Welcome

[GoldyGopher]

I would like to welcome Turbine new members to its leadership team today.


From the press release.

TURBINE EXPANDS LEADERSHIP TEAM

Online Entertainment Leader Appoints Key Hires in Design, Technology and Operations


NEEDHAM, MA – October 19, 2012– Turbine announced today several key additions to its leadership team as part of its continued effort to design and deploy the next generation of online gaming.

"We are very excited to add such a stellar group of proven industry veterans to our world-class team here in Boston," said Alessandro Galvagni, General Manager, Turbine. "Ken, Alan, Jai and Demetrius are proven leaders that strengthen our team and position us well as we work to continue operations of our award-winning titles and bring new innovative experiences to market."

The new members of the Turbine team include:

Ken Rolston, Director of Design – Ken brings an exceptional track record to Turbine as one of the most accomplished fantasy RPG computer and video game designers of all time, with over a decade of lead designer experience on the award-winning Elder Scrolls franchise and, most recently, he released Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning to critical acclaim. Ken will lead the vision and the implementation of all aspects of game design for Turbine.

Alan Villani, Vice President, Technology – Alan joins Turbine from NetherRealm Studios, where he was responsible for driving the technology platform that supported Mortal Kombat™. Alan will be responsible for our digital technology platform that helps drive online engagement and monetization.

Jai Singh, Executive Director of Technical Operations – Jai joins Turbine from Zynga, where he managed the technology infrastructure for some of the largest social games in the world. Jai will be responsible for managing all online operations hosting & computing infrastructure, technical support and network operations.

Demetrius Comes, Executive Director of Engineering – Demetrius joins Turbine from Petroglyph Games and brings almost 20 years of technology experience spanning the video games, telecom, and computer security industries to his new role. Demetrius will oversee all engineering functions for the studios product development team including Game Platform, Release Engineering and Technical Production.

About Turbine
Turbine, Inc. is a premier creator and operator of online games that foster powerful social gaming communities. Turbine is wholly owned by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group and has created some of the world's most popular and award-winning online games, including The Lord of the Rings Online™, Dungeons & Dragons Online®: Eberron Unlimited™, and Asheron's Call®. For more information on Turbine, its products and services please visit www.turbine.com.

About Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, a division of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group, is a premier worldwide publisher, developer, licensor and distributor of entertainment content for the interactive space across all current and future platforms, including console, handheld and PC-based gaming for both internal and third party game titles.

[djl]

I cringed when I read that someone involved with Zynga-- considered the fathers of the P2W micropayment structure -- joined the crew. Doesn't bode well for the future.

Ah, well. Hopefully new blood will shake things up and right the ship.

[DocBenway]

Ken Rolston

Paranoia!

[Memnir]

Greetings, Programs!


Please remember to use your powers for good.
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http://i.imgur.com/DtUnA.jpg
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[Cardoor]

Do any of these new people play Pnp DnD? If not please keep them away from DDO. If so , Welcome!

[GoldyGopher]

Do any of these new people play Pnp DnD? If not please keep them away from DDO. If so , Welcome!

Ken Rolston has an interesting pedigree.

He spent more than a decade as pnp game designer writing supplements for gmaers like D&D and AD&D as well as Warhammer Fantasy RPG, Runequest, and oh yeah someone mentioned Paranoria (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paranoia_(role-playing_game)) plus was a regular contributor to Dragon magazine in the early to mid 80s before moving into the digital world.

[Arkat]

Ken Rolston has an interesting pedigree.

He spent more than a decade as pnp game designer writing supplements for gmaers like D&D and AD&D as well as Warhammer Fantasy RPG, Runequest, and oh yeah someone mentioned Paranoria (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paranoia_(role-playing_game)) plus was a regular contributor to Dragon magazine in the early to mid 80s before moving into the digital world.

Yes. I've known Ken for quite some time going back to the Avalon Hill days and even before.

Ken, John Corradin and Lee McCormick say "Hello."




Do any of these new people play Pnp DnD? If not please keep them away from DDO. If so , Welcome!

I know Ken Rolston has...quite a bit in fact. He's also played in some other pretty obscure games like Melanda.

[Missing_Minds]

I cringed when I read that someone involved with Zynga-- considered the fathers of the P2W micropayment structure -- joined the crew. Doesn't bode well for the future.

Ah, well. Hopefully new blood will shake things up and right the ship.
Look where he's at the backbone, not marketing/pricing. It doesn't bother me in the slightest. Heck, the poor guy probably wanted to get away from Pincus.

For all we know, with this crew the servers may be getting a shake up.

Well.... providing this isn't for Turbine's new game that we've been having rumors of for a few years now.

[knightgf]

Do any of these new people play Pnp DnD? If not please keep them away from DDO. If so , Welcome!

I'd say a little bit isn't bad, but I agree, this game is NOT turn-based combat, it's real-time.

