Derek Smart's Alganon

[ManaByte]

Oh god, he has a MMO now.

http://www.alganon.com/forums/index.php?/topic/4607-quest-online-announces-leadership-change/page__p__39830&#entry39830

Hey folks, Derek Smart here.

I just wanted to make a few things crystal clear so that we're all on the same page because in the coming days a lot of conflicting reports are going to start sprouting up all over the Net, and all will be based on conjecture, speculation and rumor. I don't want this to be yet another "Artifact Ent" debacle because we all know how that turned out.

1. Dave Allen didn't "depart". I fired* him back in February for insurbordination and for acting against the best interests of the company, the LLC investors (who I represent), the game and the team.

It goes way beyond that, but you're only getting the short and subtle version.

Shortly after the investors of the LLC unanimously voted him off the LLC. Leaving his previous partner and co-founder (Greg Wexler, one of the most cheerful and straight up guys you'll ever meet in your lifetime) and myself to run the company.

So yeah, he has been gone since Feb 22, 2010.

I am not at liberty to go into any further details at this time but only to say that eventually everything we do can and will catch up with us. It is only a matter of time.

Jason Blood and Hue Henry, his friends and the two other primaries who started this, are also gone.

I have no personal relationships with any of these three and the decisions surrounding these events were pure business. Nothing more. Nothing less.

2. The Dec 1st launch of the game should never have happened. It was a mistake that has not only cost the company money but has also cost people their jobs and put an otherwise exceptional product at risk.

As a game developer, I know all too well that if your game is not finished and you release it, thats just asking for trouble. No matter how great the game and technology are, it can and will fail. Especially in this industry climate.

The average gamer is as finnicky as a hummingbird on acid, with a very short attention span and a penchant for being largely unforgiving. In other words, pulling a stunt like that is the death knell for many a game and company.

3. I was brought on board by the majority investors in QOL since late December to "help" David and the team move the game and company forward. He wanted to continue doing his own thing, didn't recognize my authority (even after I was made President and him demoted to COO) etc. We all just got fed up and the decision came down after he did one last thing that was the final nail.

4. I have been developing games for a very long time; most of them on a budget that is well within the limits of a small indie studio. I don't and never have catered to the "run of the mill" mass market and that is primarily why I'm still in business long after most are dead, gone and forgotten.

Thus I intend to steer the team and company toward the goal of making Alganon the best that it can be and to help it find its own niche. We don't want meeelions of gamers, though it would be nice. All we're interested in are those of you who find value in what the team has built and who actually do like playing the game. You are the future of this game and without you, this is all a waste of time.

5. The team currently in place are stellar. I have worked with a lot of people in my career and I can spot flakes a mile away. These guys live, breath and love this game. They are true professionals previously caught in the middle of a rock and a hard place in terms of being unable to reign in powers that end up making bad decisions for the game and company. At the end of the day - and in this economy - you'd be hard pressed to disagree with the guy who controls your paycheck.

I have changed all that by introducing effective policies and strategies that have a single common goal: to operate as a "team".

6. As a result of my involvement, quite a bit of changes are coming to QOL and to Alganon. They are too many to list, but here are the highlights:

a) This whole "WoW look-a-like" rubbish, is gone. I've essentially asked them to throw it all out and for the artists to come up with the game's own unique look and feel for for both the web UI as well as the game UI itself.

You don't go competing with WoW when you don't have a WoW sized budget or the manpower to match. But thats what David wanted to do and I've pretty much tossed it all. The team was unable to actually do this previously due to David wanting it that way, even though they knew it was a terrible decision.

b) We're also getting rid of the monthly subscriptions. They are currently suspended, but will be gone for good. I put that plan into place since Dec 2009 with a view to making the game "subscription free" but supported via sales (I was the one who had the client price reduced to $19.95 as well btw) of the client as well as micro-transactions. It is not a traditional F2P game, but if thats what we have to do in the long run, then so be it. For now, we're taking baby steps.

c) All paid subscriptions are going to be refunded 100% with the game's official launch and there will be an email address setup for you to request your refund.

