Here it is!


http://darthhater.com/2011/04/28/bioware-introduces-jeff-hickman-as-executive-producer-live-services/


Peter Principle in action. (Look it up)

lol

I wonder what the real reasons are for the last guy leaving SWTOR.

 

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Jeff seems like a great guy.


Does anyone know what that position actually does?


I don't know who did exactly what, but I'll freely admit I'm nervous about Warhammer managers moving into SWTOR.

 

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I've read very little good things about this guy other than friendly/diplomatic ass kissing. Most of it has been negative and resentful, although it could be biased. I would be worried if I actually cared about SWTOR, but I hope it fails so I'm kinda pleased to hear this.

Not to bash, but he's one of the chief architects of the Lolhammer disaster. He refused to listen to the few smart developers, and he dismissed the players' concerns in beta as "whining." SWTOR is now doomed. I refuse to buy anything with the mythic taint on it now.

For anyone who doesn't know this guy, he did not take any of the more practical paths to his position. He worked as a CSR and support manager. He has no formal education in game design related fields, and did not work his way up in game design by working on other projects or doing his own games. I don't know what you can take from that other than he clinged on to a company and got himself to where he is more likely by interpersonal connections than he did by his own game design abilities.

I've worked in a smaller corporation and have seen this very situation in more than one department. A guy gets in with a company while its small and just starting, and he eventually gets to manage around a lot of new people under him because he goes way back with the owners, while having no real technical skills of his own and rather completely takes credit for his underlings work. And while he is doing this, all the new people are constantly questioning how this guy got to be where he's at and why they are taking directions from him.

Add on the rumors from EAlouse and other tidbits from Mark Jacobs, and it sounds like he is no stranger to backstabbing and throwing people under the bus to get ahead.

Not to be mean, but I agree with your post. I have been saying pretty much exactly that for the last 2-3 years.

 

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What are the rumors/tidbits from EAlouse and Mark?


I do have a very bad feeling about this.


Was reading some other sites, fan reaction. He's well known, I'll say that.

 

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So you have your entire team working on a game, programmers, artist, designers, etc. The producers job is to make sure each of the groups in the team have the resources to do their jobs, and are meeting their milestones. And lets not forget the most important job a producer has. Making sure the team is fed.

The executive producer will oversee a few projects, with the producer reporting the them. The will liaison between the Execs of the company, pretty much telling them how much they are spending, and if they will hit the release date. They will also often scout out new games/dev teams/and business ops

 

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I don't ever recall him being on the daoc team pre NF, am I wrong?

 

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