Thanks, Goodbye and Farewell, Phoenix!

[MedeaDF]

...all the best to you and your future endeavours, and may the sun always shine on your TV monitor screen! *bows*



From Michael "Phoenix" Moore's Facebook page:

"Today was my last day at Mythic. For the past three and a half years or so, I've had the great fortune to come to a job with a team of wonderful people, always working to improve on what is still one of the best damn MMOs ever built. We truly are a different breed, always having to deal with flak coming from all directions, but always loving our jobs even though the job is like a bucking bronco and we're just along for the crazy, crazy ride.

Unfortunately, harsh economic realities and the nature of the video games business mean layoffs happen.

My immediate plans are to get soused (probably for much of the weekend), then after that it's time to see what new adventures might lie in my future!"​

 

[Tina Small]

Very sorry to see you go, Phoenix. The best of luck to you in your future endeavors.

 

[Pinco]

another one leaving? how many people still working on UO 4, 5 top?
shortly there will be noone left if they keep firing people :/

 

[pumpkin_escobar]

Best of luck to you

 

[Theo_GL]

another one leaving? how many people still working on UO 4, 5 top?
shortly there will be noone left if they keep firing people :/

I'd take exception to the term 'firing people'. Fired implies doing a poor job. Layoffs means position eliminated. There is a big difference.

Once again, its a shame all this developer time is spent on things not helping our game. I'd like to see new players, new subs, more money to expand the team but when time is spent on town loyalty, armor revamp, refinements.... None of this stuff brings new players and even existing players don't care for it. It is a downward spiral that continues.....

Farewell Phoenix.

 

[Shakkara]

another one leaving? how many people still working on UO 4, 5 top?
shortly there will be noone left if they keep firing people :/

Bleak, Kyronix, the new art guy, Messana, a community manager shared with all the other Mythic games, and that other producer guy that actually produces nothing.

From this row of people, I think Phoenix least deserved to be laid off Unless he was the fool that came up with refinements and messed up mage armor, in that case I chase him out with a pitchfork and torch

 

[Pinco]

I'd take exception to the term 'firing people'. Fired implies doing a poor job. Layoffs means position eliminated. There is a big difference.

ok, then layoff is what I mean

but still, right now certain freeshards have more staff than EA, and this is not good at all because if they keep going this way we will going to pay for a game without staff :/

 

[Dodger]

Really sorry to hear you are leaving, many thanks for the endless hours of enjoyment you have helped bring the community. I shall join you in getting soused in your honor. I tip my pixelated hat to you sir or madam.

 

[BeaIank]

Sorry to hear that you are leaving.

I wish you best of luck with your future endeavours.

 

[Petra Fyde]

Good luck for your future, very sorry to see you leaving.

 

[TheGrimReefer]

What did they do,use her until the new publish was finished then let her go? Nice reward LOL

 

[GalenKnighthawke]

EA's stupidity, laying off from what they've admitted in other contexts is one of the few titles still making money, never quite ceases to astound me.

-Galen's player

 

[Shakkara]

http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/ea-layoffs

Seems that it is not just UO's team that is impacted, it's a company wide thing. Likely that all teams got ordered to reduce their size by a certain percentage.

 

[Aurelius]

Seems that it is not just UO's team that is impacted, it's a company wide thing. Likely that all teams got ordered to reduce their size by a certain percentage.

Yet again, the concept 'fund successes and pull the plug on failures' is beyond EA's management to grasp..

Good luck for the future Phoenix (or Vex, for those of us old enough to know.... )

 

[Taylor]

Thank you for your participation in our community over the past few years, Phoenix_Mythic. Best of luck and don't be a stranger!

 

[GalenKnighthawke]

http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/ea-layoffs

Seems that it is not just UO's team that is impacted, it's a company wide thing. Likely that all teams got ordered to reduce their size by a certain percentage.

Oh, I'm sure.

But it's still a dumb decision that hurts a title that's making money. (By the way, before someone asks, I draw this conclusion partly from the fact that UO hasn't been cut yet -- and we all can guess that EA would kill UO with glee the second it stopped turning a profit --, and from a phone conversation one of our posters claimed to have with an EA phone person. Basically whomever it was called EA support -- when such a thing existed -- and raised a stink about if UO was still supported, and a supervisor blurted out something likes, yes it was, we wouldn't stop supporting one of the few titles still making money.)

