Interview with Ondrej Spanel ( Suma )

[ModeZt 0]

GREAT! Thank you very much for the interview! Very interesting. I really enjoed it. However it was difficult to understand the voice.

Please make a text version for people who don't have english as the first language.

[Goeth 0]

Thanks for the interview Suma and Jerry, it was nice to hear the voice behind the big brains

[mr.g-c 6]

I don't know if i'm the only one here, but i am very disappointed.

It really seems to me that Suma has no idea what the rest of his team does.... hello over there in czech, don't you guys know how to TEAM-WORK?

We even learned that in school here in germany (ok we germans are different and a extremely accurate working-race - thats a other story).

I mean com 'on.... to be serious, if my boss would hear, that i tell in a interview to have "NO IDEA" about around 50% of the features my team is doing in the most-important project we have and I AM responsible for, i would have been fired immediately.

Arma2 will decide if you survive or not, i would take all this a bit more seriously guys.....

A lot of the things i heard in this Interview told me that i was absolutely right with my "feelings" i had about BIS.

Seriously and for your own best, you(the executives of BIS) should consider to hire some good company-consulting specialists, or it can be happen really soon that ARMA2 was the last game you guys produced.

And that you don't listen to the community-made suggestions for ARMA2 because they came TO LATE is the biggest joke of all, i mean thats all so ridiculous.

Someone/some rich company of the western country's should buy-out your whole company and should put some serious pressure on you guys or even fire the executives, thats what you are missing i assume (together with the listening to your buyers - the community represents them!.

- Christian

[lwlooz 0]

I think that is a little bit unfair there. One has to remember that the interview was about Suma as a person , it was not really about ArmA2 . I liked it , you got to know how Suma thought as a person and to top it off he even vaguely mentioned they will focus on gameplay and AI/Commanding interface for ArmA2. To read anymore into it is quite silly in my opinion.

I also don't think one can keep in mind all the aspects of such a huge engine ( I don't even want to know how many code lines it consists off) nor do I think that Suma has to keep track of it all. Thats the job of the lead game designer , now I hope BIS got one and personally I hope he is a wargamer , but thats a completely different topic. Perhaps Jerry should interview him.

You could take the "I like programming landscapes" as an insult of Suma not being totally into FPS games while you want the perfect one , i find that endearing , but I am weird .

[ebud 18]

or even fire the executives, thats what you are missing i assume

Haha, good one, good one.

Your post was a joke right? Do you know anything about BIS at all? It's history? It's employees? I was kinda hoping for "more" as well in regards to ARMA2, but FFS be realistic about it's development or find another game to enjoy.

[W0lle 1050]

That was actually the idea behind it, not talking about what all is in ArmA2 and what not.

Quote[/b] ]I mean com 'on.... to be serious, if my boss would hear, that i tell in a interview to have "NO IDEA" about around 50% of the features my team is doing in the most-important project we have and I AM responsible for, i would have been fired immediately.

The community is not Ondrejs boss, and Ondrej didn't gave the interview to report at the community.

Also he's the lead programmer, not the project manager. It's not his concern how many vehicles and stuff are in ArmA2.

Quote[/b] ]Someone/some rich company of the western country's should buy-out your whole company and should put some serious pressure on you guys or even fire the executives, thats what you are missing i assume (together with the listening to your buyers - the community represents them!

That's the biggest bullsh*t I seen from you so far. What company comes to your mind here? EA maybe? Yes I think that would be awesome for both the product and the community, absolutely no doubt here.

There's always someone complaining, no matter what BIS does. And if this turns now into another BIS bashing thread because some certain people haven't heard what they wanted to hear then ... well you know it.

[mr.g-c 6]

Yeah try to get on me.... hahahah

Quote[/b] ]The community is not Ondrejs boss, and Ondrej didn't gave the interview to report at the community.

Also he's the lead programmer, not the project manager. It's not his concern how many vehicles and stuff are in ArmA2.

Better read this part again:

Quote[/b] ]I mean com 'on.... to be serious, if my boss would hear, that i tell in a interview to have "NO IDEA" about around 50% of the features my team is doing in the most-important project we have and I AM responsible for, i would have been fired immediately.

Im talking about HIS BOSS, not the fcking Community!

I am a project manager like him in real-life, so i know what im talking about you fools.

