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[Bessy67]

It's a great game highly recommended. If its too expensive it's constantly on humble bundle for pennies. Just don't tell JB.

Yeah, really don't tell him. He seems at least semi-serious about raising the price. Has any publisher/developer ever raised the price of a game after it has been on the market for 3+ years? Maybe development of the Witness is costing more than he had anticipated.

https://twitter.com/Jonathan_Blow/status/450446264077803520

 

[StuBurns]

I disagree raising the price is the right economical move, unless it's to create false value for a price cut that's planned for whenever The Witness marketing starts.

 

[Whipped Spartan]

Yeah, really don't tell him. He seems at least semi-serious about raising the price. Has any publisher/developer ever raised the price of a game after it has been on the market for 3+ years? Maybe development of the Witness is costing more than he had anticipated.

https://twitter.com/Jonathan_Blow/status/450446264077803520

The economics of this stuff with indie games is interesting. I know I went from buying games like Braid day one to waiting for the inevitable humble bundle or ps+ free version.

I rarely buy an indie game for more than $5 anymore. I won't pay money for the witness. I hope Sony pays him something good cause I know I'll get it free one day on ps+ or for a few bucks on humble or steam.

 

[Kru]

He had a pouty Twitter temper tantrum with some limp wristed threats and now we several posts talking about how he's an idiot who deserves to have his games boycotted. All that pent up JB hate had to come from somewhere, and it wasn't from the tweets in the OP.

I thought you meant Justin Beiber there, and it still somehow made sense.

 

[arhra]

Sony can't make games PS+ randomly. It's a deal reached with the publisher.

That probably wouldn't stop him raging if someone asks him a question about it three years after he deleted the emails from when he negotiated it.

 

[Nicktals]

I won't pay money for the witness.

I have a feeling you will...If you want to play it the best way.

EDIT: Are people ragging on john blow for not remembering the details of his contract? Like, it happens...He didn't strike up a false crusade...fuck the sensationalism around GAF lately...look, buzzfeed already exists..you don't have to become it.

 

[Hubble]

This guy looks really uninformed on his tweets... Ridiculously bad..

 

[Wolfe]

Why does this make you want to buy his games less? The developer says something you don't like and now you don't want his game anymore. I just don't get it.

Communicating with people who have been through media training is boring. The interesting thing about Twitter is we can communicate directly to public figures without going through PR middlemen. Encouraging people to resign themselves to silence when they goof constricts our access to them.

It's one thing to use it as a tool to communicate directly with a company or whatever but there's no reason you have to come off like an uninformed ass while doing so.

And personally I don't have a problem with a dev's comments reflecting on their work in ways that influence my decision on whether to purchase their product or not. I mean it's no big deal if I don't play a particular game or whatever if the main person/s behind said work comes off like an ass publicly time and again or if they hold some type of belief that I don't share. They could just as easily not put themselves in the spotlight like that but when they do and I don't agree with them it reflects poorly on their work in my eyes.

Another good example for me would be Orson Scott Card, I have yet to read Ender's Game due to this guys personal views and honestly it doesn't bother me one bit. Sure the book could be great but there's just as many other great books out there that I can also read. Now granted like I said he could have just as easily not made those views public and I would have read the book not knowing he thought that way but when you put yourself in the public eye and use it as a soapbox then I will use what you say as a judge or your character and to me it will reflect one way or another on the work you've put out.

At the same time I can understand not giving a shit about what someone says and enjoying their work either way, that's totally cool too. Looking at things in this particular way is my choice.

I'm also not saying I think Jo Blow here is an ass or anything as I don't know him personally, just that from these types of tweets he comes off a certain way to me and therefore lowers my desire to be interested in his games.

EDIT: Are people ragging on john blow for not remembering the details of his contract? Like, it happens...He didn't strike up a false crusade...fuck the sensationalism around GAF lately...look, buzzfeed already exists..you don't have to become it.

I and I assume most of the others that are ragging on him here aren't blaming him for not remembering the details, it's that instead of looking into it and going over the contract or contacting MS himself he instead jumps right onto twitter and starts blabbering like an idiot and even threatens pulling the game from the 360 with some quip about it making more money on steam anyway. Then backpedals his way through what he already said because he couldn't even take the time to do a little investigating due to his apparent dislike for MS.

 

[Nicktals]

Moral of the story: there's no fucking pleasing this guy.

