920°

Following Twitter Tirade, Microsoft Creative Director Adam Orth No Longer With Microsoft

Gameinformer:
If the first rule of public speaking is to know your audience, then the first rule of Twitter is to realize that you are speaking publicly.

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gameinformer.com
Jek_Porkins4049d ago

Microsoft did the right thing, especially if they aren't heading in a DRM direction, although the free publicity could do them a lot of good in the long run, and every single gamer will tune in to Microsoft's reveal to hear truth from rumor.

NewMonday4049d ago (Edited 4049d ago )

Sweet Billy must really hate the internet now.

Ritsujun4049d ago Show
shivvy244049d ago

its really funny how people made memes and bag him out , but to lose a job over this is just sad

Blacktric4049d ago

RIP in pieces Sweet Billy

1532-3015

Taken from us so soon...

Gaming1014049d ago (Edited 4049d ago )

LOL seriously, that guy was relentlessly douchy, arrogant and belligerent, anyway, and if he's going to be mouthing off about details that haven't been confirmed by Microsoft yet, he deserves to be fired! There are obviously confidentiality agreements signed into everyone's contract, so you can't just go around divulging your company's 5 year plans to competitors, they have these things for a reason.

Ezz20134049d ago (Edited 4049d ago )

but he said the internet is awesome .....it killed his career :P

Blacktric4049d ago

I actually don't like reading news like this (someone getting fired from their job). But in this case, I'm extremely happy. He can go to hell for all I goddamn care. A man that forces their colleagues to call him Sweet Billy and ignores them if they don't, does not deserve to have a job anywhere.

EVILDEAD3604049d ago (Edited 4049d ago )

Microsoft had no choice in this case...

The funny part is we found out the bombshell that the Xbox 720 does NOT have to be online and it will play all 720 games offline whether new OR used.

It's the XBOX mini that does not have a disc drive and is competing with Apple TV that will have to always be online.

Probably the biggest news in the 720s existance since all of the 'always online' news and the Orth foul up.

Adam Orth unfortunately has to be the example for the silly tweets and loses his job. But, the crazy thing is he never had to defend the online stuff to begin with.

Xbox 720 will have Backwards Compatability through Xbox Mini

Xbox 720 will support used games

Xbox 720 will play games offline.

The plot has thickened

Evil

SilentNegotiator4049d ago

This news makes this picture from a few days ago sooooooo perfect.

blitz06234049d ago

If I had a twitter account I would tweet him #dealwithit

Why o why4048d ago (Edited 4048d ago )

wait a sec.....didnt greenberg say he didn't know that guy almost like he didn't exist. Maybe greenberg knew it was curtains for mr dwi

Grap4048d ago (Edited 4048d ago )

@Why o why
not everyone who work in the same company know each other microsoft isn't a studio has only 100 employ we are talking about thousands of people.

nveenio4048d ago

They've probably been waiting to fire this guy for a long time.

AtomicGerbil4048d ago

@shivvy24

Many companies are adopting social media policies now, you would be very much surprised what some people have been dismissed for.

In the case of Adam Orth, he really should have known better or read company policies.

Why o why4048d ago

@grap

oh I know that, I dont even know all the members of my family;)

I reckon he must of known or found out who he was before he came out of hibernation. Notice he didn't say this guy wasn't an ms employee, so again, I reckon he must of known something of the guys existence.

badz1494048d ago

will Greenberg admit that he actually knows this guy now?

Timesplitter144048d ago (Edited 4048d ago )

Someone has lost his job and is having actual real-life problems right now because some fatties (us) decided that we were very, very offended by someone talking about online connectivity in a video-game console.

I don't think this is right.

And I don't really expect the average N4Ger to understand why since they live in their imaginary magical kingdom where video game purity is the #1 concern and nothing else matters

nosferatuzodd4048d ago (Edited 4048d ago )

wow that's sad

zod the Immortal

+ Show (14) more repliesLast reply 4048d ago
ziggurcat4049d ago (Edited 4049d ago )

while it's all still just a rumour, orth's tweets do seem to imply that the next xbox will require an always online connection.

now, whether it's for something like the facilitation of system updates (which is useful, imo) or if it's required to be connected even for a single player game is another thing...

frankly, i'm surprised it took this long for MS to show him the door.

@ nukeitall "I still don't understand why people are so upset with Orth?"

because his tweets insulted anyone who either doesn't have access to or can't afford super high speed internet, and mocked peoples' concerns about having to be connected to play games that don't need an online connection to function.

Jek_Porkins4049d ago

Not really, if they were going to go with DRM console they would have kept him, firing him only makes sense if MS were going in a different direction.