I already approved the budget to do this. Believe me, nobody likes giving money away, but I felt that it is the right thing to do given the current circumstances and the team valiantly backs me up on this. For me, it is an apology of sorts because the game you paid up to a year for is not the game that you got when you signed up. Though I wasn't around when it happened, I would still like to apologize for that.

d) EVERYTHING that was added to the game - when it should have been about fixing the game, tweaking it etc - has been disabled/removed on my orders. The team is focused on fixing game bugs, tweaking things etc and a new patch is out either today or later in the week.

The game's official launch currently scheduled for Apr 8th will only happen if the UI changes and some critical elements and features are in place, tested and profiled. Otherwise we're not releasing it, but would continue pushing patches for the pre-existing build for you guys to take apart and continue to play SUBSCRIPTION FREE.

There is a LOT more, but I am pressed for time.

The long and short of it is that nobody knows what the future holds for the game or whether or not it can in fact recover from the troubles of the "soft launch" and the stigma associated with its stability, missing features, WoW look-a-likeness etc but we're going to give it our best shot and with my direction and experience, the team is going to focus on the goals mapped out.

The best part is that a few months from now you will get to look back at Alganon's Dec 2009 launch and see the changes. We don't know how long it is going to take for the game to find its footing and gain its own niche, but we're going to throw every goddamn thing at it.

My community sticks with my games because I've always stayed focused on the people who actually buy and play my games. Those are the people who I have catered to. QOL is going to focus on the community that buys and plays Alganon. If you don't like Alganon the game for what it is and not what you want it to be, fine, don't play it, don't come here, go and play something else. No hard feelings.

If you know anything about my industry career in gaming, then you already know that I value the people who keep me doing this. So if you stick with this game, I will take it as far as I can and with everything at my disposal. Having a stellar team makes it that much easier because at the end of the day, a game is bigger than any one person.

And no, Alganon is not going to be QOL's only game. I will let you dwell on that for a bit, but until then, my lips are sealed.


* Yes, legally I actually can say that.

[Van Cruncheon]

DEREK SMART

DEREK SMART

DEREK SMART

[Vizzys]

DEREK SMART

DEREK SMART

DEREK SMART

DESKTOP COMMANDER

[Howard Alan Treesong]

[youtube=560,345][/youtube]

[HyperZoneWasAwesome]

who keeps funding this yahoo, and can I get them Cing's contact information?

[Joe Molotov]

Press Alt+F3+Z to use a Heal Potion.
Press { + > + / to attack. (Auto-Attacking has been disabled because it's not hardcore enough)
Press Ctrl + Q to use a Magic Spell (Magic Spells are not functional yet, wait for a patch)

[Eel O'Brian]

I just wanted to make a few things crystal clear

word count = 1472

[ManaByte]

[Van Cruncheon]

text: difficult to align

[Sho Nuff]

D-D-D-D-DEREK
D-D-D-D-DEREK DEREK

[Great Rumbler]

Geez that looks familiar.


Also, how does he continue to make games? Does he just have some limitless fortune stuffed away somewhere? Or is he really good at tricking people into giving him money?

Derek Smart didn't make this game, Dave Allen did. Then he was fired, most likely because the game bombed.

[Great Rumbler]

Geez that looks familiar.


Also, how does he continue to make games? Does he just have some limitless fortune stuffed away somewhere? Or is he really good at tricking people into giving him money?

Derek Smart didn't make this game, Dave Allen did. Then he was fired, most likely because the game bombed.

Right, I know that but Derek Smart still makes games, doesn't he? How can he continue to afford such things when I don't think he's ever had a real hit. And why would anyone bring him on to work on a project? He's hated by a lot of gamers and is a massive douche, so surly attaching his name to a project would be more damming than putting some no-name guy in charge.

I think he works on most of his game solo, or with a really small group. Doesn't cost much and he's doing the bulk of the work, so it's probably not too difficult to get a little bit of money here and there from people who don't know better.

