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[Massive Duck. C.M.]

I don't think feeling that the dismissal was justified, and having some empathy for this young father and the plight he is experiencing partly due to the way something he said blew up on the internet, are mutually exclusive concepts.

The fact that he has a family to support should have burned that NDA into his brain. I feel bad for the wife and child.

 

[jholmes]

"Massive breach"? Unless I'm missing a development somewhere along the way in this thread from the first few pages, I wouldn't call a podcast that.

Well the guy sat down and badmouthed the fans, senior employees, probably broke NDA any number of times. So yes it was a breach, and given that it covered any number of topics, I'd call it massive.

Not as massive a breach in conduct as Patrick Kane though! But hey your money, don't buy the Wii U. Not my business.

 

[metalslimer]

"Massive breach"? Unless I'm missing a development somewhere along the way in this thread from the first few pages, I wouldn't call a podcast that.

Try doing this at any major company with an Nda and see where it gets you.

 

[Calamari41]

Try doing this at any major company with an Nda and see where it gets you.

Any company period.

 

[victreeb3l]

Feel bad for the dude.

 

[wsoxfan1214]

You break rules, you pay the price.

NDAs are nothing to sneeze at.

The original post was meant to be more off an off-handed joke in the first place.

That said, it did leave a bit of a sour taste, but fair enough.

Just sucks, hate seeing companies that don't tolerate inside criticism well. Not that it's uncommon, unfortunately. Fair point about the NDA, however. Didn't see that part.

Edit: as for the Kane thing, I haven't sat down to edit another avatar without Kane in it. I'm sure you can look through my posting history and find about ten thousand examples of me not being a fan of Kane as a citizen. Even before this shit.

 

[jgwhiteus]

The original post was meant to be more off an off-handed joke in the first place.

That said, it did leave a bit of a sour taste, but fair enough.

Just sucks, hate seeing companies that don't tolerate inside criticism well. Not that it's uncommon, unfortunately.

Edit: as for the Kane thing, I haven't sat down to edit another avatar without Kane in it. I'm sure you can look through my posting history and find about ten thousand examples of me not being a fan of Kane as a citizen. Even before this shit.

But there's a difference between "inside criticism" and "inside criticism you broadcast on the Internet to be picked up by multiple media outlets in different countries."

Sure, badmouth your employer among fellow employees, even raise your concerns to management, but it's generally not a good idea to do so on podcasts or social media where anyone and everyone can pick it up or read it, especially if it involves internal, confidential information.

 

[Freshmaker]

I don't think feeling that the dismissal was justified, and having some empathy for this young father and the plight he is experiencing partly due to the way something he said blew up on the internet, are mutually exclusive concepts.

That's kinda the point of a podcast...

 

[Apt101]

I had a feeling this was coming when I read the original thread on the topic. It didn't seem like the kind of information a company would want shared without their approval. Shame though, it's not like it would have done any real harm to the company IMO. Then again, I am not sure I read the entire interview or really absorbed it (I may have been inebriated at the time).

 

[Theanine3D]

I feel bad for the guy. I don't agree with anything he said but I didn't want him fired over it. Nintendo should have at most just disciplined him and warned him not to speak publicly about the company again. Really sucks for the guy. I know I'd be devastated to be fired from a company I grew up with like Nintendo.

EDIT: Wait, he broke NDA? Well, I guess he technically asked for this. Still sucks for his family though!

 

[Gleethor]

Now obviously hindsight is 20/20, but I'm seeing a lot of posts here saying that its not surprising that he was fired. In the original podcast controversy thread, I hardly saw any posts speculating that he would be fired (though plenty disagreed with his comments) and I read through quite a bit of that thread. Maybe I missed those posts though.

I remember listening to the podcast last week and silently wondering "this is all a really interesting peak behind the Nintendo curtain, but is he really allowed to talk about this?" but I never actually thought he'd be axed.

 

[ShockingAlberto]

Now obviously hindsight is 20/20, but I'm seeing a lot of posts here saying that its not surprising that he was fired. In the original podcast controversy thread, I hardly saw any posts speculating that he would be fired (though plenty disagreed with his comments) and I read through quite a bit of that thread. Maybe I missed those posts though.

I remember listening to the podcast last week and silently wondering "this is all a really interesting peak behind the Nintendo curtain, but is he really allowed to talk about this?" but I never actually thought he'd be axed.

This was my nice way of saying it.

I think, no matter what else, Nintendo's certainly not going to let people go off reservation like this a lot more.

 

[Neuromancer]

Now obviously hindsight is 20/20, but I'm seeing a lot of posts here saying that its not surprising that he was fired. In the original podcast controversy thread, I hardly saw any posts speculating that he would be fired (though plenty disagreed with his comments) and I read through quite a bit of that thread. Maybe I missed those posts though.

I remember listening to the podcast last week and silently wondering "this is all a really interesting peak behind the Nintendo curtain, but is he really allowed to talk about this?" but I never actually thought he'd be axed.

I assumed from skimming over that thread (wrongly, obviously) that he had permission to appear on the show.

