So....who's in charge of Lore???
Word is
https://twitter.com/tomabernathy/status/514179890023653376
Tom Abernathy isnt working for Riot after Shurima.
And neither is Kitae.
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That is unfortunate, but it sounds like he's heading back to live with his family and a spot in his life where he's happier. I wish him all the best.
That said, Abernathy's statements and ideas about ideas in game design did get proven wrong over the last two weeks. He said, and I quote, that "plot is highly overrated. Users don't remember plot; what the do remember is they remember characters. Focus on the things that they will retain, that are going to be most important to them in the long-run". He also said that statement was supported by "internal and external research".
But as we have seen since the retcon, that idea simply didn't work. Characters are popular because of the plot surrounding them, as the backlash to changes in Cassiopeia, Xerath and Sivir's lore proved. Similarly, the attempt to retcon the setting into being entirely focused on the characters ultimately proved inefficient and cumbersome. Without the plot existing to link characters together, players started asking way more questions because they need the cohesive tape that is plot linking together the character's worldview, experiences and so on. People have also been losing interest in characters faster because there's nothing interesting in their static existence and no way to make them fluid without plot.
Remember Gnar and Azir? It took what, barely a week for the interest in them to peter out because both of them are eternally stuck in the end of their prologue and there's ultimately very little stuff for players to do with them as a result? Seriously, Azir is about as interesting as a lava lamp right now. There's a story to how you brought it home and installed it, but now all you can do with it is stare at the static pretty colors until you bore yourself to sleep.
So yes, I wish him all the best, but I also hope the last few weeks were a learning experience for him.
Wow, I just found this: http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/03/17/gdc-plot-is-highly-overrated-in-games-says-devs
Do they not have people around them that can quickly and easily point out just how illogical their conclusions are? Of course your average player isn't going to remember the plot of their favorite video game.
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Video games are interactive mediums and not all games require plot. Tetris doesn't need a plot, and it doesn't have characters.
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The industry itself has neglected narrative in video games, especially in AAA titles the plot is made to be as easily digestible and unobtrusive as possible. So how is your average player supposed to remember the plot of a game that the designers didn't care enough to flesh out?
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It all depends on the gamer and their tastes. Someone that plays Call of Duty all day isn't likely to give a frak about plot. However someone that plays RPGs will.
I'll be blunt. I don't think there's anyone currently at Riot's Narrative department willing to be in charge.
My reasoning is this:
- The fact that they waited a year and a half for TommyGnox to get hired and settled.
- Someone in charge would have their employees speak on the lore forums a long time ago or they would have announced the ret-con months ago.
- I don't get the "leader" vibe from anyone at Narrative, as opposed to someone like Ghostcrawler and Morello.
I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure Riot's going to have to hire a new Narrative Lead before we get a new start to the same old cycle (silence, promises, big unpopular changes, appropriate fan reaction, exasperated pleas, silence).
Rioters who are definitely(maybe) on Lore Team: Runaan Opeli TommyGnox Entropy Jarendan
Those are off the top of my head.
Jeez, they're dropping like flies. My vote is for Runaan.
If we go by seniority, I'd imagine either Runaan or Entropy is the de-facto head of Narrative, insomuch as there can be a "Lead Writer" for what is supposed to be a collaborative team. But I don't really know how long these guys and gals have been working for Riot anyway, so what do I know?
I KNOW WHO IS WORKING FOR RIOT ITS......
RUNS RIOT CONFIRMED