So we are presently up to two high-profile departures with no advance warning. It is not unreasonable at this point to discuss the future of the game. As has been pointed out, there are still a large number of people on the team, but it is not usual for people who have fought their way to the to top to suddenly exit on a whim. Considering the generally lackluster reception of the expansion, is there a problem? Perhaps it is much ado about nothing, but this is also how the end would begin. Please discuss.
I wont make any solid argument about it because we don't know what is causing this. I do think its weird all of sudden two high profile persons left Blizzard out of nowhere but maybe they just wanted to leave and thought this was the right time.. Heck, its never the right time to leave a company you worked for years upon years.
But if this is a sign of ending? Doub it. I want to believe its a sign HS might change to something better I hope.
Think of Ben Brode as like "President of the United States" He makes important decisions, can propose/veto anything, but chances are someone will easily be able to take over. Hamilton chu is kinda like a secretary of State, handling internal and external affairs(community things/flavor texts in game,business side). The US replaces these types of jobs in an even more stressful medium and keeps running so I wouldn't worry about it. Other people can be the face of Hearthstone, other people can lead a business conversation. Now if they start talking about replacing the whole lead design team, thats an issue.
While I do think it's odd both Ben Brode and Hamilton Chu left, I wouldn't be too worrified for the future of the game. With as many people working on the game as there are, it's unlikely the team is facing a crisis. Higher ups leaving a company at the same time is not really unusual; it's likely that both Brode and Chu wanted to leave for a little while before now but chose to stay to see out the end of The Witchwood. I wouldn't be too worried about the direction the game is going, it's not like these two guys made up the entirety of the heart of the game, seems like people are making a mountain out of a molehill to me.
2 friends left to start their own venture. I don't see how that even affects the game at all when neither of them were even involved in most of the design oft he game anyway.
Hearthstone is not dying. It is simply changing. A company like Blizzard just doesn't roll up after a few people leave. After the time HS has been in play, some shake in the lead team is nothing odd. Its actually normal. A person as intelligent and charismatic as Ben Brode will stay around and work for other people for a very long time. He was bound to go on his own adventures.
In case you haven't noticed, Hearthstone's design philosophy has already changed, with very little rng in the game at work right now. The game still has rng but it is not as large as it was previously.
Since HS designs expansions yearly, meaning 3 expansions ahead, rather then designing a single expansion and moving on to the next. I bet you won't see any difference in the game design for a long time.
If Hearthstone was developed by a small company with little track record, there would be reason to worry. But Blizzard is a top company creating games. They attract some of the best people, and so will have a good selection of people to pick from, likely picking someone inhouse and hiring fresh minds for lower jobs.
Hearthstone is a money maker and Blizzard will put the best people in place to keep that happening. Can something go wrong? Sure, nothing in life is 100% guaranteed. But its much more likely thtat we will see more new and exciting content in the future. With Heathstones development model of 3 expansions ahead it will give the new people plenty of time to get situated and produce.
I think it's probably more a case of changing of the guard rather than rats fleeing a sinking ship. A lot of the people who left, not just in H/S but also people like David Kim or Chris Metzen, had been at Blizz forever and may have just wanted a change.
As an aside I am deeply underwhelmed by this expansion. We've had some great stuff in the past and the eve/odd mechanic is fun but ladder is horrible and has been for months. And most of all, I miss it being fun - because it used to be great fun to play H/S.
Maybe the change in leadership means the game direction will change like it did when David Kim left the SC2 team.
Man Brode was the meme to shut the complaints down with his shenanigans. I am glad he is out. Hoping for someone with a greater insight into his own playerbase.
I don't think the departure of both of them is "out of nowhere". We were informed just about now, but I believe inside Blizzard/Team 5 - those are some "old" new. In my opinion, Ben Brode was just waiting for the WW release to happen, so he can take the initial QQ outrage of the community and the peace out. I don't know the story surrounding the other guy, but as I said before - Blizzard knew well in advance that those 2 people are leaving the company. Just we did not.
And I can understand them to be perfectly honest. Once you are on the top, once you have achieved anything there is to achieve on a certain job/career/heck, even a game - you need to move on. Otherwise you lose the incentive to improve, to further develop your skills and abilities. You have to move on, you have to "change the scenery" and set your eyes on a new goal/goals.
That could be very good for HS as well - some fresh blood, fresh ideas. If it has happened in a "small indie company" - 2 major figures leaving the company could very well spell the end for the company, but in a well established company such as Blizzard/Team 5 I doubt it will change anything, except maybe some new stuff added to the game in like 1 year from now.
Only time will tell.