The thing is, people can be confused when they think they are onto some supposed "fact", if it turns out this Xbox Mini that you need to play Xbox 360 games is always online, well there ya go, crisis averted, if it turns out your Xbox 720 needs to be online to use apps, well then...no shit....

MariaHelFutura4049d ago

No. They would fire him either way. 1) Because talked about an unannounced console on twitter. 2) Because he was a complete @sshole while doing it.

Saigon4049d ago

He broke the NDA. To me that is enough to fire him. Most likely to avoid any legal action they had him step down. From what I was told from a friend that knows someone that works at MS in Seattle. the employees are under a very strict NDA protocol when it comes to any new products for MS. they are pretty much not allowed to say anything in any hint or applied subject. i feel sorry for him but hey that's how the ball rolls.

hesido4048d ago

Yes, I know someone working at Microsoft. He said they hadn't received the next gen Xbox kits yet (working on different projects till now), but they were going to. When I asked him if he could give any tidbits, he said he might as well pack his stuff and leave Microsoft :)

syphon324048d ago

Its because internet providers aren't reliable and the internet tends to go out sometimes. No one wants that especially if you have a system that depends on it.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 4048d ago
Pushagree4049d ago

Guess Adam will have to...*puts on shades* deal with it.

IIC0mPLeXII4049d ago

YAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! !!!!!!!!!!

knifefight4049d ago

Now that he doesn't have to go to work, he can REALLY be always online!

DarkBlood4049d ago

damn it you got to say that before i could lol

-Alpha4049d ago (Edited 4049d ago )

Well, I'm sure EA is hiring

http://i.imgur.com/WVJfyey....

tigertron4048d ago

"Now that he doesn't have to go to work, he can REALLY be always online!"
Not unless he can find a new job and pay for his internet bills. :P #dealwithit

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 4048d ago
Cupid_Viper_34049d ago

Well I have to say I'm in a bit of shock to be honest. A lot of XBox fans on here came into every thread to explain to us why all of this "bad news" was actually really good news for MS. And that there's no such thing as bad puplicity.

So why would you fire a guy for supposedly "taking attention away from the PS4" as they guys on here put it?

Oh NVM, I just answered my own question. We actually live in reality, where overwhelmingly bad press about a product is a huge problem, hence why ad campaigns such as Mac vs PC were so effective. Or why presidential elections campaign normally do negative ad campaigns.

But you know what, idiot or not, I hope that this guy's family don't have to pay for his mistakes, and that he can get back on his feet as quickly as possible.

WrAiTh Sp3cTr34049d ago

"A lot of XBox fans on here came into every thread to explain to us why all of this "bad news" was actually really good news for MS."

Can you provide a link to these people you speak of?

LackTrue4K4049d ago (Edited 4049d ago )

I click agree with Cupid_Viper_3.

And click a disagree on WrAiTh Sp3cTr3, just cuz he knows his talking out of his a55 on asking for a link on the people hes talking BAD about Microsoft.

P.S. "RIP good grammar"

BitbyDeath4049d ago

@WrAiTh, first poster on this page still claims it as good publicity. LOL

ThatCanadianGuy5144049d ago

Really wraith? A link?

Just click through any submission and you'll be hard pressed to miss it lol.

KwietStorm_BLM4049d ago

You're gonna beat this publicity thing into the ground aren't you?

fr0sty4049d ago

Were they doing the right thing by sending the cops to raid a guy's house who was the first to leak this sort of thing out? All these actions do is give credence that Microsoft is very worried about this information getting out. If it were just a rumor that was not true, they would just do an interview and say "we have no intentions to force users to remain online while playing any of our consoles". They wouldn't even have to announce a new console to do that, and it would instantly crush the rumor. Sony did it when they registered that used game patent and the net went wild about it. They came right out and said "PS4 will play used games.".

So, I wouldn't assume they've done the right thing. If they really are trying to do this always on thing, this is not a good way to bring attention to it. They should either remain quiet or come out and debunk it. Trying to clamp down on the rumor starters with force is not a sign of confidence.

syphon324048d ago

I totally agree, being secretive about it isn't working. They should've got ahead of the rumor. Now potential customers investing into the next gen will probably lean towards ps4. Dispelling the "always online" rumor would've helped MS. It would've put the hearts and minds of those looking forward to the 720 at ease. They might not be talking about it because it's true and it's too late to rebuild. It's just speculation but in this case not saying anything isn't helping.

