Rockstar's Sam Houser: An Honor to Be Hated by Critics
Rockstar's Sam Houser: An Honor to Be Hated by Critics
August 14, 2008
Develop has a terrific interview with Rockstar Games' co-founder Sam Houser who dishes about the direction of the company and offers his reaction to critics:
I think we probably read most of [the criticism] – if you turn on a computer this stuff reaches you, usually forwarded by an old friend laughing at you.
No [I don't pay attention to critics] – I think [he and brother Dan] are both depressed at how boring we really are and how unexciting even the worse fabrications and exaggerations are when you read about them. None of it seems very rock and roll...
Most of the people who hate us are people it is truly an honor to be hated by – reactionary creeps with strange agendas – and the Daily Mail. Most people who know about modern pop culture know about GTA and like or dislike it on its own merits.
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Posted 07/04/09 at 08:20pm
GoodRobotUs: Went out for my Mum's 65th Birthday, which is the only relevance 4/7 has in the UK for me ;)
GoodRobotUs: Went out for my Mum's 65th Birthday, which is the only relevance 4/7 has in the UK for me ;)
Posted 07/04/09 at 08:18pm
Andrew Eisen: Beach + fireworks + root beer + strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, whipped topping, and pound cake = my Fourth of July!
Andrew Eisen: Beach + fireworks + root beer + strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, whipped topping, and pound cake = my Fourth of July!
Posted 07/04/09 at 07:58pm
GoodRobotUs: Which seems to be the only point Jack proved, that some people find some games offensive. i.e. Nothing.
GoodRobotUs: Which seems to be the only point Jack proved, that some people find some games offensive. i.e. Nothing.
Posted 07/04/09 at 07:57pm
GoodRobotUs: The discussion was supposed to be whether games were dangerous not 'Do you find some games offensive'...
GoodRobotUs: The discussion was supposed to be whether games were dangerous not 'Do you find some games offensive'...
Posted 07/04/09 at 07:55pm
GoodRobotUs: Some agreed, some didn't, but it was their choice to make, not the governments.
GoodRobotUs: Some agreed, some didn't, but it was their choice to make, not the governments.
Posted 07/04/09 at 07:55pm
GoodRobotUs: By asking the audience their opinion, he more or less proved that it's a matter of personal choice
GoodRobotUs: By asking the audience their opinion, he more or less proved that it's a matter of personal choice
Posted 07/04/09 at 07:55pm
GoodRobotUs: Meh, he ended proving Mark's point for him
GoodRobotUs: Meh, he ended proving Mark's point for him
Posted 07/04/09 at 07:26pm
Erik: Jack if you are reading this you are a LIAR. There is no legal weight to the MPAA's ratings.
Erik: Jack if you are reading this you are a LIAR. There is no legal weight to the MPAA's ratings.
Posted 07/04/09 at 07:24pm
JDKJ: I still think my buddy the midget who rides a unicycle backwards while juggling four bowling pins would have been a much bigger hit with that crowd. And he can make up statistics and misinterpret studies, too.
JDKJ: I still think my buddy the midget who rides a unicycle backwards while juggling four bowling pins would have been a much bigger hit with that crowd. And he can make up statistics and misinterpret studies, too.
Posted 07/04/09 at 06:33pm
Alyric: Of course, Mark falls into the common trap about Columbine, which had nothing to do with bullying, etc. See: http://slate.msn.com/id/2099203/?GT1=3256 for a more thorough explanation.
Alyric: Of course, Mark falls into the common trap about Columbine, which had nothing to do with bullying, etc. See: http://slate.msn.com/id/2099203/?GT1=3256 for a more thorough explanation.
Posted 07/04/09 at 06:32pm
PHX Corp: Read this http://www.destructoid.com/sgc-09-liveblogging-the-jack-thompson-debate-138502.phtml#ext
PHX Corp: Read this http://www.destructoid.com/sgc-09-liveblogging-the-jack-thompson-debate-138502.phtml#ext
Posted 07/04/09 at 05:54pm
PHX Corp: JT is afraid of such ban then advocates it That's what i call a total Hypocrite
PHX Corp: JT is afraid of such ban then advocates it That's what i call a total Hypocrite
Posted 07/04/09 at 05:50pm
PHX Corp: AE: JT is a -Bleeping- Jackass
PHX Corp: AE: JT is a -Bleeping- Jackass
Posted 07/04/09 at 05:07pm
Andrew Eisen: JT "knew it would be a good audience." Not what he said on Tuesday.
Andrew Eisen: JT "knew it would be a good audience." Not what he said on Tuesday.
Posted 07/04/09 at 05:01pm
Andrew Eisen: VG cause violent behavior. VG companies influence behavior to get sales. Yeah, that makes sense. (To be fair, the Twitter feed makes deciphering JT's point pretty tough.)
Andrew Eisen: VG cause violent behavior. VG companies influence behavior to get sales. Yeah, that makes sense. (To be fair, the Twitter feed makes deciphering JT's point pretty tough.)
