Romero: GameCock is dumb, GameCock: No U R!, Us: Whose bitch are we?

by Justin McElroy { Jan 21st 2008 at 11:30AM }

As the adage instructs, we are usually inclined to save drama for our mamas. But sometimes it's just too much fun to pass it up. Such is the case with a vitriolic exchange between marvelously coiffed game dev John Romero and GameCock CEO Mike Wilson. Let's get straight to the aforementioned drama, shall we?

So, Romero was blogging, and he was all like "Once again, just like with Godgames, Wilson is taking all the credit away from the indie devs and pasting his asinine logo everywhere" and Mike Wilson was totally like "I will also not allow you to rewrite the history of it all, more to your liking and to my public detriment, and I will in no way take the rap for what you did (or didn't do)with your dream company."

And we were all like "Have either of you guys made any games since the Clinton administration?"

Though we're trying to seem cynically aloof and above all the squabbles, we do have to give the 2008 Burn of the Year award to Mike Wilson for "Your unparalleled work ethic and strong character has (just in the time I've known you) left only a bloody trail of ex-wives, fatherless kids, and ill advised breast implants strewn across this fair nation." Wow. Romero may have taken the first swing but Wilson responded with the Enola Gay. Metaphorically speaking, John Romero has just been shoved into a wood chipper.

Tags: gamecock, john-romero, johnromero, mike-wilson, mikewilson

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

ToastyBuffoon @ Jan 21st 2008 11:33AM

Wow. Romero has a sweet ass!

Nter @ Jan 21st 2008 12:57PM

I'd hit it.

Phi Nguyen @ Jan 21st 2008 1:37PM

It makes me want to see the original version, but if I have to, I'll settle with this one! ;) LOL. BTW, Romero is a complete butter face.

B1gC72 - PSN: KillaKornbread @ Jan 21st 2008 5:15PM

lol i thought i would be the only person to notice that apple bottom! i mean it's definitely a bag-her situation in that pic but im curious as to what the real pic looked like lol.

GoldenS1104 @ Jan 21st 2008 11:34AM

That picture is extremely disturbing, but very wll done. Joystiq gets +1 internet.

severian00 @ Jan 21st 2008 11:59AM

I thought the same thing, the most disturbing image I've seen in a very long time. I may have nightmares now.

Neon Jebus @ Jan 21st 2008 11:35AM

Oh John "Rufio" Romero...you so crazy.

The Artist formally known as Jesus @ Jan 21st 2008 11:37AM

This pic is so full of win
on an epic scale

Neebs @ Jan 21st 2008 12:02PM

one more line prior for it to be a haiku

Holy crap look at this

Neebs @ Jan 21st 2008 12:03PM

Dammit, I messed it up.

Jerk Face @ Jan 21st 2008 11:40AM

Looks like John Romero just got a massive serving of the burnsauce!

It's flavor tastes like tears and regret!

mike_p @ Jan 21st 2008 7:28PM

Holy shit. Romero got OWNED!

I don't think I've ever read a comeback like that. That was fucking intense. I didn't really know too much about Mike Wilson before, but I do now... and won't ever knock the man for a lack of words in retaliation. Yowzas!

Princess Skittles @ Jan 21st 2008 11:42AM

It's not hard to choose sides here.

One of these guys interrupted a well deserved Game of Year award on national television like a fourteen year old ass-hat letting loose while his parents were out of town.

One of them made Quake.

Jeff @ Jan 21st 2008 11:43AM

Are we talking about Quake 4?

Because then it is pretty hard to choose sides.

copa @ Jan 21st 2008 11:49AM

"One of them made Quake."

Sorry, dude, you've got the wrong John from Id.

I would go so far as to say Romero is actually a bigger loser than Mike Wilson. And damn, that is saying a lot.

Princess Skittles @ Jan 21st 2008 12:04PM

John Romero (lead designer)
John Carmack (lead programmer)

copa @ Jan 21st 2008 12:47PM

John Romero (Mouthy Figurehead)
John Carmack (Dude Who Actually Did All The Work, and spent his time on the game instead of giving interviews and collecting cars)

Levi @ Jan 21st 2008 12:55PM

Yeah, but it was the Spike VGA's. About as prestigious as the MTV movie awards or the Kids' Choice awards. It's not like Gamecock crashed the BAFTAS. I can't figure out why so many people get their panties in a bunch over Levine getting interrupted during his speech. It didn't look like he cared.

Mr Khan @ Jan 21st 2008 4:20PM

Or we could say that Romero lost any and all credibility, past and present, for the debacle that was Daikatana

mike_p @ Jan 21st 2008 7:29PM

Well... actually John Carmack collects cars too.

