Ron Gilbert won't provide further Updates on Return to Monkey Island due to Toxic Comments

From GameWatcher: "Series creator Ron Gilbert will no longer provide updates on Return to Monkey Island after receiving a slew of toxic comments on his blog.

Although Return to Monkey Island's surprise reveal was celebrated by fans aching for a new entry in the series, the title's new, more modern art style has proven divisive."

[SullysCigar]

Aaand this is why we can't have nice things.

Random internet anons say mean, unreasonable things and the people on the receiving end allow it to affect them. It's like being back in the playground.

If everyone knew who they were, fewer would act like this. But they're protected, so it's up to everyone else to put on their big boy pants and grow a thicker skin.

Sticks and stones. Just pity the bullies, don't give them the attention they clearly lack in the real world.

[VersusDMC]

Are they really "bullies"? Were the people who complained about the original sonic movie character design "bullies"?

Also this was spotted by ResetEra...which are the real bullies if you look at what they have been up to in the past.

[SullysCigar]

Fair point, I haven't read the comments in question. I'm just assuming they ranged from people telling him he sucks and is ruining the franchise to people threatening to kill his family (or some such nonsense), as that's about standard for a 2022 internet tough guy.

Either way, they're only words. Understand the concensus, consider adjusting course, ignore the nutters.

[SIdepocket]

*Everything* is toxic over at ResetEra.

The people that frequent that site are insufferable misanthropes.

[smashman98]

Yes being critical of something on let’s say the YouTube comments of a major movie production company’s YouTube channel or #tweeting about a product a very different then lobbing personal attacks at a creator. So yes it’s bullying.

[Old McGroin]

@SIdepocket

If you think ResetEra is bad, you should see N4G! Oh.

[aaronaton]

Haha someone got bullied as a kid!

[Bladesfist]

And someone's trying their best to grow up.

[Orbilator]

He's the creator, he can make his game any way he wants. Don't like it, don't buy it. No need to be nasty about something you don't like to someone who's been in the game industry for so long.

[-Foxtrot]

I don’t agree with harassment at all but the fair, legit criticism of the modern art style…I understand what people mean

The thing is, with this sort of stuff, how bad are the comments? I mean it’s the internet, sadly people are arseholes and you get trolls for everything however I feel we’ve gotten to the point now where if fans, even if the majority of them are being fair expressing criticism, the developer / studio / person in charge will use this to deflect complaints. You make it public, EVERY fan looks like a dick, they argue amongst themselves calling each other, the other side feels sorry for the developer and it basically squashes any actual real fair criticism because you will automatically be part of the trolls if you say something

The same has literally just happened with the Obi-Wan series and Reva. Fans complained about the writing, how overall it was bad but mostly with how she was written, yet because some trolls were being racist it grouped everyone together which is perfect for Disney as it deflected criticism on how they handled the show

[monkey602]

I actually had the same kind of thought run through my mind. I have absolutely no doubt some will take it too far but criticism can also be warranted.
I thought the art direction was awful at the reveal myself. 😕

[-Foxtrot]

Yeah it just feels we've got to the point now where developers, studios, people know that all they have to do now to deflect any criticism is to take the trolls, racists, transphobes, homophobes etc, publicly announce the harassment and suddenly everyone is grouped together where if you respectfully speak your issues you will be called a racist, transphobe, troll by other fans who don't have an issue.

It's become a get out of jail free card

Respectful criticism is supposed to be a good thing, now people don't want to hear anything because it hurts their feelings.

I've just read some of the comments what Ron is talking about and honestly while their is some abuse aimed at Ron, the rest is just trolls being immature arseholes against the game. Saying something troll like such as "Your Game Sucks now", a complete over exaggeration, is not really a personal attack at him as a person, it's totally different from someone saying "Go die in a ditch Ron you prick" which is proper personal abuse.

[Gwiz]

That's the convenience of having those comments and you can't even be sure those were not planted for a reason.
Again you can't be sure either way and mostly a reason for me to wait after release to see what many people are saying.

[--Onilink--]

Is there really “fair criticism” about an art style though?
I mean, its a purely subjective matter, you either like it or you dont. What exactly would constitute fair criticism of this art style when its a series that has changed styles a lot of times over its lifespan ?

[smashman98]

I think this is a flawed way of looking at it. With reva the actress was literally getting racists vitriolic comments sent her way. The issue isn’t that people generally lump people with criticisms in with the racists, I think the actual issue is people who have fair criticisms feel attacked when companies and people announce that they stand against any racist and hateful people and as a result end up lumping themselves in with said racists thinking that the companies are referring to people with reasonable negative feedback as racists.

[annoyedgamer]

Fans revolt against game devs: toxic

Game "journalists" write hit pieces against devs: cultural sensibility shift

[H9]

Like Sullyscigar's comment says random people are given too much power while being protected for using the internet anonymously, social media gives random idiots infinite power and they abuse it, I think it's the job of the devs and the fans to shut these people down, freedom of speech is not freedom of harassment, but then another problem arises who desires what's a harassment and what's not? I think we can all agree that calling the devs names and wishing them to die is harassment so we can start from there

[sourOG]

Lol I didn’t even hear about this and I won’t hear anything else apparently… So he’s just not going to market his game at all? That’s some weird “taking my ball and going home” shit lol. “Why didn’t anyone buy my game?” Because no one knew about it dude… you went dark because you let rando internet losers bully you lol.

What were people crying about exactly? What’s up with the art style? It doesn’t go into detail. Screenshot looks okay.