4049d ago
refocusedman4049d ago

Although it was a stupid/ignorant comment, at the end of the day he was just sticking up for MS and showing pride for the company that he works for. Do I agree with him, no but I also dont believe that he deserves to be fired. I dont know when this happened, but gamers have developed a scary sense of entitlement and very thin skin. From the threats written on n4g in response to his comments, to people voting EA the worse company in the US ( when you have companies like bank of america who caused thousands of hard working people to lose their homes). I just dont understand it. At the end of the day games are games and life is life.

superterabyte4049d ago

@shivvy24 really? telling your potential customers to 'deal with it'.

really annoyed me and to add salt to the wounds his analogy's just showed how much of an idiot he really was. comparing electricity outages to network ones is possibly the most idiotic thing I have ever heard form an employee in the technology business except maybe giant crabs being part of ancient Asian culture =D

No low level employee of any major company would get away with what he has done so don't feel sorry for him.

GenericNameHere4049d ago

Haha I knew it! I don't get enjoyment out of people losing their jobs and not being able feed themselves, but he should have known the consequences. Carefully watching what you write and post online is THE MOST BASIC of online business, yet this guy went on to say "Deal With It". That phrase may not mean much to him even if he's joking, but it's ALWAYS about the consumer. You tell the consumer to just take it and "deal with it"? Well, you don't have to be a freaking economics guru to figure out what happens next.

andrewsqual4049d ago

Or since the 2010 Kinect "Reveal" I still don't want to live on this planet anymore when anything related to Microsoft E3 Press Conferences is involved. I will wait until it is over and get the remnants of the news from Eurogamer lol.

chrismichaels044049d ago

"the publicity could do them a lot of good in the long run"? A guy just lost his job. The man has a family to support and all you ignorant fanboys care about is publicity for Microsoft? Yea because hearing a guy lost his job is always positive media coverage. Unbelievable.

Cryptcuzz4048d ago

He lost his job not because of a bad economy that forced his company to make cuts or anything else similar that would warrant empathy from the same people who he was being a smart ass too.

He lost his job because he is someone in the know that is under strict NDA disclosures that talked or. mplied about a product that is yet to be revealed or announced.

With your logic, we should empathize with criminals that will go to jail because they have committed a crime?

Maybe the guy is making 200k + a year and is never there for the family. Would you then feel the same way?

Maybe the criminal going to jail (that we should fee bad about based on your logic) is the one hurting the family and thus the reason why the criminal is going to jail?

Thing is you don't know all that. Neither do I, so let's leave it at that.

What you do need to know is those who dislike the guy, reason why all the jokes and memes about him going rampant are simply because of how he made smart ass comments on a subject that he should have never made comments about, and respect the NDA disclosure that I'm sure he has signed. Peace.

chrismichaels044048d ago

@cryptcuzz...i have to disagree with you buddy. You're argument makes no sense. How on earth can you compare someone getting fired with someone going to jail? Criminals go to jail for serious offenses. This guy got fired for making an idiotic statement. Where in your logic are the two comparable? I'm not saying he doesn't deserve to be disciplined, but a public apology and a suspension would have been enough.

What difference does it make how much money he earns? Doesn't change the fact that he is supporting himself and his family with an honest days pay. So we're only allowed to show sympathy for people...as long as they don't make past a certain amount of money? If he works long hours and never gets to see his family because of it, it just means he's making sacrifices for them.

Just because I don't like someone doesn't mean I'm going to take pleasure in their personal loss. Most people on here are quick to dismiss the possibility that Xbox is including an always online feature and are the first ones saying wait until MS announces something. If that's the mentality we're using, then we can't argue he deserves being fired for breaking confidentiality agreements either.

All we know right now is that he lost his job over a stupid comment. And certain people are celebrating his losing his job as "good publicity" for Microsoft. That's the part I disagree with.

4048d ago
marinelife94048d ago

People get fired all the time for making large stupid mistakes. I don't feel sorry for the guy.

TheXonySbox4048d ago

" every single gamer will tune in to Microsoft's reveal to hear truth from rumor."

Someone is out of touch with reality; newsflash majority of gamers arnt on N4G and they are busy with life. lol #fail

+ Show (13) more repliesLast reply 4048d ago
aviator1894049d ago (Edited 4049d ago )

I honestly don't know why ms hired him in the first place.
When he was a designer at Sony, he practically dissed Halo in an interview. Maybe he had some worthwhile abilities, but I wouldn't want to hire someone who can't respect the key franchise related to any certain company.

nukeitall4049d ago (Edited 4049d ago )

That is a good point, but MS might not have known about it. He does seem like an asshole similar to that other dude that made Twisted Metal, David Jaffe.

