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[LectureMaster]

Jeff Kaplan is sick of hearing you demonize games you weren't going to play anyway: 'Shut the f**k up. No one cares. We don't need to hear that you weren't into it'

In a 10-hour stream of his studio's upcoming game, Kaplan said he's "bored" with compulsive online outrage.

www.pcgamer.com

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Last week, former Blizzard vice president and game designer Jeff Kaplan made his first public appearance since leaving the World of Warcraft and Overwatch developer in 2021, revealing his independent game studio, Kintsugiyama, and its upcoming frontier survival game, The Legend of California.

Days later, Kaplan continued that momentum with a casual 10-hour stream of a pre-alpha Legend of California build. While showing off the work Kintsugiyama has done so far, Kaplan flexed some of the newfound PR freedom he enjoyed in his recent retelling of his departure from Blizzard, speaking bluntly about his distaste for the dysfunction and hostility in discussions surrounding recent game launches.



"I understand voicing your opinion," Kaplan said as the stream entered its ninth hour. "But like, if a game comes out and you don't want to play it and you've never played it, shut the fuck up. No one cares. We don't need to hear that you weren't into it."

Kaplan, who owes his career in game development in part to his own, often-harsh shitposting about EverQuest design decisions, acknowledged that he's "given it out at times." But crucially, he said, his circa 2000 EQ1 design takedowns were at least motivated by having played the game in the first place. In contrast, he says the "nerd baby rage" from online hatemongers isn't even worth acknowledging, "because you're so off the deep end that it's not even worth listening to you."


"There are certain forums or Reddits or whatever where it's just like, yeah, that one's on ignore from now on. They're not actually productive in any way," Kaplan said. "It's just who can get the most points by being outraged. I'm bored with it."

Tim Ford, Kaplan's fellow former Blizzard dev and Kintsugiyama co-founder, echoed his opinion, saying that "it's not impressive" to be as awful as possible about something that isn't to your liking.

"It's not difficult to shit on something," Ford said on-stream. "Apparently, it takes a ton of courage to say, 'Hey, I actually like this thing. I don't care that you don't like it. I like it.'"

 

[LectureMaster]

 

[RoboFu]

Yes... a lot of people do not like your favorite platform game ( fill in name here ) it only makes you look like a toddler crazy person to throw a tantrum about those people.

 

[BloodFree]

But like, if a game comes out and you don't want to play it and you've never played it, shut the fuck up. No one cares. We don't need to hear that you weren't into it

So you only want feedback if it's favourable ? It's okay to talk about it only if you like it ? How the fuck is anything ever supposed to change if it never gets any pushback.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

Unemployed behavior

 

[londontko]

Couldn't agree with him more, the perpetual whining is fucking brutal.

 

[Danny Dudekisser]

Well, I do agree that Reddit's approach to a forum leads to some of the least insightful opinions of anywhere on the internet.

 

[Loomy]

So you only want feedback if it's favourable ? It's okay to talk about it only if you like it ? How the fuck is anything ever supposed to change if it never gets any pushback.

But like, if a game comes out and you don't want to play it and you've never played it, shut the fuck up. No one cares. We don't need to hear that you weren't into it

How are you giving valuable or constructive criticism if - going his qualifier here - "you don't want to play it and you've never played it"?

 

[Danteyke223]

He sat on a game called Titan for nearly a decade, and then just didn't do anything with it. He can eat shit for all I care

 

[Luipadre]

 

[Germuso]

Is he menstruating?

 

[Puscifer]

He sat on a game called Titan for nearly a decade, and then just didn't do anything with it. He can eat shit for all I care

Overwatch is made of Titan Assets, dude

 

[Loomy]

He sat on a game called Titan for nearly a decade, and then just didn't do anything with it. He can eat shit for all I care

He was on it for about 4 years before it was cancelled, and he used what they had developed for Titan as a starting point for what became Overwatch. I'm not sure he deserves to "eat shit" for doing his job.

 

[BloodFree]

How are you giving valuable or constructive criticism if - going his qualifier here - "you don't want to play it and you've never played it"?

I said feedback. Take a second, think about my statement some more. If you still can't figure it out, ask me again and I'll explain it to you.

 

[KanKamAndNob]

 

[Angry_Megalodon]

But like, if a game comes out and you don't want to play it and you've never played it, shut the fuck up. No one cares. We don't need to hear that you weren't into it."

Really wild statement, especiall the bolded part. You need to hear all your potential customers in order to learn why they don't want to play it. Listening doesn' mean agreeing.

 

[Loomy]

I said feedback. Take a second, think about my statement some more. If you still can't figure it out, ask me again and I'll explain it to you.

Criticism is a kind of feedback my guy. But let's use your word since it makes a huge difference to you:

How are you giving valuable feedback if - going his qualifier here - "you don't want to play it and you've never played it"?

