[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
3. BAB's animation minion
4. BAB's animation minion
5. Castle's powers minion
[/ QUOTE ]
Sidekicks or Lackeys sound more appropriate. 
[/ QUOTE ]
I believe Castle has two new sidekicks then, not just one. I keep having to resist making jokes about them being there to rub his feet and make him coffee, but I'm sure they're actually also great guys. It'd be cool if this new hiring meant we got to hear from new people too. 
[/ QUOTE ]
Ah, I may have gotten that backwards then, Castle got two new staffers and BAB one (for now).
[ QUOTE ]
Where's your QA guy?
[/ QUOTE ]
Has always been farmed out to NCSoft's QA staff in Austin. There may have been plans to have in-house QA at NorCal, but I don't know how that panned out. Remember, *development* was just 15 people. But *production* had the resources of NCSoft North America at their disposal (shared with other NCSoft NA games). It used to be that even the forum community reps were located in Austin and had to teleconference with the Devs at Cryptic Studios in CA. With the hiring of Lighthouse and Ex Libris, that job moved to be with the Devs.
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Amazing work from the FREEM Fifteen. You guys are our Heroes.
[ QUOTE ]
Well, I guess Jack was full of hot air when he insisted CoH was still going strong because LOOK! Cryptic is hiring. Ah, well. A Sam always forgives. But he never forgets.
Just the same, it's amazing how much cool stuff 15 people have been able to come up with. What perplexes me is what others have mentioned, as well - the content the Surviving 15 came up with was superior in every way to the all the content that came before. The last few Issues, even if I may not agree with all that was added, were easily the best thing that's happened to the game, by far. Well, after the addition of CoV, but that's a little more than "an Issue"
My hat's off to you, guys, for being able to do so much pretty much each on his or her own. Amazing work out there. While your team was being downsized, all I kept thinking was how this game was only getting better and better. Sure had me fooled!
I'd also like to address specific thanks to BaBs for taking SO much time out of his life to post on the forums and keep us all informed and involved. I'd also like to thank him for being so cool as to accept AND respond to PMs, and do so with surprising speed. Hell, I had one PM answered within something like 15 minutes of sending it. Plus, it takes a REAL man to be called BaBs and still keep going strong
And, of course, I have to thank Castle, as well, for braving the frustration of being the fall guy for every whine on the board and proudly wearing the bullseye with dignity and stoicism while still keeping us well informed of not just the bottom line, but also why it was decided on.
Yeah, doom or no doom, I think we may well have the best development team ever
[/ QUOTE ]
Well said! Even though I only really keep paying for board access (pretty much; my comp's in rough shape and I don't want to tax it, and I'm waiting for a little more variety in mission types), I have to say I don't feel I've wasted a dime of money that I've spent sporting this fine game.
If/when I get a new comp and missions get beyond 'go in, beat all the NPCs', I'll be happy to be playing. 
QR.
Ummm, WOW.
The fact that you could get out a system as complex as inventions/set bonuses/the market with just 15 people (let alone all the other stuff in issue 9, then 10 and 11) is impressive.
Kinda sheds light on how important the Closed Beta idea is/was/still is today.
My hats of to you all.
Blazara Aura LVL 50 Fire/Psi Dom (with 125% recharge)
Flameboxer Aura LVL 50 SS/Fire Brute
Ice 'Em Aura LVL 50 Ice Tank
Darq Widow Fortune LVL 50 Fortunata (200% rech/Night Widow 192.5% rech)--thanks issue 19!
[ QUOTE ]
That's all production staff, but I imagine there's also some support staff? An office manager (so everyone gets their pens and paperclips), some kind of HR person and Bob from accounting (so everyone can get a paycheck), for example?
[/ QUOTE ]
I assume that part of that was taken care of by the administration teams of Cryptic (which was developing CoH/V and several other projects in the work) and by NCSoft North America (which is caretaker for several development studios). Also, services like payroll or janitorial service are often contracted out to independent contractors who are not considered 'staff.' There are also the faceless tech crew who manage the servers who may or may not be 'staff' but rather a contracted service.