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“If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange these apples then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas.” ― George Bernard Shaw
EU Legend: S52 (ZooHeal Lock); S76 (Highlander Hunter);
Hearthstone Team loses 2 important members, but they hired 3 people last week. I'm sure Hearthstone will change a little (?) in the future (starting 2019 expansions, because they alredy have done all 2018 expansions). In conclusion, Hearthstone won't die anytime soon.
It wasn't "on a whim", Ben Brode likely gave notice of his resignation to the company months ago. That's how it works in the real world. The replacement is probably lined up already.
We only heard about it a couple of days ago, but he didn't have to say anything. He only did so out of courtesy and respect to the players.
Also, try working at the same company for 15 years and the same project for 10. I imagine even the thing you are most enthusiastic about, will become slightly tiresome after a decade.
I'm not discrediting the work Ben and Hamilton bought to the game, but everyone is replaceable. I feel like most of this board's community don't have the maturity nor the life experience to comprehend this.
It could have just as easily been a difference in philosophy for where the game was heading. That doesn't mean that the game is going to end or be horrible.
They will just hire new people to fill the roles, and hearthstone will be fine. It sure is sad though to see Brode, and even Chu, who we didn’t see much of, leaving. I’m wishing them luck and their new startup(s).
I'm not discrediting the work Ben and Hamilton bought to the game, but everyone is replaceable. I feel like most of this board's community don't have the maturity nor the life experience to comprehend this.
In this case that is true because Ben Brode is not an exceptional man at his work and Blizzard has the money to hire almost anyone, but not everyone is replaceable always, that is not true and it seems you are the one who doesn't have the maturity nor the life experience to comprehend this. You will understand that after losing someone really special, someone that you love with all your heart. ;)
People saying stuff like "try doing something for as long,it becomes tiresome"mofos have you even worked one day in your life?have you ever had things go wrong for once in your life?wtf?What do you understand about Bens decision?
Although i love ben dont get me wrong,i dont understand his decision.He probably was eating with golden spoons all that time he was at Blizzard,because to be fair its the greatest gaming company out there.
I dont understand why would he or anyone else in his position do something like this.There are millions out there trying to even get a glimpse of his life.
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Just Another Legend Player#Kappa
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So we are presently up to two high-profile departures with no advance warning. It is not unreasonable at this point to discuss the future of the game. As has been pointed out, there are still a large number of people on the team, but it is not usual for people who have fought their way to the to top to suddenly exit on a whim. Considering the generally lackluster reception of the expansion, is there a problem? Perhaps it is much ado about nothing, but this is also how the end would begin. Please discuss.
Free to try and find a game, dealing cards for sorrow, cards for pain.
I wont make any solid argument about it because we don't know what is causing this. I do think its weird all of sudden two high profile persons left Blizzard out of nowhere but maybe they just wanted to leave and thought this was the right time.. Heck, its never the right time to leave a company you worked for years upon years.
But if this is a sign of ending? Doub it. I want to believe its a sign HS might change to something better I hope.
Think of Ben Brode as like "President of the United States" He makes important decisions, can propose/veto anything, but chances are someone will easily be able to take over. Hamilton chu is kinda like a secretary of State, handling internal and external affairs(community things/flavor texts in game,business side). The US replaces these types of jobs in an even more stressful medium and keeps running so I wouldn't worry about it. Other people can be the face of Hearthstone, other people can lead a business conversation. Now if they start talking about replacing the whole lead design team, thats an issue.
The end is coming!!!!
I onli knew about ben brode... Who else is leaving?
While I do think it's odd both Ben Brode and Hamilton Chu left, I wouldn't be too worrified for the future of the game. With as many people working on the game as there are, it's unlikely the team is facing a crisis. Higher ups leaving a company at the same time is not really unusual; it's likely that both Brode and Chu wanted to leave for a little while before now but chose to stay to see out the end of The Witchwood. I wouldn't be too worried about the direction the game is going, it's not like these two guys made up the entirety of the heart of the game, seems like people are making a mountain out of a molehill to me.
Not all who wander are lost...
...but I sure am
2 friends left to start their own venture. I don't see how that even affects the game at all when neither of them were even involved in most of the design oft he game anyway.
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Hearthstone is not dying. It is simply changing. A company like Blizzard just doesn't roll up after a few people leave. After the time HS has been in play, some shake in the lead team is nothing odd. Its actually normal. A person as intelligent and charismatic as Ben Brode will stay around and work for other people for a very long time. He was bound to go on his own adventures.
In case you haven't noticed, Hearthstone's design philosophy has already changed, with very little rng in the game at work right now. The game still has rng but it is not as large as it was previously.
