group to fix the problem as he doesn't really know if there is a problem or what it is.

    10. Re:"I work for for "Big Company USA... by CODiNE · · Score: 1
      Even Microsoft's own DRM lends to this: It isn't tied to a single music store or mp3 player, and it isn't fixed in what it controls - companies protecting content can choose how restrictive it should be, resulting in open competition for consumers without fractured standards - if consumers don't like the restrictions placed on them by music store A, they can just go to music store B and get the same music, that will play on the same mp3 player, but with less restrictions.

      Now you're falling for the "Microsoft is all about freedom" marketing blitz. Let me define it a little plainer, "Microsoft is all about keeping you running Windows."

      Microsoft will let your music be as free as you like as long as they get a cut and you are running the approved OS.
      --
      Cwm, fjord-bank glyphs vext quiz
    11. Re:"I work for for "Big Company USA... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They probably needed the bureaucracy to tell them it was ok to laugh it off. And the committee were too late for the issued reaction, so PR did the wrong, but "safe" thing. They should've laughed it off, then sent him to work in the division that makes the developement tools, so he could improve them. Granted this was inappropriate, but if bad news doesn't travel up the management chain, things can never get fixed.

      I wonder if all the designers knew the Atrac-3 Walkman was going to bomb, and no one wanted to send management the memo, out of fear.

    12. Re:"I work for for "Big Company USA... by Otis2222222 · · Score: 0
      He also clearly stated that he dislikes the platform he's working on, as well as stating that he thinks the competitor's platform is better.

      No offense, but did you read the original article?

      (Emphasis added)
      Now in my opinion it doesn't matter how good the PS3 is. If the XBOX 360 is better, then it doesn't really matter how the cell processors work or how good they say it is. Realistically one of them will be better over all. Now I've spoken with people who are on the technical side of the PS3. I've also talked with people on the technical side of the XBOX 360. The consistent comment I am hearing from people on my end is, "The XBOX 360 is better". They are saying that it is capable of just doing more. (shrugs) Now take that for what its worth.
      I simply disagree with your assertion that he "clearly thinks the competitor's platform is better". After reading the entire original statement, it sounds to me like he's saying that the jury is still out, although early results seemed to indicate the PS3 was lacking in his opinion.

      My personal opinion is that the two systems (360 and PS3) are going to be close enough to equal in capabilities that most people won't be able to tell the difference. I am no Microsoft apologist, but I am so tired of people zeroing in on any excuse they can to blast the 360 just because of who made it.

    13. Re:"I work for for "Big Company USA... by Shaper_pmp · · Score: 1

      Be fair - this wasn't constructive criticism, or suggestions as to how to improve the product before launch. And even if it had been, the professional/correct forum to express such feelings in in a private meeting, to another employee who can effect change.

      Bitching to another employee who can't do anything is counter-productive and reduces morale (and should be handled with a polite request not to disillusion colleagues), and bitching in a public forum should be slapped for gross indiscretion.

      This was an out-and-out hatchet job on the new console and everything it stood for, is exactly the kind of thing that could sway early adopters and opinion-formers, and was issued by a fundamentally unqualified artist who was merely looking on, not even one of the dev guys working on the actual system.

      I don't know about you, but I'll quite often swear at and really slate whatever I'm working on when I hit a bug or get frustrated, even if (otherwise) I actually quite like/respect the system.

      This goes double for when I'm learning a new system (y'know, like how the Cell is a fundamentally different architecture to the entire X86 line), since everything that works differently to the way I expect it to is initially labelled a "fuck up" or "stupid idea", then may later be downgraded to "acceptable difference" (or sometimes even "wonderful idea sorely lacking from $old_system") once I'm more familiar with it and understand why it's been done that way.

      Hell, I hated RegExps when I first ran across them - over-complicated, opaque and bizarre. Now I can hardly bear to code in a language without them. Does that mean RegExps are actually stupid?

      If someone listened to what I said and gave it the credence of a carefully considered, authoritative opinion, they'd decide that whatever I was working on was shit, when in actual fact it might be pretty good, I'm just not Getting It yet, and I'm just sounding off to relieve frustration.

      Taking these second-hand comments, treating them as authoritative statements of fact about the system and broadcasting them to the world with the added authority of "an insider" is Just fucking Stupid.

      Did he deserve to lose his job? Maybe not. Did he pretty much ask for some kind of smack-down? Hell yes.

      --
      Everything in moderation, including moderation itself
    14. Re:"I work for for "Big Company USA... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      I would have let this guy go even for stating these opinions privatly. He obviously really does not want to work for Sony. This guy didn't get fired, he quit.


      Ok Emperor. Where do you get your clothes?

    15. Re:"I work for for "Big Company USA... by apoc06 · · Score: 1

      legitimate? the guy was an artist, not a programmer.

      how can one artist [not a programmer] give a full say so on the inner workings of the ps3? he works within his package: 3d studio max or whatever. does the product play nice with 3d studio max? if it doesnt... the guy himself stated that he was familiar with other packages. find one that works. if hes echoing complaints from the programmers on his team, thats another beast. [and what i suspect happened] who is to say that his teams' programmers have the best skills? anyone who knows anything about programming knows that someone who programs very well under one architecture [say: ps2] is not autmatically guaranteed to be able to program at that same level once you move to a radically different architecture or design philosophy [ps3].

      ive said it before. different studios have different levels of skill. none of the work is easy. if he thinks that his team is creating something subpar, thats just his team. this guy made sweeping statements about the ps3 development in its entirety that could have dramatic ramifications on the team morale, and to sony marketshare in general. he was SUPPOSED to get fired.

  2. does the word OOOPPPSSS come to mind? by THEUBERGEEK · · Score: 3, Insightful

    in any corporate environment we must all learn to keep our mouths shut. i have lost more than one job for having the "wrong opinion, political view, etc".

    --
    Talking to Geeks is like eating jello with a chainsaw, interesting, but painful.
    1. Re:does the word OOOPPPSSS come to mind? by MrBigInThePants · · Score: 1

      That may be true.

      But "I think you wife is a fat slag" is not quiet the same thing as this article....

    2. Re:does the word OOOPPPSSS come to mind? by sirwired · · Score: 2, Insightful

      This guy didn't lose his job for having the wrong opinion... he lost his job for being public about it. If I was his employer, I'd fire his ass too. You don't dis the products of your employer in public if you want to stay employed. Certainly if there was some safety issue going on, or outright fraud, then there is nothing wrong with whislteblowing. Most employers won't even fire an employee for complaining about something like working conditions or benefits in a public forum. That isn't the case here. He publicly stated he thought his employer's product was smoke and mirrors. He shouldn't have been surprised that Sony wasn't too happy about it.

      I work for a LARGE computer company, and I do post to Slashdot about my company's products if questions do arise. While I never make up good things that aren't true about our products, I do adhere to the maxim "if you can't say anything nice, shut the heck up."

      SirWired

    3. Re:does the word OOOPPPSSS come to mind? by pornking · · Score: 1

      You're right. What he actually said was "I think my wife is a fat slag".

      --
      pornking
    4. Re:does the word OOOPPPSSS come to mind? by tbannist · · Score: 1

      You are correct, he deliberately broke an NDA that his job was dependent on him keeping. He did it in a public forum, and he did it to trash his own company's product in favour of a competitors product. He didn't even have a solid reason for saying it was wrose, just "I've heard it's worse". Sony had to fire him. He's only surpised that he got caught and punished.

      Frankly, I doubt many people are going to miss him. If he's an artist and the game he's working on doesn't look good, isn't that his responsibility?

      --
      Fanatically anti-fanatical
  3. Who didn't see that coming? by KDR_11k · · Score: 2, Informative

    I mean, seriously, the biggest surprise is that it has taken so long.

    --
    Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
  4. what's the problem by UVABlows · · Score: 1

    So I guess the new rule for me is, don't ever say anything at all about anything. Ever...ever.

    He acts likes it a threat, but I bet no one really cares if he ever talks again.

