5:23
G"number one on the report, Notch is not invited to the Minecraft anniversary. This is from Brian Chris Shantay over at variety who writes "Minecraft creator Markus notch"-is that a person that's a person right? –"who sold the title to Microsoft for 2.5 billions dollars in 2014 wont be part 0f the 10 year anniversary plans for the game because of his quote "comments and opinions" Microsoft tell variety. Quote "his comments and opinions do not reflect those of Microsoft or mo yang and are not representative of Minecraft" a Microsoft spokesperson told variety. A spokesperson also noted that knotch hasn't been involved with Minecraft since he sold the studio and rights to the game in 2014.
Notch, once an involved member of the video game development community has increasingly ostracized himself with his Twitter comments including transphobic statements and comments about heterosexual pride day and that quote "its ok to be white". Notch has about 3.7 million followers on Twitter. Uhhmmm Andrea how do you feel about this?
A: This is not shocking at all
G: No
A: quite frankly I don't know why its news. He hasn't been involved in Minecraft since he sold it right?
G Well this is because theyre doing this anniversary thing right? This anniversary celebration right? That is some event that's gonna have, talk about the past present and future of Minecraft. I think THAT'S where it comes down to maybe uh and that's something that maybe everyones missed out on, everyones reporting on this now it was Christian at variety had an exclusive to being with. I think that that's where it stems from the fact that, cool, so the creator of it isn't involved with this 10 year celebration right and is that ok? Is that the way it should be and how does that go? And obviously youre Microsoft you own it, how do you want the brand to be recognized?
A: its certainly not the way it should be, it should be that notch was continuing to stay invested in his community and the thing that built his wealth to what it is and that he would appreciate the amazing support that players all over the world have given support to the thing that he created with you know the team at muang but that's just not the way he has been.
G: Sure
A: and so I think its not surprising that this is the way it is, its just disappointing and a little bit sad and what in one sense but should he be involved or like does he need to be? Absolutely not cur I think that individual creators and players of Minecraft, the millions of millions of people around the world have been paying for a decade or whatever
G: yeah
A: Have really embodied what Minecraft is and its not just on notch. Obviously he will always forever hold a place in minecrafts history but
G: yeah he shouldn't ever be erased from the record books right?
A: no of course not, never. I'm not suggesting that at all
G:oh no I wasn't saying that you were
A: but I'm just saying you can have a ten year anniversary celebration without him if he is willfully choosing to not partake. Its just a bummer you know?
G: Sure. And so you say hes willfully-hes participating not to or hes choosing not to be apart of it because of the way hes acting online
A: I imagine that he just doesn't want to be, he just doesn't want to be there-
G: well no this is
A: he doesn't do public speaking engagements, he doesn't do like autograph sessions, he doesn't do con appearances or panels or literally anything he stays out of the public spotlight
G: sure but I think the story here is Microsfots not letting, wont even have him. That's whats happening right? Is that, my
A: hmm
G: let me reread it right? But uh "notch wont be part of the 10 year Minecraft anniversary celebration plans for the game because-
A: is that what youre getting from that statement?
G: yeah because of his comments and opinions quote "his comments and opinions do not reflect those of Microsoft and moyang and are not representative of Minecraft.
A: so you think the story here is theyre actively saying
G: the story here is saying Minecraft is saying youre not allowed, were not inviting him hes not part of this
A: hmm I don't know
G: similar to how they made headlines a couple weeks ago maybe a couple months ago but now where one of the loading screens got updated to take out a reference to him because they always have the funny little things when you load up Minecraft
A: I don't know if that's a fair extrapolation to make
G: really?
A; I don't because MS is a gigantic global corporation it in their legal interests to say that they don't, their individual creators comments opinions don't reflect that of the company at large
G: sure
A: I don't know if that is equal to them saying we don't want you here
G: hmm I would I-
A; I would honestly be pretty surprised if notch had expressed an interest in wanting to be involved and MS said no thanks. That to me would be disappointing on Microsofts part.
G: ok. Because yeah what im getting from this is is, the lead from, Brendan Sinclair over at games industry dot biz, MS is continuing to distance themselves from notch the minecrafter creator who sold the franchise yadda yadda-variety has received confirmation from MS that it wont involve at a moyang event in May intended to mark the game's 10th anniversary. So if Im reverse engineering this correctly, the way I see it is the thing got announced the 10th anniversary, Brian reached out to them and was like I didn't see notch on this and theyre like were not working with notch, we wont- his comments and opinions do not reflect Microsoft of Minecraft
A; Its pr speak I wish they would just
G: well sure it says hes a loose cannon who says all this crazy fucking shit
A: I wish they would just come out and say we will no longer be working with notch instead of this pr speak of "his comments and opinions do not reflect those of MS. Obviously they don't they make that disclaimer for anyone that speaks on behalf of MS (laughs)
G: sure
A: unless theyre intentionally a representative of MS from the communications team right?
