Blizzard Being Boycotted For Silencing Gamer's Support for Hong Kong
Mark Kern, Team Lead for Vanilla World of Warcraft. Creator of Em-8ER, Firefall. Producer of Diablo 2, Starcraft, Broodwar have joined the boycott of Blizzard over the BlitzChung incident.
Source: Twitter
https://twitter.com/Grummz/status/1181757457527267328
Why Blizzard is boycotted?
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/8053
Mark Kern, Team Lead for Vanilla World of Warcraft. Creator of Em-8ER, Firefall. Producer of Diablo 2, Starcraft, Broodwar have joined the boycott of Blizzard over the BlitzChung incident.
Source: Twitter
https://twitter.com/Grummz/status/1181757457527267328
Why Blizzard is boycotted?
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/8053
Twitter
Mark Kern
It's done. #BoycottBlizzard
[Compilation of tweets from former Blizzard lead developer Mark Kern, speaking up on how Chinese money began to dominate and influence the gaming industry]
This hurts. But until Blizzard reverses their decision on @blitzchungHS I am giving up playing Classic WoW, which I helped make and helped convince Blizzard to relaunch. There will be no Mark of Kern guild after all.
I am ethnic Chinese. I was born in Taiwan and I lived in Hong Kong for a time. I have done buisiness with China for many years, with serveral gaming companies there.
Let me explain why I will #BoycottBlizzard
So I think I have a valid perspective here, having been a Team Lead at Blizzard and having grown up in Asia.
I have watched China slowly take over as the dominant investing force in gaming and movies over the years. It’s a shame US companies never believed as strongly as China and Asia in investing in games, but this allowed China to have unprecedented influence over our media.
Chinese game companies have grown huge not just because of market size, but because the government subsidizes them. They get free land, free offices, and huge infusions of cash.
This cash was and is used to do expand and buy up stakes in US gaming companies.
I’ve seen firsthand the corruption of Chinese gaming companies, and I was removed from a company I founded (after Blizzard) for refusing to take a 2 million dollar kickback bribe to take an investment from China. This is the first time I’ve ever spoken pubically about it.
I’ve also seen how American company reps in China have been offered similar bribes to get licenses for large AAA titles. Not everyone refused like I did.
Chinese companies tried to ruin my career with planted press stories. Money is often paid for favorable press in China and some of that money flows here to the US as well.
Unfortunately, money talks. China has succeeded in infiltrating all levels of tech, gaming and more.
Unfortunately, US and European companies are loath to take risks and invest in game companies legally as much as China was. China remained one of the few places mid tier studios could get funding.
So again, China influence grew. I’m sure this is the same for movies as well.
But now we are in a situation where unlimited Communist money dictates our American values. We censor our games for China, we censor our movies for China.
Now, game companies are silencing voices for freedom and democracy.
China is dictating that the world be authoritarian.
Of all the companies in the world, Blizzard is the LAST company I ever expected to give in to China’s demands.
Blizzard was always about “gamer first” and “don’t be greedy.”
At least, it was when I was there.
It’s one thing to keep politics out of games, which I am still a proponent of doing. It’s another to unfairly and harshly punish voices that speak out against corruption, against abuses of human rights, and freedom.
I take a huge risk by saying this. China monitors all social media and I know this means that we will probably never get an investment from China for my new MMO, and probably never get a license to operate there.
But enough is enough. I stand with Hong Kong, and I oppose Blizzard’s obvious and laughably transparent fear of China.
It’s time for Blizzard to grow the spine it used to have, and to do what’s right for gamers once again.
Gamers, rise up.
And yes, this means I will be refusing any deal for Epic exclusivity. The money comes from Tencent. Em8ER will never be an Epic game store exclusive.
This might mean we never make a dime, but more is at stake now than just games. A line has to be drawn, and I’m drawing it now.
Source: https://twitter.com/Grummz/status/1181736075775004672?s=19
This hurts. But until Blizzard reverses their decision on @blitzchungHS I am giving up playing Classic WoW, which I helped make and helped convince Blizzard to relaunch. There will be no Mark of Kern guild after all.
I am ethnic Chinese. I was born in Taiwan and I lived in Hong Kong for a time. I have done buisiness with China for many years, with serveral gaming companies there.
Let me explain why I will #BoycottBlizzard
So I think I have a valid perspective here, having been a Team Lead at Blizzard and having grown up in Asia.