    --

    <high-level position here>
    <name of stupid small company here>

    1. Re:what's the problem by st1d · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Maybe it's just me, but that's the kind of threat my friend's 4 year old son might make. I can't help but agree with you, and to be honest, I wonder if his supposed wonderful new job is actually that great, because if his situation is truly improved, why is he still complaining?

      --
      Microsoft has just released their much anticipated hands-free cordless mouse. Warning, it may hurt a little at first.
  5. Welcome to the Real World by RobertB-DC · · Score: 5, Insightful

    So I guess the new rule for me is, don't ever say anything at all about anything. Ever...ever.

    Seriously, welcome to the Real World. In college, perhaps, you were encouraged to speak your mind and be free like a little birdie. Big difference: you *paid* to go to college. Within limits, you could do what you want. Things are different when you're the one receiving the money. Within limits, you have to do what *they* want.

    Or to misapply the meme: In college, you owned a Sony. In Corporate [America|Japan], SONY own YOU!

    --
    Stressed? Me? Of course not. Stress is what a rubber band feels before it breaks, silly.
    1. Re:Welcome to the Real World by acroyear · · Score: 0

      which would mean he learned a different lesson "in college" than i did, 'cause i got fired from an on-campus job when i "statee my heartfelt and sincere opinion, backed up with factual evidence" (translation: opened my big mouth) to the wrong person...

      --
      "But remember, most lynch mobs aren't this nice." (H.Simpson)
      -- Joe
    2. Re:Welcome to the Real World by pixelpusher220 · · Score: 1

      But they didn't kick you out of school right?

      So the case where you were receiving money was terminated, but not where you were paying the money.

      So the OP's point still stands


      --
      People in cars cause accidents....accidents in cars cause people :-D
    3. Re:Welcome to the Real World by StarKruzr · · Score: 1

      Jesus, if he wanted to say stuff like that about HIS COMPANY, he had an option: STAY ANONYMOUS.

      --

      +++ATH0
    4. Re:Welcome to the Real World by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

      This is true, but it also depends on the envirnment. In Corporate America, yea. Shut up, put your head down and get to work. In the Small Business Market, this is a different story.

      I started working for a startup WISP, and was on the front-lines designing, engineering, building, and installing the network. Being in that position, I knew a HELL of LOT MORE than the owner about what was and wasn't going to work. It also helped that my co-worker saw eye to eye on the wireless network implementation, but the point needed to be made that Management DIDN'T know what was best. We made this terribly aware to them as often as possible, with suprisingly little repurcusions, looking back on it now.

      Point is, it depends on the environment. And in this guys case, the environment was big. You take a household namebrand like Sony, who is highly visible (on all fronts as of late; see rootkit), and throw out an opinion for all to read out of the NET expecting no repurcussion? Its almost laughable ...

      If he really felt such a need to express these opinions, why didn't he express them to his superiors, and those up the ladder? Or is this public expression supposed to lead us to precisely ask this question?

    5. Re:Welcome to the Real World by biraneto2 · · Score: 1

      You are taking the company is evil stuff to seriously. When you work at a company you ARE the company. The company is the hand that feeds you... and you shouldn't bite it. Better company profits means more chance of you getting a raise or even a profit bonus. If you think their products sucks (or that they are evil) you shouldn't be working for it at first place.

    6. Re:Welcome to the Real World by bheer · · Score: 1

      Microsoft developers state their opinions of MS products all the time. It's not always very flattering either. IMO Sony is being a prick about this.

      --
      Go somewhere random
  6. He's surprised about this? by qbwiz · · Score: 4, Funny

    Who would have expected that an employee of a company who goes out of his way to publicly badmouth his company's products would be fired? I was expecting Sony to give him a bonus for all the extra sales he's going to bring in.

    --
    Ewige Blumenkraft.
  7. I'm guessing this is what got him fired by TubeSteak · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Now in my opinion it doesn't matter how good the PS3 is. If the XBOX 360 is better, then it doesn't really matter how the cell processors work or how good they say it is. Realistically one of them will be better over all. Now I've spoken with people who are on the technical side of the PS3. I've also talked with people on the technical side of the XBOX 360. The consistent comment I am hearing from people on my end is, "The XBOX 360 is better". They are saying that it is capable of just doing more. (shrugs) Now take that for what its worth. If you watch all the videos on the PS3 they will say how much more powerful it is than the XBOX and vice versa. Im just telling you what I am hearing. They proceeded to go into a lot of technical info that I don't understand. So I just nod.
    Then he hits us with this firing worthy blurb
    The game that we are creating for a launch title is a "just get it out" title in my opinion. It doesn't look next generation. I don't see how anyone could debate otherwise. It looks good. But it looks good for a game that has come out in the last couple years or so. I mean we are talking about a box that will be with us for the next 5+ years! In 5 years will the games we are making today look good? The only way for that to be possible is if the new games coming out for the PS3 are drastically improved. So good that they can stand the test of time until the next system comes out. We've all seen Gears of War for the xbox 360. If that even looks half as good when it comes out then I'll be floored! The game we are making isn't even in the same league as Gears of War. In fact there are many current games out that look just as good and are using the exact same specs. So, on our end we are either not pushing the bar or were just trying to "get a title out". To be fair, this is a business. Sometimes you have to treat it as a business and not make the best title you can.
    He's trashing the game he's working on. What boss would put up with that?
    --
    [Fuck Beta]
    o0t!
    1. Re:I'm guessing this is what got him fired by LimpGuppy · · Score: 2, Informative

      If that bozo couldn't guess that what he said violated an NDA then he's a 'tard that deserves to be fired. I mean, that's just basic common sense there.

    2. Re:I'm guessing this is what got him fired by JordanL · · Score: 1

      They proceeded to go into a lot of technical info that I don't understand.

      Hmmmm... somehow his X360 > PS3 claims don't hold much water...

      --
      FanFictionRecs.net
    3. Re:I'm guessing this is what got him fired by F_Scentura · · Score: 1

      Could have just been nonsensical marketing-speak.

    4. Re:I'm guessing this is what got him fired by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The game that we are creating for a launch title is a "just get it out" title in my opinion. It doesn't look next generation. I don't see how anyone could debate otherwise. It looks good. But it looks good for a game that has come out in the last couple years or so.

      Isn't this exactly what everyone has said about (most of) the current XBox 360's games?

    5. Re:I'm guessing this is what got him fired by aeoo · · Score: 1

      He's trashing the game he's working on. What boss would put up with that?

      The kind of boss that is open to negative opinions -- a rare, but very powerful beast.

    6. Re:I'm guessing this is what got him fired by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If I were his boss, I'd fire him if he couldnt answer this question:

      "Okay, so how do you suppose we do it right?"

      if he comes up with a very valid answer and can produce results on a more advanced system at the same price of production or less than the current model, I'd give him a promotion, if not, he can go collect checks from social security.

    7. Re:I'm guessing this is what got him fired by gnasher719 · · Score: 1

      '' He's trashing the game he's working on. What boss would put up with that?

      The kind of boss that is open to negative opinions -- a rare, but very powerful beast. ''

      When you look at your companies products, you have to realise: It is not your job to praise them or to damn them (in public), that is what you have marketing people for. They can take anything, and talk it up to be the best invention since sliced bread. Your competitor's marketing people can do the same thing.

      Often you compare your view of your own product with what your competitor's marketing people say about their product. Your own product is never, ever as good as what your competitor's marketing says about their product! That doesn't mean your product isn't better than theirs, just that you haven't done the proper comparison.

      Many developers have to suffer through alpha and beta versions that are not nearly as good as the final product, they suffer through bugfixes that expose them to the worst side of the product, that many customers will never notice. So as a developer, you should never tell your opinion to the public. Not only are you not very good at selling it, because that isn't your job, you also have a much too negative view of it.

    8. Re:I'm guessing this is what got him fired by aeoo · · Score: 2, Insightful

      When you look at your companies products, you have to realise: It is not your job to praise them or to damn them (in public), that is what you have marketing people for. They can take anything, and talk it up to be the best invention since sliced bread. Your competitor's marketing people can do the same thing.

