[Vanguard] F13's Interview with Brad McQuaid - Page 17

Dis · 05-17-2007, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aradune Mithara

stuff

That is fine and all, but for a major publisher to drop you (or allow you to leave) is kind of a big deal. From the outside looking in, I wonder why MS changed their teams, or team philosphy on how to interact with Sigil? Could it be mismanagement, poor cost control, lack of follow through with promises or deadlines that were initially missed? I dont care what company you work for, 30 million dollars is lot to write off. Microsoft must have had some serious allegations to do so? What are we missing here?

r.gun · 05-17-2007, 04:04 PM

I was at E3 2005, and actually got a chance to sit down with Brad and Jeff for one of their presentations. I can vouch for Brad on one thing - Microsoft was pimping Zoo Tycoon more than they were Vanguard and Sigil. Vanguard had some small room in the corner on the second floor of their massive booth, while Zoo Tycoon was center stage right close to their media desk.

Lost Ranger · 05-17-2007, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by r.gun

I was at E3 2005, and actually got a chance to sit down with Brad and Jeff for one of their presentations. I can vouch for Brad on one thing - Microsoft was pimping Zoo Tycoon more than they were Vanguard and Sigil. Vanguard had some small room in the corner on the second floor of their massive booth, while Zoo Tycoon was center stage right close to their media desk.

Maybe MS knew it was going to be ass even back then and didnt want to give it center stage?

Aradune Mithara · 05-17-2007, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ravensign

Brad, you should have been there when they got fired.

Technically you are right, but emotionally it was just something I couldn't handle. I imagine I will regret it, and already do, but one has to take care of oneself emotionally as well. I and otheres tried for months to keep Sigil afloat -- this was something I and a few others knew was a likely possibility and we discussed it and decided I wasn't the best person to handle it given the emotional pain I was feeling.

That's really all I can say at this point. Again, you are probably right in general, and certainly right technically. I was the CEO afterall. And while I was capable of being CEO most of the time, perhaps this is a good example of an area I'm simply weak at. In fact, it is. The counterpoint would be that while I do not compartmentalize well and don't handle these situations very well, the reason is how much I cared about all of those people and the company. A good friend of mine has said in the past: the best thing about Brad is that he cares so much; the worst thing about Brad is that he cares so much. So in one way of looking at it, it's a flaw. But perhaps not in all ways. Sometimes the stone-cold CEO is who you want in certain situations, but often times it's not. So this may well be a flaw, but overall, I am not ashamed of the person I am and how much I care about projects and people and their futures. Overall I think this personality trait has done me much more good than harm in the last 10+ years being involved in this industry, mostly as a manager of some sort.

YourMom · 05-17-2007, 04:08 PM

Most likely because MS estimated Zoo Tycoon to bring in more $$.

Aradune Mithara · 05-17-2007, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dis

That is fine and all, but for a major publisher to drop you (or allow you to leave) is kind of a big deal. From the outside looking in, I wonder why MS changed their teams, or team philosphy on how to interact with Sigil? Could it be mismanagement, poor cost control, lack of follow through with promises or deadlines that were initially missed? I dont care what company you work for, 30 million dollars is lot to write off. Microsoft must have had some serious allegations to do so? What are we missing here?

The change that occured happened to all of Microsoft's gaming group -- I don't know why. I can speculate and have personally, but I don't think my speculation, from the outside looking in, and not knowing all that occured or was occuring is something I should post.

Gorthor · 05-17-2007, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dis

What are we missing here?

The quality of the product.

See there comes a time when you look what you got for your money. When you realize that it does not meet expectations, you either cancel it and get out with a known loss, or you throw more money at it without knowing what the outcome will look like.

This looks, smells and feels like a standard business decision, just on a bigger scale e.g. MS scale.

voodoochile78 · 05-17-2007, 04:11 PM

Brad, do you have any regrets in cultivating what essentially was a masochistic cult who chased potential players away with lines like "maybe this game isn't for you?" and others?