 

[Thanati]

He's not wrong though. I never understood why someone hates on a game and they have zero intention of playing it anyway.

 

[uncreativename]

How are you giving valuable or constructive criticism if - going his qualifier here - "you don't want to play it and you've never played it"?

Well, if you've done your research into a game and you've decided not to play it because of the reasons you're criticising it for, I think that's valid.

Obviously there's a lot of people who bandwagon on hating games without doing any research, but he's just saying that everyone who hasn't played the game should stfu.

 

[Sohurmk833]

 

[Puscifer]

He was on it for about 4 years before it was cancelled, and he used what they had developed for Titan as a starting point for what became Overwatch. I'm not sure he deserves to "eat shit" for doing his job.

Not to mention the signs were there for MMOs that releasing one was a death sentence. Now it's one of the most played games online with lames STILL hating it 10 years after the fact.

 

[StereoVsn]

When devs only listen to people who supposedly "love" their game, they leads to toxic positivity and shit like Concord, Veilguard and more.

 

[laynelane]

Another game dev mad about criticism, news at eleven.

This idea that a person has to play a game in order to give any feedback on it is laughable. Instead of trying to understand why such negative sentiment has built up, there's too many devs that just want to pretend the problem is the 'toxic' customer base. Trailers, previews, deep dives, etc. all give potential customers a look into a game before release. If the feedback is mainly disinterest or negative - that's valuable information, but only if devs/publishers are willing to hear it. Too many, just like this guy, would prefer people to simply stfu.

As well, I'll return his sentiment and say I'm sick of devs lashing out at customers/potential customers and genuinely thinking that it's A-okay to do so.

 

[Danny Dudekisser]

How are you giving valuable or constructive criticism if - going his qualifier here - "you don't want to play it and you've never played it"?

I actually do think there's value to it. The criticism that Kaplan is complaining about is what you get when you produce a game so far off-base from what your fans and intended audience want that they just hate it for existing. As if to say "this is what you're wasting your time and money on, when there's a million things you could've done that I'd actually want?" Even if they executed on the plan perfectly, it's so conceptually flawed that it wouldn't matter. I think the market, particularly in AAA, has devolved so completely into a series of cynical cash grabs that publishers frankly need that sort of reality check. While yes, people go overboard.... I get it.

 

[Plague Doctor]

So....only good vibes and opinions? That totally doesn't reek of insecurity and defensiveness.

Yeah.... toxic positivity.

 

[Moondoggy]

Yeah I'm sure this totally wasn't a response to a definitely not baited question put forth by the "journalist" to fuel his "take that you fucking gamer chuds" articles and social media posts, god these people are so tiresome.

 

[Chuck Berry]

Thank christ

 

[Knight of the Round]

Then he'll never know why his game will flop. How will that benefit him in any way?

 

[winjer]

It's because of this mindset, that so many games failing.
These devs live in a bubble, coddled by everyone around them and ignoring any criticism that could improve the game.
At a time when so many studios are closing down and so many people getting fired, this attitude of suppressing criticism is a very risky proposition.

 

[The_hunter]

He's crashing out

 

[BloodFree]

Criticism is a kind of feedback my guy. But let's use your word since it makes a huge difference to you:

How are you giving valuable feedback if - going his qualifier here - "you don't want to play it and you've never played it"?

*sigh* ... Criticism is feedback, but not all feedback is criticism. I can simply say : "I don't like X". That is feedback with absence of criticism, constructive or otherwise.
As for your request, I'll answer with an example:

Company A makes sports cars I like. I buy one. A then decides to make a sedan. Me and a majority of their customer base don't like sedans. I tell them I don't want sedans and I won't buy sedans. I will buy more sports cars if they make them.
Thus I have provided feedback.

Jeff only wants positive feedback, so in the example above, he would like me to not say anything.

 

[Hyper_hyper]

So you only want feedback if it's favourable ? It's okay to talk about it only if you like it ? How the fuck is anything ever supposed to change if it never gets any pushback.

No. Negative feedback is also preferable. If something is shit in the game, then it is shit

 

[Sgt.Asher]

I wouldn't call it hate. Having a laugh most definitely, especially for the Concords of the world(I did actually play that though).

Other times I will lament when a favored series/developer creates something subpar or below.

 

[Joramun]

So you only want feedback if it's favourable ? It's okay to talk about it only if you like it ? How the fuck is anything ever supposed to change if it never gets any pushback.

That's Reddit brain he's speaking of

 

[March Climber]

Couldn't agree with him more, the perpetual whining is fucking brutal.

I mainly agree with Jeff here because barely anything is offered or promoted in exchange.

Like sure, have fun shitting on Game A, but at least give us a Game B or C recommendation to take the place of it.

At a certain point the rhetoric just becomes 'don't play games'

 

[Nydius]

Only the people who buy the product have the right to make an opinion on the product? That's one hell of a privileged take considering it basically ensures developers get paid either way even if they make a bowl of lukewarm shit.