[originalz]

I really think that Smart is one of the most talented figures in the industry.  He comes up with these insanely ambitious titles with a lot of complexity and features, and more or less makes them on his own.  What he needs is to swallow some of his ego and bring more people to help him out and install some realistic expectations.  His problem is that he gets too absorbed in the titles that he spends more time modeling spacecraft and etc. to be needlessly detailed and complicated to operate, while spending less time on the actual gameplay of his titles.  I think that one of these days he'll finally make the game we've all been waiting to play, or at least I hope so!

[recursivelyenumerable]

Given the widespread dissatisfaction with excessively zealous "streamlining" in FF13 and other of their recent games, do you guys think for FF15 Square Enix should summon Derek Smart into the core design team to help restore the balance?

[originalz]

http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=676

These forums are a goldmine if you like seeing DEREK SMART overreacting and insulting people.

The game is not complicated in any way, shape or form. Video tutorials just help, they don't do anything to alleviate any perceived learning curve.

And in this "age of streaming media" there must be video tutorials for every single game ever made. Fact is, there aren't. Why? Because devs have better things to do with their time than to babysit lazy ♥♥♥ gamers who would rather not read the manuals. And to boot, I have yet to come across *any* video tutorial made by a game dev. In fact, why don't you go over to the Section 8 forum thread, take a look, then ask the devs to create gameplay videos. Or better yet, a PC demo. If thats too much, ask for a manual (no, it doesn't come with one). I dare you.

[Don Flamenco]

flowers for alganon

[Raban]

flowers for alganon

First thing I thought of.

Also, who the fuck is Derek Smart? Is this another Johnathan Blow? American McGee?

[OptimoPeach]

a) This whole "WoW look-a-like" rubbish, is gone. I've essentially asked them to throw it all out and for the artists to come up with the game's own unique look and feel for for both the web UI as well as the game UI itself.

So much for this

[Joe Molotov]

Also, who the fuck is Derek Smart?

[youtube=560,345]tIn1_9YvGds[/youtube]

[Raban]

[Phoenix Dark]

Is there an archived version of the battlecruiser flamewar?

[Great Rumbler]

flowers for alganon

First thing I thought of.

Also, who the fuck is Derek Smart? Is this another Johnathan Blow? American McGee?

He's a slightly more talented John Romero that still thinks he's a videogame rockstar.

[ferrarimanf355]

Achievement Unlocked: Vanquish The Evil Coke Machine.

[ManaByte]

flowers for alganon

First thing I thought of.

Also, who the fuck is Derek Smart? Is this another Johnathan Blow? American McGee?

He's a slightly more talented John Romero that still thinks he's a videogame rockstar.

Romero had a hand in Doom. He has more talent than Derek Smart ever will.

[originalz]

Is there an archived version of the battlecruiser flamewar?

Yup

http://follies.werewolves.org/

DEREK SMART does have a pretty sick gaming setup though, I'll give him that:

[Great Rumbler]

flowers for alganon

First thing I thought of.

Also, who the fuck is Derek Smart? Is this another Johnathan Blow? American McGee?

He's a slightly more talented John Romero that still thinks he's a videogame rockstar.

Romero had a hand in Doom. He has more talent than Derek Smart ever will.

Derek Smart has talent, I think there are few people who would argue otherwise. The problem is that he has no sense of proportion, which causes his games to be needless complex, is confrontational when offered criticism, and seemingly will not compromise his vision to meet his skill level.

And the only thing Romero did after he left id was Daikatana.

[ManaByte]

flowers for alganon

First thing I thought of.

Also, who the fuck is Derek Smart? Is this another Johnathan Blow? American McGee?

He's a slightly more talented John Romero that still thinks he's a videogame rockstar.

Romero had a hand in Doom. He has more talent than Derek Smart ever will.

Derek Smart has talent, I think there are few people who would argue otherwise. The problem is that he has no sense of proportion, which causes his games to be needless complex, is confrontational when offered criticism, and seemingly will not compromise his vision to meet his skill level.

