Indie Developer Tells Epic To F**K Off
An indie developer didn't like the way Mark Rein was trying to tell him how to run his business.
Thursday during the Develop Conference in Brighton, Chris Harris from UK indie developer Positech said that smaller developers have the advantage of building a personal relationship with the end user--thus landing an actual sale--by emailing them directly. The observation came during a public debate in regards to the future of micro-studios. He was joined on stage by a panel of three other developers: Robin Lacey (Beatnik), Sean Murray (Hello Games) and Mark Morris (Introversion).
After he made the statement, there was a "derisive snort" from one of the male conference attendees siting in the front row, followed by a comment that communicating with one customer was a waste of time. "He then started to lecture us on how that's a silly way to do it," Harris said in his blog. Harris and the other three on the panel were stunned, questioning the man's identity.
"It turned out this guy was Mark Rein from Epic, although he seemed to assume everyone within earshot knew exactly who he was, and why he must obviously be right," Harris said. He went on to call Rein a jerk in the blog.
'Now I suspect this is not groundbreaking news, although it is to me, because I've never met him or even seen him before," he added. "However, this experience seems to confirm my opinions on Epic and companies like them in general. Now Mark may well look down on humble indies like me. He may well think I'm doing it wrong."
He went on to blast the company and its games, saying that they are way too "macho and dude" for his liking. However his biggest beef was with Rein and how the "triple-A studio jerk" was trying to tell Harris--who coincidentally has run a micro-studio for 13 years now--on how to run his business.
Of course, opinions are fine when they're from peers such as Mark from Introversion--these people apparently know what it takes to run a micro-studio. "But Triple-A studio bosses trying to lecture me on how to communicate better with gamers?" he said. "F**k off."
You go boy. Sounds like Mark Rein and George Broussard soak in the same hot tub.
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Ah. A dogfight. I like it.
Big guys treat the little guys badly, how unusual...
I'm a bit torn to pick a side. Rein was incredibly arrogant to lecture a colleague on doing his job, but he has a point here. I don't want my mailbox to be spammed by thinly veiled adverts known as newsletters and for the company it probably isn't a good way of advertising either (although a very cheap one)
Rein was an absolute dick, it's easy to pick sides!
Perhaps he was dismissing the general idea, rather than directing insult toward a particular entity.
Perhaps he was dismissing the general idea, rather than directing insult toward a particular entity.
Yes but the statement has more impact if its directed at someone or something.
Why do people have to swear to make a point, it is better and more memorable to make Creative insults.
No one should lecture anyone else about a correct way to communicate with customers, if his method has worked for more than 10 years, then Chris Harris has a right to continue this method without being insulted by an arrogant Games Giant Representative.
Why is this news worthy???
Before Unreal in 1998 Epic was effectively a Micro-Studio. Whilst I don't know Mark Rein, he may be a muppet but I'd guess he probably knows more than Chris about what is necessary for a small studio to grab the attention of customers.