Those of you who think you know...
It was an attitude adjustment
I guess it was his first time
An attitude adjustment
Now he understands just fine
He got bent out of shape
And he opened his mouth
And just one appointment
Straightened him right out
It was an attitude adjustment
Oh It’ll work every time
- From “Attitude Adjustment” by Hank Williams Jr.
Call it eating crow. Call it eating humble pie. Whatever the slightly acrimonious delicacy there is nothing to broaden your horizons like an attitude adjustment, and no one to do it like someone who really does know what they are talking about – as in the old adage “those who think you know what you are talking about are particularly irritating to those of us who do.” Now there may be one or two regular readers of this web site who may think I am talking about the warm (but certainly not heated) debate over the last day or so with Tobold. If that is the case you will have missed the mark.
The punditry to which I am referring in this case are those individuals within the industry who, in some cases, have been maligned by columnists and commentators who THINK they know. To wit (I sort of like that phrase – maybe I have hung around too many attorneys) some of the industry professionals who have been kind enough to grace our pod cast with their wit and humor.
Some have helped along the adjustment with wit and some with reason: Dr. Richard Bartle (oft maligned by people who somehow forget there is a reason he has both “doctor” and “professor” in front of his name) shared his insights into where the industry has been, where it is going and how it just may get there. Paul Barnett graced our audio feed with his wit and biting humor (a man after my own heart as they say) enlightening us all about how developers really relate to one another as opposed to how many columnists, bloggers and other pseudo-pundits think industry professionals relate to one another. Our friend R.W. Harper, a senior producer, took off the virtual blinders and let the sunshine in, explaining along the way the how and why developers sometimes end up taking the rap (the “blame” type, not the song type) for publishers who seem just fine with letting the gaming public bask in their unwillingness to be disillusioned. Mr. Scott Hartsman shared his sense of humor with us (on and off microphone) as well as his analysis of the changes in the videogame industry (which promptly came to pass). Mr. Bill Roper, of Cryptic Studios, was nice enough not to offer me a right hook instead of a friendly hand shake when we discussed those aspects of the videogame industry that have lead other columnists and bloggers to scurry about the “blogosphere” screaming “the sky is falling.” On two separate occasions Mr. Colin Dwan, of Icarus Studios, has shared his rays of independent developer sunshine.
Now at this point there may be some of my long time readers who feel that I have somehow “sold out”, am engaging in a bit of brown nosing, or have somehow become a “pseudo-panderer” of industry pundits If so, nothing could be further from the truth. It is just that I (and here note I speak for myself and not the entire No Prisoners, No Mercy team) appreciate the assistance not having to use a gun that is only “half cocked” (and here refer to a trigger of course) when I shoot off my mouth. In short, I will no doubt fill my share of the pages that the No Prisoners, No Mercy team produce (whether audio or written) with the same biting sarcasm and rapier-like wit that I have always used.
See you online
Julie Whitefeather