      That's like saying that it's not the job of the parents to damn or praise their own kids, because the neighbors can do the same thing.

      It's much better to not only allow, but rather, to encourage internal criticism. If the person feels like the internal managers and upper managers are humble and open-minded, and constantly and kindly solicit criticism, then the person will feel quite happy and fulfilled to spill their guts in private to an internal person that matters -- to a person that has the decision power to turn the product for the better.

      The reason people spill their guts in public, is for one of two reasons:

      1. Internally no one wants to listen to them.

      2. The management says they are open, but don't act open and do not solicit criticism humbly and vigorously enough. In other words, not only must they be open in reality, but they must also convey that impression to others convincingly, sincerely.

    9. Re:I'm guessing this is what got him fired by Chris+Mattern · · Score: 1

      > The kind of boss that is open to negative opinions --
      > a rare, but very powerful beast.

      A boss that will listen to your negative opinions when you bring them to him is indeed a powerful (and, alas, rarer than they should be) beast. A boss that will put up with you *publicly trashing your own project to the world*, is, uh, no. They don't do that. Especially when it's a consumer product that will survive or fail on how it is perceived by the public.

      Chris Mattern

    10. Re:I'm guessing this is what got him fired by aeoo · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Agreed. My theory is that people don't just go and willy nilly post stuff on their blogs like that. My guess is that the person felt like no one cared and no one wanted to listen, and consequently wanted to blow off some steam.

      Maybe just some internal listening and acknowledging would have kept this kind of opinion from hitting the web.

      I think, generally, while people are selfish and greedy, they are not malicious. So when something happens that appears malicious, it's most likely because something else has triggered it.

      I understand what the NDA "should" do, but it's a really dumb person who actually relies on "should"s. A wise person would rather rely on a thorough understanding of human condition and reality (how things ARE, as opposed to how we would like them to be, or how they "should" be).

      When stuff like that happens, it's very easy to point finger and lay blame, but it's hard to see the truth: there is no one single cause that can be blamed. Any number of things might have prevented this kind of situation from arising: more discipline on the part of the blogger, more openness on the part of employers, etc. As I see it, the employer is just as responsible for what happened as anyone. They probably allowed a bad vibe to roam in the low ranks, due to upper management detaching themselves too much from the reality of the low ranks where all the real stuff actually happens. In my experience, upper management often has their head in the clouds (to put it mildly) and is way out of touch with what's going on. For example, IIRC, in Microsoft senior execs lied to Gates about the real situation with certain products and Gates only found out thru a wistle-blower email from the lower ranks. This happens all the time.

      People at the top are prone to delusions of grandure and often over-value themselves while people at the bottom often undervalue themselves. This results in people at the bottom shaking in their boots as the people at the top yell at them and apply strong psychological force (using tyrany instead of true leadership, relying mostly on fear rather than respect and inspiration). People at the bottom will then say "all is fine boss", when it's really not. The Boss being delusional, quickly believes it, because that's what he wanted to hear anyway. Then the low ranking employees gather in various areas and stew and stew... And then one of them blows up on the blog.

      The NDA is a really shitty way to deal with this phenomenon.

  8. ZOMG FIRST by Dragon+of+the+Pants · · Score: 0

    Wow. I wonder if Google will hire him.

    1. Re:ZOMG FIRST by AKAImBatman · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Wow. I wonder if Google will hire him.

      Obviously you didn't hear about the former Microsoft manager who accidently let a little too much info slip on his blog.

      Google is the LAST place that would hire this guy. The reason why we never know what they're doing is because Google employees don't talk about Google. Period.

      --
      Javascript + Nintendo DSi = DSiCade
    2. Re:ZOMG FIRST by stunt_penguin · · Score: 1

      So, the first rule of Google is..... you don't talk about Google?

      --
      When the posters fear their moderators, there is tyranny; when the moderators fears the posters, there is liberty.
    3. Re:ZOMG FIRST by stunt_penguin · · Score: 1

      The thing about working somewhere like Google is that there's usually someone smarter on campus. If you wanna bitch about something, or if you need help, there's probably a guy with a PhD to talk to 2 desks over.

      This guy has no-one to bitch to about his job, and needed the release.

      --
      When the posters fear their moderators, there is tyranny; when the moderators fears the posters, there is liberty.
  9. Here's a link to his blog by giblfiz · · Score: 5, Informative

    Though as it points out in the article, he took the post that got him fired down, and will never be putting it back up.

    To avoid /.ing him harder (he has allready been dugg) I'm going to link to a google cache ...

    http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:jgeFRxdfvuIJ: weblogs.asp.net/josh.robinson/+josh+robinson&hl=en &lr=&strip=1

  10. Great Rule by ImaLamer · · Score: 3, Funny

    So I guess the new rule for me is, don't ever say anything at all about anything. Ever...ever.

    I found this rule to work best at home and at work. The less you talk, the less trouble you get yourself into.

    --
    Get your Unix fortune now!
    1. Re:Great Rule by Chris+Mattern · · Score: 1

      As a wise man once said, "It is better to keep your mouth shut and be thought an idiot, than to open it and remove all doubt."

      Chris Mattern

  11. Tough issue, this... by ursabear · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Here in North Carolina, we work in a "work at will" state. This means that you can quit or be fired without ANY reason, other than reasons covered by discrimination precedence.

    It is a tragedy to lose one's job, no doubt. I would wish joblessness on no-one. However, one must always converse about one's product in a very careful way - always think of oneself as a public representative of the company. It is generally best to preserve the interests of one's company. Comments made on the internet are nearly intractable, and will generally find their way to unexpected places.

    --
    A Passionate Independent Musician
    1. Re:Tough issue, this... by Tweekster · · Score: 1

      Well I do think publically badmouthing your company is grounds to be fired for. Whether or not it is "at will" The guy is a moron, and he did something a 16 year old is smart enough not to do.

      --
      The phrase "more better" is acceptable English. suck it grammar Nazis
    2. Re:Tough issue, this... by Just+Some+Guy · · Score: 4, Insightful
      It is a tragedy to lose one's job, no doubt.

      Not in this case. I think the correct word for costing your company more money and good will then you're worth, resulting in a firing, is "example".

      Losing your job because your office building burned down and your employer doesn't want to rebuild is tragic. Losing your job because you don't have the common sense God gives a dog is just plain stupid and not really something worth pitying.

      What's worse is that he doesn't sound like he learned a single thing from the episode.

      --
      Dewey, what part of this looks like authorities should be involved?
    3. Re:Tough issue, this... by C0rinthian · · Score: 1

      'At Will' is a two-way thing. Either the employee or the employer have the right to terminate employment at any time, for any reason.

      The employer doesn't need a reason to fire him. They can simply say "We no longer require your services" and show him the door and there's nothing he can do about it.

    4. Re:Tough issue, this... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      He didn't really regret being fired. He claims that he would have left anyway, that the supposedly better job, title, and home that he know has would have been offered anyway, and that he was supposedly not being exposed to new people and ideas at Sony.

      I really think he was flapping his gums because he didn't care about the consquences. That's one guy Sony had to get rid of right away, for more than one good reason.

    5. Re:Tough issue, this... by Tweekster · · Score: 1

      We have that here too... of course I had one idiot boss who interpreted that as: "I can tell you to leave at anytime but you have to give me atleast 2 months notice" "have to" as in expected to but what was he gonna do about it type of thing of course he is also a guy that would go around saying he wants to fire half of his employees (when in reality he should have been beaten with a sack of doorknobs to get the stupid out)

      --
      The phrase "more better" is acceptable English. suck it grammar Nazis
    6. Re:Tough issue, this... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      except go on a mad rampage with a shotgun.
      This isn't an entirely flippant comment, people really do that - when you treat people's short term livelihood (and hence their ability to feed/clothe themselves/their family) as worthless in relation to a business' long-term profitability you can't be suprised when it tips some of them over the edge.
      Usually a employee needs their employer more than an employer needs their employee - in that case the balance in hiring/firing should be weighted towards the employee, to even the natural imbalance of the employee/employer relationship.

