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"Thank You Everyone!" David Kim leaves StarCraft 2 - Page 12

Forum Index > SC2 General
290 CommentsPost a Reply
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Be civil.
Topdoller
Profile Joined March 2011
United Kingdom3860 Posts
April 09 2017 11:19 GMT
#221
On April 09 2017 11:00 BigFan wrote:
lol Idra, funny guy. Doubt he'll come to SCII though, I think he's done for good since what, HoTS?


i wonder where he put that "Tire Iron" ?
figq
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
12519 Posts
April 09 2017 12:31 GMT
#222
Now that Davie left, I feel sorry for dumping all my criticism on him. I should have given more attention to the Dustin Bro.
If you stand next to my head, you can hear the ocean. - Day[9]
samurai80
Profile Joined November 2011
Japan4225 Posts
Last Edited: 2017-04-09 12:34:16
April 09 2017 12:33 GMT
#223
Sad to hear that. GL HF for next !
Eridanus
Profile Joined April 2017
United States75 Posts
Last Edited: 2017-04-10 18:17:40
April 09 2017 12:46 GMT
#224
You should never feel sorry for a person that choose to be in a position of power and great financial award for being criticized on how they do their job. He didn't have to take that position.
You will actually feel that people in those kinds of positions have an unusual ability to not be bothered by it. Either out of narcissism or insensitivity. And we 'normal' people feel that so many people having opinions on you would be stressful at best, hurtful at worst. Until it become tasteless, personal, threads of violence, I wouldn't feel sorry for people in prominent positions.

I would be more worried about certain type of people deciding against taking on high profile jobs because they don't have the thick skin or insensitivity to criticism to take on such jobs, despite their ability to do those jobs well. You create a bias in favour of certain people for these important positions.


In the end it was David Kim's job to be a foil for all the criticism customers put out, so that others didn't have to deal with it. They paid him handsomely for that, so they didn't have to pay their other employee's similar money because they remained unaffected.


On April 08 2017 23:27 HalcyonRain wrote:
I always thought that SC2 had large game design problems. One of which was warpgate negating the defenders advantage, meaning the units that could come out of gateways had to be weaker. This led to reliance on hero units, like the colossus, to win games; promoting a turtle-like style of play. There are many other problems I see but they're mostly problems that would have to be fixed by radical overhauls. Instead of overhauling the game Blizzard gave David Kim (and Co.) a stack of band-aids and said "fix our patient that's bleeding out due to massive lacerations".

Realistically, there was only so much David Kim could do to patch up a patient in critical condition, with band-aids. I think he, and the rest of the balance team, did a fine job when you consider their situation. Unfortunately, I found that I was not a member of SC2's target audience. I just didn't find the gameplay that compelling or engaging (when compared to BW). I still checked in every now and then, but never found SC2 gameplay as compelling as BW.

Regardless of this I wish David Kim the best in his future projects. Being the head of the balance team was (is) a rough job. I would liken it to the job of U.S. Federal Reserve's Janet Yellen. Much like Yellen he had the job of soothing the masses; and no matter what he did, someone was going to be pissed.

So good luck David Kim. I hope your next position in Blizzard will be a little less stressful.


Lastly, I'd just like to point out that my view of SC2 is just my opinion. I came from BW and would have liked SC2 to be more like BW; so my opinion is very biased and should be taken with a large amount of salt.