Mighty Healthy @ Jan 22nd 2008 6:55AM

Gamecock's crashing of the Spike Awards was literally the exact opposite of ODB at the Grammys.

Noshino @ Jan 21st 2008 11:44AM

Mr. McElroy, you just upped your own standards, that pic is amazing

Kendall B @ Jan 21st 2008 11:44AM

I've spoken with John Romero a few times via e-mail, and he seems like a nice guy. Although the things Mike Wilson said appear to be true. I mean the guy's got tons of pictures of his 'toys' on his website. Cars and property he's owned and displayed quite prominently. Hardly any real family photos to speak of, though. I always found that to be a little weird.

Kendall B @ Jan 21st 2008 11:46AM

Course the lack of family photos could be an attempt to protect their identity, but I don't think it's anything that noble.

DangerMouse @ Jan 21st 2008 11:44AM

Quite the arousing photo. I read this the other day. As retarded as they both sound, Romero was asking for it, and got it fed right back to him plus more. Talk about 10 years of built up tensions just waiting to be unleashed. Holy shit that was ownage.

JodyAnthony (death by snoo-snoo) @ Jan 21st 2008 11:47AM

that is quite possibly the single greatest image ever to grace this site.

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Jan 21st 2008 11:52AM

Wow. That pic is just...disturbing.

Also these bitch fights between videogame developers is starting to get fucking ridiculous.

Schoon @ Jan 21st 2008 12:00PM

If by rediculous, you mean hilarious...

Justin McElroy @ Jan 21st 2008 11:53AM

Thanks for the mad love on the image everyone. I knew you all would appreciate the efforts. I'd love to create a followup for my next post but I can't ... stop ... staring.

Noshino @ Jan 21st 2008 11:59AM

oh, awesome, one thing though, next time post the whole comment please?

"You should maybe try the partying, since your unparalleled work ethic and strong character has (just in the time I've known you) left only a bloody trail of ex-wives, fatherless kids, and ill advised breast implants strewn across this fair nation, even before you flew all the way to Romania for your latest wife. If she's not still around, let me know, and I'll see if I can pick another one up for you here in Russia."

Those few extra lines add a lot more damage! talk about a burn...

sheppy2.0 @ Jan 21st 2008 12:14PM

I liked the hilarity of the romanian wife, though. It's not often your son asks to borrow your wife for prom instead of your car...

Ranko @ Jan 21st 2008 11:58AM

"Living in a material world
And I am a material girl
You know that we are living in a material world
And I am a material girl."

hvnlysoldr @ Jan 21st 2008 12:43PM

EBA calls to me for some reason

Mr.ESC @ Jan 21st 2008 11:58AM

That's the most disturbing thing I have seen today,seriously WTF?

Matt B @ Jan 21st 2008 12:01PM

It's all about the he says she says bullshit
I think you better quit lettin' shit slip
Or you'll be leavin with a fat lip
It's all about the he says she says bullshit
I think you better quit talkin' that shit
Punk, so come and get it

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Jan 21st 2008 1:39PM

Don't care what anyone says. LIMP BIZKIT WAS AWESOME!!

And besides, no one really listened to it because it was good.

tc @ Jan 21st 2008 2:20PM

OBJECTION: shit

waynski1457 @ Jan 21st 2008 12:14PM

i just want to say thanks because i erupted laughing in my campus lounge while everyone was on break and they looked at me weird... great job! im still not done laughing...

MasterInsan0 @ Jan 21st 2008 12:18PM

Both of these guys lost their industry relevance long ago. Romero, though, at least resigned himself to failure. Wilson, on the other hand, just has to keep shoving his shit in our faces.

Marty @ Jan 21st 2008 12:24PM

Wilson dragging Romero's personal life into the argument was in very poor taste, I thought.

Noshino @ Jan 21st 2008 12:37PM

Romero should have thought about the repercussions to his comments...

Wilson has known he pretty well, and Romero knew that, he knew what he was getting into...if he didn't want those matters to be touched, he shouldn't have began this "complain" to begin with...

It's funny, because he just shuts up right after he pretty much was bitch slapped...

ErbilT @ Jan 21st 2008 1:04PM

Well, it was a response to Romero's accusation of Wilson's partying. So if John was going to attack him for something that directly bites into Wilson's personal life, he should expect some of that thrown back at him.

One made Daikatana, the other crashed the VGAs during the Game of the Year Award.... I can't say that this hasn't been entertaining though. It's like a soap opera for geeks!