Blizzard hiring an Associate Game Director

[Zyrinx]

I choose to take that as a positive. We shall see.

[rhorle]

I'm very curious as to why would Ion need someone to "partner with", according to the job description.

Because some times you need people to help delegate and manage things? It is not different then a store having both a Store Manager, Assistant Mangers, Department Managers, and then supervisors/leads etc.

[Cosmic Janitor]

Maybe he will groom his replacement when he inadvertedly falls upwards.

[MoanaLisa]

Anyone coming to the conclusion that a job posting on Blizzard's web site automatically means they're hiring in from outside the company don't understand how job postings work. At most places when a job is created or opened up there will be something on a job web site and something internally. Everyone needs to apply (even if the job posting is a formality). Sometimes you get excellent people applying that you can place in another job, say as an associate producer, etc. Anyway, you can cool your jets that this 100% means they're going to bring in someone from outside or they are looking to replace Ion. Neither one is likely to be true.

If Ion is feeling overwhelmed as the WoW team expands having some associates is the most natural thing in the world. Companies that are run well have backup positions in place in case someone needs to be out for a while, on vacation for month or whatever.

[Kralljin]

Considering Cory Stockton deleted his Twitter account, one can also guess that new job listings may have another reason.

[Dracullus]

Even if you like Ion, he's been doing ultra stressful job last 6 years. About time he will have someone to cover and maybe took over for 11.0 or 12.0. Or maybe new man will supervize main stuff so Ion could focus on things he love - dungeons and raids.

Before I thought at some point Tom Chilton will come back - I had conspiracy theory he was working on revamp/"WoW 2" expansion since he passed job to Ion, but I guess more likely is that he works on this Warcraft mobile games (gross). Also there could be "let's not give job like this to someone people recognize from older Blizzard" angle.

[oathy]

Said in the investor call thread
looks like 20 jobs are open all wow and Classic related.
can only be a good thing, they are in dire need of new ideas

[Army Dreamer]

Because the man needs back-up.

Because the man needs replacement.

[Kaleredar]

I mean shit they should just post these things directly to MMO-Champion; there are tons of qualified* people on here with great* ideas on how the game should be run.

[Soon-TM]

I mean shit they should just post these things directly to MMO-Champion; there are tons of qualified* people on here with great* ideas on how the game should be run.

Considering that Ion himself was a forum pleb when he was hired, the idea does have some merit.

[MoanaLisa]

I mean shit they should just post these things directly to MMO-Champion; there are tons of qualified* people on here with great* ideas on how the game should be run.

They are free to apply and lord it over all of us when they are hired.

[Malcho]

They want to have male/female duos at different tiers of leadership I think. So they are probably going to filter out all men (which is illegal, but they'll somehow navigate it in a way to dodge any liabilities) and only select a woman. The woman will probably be one of those insufferable neon haired Caucasian treasure troll feminists, but we might get really lucky and it will be a woman who isn't completely insane.

Brace yourself.

[DarkAmbient]

Someone should just make a Blizzard Departures & Arrivals megathread at this point

[Fantazma]

edit: Well I guess they could add about 600 more items to the Blizzard Store. :^)

I know you said this as an irony... but I really prefer a game where I can spend $100 on cosmetic items and my toon looks EXACTLY how I would like to see it... than pay the WoW sub and get 99 ,9% of xmogs with colors that I don't like among others many other limitations...
It's not just because of the latest scandal. People are leaving WoW to play FFXIV because it's more enjoyable in every way.

[arkanon]

Anyone coming to the conclusion that a job posting on Blizzard's web site automatically means they're hiring in from outside the company don't understand how job postings work. At most places when a job is created or opened up there will be something on a job web site and something internally. Everyone needs to apply (even if the job posting is a formality). Sometimes you get excellent people applying that you can place in another job, say as an associate producer, etc. Anyway, you can cool your jets that this 100% means they're going to bring in someone from outside or they are looking to replace Ion. Neither one is likely to be true.

If Ion is feeling overwhelmed as the WoW team expands having some associates is the most natural thing in the world. Companies that are run well have backup positions in place in case someone needs to be out for a while, on vacation for month or whatever.

Correct - some companies, especially larger ones, have an internal advancement policy, where they advertise internally first, and others have a more inclusive policy where they MUST advertise all jobs publicly. I wouldnt have a clue what Blizzards policy is, but they certainly seem to advertise most if not all jobs, even if they end up filling it internally.

[Gaidax]

I see little sense in this breadcrumbs fortune telling reading coffee signs.

If and when the actual position will be filled, we will know.

[Foolicious]

2) Copy FF14's homework. They essentially copied YOURS in the beginning and they've held truer to simple design principles the WoW team has lost sight of.

That's it.

Add copying the unique classes from gw2 to that list and its done

[Th3Scourge]

Because somebody needs to tell the dude Conduit Energy sucks every 5 minutes.

Agreed. Having 1 soulbind be bis for every spec for M+, raid and pvp makes it fucking terrible

[Niwes]

https://careers.blizzard.com/global/...ld-of-Warcraft

I'm very curious as to why would Ion need someone to "partner with", according to the job description.

Edit: forgot to mention in the thread title that this Associate Game Director job is for WoW, of course.

They will never find the person they think they are looking for. And here is why:

„Requirements:
- Knowledgeable and enthusiastic about WoW
- 8+ years of design experience with multiple shipped AAA titles in a leadership role“

Lets quickly sum up, what they are looking for:

- An assistant that says „yes, fine“ to Ions descission.
- An assistant doing the „real work“ and always falling between two stools.
- An assistant in high position, responsible for much shit, but without the final word/descision.
- Knowledgeable and enthusiastic about WoW.
- 8+ years of design experience with multiple shipped AAA titles in a leadership role.
- Working on a 16 year old game.
- Working on a product/game, going downhill since years.
- In a Bobby Kottick Company.
- In a company actually confronted with harassments.

Now lets calculate this:

A gaming top manager/director, in a 8+ years leadership role, that ALSO plays and love WoW… Ok. We are now at maybe 50 persons world wide. And these ppl shall accept above stated points ? At an ATVI company ? We are now at maybe 1 person world wide.

And WHY THIS person should accept all of this ??? Look, if you ARE that person, you know EXACTLY why you dont do this.

In short: The only real possible reason for such a person is INFINITE money. But they will not find that person anyway. Its hillarious.

- - - Updated - - -

Yeah this sounds like just a normal peon that would be on the bottom end of his team. And "partner with" is basically HR speak for can you listen to your boss. Can't say either way because I don't creep all over Blizzard's hiring practices but one of my retail jobs called us a Associate Sales Consultant or some nonsense. I'd hardly say I "partnered" with the supervisor to make important decisions in the way you seem to be implying. This could very easily be a bottom rung employee on the team.

edit-nvm read further down the list. Coach/mentor employees def not a bottom tier posting.

or this, when you replace „peon“ with „rather stupid overpaid top manager/director“

[Aggressive]

https://careers.blizzard.com/global/...ld-of-Warcraft

I'm very curious as to why would Ion need someone to "partner with", according to the job description.

Edit: forgot to mention in the thread title that this Associate Game Director job is for WoW, of course.

The man obviously needs fucking help with making the game FUN. The last expansion that was OK (in my opinion) was Legion. After that the expansions have all sucked ass and lots of it. I think once they clean up the leadership, they need to clean up the developer team. Cause they suck ass to. Get a team in that knows how to listen to the player base instead of these bastards they have now.