[Aradune Mithara]

I'm sure not intentionally, but people are getting the wrong impression about an important part of the interview so I am posting to clarify the topic/issue that needs it:

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I'd like to address something I've seen come up several times on different boards re: the interview: The original MS team DID require milestones and a schedule. By NO means did we ask for or expect free reigns. In fact, we met every milestone and even exceeded the expectations and requirements for many of them.

I am all for schedules. I am all for planning. I am al for Milestones.

It was the degree and detail level and how detailed they needed to be going way out into the future that changed and the assertion that MMOGs should be handled the same way as a single player game in terms of development and an apparent desire to not want to work collaberatively but rather dictate development (which was not part of the original spirit of the agreement, where we were hired on because of our experience) that became a problem. We tried very hard to work with the new team but their approach to game development simply wasn't compatible with Sigil's, did not adhere to how we had worked with them previously for several years, and IMHO not compatible with how one (or at least Sigil) in our experience working on a LOT of MMOGs, some failures, one a huge success, some cancelled, etc.

We were all for organization, scheduling, milestones, accountability, etc. Up until the change I described we exceled in this process and were praised for our performance and progress. When all of this changed, we tried to make things worked (as did the other side), but it simiply turned out that the two teams were not compatible. Again, I have nothing against MSFT or those people, etc. They meant well and I'm sure were doing their best given how they were told to deal with an external developer. Changes like this happen fairly often I would think. Incompatibilities and disagreements on development (in this case MMOG development) happen.

Thus it was time to move on. I will also say that working with SOE later on worked out fairly well (not perfect, but perfection happens rarely). My point is that we worked very well with the first group at MSFT and then we worked very well with SOE after we broke things off.

That's it. Again, while I am disappointed, I understand how things happen and that they are not all that uncommon. A developer and a publisher must mesh and be able to work together as a solid team towards one solid goal (making a great game). When that does not occur, or something changes such that it is no longer occuring, something needs to change.

Microsoft agreed with this and allowed us to switch to SOE in a very amicable way. There are no hard feelings. All the MSFT people are in the Vanguard credits in fact. If anything my respect level for MSFT management for letting go of Vanguard to increase to the chance that it would become a great game increased greatly. They are truly a class act. They put Vanguard above politics and team issues and different development philosophies and did what was best for the game. That is huge and I'm not sure if very many other publishers would have done the same. So I remain eternally grateful for them allowing us to make the switch to SOE and getting the deal done so quickly so as to allow us to take advantage of E3 and to interupt the development process of the game as minimally as possible.

I wish this part of the picture had been included in the interview and hope you all spread it around as it's an important piece that was missed.

thanks,

[Ermack]

Thanks for clarifying. It's good to see that you will still post despite all that has happened and all that has been said.

[Fanclorn]

Hey Brad,

To be honest, that's nice to clarify all that and stuff, but my biggest beefs with the two interviews posted by f13.net recently are:

> Your lack of participation in the mass-firing of Sigil employees. Yes, I know it is a painful experience for people to go through, hell I've been part of a downsizing myself. It sucks. But it helps when people are there at least trying to make an effort. You said you would've cried? So what? It is an emotional time, being there would have made it a little bit better for those poor souls.

> Your complete mismanagement of Sigil. This isn't a Microsoft or SOE issue, this is a Sigil issue. I have worked at two Fortune 500 companies and one thing is abundantly clear: There are strict policies about family members and employment. It seems to me that you guys would hire anyone's family member, just as long as they had their brother or son say, "Oh he's cool." Well, my brother is addicted to pot and is in rehab, but I guess if I worked at Sigil I could say, "He's cool." and he'd get a job right?

This is what is so disturbing. The Jones/Butler thing is even worse. Relationships in the workplace cause such horrible distractions and get the rumor mill going even faster than anything else I've ever seen. That stuff should have been nipped in the bud quickly.

> "In general, I had just found out about future events and what was likely or possible to occur... and it broke my heart. Emotionally, I just couldn't be sitting there celebrating and putting on a big smile when I knew the troubles we might be facing in the future."

So, I'd also like to add there are a couple burning questions:

1) Why were the Beta forums such a hostile place? Why did Sigil do nothing to the people who continually flamed people for trying to provide positive and honest feedback into the game with such craptacular posts as "Go back to WoW nub!" etc etc.

