To all of you...


2short2care

 

Posted

Thank you.

Thank you for making the job of my team a joy. A Community Manager couldn't ask for a better group of players to be given the opportunity to care for. The devotion and dedication you all have to the game and your fellow players has had a really positive impact on my approach to Community Management.

Today has been emotionally challenging for us all. I'm not a man prone to tears, but I couldn't help but crying as I read the messaging that we would be posting to you during our final Studio Meeting. Even though I was only here for awhile, Paragon was home. In my short tenure, I was blessed to see a new era for the game with Freedom, to watch artists pass the torch to each other as they shifted to new projects, to watch developers have a dialog with the Community rather and work together to make the game better and to work directly with you guys to make some amazing content like the Retro Sci Fi set.

Freedom brought a new life to City of Heroes. The game was, and still is, alive and vibrant with more new players joining the fight every day. It's important to know that Freedom wasn't a failure. This really is a refocusing of direction from NCsoft and unfortunately, Paragon didn't fit into that vision. Collectively, we hold no ill will towards NCsoft and thank them for many years of support.

I know that many of you have questions that need answered. I don't have a lot of answers right now, but please be assured that whomever remains behind to sunset CoH, whether it be myself or someone else, will provide updates as much as possible.

I just can't say this enough; it's been an honor and a privilege to play some small part in the history of this amazing game and it's Community. Remember all of the friendships, bonds and connections you've all made with each other. Cherish them and carry with you into the next adventure. You guys, the people, are what MMOs are all about.

Damnit...now I'm tearing up again.


Andy Belford
Community Manager
Paragon Studios

 

Posted

*manhugs*

*edit* And what a post to get FPARN on

Will be taking photos of the EU CoX player meet and somehow getting them over to you as a thank you memory

Will miss you!

Gangrel!

(And would you believe it, but last weekend we lost a few long term characters at a LRP event... between the 3 players they had something like 40+ years of combined playing time... and i had just gotten to meet them!)


 

Posted

*hug*


 

Posted

Though you don't know me, I'm going to miss you a lot Z., and the fabulous employees of Paragon too.

This game will always be the bright spot of my gaming life!


American Dawg, Starblaze, Neanderthal Joe, Shining Dawn, Tokamak Dragon, Stinger Incarnate, Burning Tyger, Dover Tornado, Big Roach, Dark Paladin, Archmage Wylde, Kings Row Hornet, Prancing Deer
Avogadro, Science Lord
Edgar Nightcraft, Doc Cicada, Chupa Macabre, Dr Forchtenstein, Blood Shrew

 

Posted

Just when I'd stopped tearing up....

But thank you. All of you. Let us know where you go and what your doing, somehow.


 

Posted

No, thank you! And Thanks to all the rednames, mods ($#^&% you!), devs and artists that made this game great


 

Posted

so for the last few months can they turn off the pvp changes? ...sux to see it go.


 

Posted

Zwill! You all rock. I've said it tens of times today. And I know I speak for at least a chunk of 11,000 players JUST ON THE BOARDS RIGHT NOW when I say: we're not letting you all go down without a fight.


@Winter. Because I'm Winter. Period.
I am a blaster first, and an alt-oholic second.

 

Posted

Fair winds and following seas to all the Paragon Studios staff, and a slow agonizing death to the corporate pancakes at NCSoft that pulled the plug on CoH.


 

Posted

Im terrible at goodbyes but all i can say is thank you to yourself Zwill and to everybody else on the team for helping make this community and the communication one of the best experiences of my life.

Really do wish the best for the future for every single one of you


@Damz Find me on the global channel Union Chat. One of the best "chat channels" ingame!

 

Posted

We've had a great history of energetic and creative community managers. Thanks, Zwill, for being a part of our game.


 

Posted

Thanks Zwill, best of luck wherever you end up.


 

Posted

Thanks Zwill and other devs, for everything.


 

Posted

I still can't believe this. I thought City was going strong. Screw NCsoft and their restructuring, this is ridiculous.


"I have something to say! It's better to burn out then to fade away!"

 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Zwillinger View Post
Thank you.

Thank you for making the job of my team a joy. A Community Manager couldn't ask for a better group of players to be given the opportunity to care for. The devotion and dedication you all have to the game and your fellow players has had a really positive impact on my approach to Community Management.