I agree very much with this.
mishimaBeef
Profile Blog Joined January 2010
Canada2259 Posts
Last Edited: 2017-04-10 02:18:50
April 10 2017 02:11 GMT
#225
Probably went to work on the wc3 balance patch
Dare to live the life you have dreamed for yourself. Go forward and make your dreams come true. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
htx.RuNe
Profile Joined April 2017
12 Posts
April 10 2017 03:06 GMT
#226
The big question here is, who is replacing him? Because if he leaves and such an important position isn't immediately filled by a replacement, that basically confirms SC2 is in maintenance mode now - whatever headless remnant of the design team is still around won't have either the ability or authority to change the game, nevermind revive it from its slump.
xtorn
Profile Blog Joined December 2013
4060 Posts
April 10 2017 03:35 GMT
#227
The sheer amount of hate David Kim took and answered to with maximum tact is something to learn from. Respect.
Life - forever the Legend in my heart
Jealous
Profile Blog Joined December 2011
10232 Posts
April 10 2017 06:44 GMT
#228
On April 08 2017 14:29 MockHamill wrote:
Well given the horrible units that had to work with (Swarm Hosts, Tempest, Adepts etc) he did a decent work at balancing the winrates for the top 0.01%.

Only one person can save SC2 now but I do not think he will get the job.

Rofl is it avilo?
"The right to vote is only the oar of the slaveship, I wanna be free." -- бум бум сучка!
digmouse
Profile Blog Joined November 2010
China6330 Posts
Last Edited: 2017-04-10 07:15:43
April 10 2017 07:15 GMT
#229
On April 10 2017 12:06 htx.RuNe wrote:
The big question here is, who is replacing him? Because if he leaves and such an important position isn't immediately filled by a replacement, that basically confirms SC2 is in maintenance mode now - whatever headless remnant of the design team is still around won't have either the ability or authority to change the game, nevermind revive it from its slump.

Truth is, the design decisions are not his own, it is a team effort, he is just the one that takes the blame. Same for Ghostcrawler and his WoW days.
TranslatorIf you want to ask anything about Chinese esports, send me a PM or follow me @nerddigmouse.
StormsInJuly
Profile Joined January 2009
Sweden165 Posts
April 10 2017 07:59 GMT
#230
On April 09 2017 21:46 Eridanus wrote:
You should never feel sorry for a person that choose to be in a position of power and great financial award for being criticized on how they do their job. He didn't have to take that position.
You will actually feel that people in those kinds of positions have an unusual ability to not be bothered by it. Either out of narcissism or insensitivity. And we 'normal' people feel that so many people having opinions on you would be stressful at best, hurtful at worst. Until it doesn't become tasteless, personal, threads of violence, I wouldn't feel sorry for people in prominent positions.


Please don't rationalize the awful behavior of this community by claiming that dkim doesn't have feelings like a 'normal' person. A lot of the hate directed toward him was exactly that (tasteless, personal, threats of violence)
nanaoei
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
3358 Posts
Last Edited: 2017-04-10 09:38:35
April 10 2017 07:59 GMT
#231
On April 09 2017 21:46 Eridanus wrote:
Until it doesn't become tasteless, personal, threads of violence, I wouldn't feel sorry for people in prominent positions.


except that it happened. we're not thinking that he's a poor baby soul, we're considering that he's a grown professional with the capabilities to handle the pressure and yet we still sympathize; as if you read some of the hate comments, a lot of them quickly became personal for whatever reason, even if we know that he is in a position to receive them.

the alternatives are that we blame dustin browder, blizzard as the entire company, or god forbid.. ourselves, lol, upon realizing that we need to take responsibility for having to improve our own playstyle.
*@boesthius' FF7 nostalgia stream bomb* "we should work on a 'Final Progamer' fangame»whitera can be a protagonist---lastlie: "we save world and then defense it"
Heartland
Profile Blog Joined May 2012
Sweden24591 Posts
April 10 2017 09:33 GMT
#232
Thank you, David! You were the best <3
Eridanus
Profile Joined April 2017
United States75 Posts
Last Edited: 2017-04-10 10:15:05
April 10 2017 10:11 GMT
#233
On April 10 2017 16:59 StormsInJuly wrote:
Show nested quote +
On April 09 2017 21:46 Eridanus wrote:
You should never feel sorry for a person that choose to be in a position of power and great financial award for being criticized on how they do their job. He didn't have to take that position.
You will actually feel that people in those kinds of positions have an unusual ability to not be bothered by it. Either out of narcissism or insensitivity. And we 'normal' people feel that so many people having opinions on you would be stressful at best, hurtful at worst. Until it doesn't become tasteless, personal, threads of violence, I wouldn't feel sorry for people in prominent positions.


