Read on Twitter
Solidarity with my IGN coworkers who endured emotional terror from Tal Blevins and Steve Butts. In my time from 2012 to 2016, I felt taken advantage of, exploited and manipulated, and afraid for my job at nearly every turn. And I was one of the "lucky" ones working for them.
When Tal wanted something done, or didn& #39;t agree with something I said -- which happened often, as the IGN employees were mostly amazing people pushing them to do better -- he would CC Steve to intimidate me into following through with his request.
These guys stayed at $3000 Air BnBs while employees shared rooms in roach hotels. When we pushed to have our own rooms (which I& #39;m pretty sure they legally had to oblige?) they told us to deal with it because the company didn& #39;t have the money. Bullshit.
In 2014, I was halfway through my work permit timeline, and I opened conversations with Steve about renewing it in 2016. For two years, I was uncertain if I would have a job, or be allowed to stay in the country, because I never got a positive answer.
Steve Butts and Tal Blevins reprimanded staff for standing up for friends. They created a culture of fear among the best people I have ever known. We only had each other. None of us knew what to do to feel better about facing these guys every day.
When I reported on Amy leaving Naughty Dog, Steve Butts and Tal Blevins forced gossip into the story. They heard it was a hostile takeover. We didn& #39;t want to publish it. I tried to take my name off the story. They would not allow me to do so.
They forced an unproven claim onto http://IGN.com"> http://IGN.com with my name on it, against my will, to "protect their relationship with Sony."
When Sony justifiably condemned our story, Steve and Tal were SILENT. They never went to bat for me for a second.
When Sony justifiably condemned our story, Steve and Tal were SILENT. They never went to bat for me for a second.
To Neil Druckmann and Bruce Straley who were caught in the crossfire of IGN& #39;s hostile, toxic leadership, I& #39;m so sorry.
I am responsible for the anger, disgust, and disappointment you lived with then, and I& #39;ll never forgive myself for buckling beneath these manipulative monsters.
I am responsible for the anger, disgust, and disappointment you lived with then, and I& #39;ll never forgive myself for buckling beneath these manipulative monsters.
These are the guys who would later publish a story on http://IGN.com"> http://IGN.com stating THE LAST GUARDIAN IS CANCELED. When we confronted them about publishing an unsubstantiated (hilariously bullshit) story without consulting the news team, they said "you should have chased this."
When I pushed for a promotion, I was told to "Not until you say yes more." They wanted someone to agree with their wretched decision making and horrible leadership practices. I got a cost-of-living raise every year, and nothing more. Nothing was ever enough to earn you anything.
Steve Butts and Tal Blevins are responsible for creating an unsafe and toxic work environment that torpedoed my mental health. It was much worse for many more.
I hope these two never have a voice in games again. Never hire their consultancy firm. It& #39;s called LEVEL 74.
I hope these two never have a voice in games again. Never hire their consultancy firm. It& #39;s called LEVEL 74.
The end. I& #39;m over a lot of this. But I think about it a lot, many years later. I think about my friends who experienced worse, and what I should have done to help them, career be damned.
Listen to the stories you& #39;re hearing. Ejecting shit heads is the only way we fix this.
Listen to the stories you& #39;re hearing. Ejecting shit heads is the only way we fix this.
Let me actually end on: IGN fucking rules. I adore those people and that place, and my friends there are SO MUCH HAPPIER now than they were when I was there.
Progress has been made as they rooted out the rot inside. Change is possible.
Never let these motherfuckers win.
Progress has been made as they rooted out the rot inside. Change is possible.
Never let these motherfuckers win.