 

[Zambayoshi]

I appreciate the sentiment but I don't know if that's really a good idea. There's a certain level of detachment that is preferred in a professional setting. Having fun at work is fine, but I think if you "live and breathe Nintendo," working for them might not be the best course of action.

How the sausage is made, and all that....

Yeah I understand what you're saying, but Chris apparently thought the job was the bee's knees, after being his holy grail for many years.

 

[Demoskinos]

I can't really feel bad for this guy. I mean, sucks he lost his dream job but also pretty much every major publicly traded company have social media guidelines now days. If you're going to say something even remotely controversial about your employer in a public forum be ready to accept the consequences of that.

 

[Imbarkus]

That's kinda the point of a podcast...

The dismissal was justified, I said, dammit.

But the dread came up when the coverage came up. If this had snuck by unnoticed, without the hubbub, this kid would be fine.

My podcast been sneaking by unnoticed for years ba-dum-tish.

 

[skyhaven]

Too bad.
That 100k study loan is absurd though.

 

[Terrell]

I think the tipping point for NoA was probably some combination of conjecture regarding the decisions of the executive branch and the way he discussed the fanbase. I can't imagine anyone in top brass would be happy about either of those things, since they're part of the public record now, whether they reflect the company or not.

 

[cloudstrife]

We will miss you, Chris-kun.

 

[Regulus Tera]

I don't even think he's the only Nintendo employee to be fired for an NDA breach within the past year - didn't whoever leaked the Smash 3DS ESRB footage (which revealed some fighters) also end up being fired, because they forwarded it to a friend who leaked it to the internet? It's not like regular employees at Nintendo are unaware of what happens when confidential details get leaked.

afaik the person who leaked the Smash 3DS footage and CSS was an ESRB employee, not a Nintendo one. He was nonetheless fired and, last thing we heard, was getting sued by NoA.

This was already covered and corrected.

 

[bon]

I'm not sure what he expected to happen. There's a reason why you don't see random employees candidly talking about the game companies they work for on podcasts all the time, and well, this is it.

I hope he and his family land on their feet.

 

[SinCityAssassin]

Now obviously hindsight is 20/20, but I'm seeing a lot of posts here saying that its not surprising that he was fired. In the original podcast controversy thread, I hardly saw any posts speculating that he would be fired (though plenty disagreed with his comments) and I read through quite a bit of that thread. Maybe I missed those posts though.

I remember listening to the podcast last week and silently wondering "this is all a really interesting peak behind the Nintendo curtain, but is he really allowed to talk about this?" but I never actually thought he'd be axed.

I had assumed he DID get permission to act on their behalf and talk about points approved by his employer to talk about, otherwise why would he risk that much? Which is why a lot of people thought Nintendo was willingly opening a curtain into their company. Obviously that isn't the case now.

 

[NintendoGal]

Now obviously hindsight is 20/20, but I'm seeing a lot of posts here saying that its not surprising that he was fired. In the original podcast controversy thread, I hardly saw any posts speculating that he would be fired (though plenty disagreed with his comments) and I read through quite a bit of that thread. Maybe I missed those posts though.

I remember listening to the podcast last week and silently wondering "this is all a really interesting peak behind the Nintendo curtain, but is he really allowed to talk about this?" but I never actually thought he'd be axed.

I may not have said it publicly, but when I saw the rundown on what he had said, I did comment to my husband that he was probably toast, which got a nod. Unprovable, but that's all I got.

 

[Masked Man]

In listening back to the podcast in question, I realize the Xenoblade condescension and Sakurai portrait was pretty questionable, but all that SF0 talk is so dangerous. Talk about an upcoming title outside of approved channels is a big no-no—even from a common sense perspective—so Chris getting fired is even less surprising now.

 

[Americanmushroom]

Euhm I read OP and the facebook post and I still don't understand.. What happened on the podcast?

 

[iBlue]

I feel bad for him, imagine working for Nintendo just to be fired.. damn. I wish him the best.

 

[Suikoguy]

Euhm I read OP and the facebook post and I still don't understand.. What happened on the podcast?

Nintendo values secrecy above motivated and dedicated employees. That's what happened.

 

[SinCityAssassin]

Euhm I read OP and the facebook post and I still don't understand.. What happened on the podcast?

The dude was a Treehouse employee and talked about a number of insider subjects that even he knew he didn't exactly clear with Nintendo first, which breaks NDA, he also said bad things about some of Nintendo's partners i.e. Sakurai and Square Enix, and mocked niche game audiences on the subject of localizing titles.

 

[Terrell]

Nintendo values secrecy above motivated and dedicated employees. That's what happened.

I find it funny how an employee talking down to their fanbase and making unapproved AND unprovable statements about upper management in a public environment and getting negative press attention for doing so equals "valuing secrecy over its employees". Because it sounds like grounds for dismissal at any company to me.

 

[Lothars]

I find it funny how an employee talking down to their fanbase and making unapproved AND unprovable statements about upper management in a public environment and getting negative press attention for doing so equals "valuing secrecy over its employees".

I don't feel he talked down to the fanbase.

