Think we are about to see another wave.

[Shougun]

Each to their own, I guess. The people who wish to vote with their wallet due to seeing it as a red line will do so. Others will have different opinions on the matter. It isn't necessarily callous to be indifferent - because not every single person in existence needs to follow mob rule.

I stopped supporting Blizzard a while back for different reasons. Reasons I find to be just as jarring and horrid as what is going on at present. Given that such issues were brought to the light back then, I'm not personally inclined to award points to people calling out their actions in the present unless they were doing so back during prior controversies as well.

I actually didn't know about that previous incident (did know about Blitzchung though). Overall I was already not participating long before even that, before all the controversy I felt they occasionally had some good ideas here and there but in general just didn't have the 'magic' anymore. So it was a 'gamer' for me before it even became a moral one. I still think they occasionally show talent, some of the art in their new areas are pretty pretty, ideas here and there, but I'd also not claim talent is exclusive to a few companies, which is why I try to stay abreast even if it's not a game I'll play just so I can hope and encourage SE to both be unique and itself but also cannibalize and be a bit of a predator (in a good way lol) of the mmo landscape. It's also really helpful to see ideas actually in motion, paper and function can sometimes disagree lol - far more powerful to be like "look this works and is cool" vs "mah brahin sayz cool".

Still think there is a lot of worth in tracking and inspiring by their legacy, and talents that do remain, but it's been relatively easy to not go back when all of this happens. Certainly hurts on a childhood emotion level though, I /loved/ (in the way you'd love a game, not like.. asylum love lol) warcraft 3, and I had a great time with many of their IPs. Many fond memories with LAN starcraft, Diablo 2 parties, etc. . .

Anyway.. "dont you guys have phones?" lol

[Xathyr]

you really dont know what you are talking about if you call these forums "toxic"

These are indeed probably one of the most friendly forums I've ever been, after 3 weeks navigating here i still haven't seen anyone harassing, insulting or escalating things out of proportion, maybe it happened i dunno, but the fact that i still haven't noticed already means that people here are way more polite and kind that some others are on other places by far.

[Theodric]

I actually didn't know about that previous incident (did know about Blitzchung though). Overall I was already not participating long before even that, before all the controversy I felt they occasionally had some good ideas here and there but in general just didn't have the 'magic' anymore. So it was a 'gamer' for me before it even became a moral one. I still think they occasionally show talent, some of the art in their new areas are pretty pretty, ideas here and there, but I'd also not claim talent is exclusive to a few companies, which is why I try to stay abreast even if it's not a game I'll play just so I can hope and encourage SE to both be unique and itself but also cannibalize and be a bit of a predator (in a good way lol) of the mmo landscape. It's also really helpful to see ideas actually in motion, paper and function can sometimes disagree lol - far more powerful to be like "look this works and is cool" vs "mah brahin sayz cool".

Still think there is a lot of worth in tracking and inspiring by their legacy, and talents that do remain, but it's been relatively easy to not go back when all of this happens. Certainly hurts on a childhood emotion level though, I /loved/ (in the way you'd love a game, not like.. asylum love lol) warcraft 3, and I had a great time with many of their IPs. Many fond memories with LAN starcraft, Diablo 2 parties, etc. . .

Anyway.. "dont you guys have phones?" lol

It's a lot like a certain major movie company to me. I have fond memories of some of the earlier stuff that I watched growing up, but I have no interest giving money to the company in the present day. It's a real shame, though - I like both Western and Eastern style fantasy games and want to partake of a healthy balance of both but it seems like, in recent years, a lot of Western companies are making some questionable decisions. The other controversies are just further baggage added on top of that.

These are indeed probably one of the most friendly forums I've ever been, after 3 weeks navigating here i still haven't seen anyone harassing, insulting or escalating things out of proportion, maybe it happened i dunno, but the fact that i still haven't noticed already means that people here are way more polite and kind that some others are on other places by far.