2) Why was the Affiliate system such a joke?

[Vordox]

Yaddda yadda yadda! Can I have your stuff?

[End_User]

Originally Posted by Vordox

Yaddda yadda yadda! Can I have your stuff?

I'd settle for my money back.

[Almighty God]

Originally Posted by End_User

I'd settle for my money back.

Good luck. Getting President Bush to leave Iraq would be easier.

[Kelenvor]

Actually, you coming here and talking to us means a lot. The silence is what was breeding a lot of ill feelings. I may not agree with everything that you did but I'm glad to see you trying to set the record straight.

[uncommon]

Originally Posted by Almighty God

Good luck. Getting President Bush to leave Iraq would be easier.

LOL TOPICAL HUMOR!

[Almighty God]

Originally Posted by uncommon

LOL TOPICAL HUMOR!

Uncreative it's true, but I was just watching the Daily Show, so it's the first thing that popped into my head.

[Amerylla]

Hey Brad,

Good to see you. It's been a tough road for everyone, I can only imagine where you have been and what you are feeling. I'm not going to bother second guessing anyone. First and foremost: I wasn't there, I honestly haven't a clue. Secondly, it is history. We learn, we move on.

Vanguard still is, with all it's present issues, an awesome game. For me, it's the best out there.

I wish you and everyone who worked so hard the very best.

/cheers, Amerylla

Edit: oops forgot to don my flame retardant suit.. oh well, my opinion and I'll express it.. and flames be damned.

[Squishy]

Sigil failed due to mismanagement plain and simple. Whether you worked well with MS and SOE is neither here nor there. If the people in charge don't listen to their employees then what is the point of having them? They're there to give suggestions and get the job done. Their suggestions were ignored and they lacked tools to push out a successful product with or without a timeline. It was doomed to fail from the start. In the future, please stick to brainstorming and leave the implementation of ideas to people more qualified. Also, you really should've been there when your employees were fired. You were so far removed from what was actually happening that it's not even funny.

[Tearofsoul]

I just wanna make myself into the 1st page, but.............

Anyway, Sigil, Vanguard and Brad all failed us.

[AsheMan]

Can we lock to consolidate?

http://www.silkyvenom.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21181

[Godolphin]

Originally Posted by Amerylla

Hey Brad,

Good to see you. It's been a tough road for everyone, I can only imagine where you have been and what you are feeling. I'm not going to bother second guessing anyone. First and foremost: I wasn't there, I honestly haven't a clue. Secondly, it is history. We learn, we move on.

Vanguard still is, with all it's present issues, an awesome game. For me, it's the best out there.

I wish you and everyone who worked so hard the very best.

/cheers, Amerylla

Edit: oops forgot to don my flame retardant suit.. oh well, my opinion and I'll express it.. and flames be damned.

Nah no flames u got it right, shit happens, its history, we've still got a great game in VG and its time to move on and take it to the next stage.

I've never seen a game get so much press in unreal and you know what they say, no press is bad press.

[Parallax]

Originally Posted by Tearofsoul

I just wanna make myself into the 1st page, but.............

Anyway, Sigil, Vanguard and Brad all failed us.

I saw episode 1 in the theater some years back... George Lucas YOU HAVE FAILED ME!!!

[Almighty God]

Originally Posted by Parallax

I saw episode 1 in the theater some years back... George Lucas YOU HAVE FAILED ME!!!

That movie would've been loads better without the kid and Jar-Jar, and with lots more Liam Neeson.

[Akuma]

Originally Posted by Almighty God

That movie would've been loads better without the kid and Jar-Jar, and with lots more Liam Neeson.

Darth maul sucked ass too. Pointless character.

But yeah, if they removed all the jar-jar shit and the whole pod-racing backstory, this movie would have been awesome.

[Kursa]

God, Brad

I can't believe you didnt have the guts to fire your employees because you would probably cry.

Wow

What a cop out. My respect level in you just plummeted. Also..please don't blame Zoo tycoon from haltering the advancement of your game, that's just really grasping at straws.

[StabbyMcGee]

Glad you posted Brad, nice to see that clarified.