Please don't rationalize the awful behavior of this community by claiming that dkim doesn't have feelings like a 'normal' person. A lot of the hate directed toward him was exactly that (tasteless, personal, threats of violence)


How is it a rationalization? I already know many of Blizzard's customers are complete trash, illogical, and immature people. Never mind the immoral behavior they display online because they think it doesn't matter what you say as long as you think you are anonymous.

I am talking about how sorry we should feel for David Kim. Or Lloyd Blankfein. Or some Kardasian. Or Donald Trump. Or anyone who decides they really want the spotlight. These people get exactly what they want. We shouldn't feel sorry for people getting exactly what they want. If they wanted something else, they can just quit.

User was warned for this post
BronzeKnee
Profile Joined March 2011
United States5217 Posts
Last Edited: 2017-04-10 15:42:09
April 10 2017 15:39 GMT
#234
On April 10 2017 16:15 digmouse wrote:
Show nested quote +
On April 10 2017 12:06 htx.RuNe wrote:
The big question here is, who is replacing him? Because if he leaves and such an important position isn't immediately filled by a replacement, that basically confirms SC2 is in maintenance mode now - whatever headless remnant of the design team is still around won't have either the ability or authority to change the game, nevermind revive it from its slump.

Truth is, the design decisions are not his own, it is a team effort, he is just the one that takes the blame. Same for Ghostcrawler and his WoW days.


But he was the leader. He is to blame for the decisions of his team when they are bad, and gets the credit when they are good.

People always forget that latter part. There are plenty of the games that don't get the criticism SC2 does. If SC2 was a masterpiece in game design, I'd be happy to heap praise on David Kim.
Cinskywind1
Profile Joined October 2016
19 Posts
April 10 2017 20:01 GMT
#235
Sad news indeed but glad to hear he's still working on Blizzard projects so look forward to his next game
NKB
Profile Joined February 2012
United Kingdom608 Posts
April 10 2017 20:10 GMT
#236
Best of luck in whatever you are doing next. Hope you are treated well and enjoy what you are doing
Some times you just gotta wish...
xtorn
Profile Blog Joined December 2013
4060 Posts
April 11 2017 03:00 GMT
#237
On April 10 2017 16:15 digmouse wrote:
Show nested quote +
On April 10 2017 12:06 htx.RuNe wrote:
The big question here is, who is replacing him? Because if he leaves and such an important position isn't immediately filled by a replacement, that basically confirms SC2 is in maintenance mode now - whatever headless remnant of the design team is still around won't have either the ability or authority to change the game, nevermind revive it from its slump.

Truth is, the design decisions are not his own, it is a team effort, he is just the one that takes the blame. Same for Ghostcrawler and his WoW days.


Hmm, compared to David Kim, Ghostcrawler Street had a much harsher time with the community.
I think Ghostcrawler took maybe thrice the hate that DK experienced. And now that he is lead designer at Riot, he received death threats too http://www.12up.com/posts/4376634-design-director-for-lol-receives-death-threats


"I’ve had weird phone calls in the middle of the night. I’ve had death threats. I’ve had Blizzard security offer to monitor my house. I’ve had designers who had to work with the FBI on threats. I’m also an upper class, straight, white dude, and I know developers who aren’t who have gotten much, much worse from players

https://www.google.de/amp/s/www.pcgamesn.com/league-of-legends/ghostcrawler-community-death-threats-fbi?amp
---