I have watched China slowly take over as the dominant investing force in gaming and movies over the years. It’s a shame US companies never believed as strongly as China and Asia in investing in games, but this allowed China to have unprecedented influence over our media.
Chinese game companies have grown huge not just because of market size, but because the government subsidizes them. They get free land, free offices, and huge infusions of cash.
This cash was and is used to do expand and buy up stakes in US gaming companies.
I’ve seen firsthand the corruption of Chinese gaming companies, and I was removed from a company I founded (after Blizzard) for refusing to take a 2 million dollar kickback bribe to take an investment from China. This is the first time I’ve ever spoken pubically about it.
I’ve also seen how American company reps in China have been offered similar bribes to get licenses for large AAA titles. Not everyone refused like I did.
Chinese companies tried to ruin my career with planted press stories. Money is often paid for favorable press in China and some of that money flows here to the US as well.
Unfortunately, money talks. China has succeeded in infiltrating all levels of tech, gaming and more.
Unfortunately, US and European companies are loath to take risks and invest in game companies legally as much as China was. China remained one of the few places mid tier studios could get funding.
So again, China influence grew. I’m sure this is the same for movies as well.
But now we are in a situation where unlimited Communist money dictates our American values. We censor our games for China, we censor our movies for China.
Now, game companies are silencing voices for freedom and democracy.
China is dictating that the world be authoritarian.
Of all the companies in the world, Blizzard is the LAST company I ever expected to give in to China’s demands.
Blizzard was always about “gamer first” and “don’t be greedy.”
At least, it was when I was there.
It’s one thing to keep politics out of games, which I am still a proponent of doing. It’s another to unfairly and harshly punish voices that speak out against corruption, against abuses of human rights, and freedom.
I take a huge risk by saying this. China monitors all social media and I know this means that we will probably never get an investment from China for my new MMO, and probably never get a license to operate there.
But enough is enough. I stand with Hong Kong, and I oppose Blizzard’s obvious and laughably transparent fear of China.
It’s time for Blizzard to grow the spine it used to have, and to do what’s right for gamers once again.
Gamers, rise up.
And yes, this means I will be refusing any deal for Epic exclusivity. The money comes from Tencent. Em8ER will never be an Epic game store exclusive.
This might mean we never make a dime, but more is at stake now than just games. A line has to be drawn, and I’m drawing it now.
Source: https://twitter.com/Grummz/status/1181736075775004672?s=19
Twitter
Mark Kern
This hurts. But until Blizzard reverses their decision on @blitzchungHS I am giving up playing Classic WoW, which I helped make and helped convince Blizzard to relaunch. There will be no Mark of Kern guild after all. Let me explain why I am #BoycottBlizzard
Blizzard staff held an umbrella protest for banned Hearthstone protest for banned Hearthstone pro
A number of Blizzard employees seem to be protesting the company’s decision to ban a professional Hearthstone player for voicing his support of Hong Kong’s ongoing pro-autonomy protests. Some have reportedly covered up two of the company’s supposed core values that are cast in bronze in a sculpture outside their headquarters, “Think Globally” and “Every Voice Matters”. It seems more later gathered in support at the statue, carrying umbrellas, a symbol of the protests.
Former Blizzard esports lad Kevin Hovdestad tweeted yesterday that some Blizzardeers have (very politely) defaced the company’s public declaration of values on a statue outside their headquarters. The statue, which was manufactured in China, depicts a wolf-riding Orc warrior encircled by a compass declaring Blizzard’s eight “core company values.”
The core values covered up yesterday are, in full:
Every voice matters
Great ideas can come from anywhere. Blizzard Entertainment is what it is today because of the voices of our players and of each member of the company. Every employee is encouraged to speak up, listen, be respectful of other opinions, and embrace criticism as just another avenue for great ideas.
Think globally
Everywhere on the planet there are people who play Blizzard Entertainment games. While respecting the cultural diversity that makes people unique, we strive to grow and support our global gaming community. We also seek the most passionate, talented people in the world to enrich our company and help us forge the future vision of Blizzard Entertainment.
Later in the day, a pseudonymous Reddit user claiming to be a Blizzard employee (known only as “Standingwhk”) posted a photo they said was of “Blizzard employees standing with [Hong Kong]”. It shows two dozen people, several with umbrellas, gathered at the Orc statue. Umbrellas are a symbol of Hong Kong resistance movements, having started simply as tools to protect against police pepper spray.
