Rumor Mill: Former Vanguard Developer Tells All; Shocking New Details Emerge

[Aelryn]

Wow. True or not, you'll want to read this.

Teclisen, a disgruntled, alleged ex-Vanguard developer, dropped a huge bomb on the Fires of Heaven boards yesterday when he revealed a ton of new shocking info about what was happening behind the scenes at Sigil Entertainment during Vanguard's development and during their later collaboration with SOE.

Brad Mcquaid didn't do [expletive deleted]. (News Flash?) He's had an opiate addiction for years now, which only got progressively worse as the project failed. His cumulative face time with sigil designers in the most crucial final years of development? Approx: 15 minutes. And some of the time was spent begging for legitimately acquired narcotics (Or in times of desperation, jacking them from people's desk).

The lead designers didn't do [expletive deleted]. (News Flash?) Sigil fired all of their golden-boy, EQ-Genius designers (Save One) who this board once speculated simply "left." It wasn't even secretive. It all happened on the same day.

Sony didn't do [expletive deleted]. The extent of sony's help was 2 designers who ended up writing some diplomacy quests in Tanvu and some adventuring quests in Tursh. I think there was an artist that came in 2 days a week or something for about a month also. Thom Terrasas (sp?) is the only Sony employee that ever directly affected the direction of that game.

That's just the beginning. He also accuses David Gilbertson of gross incompetence and Smedley of not knowing what he was getting into when he bought Vanguard. You can read the whole sordid affair at the FoH Boards.

Just, wow. What do you even say?

[Annatar]

This has all the makings of a freaking awesome soap opera, or at least a made-for-TV two part mini-series. I might start working on a script this afternoon!

[Shayalyn]

Originally Posted by Annatar

This has all the makings of a freaking awesome soap opera, or at least a made-for-TV two part mini-series. I might start working on a script this afternoon!

I'd watch that mini-series, Annatar! I'd buy the book, too.

While this post has all the classic earmarks of a bitter hissy fit ...it also certainly has a ring of truth. These are rumors (I repeat, rumors--I'm not claiming to have any special insider knowledge) that many of us who've been close to Vanguard and the Sigil team have heard before.

I can tell you this: when I went to SOE Vanguard Gamer Day out in San Diego several months before Vanguard launched (this would have been October of 2006), I made some rather naive comments to some of the Sigil devs about Brad McQuaid's leadership. I was met with blank stares and nervous glances passed between the developers. These people were just a diplomatic lapse away from saying, "No comment." Instead they gave pinched smiles and little nods. I'm sure when I wasn't looking those poor people were rolling their eyes.

Now, that's all my perception. Maybe I read them wrong. But I like to think I'm a pretty good judge of situations and there was most definitely trouble in paradise where Sigil was concerned. I don't think that comes as any big surprise to anyone, either. The game got off to the shakiest start imaginable, and it's a wonder that it survived.

I have to say, though, that I'm glad it did survive what most surely must have been a nightmare for the people who worked so hard to try and make a good time despite a stunning lack of management and direction. I also have to say that, whether Smed knew what he was getting into or not, I hope SOE can make something of this game. Vanguard has come a long way. I hope they remain loyal to their small but dedicated fanbase and keep this game alive.

[Xerin]

Is it ok to make a joke and then end the sentence with "hey anyone want to come meet me in the parking lot?" because I want to try to be all witty like.

Lots of people take opiates for legitimate things, just saying. Once you take enough you dull their effect on your mind and they no longer get you buzzed. Lots of people construe a longterm opiate prescription for an addiction. So some things may just be a spin on the point of view of things.

[Annatar]

And to add a bit more fuel to the fire.....Clicky.

[Martuk]

[Garrett Fuller]

I'm glad to see that this falls under rumor.

Being very skeptical as it is, there was a lot said here that raises more questions and begs for further investigation.

don't get me wrong, I am not saying this poster is lying, I highly doubt that, in many ways his tale rings truth when linked to the events we all saw take place.

It is sad when these things happen. It is worse when shady business gets involved in game design for $$$ and nothing else. It is even worse when a company commits layoffs which impact workers, families, and friends lives.

There have been too many examples of late in the gaming industry which show the need for growth and change in a positive direction.

Hopefully the story of Vangaurd will bring some good to design studios as a lesson on how not to handle things, on how to be honest with your workers and your customers. Hopefully these mistakes will pave the way for better business in games.

[sweatpea]

lawl

[Mikes]

Originally Posted by Shayalyn

While this post has all the classic earmarks of a bitter hissy fit....

Seconded.

Also, I'm not certain how much I'd believe someone who openly admitted t working in an office where drugs are kept on the employee's desks.....

[Acidbaron]

Seems to be a bad tantrum of someone and it might contain many lies but i bet there's some truth in it.
As we all know bad things happend to that game in the development stages, atleast not normal things.
Bottum line it is someone who is fed up and has given all hope up on that game being someone inside or just a gamer, it was someone who -was- passionated about it i also don't know his reputation on that forum but he seems to be a long member and seems to pretty much act like a developer or atleast ex developer browsing to those posts and he doesn't seem to be an emo-poster either (trolls fallsunder emo-posters)



The reason why i believe this to some level is because i can find myself in it, it is exactly how i vented to those i had to explain myself, after my finals project almost went to ....., due to having a total incapable and not caring coordinator and a even less capable fellow student.