Since HS designs expansions yearly, meaning 3 expansions ahead, rather then designing a single expansion and moving on to the next. I bet you won't see any difference in the game design for a long time.
Yeh, Blizz not gonna replace them and let the game die. They don't want that money milking machine anyway....
If Hearthstone was developed by a small company with little track record, there would be reason to worry. But Blizzard is a top company creating games. They attract some of the best people, and so will have a good selection of people to pick from, likely picking someone inhouse and hiring fresh minds for lower jobs.
Hearthstone is a money maker and Blizzard will put the best people in place to keep that happening. Can something go wrong? Sure, nothing in life is 100% guaranteed. But its much more likely thtat we will see more new and exciting content in the future. With Heathstones development model of 3 expansions ahead it will give the new people plenty of time to get situated and produce.
If you are in your first year of playing please read this post.
Dust does not burn a hole in the jar. Be careful what you craft, especially before and right after a rotation.
Doomed! We're doomed I tell you!
I think it's probably more a case of changing of the guard rather than rats fleeing a sinking ship. A lot of the people who left, not just in H/S but also people like David Kim or Chris Metzen, had been at Blizz forever and may have just wanted a change.
As an aside I am deeply underwhelmed by this expansion. We've had some great stuff in the past and the eve/odd mechanic is fun but ladder is horrible and has been for months. And most of all, I miss it being fun - because it used to be great fun to play H/S.
Maybe the change in leadership means the game direction will change like it did when David Kim left the SC2 team.
Man Brode was the meme to shut the complaints down with his shenanigans. I am glad he is out. Hoping for someone with a greater insight into his own playerbase.
Nah it's not. As long as this game is gold mine,Blizzard won't let it die even if the entire hs team is replaced lol
I don't think the departure of both of them is "out of nowhere". We were informed just about now, but I believe inside Blizzard/Team 5 - those are some "old" new. In my opinion, Ben Brode was just waiting for the WW release to happen, so he can take the initial QQ outrage of the community and the peace out. I don't know the story surrounding the other guy, but as I said before - Blizzard knew well in advance that those 2 people are leaving the company. Just we did not.
And I can understand them to be perfectly honest. Once you are on the top, once you have achieved anything there is to achieve on a certain job/career/heck, even a game - you need to move on. Otherwise you lose the incentive to improve, to further develop your skills and abilities. You have to move on, you have to "change the scenery" and set your eyes on a new goal/goals.
That could be very good for HS as well - some fresh blood, fresh ideas. If it has happened in a "small indie company" - 2 major figures leaving the company could very well spell the end for the company, but in a well established company such as Blizzard/Team 5 I doubt it will change anything, except maybe some new stuff added to the game in like 1 year from now.
Only time will tell.
“If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange these apples then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas.” ― George Bernard Shaw
EU Legend: S52 (ZooHeal Lock); S76 (Highlander Hunter);
If the designers don't leave too we are chill
Hearthstone Team loses 2 important members, but they hired 3 people last week. I'm sure Hearthstone will change a little (?) in the future (starting 2019 expansions, because they alredy have done all 2018 expansions). In conclusion, Hearthstone won't die anytime soon.
Always look on the random side of life.
It wasn't "on a whim", Ben Brode likely gave notice of his resignation to the company months ago. That's how it works in the real world. The replacement is probably lined up already.
We only heard about it a couple of days ago, but he didn't have to say anything. He only did so out of courtesy and respect to the players.
Also, try working at the same company for 15 years and the same project for 10. I imagine even the thing you are most enthusiastic about, will become slightly tiresome after a decade.
I'm not discrediting the work Ben and Hamilton bought to the game, but everyone is replaceable. I feel like most of this board's community don't have the maturity nor the life experience to comprehend this.
It could have just as easily been a difference in philosophy for where the game was heading. That doesn't mean that the game is going to end or be horrible.
They will just hire new people to fill the roles, and hearthstone will be fine. It sure is sad though to see Brode, and even Chu, who we didn’t see much of, leaving. I’m wishing them luck and their new startup(s).
People saying stuff like "try doing something for as long,it becomes tiresome"mofos have you even worked one day in your life?have you ever had things go wrong for once in your life?wtf?What do you understand about Bens decision?
Although i love ben dont get me wrong,i dont understand his decision.He probably was eating with golden spoons all that time he was at Blizzard,because to be fair its the greatest gaming company out there.
I dont understand why would he or anyone else in his position do something like this.There are millions out there trying to even get a glimpse of his life.
Just Another Legend Player#Kappa