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[Enjay]

Her and Phil Fish forming their own studio would be megaton.

 

[SmokedMeat]

Death threats over Bayonetta 2
Death threats over CoD tweaks
Death threats over Dragon Age 2's writing

Who knows of all of the others we haven't heard about. It makes me sick to think of the scum that I have to share this great hobby with.

 

[Walshicus]

Mother of gods - no.

Just no.

You don't get to throw death threats at employees because a company won't respond to your emails, or if you feel the company is doing stuff you don't like. You simply don't get to do that, full stop, and it isn't justified. what sort of crazy world do people live in - do you threaten to kill a Mcdonalds employee when they take the special of the month off the menu?

This.

 

[Taiser]

Death threats... over a video game...

MGS Creator Received Death Threats

When speaking about why he decided to head MGS4 Hideo Kojima reviled that he had received a number of death threats after announcing that he would be less involved in the project.
"The staff heard about this and got very nervous," said Kojima. "We talk today as if it was a joke, but at the time, it was not a joke at all. It was serious."

 

[Durante]

He called her a terrible writer.

After reading which parts of the games she was responsible for, that seems accurate enough.

Obviously it's a terrible thing that she received these threats and felt sufficiently endangered to leave the company, but that doesn't make her track record any better.

 

[digoutyoursoul]

Death threats over Bayonetta 2
Death threats over CoD tweaks
Death threats over Dragon Age 2's writing

Who knows of all of the others we haven't heard about. It makes me sick to think of the scum that I have to share this great hobby with.

I couldn't help but think of Mac Walters and wondering the abuse he took.

 

[Afrikan]

you mean some people really do that,

go on the internet to threaten people's children?



fake edit- but seriously, is it still too hard to find folks who do this? Some need to be made examples of.

 

[Kizer]

I don't really feel sad that she is leaving since I feel her writing is terrible(actually just found out the writer was a woman. I guess I don't follow this drama much). I do feel bad about how it happened, however.

 

[JaseC]

The short summary is that NASA is using video games to soften the reveal of these things. Not that there actually is a Chief, but that AIs are real, and that the Halo rings are alien structures we actually found, and that the Bungie devs are prophets.

Sounds legit.

MGS Creator Received Death Threats

When speaking about why he decided to head MGS4 Hideo Kojima reviled that he had received a number of death threats after announcing that he would be less involved in the project.
"The staff heard about this and got very nervous," said Kojima. "We talk today as if it was a joke, but at the time, it was not a joke at all. It was serious."

I don't know about you guys, but sending death threats to Kojima because of his decision to not direct MGS4, which, if were carried out, would have prevented him from directing any future MGS title, makes perfect sense to me.

 

[The Gaming Zen]

This is disgusting and embarrassing as a gamer. If these people ever get caught they should be lived streamed on Twitch and berated for the piece of shit that they are. I hope more articles like this help bring some awareness and respect for the people who bust their ass to bring joy to our everyday lives.

 

[Vagabundo]

Support of insult

You do know that "being smart" is a turn of phrase? Of course you do, you're not stupid*.


*That's not a complement BTW.

 

[honorless]

Again, I think it was what she said more than her biology. Angry fans were looking for a target, and here comes a YouTube video on a platter. People will target her gender in the process, but a lot of that is merely a lazy attempt to cut deep. If you're fat, they'll use that. If you're a woman, they'll use that. If you're black, they'll use that. Whatever they can to get under your skin the deepest. It comes from a place of doing whatever they possibly can to hurt you verbally more than it comes from some serious anti-female agenda.

Think for a second: why would being a woman, or being fat, or being black be considered a "useful" attribute when it comes to hurting someone?

If someone does not actually believe that being in one of these categories is inherently bad; if those attributes did not put someone lower on the totem pole in society—then it would make absolutely no sense to factor that into an insult. It would be like me saying Chris Hemsworth needs to be driven out of the industry while calling him "some blue-eyed, chiseled white guy".

 

[v1oz]

I think it's real horrible what she went through. But at the same time most death threats from internet keyboard warriors are empty threats. There is usually no actual intention to go through with any of it. It's just the sad reality of life on the internet. Hopefully someday the internet will be far less anonymous and your IP address will always be publicly visible to any one. That could discourage some people.

 

[VandalD]

Well that article was sufficiently disgusting. It's too bad that some people treat death threats and the like as just "trolling" and not to be taken seriously. I figured the least I can do is treat this kind of activity with the highest of contempt and not just be okay with it because it is the internet and that's what happens. It's in our best interests to help curb this bullshit wherever we see it.