      Ok, those with families are maybe less likely to do the mad rampage shotgun thing, but single people who now no longer have a house or job or anything to lose will - it's simple statistics that a certain percentage (probably 0.0001% or less) of people in that situation will do so. The solution is to reduce the number of people in that situation - making it harder for employers (and landlords) to just chuck people out on their ear with nothing is a good way to start doing that.

    7. Re:Tough issue, this... by NeutronCowboy · · Score: 1
      Losing your job because you don't have the common sense God gives a dog is just plain stupid and not really something worth pitying.

      Interesting analogy. I guess that means that we're all dogs to our herd/clan/mob bosses?

      --
      Those who can, do. Those who can't, sue.
    8. Re:Tough issue, this... by Jafafa+Hots · · Score: 1

      I love how they phrase this... "work at will" or in other states "right to work" - as if the law was intended to help workers... I guess they figured the name "fire at will" is better reserved for their laws on gun policy.

      --
      This space available.
    9. Re:Tough issue, this... by CronoCloud · · Score: 1

      Oh yes, the former confederacy, where because they industrialized late, the robber barons (spiritual successors to the plantation owners) were able to write labor law to favor themselves.

      It's not "Right to Work" it's "Right to fire" or "Keep them yankee unions out"

    10. Re:Tough issue, this... by Just+Some+Guy · · Score: 1
      I guess that means that we're all dogs to our herd/clan/mob bosses?

      First, don't work too hard to build a local idiom into a full-blown analogy. Second, yeah, pretty much.

      Any man who believes that freedom of speech places no responsibility on the speaker should try telling their wife or girlfriend that she has a fat butt. Before you do, though, remember that the jury probably won't convict her, regardless of whether you're expected to make a full recovery.

      --
      Dewey, what part of this looks like authorities should be involved?
  12. Yah, I read his post, and... by Concern · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I've worked in the industry. Yeah, you would definitely get fired for that. No question.

    There isn't really that much of a "gray area." They give you an NDA that basically just says "SHUT THE FUCK UP." And usually when they give it to you, they narrate that bit for you too. You really aren't supposed to talk about anything to do with the job, ever, ever.

    There are few things in the business more secrecy intensive than a platform launch like this.

    The guy is a big idiot for thinking he could write this and keep his job, without doing a damn good job of remaining anonymous. For that matter, he's just kind of uninformed; this is a 3D artist who obviously doesn't understand much about the hardware or the engines or the development cycle of either, in general....

    OK, you got your 15 seconds of fame. Bye.

    --
    Tired of Political Trolls? Opt Out!
    1. Re:Yah, I read his post, and... by TubeSteak · · Score: 1
      For that matter, he's just kind of uninformed; this is a 3D artist who obviously doesn't understand much about the hardware or the engines or the development cycle of either, in general....

      Heh heh, the post right below yours links to an interview the guy did.

      How do you respond to critics around the web who say that, as a 3D artist, you're not qualified to make a technical judgment about the PS3 development?

      You know the internet/forums and blogs are a strange place. If I went online right now and said the sky was blue, 100 people would probably tell me to STFU noob or argue with me and tell me I'm not a weather man. In which case I should STFU anyway.
      Heh, Slashdot makes me laugh.
      --
      [Fuck Beta]
      o0t!
    2. Re:Yah, I read his post, and... by Concern · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Heh. The guy is funny. But notice, I said "this is a 3D artist who obviously doesn't understand...

      In other words, I don't think all 3D artists would be unqualified to comment, as this question seems to imply. Just this particular 3D artist. It's more likely you'd get some more informed commentary from a developer or a hardware engineer, and the fact that he's not already should color your expectations a little from the outset, but... let me put it this way:

      I've worked with a lot of 3D artists, and it's a tough goddamn job, a really unique blend of skills go into doing it well... some of these guys were totally capable of doing software development, understood most of it already just from being around it, but just enjoyed making art more. Hey, perhaps I would too, if I had their skill...

      For that matter I've known a lot of artists even outside 3D who also brought really strong engineering aptitude but just didn't enjoy doing that part of the job. Understanding both sides made them invaluable to work with.

      --
      Tired of Political Trolls? Opt Out!
    3. Re:Yah, I read his post, and... by cgenman · · Score: 1

      I work in the industry, and plan on doing so for the rest of my life.

      But I do still love games. It's not a job, it's a passion. It's also a tough dichotomy. The people most likely to hold strong opinions are the ones most likely to work in the industry. And the industry is small enough that chances are you will have worked with someone or will work with someone at some point.

      For example, I own a DS, but don't own a PSP. I love the industry enough that I want the PSP to do well, so I will talk about its shortcomings and where I think it can improve. But I also work with Sony... daily. Well, frequently anyway. If I post here that I think that Nintendo's focus on new play experiences with the DS has paid off, and that the PSP needs to branch out to more experimental projects, could that upset relations with Sony? In legal theory no, because I haven't violated any NDA's. But everyone fears that the real answer is yes.

      This guy grossly violated his NDA. He clearly talked about the size of teams, the number of dev kits in the US (which even most industry people don't know), durations, etc. But that doesn't change the perception is he was fired for saying that something sucks. And we all have strong opinions, and sometimes something does suck.

      And he was expressing a phenomenon that people have been expecting and experiencing: diminishing returns. Each new generation of system is less and less deficient overall, and so the experiential delta between subsequent systems becomes smaller and smaller. That's just a fact of developing technologies, and I blogged about it in 2003. Now with the Xbox 360's launch lineup generally accepted as good but not particularly mind blowing, could that article come back to haunt me? Could that last sentence?

      It is a fine line that a lot of people walk. Your job is your life, your passion. Nobody gets paid enough to put up with this shit if they didn't love it. But with that comes the fear that you can't critique anything or else you're out of the club.

      --
      The ______ Agenda
  13. He does'nt seem to upset about it. by giblfiz · · Score: 2, Interesting
    Here's an interview with him about the whole thing:
    http://www.ps3week.com/blogs/ps3week.php?title=tit le_6&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1


    So I'm very fortunate to have all the opportunities I've had. I had four or five job offers the same week I was let go. Ultimately I'll be making even more money, I'll have a better title at the end of my name and I'll be very near the beach. So it's a bit hard to complain I suppose.


    And yes, I'm karmawhoring.
    1. Re:He does'nt seem to upset about it. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Is it me or does this guy sound like the average dotcom asshole? What company would hire a guy who like to publically rip his own company's products? Wow, you get more money and a better title, you are still and ass.

    2. Re:He does'nt seem to upset about it. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      It's you. To me he sounds like the average person who's not quite content with his job and talks about his views openly.

      I'd hire him and people like him. Firing these people lead to corporate hubris where no one inside see no evil, hear no evil about their own products. Those places are dead, full of mindless zombies.

  14. If I were him by WormholeFiend · · Score: 3, Funny

    I'd try to land a dual career at Apple and Thinksecret

    seems right up his alley

    1. Re:If I were him by networkBoy · · Score: 1

      Oh I wish I had mod points that is so funny.
      -nB

      --
      whois gawk date unzip strip find touch finger mount join nice man top fsck grep eject more yes exit umount sleep dump
  15. Launch titles by Mursk · · Score: 1
    This guy mentions (or at least implies) that his company's title doesn't take full advantage of the PS3 capabilities. My question is, how many launch titles do?

    Note that I am not asking this rhetorically, just speaking from my own experience. I am only familiar with one console's launch titles (PS2), and I don't remember them being that spectacular. Take Dark Cloud (I think the first PS2 game I played): sure it was better than PSX graphics, but later titles for the system were much better (even DC2 looked better, and I hear Kingdom Hearts II is amazing).

    The fired guy did have a good point about the fact that the PS3 seems somewhat nonexistant. I would consider myself a Sony fan (own bothPSX and PS2), but from everything I hear, it's sounding less and less likely that I'll be getting a PS3. Revolution it is, I guess...