Yet, I can't help, but feel bad for the guy. His comments very pretty innocent, and that sort of thing I would have said as a joke.

Feel bad he no longer has a job regardless of being forced to resign/fired or resigning out of free will.

I still don't understand why people are so upset with Orth?

NYC_Gamer4049d ago

It's because his rant made the whole company[MS] look real bad

KwietStorm_BLM4049d ago

You may not like David Jaffe's personality, but I don't recall him ever taking jabs at anyone or joking about where people live. He's actually a very respectful guy, if you've ever spoken to him.

DeeZee4049d ago

Actually, Jaffe seems like a nice guy. I heard a lot of bad things about him, but after following him on Twitter for a while he seems like one of the nicest people in gaming. He talks about his kids and none of his tweets come across as arrogant.

Akin04048d ago

If you work for any corporation such as Microsoft there are policies in place for communication of company information / trade secrets. All employees are trained on these policies. Orth most likely violated those policies with his tweets even tho they were in jest. Given the secretness and sensitivity of the subject matter Microsoft deemed termination appropriate, and I would agree.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 4048d ago
konnerbllb4049d ago

Looks like he's off to Nintendo now. Third times a charm.

JoGam4049d ago

I think this will really screw his chances with another company in gaming.

Condemnedman4048d ago

Ah there you go an ex sony employee. That explains the arrogance and bitterness lol

abzdine4049d ago ShowReplies(1)
coolbeans4049d ago (Edited 4049d ago )

A believe a toast is in order...

To the 'always-on...the hunt for a new job' Adam Orth. Cheers.

http://img.pandawhale.com/5...

DragonKnight4049d ago

Adam Orth disagreed with you.

coolbeans4049d ago (Edited 4049d ago )

To be expected. He isn't always-on his best behavior here. :P

DragonKnight4049d ago

He even disagreed with me about him disagree with you.

grayfoxx8814049d ago

This was most definitely a forced resignation, which is not the least bit surprising.

Show all comments (154)
140°

More Job Losses At Xbox, “There’s More To Come”: Paul Thurrott

Paul Thurrott in a recent episode commented on the on-going Microsoft fiasco hinting at more job losses and that "there's more to come".

Read Full Story >>
spieltimes.com
Sonic18812h ago(Edited 2h ago)

There won't be no more acquiring game publishers from Microsoft in the future . Xbox has to pay Microsoft back. It might take two decades to do that.

jwillj2k42h ago

There really needs to be a class action lawsuit here. You buy these companies just to put people out of jobs. And it’s not like something happened to derail their plans this WAS the plan. Microsoft has no business in this space at all.

franwex1h ago(Edited 1h ago)

Microsoft has been doing this for years. They simply want the IPs. Look at Nokia. Look at Skype. This time it simply expanded to games. Gaming is not as important to Microsoft’s executives as it was to the founders too. Bill Gates was willing to sell the og Xbox at a loss. Steve Balmer approved the red ring of death fiasco. This CEO isn’t really a gamer.

-Foxtrot1h ago

Maybe it's time though to put a stop to it and use a big giant like Microsoft as a huge example to the rest of these big companies.

There has to be a line drawn somewhere.

People like the FTC and the like went against Microsoft yet their Actvision deal was still allowed to go through yet look what's happened...it's not even Acitivisions studios aswell, it's Bethesdas.

RNTody1h ago

Ninja Theory, Perfect Dark, Crash Bandicoot, Spyro, Wolfenstein 3, Dishonored, Prey, Doom, Quake... something tells me that bad things are going to happen to these entities under Microsoft.

anast1h ago

Good thing the bosses of all those small studios made their money.

glenn197926m ago

they cant do it right now they will get burned

90°

Microsoft Opening Xbox Mobile Game Store in July

The Xbox brand is expanding, as an Xbox mobile game store is opening this coming July where Microsoft will brings its "first-party portfolio."

Jin_Sakai1d 16h ago (Edited 1d 16h ago )

“Bond adds that they will start on the web”

This will go nowhere.

Nice knowing you Xbox. This is what happens when the house never gets cleaned.

MrDead1d 15h ago

The only this MS is expanding is the amount of feculence it sprays on everyone who just want to enjoy gaming and make games.

The best thing MS can do for the gaming industry is leave and never return.

XiNatsuDragnel1d 14h ago

Good luck with this even it might not succeed.

Show all comments (7)
210°

Microsoft once tried to nab LittleBigPlanet from Sony after a few drinks

It turns out that many moons ago, Microsoft once had its eye on the Sony published LittleBigPlanet series.