It would be like me saying Chris Hemsworth needs to be driven out of the industry while calling him "some blue-eyed, chiseled white guy".

Thems fightin' words.

 

[JaseC]

I think it's real horrible what she went through. But at the same time most death threats from internet keyboard warriors are empty threats. There is usually no actual intention to go through with any of it. It's just the sad reality of life on the internet. Hopefully someday the internet will be far less anonymous and your IP address will always be publicly visible to any one. That could discourage some people.

Hepler may have just shrugged them off as such if she were the only subject, but some mentioned her family, so it's understandable that she's decided to err on the side of caution.

 

[Vagabundo]

I think it's real horrible what she went through. But at the same time most death threats from internet keyboard warriors are empty threats. There is usually no actual intention to go through with any of it. It's just the sad reality of life on the internet. Hopefully someday the internet will be far less anonymous and your IP address will always be publicly visible to any one. That could discourage some people.

The problem is that to the victim that are all potential threats. You have no idea if one of them is from a legit crazy person or not.

 

[Marvel]

That is terrible.

 

[Alcoholikaust]

Awful news. Noone deserves that.

 

[Reuenthal]

Not surprised that she got death threats and that she quit. I hope she chooses a proffession in which she will interact will less idiotic shitheads like some gamers. Especially in regard to Bioware and it not fullfilling their expectations. Also there is a line between disliking something, complaining about it and also not buying it which does sends signals, but not behaving like an idiotic buffoon over it and be extremely insulting over all involved though there is even a line between that and death threats.

 

[CrimsonCrescendo]

First Fish, now Hepler.

If you can't take the heat...

Or, and here's a thought, people can stop acting like fucking idiots and stop sending "graphic" death threats for years. Over a piece of entertainment no less.

 

[Village]

Or, and here's a thought, people can stop acting like fucking idiots and stop sending "graphic" death threats for years. Over a piece of entertainment no less.

This reminds me of like early art, well like 1800-1900 modernism territory where people did this kind of thing over painting and musicals and other forms of entertainment. Riots started over paintings.

Art gets the blood pumping

 

[2San]

So why is law enforcement letting this go on? Because they aren't doing shit, makes people think it's ok.

Strange how they did take action with someone shooting up a school, he even made clear he was joking. So inconsistent.

 

[DigitalOp]

You know whats the irony behind this? Now she actually has a real reason to hate videogames.

thanks "gamers". Keep doing ya thang -_-

 

[velociraptor]

Death threads over a video game? What the hell is wrong with people?

 

[GrizzNKev]

The short summary is that NASA is using video games to soften the reveal of these things. Not that there actually is a Chief, but that AIs are real, and that the Halo rings are alien structures we actually found, and that the Bungie devs are prophets.

I still believe.

 

[Captain Tuttle]

Probably the majority of the death threats came from children at the age of 15-16. Shame she had to quit her job because of this. Did she file a complaint about it?

I don't know, I've always thought of Bioware fans as a bit older, at least college age. I've got nothing to back that up though, just a hunch.

I hate the fact that I'm not surprised by stories like this anymore.

 

[aeolist]

After reading which parts of the games she was responsible for, that seems accurate enough.

Obviously it's a terrible thing that she received these threats and felt sufficiently endangered to leave the company, but that doesn't make her track record any better.

i feel some level of thread backlash is warranted, if only because "terrible bioware writer" is completely redundant

 

[Shaanyboi]

Probably the majority of the death threats came from children at the age of 15-16. Shame she had to quit her job because of this. Did she file a complaint about it?

I think you're giving the gaming community too much credit to say that it's only 15-16 year olds... There are probably plenty of adults who think this kind of shit is okay.

 

[rottame]

has she ever played online? death and rape threats are how teenage gamers say hello.

not that I'm saying she shouldn't quit. she should find a job where her audience respects her.

I hear this all the time. When I was a teenager I would have never threathened someone. Who gives a shit if "this is what kids on Xbox Live do"? They shouldn't. And saying "this is how things are" doesn't help, really.

 

[Captain Tuttle]

This is disgusting and embarrassing as a gamer. If these people ever get caught they should be lived streamed on Twitch and berated for the piece of shit that they are. I hope more articles like this help bring some awareness and respect for the people who bust their ass to bring joy to our everyday lives.

I would rather they get thrown in jail.