Quote[/b] ]That's the biggest bullsh*t I seen from you so far. What company comes to your mind here? EA maybe? Yes I think that would be awesome for both the product and the community, absolutely no doubt here.

Yes and you talk further your kind of bullshit and crouch into their asses deeper and deeper.... you probably have no idea about business.....

Nevermind....

Quote[/b] ]Your post was a joke right? Do you know anything about BIS at all? It's history? It's employees? I was kinda hoping for "more" as well in regards to ARMA2, but FFS be realistic about it's development or find another game to enjoy.

Yes i know very much about them... i was always interessted in them and to be honest I WAS very amazed by them as they brought out Operation Flahspoint, but thats over now i think....

Arma was the first joke, ARMA2 will probably be another one.

Thats why i suggest some really professional company-consulting here - we dont have 2001 anymore, times have changed.

[W0lle 1050]

I am a project manager like him in real-life, so i know what im talking about you fools.

Yes and you talk further your kind of bullshit and crouch into their asses deeper and deeper.... you probably have no idea about business.....

+1 WL for flaming and insulting.

[ebud 18]

Arma was the first joke, ARMA2 will probably be another one.

Then why are you still here?

I just love people who are negative for the sake of being negative, or cry when things don't go their way.

I hated the direction Ghost Recon went with the GRAW series so I stopped playing it and going to the GR sites. Staying and being negative or complaining about the game would have done nothing. Spending my free time being negative and complaining about things I have no control over and cannot change would have been pointless. Maybe you should do the same if your so upset.

[cross 1]

I'd probably throw you out of the front door mr.g-c, if I were YOUR boss, after such a foul post and you looking down at people.

It is not up to you to judge how much people know about business and management.

Re your comments...you are simply overruling the concept of confidentiality...You may think you are the king of "project management" but this tells me you have no idea in managing a project with high level of control and confidentiality.

[froggyluv 2136]

We even learned that in school here in germany (ok we germans are different and a extremely accurate working-race - thats a other story).

Hate to be a stickler but German is a nationality, not a race.

Thanks

Bye

[Shadow NX 1]

The worst thing about arma is that i lead to ainvasion of never to pleased pricks on their high horse like mr.g-c ... seriously, go play something else.

Moaning about ArmA, ok, moaning about a game that isnt released is plain foolish.

And i love the example of the super accurate germans, things like Gothic 3 that cost a lot more in developement than ArmA and yet are a hundred times more buggy speak for themself... and thats not the only example but thats not the topic here i guess.

Im pretty confident that BIS learned a thing or two from ArmAs mistakes and from what i see on the first screens things seem to improve.

Anyway, thanks a lot Jerry and Suma for this intresting interview!

[NoRailgunner 0]

Quote[/b] ]I am a project manager like him in real-life, so i know what im talking about you fools.

Do you really know why you are only called "project manager"?

Seriously and for your own best learn how to (re-)act, discuss & make suggestions - kindly.

[W0lle 1050]

OK ladies and gents, this is about the great Ondrej interview, not about "project management experts"... back on topic please

[max power 21]

I am a project manager like him in real-life, so i know what im talking about you fools.

Again, Ondrej is the lead programmer, not the project manager. It is his job to solve programming problems. Are you also a programmer?

[sickboy 13]

OK ladies and gents, this is about the great Ondrej interview, not about "project management experts"... back on topic please

Indeed, stop projectmanifying my Superhero

[mr.g-c 6]

Quote[/b] ]

Then why are you still here?

I just love people who are negative for the sake of being negative, or cry when things don't go their way.

Well if you can check my activity within this lame forum-software, then you would know that i am pretty much non-active around here anymore. I just take a look here every week. The reasons are, well i dont think i must repeat myself here.

When i play ARMA (at max. once a month), i play Sahrani-Life - thats the only thing which makes fun anymore.

Also, i'm some kind of dreamer who still waits for a wonder to come.

Quote[/b] ]Maybe you should do the same if your so upset.

Well actually i wasn't really upset and i don't think that i ever should around here in this virtual world.

Quote[/b] ]I'd probably throw you out of the front door mr.g-c, if I were YOUR boss, after such a foul post and you looking down at people.

Really?! You want his number? hahaha...... com' on.....

Quote[/b] ]You may think you are the king of "project management" but this tells me you have no idea in managing a project with high level of control and confidentiality.

No i never thought that, nor do i think that. Why should i give the tipps with the consulting then?