Did this masochistic cult have any impact on game development? At least initially, I know you guys eventually made strides away from things like ridiculous corpse runs, which really pissed off the cult. But in early development, did they provide reinforcement that essentially took you in the wrong direction?

ashatumar · 05-17-2007, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Froofy-D

Thanks for the clarification Brad. As someone mentioned above, get a book deal. I bet a lot of people would buy it.

PS: Brad posted so this thread will be huge. Gonna go ahead and mention Hitler, just to get it out of the way early.

lol Godwin Theory

Seths · 05-17-2007, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aradune Mithara

making it shorter

The problem wasn't your publishers. The problem isn't with the talent of the Sigil team, though I guess that ends up being debatable since from what I've read in emails the wrong "team" or faction won the jobs over at Sony, and the game is heading in the wrong direction from what the players want...but thats beside the point I guess for now.

The problem lies with Sigil the company, and how it was run. Maybe Vanguard would have been that hit you were all looking for if you hadn't ran the company like utter ass. By "you" I mean the collective management team.

woqqqa · 05-17-2007, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twobit Whore

Sounds like someone is just trying to cover their own ass so Bill Gates doesn't blacklist them from life.

Bah, he's not worth listening to. I suggest ignoring him. Given his prior record in regards to being honest with the FoH community, I fail to see why we ought to believe what he's posting now.

Ape · 05-17-2007, 04:14 PM

Hey Brad now you have a bit of spare time you should try rolling an undead rogue in WoW. It seems like a crazy idea but playing WoW for a while might give you some ideas for your next project.

kcxiv · 05-17-2007, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by woqqqa

Bah, he's not worth listening to. I suggest ignoring him. Given his prior record in regards to being honest with the FoH community, I fail to see why we ought to believe what he's posting now.

This is what you fucking live for though. You know its worth reading. If it wasnt, you wouldnt have 20 posts in this thread.

woqqqa · 05-17-2007, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcxiv

This is what you fucking live for though. You know its worth reading. If it wasnt, you wouldnt have 20 posts in this thread.

Oh seriously, shut the fuck up...take your stupid grudge elsewhere. This thread was discussing what we on the board thought of Sigil, the development process and the like (with a couple of large derails). This doesn't mean I'd like to hear Brad's latest PR spinning bullshit. I think he's shown how much we can trust him.

The Edge · 05-17-2007, 04:20 PM

The impression that a lot of us are getting from the news this week is that Vanguard is done for. What do you expect to see happen with the game? Are you still optimistic?

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05-17-2007, 04:04 PM	#242 (permalink)
r.gun Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 515 -2 Internets	I was at E3 2005, and actually got a chance to sit down with Brad and Jeff for one of their presentations. I can vouch for Brad on one thing - Microsoft was pimping Zoo Tycoon more than they were Vanguard and Sigil. Vanguard had some small room in the corner on the second floor of their massive booth, while Zoo Tycoon was center stage right close to their media desk.

05-17-2007, 04:08 PM	#245 (permalink)
YourMom Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Near you Posts: 187 -11 Internets	Most likely because MS estimated Zoo Tycoon to bring in more $$.

05-17-2007, 04:11 PM	#248 (permalink)
voodoochile78 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 645 -20 Internets	Brad, do you have any regrets in cultivating what essentially was a masochistic cult who chased potential players away with lines like "maybe this game isn't for you?" and others? Did this masochistic cult have any impact on game development? At least initially, I know you guys eventually made strides away from things like ridiculous corpse runs, which really pissed off the cult. But in early development, did they provide reinforcement that essentially took you in the wrong direction?

05-17-2007, 04:14 PM	#252 (permalink)
Ape Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 165 -3 Internets	Hey Brad now you have a bit of spare time you should try rolling an undead rogue in WoW. It seems like a crazy idea but playing WoW for a while might give you some ideas for your next project.

05-17-2007, 04:20 PM	#255 (permalink)
The Edge Separation is an Illusion Join Date: May 2005 Location: No Posts: 677	The impression that a lot of us are getting from the news this week is that Vanguard is done for. What do you expect to see happen with the game? Are you still optimistic?