J. Allen Brack's Internal Email, Warcraft III: Reforged Production Backstory

[Bakis]

It's not even the impression he gives off. It's blatantly obvious he's got contempt for people he doesn't perceive as 'equals'.

And having someone like that run a company is a recipe for disaster. And he's not the only one.

Well hes one (due to position) cog in the wheel of the corporate Activision/BLZ that see gaming experience as a pseudo goal to make ends means.
Was the other way around at a time shrouded in the mist of history and shockingly WoW STILL made money then.

[Clbull]

Fran needs to be fired. As do all the others bringing Activision Blizzard down. Totally disrespectful response to allegations which have rocked the games industry.

Thanks for making me hope that the California DFEH take you guys to the freakin' cleaners.

[DingDongKing]

Well hes one (due to position) cog in the wheel of the corporate Activision/BLZ that see gaming experience as a pseudo goal to make ends means.
Was the other way around at a time shrouded in the mist of history and shockingly WoW STILL made money then.

I think it’s doubly frustrating because Brack keeps trying to pretend like he cares.

He doesn’t, so he should just be transparent.

[Forogil]

Very interesting how this leaked, and yet none of the claimed incidents leaked over the last 2 years.

Most people think it wasn't leaked, but "leaked" - as in intentionally sent out by someone in management, and intended for the public and not for internal use. Thus I don't see what point you are trying to make.

- - - Updated - - -

Can anyone who read the case tell me the time period this harassment happened in? JAB was president only since 2018 or something, right? But this harassment seems to be from years ago if Metzen and the Old Guard keep being brought up.

Yes, JAB was made president of Blizzard October 2018.
The suit says that JAB, president of Blizzard, didn't adequately handle complaints again Afrasiabi - including at Blizz Con; which seems to indicate that it was at BlizzCon 2018 or 2019 (as otherwise JAB wouldn't have been president of Blizzard) - but it could be that they meant that he failed to handle it in a previous position.

It could be that the drinking and misbehavior had increased during the years, and/or that the old guard also failed to handle it.

[arandomuser]

this is gonna make next blizzcon uncomfortable, but then again it will just be a set of pre recorded videos again hopefully

[Ivarr]

In every goodie bag a flightmaster's rape whistle.

[starstationprofm]

Most people think it wasn't leaked, but "leaked" - as in intentionally sent out by someone in management, and intended for the public and not for internal use. Thus I don't see what point you are trying to make.

- - - Updated - - -


Yes, JAB was made president of Blizzard October 2018.
The suit says that JAB, president of Blizzard, didn't adequately handle complaints again Afrasiabi - including at Blizz Con; which seems to indicate that it was at BlizzCon 2018 or 2019 (as otherwise JAB wouldn't have been president of Blizzard) - but it could be that they meant that he failed to handle it in a previous position.

It could be that the drinking and misbehavior had increased during the years, and/or that the old guard also failed to handle it.

But they did fire Afrasiabi.

[DingDongKing]

But they did fire Afrasiabi.

Very very quietly, which isn’t a good look for the company. Means they didn’t adequately handle it BEFORE firing him.

[Soon-TM]

He definitely sucks and always has.

Seems the type thats not hard to control for the Activision board, which is my guess as to why he ever got promoted and is still there.

Not sure how he’s going to get through this one.

I don't think all of this scandal will amount to anything big in the end. Blizz will probably have to sign some fat paychecks as a part of an out-of-court settlement (hell, the language used in the filesuit is practically begging for that), they will promise to do better in the future... and sadly, that will be all. However, I can see a couple of heads rolling, including Brack's.

[Cosmic Janitor]

But they did fire Afrasiabi.

We don't even know if they did, do we? All we know is that he left, most likely it was suggested to him to leave in one way or another, but we don't know if that can actually be called firing or if this was just a means (to attempt) to remove heat from the case and avoid being actually charged.

- - - Updated - - -

I don't think all of this scandal will amount to anything big in the end. Blizz will probably have to sign some fat paychecks as a part of an out-of-court settlement (hell, the language used in the filesuit is practically begging for that), they will promise to do better in the future... and sadly, that will be all. However, I can see a couple of heads rolling, including Brack's.

I think the head rolling will be most notable change here as well, I certainly don't see a few peple doing speeches at Blizzcon any time soon.