I can tell you, that in our middle-class company (~150 employes), the well-so-perfect management always thought they know EVERYTHING and they producing at best cost-effectiveness....

After we had a audit from a quality-secure company (ISO 2001 and others) they soon found out that this was a illusion. So we got this long-lasting consulting with a lot of meetings which costs the company nearly a 6 digit sum, but the management and we all found out that there was A LOT ROOM to improve things.... and thats what we did.

Quote[/b] ]Hate to be a stickler but German is a nationality, not a race.

No, there is also a "german race", but thats a other topic....

Quote[/b] ]And i love the example of the super accurate germans, things like Gothic 3 that cost a lot more in developement than ArmA and yet are a hundred times more buggy speak for themself... and thats not the only example but thats not the topic here i guess.

Right thats not the topic, but for your information: Think about crytek with crysis - also a german company....

Gothic3 was lame, right also other games from germany are - thats true - but its mainly because the lack of investors and other money-sources.

In USA, the Land of the total entertainment, gaming-company's get their asses pumped full money, often more than they ever need... that is the main reason which lead into other reasons (like therefor more money for advertisings, larger ammount of potential buyers, etc.) and thats why they are so successful.

Quote[/b] ]Im pretty confident that BIS learned a thing or two from ArmAs mistakes and from what i see on the first screens things seem to improve.

Hmm, i personally don't think so. The screens really look to me like Arma with a few minor graphical improvements, nothing more....

[wolfsblut_ 0]

And that he don't listen to the community-made suggestions for ARMA2 because they came TO LATE is the biggest joke of all, i mean thats all so ridiculous.

See it positive: after all he knew that there _was_ a community outside :)

And that the BIS-lead-programmer, after spending 2 years of developing the most important project BIS has, can still not pronounce correctly his own product "armed assault" that is also a big big joke ...

[max power 21]

I can not fucking believe what I'm reading here.

[celery 8]

And that the BIS-lead-programmer, after spending 2 years of developing the most important project BIS has, can still not pronounce correctly his own product "armed assault" that is also a big big joke ...

Ever heard of accents?

[wolfsblut_ 0]

And that the BIS-lead-programmer, after spending 2 years of developing the most important project BIS has, can still not pronounce correctly his own product "armed assault" that is also a big big joke ...

Ever heard of accents?

Has he never met the BIS-guy placebo?

[W0lle 1050]

And that he don't listen to the community-made suggestions for ARMA2 because they came TO LATE is the biggest joke of all, i mean thats all so ridiculous.

See it positive: after all he knew that there _was_ a community outside

And that the BIS-lead-programmer, after spending 2 years of developing the most important project BIS has, can still not pronounce correctly his own product "armed assault" that is also a big big joke ...

Your ignorance that people with english not as their first language spell certain words differently or are unable to spell them at all tells much about you.

Have you ever bothered to read some pages back? It's explained there but I guess the only purpose of your post is to bash the devs once more.

For the very last time: Stay on topic. If the bashing continues for whatever reason I wont close again but hand out WLs and PRs.

[Heatseeker 0]

Well... i liked the first half, talking about the past, exposing the man a little, it was relaxed and funny but when it got more serious...

What went wright with Arma?

Piracy?

Screenshots?

Mods?

I think the interview lost perspective of who was being interviewed? Take it as constructive criticism ..

[BraTTy 0]

Ahh its unlocked again !

I really enjoyed the interview and I liked the idea it wasn't all business.I liked hearing about his personal life more so than the questions about Arma and ArmaII.Thats what these forums are for.

Now all these wisecracks and slamming are going to ruin future interviews.

No matter what gets said people pick it apart and rudely I might add

Its hard pleasing everyone and some are unable to please anyways

Cheers Jerry and Ondrej

[Thunderbird 0]

Better don't seriously worry about the lack of suggestions 'non-implemented' to the incoming game as a part of the community would undoubtly be in charge of them, depending on whether the 'Editing possibilities and limits' that the game would offer.

That would undoubtedly be done only on the long run and only if basically, the engine is solid.

My expectations of ArmA II are mainly related to 3 factors:

[*]Low Performance Hit.

[*]Bugs Free Game.

[*]An Entertaining Campaign.

Regarding the interview, it's nice to put a "human face" on OFP's engine creator and one of the pioneer of large-scale terrains.

Regards,

TB