Umm...what? Maybe he wants to decide what price is best and when. This guy is seriously talented and brilliant, is there any reason you WOULDN'T want the pricing in his hands?

 

[hey_it's_that_dog]

If you actually follow Blow on twitter you will see that he complains about a lot of things and MS is sometimes one of those things.

This incident is obviously kind of dumb on his part, but in case anyone wants to pretend it's evidence about an ongoing anti-MS agenda, keep my previous statement in mind.

 

[Nicktals]

It's one thing to use it as a tool to communicate directly with a company or whatever but there's no reason you have to come off like an uninformed ass while doing so.

And personally I don't have a problem with a dev's comments reflecting on their work in ways that influence my decision on whether to purchase their product or not. I mean it's no big deal if I don't play a particular game or whatever if the main person/s behind said work comes off like an ass publicly time and again or if they hold some type of belief that I don't share. They could just as easily not put themselves in the spotlight like that but when they do and I don't agree with them it reflects poorly on their work in my eyes.

Another good example for me would be Orson Scott Card, I have yet to read Ender's Game due to this guys personal views and honestly it doesn't bother me one bit. Sure the book could be great but there's just as many other great books out there that I can also read. Now granted like I said he could have just as easily not made those views public and I would have read the book not knowing he thought that way but when you put yourself in the public eye and use it as a soapbox then I will use what you say as a judge or your character and to me it will reflect one way or another on the work you've put out.

At the same time I can understand not giving a shit about what someone says and enjoying their work either way, that's totally cool too. Looking at things in this particular way is my choice.

I'm also not saying I think Jo Blow here is an ass or anything as I don't know him personally, just that from these types of tweets he comes off a certain way to me and therefore lowers my desire to be interested in his games.



I and I assume most of the others that are ragging on him here aren't blaming him for not remembering the details, it's that instead of looking into it and going over the contract or contacting MS himself he instead jumps right onto twitter and starts blabbering like an idiot and even threatens pulling the game from the 360 with some quip about it making more money on steam anyway. Then backpedals his way through what he already said because he couldn't even take the time to do a little investigating due to his boner for hating MS.

Got it. Bunch of 360 fanboys hate jon blow. lol. GAF is ridiculous with shit like this. One of the most brilliant minds in the industry, but he didn't remember the details of his contract. Now he hates whatever I love.

 

[sakipon]

I have a feeling you will...If you want to play it the best way.

EDIT: Are people ragging on john blow for not remembering the details of his contract? Like, it happens...He didn't strike up a false crusade...fuck the sensationalism around GAF lately...look, buzzfeed already exists..you don't have to become it.

Not remembering is understandable... but why wouldn't you go and check the contract before publicly blaming a company on Twitter?

 

[davepoobond]

Umm...what? Maybe he wants to decide what price is best and when. This guy is seriously talented and brilliant, is there any reason you WOULDN'T want the pricing in his hands?

Because he wants it to be more expensive right now

 

[sangreal]

If you actually follow Blow on twitter you will see that he complains about a lot of things and MS is sometimes one of those things.

This incident is obviously kind of dumb on his part, but in case anyone wants to pretend it's evidence about an ongoing anti-MS agenda, keep my previous statement in mind.

Blow himself said he wouldn't have jumped to conclusions if it involved a company other than MS. No need to make excused for him

 

[Lord Error]

I have a feeling you will...If you want to play it the best way.

Well he made his case quite clear. He'll either wait for humble bundle (and buy it for like a $1 split among bunch other games) or wait for PS+ freebee. Both versions will likely be 'the best way' to play and almost equally free. I don't subscribe to this way of thinking, but it's inevitable that a lot of people will do the same.

 

[BennyBlanco]

this guy just rubs me the wrong way every single time i read something about him or see him interviewed.

 

[Big Chungus]

i've been following him for a while on twitter and he usually has some sort of fit

 

[hey_it's_that_dog]

Blow himself said he wouldn't have jumped to conclusions if it involved a company other than MS. No need to make excused for him

Given MS policies over the last few years and his dissatisfaction with his experience working with them, I can't really blame him for assuming the worst. Still, he should have been a lot more careful in this situation.

In any case, it doesn't really matter; he doesn't need MS to survive and I'm sure he values his freedom to say whatever he wants about whoever he wants (even if it's sometimes wrong) more than he values his potential business relationship with them.

 

[Wolfe]

Got it. Bunch of 360 fanboys hate jon blow. lol. GAF is ridiculous with shit like this. One of the most brilliant minds in the industry, but he didn't remember the details of his contract. Now he hates whatever I love.

