SimpleG Posted October 8, 2019 Share Posted October 8, 2019 https://kotaku.com/blizzard-suspends-hearthstone-player-for-hong-kong-supp-1838864961 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commissar SFLUFAN Posted October 8, 2019 Share Posted October 8, 2019 The Blizzard subreddit has gone private due to the uproar. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AbsolutSurgen Posted October 8, 2019 Share Posted October 8, 2019 Blizzard bows to their communist tyrant masters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brick Posted October 8, 2019 Share Posted October 8, 2019 Activision Blizzard continues to be shitty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
projectmayhem Posted October 8, 2019 Share Posted October 8, 2019 Fuck blizzard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bacon Posted October 9, 2019 Share Posted October 9, 2019 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bacon Posted October 9, 2019 Share Posted October 9, 2019 40 minutes ago, SFLUFAN said: The Blizzard subreddit has gone private due to the uproar. Quote Finally, a note on the short time the subreddit was private: For some reason, one of our recent mods set the subreddit to private then deleted his account. It was an odd event, but rest assured, us remaining mods have restored it to public. No, we were not contacted by Blizzard, nor are we employees to any extent. We are committed to supporting this community. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dre801 Posted October 9, 2019 Share Posted October 9, 2019 They did what they had to do if they wanted to grow and thrive in China. It sucks, but they bowed to their Chinese overlords and that shouldn't be a shock. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AbsolutSurgen Posted October 9, 2019 Share Posted October 9, 2019 Taiwanese Hearthstone caster fired after Hong Kong controversy says he still doesn't know why Blizzard has fired the casters from the stream as well -- even though it doesn't appear they did anything. “Free Hong Kong” sign held during a collegiate Hearthstone stream Quote Yesterday, players from American University held a sign showing their support for the Hong Kong protests along with their disapproval of Blizzard during a live Hearthstone collegiate tournament. The sign read “Free Hong Kong Boycott Blizz” and was raised near the end of American University’s match against Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Within seconds, the stream promptly changed gears to have the sign removed from sight. The following tournament matches replaced player webcams with images of Hearthstone characters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.Vic20 Posted October 9, 2019 Share Posted October 9, 2019 12 hours ago, Dre801 said: They did what they had to do if they wanted to grow and thrive in China. It sucks, but they bowed to their Chinese overlords and that shouldn't be a shock. Absolutely, and now its time for us to do our jobs and keep our wallets closed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPDunks4 Posted October 9, 2019 Share Posted October 9, 2019 So who cancelled their CoD preorders? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anzo Posted October 9, 2019 Share Posted October 9, 2019 I was on the outs with HS already but this solidified it. Battle.net client and all games deleted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheLeon Posted October 9, 2019 Share Posted October 9, 2019 If I keep playing Hearthstone and Overwatch, but don't give them any more money, am I good? Because I've been having a ton of fun with both of them lately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zaku3 Posted October 9, 2019 Share Posted October 9, 2019 6 hours ago, Mr.Vic20 said: Absolutely, and now its time for us to do our jobs and keep our wallets closed. Can't we just bust out the guillotines? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.Vic20 Posted October 9, 2019 Share Posted October 9, 2019 1 minute ago, Zaku3 said: Can't we just bust out the guillotines? Hardly worth oiling and cleaning the blade , now are they? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zaku3 Posted October 9, 2019 Share Posted October 9, 2019 Just now, Mr.Vic20 said: Hardly worth oiling and cleaning the blade , now are they? As a chosen of Khorne yes. He cares not where the blood flows from. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AbsolutSurgen Posted October 9, 2019 Share Posted October 9, 2019 Blizzard Employees Staged a Walkout to Protest Ban of Pro-Hong Kong Gamer Quote A small group of Activision Blizzard employees walked out of work Tuesday afternoon to protest the company’s actions against a gamer who expressed support for pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong during an official livestream. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commissar SFLUFAN Posted October 10, 2019 Share Posted October 10, 2019 True story: I once had to give a detailed briefing to Senator Wyden's staff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commissar SFLUFAN Posted October 10, 2019 Share Posted October 10, 2019 Hearthstone caster Brian Kibler quits in protest of Blizzard's ban of Blitzchung Quote I won’t pretend to understand either the intricacies of the geopolitical situation in China and Hong Kong or the full extent of Blizzard’s business interests there, but to me this penalty feels like it is deeply rooted in both. The heavy-handedness of it feels like someone insisted that Blizzard make an example of Blitzchung, not only to discourage others from similar acts in the future but also to appease those upset by the outburst itself. That kind of appeasement is simply not something I can in good conscience be associated with. When I learned about the ruling, I reached out to Blizzard and informed them that I no longer feel comfortable casting the Grandmasters finals at BlizzCon. I will not be a smiling face on camera that tacitly endorses this decision. Unless something changes, I will have no involvement in Grandmasters moving forward. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keyser_Soze Posted October 10, 2019 Share Posted October 10, 2019 And now the OWL will fold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rodimus Posted October 10, 2019 Share Posted October 10, 2019 I hear people are boycotting Blizzard.Also some group offered the Hearthstone winner the prize and entry to their tournament. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Firewithin Posted October 11, 2019 Share Posted October 11, 2019 Ayyy lmao 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AbsolutSurgen Posted October 11, 2019 Share Posted October 11, 2019 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted October 12, 2019 Share Posted October 12, 2019 Hearing Blizzard is finally going to say something shortly — Jason Schreier (@jasonschreier) October 12, 2019 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted October 12, 2019 Share Posted October 12, 2019 https://news.blizzard.com/en-us/blizzard/23185888/regarding-last-weekend-s-hearthstone-grandmasters-tournament Quote Hello Blizzard Community . . . I want to take a few minutes to talk to all of you about the Hearthstone Grandmasters tournament this past weekend. On Monday, we made the decision to take action against a player named blitzchung and two shoutcasters after the player shared his views on what’s happening in Hong Kong on our official broadcast channel. At Blizzard, our vision is “to bring the world together through epic entertainment.” And we have core values that apply here: Think Globally; Lead Responsibly; and importantly, Every Voice Matters, encouraging everybody to share their point of view. The actions that we took over the weekend are causing people to question if we are still committed to these values. We absolutely are and I will explain. Our esports programs are an expression of our vision and our values. Esports exist to create opportunities for players from around the world, from different cultures, and from different backgrounds, to come together to compete and share their passion for gaming. It is extremely important to us to protect these channels and the purpose they serve: to bring the world together through epic entertainment, celebrate our players, and build diverse and inclusive communities. As to how those values apply in this case: First, our official esports tournament broadcast was used as a platform for a winner of this event to share his views with the world. We interview competitors who are at the top of their craft to share how they feel. We want to experience that moment with them. Hearing their excitement is a powerful way to bring us together. Over the weekend, blitzchung used his segment to make a statement about the situation in Hong Kong—in violation of rules he acknowledged and understood, and this is why we took action. Every Voice Matters, and we strongly encourage everyone in our community to share their viewpoints in the many places available to express themselves. However, the official broadcast needs to be about the tournament and to be a place where all are welcome. In support of that, we want to keep the official channels focused on the game. Second, what is the role of shoutcasters for these broadcasts? We hire shoutcasters to amplify the excitement of the game. They elevate the watchability and help the esports viewing experience stay focused on the tournament and our amazing players. Third, were our actions based on the content of the message? Part of Thinking Globally, Leading Responsibly, and Every Voice Matters is recognizing that we have players and fans in almost every country in the world. Our goal is to help players connect in areas of commonality, like their passion for our games, and create a sense of shared community. The specific views expressed by blitzchung were NOT a factor in the decision we made. I want to be clear: our relationships in China had no influence on our decision. We have these rules to keep the focus on the game and on the tournament to the benefit of a global audience, and that was the only consideration in the actions we took. If this had been the opposing viewpoint delivered in the same divisive and deliberate way, we would have felt and acted the same. OK, what could Blizzard have done better, and where do we go from here? Over the past few days, many players, casters, esports fans, and employees have expressed concerns about how we determined the penalties. We’ve had a chance to pause, to listen to our community, and to reflect on what we could have done better. In hindsight, our process wasn’t adequate, and we reacted too quickly. We want to ensure that we maintain a safe and inclusive environment for all our players, and that our rules and processes are clear. All of this is in service of another important Blizzard value—Play Nice; Play Fair. In the tournament itself blitzchung *played* fair. We now believe he should receive his prizing. We understand that for some this is not about the prize, and perhaps for others it is disrespectful to even discuss it. That is not our intention. But playing fair also includes appropriate pre-and post-match conduct, especially when a player accepts recognition for winning in a broadcast. When we think about the suspension, six months for blitzchung is more appropriate, after which time he can compete in the Hearthstone pro circuit again if he so chooses. There is a consequence for taking the conversation away from the purpose of the event and disrupting or derailing the broadcast. With regard to the casters, remember their purpose is to keep the event focused on the tournament. That didn’t happen here, and we are setting their suspension to six months as well. Moving forward, we will continue to apply tournament rules to ensure our official broadcasts remain focused on the game and are not a platform for divisive social or political views. One of our goals at Blizzard is to make sure that every player, everywhere in the world, regardless of political views, religious beliefs, race, gender, or any other consideration always feels safe and welcome both competing in and playing our games. At Blizzard, we are always listening and finding ways to improve—it is part of our culture. Thank you for your patience with us as we continue to learn. Sincerely, J. Allen Brack President of Blizzard Entertainment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moa Posted October 12, 2019 Share Posted October 12, 2019 They would've been better served saying nothing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dre801 Posted October 12, 2019 Share Posted October 12, 2019 Blizzcon should be tense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paperclyp Posted October 12, 2019 Share Posted October 12, 2019 It's very interesting how the power of China is coming through in these entertainment venues rather than the more abstract economic political realm. It's a bold-faced lie that their relationship with China was not at play. It's absolutely the reason they did what they did. This is some bullshit. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedSoxFan9 Posted October 12, 2019 Share Posted October 12, 2019 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimpleG Posted October 12, 2019 Author Share Posted October 12, 2019 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moa Posted October 12, 2019 Share Posted October 12, 2019 33 minutes ago, SimpleG said: That's more of a stretch than when Blizzard said China had no influence over their decision. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AbsolutSurgen Posted October 12, 2019 Share Posted October 12, 2019 7 hours ago, SimpleG said: Looks that way. As an example, I can't imagine a native English speaker writing the sentence "We now believe he should receive his prizing." (There are multiple other grammatical issues as well). It's tough to understand Blizzard "taking the high road" on not offending anyone after they already declared that "We will always respect and defend the pride of our country." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted October 12, 2019 Share Posted October 12, 2019 https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/mbmx9a/gamers-are-organizing-a-mass-protest-at-blizzards-blizzcon protest at blizzcon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keyser_Soze Posted October 12, 2019 Share Posted October 12, 2019 Well this went well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Firewithin Posted October 12, 2019 Share Posted October 12, 2019 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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