They're a lot friendlier than other platforms for discussion surrounding FFXIV. Certainly, any major breaches of the terms of service are going to be dealt with whereas the same cannot be said of the abuse hurled at people over on Reddit and Twitter.

With that said, the aggression and hostility takes a more subtle form as a result - and there can be some strange gatekeeping at times. Furthermore, some people just choose to take their beef to third party territory instead.

[SirCadogan]

Unfortunately you are correct…. I don’t mean unfortunately for the staff. I mean for wow. Maybe WOW will get bought by another company and will be made better.

It’s either that or SE needs to step into high gear to be ready for EW to propel them to King of the MMOs.

Better yet, with wow gone maybe we will get more competition and even better mmos.

[SirCadogan]

It’s so nice here. Everyone is helpful etc… if these forums are "toxic" then wows are demonic.

[SirCadogan]

The other half are saying "nope, these allegations are lies and we agree, women need to be……."

[TeraRamis]

The other half are saying "nope, these allegations are lies and we agree, women need to be……."

I don't believe they are lies, and I don't believe the claims are exaggerated... this isn't a normal lawsuit, it's the state doing a major 2+ year investigation and then taking a step that's just one small level short of (and may eventually lead to) criminal prosecution.

I feel about 99 percent utterly horrified by the woman committing suicide, and roughly 1 percent 'a) why did you share nude photos of yourself (and before someone loses their mind and calls me a misogynist - I don't think you should be sharing nude photos of yourself these days period; they're just going to get traded and leaked. It's inevitable), and b) I sure wish you could have held out, because you'd be a multi-multi millionaire right now if you had lived to sue the bejezus out of them.' Basically, I wish she hadn't made an irrevocable choice over a situation as fleeting as perceived personal shame .

Overall, my reaction is one of knowing revulsion - most of us knew Blizzard was a really jacked company; there have been little signs of it here and there. But the extent to which it was a corporate culture... is just kinda geesh.

[VictorTheed]

I watched that Asmongold vid about this and man that's some crazy stuff goin on there at blizzard, People getting drunk at work functions, pregnant chicks not being able to go to the bathroom when they need to,etc.

I don't wanna write a book but sounds like they need to follow a few simple rules.

1. never physically touch a female employee, hand shakes included, with all the me to crap goin on these days you'd figure that'd be common sense, and don't make comments on a female co workers appearance, good or bad, play it safe and keep it to yourself.

2. If u have a pregnant employee then have the common sense to know she is gonna have to use the bathroom more,etc, don't be a heartless dick, she is not lazy she is showing up for work pregnant so give her a break , she's pregnant.

Dang I wrote a book, ah screw it.

[ElciaDeiLinus]

I've been playing WoW almost half my life, and despite my disappointment with the monetization, BfA, Shadowlands and their horrible decision making with TBC Classic changes, I felt like they were going to eventually make something good. Despite being in multiple raid guilds where I was harassed, I'd also been in some really nice guilds with great people, albeit all before WoD.

The people I see defending Blizz even now on their forums, I'm glad they'll stay there. I'm glad that there are people who call FFXIV a weeb game and will never try it, I genuinely don't want to interact with those people any more. WoW has gone from the hobby that brought me the most joy to the one that brings me the most anger. I was recently threatened by their customer service, and now this news drops... honestly, I'm happy, cuz I've felt like they abuse their customers, and because of that their customers are constantly at each others throats in game. But I'm also so hooked that I could never stop coming back to WoW. This may have just cut the line for me, so I'm happy they've been exposed for the company they are.

[Snorky]

What has happened at Blizzard is terrible. The problem is with western gaming company's treating customers and employees like crap and yet we reach in our wallets to pay them to treat us badly. We as customers really do have the power we just need to realize it. A company that has been as fortune as Blizzard to allow these actions should be done in the gaming world. It really not okay to treat other human beings the way they treat employees or customers.