New interview Mark Kern

[Quickbowjob]

Mark Kern, Blizzard, and the Legacy (Servers) of World of Warcraft,

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/article ... mpaign=all

[Reserverue]

That video was real

[Vaulken]

Legalities finally trashed:

Kern says that while licensing would certainly be complex, it would not be impossible, pointing to examples like Everquest and Minecraft. Kern also said that he directed the drafting of the licensing of WoW to China. "I also helped draft Blizzard's TOS and EULA, so I know quite a bit about this stuff," he added. "[Beck's] just...wrong. I don't know where he's getting his advice from, but from a legal perspective he's dead wrong. Let's say 'He thinks he knows license agreements, but he doesn't.'"

[Winterflaw]

Yes.

The issue is Bliz don't *want* to do Vanilla.

When people don't want to do something, any obstacle is taken at face value and used to justify stopping dead at that point.

When people *want* to do something, they get the obstacles out of the way.

[Imbaslap]

Legalities finally trashed:

Kern says that while licensing would certainly be complex, it would not be impossible, pointing to examples like Everquest and Minecraft. Kern also said that he directed the drafting of the licensing of WoW to China. "I also helped draft Blizzard's TOS and EULA, so I know quite a bit about this stuff," he added. "[Beck's] just...wrong. I don't know where he's getting his advice from, but from a legal perspective he's dead wrong. Let's say 'He thinks he knows license agreements, but he doesn't.'"

just gonna bold it to put more emphasis on that key part in the article.

blizz is trying to play political "kick the can down the road" game by buying time or wasting time.

if anything, J Allen Brack resembles a politician... one that needs to be removed before anything can get done.

[Docholy]

Like some one said in one of the Nost Forums thread, "Its hard to do something you don't want to do."

[Hydra9268]

Blizzard needs to move Brack away from WOW, post haste. If this means relocating him to another IP, fine. If this means firing him for failing to deliver a hit after three expansions, fine. He simply needs to go. His presence in the WOW community is toxic. He's now infamously known as the "you think you do, but you don't " guy. Blizzard really doesn't want him to be the face of WOW. I think they should promote Jeffrey Kaplan into the Executive Producer and Vice President position for WOW. He is still loved by a LOT of fans. His presence would help heal wounds. His presence would also help stir WOW back to the glory days. He would also be keen to Legacy and would likely be an advocate for bringing vanilla back alongside Blizzard's other legacy titles.

[Arx_1]

Brack's demise is coming sooner than you might think.

I suspect Legion is his last chance. If Legion fails, which we know it will as it is just more of the same shit with a different skin, he will see Blizzard go bye-bye.

And yeah, I agree, after Brack gets the boot we get Legacy Servers.

There is a Greek saying "God makes blind those who he intends to destroy" and Blizzard has been blind with respect to WOW ever since the time Greg Street was working for Blizzard.

Legion will just be the cause of the Nemesis that follows Hybris.

[Hydra9268]

Definitely. I think if Legion bombs (and I believe it will) as bad as the past three expansions Brack is going to be called into Mike's office and given two options: either move to another project in a demoted position (e.g. Producer or Production Director); or resign with six months severance. Blizzard really has no other options. They have to take WOW away from Brack. He have NO vision for the game. He's toxic towards the community. That answer he gave to a fan's perfectly innocuous question reeked of condescension and arrogance; as if to say "how DARE you ask to play an older game! You should LOVE what ME and MY team have made."

Blizzard can turn WOW around but they have to be assertive and take control. They need to put someone into the directorship who loves WOW but also knows how it works and what makes it succesful. It's the only way to save this valuable IP. Despite having been Executive Director on Catalysm and MOP Frank Pearce Jr. was also E.P. on TBC and WOTLK. I think he could come back and own WOW again; and help bring it back to the TBC and WOTLK form it had. Bottom line, if Blizzard doesn't remove Brack WOW is going to wither and die under his leadership.

[Benny&thejetz]

Definitely. I think if Legion bombs (and I believe it will) as bad as the past three expansions Brack is going to be called into Mike's office and given two options: either move to another project in a demoted position (e.g. Producer or Production Director); or resign with six months severance. Blizzard really has no other options. They have to take WOW away from Brack. He have NO vision for the game. He's toxic towards the community. That answer he gave to a fan's perfectly innocuous question reeked of condescension and arrogance; as if to say "how DARE you ask to play an older game! You should LOVE what ME and MY team have made."

Blizzard can turn WOW around but they have to be assertive and take control. They need to put someone into the directorship who loves WOW but also knows how it works and what makes it succesful. It's the only way to save this valuable IP. If they don't remove Brack WOW is going to wither and die until Brack's leadership.

I do not understand Blizzard's position right now. They are in absolutely no position to bargain, yet they act as if they have the high ground. They have a Warcraft movie coming out in a few months & thus far the marketing for it has been received as a trainwreck. Legion is set to follow months after the movie, which has not been received favorable due to Blizzard doubling down on garrisons, removing weapon drops, giving everyone artifact weapons as the "chosen savior of azeroth", focusing on single player experience vs MMO, no new PVP battlegrounds etc. WoW is down to 1.3 million active players & Blizzards PR is at an all time low right now.

Is it really wise to bite the hand that feeds you Blizzard? Here is how this works Blizzard.

You release Overwatch. Boycotted.
You release movie. Boycotted.
You release Legion. Boycotted.

Its not just me doing this. Its all of the vanilla vets I know. So how much money is Blizzard ready to lose over this?