 

[Acquiescence]

Death threats over Bayonetta 2
Death threats over CoD tweaks
Death threats over Dragon Age 2's writing

Who knows of all of the others we haven't heard about. It makes me sick to think of the scum that I have to share this great hobby with.

Don't forget the death threats Ninja Theory received over the Devil May Cry reboot.

I feel bad for Hepler. It tales so little it seems for someone to want you dead. Committing the mildest sin is akin to committing a full-on atrocity in the eyes of a mad man.

 

[CrimsonCrescendo]

This reminds me of like early art, well like 1800-1900 modernism territory where people did this kind of thing over painting and musicals and other forms of entertainment. Riots started over paintings.

Art gets the blood pumping

Yeah, but there's this thing called "self-control" that I hear is all the rage today. They should all try it some time. It comes highly recommended.

 

[TheContact]

They used to call her hamburger helper or something because she said she wasn't a gamer. People are cruel, very sad

 

[Cheech]

Pretty much this. If Bioware had taken a step back and admitted that they have room for improvement in their writing people would have calmed down. Instead they defended Jennifer Hepler, called their fans bullies, called them to "go fuck yourself." and only made the matter go from bad to worse. Jennifer Hepler didn't help herself with statements like "I just figure they're jealous that I get to have both a vagina AND a games industry job, and they can't get either."

They're not going to give into antagonism, and I wouldn't either.

Giving bullies their own medicine is usually the best course of action. All "defending the writing" would have done is encourage these twerps to harass other writers on other games, as they've seen that they get a positive response to their negativity.

I see this kind of thing and actually hope that the next Dragon Age game is nothing but a QTE festival and one long corridor. And I loved the first game. Loved, loved, loved.

But this pisses me off so much, I want an awful DA Inquisition just to spite these entitled loudmouths.

 

[QaaQer]

After reading which parts of the games she was responsible for, that seems accurate enough.

Obviously it's a terrible thing that she received these threats and felt sufficiently endangered to leave the company, but that doesn't make her track record any better.

VG creation, including writing, is collaborative. Teasing out her involvement is impossible and nothing but a veiled attempt to justify the hate.

 

[Giran]

Kind of weird that she quits now. I'd assume the backlash against her was the strongest in the first few months after DA2's release, yet she does it now. Maybe I'm looking into it too much but I'm thinking Bioware/EA just let her go to further disassociate themselves with anything Dragon Age 2 related before they really make the ad campaign of Inquisition go into full swing, and unfortunately for her, she ended up becoming 'the face of Dragon Age 2' so to speak.

Regardless, I won't be missing her work at all but losing a job, especially for someone raising kids, is tough so best wishes to her.

 

[CrimsonCrescendo]

Pretty much this. If Bioware had taken a step back and admitted that they have room for improvement in their writing people would have calmed down. Instead they defended Jennifer Hepler, called their fans bullies, called them to "go fuck yourself." and only made the matter go from bad to worse. Jennifer Hepler didn't help herself with statements like "I just figure they're jealous that I get to have both a vagina AND a games industry job, and they can't get either."

There are times when you placate the angry mob and times when you stand up to it. In the face of death threats, cruel commentary, and ridicule... placating the angry mob is not the right thing to do as all that will do is encourage such behavior in the future. Granted, antagonizing the audience may not have been the best course of action either (imagine that, there are other options then "lay down and take it" or tell someone to "fuck themselves"), but it is a hell of a lot better answer than vindicating the audience absolutely losing their shit, making outrageous death threats, and spewing misogyny.

 

[The Bookerman]

How about I don't like neither:
Hepler for responding to her critics like a total bitch, thus empowering her critics.

and

her self entitled critics for harrasing her and her family, sending in death threats to people who have nothing to do with videogames.

 

[QaaQer]

They used to call her hamburger helper or something because she said she wasn't a gamer. People are cruel, very sad

Some people are cruel. I'm willing to bet that these come from a particular type of young man.

And as Christopher Hitchens said many times, the way to increase the happiness and healthiness of any society [and, I personally would add, industry] is to empower women. Forcing women out of this industry by threatening children is shitty on many levels.

 

[Kinyou]

I preferred the cupcake protests

 

[Infinite]

Kinda dumb to single her out as the sole reason Bioware game's stories have gotten worse to some.

 

[Laughing Banana]

They're not going to give into antagonism, and I wouldn't either.

Giving bullies their own medicine is usually the best course of action. All "defending the writing" would have done is encourage these twerps to harass other writers on other games, as they've seen that they get a positive response to their negativity.