Maybe it is a job description thing for Lead Game Designers in general, to be viciously hated?! As in, "please be aware that once you begin work, you are highly recommended that you also take our subsidized self defense classes or consider our bodyguard offer."
Life - forever the Legend in my heart
Serruptitious1
Profile Joined April 2017
1 Post
April 11 2017 05:11 GMT
#238
Blizzard tried to make a game with such a high skill ceiling that mastering it could earn you money, and rather than a game they created a job.
warlocke
Profile Joined September 2015
97 Posts
April 11 2017 05:55 GMT
#239
best of luck to David Kim, looking forward to his next project. I personally think he faired reasonably well with the adjustments and balancing up to this moment.
an average player whom can only F2 + a-move
Deleted User 132135
Profile Joined December 2010
702 Posts
Last Edited: 2017-04-11 13:07:04
April 11 2017 12:36 GMT
#240
GLHF DK. Hard job for sure but I think criticism is valid for the reasons some guy named a few posts earlier.


My sum up:

Patching Pace: I feel like it was as well too fast and too slow at times. In the very beginning it was way too slow. It took ages to create a proper gameplay for zerg in the beginning of WOL, were you simply lost either to all-ins or to your own overreaction in 50% of games. Then BL/Inf was allowed way too long. Later on some changes were probably too quick. I wouldn't name mines though as their nerf was justified imo. I would have buffed tanks or anything else instead in order to get bio complemented with more gas heavy and less mobile units instead of another almost gasless and still quite mobile unit like the mine.

Overall I would say changes came in too slow and with a narrow focus mainly/only on the problem itself and not taking conditions into account enough and if taken into account still not being addressed.

DK vs. JW: Balance Design is the game design of SC2 MP. While it is technically not the same position effectively as the lead balance designer of SC2 you do design the game's impact more than anyone else I guess (after engine and other basics are in place).

The design perspective: Was brought in and came to attention way too late. I remember when I talked about design 80% of TL believed it is not important and the only thing that matters is balance on top level play. It went in the whole wrong direction and majorly blizzard/DK can be blamed for that aside of the people in the community who jumped on that and created an athmosphere were constructive changes was not possible even though for a long time it was already obvious that SC2 did not deliver the way everybody wanted it to and sole and simple focus on little balance changes could not ever get the job done in the right way.


Overall failures of SC2 that required early focus on but were neglected:
- macromechanics allow comeback in only very few situations and depending on the respective mechanic only to a certain extend but in most cases allow the player with the advantage to even pull ahead further
- macromechanic mule as the main killer of aggression against terran that does not kill the terran. Was required for the following highly detrimental state of the game which only terran players themselves consider as granted:
- terran bio gameplay without much need for gas, without impactful transitions and with barely any need to adapt to opponents decisions for long periods of SC2. You simply built more bio against bio hard counters with only very few variations, you didn't need more than 4-5 gas whole game long and were sitting on 2-3k gas after a few minutes into the game, you could and still can trade your SCV against enemy combat units up to a certain extend and in certain situations (mainly in TvZ) which made play against terran mostly passive, boring and one-dimensional.
- that was compensated with ridiculous stuff like MSC sight range, warp back, pylon/nexus cannon, Oracles (!), swarmhosts, mutalisk buff, ravagers etc. which took the game again into the wrong direction:
- gimmicky units over usual units (tiring)
- timing and positioning over strategy and micro (frustrating)
- 10% of game has 90% impact while 90% of the game has only 10% of impact (both)
- few consitency in both ingame battles and players: does the oracle hit while marines are 1-2 cm out of position or are they perfectly in position, fights over that quickly that top level players can barely make a difference (lose of trust, hope and positive feelings towards the game).


Still one of the best competitive games of the last decade. But the extraordinary high expectations were not met at any single point of time for me. The game is very good, but lacking brilliance and excellence in too many aspects. This is most likely a result of the inevitable larger amounts of person working on such a thing compared to the 90s. It feels like too many compromises and trade-offs were accepted when designing and balancing the game. The game should have instead followed one guys (or limited group of people who work closely together) vision that exactly envisioned what, how and why the final product should look like.

Hence I believe while DK did a good job it is positive to let it do someone else from now. At least there is a very low chance that new approaches create new results and that one of them might hit the nail.
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