As for the new people...welcome to them! Im very interested that we have both somebody with 20 years of experience in the technology field and someone who worked on the Elder Scrolls series of games here. The Zynga part is a bit worrisome...but I am confident our benefactors will keep him in check!

[Cardoor]

Ken Rolston has an interesting pedigree.

He spent more than a decade as pnp game designer writing supplements for gmaers like D&D and AD&D as well as Warhammer Fantasy RPG, Runequest, and oh yeah someone mentioned Paranoria (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paranoia_(role-playing_game)) plus was a regular contributor to Dragon magazine in the early to mid 80s before moving into the digital world.

Dragon Magazine from the 80's should be required reading for any DM :)

It is nice to see someone with those roots joining the team; someone who can remember what it was like to wonder how great it would be to play DnD on the computer (and continue to make that happen with the rest of the people at DDO).

[Garumn]

Great to have you!

By the way, thanks for posting that, Goldy!

[susiedupfer]

Hope your time with Turbine is long and beneficial for everyone! (even the players) :)

[DoctorWhofan]

Look where he's at the backbone, not marketing/pricing. It doesn't bother me in the slightest. Heck, the poor guy probably wanted to get away from Pincus.

For all we know, with this crew the servers may be getting a shake up.

Well.... providing this isn't for Turbine's new game that we've been having rumors of for a few years now.

Zynga fired most of it's workers a few months back. He's probably just happy working for a decent company that didn't treat him like (insert smelly referance here) and stab him in the back doing their bidding.

[Ivan_Milic]

WElcome.

[DeafeningWhisper]

Welcome to your doom!

Ever since that old Genesis game I have *always* wanted to say that :)

[My2Cents]

I'm delighted to see the new management.

I only hope this doesn't become yet another monitised platform for purchasing advanced computer hardware.

I like DDO's sense of "intimacy" and I want to minimize the money aspect as much as possible, else we'll just become the Game For The Well heeled.

And for the people who said DDO was dead.. well.. yea...sure.. rriiiigghhht.

[Hendrik]

Ken Rolston has an interesting pedigree.

He spent more than a decade as pnp game designer writing supplements for gmaers like D&D and AD&D as well as Warhammer Fantasy RPG, Runequest, and oh yeah someone mentioned Paranoria (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paranoia_(role-playing_game)) plus was a regular contributor to Dragon magazine in the early to mid 80s before moving into the digital world.

Paranoia?!?!

I LOVE THAT GAME!!!!!!

I am VERY happy to have Mr. Rolston with us!

"The Computer is your friend!"

Hope he can get some of the staff to play, fantastic game even today.

Look forward to see his influence in DDO.

:D

[Vellrad]

Do any of these new people play Pnp DnD? If not please keep them away from DDO. If so , Welcome!

Well, its better if they don't play at all, than playing 4th ed ;)

[Windex69]

Hey!

The more the merrier.

Welcome to our little corner of the multiverse.

:D

[cdbd3rd]

Hi!


WElcome.


;)

[Silverleafeon]

Woot and Welcome :) :) :)

Glad to have you aboard.

Me spider senses tingling that a lvl cap raise to 30 is within our grasp given time...

[maddmatt70]

I doubt that this really has anything to do with DDO. They are releasing a new game is what this signals to me.

[notte.oscura]

I cringed when I read that someone involved with Zynga-- considered the fathers of the P2W micropayment structure -- joined the crew. Doesn't bode well for the future.

??? Did you read? He was in operations and will manage the IT infrastructure... nothing related to marketing/commercial decisions

[Arkat]

??? Did you read? He was in operations and will manage the IT infrastructure... nothing related to marketing/commercial decisions

Reading is hard yo.

[Ivan_Milic]

Reading is hard yo.

Reading is just another bug.

[Memnir]

Reading is just another bug.

Reading is OP.

[GoldyGopher]

I doubt that this really has anything to do with DDO. They are releasing a new game is what this signals to me.

Officially Ken Rolston has been hired as Director of Design, responsiblities according to several sources at least are for setting the direction on ALL Turbine properties.

While the other's bring a metric long ton of experience it's fairly clear there responsibilities are more along the lines of infastructure and operations, not really the skill sets to bring a new IP to life.
To me if you look at thier skill sets its truly in areas that Turbine is currently, well struggling.
For example Jai Signh comes from Zynga, a company that has long been believed to provide some of the best and most robust infastructure for games by those in the industry. So how often have we complained about turbines infastructure as one the leading causes of lag, well they brought in someone to help make their's more robust and solve issues.
We have complained about failed releases, Turbine hires Demetrius Comes with 20 years experience releasing product who's area of responsibility is "Release Engineering", see a pattern?

In terms of fairness to other opinions a rumor has been making the rounds that Turbine/Warner Brother's/Wizard of he Coast/Hasbro will be making a very solid offer to purchase the IP for "Kingdom's of Amalur" and this is going to do nothing to quiet those rumors.

