Blizzard cuts number of GMs [Theorycrafting thread]

[Ronnie]

Yesterday, we got a blue post regarding the recent changes about the staff in Blizzard Entertainment. It says that they are in the process of cutting a number of active positions, mostly non-development staff. The blue post locates here -> Message from Mike Morhaime - Forums - World of Warcraft.

Those news might bring some changes regarding the botting in some way. First of all, "non-development" staff means customer support and mostly GMs. I'm not into the philosophy of big corporates like Blizzard, but it seems like they went greedy for every penny they get even more, but afterall this thread doesn't go in this direction. Secondly there are some ways that can affect our lovely botting. Keep in mind it's mostly theorycrafting thread and discuss seems to be very intresting since it gives some opportunities.

How can it affect the botting at all? Let's see.

*Less GMs -> longer tickets' queues, it leads to very unresponsible system for reporting bots and stalking 'em down. Honestly, it's a reasonbly good point. Even on my very populated server GMs were too lazy to shut down some stupid bots who are botting 24/7 in uldum for months. You see my point here: less GMs, less problems. Clear enough.

*Automatized ban system. Sounds ridiculous, but if bots would flood servers even more and GMs actually would not have a time to take care of 'em, it might come up with those changes. Let me explain. It's not like they will detect HB, in my opinion HB has no flaws in security system and since our developers care it will never be a problem. However, they would auto-ban/warn for some bot activity with new system. Keep in mind it's just a theory.

*Most of their resources are gonna be occupated even harder in next half year for sure. Release of Diablo 3, MoP beta, SC2 HotS and these cuts of staff make the enviroment for botting even better, imo. It should be affected in anyway.

This thread is not a call for mass tireless 24/7 botting. "Botting" has never ever been a safe occupation and 24/7 botting always has been leading to ban eventually. But my point was about better time for bottting in general. Less ban-waves and creepy stuff like that. Get it right.
Let's just think about it together, don't flame in this thread please

 

[greaterdeath]

"Hard to believe Blizzard in any way lacks "resources" when they can sell virtual dragons for $25 a pop all day long."
^ lol'ed

 

[Vitaman]

Blizz will never have an automated ban program based on user reports, the wow community is waaay to vindictive for that not to be abused. As for resources blizz is spending them in the most efficient way it can, on lawyers.

 

[Zoinx]

First of all, "non-development" staff means customer support and mostly GMs.

And why do you think "non-development" means customer support and mostly GMs? You realize there are a lot of OTHER departments to cut as well?

You realize how many "non-development" jobs Blizzard employs?

Such as the largest in house music team for any game franchise currently out there. Or all the Brand Marketing department? How about Quality Assurance, such as the Language Testers, or Localization Audio teams, hell even the Language Translators.

Now how about the sweet old ladies in the Sales/Account department? or the Web Content Editors? How about the Web Graphic Design and Web Service Managers? Now we can throw in the "eSports Department" (yes, they have one).

Now we can step into the Public Relations, or the Web and Mobile App deparment. Don't forget about all the Web Editors for all the other language supported sites as well. Now what about their Talent Acquisition department (in-house scouts).

There are a TON more jobs that just Customer Support and "mostly" GMs.

Your theory is flawed.

Edit:
I didn't even touch on all the Cinematic's or Graphic Departments, or the Software Engineers for all their websites, or their Online Community Representatives (ie, Forum mods), or Community Engagement teams. There's also seperate teams inside the "GM, such as the Account and Billing Department, In-Game Support, Web Support Form Support, Account Review Department.

 

[1101011]

First of all, "non-development" staff means customer support and mostly GMs.

As far as I know all GM "work" is done by a company from ireland. They work for blizzard and they work also for bioware.
They do all the crap work like answering smal questions and so one. Blizzard has some own gms of course
but these are level 2 or 3 gms who will only interact with normal customers if there are bigger problems.

So the GMs (the GMs for alle the stupid crap) wouldn't be affected by this post.
Also they have still searched for some gms during the last month.


I think this will mostly effect stuff who has worked for diablo 3 as they don't need them any longer
(a possible diablo3 addon could be done from other people).

Well Starcraft went very well and WoW is still their cash cow so I guess the mostly fire people who do the same
like other people from Activision like BWL buisnessmen or marketing

 

[primo]

on my server a ticket wil take up to 16 hours before they respond it sucks tbh

 

[Venus112]

on my server a ticket wil take up to 16 hours before they respond it sucks tbh

Ah i remember that problem
I've always had 2-3 days of waiting for tickets, untill all of the sudden i started having 1-5 hours response, it's insane. (we're talking BS tickets too like, "can i have some gear" or "I feel offended by the tauren paladin, where's my Nightelf lock" ^^)

 

[HB6268S52]

if blizzard bans even more accounts after the 1.7 million sub loss after the investor call, their investors and shareholders will be very very pissed off. bots still generate revenue and frankly it making legit players angry doesnt make a difference to investors and shareholders. in shareholders eyes botters and legit players is the same and when a company report a loss and further trying to increase loss of subs, mike and bobby will have a lot of explaining to do during their next call

money> ethics anyday in today's world

 

[Eisenberg]

Angry players could leave. There is only the question of which are more numerous - botters, or angered by bots leavers. And i think that blizzard looked into to that matter before he begun last antibot campaign.