My feeling is that if corporations can be treated as persons in terms of their having free speech rights, make political contributions, and the legal authority to do many things that natural persons can do, that they should be treated as persons for other purposes as well.

For example, being called idiotic when it does idiotic things.

I also kinda wish the victims of this stupid **** would stop justifying it, though I understand why Phoenix would do such a thing.

-Galen's player

 

[GalenKnighthawke]

Yet again, the concept 'fund successes and pull the plug on failures' is beyond EA's management to grasp..

That would require, like, analysis and planning and stuff.

EA would have to read and do spreadsheets and stuff.

No ****ing way!

-Galen's player

 

[Ron Silverbeard]

Hmm...
Maybe he went fishing with the Astronaut...if you know what i mean..

 

[Shakkara]

I also kinda wish the victims of this stupid **** would stop justifying it, though I understand why Phoenix would do such a thing.
-Galen's player

Yep, the moment you say anything bad about your (former) employer for the abuse he put you through, no-one else will hire you. Cause 90% of the companies abuse their employees in one way or another and they don't want to hire troublemakers. Been there, done that.

 

[Lord Crowen]

*looks at his collection of bells*
*looks closer at that bell from Vex*
*wipes a tear*

Good luck always, and safe travels, old chap!

 

[Nok]

All the best Phoenix! Thanks for all the fish, and keep swinging for the fences. See you out there on the grid.

 

[old gypsy]

Take care, Phoenix, and may good fortune follow you always, wherever you may go.

I feel as if another arrow has just been loosed toward the heart of UO.

 

[MalagAste]

One step closer I suppose to the end.

All the best to you Phoenix..... may you find something better not with EA.

 

[Gedgerez Tesherd]

Farewell, friend, didn't know you, nor read about things you've worked on in-game, but you among many former colleagues were the artery keeping this game alive throughout all of our lives.
It should concern us all when the foundation begins to rattle (ducks & runs for cover).

On a side note I hope his shoes will be filled with someone equally as competent, For the Life of UO.

 

[Tjalle]

*sighs*

 

[Victim of Siege]

Farewell, good luck, and thank you. *salutes*

 

[Phoenix_Mythic]

Thanks for all of the well-wishing.

 

[Queen Mum]

Sad news indeed! Wishing you the best on your next endeavor. You are a quality gem for anyone who is sharp enough to recognize your abilities. *cookie hugs* and hope to see you on the flip side

 

[Victim of Siege]

Thanks for all of the well-wishing.

 

[kongomongo]

Thank you for your dedication. Maybe you will rejoin this great endeavour in some way shape or form

 

[Picus at the office]

Good Luck.

 

[Miri of Sonoma]

This is sad news! Phoenix thank you for everything! I wish you all the best where ever your journey leads you next.

 

[Berethrain]

Thanks for all of your work and I hope better luck finds you soon.

 

[hen]

Good luck to you Sir. Be sure to get wasted this weekend.

 

[Basara]

Mike, you going to go out and try to be a professional gambler (again)? I seem to remember some of your fellow AoS-era staff commenting back then on your first departure that you were going to try your hand at gambling tournaments - or were they just joking from you having taken their paychecks in games after work?

 

[Obsidian]

We will miss you, Phoenix! Best wishes for the future.

 

[Nails Warstein]

This can't be happening!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

I can't tell you how disappointed I am to know you're leaving us. One of the only developers left who was around when the original code was written. You were one of the only archaeologists still there to interpret the code. ACK!

Phoenix aka Vex, please tell us, did you finish working on the currency issue, making gold account bound? I was pretty sure this was one of your many projects, and would like some feedback. I haven't heard anything since the 15th anniversary party.

Also I knew it was possible you were adding some form of Texas Hold'Em to the Fire Island Casino, will that still happen?

I hate to bring this stuff up now, but inquiring minds want to know.