I see this kind of thing and actually hope that the next Dragon Age game is nothing but a QTE festival and one long corridor. And I loved the first game. Loved, loved, loved.

But this pisses me off so much, I want an awful DA Inquisition just to spite these entitled loudmouths.

There are times when you placate the angry mob and times when you stand up to it. In the face of death threats, cruel commentary, and ridicule... placating the angry mob is not the right thing to do as all that will do is encourage such behavior in the future. Granted, antagonizing the audience may not have been the best course of action either (imagine that, there are other options then "lay down and take it" or tell someone to "fuck themselves"), but it is a hell of a lot better answer than vindicating the audience absolutely losing their shit, making outrageous death threats, and spewing misogyny.

I don't think you two are on the spot for this. I mean, what he (and I, since he quoted me and I agreed with him) meant was incident like this is rife for potential to become the source of reasoning why Bioware staff might refuse to hear even legitimate concerns over their work.

I agree that they shouldn't heed those who spew ridiculous stuff like death-threats, but Bioware *is* known to disregard criticism towards their work, even if such criticism are legitimate and coming from sane, logical people.

 

[David H Wong]

First Fish, now Hepler.

If you can't take the heat...

Wow. What an absolute piece of shit you are.

 

[entremet]

Death threats are so cowardly and disgusting.

 

[RVinP]

When everything is good, everyone is quite as a stone golem.
But a small misstep in the direction against someones expectations, its a blazing fire.

Its the defacto internet standard now, So those who are really passionate about their work take the net less seriously.

and..where is the praise about the people involved in writing up the Quanari part of the story/dialogs in the game?

 

[Laughing Banana]

When everything is good, everyone is quite as a stone golem.
But a small misstep in the direction against someones expectations, its a blazing fire.

Its the defacto internet standard now, So those who are really passionate about their work take the net less seriously.

and..where is the praise about the people involved in writing up the Quanari part of the story/dialogs in the game?

Now now, the ridiculousness of the situation aside, and I don't mean this to excuse silly things like death threats, Dragon Age 2, coming from Dragon Age Origins, was not a "small misstep."

Its a leaping beyond skyscraper kind of misstep, and I think most would agree with me on this. Bioware deserves any (legitimate) flak they can have over it.

 

[Apdiddy]

I don't understand this industry or this hobby sometimes.

I don't understand the mentality of someone who would threaten a person's life over....changes in a video game.

If I were a prominent person receiving the threats, I wouldn't go to law enforcement (as noted by Stephen Toulouse in the linked article, law enforcement can't and won't do anything about it). It may not even be in their jurisdiction since the person doing it is outside of it.

I would be tempted to go on Twitter and release the name, gamertag, email address, phone number, etc. for the person doing it. Make them see how it feels -- no, it doesn't change anything and actually makes things worse. It may actually sink to their level or would be what they want. It sorta reminds me of the great Robert DeNiro/Jerry Lewis movie The King of Comedy -- the person wants to feel validated by his idol, no matter how insane the person actually is. Probably a better solution would be to contact an attorney and have the attorney's office send the person a restraining order or file a suit against him or her. Hit them where it hurts.

If these kids want to pretend like they are adults, then they should be prepared to deal with the consequences as adults.

 

[Punchy4486]

But this pisses me off so much, I want an awful DA Inquisition just to spite these entitled loudmouths.

Well, apparently she's a senior writer on Inquisition so you'll probably get your wish.

I hated the writing in 2, along with the game design and art design, so I'm glad one less major player involved is working at Bioware.

But not like this. Not like this...

 

[MoogleWizard]

What every Bioware employee should absolutely NOT do is read their forums and interact with their "fans". I posted there once for a short while and quickly left. The posters on those forums are insane. The amount of hate and insults they throw at the people who make the games they supposedly like is crazy, they whine, complain and get angry and extremely rude about every tiny detail. And the more Bioware employees posted there, the more shit got thrown at them. Anyone would lose motivation for their job there.

 

[RetroStu]

I don't get what people have against Dragon Age 2, its like a fantasy set Mass Effect and its much better than 'Origins' which i still haven't finished yet even though i adore Bioware rpg's, it just feels too slow and clunky, has confusing menus and item screens etc, its hard to read the maps as its hard to see plot icons etc, the combat is 'one click to fight' and something i didn't even realise for hours lol and the main character doesn't even speak even though there are tons of dialogue for other characters, why?.