Regarding Last Weekend’s Hearthstone Grandmasters Tournament • Hacker News Board

Re: Regarding Last Weekend’s Hearthstone Grandmasters Tournament

#51

Post by dyeje » Sat, Oct 12, 2019, 2:17 AM UTC

minimaxir wrote: post #2

> The specific views expressed by blitzchung were NOT a factor in the decision we made. I want to be clear: our relationships in China had no influence on our decision. Needless to say, this line has generated a very large amount of snark on social media.

This part really sours the whole statement. Blizzard fans WANT to forgive them, and instead of coming clean Blizz spit in their faces.

Also, changing the suspension period of the casters is a joke, they will clearly never work with Blizz again regardless of the 'official' length of the suspension.

Re: Regarding Last Weekend’s Hearthstone Grandmasters Tournament

#52

Post by Majromax » Sat, Oct 12, 2019, 2:17 AM UTC

Pfhreak wrote: post #14

minimaxir wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Scanning social media, I haven't seen a single gaming influencer say it's a sufficient statement: https://twitter.com/search?q=filter%3Averified%20https%3A%2F... The contrarian viewpoint is "what were you expecting?" in which case the reply is "an actual apology."

Or even a hamfisted attempt at an apology like you get out of many PR departments. The only thing that remotely resembles an apology in the whole release is: > In hindsight, our process wasn’t adequate, and we reacted too quickly. No explanation of how that happened. No discussion about what they are doing to make sure it doesn't happen again. It's not even saying, "We made a snap decision and it was wrong." It seems…

>> In hindsight, our process wasn’t adequate, and we reacted too quickly.

I'm not even sure here what "reacted too quickly" means. If the player did clearly violate an unobjectionable Blizzard policy, one would hope that the sanction would be swift -- it shouldn't take a week to (for example) ban a player for blatant cheating.

Re: Regarding Last Weekend’s Hearthstone Grandmasters Tournament

#53

Post by caconym_ » Sat, Oct 12, 2019, 2:19 AM UTC

It's not even hard to avoid giving Blizzard money these days.

I suppose one must immerse oneself in the scientific system of Mao Zedong thought to see the truth—that Diablo is best played on a smartphone.

Re: Regarding Last Weekend’s Hearthstone Grandmasters Tournament

#54

Post by anonimouse5t43w » Sat, Oct 12, 2019, 2:20 AM UTC

mullingitover wrote: post #41

Command + f "sorry": 0 results Command + f "mistake": 0 results Command + f "apologize": 0 results They still aren't listening to a PR expert, and this is only going to throw gasoline on the fire. This blog post [1] counseling Burning Man back in their dumpster fire of pain when they switched to a lottery system is very instructional, Blizzard should be following it to the letter if they intend to get out of this hol…

I think they are. Saying any of those words and they would have upset their Chinese fans, and then they would have two holes.

I think Blizzard’s post is more than fair. Both the player and announcers knowingly broke the rules. I’ll continue to play their games.

Re: Regarding Last Weekend’s Hearthstone Grandmasters Tournament

#55

Post by belltaco » Sat, Oct 12, 2019, 2:20 AM UTC

bipolar_lisper wrote: post #6

Blizzard: > If this had been the opposing viewpoint delivered in the same divisive and deliberate way, we would have felt and acted the same. Also Blizzard: > We will defend the pride of our nation (that nation being China) So when will they be terminating the people in their company that posted that announcement on behalf of the company? Oh wait, they won't be, because this company is completely and utterly full of…

>We will defend the pride of our nation

That statement was made by NetEase, a Chinese company, not Blizzard.

Re: Regarding Last Weekend’s Hearthstone Grandmasters Tournament

#56

Post by anonimouse5t43w » Sat, Oct 12, 2019, 2:21 AM UTC

ixtli wrote: post #36

It’s extremely irresponsible for blizzard to host a massive platform for speech and pretend that platform exists in a vacuum outside of current events. (Read: politics.) In the same way that public platforms are dangerous when used for hate speech, they’re also dangerous when those advocating for positive change are banned from them. Whatever Blizzard set out to do, it’s exceptionally naive not to acknowledge that de…

FIFA also bans politics from its platform.

Re: Regarding Last Weekend’s Hearthstone Grandmasters Tournament

#57

Post by anonimouse5t43w » Sat, Oct 12, 2019, 2:24 AM UTC

Pfhreak wrote: post #14

minimaxir wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Scanning social media, I haven't seen a single gaming influencer say it's a sufficient statement: https://twitter.com/search?q=filter%3Averified%20https%3A%2F... The contrarian viewpoint is "what were you expecting?" in which case the reply is "an actual apology."

Or even a hamfisted attempt at an apology like you get out of many PR departments. The only thing that remotely resembles an apology in the whole release is: > In hindsight, our process wasn’t adequate, and we reacted too quickly. No explanation of how that happened. No discussion about what they are doing to make sure it doesn't happen again. It's not even saying, "We made a snap decision and it was wrong." It seems…

Any apology would then upset their Chinese customers, like the NBA.

Re: Regarding Last Weekend’s Hearthstone Grandmasters Tournament

#58

Post by mullingitover » Sat, Oct 12, 2019, 2:26 AM UTC

anonimouse5t43w wrote: post #54

mullingitover wrote: post #41

Command + f "sorry": 0 results Command + f "mistake": 0 results Command + f "apologize": 0 results They still aren't listening to a PR expert, and this is only going to throw gasoline on the fire. This blog post [1] counseling Burning Man back in their dumpster fire of pain when they switched to a lottery system is very instructional, Blizzard should be following it to the letter if they intend to get out of this hol…

I think they are. Saying any of those words and they would have upset their Chinese fans, and then they would have two holes. I think Blizzard’s post is more than fair. Both the player and announcers knowingly broke the rules. I’ll continue to play their games.

> I’ll continue to play their games.

Literally the first time I've seen this sentiment since the start of this debacle. Telling that it's not from a real account.

Re: Regarding Last Weekend’s Hearthstone Grandmasters Tournament

#59

Post by anonimouse5t43w » Sat, Oct 12, 2019, 2:28 AM UTC

cpeterso wrote: post #45

Ellen Pao (former Reddit CEO): "Tech companies: We tolerate harassment and hate so we can enable political dissent, public squares, free speech Also tech companies: Censor the Hong Kong protestors and kill all their communication channels" https://twitter.com/ekp/status/1182710608887611394?s=21

Didn’t she ban a lot of subreddits?

Re: Regarding Last Weekend’s Hearthstone Grandmasters Tournament

#60

Post by huehehue » Sat, Oct 12, 2019, 2:29 AM UTC

bipolar_lisper wrote: post #7

undefined3840 wrote: post #5

I’m not a gamer, but I imagine most are smart enough to see through this cringe-y PR disaster. Late Friday night dump of nonsense corporate speak is painfully predictable. This will do more harm than good. Yikes.

Oh they absolutely are not. You should see the way people have always, and will always defend this company.

I don't think this is totally inaccurate, though there are probably more puppet accounts than sincere Blizzard apologists.

I'd be more worried about the influence that propaganda machines can have, and what's freaking me out is that you actually have to look to spot those sorts of posts. Most people don't look.