But generally, we focus on the *developers* who create, draw, write, and code the game (the 15) and the *producers* who manage public relations, customer services, and directly support and manage the development team.
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Closed beta...cause 15 people can't try everything!
This also helps explain the F&F closed beta we have now. Since there are more then 15 of them they can test a hell of a lot more before letting the players smack it around with hammers.
[ QUOTE ]
Thanks to all the Dev's for their work on a great game.
[/ QUOTE ]
I think that sums it up.
total kick to the gut
This is like having Ra's Al Ghul show up at your birthday party.
15 people running the show since '06? Amazing!
Never have so few done so much for so many while receiving so much grief.
Devs, I salute you!
Agua Man lvl 48 Water/Electric Blaster
"To die hating NCSoft for shutting down City of Heroes, that was Freedom."
[ QUOTE ]
Thanks to all the Dev's for their work on a great game.
[/ QUOTE ]
Hear, Hear! Thanks guys!!!
The Dark Blade
"I've felt your mouse on me before, you perv...." - Troy Hickman
Paragon Wiki
[ QUOTE ]
Always with CoH to the bitter end:
1. Positron
2. BAB
3. Castle
4. Ghost Widow
5. War Witch
6. JLove
7. Ken Morse (Art Lead)
8. Graham
9. Brian Clayton (Production, General Manager)
10. Mynx (Producer)
11. Ghost Falcon (Producer)
12. Lighthouse (Community Rep)
13. Ex Libris (Community Relations)
14. Blue Steel (design support)
15. Richard (AP/Build Engineer)
16. Ross (Marketing)
17. Mike Apolis (Mapolis, art dept.)
Moved Out Before the Bitter End, but Came Back to NorCal:
1. pohsyb
2. Garth
3. Manticore (part time story consultant at NC Austin)
Familiars Who Moved Out Before the Bitter End:
1. Ian
2. Ravenstorm
3. Nick Duguid
4. Captain Mako (Shane Hensley)
5. Old_Lord_Recluse (Zeb Cook)
6. Lord_Recluse (Serdar Corpur)
7. Constellation (Brian Gilmore)
8. Geko (Al Rivera)
9. Archon Voss (Thomas Foss)
10. Statesman (Jack Emmert)
11-41. Unfamilar programmers and artists listed in the CoV credits whom we never interacted with on the boards.
Also, on the NCSoft Community Rep side, we've lost a few familar names: CuppaJo, Alexa, Aura, Arctic_Sun, Awry (who is married to Manticore and played Sister Psyche at the Live Valentine Event!), Cricket, etc....
New Hires at NorCal
1. Jimmy the IT Guy
2. Hero 1 (story bible)
3. BAB's animation minion
4. BAB's animation minion
5. Castle's powers minion
6. Don Pham (environmental/3D artist)
7-8. Moderators 11 and 419?
BAB,
Confirmation on these please:
Ex Libris looked over my list of Devs and so I thought that Ravenstorm, Mike Apolis, SuperMartin (Martin Simpson), The Dark Watcher, and Vince D'Amelio, came over to NorCal with you, no? (Of course, The Dark Watcher and Ghost Widow have never revealed their RL identities, so, there could be some overlap in this list ).
And so, there is now both a Garth and a Graham at NorCal? (Neither appear in the CoV credits, so they both are pretty new-ish).
[/ QUOTE ]
SMASH!!! Dev Jonyu (John Yu) fits in there somewhere.
<QR>
/e crunkglassraise to devs
- Green Lantern
"Say, Jim...woo! That's a bad out-FIT!" - Superman: The Movie
Me 'n my posse: http://www.citygametracker.com/site/....php?user=5608
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Familiars Who Moved Out Before the Bitter End:
1. Ian
2. Ravenstorm
3. Nick Duguid
4. Captain Mako (Shane Hensley)
5. Old_Lord_Recluse (Zeb Cook)
6. Lord_Recluse (Serdar Corpur)
7. Constellation (Brian Gilmore)
8. Geko (Al Rivera)
9. Archon Voss (Thomas Foss)
10. Statesman (Jack Emmert)
11-41. Unfamilar programmers and artists listed in the CoV credits whom we never interacted with on the boards.
