Chris Wilson
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Path of Exile co-creator says using decoy assets to trick dataminers taught him it's a "pretty wasteful process," but is "very good" for trolling
Path of Exile co-creator Chris Wilson shared his experience with data mining, noting that while using decoy assets to mislead dataminers is a wasteful process, it can be effective for trolling. He discussed various methods developers use to mitigate data mining, ultimately suggesting that community salt and occasional developer jokes are the best approaches.
"People stopped making games like this": Former Path of Exile boss sticks up for one of the most underrated…
Former Path of Exile boss Chris Wilson praises Legend of Grimrock as a revival of classic dungeon crawler mechanics that have fallen out of vogue. He laments that games like this are no longer commonly made, with the genre's popularity waning after the advent of full 3D environments and titles like Doom and Diablo.
Ex Dragon Age boss warns devs against listening to player feedback for solutions: "They're not…
Former Dragon Age producer Mark Darrah advises game developers to listen to player feedback but cautions against using it to find solutions, as players often identify problems without understanding the underlying issues or representing the entire community. He emphasizes the importance of developers maintaining their creative vision while gathering diverse data sources, including community input, playtesting, and telemetry, to guide development effectively.
Path of Exile co-creator Chris Wilson says hardcore Diablo 2 players want "arbitrary" speed breakpoints because they can't resist ARPG optimization
Path of Exile co-creator Chris Wilson explains that hardcore Diablo 2 players enjoy optimizing characters around 'arbitrary' speed breakpoints in action RPGs. He argues that these specific thresholds for attack speed, cast speed, and hit recovery are a key part of the genre's appeal for dedicated players, who often create spreadsheets to maximize their builds.
Path of Exile is ripping up the rulebook, and nothing is "untouchable" - but don't get your hopes up for a campaign skip
Grinding Gear Games directors Mark Roberts and Christopher Laferriere discussed upcoming changes for Path of Exile 3.29, including the removal of socket colors and the introduction of underwater combat. They confirmed that while no changes are off the table, campaign skips are not currently planned, as they believe the journey is integral to character development and player investment. The developers also touched on the addition of a new Scion ascendancy and the ongoing development of Path of Exile 2.
Former MindsEye Studio Employees to Protest “All-Expenses-Paid Playtest Day”
Former employees of Build a Rocket Boy are planning a protest outside the studio's Edinburgh office regarding an "all-expenses-paid playtest day" for their Arcadia platform, occurring shortly after significant layoffs. The Independent Workers Union of Great Britain is organizing the protest, which aims to highlight the studio's decision to host a community event despite recent staff reductions.
Magic the Gathering community stunned as Path of Exile co-creator shows one of the biggest collections in the world, including 14 Black Lotuses, years after selling his cards to "fund the company"
Chris Wilson, co-creator of Path of Exile and former co-founder of Grinding Gear Games, has revealed an extensive Magic The Gathering card collection, including 14 Black Lotus cards. Wilson had previously sold parts of his collection to fund Grinding Gear Games' development but has since rebuilt one of the world's most valuable Magic collections, featuring numerous rare and early-set cards.
Chris Wilson's new ARPG won't be as big as Path of Exile, making him worry fans will say "'all this…
Grinding Gear Games co-founder Chris Wilson stated that his new action-RPG, developed by his studio Light Pattern, will be significantly smaller in scope than Path of Exile. Wilson expressed concern that fans might be disappointed by the smaller scale, especially given the studio's small team size and his self-funding of the project. The game is still years away from announcement and will be developed in stealth.
MMO Business Roundup: EA’s latest layoffs, Overwatch’s pricy cosmetics, and GAAS nuance
This business roundup covers recent events in the MMO industry, including layoffs at Electronic Arts affecting recruitment, customer support, trust and safety, and IT teams. Former Path of Exile developer Chris Wilson shared nuanced views on live service games, acknowledging drawbacks like problematic monetization and player demands. Additionally, Overwatch's high-priced Nyan Cafe cosmetic skins have drawn community backlash.
Path of Exile used to think 'live service was entirely upside, in all cases', but 10 years of experience and games like Baldur's Gate 3 have shown him another way
Chris Wilson, co-creator of Path of Exile, has re-evaluated his stance on live service games, acknowledging their drawbacks after a decade of experience and observing titles like Baldur's Gate 3. While he initially saw live service as purely beneficial, he now recognizes the complexities of community feedback and the pressures of constant updates, noting that finished, single-player games offer a different, valuable experience.
