ION Snoop Speaks

Christine Biederman recently penned a controversial article on Dallas game developer ION Storm. In contrast to the many articles that have previously been written about the company - ones that glamorized the pricey penthouse offices of ION or dwelled on the photogenic profiles of its founders - Biederman stalked a different side of the company. Biederman detailed the infighting among past and present employees, delved into the various business decisions the company has made in its short lifetime, and supported her article with a slew of internal ION documents.

GameSpot News spoke with Biederman about the story - and about herself. Here's what she told us.

GameSpot News: Christine, of all the game companies in all the towns, you had to write about ION Storm. Why did you choose to focus on ION? What makes them worthy of such detailed scrutiny? And who tipped you to the fact there was plenty under the covers to look into?Biederman: Dallas story; Dallas Observer. That's what we do, is focus on deeds and misdeeds in Dallas and its immediate surrounds. As for "why ION," well, all that PR had its intended effect: It was hard not to notice them. Since last February's big press blowout, at least, I've been able to tell you the name of one game developer - and, until I started doing this story, one only - ION Storm.

It seemed to me that they were worthy of scrutiny for several reasons. First, the image they were trying to project in their PR was so obviously at odds with reality. For just one very small example, they portray themselves as this great place to work, when in reality they've been hemorrhaging employees, and there have been hints for some time - for example, Bob Wright's lawsuit - that something's terribly wrong. Second, the more I looked at this industry, the more it seemed to me that it really needed some scrutiny - lots of smoke and mirrors, coupled with very little real reporting. And ION seemed in many ways to personify this fast-money, smoke-and-mirrors milieu.

As for "who tipped me," actually, nobody. I just observed a lot of things over time that didn't quite add up, which is always a tip that a great story is under there somewhere.

GSN: Did you find resistance among those whom you interviewed? Was this an easy piece to report?Biederman: Very difficult and much resistance. I actually started sniffing around on the story towards the end of August/early September, but I couldn't get anyone to cooperate. It became much easier after the big group left in November; for some reason, that seemed to loosen tongues.

GSN: Can you tell us why the Observer decided to include the vast number of personal e-mails and internal ION Storm documents in the story? Aren't supporting documents usually kept out of view of the reader. Was it not maybe a bit tacky to post so many of Todd's e-mails in the piece?Biederman: A "bit tacky"? I hope not. Actually, we have posted supporting documents on previous stories - see, for example, "Toxic Justice," which ran last August , available in our online archive. We tend to do it especially in stories that are likely to come under heavy counterfire - or should I say counterspin? - where we think it would be nice to let our readers judge for themselves how reliably we reported and interpreted the material. As for "so many," well, all I can say is that they are a tiny, tiny fraction of the e-mails we could have posted, and I screened them carefully, both to protect sources and to keep from embarrassing - relatively - innocent people.

GSN: Your story makes Mike Wilson out to be the hero in this lengthy saga? Is there a hero anywhere to be found among the players who figure into ION's history?Biederman: Hmm.... It's always interesting to see other folks' take on your story. Actually, I think I'd say he's closer in many ways to an antihero - but a damned good quote, don't you think?

GSN: Have you heard from Todd Porter since your story hit the stands and the Web?Biederman: Only through his lawyers.

GSN: What has ION's response been since the story's publication? Do you intend to hand over documents ION is requesting in its subpoena of January 17? Based on a recent story in the Observer, it sounds as if you don't. How far are you and your paper willing to go to defend that position? Biederman: Just the subpoena. We'll have to see about the documents. What I can say with clarity is that we won't be handing any over if we think they'll reveal a source. Nor will we be identifying confidential sources in any way. I'm willing to go as far as I have to with this; can't do investigative reporting if your sources can't rely upon your pledges. Luckily, I work for an organization that feels the same way.

GSN: Do you play computer games yourself?Biederman You know, I went out and bought a copy of Quake - the original Quake - when I was researching the story. It's lots of fun; I see how you guys get hooked.

I'm an addictive/obsessive personality anyway, so I know enough to stay away from the computer games. I've got other vices already... a new hunter-jumper, for just one example.

GSN: Readers have been asking us over and over: Who is this Christine Biederman? Could you give us - and our readers - a bit of a backgrounder on C. Biederman?Biederman: Brief bio: I'm a recovering lawyer. Practiced for eight years before I got the nerve up to go do what I really always wanted to do: to write. Walked away from practicing law in early '95, started freelancing for the Village Voice and for the New York Times. Pretty quickly, I was working for the Times full-time, doing investigative work for national and foreign desks, as well as a little CyberTimes. Came to the Observer in the summer of '97, for reasons that anyone who ever worked contract for the Times can explain to ya. Been here and happy every since.

GSN: Three words for Todd Porter... what would they be?Biederman: Shoulda toldme yourside.

GSN: Thanks Christine.