Posted 07/04/09 at 04:52pm
Andrew Eisen: Yes, it's been proposed but as far as I know it has not been passed. Big difference.
Andrew Eisen: Yes, it's been proposed but as far as I know it has not been passed. Big difference.
Posted 07/04/09 at 04:50pm
Cheater87: http://www.gamezine.co.uk/news/formats/xbox360/all-violent-video-games-be-banned-in-germany-$1301757.htm
Cheater87: http://www.gamezine.co.uk/news/formats/xbox360/all-violent-video-games-be-banned-in-germany-$1301757.htm
Posted 07/04/09 at 04:49pm
Andrew Eisen: Far as I know, Germany has not banned all violent video games.
Andrew Eisen: Far as I know, Germany has not banned all violent video games.
Posted 07/04/09 at 04:44pm
Cheater87: Jack wants the US to follow Germany's total video game ban.
Cheater87: Jack wants the US to follow Germany's total video game ban.
Posted 07/04/09 at 04:42pm
Andrew Eisen: Note to JT, it is not illegal to sell kids a ticket to R-rated movies.
Andrew Eisen: Note to JT, it is not illegal to sell kids a ticket to R-rated movies.
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Comments
"If everyone likes you, you're doing something wrong"
"If you try to please everybody, someone's not going to be happy" - Dick Cheney
See: God, Jesus
There was 1 vote in Congress against going to war with Japan in late 1941. Even the most obvious and sensible things will have those that are against it.
It was me everyone, I am sorry... haha j/k
They should make a vote for, should religion be ridded from the US and see if they get someone to vote yes, haha.
And if I recall correctly she voted no for entering WWI too. Ahh yes, hee she is: Jeanette Rankin
"There'll always be haters, that's just the way it is. Hater brothas marry hater sistas and they have hater kids." -- Kayne West, "Bring Me Down"
how West acts is what brings him down... just like diddy, you act like an idiot, people are going to talk to you and treat you like an idiot...
I don't think Kayne West is anywhere near "down." In a market where a rap act that sell six figures is doing great, Mr. West sells seven figures. Of course, he obniosly can't help but say what's on his mind and don't ever know when to shut up, but that's almost to be admired, I believe. It's what allows him to say, live on national T.V., "President Bush don't care about Black people." Which, of course, is 100% true and something that needed to be said post-Katrina but which very few would get on live, national T.V. and say.
And it's a different kettle of fish than that prancing idiot, P. Diddy. Or Puff Daddy. Or Puffy. Or whatever he's calling himself nowadays. Coombs says whatever pops into his head. Kanye speaks from his heart.
He's right to a certain degree, but if he'd said 'President Bush don't care about poor people', he'd have been bang on the mark ;)
Not really surprised. Why would someone attempt to please a group of people who are basically wanna-be thought police?
Or those that can't be pleased.
Being loudly displeased about stuff seemingly pleases them.
Good to see he still has a sense of humour about this. Good on him.
Reactionary creeps with strange agendas = The Daily Mail.
Lets' face it, Jack Thompson hates anyone who doesn't think he's the greatest thing since sliced bread, or who dares question his view of the world, so he doesn't really count.
As for the rest, I don't think they so much 'hate' the writers of Violent Games, they are simply frustrated because they thought they would be a nice easy target for censorship, that they could use to scare the public, and it didn't work out as planned, that's why places like the PTC are so vehement nowadays, they can feel the power they were hoping to gain from this slipping through their fingers, and they are desperately trying to scare people about Video Games in the hope of clinging on to it.
I'm glad to see his views on the critics. I would never like to see the critics pull Sam Houser down.
The funny thing is, this sounds like JT's "I don't need any more friends, I have plenty of them (yeah right), all I ask for is more stupid enemies."
Though, in Houser's case, it doesn't sound like a 3 year old trying to rationalize everyone hating him.
-"A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject." -Sir Winston Churchill
I believe one of the Internet Rules state: The more you hate something, the stronger it gets.
Then again that comment came about during the DESU conflicts that /b/ suffered a few years back, so take it as you wish.
I dont know. I mean not giving into reactionist hype? Not hating or even much caring if there are some that do not like you or your product? Having an adult view of something akin to reality?
Next methinks R* will be hated for not hating.
Though note a fish will live a great deal longer if it does not rise to the bait.
I suspect that ol Jack in the Box himself had a dirty hand in this whole thing. What impeccable timing!
If anything, I'd say Houser's comments are more simply the fact that the more he puts himself out and his work to the public, the more the public will scrutinize him as an individual in relation to his output. It reminds me of something Humphrey Bogart apparently once said, about him being unashamed and unabashed about his fondness for good, strong drink and how it impacts his "image" as an actor:
“People who live in glass houses need ear plugs and a sense of humor,” he said. “When I chose to be an actor I knew I’d be working in the spotlight. I also knew that the higher a monkey climbs the more you can see of his tail. So I keep my sense of humor and go right on leading my life and enjoying it. I wouldn’t trade places with anybody.”
And that's really just it. The simplest way to not be judged by others is to never matter enough to warrant others to pass judgment.