Try acting like you even read what I wrote dude, instead you come off as though you're too busy stroking his ego. But hey whatever, that's your choice I guess.

I also don't own a 360 nor his game because it didn't appeal to me regardless of how the dude himself comes off.

 

[Petrae]

this guy just rubs me the wrong way every single time i read something about him or see him interviewed.

That's pretty much how I feel, as well. It's bad enough that, like in the case of Phil Fish, I refuse to buy/play this guy's games because I can't stand the person behind them. Always with the "what's wrong with video games" angle.

Others think he's brilliant, and that's okay. I'd never tell anyone not to buy his games. But I'll never do it.

 

[Warm Machine]

He rubs me the wrong way every time he opens his mouth. Doesn't understand the level of privilege he has in the industry. He could knock out a Flappy Bird clone and every website would run with the story.

 

[Kaneda Shotaro]

I remember the interview with him in Edge where he talked about how he didn't have a lot of money and was worried about the game making money and after his contract with Microsoft, he checked his back balance one morning and was literally a millionare. He was ecstatic obviously.

Only then did he start complaining about them.

 

[PhatSaqs]

I remember the interview with him in Edge where he talked about how he didn't have a lot of money and was worried about the game making money and after his contract with Microsoft, he checked his back balance one morning and was literally a millionare. He was ecstatic obviously.

Only then did he start complaining about them.

lmao. That's hilarious and sad considering the ways he's acting as if MS is kicking his puppies in routine fashion now.

 

[lantus]

Honestly, if I were him I would have probably forgotten too. How many years has it been since Braid released? And what kind of relationship do we think he has currently with Microsoft? I think some of you are turning this into a bigger deal than it really is. Can't wait for The Witness btw lol.

 

[Nicktals]

Try acting like you even read what I wrote dude, instead you come off as though you're too busy stroking his ego. But hey whatever, that's your choice I guess.

I also don't own a 360 nor his game because it didn't appeal to me regardless of how the dude himself comes off.

I don't get the outcry? He thought it was fucked that the price of his game is changing. He posted on twitter. Didn't seem like an outburst, or a rant, or a rage...but that's how it was spun within seconds. Maybe he just likes to be in control of the price of his games? I'm guessing he'll make sure of that from now on! lol

 

[Fess]

Not remembering is understandable... but why wouldn't you go and check the contract before publicly blaming a company on Twitter?

If MS suddenly pulls the plug on Xbox Live for 360 to get more people to buy Xbox One Titanfall bundle, do you think people would...
(1) go back reading the fine print in old emails to see the original TOC for Xbox Live and go "Oh okay they can do this? Oh well I'll just get an Xbox One."
or...
(2) start a 200 page MS ranting thread on GAF and threaten to never spend another dime on anything MS sells ever again?

My guess is (2). And it honestly feels perfectly normal to me, people go by the gut feeling of what's wrong and right today and aren't afraid to publicly express their feelings if they believe they're treated wrong even if they might've agreed on something in the fine print in an TOC long ago.

 

[uncledonnie]

I don't get the outcry? He thought it was fucked that the price of his game is changing. He posted on twitter. Didn't seem like an outburst, or a rant, or a rage...but that's how it was spun within seconds. Maybe he just likes to be in control of the price of his games? I'm guessing he'll make sure of that from now on! lol

Did you even read all the tweets in the OP? He even talked about pulling the game from XBLA. I'm not calling for his head or anything but dude made an ass out of himself.

 

[Friction]

I don't get the outcry? He thought it was fucked that the price of his game is changing. He posted on twitter. Didn't seem like an outburst, or a rant, or a rage...but that's how it was spun within seconds. Maybe he just likes to be in control of the price of his games? I'm guessing he'll make sure of that from now on! lol

Dude you should really read the OP.

 

[Wolfe]

I don't get the outcry? He thought it was fucked that the price of his game is changing. He posted on twitter. Didn't seem like an outburst, or a rant, or a rage...but that's how it was spun within seconds. Maybe he just likes to be in control of the price of his games? I'm guessing he'll make sure of that from now on! lol

If you can't get what I was trying to say from my big ass post then I'm not going to try explaining it again.

As I said there, it's cool if it doesn't bother you, hell it doesn't really bother me either. Just makes the dude look like a dummy to me.