#BoycottBlizzard #FreedomofSpeech
Excerpt: rockpapershotgun
https://bit.ly/33abjL4
A number of Blizzard employees seem to be protesting the company’s decision to ban a professional Hearthstone player for voicing his support of Hong Kong’s ongoing pro-autonomy protests. Some have reportedly covered up two of the company’s supposed core values that are cast in bronze in a sculpture outside their headquarters, “Think Globally” and “Every Voice Matters”. It seems more later gathered in support at the statue, carrying umbrellas, a symbol of the protests.
Former Blizzard esports lad Kevin Hovdestad tweeted yesterday that some Blizzardeers have (very politely) defaced the company’s public declaration of values on a statue outside their headquarters. The statue, which was manufactured in China, depicts a wolf-riding Orc warrior encircled by a compass declaring Blizzard’s eight “core company values.”
The core values covered up yesterday are, in full:
Every voice matters
Great ideas can come from anywhere. Blizzard Entertainment is what it is today because of the voices of our players and of each member of the company. Every employee is encouraged to speak up, listen, be respectful of other opinions, and embrace criticism as just another avenue for great ideas.
Think globally
Everywhere on the planet there are people who play Blizzard Entertainment games. While respecting the cultural diversity that makes people unique, we strive to grow and support our global gaming community. We also seek the most passionate, talented people in the world to enrich our company and help us forge the future vision of Blizzard Entertainment.
Later in the day, a pseudonymous Reddit user claiming to be a Blizzard employee (known only as “Standingwhk”) posted a photo they said was of “Blizzard employees standing with [Hong Kong]”. It shows two dozen people, several with umbrellas, gathered at the Orc statue. Umbrellas are a symbol of Hong Kong resistance movements, having started simply as tools to protect against police pepper spray.
#BoycottBlizzard #FreedomofSpeech
Excerpt: rockpapershotgun
https://bit.ly/33abjL4
#GlobalSupport #BoycottBlizzard #FreeSpeech #FreeHK
Mitsubishi Taiwan pulls Hearthstone sponsorship after suspension of Hong Kong player.
On Oct. 6, "Blitzchung" protested against injustices in Hong Kong in his post-game winner's interview , he appeared on stream wearing a gas mask — a symbol of the social movements in Hong Kong — and shouted, “Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our time.” It has sparked criticisms and ongoing protests. It is then confirmed that Mitsubishi Taiwan ended its sponsorship on 9th Oct.
Blizzard has not yet responded to Polygon’s inquiry. But it will expect more protests at the annual convention, BlizzCon, begins this weekend in Anaheim.
[ Protest schedule ]
1) Anaheim, USA - #BoycottBlizzard T-shirt distribution
Date：31-Oct to 02-Nov
Time：Exhibition Opening Hours
Venue：Anaheim Convention Center
https://www.facebook.com/events/501411020413254
2) Anaheim, USA- Protest at Blizzcon
Date：01-Nov
Time：12:00
Venue：Anaheim Convention Center
https://www.facebook.com/events/402379580661468
3) Anaheim, USA - #XinniethePooh Flashmob at BlizzCon
Date：01-Nov to 02-Nov
Time：anytime during the BlizzCon
Venue：Anaheim Convention Center
https://www.facebook.com/events/774192323009692
Mitsubishi Taiwan pulls Hearthstone sponsorship after suspension of Hong Kong player.
On Oct. 6, "Blitzchung" protested against injustices in Hong Kong in his post-game winner's interview , he appeared on stream wearing a gas mask — a symbol of the social movements in Hong Kong — and shouted, “Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our time.” It has sparked criticisms and ongoing protests. It is then confirmed that Mitsubishi Taiwan ended its sponsorship on 9th Oct.
Blizzard has not yet responded to Polygon’s inquiry. But it will expect more protests at the annual convention, BlizzCon, begins this weekend in Anaheim.
[ Protest schedule ]
1) Anaheim, USA - #BoycottBlizzard T-shirt distribution
Date：31-Oct to 02-Nov
Time：Exhibition Opening Hours
Venue：Anaheim Convention Center
https://www.facebook.com/events/501411020413254
2) Anaheim, USA- Protest at Blizzcon
Date：01-Nov
Time：12:00
Venue：Anaheim Convention Center
https://www.facebook.com/events/402379580661468
3) Anaheim, USA - #XinniethePooh Flashmob at BlizzCon
Date：01-Nov to 02-Nov
Time：anytime during the BlizzCon
Venue：Anaheim Convention Center
https://www.facebook.com/events/774192323009692
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