    --
    "This thing does science so hard, you say, 'I've never seen that much science.'" -Sam
    1. Re:Launch titles by RoadDoggFL · · Score: 1

      Well DOA 3 and Soul Calibur both looked damn good even compared to games released late in their respective consoles' lives (however short-lived they may have been).

      --
      "This is considered plagiarism."
  16. Don't say anything, ever? by Threni · · Score: 5, Funny

    Not really. Just assume that what you type, wearing your pyjamas in your bedroom at 2:16 am after you've smoked a spliff and drunk some whisky is going straight to your boss/parents/partner.

  17. what's with the "dumb person got fired" news?? by corbettw · · Score: 4, Funny

    First that law student who was shocked, shocked!, that an IP firm would not want a lawyer on staff who is against IP (and who advocates breaking the law when you don't agree with it). Now we have a developer who's flabbergasted, flabbergasted!, that an employer would fire an employee for publicly dissing its product.

    Next up: a real estate agent is amazed, amazed!, when he loses a client after telling potential buyers "This is house is OK, but I wouldn't want to live here."

    --
    God invented whiskey so the Irish would not rule the world.
    1. Re:what's with the "dumb person got fired" news?? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      you'd get 6 billion mod points if i could give them to you.

      a-freaking-men.

    2. Re:what's with the "dumb person got fired" news?? by Antarius · · Score: 1, Offtopic

      I've got a submission to this category:
      When I was working at a supermarket while schooling, I got sick of the job and started mentioning the potential for faeces to be smeared all over the necrotic decomposing flesh that customers were buying...

      And thanks to Australia's "unfair dismissal" laws that were in effect at the time, I got to do it twice more before they could get rid of me.


      I like to think that I saved a cow or two during that week. (If only because the graphicness of my comments would have spoiled their appetite)


      My next goal, to infiltrate KFC and publicise their animal rights http://www.kentuckyfriedcruelty.com/ukinvest.asp> violations to customers, as well as point out to the kiddy's that their kids meal (featuring a happy, colourful chicken character called "Chicky") is containing their favourite friend Chicky.

      Of course, when I get fired by KFC for it, I expect a front page article on Slashdot. (My final punishment to KFC! Slashdot the bastards!)

    3. Re:what's with the "dumb person got fired" news?? by StikyPad · · Score: 1

      Man, you're making me hungry AND making me decide between chicken or beef. Aw hell, I'll just eat both. Chicken & beef fajitas, here I come!

      --
      https://www.eff.org/https-everywhere
  18. The subconscious mind. by Song+for+the+Deaf · · Score: 4, Interesting

    This has happened to me several times...where I've deleted a relationship, business or otherwise, by being brutally honest about it. The truth is that I always, deep down, wanted the relationship/job to end because I couldn't stand my internal bullshit meter going off every three seconds. Of course the opposite is also true, anything I truly want to be a part of will be afforded all maner of clemency.

    Maybe this guy just knew that coming up with games for this thing was going to be an ordeal and his subconscious pre-empted him.

    Then again, maybe this guy got fired because he is simply a classic dumbass.

    Either way, you're now free to go make those soon-to-be-classic-Xbox-360-games now, former Sony developer guy.

    1. Re:The subconscious mind. by Digital+Vomit · · Score: 4, Funny
      This has happened to me several times...where I've deleted a relationship...

      Are you talking about people or databases?

      ;-)

      --
      Modern copyright is theft of culture from everyone and it retards the progress of the useful arts and sciences.
    2. Re:The subconscious mind. by tsm_sf · · Score: 1

      What...is...the...differ...ence?

      -Jo5hua

      --
      Literalism isn't a form of humor, it's you being irritating.
    3. Re:The subconscious mind. by fbg111 · · Score: 1

      It's slashdot, what do you think he meant? ;)

      --
      Flying is easy, just throw yourself at the ground and miss. -Douglas Adams
  19. that was the very last thing I will say...ever by z0idberg · · Score: 3, Funny

    no..wait...that was the last thing I will ever say.

    no..wait..that was.

    dammit.

    I will never, ever say anything about anything ever. starting from.....now

  20. Is he maybe a MS spy? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Interesting

    Sent to cause FUD from the inside? ;)

  21. I take a different lesson from this by aminorex · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Specifically, don't *ever* work for Sony.

    --
    -I like my women like I like my tea: green-
    1. Re:I take a different lesson from this by schematix · · Score: 1
      Specifically, don't *ever* work for Sony.

      At least my chances of getting a job at Sony now are better since i won't have to compete with your dumb ass... not that you have the skills anyway i'm sure.

      --
      Scott
  22. What an complete idiot. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful
    Making comments that could potentially steal food out of your own mouth, and the mouths of your colleagues, is just stupid. He even admits to "dancing in the grey area." He fully deserved what he got.

    I absolutely doubt this had anything to do with Sony being a big old baddy and this guy was just an innocent blabbermouth surrounded by fools on the internet blowing things out of proportion. To cite myself as an example, I work at a non-profit organization. We receive donations, grants, and contracts based on our ability to show that we have a positive influence on the community we serve. If I were to publicize that a competing local non-profit was more efficient, maybe had a better client record, or in any other way deserved funding more than my org does, I would fully expect to be reprimanded (if not simply fired outright) for my comments - and I'm not under any kind of NDA that governs such behavior. It would just be a case of my employer protecting their ability to continue operations unhindered.

    He underscores his claim that he did not knowingly break NDA. Well, depending on the NDA he signed, that's irrelevant. Speaking to the detriment of your own work is certainly never wise, but it is especially foolish when you are bound by an NDA.

    And yes, I've read the article. You should too, to see what I'm talking about. Full text cache follows (no longer cached at any of the major sites):

    I've spent some time the past year developing for the PS3. Actually it was a cinematic demo to be shown at e3 in 2005 at a closed door viewing. I was one of the few artists selected to work on it for the demo. My job was primarily asset creation. I was creating assets to populate the path where our camera would be flying during the demo. The company I work for is also working on a launch title that I am quite familiar with. In short, I've spent some time around the PS3 and or the teams developing for it.

    I've really had to sit here and think for a long time about what my first comment about the PS3 would be. Will I say, its GREAT or will I give it two thumbs down. Well my immediate impression of the PS3 is...where is it? Seriously, where is it? They have a case, a controller and a dev kit. But the system still doesn't even exist. So what is there to say? We received one of 5 PS3 dev kits in the United States some time ago. Several companies in the US as well as companies over seas were given the daunting task of creating a demo in less than 9 weeks on a first generation dev kit. Now I'll be honest with you. What most companies do is fake the entire demo. I mean they come up with some great visuals and neat tricks and scripted events. In the end however, its not a real time demo and its not running ON the actual box. We were the only company to my knowledge that showed something that ran it live on the box. Even then it was a scripted event. You could not pause the camera and fly around the scene. So if you saw the demo once, you saw it again the exact same way the second time. Also this was on a brutally early dev box. You could always tell where the PS3 dev box was because it's the room that had the f-bomb coming out of it half the day.

    Lots of time has passed since that demo and the dev box has gone from a totally jimmy rigged computer and box of parts about the size of a small child, to a much more realistic size. Although its still the size of a normal pc. I have been pretty excited about the whole cell processing thing. I am not a very technical person but my understanding of it was pretty clear. (Multiple processors to handle individual events in parallel). Sounds pretty good to me! To hear people talk, you'd thing that a processor revolution was about to happen. So I've been pretty excited to say the least. Now in my opinion it doesn't matter how good the PS3 is. If the XBOX 360 is better, then it doesn't really matter how the cell processors work or how good they say it is. Realistically one of them will be better over all. Now I've spoken with

  23. loyalty and lack of judgement by moochfish · · Score: 2, Insightful

    the guy was fired for: a) showing a horrible lack of judgement in deciding to post all that in a public location b) disloyalty toward not only his NDA, but his company's product. his comments are hardly flattering toward something his own team is developing. Work as a pastry chef assistant and go tell potential customers about how much the pastries there suck. work as an editor and write a piece about how bad your paper's reporters are. this isn't news. you'd be fired for this in any other mass-market industry.