 

[PetriP-TNT]

When Kotaku eventually runs this topic as a news piece, I suggest the title to be "Jonathan confused about XBLA pricing, blows his load early"

 

[sangreal]

If MS suddenly pulls the plug on Xbox Live for 360 to get more people to buy Xbox One Titanfall bundle, do you think people would...
(1) go back reading the fine print in old emails to see the original TOC for Xbox Live and go "Oh okay they can do this? Oh well I'll just get an Xbox One."
or...
(2) start a 200 page MS ranting thread on GAF and threaten to never spend another dime on anything MS sells ever again?

My guess is (2). And it honestly feels perfectly normal to me, people go by the gut feeling of what's wrong and right today and aren't afraid to publicly express their feelings if they believe they're treated wrong even if they might've agreed on something in the fine print in an TOC long ago.

The price was dropped permanently in May 2010 (and widely announced at the time). They didn't slip some small print by him that allowed them to drop the price 4 years later

http://majornelson.com/2010/05/19/braid-cloning-clyde-and-3-on-3-nhl-arcade-prices-reduced/?

There was no gut reaction -- it took him 4 years to make up this controversy

 

[Makai]

If you can't get what I was trying to say from my big ass post then I'm not going to try explaining it again.

As I said there, it's cool if it doesn't bother you, hell it doesn't really bother me either. Just makes the dude look like a dummy to me.

I think you're missing one key point:

Refusal to buy a game because you encounter negative news about its developer is extremely unfair to small companies who don't interface to their customers through PR machines. PR isn't just "common sense." Any normal person who has a Twitter is going to put their foot in their mouth and frequently. Whether a journalist or GAFfer picks up on the story is completely out of their hands so silence is the best strategy for an individual without a PR team, as Fish has resorted to.

PS: Go read the Twitter or Facebook of any major company. It sucks. Do you really want them to talk like that?

 

[Dr.Acula]

If MS suddenly pulls the plug on Xbox Live for 360 to get more people to buy Xbox One Titanfall bundle, do you think people would...
(1) go back reading the fine print in old emails to see the original TOC for Xbox Live and go "Oh okay they can do this? Oh well I'll just get an Xbox One."
or...
(2) start a 200 page MS ranting thread on GAF and threaten to never spend another dime on anything MS sells ever again?

My guess is (2). And it honestly feels perfectly normal to me, people go by the gut feeling of what's wrong and right today and aren't afraid to publicly express their feelings if they believe they're treated wrong even if they might've agreed on something in the fine print in an TOC long ago.

That... Is not the same situation at all.

If the price of Braid changed online, it's fine if you make some huge thread on it. We're talking about the creator of Braid here.

Blow really should have phoned up MS and spoken with someone first, that's what a normal person should do.

I don't really give much range to people who think it's okay to freak out publicly, I have an uncle in Tennessee who once said, "everybody spends time in jail at some point." No, that's something most people try to avoid.

 

[swazzyswess]

ITT butthurt from non-creative schmucks.

 

[theWB27]

I think you're missing one key point:

Refusal to buy a game because you encounter negative news about its developer is extremely unfair to small companies who don't interface to their customers through PR machines. PR isn't just "common sense." Any normal person who has a Twitter is going to put their foot in their mouth and frequently. Whether a journalist or GAFfer picks up on the story is completely out of their hands so silence is the best strategy for an individual without a PR team, as Fish has resorted to.

PS: Go read the Twitter or Facebook of any major company. It sucks. Do you really want them to talk like that?

I don't this idea that Twitter MAKES people say stupid things. That's not how it works last I checked. Blow, just like everyone else, has to type what he thinks and then....after however long it takes to type it out...then CHOOSE to press send. You don't need to be trained not to say every thought that pops into your head. It doesn't take a "normal" person to do this stuff....it takes a person who doesn't think first to do it.

The people who keep defending him against the people who are calling him out seem to be missing the point.

The people who are calling him out KNOW that he has an insane amount of hate toward Microsoft and his history since Braid released just falls in line with what he posted today. He's been going at them with everything he can muster...everytime he opens his mouth against Microsoft it's the most negative ish in the world. At some point...he has to move on. But it's clear from today he can't, hasn't, and won't do so.

Blow has to press send just like everyone else...from Gaf to Facebook or wherever else you post. None of these entities make us type in things we don't want to say. Blow is Blow...

 

[massivekettle]

Given MS policies over the last few years and his dissatisfaction with his experience working with them, I can't really blame him for assuming the worst. Still, he should have been a lot more careful in this situation.

