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It turns out, for those who worry about such things - and at least one of us does :-) - that Havas Interactive is a good corporation, a significant improvement over entities of the past, and that Blizzard North is treated with respect and pretty much a "hands off" attitude. If Havas knows what they have, in Blizzard, and they’re happy, and keep the Blizzard staff happy, then we’re happy, too. | It turns out, for those who worry about such things - and at least one of us does :-) - that Havas Interactive is a good corporation, a significant improvement over entities of the past, and that Blizzard North is treated with respect and pretty much a "hands off" attitude. If Havas knows what they have, in Blizzard, and they’re happy, and keep the Blizzard staff happy, then we’re happy, too. | ||
We got a few tidbits, an assortment of gleanings, and then finally Matt asked us, point blank "What do you see yourselves doing this weekend?" And we looked at one another, and one of us looked him square in the eyes and said "I see us playing Diablo II, all of Act One, and perhaps, because you would value our opinion and maybe set some store in it, Act Two, Act | We got a few tidbits, an assortment of gleanings, and then finally Matt asked us, point blank "What do you see yourselves doing this weekend?" And we looked at one another, and one of us looked him square in the eyes and said "I see us playing Diablo II, all of Act One, and perhaps, because you would value our opinion and maybe set some store in it, Act Two, Act Three..." and with voice trailing off, that speaker gazed nervously to the side, breath held, while the Blizzard guys exchanged looks, and seemed to come to some sort of silent agreement, and Matt said "Yeah, I think that can be arranged." And at that precise moment, it is no coincidence that a 110-voice choir standing directly behind us burst into "The Hallelujah Chorus"... but it surely helped match our mood. :-) | ||
==The Blizzard Tour== | ==The Blizzard Tour== | ||
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[[File:Visit-tour-04.jpg|thumb|left]] | [[File:Visit-tour-04.jpg|thumb|left]] | ||
Matt Householder and Karin Colenzo met us in the lobby. After a brief lobby photo shoot—of Diablo, and then a pic of the impressive trophy cabinet with the many awards that Blizzard has received--we were were shown to our "home from home" for the next three days, in what is called Blizzard North by Northwest, or Booneytown. Blizzard North leases the entire bottom floor of the office building, and they have recently expanded the offices to include much more space on that floor. (Good sign, maybe, of hiring more staff in preparation | Matt Householder and Karin Colenzo met us in the lobby. After a brief lobby photo shoot—of Diablo, and then a pic of the impressive trophy cabinet with the many awards that Blizzard has received--we were were shown to our "home from home" for the next three days, in what is called Blizzard North by Northwest, or Booneytown. Blizzard North leases the entire bottom floor of the office building, and they have recently expanded the offices to include much more space on that floor. (Good sign, maybe, of hiring more staff in preparation for... another game, perhaps?) | ||
[[File:Visit-tour-05.jpg|thumb]] | [[File:Visit-tour-05.jpg|thumb]] | ||
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[[File:Visit-tour-11.jpg|thumb]] | [[File:Visit-tour-11.jpg|thumb]] | ||
We spied Battle.net, and the people working on it. Well, part of Battle.net, anyway. Much is sited at Irvine, but it was interesting to know they could do so a lot directly from BN, too. We asked about whether both locations use the most recent game build, and the answer is that these days, all Blizzard employees are | We spied Battle.net, and the people working on it. Well, part of Battle.net, anyway. Much is sited at Irvine, but it was interesting to know they could do so a lot directly from BN, too. We asked about whether both locations use the most recent game build, and the answer is that these days, all Blizzard employees are playing... err, testing the same game. | ||
The staff of Blizzard North really is an extraordinary lot. Perhaps the company has been lucky in attracting this great group of people, but more likely they have been able to attract them because of the pleasant environment that was created, from the beginning, within the BN walls. The atmosphere is more relaxed, more personable, more open than most companies, especially companies working in a highly competitive industry and on a publishing deadline. (Well, "deadline" of sorts :-).) The office is pleasant; people come and go, stop and chat, argue, debate, praise. Breaks might extend into mid-afternoon planning sessions right over the lunchroom table. | The staff of Blizzard North really is an extraordinary lot. Perhaps the company has been lucky in attracting this great group of people, but more likely they have been able to attract them because of the pleasant environment that was created, from the beginning, within the BN walls. The atmosphere is more relaxed, more personable, more open than most companies, especially companies working in a highly competitive industry and on a publishing deadline. (Well, "deadline" of sorts :-).) The office is pleasant; people come and go, stop and chat, argue, debate, praise. Breaks might extend into mid-afternoon planning sessions right over the lunchroom table. |