[rrayy]

He should've never allowed this to happen in the first place.

Ahh, yes because one man can mointor the behavior of every single memeber of a 1,000+ plus employee corporation 24/7/365.

- - - Updated - - -

But they did fire Afrasiabi.

We don't know if they fired him or not. All we know is that he left.

- - - Updated - - -

I think it’s doubly frustrating because Brack keeps trying to pretend like he cares.

He doesn’t, so he should just be transparent.

And you know that how?

- - - Updated - - -

that's just corporate bullshit 101 - never show weakness, even in the site of a lawsuit or class action lawsuit. Deny, deny, deny. 99% of the denial is purely for investors interest

Yes, because every single lawsuit ever field against anyone have always been 100% the truth right? Oh wait.

[Raetary]

Ahh, yes because one man can mointor the behavior of every single memeber of a 1,000+ plus employee corporation 24/7/365.

No, obviously he cant monitor "1k+ employees 24/7/365."
But he can and should've taken more profound measures as to reduce those going ons in the company.

For starters, he could actually dashed out some of those juicy consequences when such matters are brought directly to his attention, rather than just tap the perpetrator on the wrist and send them on their merry way as he did with Afrasiabi.

[Soon-TM]

Ahh, yes because one man can mointor the behavior of every single memeber of a 1,000+ plus employee corporation 24/7/365..

It doesn't matter if he can or cannot, in the end he bears responsibility for what it happened. Especially when he has had plenty of time to set things straight but has seemingly failed to do so.

[Forogil]

But they did fire Afrasiabi.

Possibly, but in that case they sure took their time.

[DingDongKing]

Ahh, yes because one man can mointor the behavior of every single memeber of a 1,000+ plus employee corporation 24/7/365.

- - - Updated - - -

We don't know if they fired him or not. All we know is that he left.

- - - Updated - - -

And you know that how?

- - - Updated - - -

Yes, because every single lawsuit ever field against anyone have always been 100% the truth right? Oh wait.

1. If a company has the right culture in place, then no one needs to monitor jack squat. There’s guardrails in place.

2. Afrasiabi leaving ‘quietly’ tells you everything you need to know about how Blizzard were looking to deal with this entire fracas. Quietly.

3. He’s been a jackass to fans and anyone who questions Blizzard since Day 1. And his attitude has always been one of disdain.

4. Yep, so let’s start with everyone coming forward being a liar. Great move.

[Syegfryed]

I wonder why they are taking so long to remove his references from the game like this npc: https://wowpedia.fandom.com/wiki/Fie...shal_Afrasiabi

They went real quickly with rumors about the kael'thas VA and other things, now they are taking their time hum?

[callipygoustp]

Bobby Kotick slowly but surely taking the fun out of making games. Can't deny the man is not about the talk. He follows through.

[Soon-TM]

Bobby Kotick slowly but surely taking the fun out of making games. Can't deny the man is not about the talk. He follows through.

Oh, I'm sure that Afrasiabi & co. had a great deal of fun getting drunk in the office, playing CoD deathmatches, and harassing their female coworkers in the meantime. Too bad that the rest of the crew didn't get to have that much fun, especially females.

[Magnagarde]

No, obviously he cant monitor "1k+ employees 24/7/365."
But he can and should've taken more profound measures as to reduce those going ons in the company.

For starters, he could actually dashed out some of those juicy consequences when such matters are brought directly to his attention, rather than just tap the perpetrator on the wrist and send them on their merry way as he did with Afrasiabi.

That is easier said than done. What was he supposed to do? Call him into the office, tell him a woman alleged something and have him pack his bags, when he is playing his part in the franchise properly? If allegations were easy to prove and everyone acted upon them without first doing so, then there'd be nothing left standing. When acting on allegations, there's an equal chance for the accused to be the victim too.

[MoanaLisa]

What was he supposed to do? Call him into the office, tell him a woman alleged something and have him pack his bags, when he is playing his part in the franchise properly?

That's the usual way it's done. An incident is reported. There were witnesses. Talk to people. Take action. Doing his/her job shouldn't come into it if the incident took place at a company function or on company time.

The real problem comes when you've been letting people go over incidents like this in the past but give an executive a pass on it.