[DoctorWhofan]

Officially Ken Rolston has been hired as Director of Design, responsiblities according to several sources at least are for setting the direction on ALL Turbine properties.

While the other's bring a metric long ton of experience it's fairly clear there responsibilities are more along the lines of infastructure and operations, not really the skill sets to bring a new IP to life.
To me if you look at thier skill sets its truly in areas that Turbine is currently, well struggling.
For example Jai Signh comes from Zynga, a company that has long been believed to provide some of the best and most robust infastructure for games by those in the industry. So how often have we complained about turbines infastructure as one the leading causes of lag, well they brought in someone to help make their's more robust and solve issues.
We have complained about failed releases, Turbine hires Demetrius Comes with 20 years experience releasing product who's area of responsibility is "Release Engineering", see a pattern?

In terms of fairness to other opinions a rumor has been making the rounds that Turbine/Warner Brother's/Wizard of he Coast/Hasbro will be making a very solid offer to purchase the IP for "Kingdom's of Amalur" and this is going to do nothing to quiet those rumors.

OOOOHHHHHHH!!! KIngdoms??? LOVED that game...played the HECK out of it. It would make a very nice MMO. Or least a sequel. But If Turbine gets it, it will be an MMO.

[GoldyGopher]

I would like to point out "Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning" and "Project Copernicus" are the two Intellectual Properties [IPs], technically, that have been publically acknowledged; with the former having been released as a single-player action Role Playing Game and the later slated to be a MMORPG. I say technically because the two IP could easily be merged into a single IP but were initially announced to be separate from one another. There are a few rumors that an addition IP or two that were also owned by the Bankrupt 38 Studios and now controlled/owned by the state of Rhode Island. I am not sure how the Bank of New York and other creditors compliant on the IP is being handled.

The IP’s either collectively or individually will be auctioned off in the near future. As an aside tomorrow the remainder of the physical assets will be auctioned off.

The industry rumor mill suggests Epic Games new studio of Impossible Games (mostly former 38 Studios Employees) and Electronic Arts [EA] the publishing partner for "Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning" are interested. There are some issues with both rumors but none the less it may be just an attempt to push up the initial bids.

Over the years at TSR/WOTC there has been a somewhat of a linked connection between editions/revisions of D&D being released at roughly the same time as a “New” campaign setting. For example with D&D 3.5 the new campaign setting was Eberron. While this is not “always true” (cough 4e cough) however for 8 or 9 of the 10 editions/revisions it has been. Thus the rumor mill runs wild with WOTC/Hasbro/Turbine/WB potential interest for "Kingdoms of Amalur”.

[DoctorWhofan]

I would like to point out "Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning" and "Project Copernicus" are the two Intellectual Properties [IPs], technically, that have been publically acknowledged; with the former having been released as a single-player action Role Playing Game and the later slated to be a MMORPG. I say technically because the two IP could easily be merged into a single IP but were initially announced to be separate from one another. There are a few rumors that an addition IP or two that were also owned by the Bankrupt 38 Studios and now controlled/owned by the state of Rhode Island. I am not sure how the Bank of New York and other creditors compliant on the IP is being handled.

The IP’s either collectively or individually will be auctioned off in the near future. As an aside tomorrow the remainder of the physical assets will be auctioned off.

The industry rumor mill suggests Epic Games new studio of Impossible Games (mostly former 38 Studios Employees) and Electronic Arts [EA] the publishing partner for "Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning" are interested. There are some issues with both rumors but none the less it may be just an attempt to push up the initial bids.

Over the years at TSR/WOTC there has been a somewhat of a linked connection between editions/revisions of D&D being released at roughly the same time as a “New” campaign setting. For example with D&D 3.5 the new campaign setting was Eberron. While this is not “always true” (cough 4e cough) however for 8 or 9 of the 10 editions/revisions it has been. Thus the rumor mill runs wild with WOTC/Hasbro/Turbine/WB potential interest for "Kingdoms of Amalur”.

Also, with R.A. Salvadore's name attached to Kingdoms, that makes WotC far more interested.

[chrichton]

I cringed when I read that someone involved with Zynga-- considered the fathers of the P2W micropayment structure -- joined the crew. Doesn't bode well for the future.

Ah, well. Hopefully new blood will shake things up and right the ship.

Fingers crossed for Neverwinter MMO . . .

[llyrnionfor]

I'd love a game with the same fluid combat as KoA.

Oh, and welcome, naturally.

[Cardoor]

...
Thus the rumor mill runs wild with WOTC/Hasbro/Turbine/WB potential interest for "Kingdoms of Amalur”.

and considering that Ken Rolston was the executive designer for "Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning" it might not be unreasonable to suspect he would be interested in the "Project Copernicus" IP.

I would love to get a Turbine employee poll asking each how long they expected DDO to last (remain profitable). That would never happen, but it would be cool to know they are working on it as though they expect it to last another 50 years...