Outgoing IGDA head issues scathing apology

Former International Game Developers Association executive director Jason Della Rocca spent nearly nine years with the professional organization. When the IGDA confirmed his departure earlier this year, the announcement included statements from Della Rocca saying that he was "humbled and honored"...

Former International Game Developers Association executive director Jason Della Rocca spent nearly nine years with the professional organization. When the IGDA confirmed his departure earlier this year, the announcement included statements from Della Rocca saying that he was "humbled and honored" to serve the association's members.

However, during the 2009 Game Developers Conference rant session last week, Della Rocca took a few good-humored (though no less heartfelt) parting shots at his constituency, thinly disguised in the form of an apology. This week the ex-director posted the notes of his rant on his personal blog, for all to enjoy. The (lightly edited) apology is as follows:

Serving the IGDA for the past 9 years has been extremely rewarding and challenging. I helped to get a lot done, but somehow feel that I failed the community.

Sorry for being too focused on the nuts and bolts, with my head down in execution. I just didn't spend enough time on the big picture vision stuff. It's scary, and easy to avoid when you're just "busy" doing stuff.

Sorry for not having the leadership skills to beat the barriers of participation inequality. Less than 1 percent of the IGDA membership are truly active in driving the org forward. Sorry for not doing a better job building up a strong pipeline of community leaders and volunteers. Sorry for not overcoming your general apathy and laziness.

Sorry for not doing a better job of roping in all the snipers from the sidelines. Turns out you are all pretty damn good at b******* and complaining and being critical. But then you don't actually do anything about it and you don't get involved. Sorry for not bringing critics under the tent and getting them to work at improving things.

Sorry for not getting you to be more serious about the profession of game development. You are no longer a bunch of hacks. This is a real art and science. We need to be way more deliberate and control the path the profession takes as it evolves into the future.

Most of all, sorry for not doing more to help you realize your power! Both, collectively as a profession to tackle industry issues, and as creators of culture. You are all having a massive impact on society. You are transforming the world day-by-day without even realizing it.

Oh well, f*** you, it's not my job anymore!

24 Comments

  • Cornicello

    Posted Jul 5, 2009 12:06 am PT

    This is awesome, could have cut down on all the sarcastic apologies and simply stated that he doesn't want to deal with a bunch of babies who only make his job harder instead of trying to fix the problem themselves. Like he said, oh well.

  • EPaul

    Posted Apr 5, 2009 7:41 pm PT

    Lol, that last line is exactly how i felt about my last job. Too bad i couldn't say to my super cause i need to use them for references

  • flyingteddy

    Posted Apr 5, 2009 6:25 am PT

    that's how to leave a job. i guess he got the shove.

  • bybeach

    Posted Apr 4, 2009 10:55 pm PT

    Cmon guy..be mellow. well.at any rate, you may be smart,but that was stupid. now you`ll have to change you`r name to get work. But of course, they`ll know your signature over all you do!..heh

    Be a quiet person....and move on in this world, do good..

  • blackace

    Posted Apr 4, 2009 11:49 am PT

    Sounds like someone was just a little bit unhappy with his job. LOL!! Talk about a major chip being on ones shoulder. Sorry you hated your job. Sorry you didn't quit 8 years earlier. lol!!

    Seriously. If you are in a job and it's not living up to your expectation and people are not doing what they are suppose to be doing to help your efforts, then it's time to move on. Now is really not a good time to quit a job, but if he had quit 7-8 years ago, he might have been a lot happier now. I wonder how many people will copy his blog and give it to their boss before they leave the company. Hehehe!!

  • Buck_Hotep

    Posted Apr 3, 2009 10:03 pm PT

    I think he should copyright that final line. In these times he'll make a killing getting roylaties from people using that line when they get laid off or fired.

  • Deathl0rd

    Posted Apr 3, 2009 6:07 pm PT

    Mr Della Roca has been a true leader for this organisation... getting to the faces of people that thought that game developers were hackers, bad influence on society. His departure has nothing to do with him. It might have to do with the fact that people never really jumped on the boat with him. Were they not interested in collaborating with the Association for being recognized? Is the IGDA format good enough? This should be the right questions asked to the IGDA, rather than questioning his vocabulary after being fired.
    Hats off to you Jason, for building the IGDA and bringing attention to our jobs and industry. Hopefully, this ranting session will mark a little bit the members and make everyone (association and members) work together.

  • athenian29

    Posted Apr 3, 2009 5:38 pm PT

    *zing*

  • JackHoleFace00

    Posted Apr 3, 2009 5:03 pm PT

    Haha, pretty sweet. And I should say I totally agree about how much people who complain and criticize all day but offer no solutions absolutely bug the crap out of me.

  • aquabot

    Posted Apr 3, 2009 3:08 pm PT

    Yeah, Dmitheon makes a solid point. It's cute to flip out an all, drop some f bombs, etc. But when it comes to it, it's not indicative of the kind of attitude that's gonna get him hired again somewhere else.

  • Dmitheon

    Posted Apr 3, 2009 1:55 pm PT

    I hope he plans to go to work for himself, because any company he interviews with will see this. He might as well consider it the second page to his cover letter. BTW, I wonder if he's related to Mo Rocca.

  • SDMF_TrueBlue

    Posted Apr 3, 2009 1:54 pm PT

    Win

  • jinn366

    Posted Apr 3, 2009 1:45 pm PT

    Awesome final line.

  • Sendmn23

    Posted Apr 3, 2009 1:44 pm PT

    I think after working at a place for such a long time, and then being let go is always hard. Its tough to get over.... In some way or another you just want to say something. Its hard not to leave without speaking you're mind in some way.... I feel for him. I hope he finds another job. "GOD bless him." Lord knows I've been in those shoes too..... as have we all at one time or another in our life.

  • jmartinez1983

    Posted Apr 3, 2009 1:08 pm PT

    Burn any bridges lately?

  • bigd575

    Posted Apr 3, 2009 12:44 pm PT

    Best ending I've ever seen.

  • EnderSR388

    Posted Apr 3, 2009 11:42 am PT

    Nice! Good ending as well.

  • Cujo31

    Posted Apr 3, 2009 11:37 am PT

    Love the ending! lol

  • kbrocks

    Posted Apr 3, 2009 11:34 am PT

    he made my day!

  • Caml10

    Posted Apr 3, 2009 11:33 am PT

    "Good-humored"?

  • Prinze

    Posted Apr 3, 2009 11:33 am PT

    "Oh well, f**** you, it's not my job anymore!"

    That is just an epic line, lol

  • Rect_Pola

    Posted Apr 3, 2009 11:26 am PT

  • dark_surge

    Posted Apr 3, 2009 11:22 am PT

    Kudos to him.

  • Calmed_Fury

    Posted Apr 3, 2009 11:15 am PT

    lol

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