[rhagz]

http://www.fohguild.org/forums/mmorp...tml#post732163

There is much I would love to unload about right now, but seeing as I am feeling pretty emotional while trying to respect the wishes of remaining Vanguard management, I will refrain.

I knew this was coming months ago, as did most others, so I made arrangements prior to the whole unfolding of events today. Sony was kind enough to invite me and a few others to form a small team and to start prototyping a 'new' project. While we've done some 'secret' preliminary work, we begin in earnest tomorrow after we officially sign on with SOE. Don't bother asking about details, because you won't get any.

I became increasingly disenfranchised with the situation since the forced premature launch, which then culminated several weeks back when I decided I could not, in good conscience, continue serving the Sigil management staff in my over-extended capacity and stepped down. I would have walked away completely if this recent opportunity had not presented itself when it did.

I did the best I could with the time and resources I had at my disposal, but in the end it simply wasn't enough to bring the game up to the standards we all had hoped for in the time we had remaining. I apologize for any disappointments players have experienced. During the final year, I was pulling 80-100 hour weeks, and I was not at all alone in the building. I wish things could have been different.

While I was fortunate to stay employed, there were near 50 people today who were not, and it was painful watching the procession of stunned coworkers packing their belongings into little cardboard boxes with blank looks on their faces. I've never had to endure something like this, and I hope to never have to do it again. I know it is easy to point fingers at 'why' things ended up this way, but the vast, vast majority of the folks losing their jobs today had very little control on how events unfolded and many were skilled and creative people who simply wanted to make a great game.

The Vanguard team, obviously now much smaller, will go back to improving and fixing the game tomorrow. Myself and four others will be moving to a new location and beginning anew. The others will begin the process of trying to find a new place to work.

I promised not to be publically scornful, but I will say this: I hope those truly responsible for the deep rooted failings of the company lay in bed tonight and relive the events that transpired today in their heads, over and over. For not ONE of you is without your job come tomorrow morning.

[KevinV12000]

That is quite amazing. I read in the Smed interview that a handful of Sigil folks were now moving to San Diego to work on a new and very secret SOE project and I am thrilled for Nino that he is obviously with that group.

Given Nino is a stand-up guy, this is quite simply the most devestating indictment of Brad I have ever read. There is not question that there is some well-deserved smouldering anger here and, given what has happened, it appears perfectly justified.

[Cobalty2004]

I will miss Nino, glad to see he is working on a new project that he will hopefully enjoy.

Best of luck Nino.

[Multiplex]

Wow...

[Motiv]

Holy hell. I totally commend Nino, he is the only person I truly respect from Sigil. He tells it like it is, and then gets in trouble for it. Well now I hope that his new Secret project goes well, maybe it will be a new uber-MMO I can look forward to. One with a true vision.

[Mardy]

Yeah you folks, hate the management and those responsible, quit talking trash over the game designers and people that actually worked hard and communicated with the playerbase. Some of the responses in the other thread was just god awful. Hopefully reading what Nino said will stop people from wishing & clapping for certain dev heads to be axed.

[Multiplex]

I promised not to be publically scornful, but I will say this: I hope those truly responsible for the deep rooted failings of the company lay in bed tonight and relive the events that transpired today in their heads, over and over. For not ONE of you is without your job come tomorrow morning.

The last couple lines here are truly ****ed up.

[Cobalty2004]

Originally Posted by Mardy

Yeah you folks, hate the management and those responsible, quit talking trash over the game designers and people that actually worked hard and communicated with the playerbase. Some of the responses in the other thread was just god awful. Hopefully reading what Nino said will stop people from wishing & clapping for certain dev heads to be axed.

I agree.

[Atoyota]

Originally Posted by Nino

I promised not to be publically scornful, but I will say this: I hope those truly responsible for the deep rooted failings of the company lay in bed tonight and relive the events that transpired today in their heads, over and over. For not ONE of you is without your job come tomorrow morning.

Yeah it's always the little guy that suffers, the worker... The manager, owner, director... The people that lead the project. They are to blame for the disruption in lives and loss of jobs.

A failed vision, bad planning and foresight... what ever the reason. I hope they sleep well.

[Jalex]

The antithesis of spin...Nino calls it like he sees it once again. I only wish that he was in a position to name names in the last paragraph.

[elektra]

Wow..those last few lines are a truly devastating attack on those in power at Sigil.

Nice to see someone with some integrity.

[Mreynolds]

Originally Posted by Multiplex

The last couple lines here are truly ****ed up.

Its a shame really that those folks that are responsible are not gonna have to face it. Even Brad although his position pretty much means hes nothing but he still will get a check out of this. Brad if you read any of these threads I hope you cant sleep and that one day you will be held accountable for the 50 peoples jobs you did cost them.

[kcxiv]

Originally Posted by Jalex

The antithesis of spin...Nino calls it like he sees it once again. I only wish that he was in a position to name names in the last paragraph.

He's talking about Brad. You have to be foolish to think that Brad didnt have an escape plan. I am pretty sure that Brad didnt lose much in all this.

[Ellandess]

Originally Posted by Jalex

The antithesis of spin...Nino calls it like he sees it once again. I only wish that he was in a position to name names in the last paragraph.

The capitalisation of ONE, implies there is a name to name, not names.

[Ellandess]

Originally Posted by kcxiv

He's talking about Brad. You have to be foolish to think that Brad didnt have an escape plan. I am pretty sure that Brad didnt lose much in all this.

"When you have nothing left, you still have your reputation to fall back on."

Didn't lose much? I don't see any reputation left from where I'm standing.

[Spirit]

is all I got.

Best of luck to you Nino, and my thoughts are with everyone who got the raw deal today. I hope you guys go on to find employment and the success you deserve. Damn.

[kcxiv]

Originally Posted by Ellandess

"When you have nothing left, you still have your reputation to fall back on."

Didn't lose much? I don't see any reputation left from where I'm standing.

I am talking money wise. I am sure Brad still made out somehow. If he hasnt been there for the last 8 months, you best beleive he had a way out.

[Choctaw]

Best of luck Nino. To those who lost their jobs here's hoping you are all back on your feet soon.

To those that he is referencing in his last paragraph, well it makes me hope that there really is such a thing as karma.

[vindrow]

Working on a secret project..hmmmmm, that wouldn't be DC Online. now would it.

[geneshifter]

Originally Posted by Multiplex

The last couple lines here are truly ****ed up.

Agreed. Butler and McQuaid for sure are on that list. This is like the mortage company my wife worked at previously. The president and the CEO are father and son and they are running the company into the ground and will probably just write it off at a loss when it fails. They will make hundreds of thousands of dollars and the employees will get the shaft Sorry suckers they are.