Path of Exile co-creator "would have scoffed at something like Baldur's Gate 3" 10 years ago, but now he knows why live service isn't necessarily "the future"
Chris Wilson, co-founder of Grinding Gear Games, has re-evaluated his stance on live-service games, admitting he would have dismissed titles like Baldur's Gate 3 a decade ago. While Path of Exile exemplifies a player-friendly live-service model, Wilson now acknowledges the drawbacks of the monetization strategy and the pressures it creates, contrasting it with the appeal of complete, finished games.
Path of Exile co-creator tells developers "don't survey your players" because "'your audience is good at recognizing problems and bad at solving them'"
Path of Exile co-creator Chris Wilson advises game developers against surveying players for design direction, stating that audiences are better at identifying problems than solving them. He emphasizes that while player feedback is crucial for identifying issues, developers must maintain their own vision for the game's direction. Wilson also touches on the potential pitfalls of player surveys, such as creating false expectations and optimizing for vocal players rather than the entire community.
Path of Exile 2's 1.0 release won't need to accommodate other game releases, director says—except GTA 6: 'That's a Goliath I don't want to take on quite frankly'
Path of Exile 2 director Jonathan Rogers stated that the game's 1.0 release date will be scheduled to avoid launching too close to Grand Theft Auto 6, acknowledging it as a significant competitor. While other game releases are typically not a concern for Grinding Gear Games, Rogers expressed that Rockstar Games' highly anticipated title is a 'Goliath' they wish to avoid directly competing with.
What's going on at Build A Rocket Boy? Layoffs, legal action, and more
Build A Rocket Boy, the studio behind MindsEye, has conducted a third round of layoffs, reducing its staff to 80 employees. This follows previous rounds of redundancies and ongoing legal action from employees and the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain over alleged mistreatment and the installation of surveillance software without consent. The studio's leadership has attributed the game's poor performance and studio issues to corporate sabotage, a claim that led to the termination of their partnership with publisher IO Interactive.
MindsEye studio Build A Rocket Boy reportedly lays off around 170 more employees following story campaign update inspired by alleged sabotage
MindsEye, the studio behind Build A Rocket Boy, has reportedly laid off approximately 170 more employees, reducing its staff to around 80. This follows previous layoffs and the exit of publisher IOI Partners. CEO Mark Gerhard has cited external sabotage attempts, a narrative reflected in the recent 'Blacklisted' content update, though former employees dispute the sabotage claims.
MindsEye Studio Hit With New Round of Layoffs, Reportedly Affecting Around 170 Workers
Build A Rocket Boy, the studio behind MindsEye, has reportedly laid off around 170 employees, reducing its workforce to approximately 80. This follows a previous round of layoffs in March, which CEO Mark Gerhard attributed to espionage and sabotage. Several former employees have spoken out about the redundancies and alleged spying software used by the company.
MindsEye's New Blacklisted DLC Is Out Now, And Things Are Seeminly Not Improving
MindsEye has released its new Blacklisted DLC, coinciding with a price cut for the base game amidst ongoing criticism. The DLC, which features an assassin named Julia Black, reportedly touches on themes of sabotage and internal company strife, mirroring real-life allegations surrounding the game's troubled launch. Despite the new content, player reception remains largely negative, with ongoing concerns about dialogue, voice acting, and overall game quality, further compounded by reports of invasive employee monitoring software used by the developer.
MindsEye’s Former Developers Speak Out Against Crunch Culture at Build A Rocket Boy
Former developers from Build A Rocket Boy have spoken out about the studio's pervasive crunch culture, which led to significant mental and physical health issues among staff. Employees, including lead animator Chris Wilson and lead games analyst Ben Newborn, detailed months-long crunch periods, particularly within the cinematics team, with inadequate pay and excessive overtime. The use of employee monitoring software and a perceived lack of respect from leadership were cited as major grievances.
Union takes legal action against Build a Rocket Boy over alleged data privacy violations
The Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB) has initiated legal action against Build a Rocket Boy, alleging data privacy violations due to the installation of Teramind surveillance software on employees' devices without consent. The union claims this software violates data protection laws and employee dignity by tracking keystrokes, screen activity, and audio. Build a Rocket Boy acknowledged installing the software, calling it 'enhanced cybersecurity,' and stated it would be removed within three months, though the IWGB reports it was removed in March after employee grievances.
Chris Wilson Defends Diablo 2 DLC Paywall as Preservation Move
Chris Wilson, co-creator of Path of Exile, defended Blizzard's decision to release new content for Diablo II: Resurrected as a paid DLC, citing it as a move for game preservation rather than profit. The $25 'Reign of the Warlock' expansion includes a new class, updated zones, and endgame content, sparking debate among players about paid updates versus free quality-of-life improvements.
