ION Storm: In Our Face

If you've been anywhere near the Web the past few weeks, you've read plenty on ION Storm. GameSpot News, as well, has had its share of copy devoted to the Dallas development house. With a number of recent staff departures - and appointments as well - there's been plenty to cover. There's also been an ION-centric swirl of speculation circulating on the Web.

Those guys occupy hot seats for sure, but they usually make time to address questions - if you ask. Todd Porter responded to our questions - which at their core sought to probe what it's like to occupy those hot seats. Porter was quick to reply - and we even got the idea he enjoyed taking the opportunity to set the record straight.

GameSpot News: It could be argued that trash talking ION Storm is the most popular pastime among a number of game journalists and gamers. Where do think this obsession came from? Does this type of distraction make it difficult to concentrate on making games?Todd Porter: I think we got off on the wrong foot almost two years ago when Wilson crafted the campaign that "John's gonna make you his bitch". Mike tends to be over the top, but this set an image for us that really didn't reflect what we were about. I think those early campaigns, coupled with at tremendous amount of press, set us up to be the target of much criticism. With the advent of the internet, you have anyone that can pay $20 per month posting a website and many times spouting rumors or all out lies because they can. Does it affect us? I think anyone who has negative things said about them doesn't like it, but we consider the source. If it's CNN or NBC or CBS, reporting this stuff then you might believe it, but on WWW, journalistic integrity takes a back seat to Trash Publication.

GameSpot News: ION has lost a boatload of talent in the past month. How do you maintain quality in game development when so many people are choosing to walk out the door? And is there any way to explain it other than ION is a tough, tough place to work at?Todd Porter: That would be a rather small boat. We have lost a few talented individuals, but we have a tremendous amount of talent at Ion and we have hired and will continue to hire other talented individuals. My concern would start if John, Tom, Warren or Jerry left. "Ion is a tough, tough place to work"? We pay the highest salaries in the industry. We have great benefits, flex hours, we buy employees dinner when they work late, they have a movie room, game machines, beds and bathrooms, free drinks and snacks, two computers and 2 21inch monitors on every desk, and we even pay for their covered parking. How many people in the "real" work world would view this as tough?

GameSpot News: Corrine Yu gets high marks from just about everyone in the business. How are you going to replace her? And what does her loss mean to ION Storm?Todd Porter: Before Corrine left, we embarked on a relationship with another developer for a joint technology project. We already have candidates to replace her.

GameSpot News: We've been told by various ION sources that the recent negative press (on some gaming sites) and the tendency for employees past and present to leak various ION documents has taken its toll on you guys personally. Is that so?Todd Porter: As I've said before, seeing negative things about you on the internet is never easy - especially when it is untrue. It's something you get used to in today's game development environment. As far as documents being leaked, it concerns me that individuals don't regard our confidentiality agreements as real. No company in any field wants its internal documents to leave its offices. That's the reason for having employee's sign such confidentiality agreements to begin with.

GameSpot News: While the gaming press is breathing down your neck criticizing every move you make, the mainstream consumer press can't get enough of the ION story. How do you explain it?Todd Porter: Ion has a stable of talented designers whose titles have sold over 7million units collectively. They know we will have the best year of our history next year. Some people leaving to start their own company won't affect that.

GameSpot News: What's the real deal on your relationship with Eidos? Are they about to increase their ownership position? We have heard that an increased stake is in the works - specifically so they'll be able to exercise greater control over expenditures at ION. Can you comment?Todd Porter: Our relationship with Eidos is as strong as ever. They have been through this before (team members leaving) when it happened to the Tomb Raider team. They realize that as long as the designers don't go, you're just fine. Eidos has been involved in every decision we have made in the past year. They are our partner regardless of any ownership and view all of our financials each month even though we technically don't have to disclose them. It has been this way from the beginning and will continue. They therefore don't need to "exercise greater control" as they have all the control they'd need.

GameSpot News: I've spoken to a number of ION employees who've danced around the issue of whether or not ION has a corporate culture that's conducive to game development. What are your thoughts on the matter? Is ION the company you set out to create? Todd Porter: We have the smallest overhead in terms of management of any company in the business. Besides myself, a CFO, a VP of marketing and a COO, all the executive level people are working on a title. We attempt not to have much corporate culture as it tends to alienate one side from the other. Ion is a work in progress. I think we grow better each day - and closer to what we wanted to create.

GameSpot News: Todd, what's the chance of Doppelganger going back on the development schedule at ION?Todd Porter: Doppelganger has been put on extended design cycle to allow me to focus on the business issues here at Ion. We also have three huge titles to release next year and that needs to be the companies focus. As soon as that group of title is out, we'll know better.

GameSpot News: There have been a number of changes to staff on the business and accounting side at ION Storm. You have a new CFO. Can you tell us what prompted the hire?Todd Porter: Our old CFO moved over to COO. I had been interviewing candidates for some time and finally found a great one in Stan Herndon. His experience in High Tech ventures prompted my decision to hire. Contrary to what has been rumored, Carla, our controller - not CFO - left because she had a better job offer. We wish her luck.

GameSpot News: This week I read an article discussing ION Storm's “unfulfilled promise.” Do you think the premise that ION hasn't measured up to expectation is accurate? Are you two pleased with the progress ION Storm has made since its creation two years ago?Todd Porter: How come no one has seemed to notice that Digital Anvil has had 5 times the investment and been in business longer, but has yet to release even a single title (sorry for the attention, Chris). This is not to say that Digital Anvil is doing something wrong (they aren't, and I can't wait to play their games), only that they realize as we do that because titles are so complex nowadays and take so long to create that the old estimates of time to develop are really not pertinent. This "article" was full of nonsense, rumor, and lies. We have a title on the shelves that has sold over 100,000 units and that number grows each day. We have three titles releasing next year which are probably some of the most anticipated games in their respective genres. I think we will fulfill our promise next year, but it takes time - something no one in the gaming press wants to give Ion.

GameSpot News: Re: so much press, do you think ION worked itself into a corner by building the hype about the company too much? For example, no company has taken out such large-scale ads to announce its creation - and to talk about its top employees - while not having a game in production. Another "for example"…the move to have a designer's name on a title (i.e., Dominion says "A Todd Porter Game" on the front of the box). Do you think that ION has promoted its "attitude" too heavily?Todd Porter: I think I answered this above, but selling our authors has always been a focus of Ion. You wouldn't fault the Bulls for selling Jordan, Pippen, or Rodman...we do the same here (although none of us has much of a game in or out of the paint...hehe).

GameSpot News: Thanks Todd.