Read Full Story >>
eurogamer.net
XiNatsuDragnel2d ago

Microsoft had a good idea but fumbled it again.

Cacabunga1d 3h ago (Edited 1d 3h ago )

Project Spark idea was decent but they quickly gave up ..
LBP was wonderful

ApocalypseShadow1d 21h ago

Microsoft in a nutshell. Always tried to poach Sony employees, games, 3rd party games and devices like the depth camera that was turned into Kinect but was running on PS2 before Xbox 360. Wouldn't be surprised they wanted LBP. Just like they worked behind the scenes pushing the MLB to bring Sony's baseball game to Xbox instead of making their own.
https://www.playstationlife...

They didn't spend years trying to develop their own baseball game. They wanted Sony's game.

They're scum.

Zachmo1821d 2h ago

Microsoft didn't force MLB on Xbox. MLB gave Sony 2 options either go multiplat or risk losing the license.

Rynxie16h ago

And why do you think MLB said that? I believe Ms approached MLB.

ApocalypseShadow15h ago(Edited 15h ago)

Totally ridiculous comment.

The only exclusivity Sony had was to their own creation of The Show. Microsoft could have paid the MLB for the license just like Sony did and made their own baseball game.

Microsoft instead, groomed MLB for years in trying to poach Sony's game and bring it to Xbox. They're worth 3 TRILLION dollars. You think that's not enough money to make their own baseball game? Don't be delusional.

Microsoft spun it like they always do and told the media that they had to trust Sony with their hardware. After they put Sony in that position of not having a choice. Either go multiplatform or stop making one of their successful games. That's a no win scenario.

And what did Microsoft do? They didn't try to sell the game to the Xbox community. They put it on game pass to hurt Sony. Pushing the idea of why buy games that are $70 when you can play them in their cheap service for $10. It was a dirty tactic.

You fell for the Kool aid drink Microsoft served you instead of spitting it out. Hope it tasted good because you were fooled by Phil and the gang.

11h ago
Hereandthere7h ago

Xbox executive Sara Bond has told Axios that Microsoft spent a number of years trying to get MLB The Show onto Xbox consoles. And when it finally succeeded in breaking off PlayStation’s long-held exclusivity, the company had to “trust” Sony with pre-release Xbox Series X/S consoles.

Bond revealed that MLB The Show “always came up” in conversations between Microsoft and the Major League Baseball organization. “We always said, ‘We love this game. It would be a huge opportunity to bring it to Xbox.'” she recalled. However, when Microsoft’s efforts materialized, it put the company in an awkward situation where it had to send in pre-release consoles to a rival company.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 7h ago
Notellin12h ago

"Microsoft instead, groomed MLB for years in trying to poach Sony's game and bring it to Xbox."

Take a nap, conspiracies are rotting your brain.

11h ago
Hereandthere7h ago

Xbox executive Sara Bond has told Axios that Microsoft spent a number of years trying to get MLB The Show onto Xbox consoles. And when it finally succeeded in breaking off PlayStation’s long-held exclusivity, the company had to “trust” Sony with pre-release Xbox Series X/S consoles.

Hereandthere7h ago

They were too cheap/inept/lazy to develop their own mlb game, so they port begged for years and bribed the mlb to make the show multiplatform. Like i said many times, xbox brought nothing to the table their 24 years, ZERO.

OtterX1d 5h ago

"However, Healey said Media Molecule wouldn't have felt right doing that, adding it would have been "morally corrupt"."

Major kudos to Media Molecule for being an upright studio with principles.

RNTody1d 5h ago (Edited 1d 5h ago )

Great, more stories like this please. Show the last of the zombies holding the line what we've been saying for years: Microsoft is anti competition, anti industry and has no interest in making games at all.

But hey, at least there's an Xbox Games Showcase to look forward to, right?

Inverno1d 4h ago

Well considering SONY just killed the series, LBP would've been dead by now either way. Though MM probably wouldn't exist by now either, so I'm glad they stayed with SONY, hopefully they don't get shut down any time soon or ever honestly.

Sheppard7t31d 2h ago

How did Sony kill the series?

Inverno1d 2h ago

They shut down the servers, that's millions of user created levels gone. That and dead are pretty much the same, it's also been years since 3 and they cancelled HUB soooo.

11h ago
fsfsxii12h ago

They shutdown the servers because no one was playing, no one in the community cared about the user created levels so why keep them up? Wtf you guys would never succeed in running a business.

Inverno11h ago

Yea dood no one was playing so they shut off the servers. Cause people with enough common sense can't just Google why they were actually shut of, right?

Show all comments (26)