    1. Re:loyalty and lack of judgement by Karem+Lore · · Score: 1

      Neither. It was stupidity that he pasted the information with reference to his real identity. Any self-respecting developer/artist knows that if you are going to diss the product that your company makes then you do so from an anonymous stance (or at least a pseudonym.). Karem

      --
      When all is said and done, nothing changes...
  24. Two problems by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    1: He basically slammed the crap out of the product he was working on. It's awful hard to convince the boss you're doing your best on a product you publicly scorn.
    2: It doesn't take a large brain or advanced training to realize that airing such a view publicly, WHERE YOUR BOSS CAN SEE, is a bad career decision.
    3: With the amazing number of freaks of nature out there looking for any ammunition at all to slam the 360/PS3/Revolution, you can bet calling yourself a developer, and then slamming the system you work on is going to get a lot of play in message boards, and thus the mainstream at some point.
    4: Developer my patootie, he's an artist. Big difference.

  25. Double standards: or, how Slashdot sold out by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

    Whenever there's a story on governments oppressing free speech, Slashdot is filled with libertarians screaming about the 1st amendment and how glad they are to live in a country where you have a constitutional right to say whatever's on your mind.

    Whenever there's a story on corporations oppressing free speech, Slashdot is filled with corporate cocksuckers sneering about how people are stupid to dream of saying anything bad about their beloved $CORPORATION.

    Hypocrisy, anyone?

    1. Re:Double standards: or, how Slashdot sold out by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      There is a huge gigantic difference between a private entity restricting speech and a government entity restricting speech. Stupidity anyone?

    2. Re:Double standards: or, how Slashdot sold out by NeutronCowboy · · Score: 1

      How is two sets of people having two different opinions on some topics hypocrisy? Need a dictionary maybe?

      --
      Those who can, do. Those who can't, sue.
    3. Re:Double standards: or, how Slashdot sold out by fair_n_hite_451 · · Score: 1

      Look around. Most of the comments here aren't "Sony was right", they're "He was an idiot not to expect Sony to react exactly this way".
       
      No double standard here.

      --
      Reason why there is hope for the future generation #364:
      "I wish my grass was emo so it could cut itself."
    4. Re:Double standards: or, how Slashdot sold out by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Did you even read the comments? It is pretty much in agreement that this guy was just a dumbass... but then again, no matter what the situation, Slashdot is filled with people who can't be bothered to spend the time to know what they are commenting about and let everyone know about it.

      Well done.

    5. Re:Double standards: or, how Slashdot sold out by st1d · · Score: 1

      Not really, because when you narrow it down, the comments aren't so much about his being fired, but that he was so surprised, astonished, etc. The guy complains about his employer in a worldwide forum, and expects nothing to come from it? It would be more surprising if Sony did nothing about it.

      As for the government angle, all Sony did was fire him. They didn't take away his ability to continue to trash the company, nor did they execute him for doing so. Slight difference. :)

      If you were his employers, perhaps you could have found a way to deal with this better? Sure, you could chat with him, but quotes from the various interviews seem to indicate he had no interest in working things out. In fact, we haven't heard anything from Sony on the matter (which we likely never will, because discussing former employee situations is generally verbotin, from a legal standpoint), so assuming Sony is just "the evil employer" is just a little biased as well.

      Who knows, perhaps his manager(s) tried to reconcile the situation with him, and he gave them an attitude. Perhaps they asked him for input on how they could improve, and he refused. Perhaps it's just a matter of him not getting the review/salary increase he thought he deserved, or passed over for a promotion, or any of the other things that lead people to badmouth their employers.

      Regardless, just because people tend to think the guy brought his situation upon himself doesn't necessarily mean the same people are doing so because they worship "$CORPORATION". It simply means they have opinions, and the right and ability to express them. So did the guy in the story, and the result was that he got fired. So do you, and the result is that you come across a little clueless in your own right. :)

      --
      Microsoft has just released their much anticipated hands-free cordless mouse. Warning, it may hurt a little at first.
  26. Comments Mild-No Reason to Pull Trigger by Nom+du+Keyboard · · Score: 1
    Josh's comments are so mild that Sony has to be insane -- or very VERY scared about the problems with the PS3 -- to get upset over anything he said. Maybe they've been listening to their music too much lately and it has rootkit-ed their minds.

    It's also interesting how grateful he is that their upper management remembers the lowly artist's names. Perhaps he doesn't realize how much harder it is to replace good artists and management drones. I say that as a Maya 3D user myself, and not nearly as talented as what he shows on his own web-site.

    Now if someone could just point me to the article where he compares Maya to 3D Studio Max, I'd really like to read it.

    --
    "It's the height of ridiculousness to say for those 9 lines you get hundreds of millions."
    1. Re:Comments Mild-No Reason to Pull Trigger by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wasn't he fired by his company, a Sony game partner, not Sony itself? But yes, I'd agree this was insane whether it was Sony or his own company, as he makes some rather mild comments ( most demos are faked - really now), some vague stuff about the techy folks think xbox is better, but this is peanuts to the negative publicity now that this has been blasted across the internet like on /.

  27. interview with a vampire by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Should he have kept his mouth shut? Yes.

    Is he right about the lack of quality in games coming out for the PS3 compared to the Xbox 360? Yes.

    Should his bosses have listened to him and attempted to improve the quality of the product they were working on? Yes.

    Did they listen to him? No.

    Are the games still going to be shit? Yes.

    Did they fire him cause he revealed their incompetance? Yes.

    Did he deserve it? Yup.

    Do his managers deserve to be fired for hiring people who are producing crap and are going to ruin Sony's image and sales? Yea.

    Are they going to be? Nope.

    Is this fair? More or less that's the way it is.

    Was I going to buy a PS3 before I read this article? No, never had plans to.

    Has reading his opinion make any difference for me? Nope, just confirms what I already understood.

    Am I buying a 360? Not anytime soon, I've been dumping money into upgrading my computer.

    If I had to buy a console, which would I buy? 360.

    Does anyone on slashdot give a shit about my self-interview here? No.

    Am I that guy? No.

    Why are you anonymous then? Cause I'm lazy.

    Are you going to stop this? Yes, now.

    1. Re:interview with a vampire by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      Should his bosses have listened to him and attempted to improve the quality of the product they were working on? Yes.

      He didn't offer any specifics of what was wrong though. His technical issues were ones where his workmates "proceeded to go into a lot of technical info that I don't understand".

      There's not even any indication that he went to his bosses with any sort of issues or concerns. Where I work they would fire my ass if I went public with a rant saying my companies product sucked. That just has to be expected. On the otherhand if I thought things were getting off track, or I had a technical concern, or anything and I took it to my bosses, they'd listen and thank me. At worst nothing would happen. At best I'd have provided enough detail and possible solution that things would be fixed (and I'd get a big bonus).

  28. Do he know many people from Microsoft? by miffo.swe · · Score: 1

    "I've also talked with people on the technical side of the XBOX 360."

    That comment sparked a big question in my head right away. Do this guy have much contacts in Microsoft and if so, why? I would assume its not that smart talking to the opposite side about your own products capabilities and release dates and other sensetive information. My tinfoil is getting worn out but somehow i get the fealing something is wrong with this picture. I have a hard time imaging an engineer who have put enormous amounts of time into a project would deem a competitors product as much better, especially one thats a whole year older. I really wonder just where he got his better position and job offer.

    --
    HTTP/1.1 400
    1. Re:Do he know many people from Microsoft? by Babbster · · Score: 1

      Conferences, classes, conventions, etc. He could even simply have personal friends who went to work for someone else. It's not that unusual for employees of competitors to talk to each other. Unless he actually revealed proprietary information, there wouldn't even be anything wrong with applying for a job at a competitor while still employed.

  29. More to the point by vlad_petric · · Score: 1

    Would you buy a game knowing that its own developer doesn't believe in ?

    --

    The Raven

    1. Re:More to the point by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Uh, dummy, the guy isn't a 'developer'. He's nothing more than an artist.