In any case, it doesn't really matter; he doesn't need MS to survive and I'm sure he values his freedom to say whatever he wants about whoever he wants (even if it's sometimes wrong) more than he values his potential business relationship with them.

That's terribly unprofessional from him to do so, though, and will reflect badly on him. What if Sony does something to piss him off, will he then turn on Sony as well?

These indie developers should probably develop some business acumen/etiquette first before opening their mouths (or unleashing their keyboards) publicly.

 

[Mashin Haters]

so did kotaku make a article about this yet?

 

[Bsigg12]

so did kotaku make a article about this yet?

Na, I would expect it from Polygon or more specifically Dualshockers with them using quotes from this thread as sources.

 

[Zia]

That's really insensitive. Corporations are people too, Jon.

 

[charsace]

Developers need to pay attention to how Carmack speaks to the public.

 

[neptunes]

ITT butthurt from non-creative schmucks.

Really? It's come to this?

I don't sense a feeling of "hurt" from anyone.

 

[Fess]

The price was dropped permanently in May 2010 (and widely announced at the time). They didn't slip some small print by him that allowed them to drop the price 4 years later

http://majornelson.com/2010/05/19/braid-cloning-clyde-and-3-on-3-nhl-arcade-prices-reduced/?

There was no gut reaction -- it took him 4 years to make up this controversy

Seems like a gut reaction to me, he just either forgot the price dropped long ago or was busy making games and didn't even pay attention to it at that time and simply found out about it now. And it's fine imo. This is the way internet is, it's fast, we just react, it's like GAF on E3 day, some people might have filters stopping their true initial feelings to show but most people just post whatever they feel at that moment and never think much about it afterwards even though it might not be 100% right all the time. I'm not defending JB doing this, I just don't think it's such a big deal.

 

[Metallix87]

Umm...what? Maybe he wants to decide what price is best and when. This guy is seriously talented and brilliant, is there any reason you WOULDN'T want the pricing in his hands?

I don't think Jonathan Blow is talented or brilliant. He's a developer who was in the right position at the right time to take advantage of a "indie games are so cool" push and hasn't really done much to deserve the praise since. Honestly, Braid wasn't even very good, IMO. You're entitled to believe what you want, of course, but don't defend him over the nonsense he's spewing about raising the price of an ancient game.

 

[Yaboosh]

That is so embarrassing. Man, if I made that mistake I would want to crawl into a hole for a few days until everyone forgot.

 

[Petrae]

I think you're missing one key point:

Refusal to buy a game because you encounter negative news about its developer is extremely unfair to small companies who don't interface to their customers through PR machines. PR isn't just "common sense." Any normal person who has a Twitter is going to put their foot in their mouth and frequently. Whether a journalist or GAFfer picks up on the story is completely out of their hands so silence is the best strategy for an individual without a PR team, as Fish has resorted to.

PS: Go read the Twitter or Facebook of any major company. It sucks. Do you really want them to talk like that?

It may be "unfair", but companies and/or developers take the risk when they share unfiltered or impulsive thoughts for millions to see. "PR machines" safeguard these entities from doing potential harm to reputations or future sales of their products. If a developer, company, politician, or other entity says something or acts in such a way that it bothers (as in Blow's case) or offends (as in Fish's case) me, then I'm not going to support their products.

I'm actually fine with corporate social media accounts, for the most part. Avoiding controversy makes me more likely to buy their products.

 

[ZoddGutts]

ITT butthurt from non-creative schmucks.

Funny thing is, your post is the most "butt hurt" response in this thread.

 

[Tunavi]

i thought this guy wasn't doing it for the money anyway

 

[FStop7]

 

[Tabular]

People make mistakes

Don't tell that to the internet though. It's just not interested.

 

[sangreal]

Seems like a gut reaction to me, he just either forgot the price dropped long ago or was busy making games and didn't even pay attention to it at that time and simply found out about it now. And it's fine imo. This is the way internet is, it's fast, we just react, it's like GAF on E3 day, some people might have filters stopping their true initial feelings to show but most people just post whatever they feel at that moment and never think much about it afterwards even though it might not be 100% right all the time. I'm not defending JB doing this, I just don't think it's such a big deal.

On the one hand you're saying he doesn't care enough about the price to even notice that it has been discounted for four years, and on the other you're saying he cares so much about the price that his gut reaction to hearing it is cheaper on XBLA (than PSN) is to threaten to pull the game entirely from XBLA