Today has been emotionally challenging for us all. I'm not a man prone to tears, but I couldn't help but crying as I read the messaging that we would be posting to you during our final Studio Meeting. Even though I was only here for awhile, Paragon was home. In my short tenure, I was blessed to see a new era for the game with Freedom, to watch artists pass the torch to each other as they shifted to new projects, to watch developers have a dialog with the Community rather and work together to make the game better and to work directly with you guys to make some amazing content like the Retro Sci Fi set.

Freedom brought a new life to City of Heroes. The game was, and still is, alive and vibrant with more new players joining the fight every day. It's important to know that Freedom wasn't a failure. This really is a refocusing of direction from NCsoft and unfortunately, Paragon didn't fit into that vision. Collectively, we hold no ill will towards NCsoft and thank them for many years of support.

I know that many of you have questions that need answered. I don't have a lot of answers right now, but please be assured that whomever remains behind to sunset CoH, whether it be myself or someone else, will provide updates as much as possible.

I just can't say this enough; it's been an honor and a privilege to play some small part in the history of this amazing game and it's Community. Remember all of the friendships, bonds and connections you've all made with each other. Cherish them and carry with you into the next adventure. You guys, the people, are what MMOs are all about.

Damnit...now I'm tearing up again.
Ahhh. Damnit I've managed not to cry all afternoon too. Oh well here is a hug.


But it's MY sadistic mechanical monster and I'm here to make sure it knows it. - Girl Genius

List of Invention Guides

 

Posted

Farewell and Godspeed to you, Zwill.

And to the rest of Paragon Studios.

One sword, at least, thy rights shall guard.


 

Posted

Z,

I've laughed with you, argued with you, beat up the giant tentacle monsters that you set loose on my fair city, and enjoyed every minute of it.

Above all, I've respected you. You've always been straight with us, even when we didn't necessarily like it. You made this a better place. Thank you for everything and best wishes in whatever comes next.


 

Posted

Z-

Thanks for the laughs. Thanks for the 12 hour video show when the servers were all down. Thanks for each and every tangent. Thanks for expanding my hat awareness. Thanks for balancing so well on that line between being our friend and being a corporate man.

Thanks for not perma-banning me.

~ Steelclaw


My mind wanders so often you've probably seen its picture on milk cartons. - Me... the first person version of the third person Steelclaw

 

Posted

Thank you and everyone at Paragon Studios both past and present. You've given not just me but everyone who's experienced this fantastic title so much to cherish.

It's been a blast, positively an explosion. You've given me the blaster mindset for life!


So how do you want to be done? Medium, Well or Extra Crispy?
@BW. The REAL @BW.... oh alright, @Catheram
Honourable United
ELFLING AMBUSH!!

 

Posted

Thanks, Zwill, and everyone at Paragon. If I've managed to annoy anyone there at any time, I don't really *apologize* for it, but at least take it as given that there was no ill will meant.

*sigh* I just cancelled my VIP sub, with a slightly weighty heart - and not just from the fat.


Goodbye may seem forever
Farewell is like the end
But in my heart's the memory
And there you'll always be
-- The Fox and the Hound

 

Posted

I hadn't actually started crying about the closure until I read your post, Zwill. Thank you so much for all of your hard work, your enthusiasm, and your willing to work with all of us. I've never actively watched streaming videos until your Twitch.TV live feeds, and even though I strenuously avoided Twitter I created an account for CoH and now enjoy it immensely.

Here's hoping we hear from all of you in new regions of video game land soon if this future cannot be changed.


 

Posted

Hi Zwill! I'm glad to see you're still here at least enough to read the outpouring of support, and to see how much the game's meant to so many people. Thanks for being more than just a spokesman, for talking with the players and being every bit as much one of us as you've been part of the company, and... well, for everything. People who've been here longer can and will say lots more and a lot more eloquently, but you and every redname I've seen has been friendly, unpretentious, a fan of the game and someone who likes the players, and that's a big, big part of what makes this game so different from most MMO's. Good luck to all of you, and thank you for all the memories CoH will leave behind.

And if all of you should ever happen to end up working together on a future MMO, be sure to let us know!


"Now, I'm not saying this guy at Microsoft sees gamers as a bunch of rats in a Skinner box. I'm just saying that he illustrates his theory of game design using pictures of rats in a Skinner box."

 

Posted

It was an honor and a pleasure Zwill.