      No one cares what artists have to say. Not even other artists...

  30. TS. by MarksManB · · Score: 1

    My ex-Marine instructors at the Law Enforcement Academy always said, "Remember the 11th Commandment: Thy shall keep thy mouth SHUT!"

  31. talking out his ass. by punisher18 · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    fact of the matter the product isnt out yet. this guy is a freaking dumbass and honestly hes a DUMBASS ... "Im just telling you what I am hearing. They proceeded to go into a lot of technical info that I don't understand. So I just nod" that technical info he doesnt understand is his job to know. now he did mention the dev kits.... "We received one of 5 PS3 dev kits in the United States some time ago." ONE of 5 ? my ass ! that some time ago there were 100 dev kits out in america , eruope , and japan simultaneously. . they had the same issues with the psp dev kits they were in such HIGH demand they were having trouble keeping up with the demand. as of currently there have been 4 THOUSAND dev kits sent out globally and now more being shipped because they can handle the demand and have even better smaller closer to spec dev kits. and ask for the whole f-bomb remark he made about the dev kits again he is talking out his ass! i honestly dont think he even touched the damn thing let alone see it. "" The preliminary development kit, code-named "Shreck," was a huge square metallic machine that ran with a 2.4GHz Cell chip and 256MB XDR memory. The machine got a face-lift during spring and was renamed to "Cytology," and it is currently about the size of a normal PC. Though it still runs at 2.4GHz, it comes with an upgraded memory size of 512MB. Kutaragi revealed that Sony plans to shrink the developer kit to the "rack mount" size of a server (around 19 inches wide) when the next, near-final version is released in December. Called the "PS3 Reference Tool," the kit will run at 3.2GHz, equal to the PS3's spec. Kutaragi commented that he also plans to offer a free-standing PS3 reference tool. "" http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/07/22/news_61296 11.html now if that company "not sony" that he worked on the demo for didnt look next gen to him or wasnt able to do some of the things he would have liked to have seen well then thats his fault as hes the one responsible for what populates the screen and how the camera is placed/what it the demo can do * playing from different angles etcetera*. plus he CANT speak for any of the other companies that made demos. this guy is a hack who wanted diss a machine not even out yet and even by his own words he worked with a VERY brutal early dev kit ie "shrek" . this guy is talking out his ass so bad he now has to be a brown nose-er so he doesnt get his ass sued by sony for talking out his ass so much. and again hes a DUMBASS only looking to piss off an old boss and get some crapy half ass notoriety and new job from sony competitors. not to mention the breaking of NDA of two employers! ..idiot!

    1. Re:talking out his ass. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ahh. The wondeful words of a pissed off fanboy.

    2. Re:talking out his ass. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      anyone who could post such a stream-of-consciousness line of B.S. should be fired :-)

      I did not even read your note. How's that for intelligent discussion? Use paragraph marks, dude. Use BR tags, whatever. I'm not reading your tripe. A block of chicken-scratch 6" tall is never going to win you karma points.

      And YES, I wince when "mute" and "moot" are mixed up, when "their" and "they're" are screwed up. I just don't post when i see them...this should let you know how friggin' serious it is when YOU screw up like YOU just have - misspell what you like, use incorrect grammar, but for pete's sake use g*damn paragraphs!

      NOTICE: this post uses paragraphs. Learn to use them the same way. 'View source' is the answer, you loser, if you have not used them before.

  32. So what's new? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    PS2 was harder to program than PS1 and PS2's competitors.
    PS3 is harder to program than PS2 and PS3's competitors.

    And Sony sucks as a company.

    What I want to know is WHY Sony keeps doing stupid/evil/bad things.

    1. Re:So what's new? by RealmRPGer · · Score: 1

      The way I heard it, PS3 is actually in some ways easier to develop for than the 360. It is only the initial reaction to the cell processor that made everyone flip out. For example, the PS3's gpu uses openGL, so most of the graphics functions are very comfortable to developers.

    2. Re:So what's new? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Speaking specifically about the graphics, have you ever written an OpenGL application where more than one thread was responsible for rendering? More than one processor?

      Seems the main argument against the new consoles is that most games don't lend themselves to a multi-processor architecture, as almost everything ties in with everything else, not that they use some new, wacky, graphics API...

    3. Re:So what's new? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "The way I heard it"? Well all I have to say is - we'll see.

      This former Sony (or affiliate, or whatever) employee kind of cements why I'm not too big on buying a console until it has been out for some time (like a year). Because it'll have few or weak games, and there is no after-market yet. Besides that launch titles often seem rushed (although, Halo and DOA3 were good launch titles that -imo- break the rule of the crappy rushed launch title).

      When is the PS3 coming out anyway? Is this a "when it's done" thingy?

  33. Put on your tinfoil hats by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Oh come on. He's a Microsoft plant that was paid to say those things so that the PS3 would look worse.

  34. I bet.. by Kuvter · · Score: 1

    he's got a good shot at being picked up by Microsoft now though.

    --
    "To be is to do." --Socrates
    "To do is to be." -- Aristotle
    "Do-Be-Do-Be-Do..." --Sinatra
  35. Re:Civ IV by Forbman · · Score: 1

    White, commercial cornish cross chickens are grown in big buildings. They live in/on their shit for 6-8 weeks. Doesn't matter if the chicken is going to KFC or to your grocery store. Fundamentally not very different at all. Unless you *KNOW* where the chicken you eat is coming from, despite whatever advertisements are on the packaging, you should assume that all of it, even that high-priced "free range" organic chicken is raised the same way.

    At their designated day to meat their destiny, they're loaded up on the floor into a conveyer beltish device, and stuffed 6-8 at a time into a rack of cages. The cages are loaded onto a semitruck trailer.

    Depending on the weather, some will die on the way to the plant (either too cold or too hot). Some will have broken legs (some of the chickens I caught had pretty soft bones), broken wings, bruises, etc. They're not treated all that gently.

    When I caught chickens ('84-'87), you walked in, grabbed 3 birds (held them each by one leg) in each hand, and walked them up to the truck, where the loaders stuffed them into the cages on the truck. Sometimes the birds pissed you off (chicken wings flapping against your radius/ulna kind of hurts. have someone do it to you with a broomstick if you're a doubter), so you did some "inhumane" things to them. Yeah, I worked with a few bastards who did things like "hey, watch me step on this chicken's head. Isn't that funny?". Fuck that, at the very least, why are you taking the time to do that sick shit when there's 30,000 more birds to pack out?

    Once at the plant, they're manually unloaded from the cages and hung onto the shackles of the processing machine. Part of that process sprays them off with water before dipping them into a tank of water with AC current in it to stun them, then their necks are cut by the machine (but the heads stay on, as they flap around much less than if their spinal cord is severed). For the smart ones that keep their necks out of the water and miss the knife, someone is there to cut it for them.

    Next, they're dipped into hot bleachy water, and then they go into a drum plucker. The entrails are removed, the gizzard, heart and liver separated, and their shanks are removed. From there they either get cut into pieces, wrapped whole, or whatever else is deemed appropriate. Mechanical separator? Maybe...mmm chicken nuggets.

    Sorry, I can't fault KFC anymore than I can fault Popeye's, Chick-Fil-A, McDonald's, Wendy's, or anyone else that sells chicken meat product. While KFC might contract with Perdue, Foster's, or whomever to get X tons of chicken meat a month, it's the GROWER and PROCESSOR who is responsible, not KFC.

    But in an industry that goes through millions of animals a month, at a high rate, and is itself pretty hard on its employees, well...some bad things are going to happen.

    Which is worse, Perdue locking all the emergency doors in its processing plants, prohibiting line workers from taking breaks (to the point where they just pee their pants), etc. (NC Perdue plant that caught on fire, where emergency exits were locked and several workers were killed because they couldn't get out...) or the occaisional chicken where someone gets all medieval on for some sick pleasure?

  36. Ummmmmm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What I want to know is WHY Sony keeps doing stupid/evil/bad things.

    People keep giving them money?