 

[Lady Storm]

This sux.... I for one do hope you find a new position soon. I knew EA was talking more staff cuts but UO is so understaffed right now I didnt see where they could cut more....
EA needs its head examined... What idiot over there is running the HR....
They are making this sound alot like a sinking ship... EA is not that bad off...
If I was them I'd cut a few of the exe's out not talent that is bringing in the money....

 

[Madrid]

Another one bites the dust....

Sad..very sad.

Thank you Phoenix for your contribution to the greatest MMO of all time.

I wish you best of luck!

 

[Assia Penryn]

Very sad to see you go, Phoenix. Thank you for all that you have done for our game and community.

 

[Oops]

Now we have a lady who appears more apt as a UO player, and Bleak. Who seems competant. I don't know anyone else, that communicaton manager guy should be sent back to burger king for such a poor job. Maybe he's someones nephew. Embarrassing to let someone go who actually knows what they are doing. Clear house, let's start fresh.

 

[Kayhynn]

This can't be happening!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

I can't tell you how disappointed I am to know you're leaving us. One of the only developers left who was around when the original code was written. You were one of the only archaeologists still there to interpret the code. ACK!

Phoenix aka Vex, please tell us, did you finish working on the currency issue, making gold account bound? I was pretty sure this was one of your many projects, and would like some feedback. I haven't heard anything since the 15th anniversary party.

Also I knew it was possible you were adding some form of Texas Hold'Em to the Fire Island Casino, will that still happen?

I hate to bring this stuff up now, but inquiring minds want to know.

You said exxactly what I feel/am thinking. Nothing else to say really. You will be missed Vex/Phoenix

 

[Adol]

Thanks for all of the well-wishing.

That was correctly spelled... why aren't you drunk yet?!

And I hope you take with you the thought that we criticize and grump but we always did it out of love, and you guys will be missed in your own special way when it's time to go...

 

[SlobberKnocker]

I've been pretty harsh in regards to some of the interaction that takes place in these fluff and stuff interviews that some of the staff have given but let me go on record saying that EA lost a very good man today.

Mike, you will be missed. we had a very good discussion about the martingale system and how it related to the casino that was designed and in my mind it was one of the most thought inducing informative information exchanges that i've seen these past 6 years i've played this game.

Please tip a glass for me this weekend and I will surely pop a good bottle of Cab tonite in your honor. Good things happen to good people so I'm sure you will land on your feet. All the best to you my friend and thank you very much for all the contributions you have made to the Lands of Sosaria and take applause to all the peoples whose lives you have made better in bringing them daily enjoyment in what seems to becoming a more joyless world by the day.

Salute.

Pullo of Cheasepeake.

 

[RaDian FlGith]

Wow... take care, Phoenix...

Layoffs? Seriously? So now instead of a team of what, six, there's a team of five -- or is it five to four? Seriously? They couldn't shove a couple of DAoC or Warhammer or BiomythicUnderwear folk under the bus?

I mean, seriously... you don't layoff people from small DevTeams. At this point, even I'm waiting for the bell to toll on UO. At some point, there aren't enough people to do anything for the game at all.

 

[Kayhynn]

EA Laid off a lot of people yesterday in Canada and rumor has it in California - not surprised there were other unwritten about layoffs.

 

[Amber Witch]

Phoenix, You're going to be greatly missed. I hope this allows a new door to be opened that surprises you with the best of opportunities.

 

[Gorbs]

I am greatly saddened by this news. Good luck, and I hope you find another game/app/whatever to impact positively with the shortest delay possible.

 

[Zoeydamnies]

Hey, I didn't know phoenix was vex. Totally remember all that.

Thx to you folks that keep my favorite game running and good luck!

ZO

 

[GalenKnighthawke]

Wow... take care, Phoenix...

Layoffs? Seriously? So now instead of a team of what, six, there's a team of five -- or is it five to four? Seriously? They couldn't shove a couple of DAoC or Warhammer or BiomythicUnderwear folk under the bus?

I mean, seriously... you don't layoff people from small DevTeams. At this point, even I'm waiting for the bell to toll on UO. At some point, there aren't enough people to do anything for the game at all.

Yeah that's pretty much what I thought....Sooner or later UO dies simply because there won't be enough people to do even basic work on it.

Oh well.

-Galen's player