[/ QUOTE ]
SMASH!!! Dev Jonyu (John Yu) fits in there somewhere.
[/ QUOTE ]
He belongs in that group.
Speeding Through New DA Repeatables || Spreadsheet o' Enhancements || Zombie Skins: better skins for these forums || Guide to Guides
[ QUOTE ]
Well, I guess Jack was full of hot air when he insisted CoH was still going strong because LOOK! Cryptic is hiring. Ah, well. A Sam always forgives. But he never forgets.
Just the same, it's amazing how much cool stuff 15 people have been able to come up with. What perplexes me is what others have mentioned, as well - the content the Surviving 15 came up with was superior in every way to the all the content that came before. The last few Issues, even if I may not agree with all that was added, were easily the best thing that's happened to the game, by far. Well, after the addition of CoV, but that's a little more than "an Issue"
My hat's off to you, guys, for being able to do so much pretty much each on his or her own. Amazing work out there. While your team was being downsized, all I kept thinking was how this game was only getting better and better. Sure had me fooled!
I'd also like to address specific thanks to BaBs for taking SO much time out of his life to post on the forums and keep us all informed and involved. I'd also like to thank him for being so cool as to accept AND respond to PMs, and do so with surprising speed. Hell, I had one PM answered within something like 15 minutes of sending it. Plus, it takes a REAL man to be called BaBs and still keep going strong
And, of course, I have to thank Castle, as well, for braving the frustration of being the fall guy for every whine on the board and proudly wearing the bullseye with dignity and stoicism while still keeping us well informed of not just the bottom line, but also why it was decided on.
Yeah, doom or no doom, I think we may well have the best development team ever
[/ QUOTE ]
You know, I often disagree with Samuel's positions, but I've never had an issue with his ability to phrase his thoughts.
Well said. 
Hats off to the FREEM Fifteen! (I will be a proud papa if that term sticks )
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
3. BAB's animation minion
4. BAB's animation minion
5. Castle's powers minion
[/ QUOTE ]
Sidekicks or Lackeys sound more appropriate.
[/ QUOTE ]
I believe Castle has two new sidekicks then, not just one. I keep having to resist making jokes about them being there to rub his feet and make him coffee, but I'm sure they're actually also great guys. It'd be cool if this new hiring meant we got to hear from new people too.
[/ QUOTE ]
Castle is also the balance guy so it's:
Castle's powers sidekick
Castle's powers lackey
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
BAB was leading probably only one or two people in looking after animations (he'd need someone else to hold the camera while he swung his sword around - bow wow chicka chicka bow wow! ;-), SexyJay probably had costume design all to himself or as part of a small art team (two or three people).
[/ QUOTE ]
I've actually been the sole animator and FX artist since Issue 8. So glad to say that's no longer the case XD
[/ QUOTE ]
If that was the case, then you, sir, rock even more.
To quote pohsyb, (^_^)b
So let's see:
1. Positron
2. BAB
3. Castle
4. Ghost Widow
5. War Witch
6. SexyJay
7. (Silent) Ian
8. Ravenstorm(?)
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Who's who at Pre-NCNC CoX?
[/ QUOTE ]
Ian and Ravenstorm were moved to MUO. The last bit of work Ian did for CoH was the Justice armor pieces for the GvE edition. Ravenstorm's last major contribution were Safeguard missions, but he came back on every once in a while to help out. He was responsible for setting up Hamidon(s) and GM spawn placements in the Hive and Abyss, as well as pathing for the Rikti Invasion ships.
Added to that list would be Ken, our art lead. Nick, an environment artist replaced with Don shortly after Issue 9. Nick moved to one of Cryptic's other projects while Don is now with us at NCNC.
On the programming side, there's Aaron, the lead programmer and Garth, replaced at some point with Graham. Garth was shunted over to Cryptic's core team when Graham came on board, but eventually ended up joining us as well. Pohsyb had also been moved off of CoH/CoV but we managed to sneak him out and take him with us.
I believe that's it. The rest of the team were production. Brian Clayton (now the head cheese), Mynx (producer), Ghost Falcon (producer) Lighthouse, Ex Libris, Blue Steel (design support), Richard (AP/Build Engineer), and Ross (marketing)
That 15? I lost count...