  37. nice script. by dartarrow · · Score: 1

    So I guess the new rule for me is, don't ever say anything at all about anything. Ever...ever."

    Is it just me or does that sound like a corny dialog from a reallly emo character in a c grade movie....?

    --
    I love humanity, it is people I hate
  38. "What boss would put up with that?" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The kind of boss who values his job over putting out a quality product. Oh, wait, we were talking about Sony... gee, now I'm guilty of "stating the bleeding obvious" on /. again.

  39. mod parent up. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    He's absolutley right. BOTH are true. He called them out, they deserved it, he deserved the firing.

    Am I buying a 360? Not anytime soon, I've been dumping money into upgrading my computer.

    I need more than two hands to count the number of folks I know who have celebrated the Xbox 360's release by buying a GeForce 6800 or a gig of ram. Strange, the new consoles might end up re-invigorating the PC market, I certainly wouldn't have a problem with that.

  40. He is a martyr now... by mavi_yelken · · Score: 1

    OK, for whatever reason, he criticised PS3. If you RTFA, the stuff he mentions sound pretty well founded. By firing him, he was made orders of magnitude famous and many more people are going to read him saying "The XBOX 360 is better". From a developer who was fired for his comments. They gave him credibility, the situation is similar to making a martyr out of an organization's leader by assassinating him. In the long run, it might well turn back on them. just think about Malcolm X and Martin Luther King. I am aware this analogy have flaws, but it illustrates my point IMHO.

  41. Yes, you're absolutely right by Concern · · Score: 1

    Not really apropos of this guy or anything covered under NDAs, but yeah, I know what you mean. Even outside the games business itself I've been in really excruciating positions, working for big companies whose policies I despised, for instance.

    I usually cope through a combination of anonymity, discretion, and just talking and daring them to do something. There have been a few times (not in the game industry, but with other big corporations) where I basically wanted to get fired for my opinion, and ended up almost trying to do it, but didn't succeed. It all depends on how provocative you are, and how "important" you are at a given time. I probably burned a bridge or two that way. But that's a bit different from what you're talking about.

    It's sickening that there's a sense of entitlement to your "loyalty" in some businesses... that there's even a figment on the part of some execs and managers that they own your speech and behavior outside the office. In a way it's a bigger question. In a communist country your loyalty is required by the state. In a capitalist country, it's demanded by the corporation, or more basically, by the dollar. You're usually employed "at will," so your freedom in anything is determined by how much you need the job, and how much the job needs you.

    The only reason it's not unlivable is that bosses usually do the decent thing and have some respect. Part of the reason for that, too, is that we all just keep talking, respectfully, honestly, and intelligently, and basically daring them, together... If the law won't protect us, then there's a thin cultural last line of defense - strength in numbers.

    --
    Tired of Political Trolls? Opt Out!
  42. hire Tyler Durden to write their NDA... by stevea1210 · · Score: 1

    The first rule of Fight Club is - you do not talk about Fight Club. The second rule of Fight Club is - you DO NOT talk about Fight Club.

  43. Why wouldn' he be fired? by shotgunefx · · Score: 1

    Read the original article. Makes the PS3 sound like shit and that it's doomed to fail before it arrives.

    Better yet, he repeats heresay that he doesn't understand, as to why the 360 is better.

    If it were my decision, I'd fire him and kick him in the ass on the way out.

    --

    -William Shatner can be neither created nor destroyed.
  44. no, that wasn't why by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "i have lost more than one job for having the "wrong opinion, political view, etc"."

    You lost your job because you overestimated your worth to the company.

    I find people who think they lost their job over their opinion usually lost it because they were a pain in the ass and didn't realize it. I can already tell you fit into that category.

  45. Moron violated NDA without knowing it. by digital+photo · · Score: 1

    Dude, you released information online regarding the status, or perceived status, of the PS3 system's state of build. You did this as a person with inside information. That violates your NDA.

    Here's another snippet of the guy's post that isn't neutral:

    "Now in my opinion it doesn't matter how good the PS3 is. If the XBOX 360 is better, then it doesn't really matter how the cell processors work or how good they say it is."

    So, as an insider and as someone who worked on the PS3 content, you are making a statement that the XBOX is better, thus saying that while you work on the PS3 stuff, it is bad. How does that not violate your contract? You should be glad Sony doesn't sue you for potential Libel.

    Another snippet:

    "We've all seen Gears of War for the xbox 360. If that even looks half as good when it comes out then I'll be floored! The game we are making isn't even in the same league as Gears of War. In fact there are many current games out that look just as good and are using the exact same specs. So, on our end we are either not pushing the bar or were just trying to "get a title out"."

    Releasing comparative information regarding unreleased games being produced for the PS3. Also potential violation of NDA.

    Same kind of thing here regarding timetables:

    "Our game just keeps getting moved back....and back.....and back.....and back. Again, where is the box? Where is the final system? When is it coming out? No one knows and in the mean time people in the industry are starting to get just a little salty. I mean I was at e3 2005 and PS3 was almost no where to be seen."

    Btw, the people who are getting "salty" are who exactly? Certainly not the Japanese. The statement basically draws the conclusion that since it wasn't highly visible at E3, that the device is basically incomplete/non-productional. As someone who is contracted/employed to work on the games for the system, comments like that hold some weight. NDA violation or Libel. Potential to sue for damages in lost sales, etc.

    As for his comments of:

    "I can't believe how out of control everything got," he said. "It's absolutely absurd how the Internet can take something relatively harmless and turn it into something so insane... Did I knowingly break NDA? I absolutely did not. I would never do that and I would never want to hurt Sony Online. Did I dance in the grey area by even opening my mouth? Yes I did and I was fired for it. So I guess the new rule for me is, don't ever say anything at all about anything. Ever...ever."

    If he was a normal person who did not work for Sony or develop on titles relating to Sony's PS3, then his comments could be taken as such: The common opinions of another gamer. But, he worked for Sony. He expressed opinions regarding the company, the product, the internal processes, and the timelines and timetables of games. He revealed information regarding the demos at the E3 event and regarding the level of detail regarding games being developed. From a legal standpoint, yes, he violated NDA. If that is something he doesn't realise, then he does not understand NDA's thoroughly enough.

    By making the comments that he did, he DID hurt Sony. To have one of your internal developers basically bashing on the system, the company practices, second guess the marketing methodology, and promoting the competitor's hardware platform. That counts as hurting Sony.

    The internet didn't blow it out of proportion. The internet demonstrated how a leak from an insider can get spread VERY rapidly and result in waves of opinion, which can affect Sony's stock value, the potential sales of their platform, and the potential sales of their competitor's platform. The internet brought his comments to the attention of the media and to the companies, but he was the one who decided to post his thoughts and opinions about inner workings of the company he worked for. The internet didn't force him to do that. It didn't force him to support a competing product and to deride the product(s) he was wo

    --

    Winged Power Photography
  46. This is typical for a new non-Von architecture by Animats · · Score: 1
    This is about what you'd expect for a new non-Von Neumann architecture. It's going to take a while to figure out what to do with an array of cell processors. This stuff isn't easy. Figuring out how to split things up, parallelize them, and deal with the limitations on intercommunication is hard.

    The PS2 had many of the same problems. In the PS2, most of the processing power is in the vector units; the "main CPU" is relatively weak. It took about a year for developers to figure out how to push more of the work out to the vector units. Graphics weren't that hard, but physics had to be pushed out, and that was tough. (Especially since the PS2 only had a 32-bit FPU, which meant you couldn't use some of the better approaches. But that's another story.)

    As a result, the first year of PS2 games was rather disappointing. It took about a year before developers really figured out how to use the beast effectively.

    In the latest round, both of the major players have wierd architectures. Which is why the games that launched with the XBox 360 aren't that impressive. It will probably take a year to get that platform figured out.

  47. Negras by ImaLamer · · Score: 1

    Not giving *any* reason when firing sounds like "Right to discriminate".

    It's hard to prove that the boss fired you because you were Black when they gave no reason at all...

    --
    Get your Unix fortune now!