 

[Terrell]

I don't feel he talked down to the fanbase.

Mimicking the hardcore fanbase in an intentionally nasal whiney voice and basically saying "look at you, what you want doesn't matter" isn't talking down to people?

....... K.

 

[Kageshinzo]

Nintendo values secrecy above motivated and dedicated employees. That's what happened.

Yes. This is why NCL heads opted to have their salary slashed down rather than fire employees when they were in the red a couple of years back. Because they placed less value on motivated and dedicated employees.

 

[a.wd]

I feel terrible for the guy, a passionate and dedicated supporter who ran afoul of some corporate bullshit. It's a real shame.

 

[Bleeether]

I don't feel he talked down to the fanbase.

Come on dude, did u actually LISTEN to the podcast? The freaking voice he was making to mimic their fans was so annoying. He was clearly insulting them.

 

[It's Reyn Time!]

Seems about right that he was fired. I wonder which company will hire him as some kind of PR stunt only to stick him somewhere as the tea boy.

 

[TheAutomator]

Poor dude. Made a single mistake and got brutally punished. This is why I hate corps!

 

[TheGreatMightyPoo]

Seems about right that he was fired. I wonder which company will hire him as some kind of PR stunt only to stick him somewhere as the tea boy.

Trump.

 

[daxy]

The people that got offended by that podcast perhaps identify themselves a bit too much with this or that gamer thing than is healthy for them. People can be a bit rude from time to time. It's a thing that happens. Regularly even. Don't take it to heart?

It's probably the other stuff he discussed during that session that got him in trouble anyway.

 

[Slavik81]

How'd he breach an NDA? I've read back a few pages but can't find where that's stated.

 

[skyhaven]

Would like to highlight it wasn't the fans' outrage that landed him in hot water in the first place.
Stop blaming other people, really. Even the guy admits it was his own mistake for running his mouth.

The rest of the melodrama details in his FB was just venting off, reading it increased my blood pressure a bit.

 

[Dynamite Shikoku]

What on earth did he think he would gain by doing that interview? Why would you risk your job like that?

 

[TheAutomator]

The people that got offended by that podcast perhaps identify themselves a bit too much with this or that gamer thing than is healthy for them. People can be a bit rude from time to time. It's a thing that happens. Regularly even. Don't take it to heart?

It's probably the other stuff he discussed during that session that got him in trouble anyway.

Looking at this thread some people are still offended it seems. Amazing.

 

[Ke0]

Wait wait wait. This guy had over $100k in student loan debts AND a house? In Washington? AND a child?! How much does Nintendo pay people exactly?!?! Oh man if that were me and I lost my job, I'd be on suicide watch. Never letting my children move to America for school.

 

[Heavy's Sandvich]

Talk plop get the chop.

I wish him the best and I hope he can bounce back sharpish.

 

[Castef]

You break rules, you pay the price.

NDAs are nothing to sneeze at.

Heh, basically this one.

I have a very similar NDA in my job (and also in the previous one, which was cinema-related) and would never, ever talk about details of what my company does.

The clauses in the contracts and in the other documents are very, very clear.

I wonder what he was thinking when he said that huge amount of things. Seems to me impossible that he was not thinking at consequences.

 

[Nibel]

Euhm I read OP and the facebook post and I still don't understand.. What happened on the podcast?

He stepped out of line and that's it. Blame Nintendo, blame whiny gamers, but in the end he kinda did this to himself.

 

[Castef]

Also, reading some of the reactions here on NeoGaf... heh, guys... good luck for when you'll finish school and enter the work world. You'll REALLY need it.

 

[$h@d0w]

What on earth did he think he would gain by doing that interview? Why would you risk your job like that?

I don't know, apparently internet fame is really worth more than a job at Nintendo.

 

[kitchenmotors]

Nintendo values secrecy above motivated and dedicated employees. That's what happened.

I bet this is a drive you post, but it shows that you know nothing about the topic and are just reacting instead of informing yourself of the situation. Good on you!

 

[dreamcastmaster]

Now obviously hindsight is 20/20, but I'm seeing a lot of posts here saying that its not surprising that he was fired. In the original podcast controversy thread, I hardly saw any posts speculating that he would be fired (though plenty disagreed with his comments) and I read through quite a bit of that thread. Maybe I missed those posts though.

I remember listening to the podcast last week and silently wondering "this is all a really interesting peak behind the Nintendo curtain, but is he really allowed to talk about this?" but I never actually thought he'd be axed.

I was going to post in that topic, and I may have done that "someone's going to get fired". I've worked I the industry for many years and that was a textbook example of speaking publicly as a company employee and being very off message. His elitist "dumb nasally voice" rubbed me up the wrong way but others has already called it so didn't need me calling it out.

He had good points, didn't present them professionally. Bottom line was I didn't warm to him.

Then I read he'd been rightfully fired. Before even reading that wall of text Facebook post I knew what the content would be. Massive sympathy vote post attempting to appeal to as many groups as possible and playing the victim. Sorry but it's all his own fault.

Dumb nasally voice...