[/ QUOTE ]
Thats a lot of producers in relation to the total head count. I take it your saw The Amateurs?
----------------------------
You can't please everyone, so lets concentrate on me.
According to these figures, if 15 people can put out 3 Issues a year, then 27 people can put out 12 Issues. Sah-weet.
The Alt Alphabet ~ OPC: Other People's Characters ~ Terrific Screenshots of Cool ~ Superhero Fiction
Add the new, female, concept artist to that list of new hires. Apparently gives Jay a run for his money on the pool table.
Orc&Pie No.53230 There is an orc, and somehow, he got a pie. And you are hungry.
www.repeat-offenders.net
Negaduck: I see you found the crumb. I knew you'd never notice the huge flag.
I too raise my glass to the devs. Here's looking to more great issues and possibly new rednames to harass on the boards.
*mumbles to himself*
Along with Jimmie the IT guy I think they need "Huxley the network guru".
Pikie Zwei - DM/Regen Scrapper
B222-Fracture - Energy/Energy Brute
Widt - Katana/SR Scrapper
[ QUOTE ]
According to these figures, if 15 people can put out 3 Issues a year, then 27 people can put out 12 Issues. Sah-weet.
[/ QUOTE ]
*smacks Ironik with a rolled-up newspaper*
Bad Ironik! Stop scaring the devs!
"A soft answer turneth away wrath. Once wrath is looking the other way, shoot it in the head." Seven Habits of Highly Effective Pirates
MA Arcs: #12285, "Small Fears", #106553, "Trollbane", #12669, "How to Survive a Robot Uprising"
[ QUOTE ]
Thanks to all the Dev's for their work on a great game.
[/ QUOTE ]
We love you guys. You really go above and beyond.
Do I contradict myself?
Very well then I contradict myself,
(I am large, I contain multitudes.) - Whitman
Consistency is the defense of a small mind. - Beldin
Wow. Only fifteen people all this time. And you guys have made the game this much better and added so much. I'm seriously amazed by this.
Thank you City Of staff for this dedication in making this a game well worth playing.
The fact that so few folks could give us so many great issues, plus on top of that, be able to squeeze in and release all the enhanced Holiday events, is just really amazing!
Thanks for all you've done.
~MM
[ QUOTE ]
In addition to putting ads in the game maybe they can, you know, advertise the game?
[/ QUOTE ]
You know I ... I keep thinking they do need to advertise. I never see this game advertised anywhere. I did see it mentioned in issue 1 of MMOZine where they did a retrospective review (short version: they said the game was still doing well and had been massively improved and was well worth checking out) so I sent a note to Lighthouse. Of course, they've had a couple web sites carry feature info for them, but they're never sites I heard of before. I don't see big blurbs on Kotaku or Joystiq, I don't see articles showing up on Digg. GameFAQs has had a number of daily polls about MMOs and I don't think I've ever seen this game listed as a choice. (Even more off-topic: this year we're putting Ghost Widow through the most popular character contest; watch for it!)
The thing about this game is that it's really grown from its roots. Ostensibly it's classic super-hero/villain gaming, but there's a lot of general "adventure" elements too. You see characters inspired by action movies and other videogames as well as comic books. People love the character creator, on Virtue there's always people in Pocket D roleplaying, and again, not just traditional comic book style. Of course, comic books today are more than just the classic figures, and the game accommodates them too. So, there's tremendous play diversity in this game and most people don't know about it.
Anyway, considering the tremendous work the Phenomenal Fifteen have done, it's just a shame more people don't know. You guys rock!
I don't have a glass to raise to you, but how about a coffee mug? *raises coffee mug* Good work, dev team! Keep it up!
[ QUOTE ]
Just the same, it's amazing how much cool stuff 15 people have been able to come up with. What perplexes me is what others have mentioned, as well - the content the Surviving 15 came up with was superior in every way to the all the content that came before.
[/ QUOTE ]
Necessity is the mother of [the] invention [system].
Positron: "There are no bugs [in City of Heroes], just varying degrees of features."