Microsoft fires game test contractor who talked to VentureBeat
Posted 09/14/08 at 04:48:20 PM | by Justin Kerr
The job of a whistleblower is a dangerous one, and Robert Delaware has paid the price for speaking out against Microsoft. The contracted game tester had worked closely with the Xbox line, and particularly Bungie Studios since early 2005. For those who haven’t been following the story, Delaware’s testimonial was the basis for an article that made headlines last week regarding Xbox 360 hardware failures at launch. In the VentureBeat article, Delaware detailed the known quality issues with the 360 and that management ignored multiple warnings in order to gain an advantage over the not yet released Playstation 3. Legally Microsoft was within its rights to fire Delaware for his unauthorized interview, but he remains defiant. Delaware claims to have been aware of the possible ramifications but was willing to take the risk. Upon termination Delaware was also warned by an HR representative that he faces possible lawsuits from both Microsoft and the company who contracted him out. The Interview conducted by VentureBeat’s Dean Takahashi remains unconfirmed by Microsoft and in response had only this to say: "This topic has already been covered extensively in the media. This new story repeats old information, and contains rumors and innuendo from anonymous sources, attempting to create a new sensational angle, and is highly irresponsible.”
Did Robert Delaware do the right thing? Or was he just looking for publicity?
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Quote "Get Serious
Submitted by Keith E. Whisman on Tue, 2008-09-16 00:44
Quote "Get Serious
Submitted by Asevening on Mon, 2008-09-15 08:05
All I have to say is this guy looks like a serialmurderer/publicmasturbatoringrapistpeodophile" End Quote
Hey that describes me and what I do while driving the City Bus.
He was only trying to save his reputation...
Submitted by SteveCamper on Mon, 2008-09-15 08:46
let's face it, no it was not health related but in the Tech world your reputation is what sells you. If you had to make software for the public that you knew was fine but the equipment which you have no control over craps all over it, you are a dead company! For example, DX10, how many of those companies that made thier games for it (no DX9 versions) are now out of business because MS did not release DX10 for XP.
I guess the other side of the coin is that he could have left and went to a new job. Leave the public unaware and let them pay to price. Anotherwards, let the mopnopolistic behaivors of the big companies tell the consumers what they need without being questioned! Mac computer anyone!?!?!
Submitted by Asevening on Mon, 2008-09-15 08:05
All I have to say is this guy looks like a serialmurderer/publicmasturbatoringrapistpeodophile.
Submitted by hogkill on Mon, 2008-09-15 06:36
He did the wrong thing. He got himself fired.
If he or anyone else thinks he made some sort of good moral decision think again. We aren't talking about some drug that had hidden side effects, we are talking about a buggy video game console. Nobodies lives are at stake and everyone already knows xbox had a buggy launch. What good does getting yourself fired do at this point? Nothing.
Robert Delaware you are a dumbass.
What weve learned...
Submitted by fake gordon mah ung on Mon, 2008-09-15 06:35
1. Consoles are crap.
2. Microsoft is vindictive.
3. Robert Delaware should not be left alone with small children.
Submitted by sdcat on Sun, 2008-09-14 22:25
Microsoft did the right thing to have him fired and sued. He did the wrong thing and went very very wrong way.
Maybe if this guys didn't
Submitted by atomaweapon on Sun, 2008-09-14 19:53
Maybe if this guys didn't look so much like a child molestor in his web cam photo I could concentrate on the story.
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brianm.cc
Submitted by Primus2112 on Mon, 2008-09-15 06:45
LMAO!
Submitted by Dwood15 on Sun, 2008-09-14 18:37
With Delaware.
If the story was old why should the company even bother firing him?
Freedom of speech anyone?
Oh man, do I HATE that.
Submitted by Tekzel on Sun, 2008-09-14 18:57
Listen, and spread the word. Freedom of speech is only protected where the government is concerned, and only under certain conditions. Go call in a bomb threat or sign an NDA and blab about it and find out what happens.
You are not guaranteed freedom of speech from private entities. Never have been, and never will be.
he did the right thing
Submitted by whisp on Sun, 2008-09-14 17:46
he did the right thing imo, he risked putting his head in the guillotineso that we are in the know. I say its admirable.
"we Plan for Tomorrow, but we Live for Today"
Submitted by Tekzel on Sun, 2008-09-14 17:42
I don't think MS has gotten nearly enough bad press over the Xbox360 failure rate. It is painfully obvious that what this guy said is true, but that MS hasn't gotten nearly enough of a black eye over it. The 360 is the failingest piece of consumer electronics, in what, the history of the universe? Mine just recently red-ringed out of the blue, and my brother has had it happen to his original, then within a couple of months to the replacement. So far so good on his third. Does anyone doubt that they rushed this thing to market waaaaaaaaay before it was ready?
Submitted by streetking on Sun, 2008-09-14 18:27
my friend's xbox 360 red ringed and MS said "OK, we'll fix it, just pay US the full price of the system." So I took it apart. :D
Submitted by sdcat on Sun, 2008-09-14 22:37
In otherwords, you are paying the full price of the system to your friend instead.
Submitted by streetking on Mon, 2008-09-29 05:58
no he said screw it and is getting a new one...
Double Edged Sword
Submitted by Wolfmann on Sun, 2008-09-14 17:27
This is a double edged sword.
An employer has every right to control the actions and public exposure of it's employees, especially contract employees, but at the same time there should be protection for employees that "whistle blow" or otherwise reveal anti-competitive, and/or illegal activities. Like there are work place protections for those that feel they are working in an unsafe work environment.
The problem with that is that you can get companies and people involved in petty disagreements. But at the same time, a company would think twice about cooking it's books, or covering up intentionally putting a product on the market that is not really fit for sale - even if you're willing to fully support the product afterward. But what if they didn't? And an employee knew MS was intentional grinding it to consumers.
As for this specific case...I largely agree he hasn't said anything new, and he may've gotten fired for nothing. Now if he can find specific information about what happened with Vista...that would be worth it.
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