And the only thing Romero did after he left id was Daikatana.

And a shitty PS2/Xbox Gauntlet.

[originalz]

http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/27688/Quest_Online_Fires_President_Hires_Derek_Smart.php

Look at dem comments, it just keeps getting better and better!  Now we have a flamewar between devs!

Really makes you wonder what would happen if more devs were as open as Smart is.

Tip: If you take money from investors, at the very least, TELL THEM what you're doing with their money and the asset they've burned millions on. Going behind their back, lying to them - because they don't know any better and have NO experience in our biz - is only going to get you ousted and fired when someone decides to start ASKING the tough questions like, oh, I dunno, where'd four years and our money go and where's the darn game?

There are police and FBI complaints filed by the investors, there is a lawsuit in the works etc. Go ahead, tell me you didn't know anything about that. Nor the fact that not only was he siphoning money in order to overpay himself and his buddies, but also had an inexperienced family member - with *zero* industry qualifications - on the team *and* being paid higher than any other person *with* industry experience and qualifications. I fired that person as well as you well know.

Heck, I have team members flat out calling you a hack and having seen your working code and the mess you left behind, I have very little to disagree with. In fact, the entire networking layer (ACE!?!? who the frack uses ACE for a real-time game??!) - the staple of an MMO game - that you've been hacking for God knows how long, is going to be ripped out and tossed at some point because it is just a mess and the #1 cause of player angst in terms of gameplay sustainance. You can't play an MMO game if you can't connect, stay connected etc.

And just so you know, we had already decided to fire you right off the bat. You just made it happen quicker when you - against Greg and my instructions - gave David credentials and caused us problems. The plan all along was to fire you after the April launch. So don't kid yourself. There is a reason why your termination notice said:

1.Insubordination. Ignoring directives from President & LLC Manager.
2.Breach of security protocols.
3.Lack of industry experience in the performance of a project of this scope.

You didn't want to work for me, but when it came down to it, you were the one who came back to me asking to pay you when David - after having raided the bank accounts - refused to even pay you and Hue. So yeah, rail on me all you want, I could care less.

[Kestastrophe]

holy shit, thats alot of VHS tapes. That's what I imagine Borys' setup looks like, minus the 360, huge tv, and amp.

[Joe Molotov]

holy shit, thats alot of VHS tapes. That's what I imagine Borys' setup looks like, minus the 360, huge tv, and amp.

Those are PC game boxes.

[originalz]

It ain't over yet!  David Allen speaks!

http://www.requnix.com/?p=208

Derek Smart responds:

http://www.massively.com/profile/3915551/

[Crushed]

I can't imagine an MMO by the good Dr. Smart. It would be kilometers of empty space running at 5fps, as you struggled to leave the starting town.

[OptimoPeach]

He should team up with Dyack now that Canada is funding mediocrity

[Joe Molotov]

I can't imagine an MMO by the good Dr. Smart. It would be kilometers of empty space running at 5fps, as you struggled to leave the starting town.

Towns are for casuals, it won't have any.

[Eel O'Brian]

you are the town

[Ichirou]

holy shit, thats alot of VHS tapes. That's what I imagine Borys' setup looks like, minus the 360, huge tv, and amp.

Those are PC game boxes.

That's what I was about to say.  Looks like a pretty sweet setup.

[Crushed]

you are the town

you will consist of a 5 identical buildings but spaced out over a planetoid-sized area. this is more realistic as the design plan calls for an uninteresting world of identical buildings and hills, so it's okay.

hold down T and press num lock to rotate the camera left

[Great Rumbler]

Hold down A, while tapping the tilde button, and then press the key directly to the right of the Insert button to use a potion.

[Don Flamenco]

you need a pressure sensitive keyboard and must only hold down A halfway while executing the rest of the input.  if you press any harder or softer than necessary, you suicide

[Joe Molotov]

If you die, you not only lose all your XP, Gold, and Equipment, but the game uninstalls itself and deletes your account.

[ManaByte]

The game uses the original Myth II uninstaller program.