Sorry Jeff, I have the freedom to talk whatever trash about whatever game I want, and I don't necessarily need to have played it to know if it's crap or not. That's what YouTube and Twitch are for.

 

[Stuart360]

Going slightly off topic but i have talked about this before in regards to Steam. I feel a lot of studios must hate the fact Steam is as big as it is, with Steam showing a games CCU, and having user reviews and forums.

Long live platforms that allow gamers to voice their opnions.

 

[IDKFA]

How are you giving valuable feedback if - going his qualifier here - "you don't want to play it and you've never played it"?

Maybe the developers could find out why certain people don't want to play the game?

"I don't think I'll spend my hard earned cash on this game because......."

Isn't that feedback? If people don't want to buy your game, wouldn't it be better to find out why rather than telling them to STFU?

 

[Durin]

The way he wants to discard negative opinions, is exactly what consumers will do to his here. He's also doing the retarded thing of making an argument he himself doesn't believe.

Everyone has an opinion on things they don't intend to consume, because you have multiple variables to infer that something won't work for you before trying it...just like a dev can infer a game mechanic won't work without having to build a literal full prototype for each idea.

Not understanding why people hate on something they don't intend to consume, is a midwit argument. Just say you don't condone actual harassment, and move on.

 

[Karamina]

Childish logic, that's the kind of stuff we saw on forums during the PS2 vs GameCube era lol

People are allowed to hate a game without playing it. When you look at the resources wasted on Concord and Highguard, it's hard not to think about the great single-player games or original MP experiences we could have had instead.

 

[Stuart360]

Its ironic that he has literally just made his game a target, and it WILL be targeted 100%.

Good job sir.

 

[Kagoshima_Luke]

And who's policing whether someone has played a game or was ever going to play it? Does he have access to a precog like in Minority Report? Many times people "don't want to play it" because they have unprecedented access to info about a game these days, and they can clearly see that it's going to suck. When something sucks, but could have been so much better, you talk about it on the internet. It's not rocket science.

He just wants an echo chamber like most do these days.

 

[Bernardougf]

"Not caring" tantrums are always the best.

 

[Hollywood Hitman]

Said it before the audacity of these fucking assholes, as a business owner I just in 10000 years couldn't imagine saying that to my customers and thinking it's good for business.

I love gaming but ffs I absolutely hate these developers half the time it's why I don't care one fucking bit when they get laid off. I realize thats not everyone but still jfc what pieces of shit and how ungrateful they are that we are the people that even remotely make their fucking jobs even happen

 

[SHAKEZ]

He seems deathly afraid someone talks shit about his game and it catches on.

 

[Clintizzle]

95% of the games made these days are not for me. I don't spend my free time tracking steam CCU numbers or even watching YouTube videos on other people shitting on those games.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

Well, you better listen to them… or else 1,000 devs are going to get fired because of your ego

 

[semiconscious]

it's called trolling, jeff, &, if someone's into it, it's very likely always gonna be fun for them to know that they're upsetting someone like you. which's the whole point of the exercise, btw...

 

[Skifi28]

Jaffe, Jeff, Jez. The cogs that keep Gaf spinning.

 

[Loomy]

Company A makes sports cars I like. I buy one. A then decides to make a sedan. Me and a majority of their customer base don't like sedans. I tell them I don't want sedans and I won't buy sedans. I will buy more sports cars if they make them.
Thus I have provided feedback.

"I don't think I'll spend my hard earned cash on this game because......."

Isn't that feedback? If people don't want to buy your game, wouldn't it be better to find out why rather than telling them to STFU?

Yes but we all know that this is not the criticism/feedback Kaplan is talking about though, don't we? I could point you to multiple threads here - some that have been deleted - and posts on reddit with the kind of criticism/feedback he's talking about.

I actually do think there's value to it. The criticism that Kaplan is complaining about is what you get when you produce a game so far off-base from what your fans and intended audience want that they just hate it for existing. As if to say "this is what you're wasting your time and money on, when there's a million things you could've done that I'd actually want?" Even if they executed on the plan perfectly, it's so conceptually flawed that it wouldn't matter. I think the market, particularly in AAA, has devolved so completely into a series of cynical cash grabs that publishers frankly need that sort of reality check. While yes, people go overboard.... I get it.

The last thing I want is for creators to only focus on giving people exactly what they think they want. If they were doing that in gaming specifically, we'd still be playing CoD4 clones today.

Unless you're subscribed to a service where you're paying before you get a product, the creator doesn't have to make exactly what you want. When it comes out if you don't like it don't buy it.

There are bands I like who switched up their sound/style years ago and I don't go trolling every album release talking about how much their music sucks now. I listen to the older things I like, or other people's music.

I understand that not everything is for me. And when it isn't, I move on.