G: right well I think they go out of their in the Cresente piece to say that again right? " the spokesperson also said that notch hasn't been involved with Minecraft since he sold the studio and the right to the game in 2014.
A: yeah that's true
G; I think that's what it is just coming back to is that it, MS is very clear Notch is not part of this and in this point its doing that as well. Its just weird this time around that because it is hey it's the 10th anniversary youre doing this event celebrating the past of it
A: mhmm
G: are you going to have their creator there? No were not because he says weird ass horrible mean shit on twitter all the time
A:its yeah lets just take it back not to say that that's not true cause he does say some really wacky stuff. I think that it still comes down to notch putting, drawing the line in the sane a long time ago, years ago, saying I just don't want to be involved with them anymore. Hes said as much publicly that hes like Im done with Minecraft, so.
G: sure. Interesting
A: I guess that it makes MS look good if theyre like "yeah we don't want to be involved with him anymore"
G: sure
A: its like the whole thing just feels like drama
G: well I feel like just because he got approached right?
A: insert my drama gif here laughs
G: well im sure MS would prefer not to have any reason-
A: yeah
G: to talk about this. Im sure cresescentin looking at this and going " wait 10th anniversary is notch gonna be there?
A: and well and now were talking about it (laughs)
G: and well that's the thing though right that's how the video game news right yeah exactly. Don't get me wrong-
A: we don't get enough hot gossip Greg
G: MS was definitely prepared for this question and
A: of course they are
G: and here they are taking a stance-his comments and opinion do not reflect those in-I mean that is them saying his transphobic homophobic bullshit that he said before itsnt going to be tolerated for us
A: good
G: and that is starting the conversation again tho of and-I haven't even seen this take but Im sure this take exists which is that right, like how does that work and I think that is the company MS is trying to build for the gaming community, most of us are trying to build, that makes sense. That yeah you know freedom of speech whatever youre allowed to go say whatever fucking
A: true
G: horrible shit you wanna say on the internet but theres gonna be ramifications and that's not how youre protected if that's how it happens right?
A; yeah you know Im with you 100% there, there should be ramifications for sure, I just don't think there are here because notch doesn't give a fuck (laughs)
G: sure that's what, yeah I know right? But
A: its like oh cool youre not inviting the guy who didn't want to go (laughs)
G: I wanna check if he actually said anything yet since these stories started popping
A; yeah worth looking it up for sure
G: nah doesn't look like it
A: but this is like yeah, sure, ok.
(both laugh)
G: youre just like yeah sure whatever?
A: MS is not inviting notch because he doesn't want to go and they don't want him there looks like everyones happy
G: Sure but I think its gonna be interesting is, yeah youre right whatever, everyones happy on it it I guess but
A: except for Brian Crescente, whose really upset (laughs)
G: Well you kidding me hes in love with this? Crescente right now, everyone talking about his article? That's what you want when you write these pieces. And when you get this thing that now everyone has to pick up and everyone has to come to him because they have to source and pay for it. Its just the question of, yeah, now that-youre right lets say that, you've said, notch doesn't like doing this shit to begin with you who fucking cares, but now that theyre like now were not inviting notch because hes a dick on twitter for all its, lets read between the lines right? Hes says horrible things
A: this is MS just trying to look good I guess? Idk? Take a stand? I think its important that large companies vocalize their tolerance or lack of tolerance for certain behaviors of people that are associated with their brand because
G: Sure
A: because theres not enough brands I think that take a stand because theyre afraid-
G: everyone wants to be wishy washy-everyone wants to try and be as mainstream as possible and not take stands
A: yeah they don't want to rock the boat or upset business as the bottom line right?
G: right
A: but I don't think that their statements are particularly controversial, like oh cool youre not inviting notch. Alright?
G: but but its controversial
A; no greg Im not letting (inaudible)
G: (sarcastically) don't you understand how the internet works now? Us vs them, right vs left, sjws vs, bad people? I don't know what the other of that one is
A: alt right
G: oh yeah alt right but that's how its gotta be everybodys gotta be mad about something andrea
A: ok Im not gonna get mad today tho greg
Ramble on game of thrones