[SPEAKxTHExTRUTH]

Personally I agree with the devs. I don’t like when people on the internet think that it’s ok for them to criticize, disrespect, and threaten game devs but wanna get all in their feelings when the devs strike back. Game devs are not politicians and are not subject to online harassment. Why should they have to take it? If you don’t like what the dev shows then simply don’t buy it. It’s cool to give your opinion but chances are you can’t make a better game anyway so it’s best to just not buy it and move on. Thank god I’m not a game dev because there’s no way in hell I’d just be quiet while lames on the internet threatens me or my fam. Nope not me not on my watch….

[BlackTar187]

He could just you know post what he wants and then ignore the internet. For example he doesn't have to look at all at the comments.

[SPEAKxTHExTRUTH]

Or he could you know respond to whatever comment he wants to like you did mines.

[Mr_Luke]

Well, it's unprofessional from him. For many reasons: among those "complainers" there are players that weren't happy about what they saw, many of them are fans of the series. And they just said what they thought (some of them in a not so nice way, but ok). And then there are other players that just want to get updates about the game, so what about them? Just ignore them and go to the corner to cry?
Bah...

[CobraKai]

Good. I wouldn’t either. More and more developers need to shut out toxic fans. Toxicity is not good for anyone.

[ClayRules2012]

Agreed.

[antikbaka]

I sincerely believe that Sonic the movie creators should have done the same!

[ClayRules2012]

Do you think that the remodeling of Sonic for the movie, by the movie creators in the end was the right move still or should they have left him with the original design they had made?

I’m genuinely curious is all.

[CobraKai]

That’s a good question. I think redoing Sonic was the right move. I’m sure they took the constructive criticism to heart. The bad thing is that the toxic fans feel that they made the change happen.

[antikbaka]

it was sarcasm. I'm glad they listend to feedback, although it was harsh

[Elda]

There's nothing wrong with criticism no matter if it's negative or positive it's just folks shouldn't go above & beyond the limits of being disrespectful,creepy or even illegal such as harassment & being threatening.

[gold_drake]

i love monkey island. especially 3 and 4.

when i saw the recent trailer, yea i was disappointed, because it immediately reminded me of guacamelee, which isnt all to bad cause that style worked for that series it just doesnt for me for Monkey island. its a beloved series for a reason.

however i get it, if you only see bad stuff, you're not gonna be too happy about it. nevermind those idiots who feel like they can say anything they want. sadly enough, they can and do.

i dont really know what the best approach is in that situation, but from what ive seen, the majority was disappointed and just didnt like the new art style. i guess he could have focused more on those.

but yeh.
devs, for the most part, are just regular people and some get to feel the wrath of the internet, which shouldnt be happening for something like that. even the god of war guy said that ppl need to stop being complete arseholes, and i absolutely agree.

[mastershredder]

The art style is Squished Funco Pop. That ought to do wonders with character expression. Not a fan of the style vs. past entries, but I am more than willing to give it a spin. ...again.

[lio_convoy]

That's okay, nobody is really paying attention to this title anyway.

[Yppupdam]

Threats and name calling is wrong, but, to say you don't like the art style is a pretty legitimate criticism, I liked the past Monkey Island games but, to be honest, the art in this new one is pretty polarizing. I would even say it is annoyingly ugly enough for me to not bother buying it.

[Cackocacho]

I guess criticizing what is clearly a god awful art style choice in the eyes of many, is now "toxic". It's why I can never take these cry babies seriously. Criticize whatever they are doing, and you are labelled for not falling inline with their "vision".

This game looks like a**, and it deserves all the criticism it's gotten. If you can't take "mean words", maybe don't put yourself out there in the first place. JFC.....

[RabbitFly]

I don't love the art style. I would perhaps prefer if they decided differently.

Ultimately it doesn't make that much of a difference. I Just love that we are getting another monkey island game from the father of the franchise.

Monkey Island was always wacky with the focus on silly/creative writing full of funky references.

I can understand people criticizing their choice of art style, but I still hope and believe this will be better than the last "New" content that was added to the franchise. Which also had, not so good art. That the being early tell tale episodic game.

[aaronaton]

Well the art style looks shite compared to the original, no wonder he was getting some grief.

[moongrim]

what do these losers want the same art style? then buy the original dumbasses

[DrDoomer]

They don't want the same art style, they want an art style that's not garbage, galaxy brain.

[MadLad]

This; then the crap going on with God of War.
Gamers really are sniveling children.

[John_McClane]

Some more than others.

[MadLad]

-edit-
Double post.

[CDbiggen]

I love going between here and some internet hate hole like /v/ - here you've gotta say the right thing and go with the safe approach "yeah I don't agree with blah blah, but..." and it's all boring and predictable, but there they torn that style a new one, and it was hilarious. It does look awful and deserves that criticism.

[smashman98]

Good for him. I feel bad for the fans that were genuinely excited, but no person should have to put up with that nonsense.

[AmUnRa]

Devloper must ignore those wierdos and do want they want to do. Block does wierdos. When you react to that kind of wierdos they will keep doing it cous they see that it works. Look at the effect it had on Corey Barlog from Santa Monica, he better ingorned those comments.
Do what you want to do, provide updates of your games, the most gamers want that info, the wierdos are in the minority, fuck them....

[DrDoomer]

boohoo, turn off the comments then. Or better yet, put on your big boy pants and try to pinpoint why people are criticizing your product.

[HeliosHex]

Lol it's funny how they throw around the word toxic as soon as criticism that's not perceived as positive is heard or read. This is how we got hideous models, and land whales trying to convince you its awesome to forge a path towards diabetes and heart disease. Grow a dam pair Ron fight for your game defend your view just don't hide that's like ignoring the sign don't feed the bears.

[anast]

Shutting off comments is a convenient way to hide criticism under the harassment rug. If your stuff sucks, own it. The art looks low cost and looks like the artists instead of Monkey Island that's why people don't like it.