So, now I’m a bit more sober - which apparently was all that was keeping me asleep - a word.
I can’t say too much; I don’t want to get myself in unnecessary trouble. However; 12 hours ago (exactly, if my clock’s right) all of NCsoft Europe got ‘the word’ on whether we’d be keeping our jobs, or whether we’d be ‘at risk’ of losing them. I was - am - ‘at risk’, which basically leaves the ball in my court in terms of what I do next with my job. Option A: walk away with redundancy (ie, money). Option B: er, stay for a bit, then walk away. I’m pretty sure right now I’ll be taking Option A.
I can’t comment on much beyond that. I am fine (except unable to sleep). More, maybe, later, or earlier, or whatever depending on where you are and whether you’re staring at a screen in the middle of the night.
PS: Made me… well I’d say ‘LOL’ but it ain’t that funny, but ‘hey’ to everyone who arrived here from Massively, but more specifically, the COH Forums. Hey guys! Love y’all. Highest traffic, I’m pretty sure, since I started the blog. Oh feel the irony. Or is that just pain? Can’t recall.
#1 by Gangrel at September 11th, 2008
Nice to have the update on everything… if you do go elsewhere, care to pass on some nice contact details so i dont lose touch with yout?
Its been a sad day for all, little did i know that jobs on the US side of the company were also affected. Good luck in your future endevours, and keep this blog running for a long time coming.
Your posts and everything else bring a smile to my face (this one excluded)… and i know that you have touched the lives and helped many people in your years at NCsoft.
Gangrel.
Soooo i guess my blog might need a “slight” edit then >.>
#2 by Rockjaw at September 11th, 2008
Bloody hell man, do you ever sleep?
New email address, just literally set up… emailrockjaw ///at\\\ googlemail (((dot))) com.
Just to be one hundred percent clear: the address is my ‘handle’ plus the word ‘email’ jammed on the beginning. Because plain ‘Rockjaw’ was taken. So don’t go emailing ‘rockjaw@googlemail.com’ BECAUSE IT AIN’T ME.
I await my first spam with bated breath.
#3 by Extremus at September 11th, 2008
I’m trying very, very hard not to troll you right now and I hope you appreciate it.
It’s a real shame to see you (and the rest of the folks that were involved with the community/meet side of things) go. The things you people put together and threw yourselves in to with what seemed liked reckless abandon for us really is what set NC apart from an awful lot of the other studio’s/developers out there.
Not only did it put a friendly (most of the time) face on the company for us all, but it made you guys feel somewhat approachable about criticisms and opinions related to the company, as well as unrelated general geekdom.
Far too much emphasis these days is put on the consumer as a money machine rather than as actual people (o hai blizzard) but NC was always ahead of the rest, and I think an awful lot of people were thankful for that - I know I was.
As for A or B; unless B offers you something you want to do in a concrete sense, I would personally go with A. NC may be a good place, but it’s not the only place.
#4 by Tygrrfang at September 11th, 2008
Really sorry to see you go Rockjaw. I wish you all the best in the future and hope that you keep this blog going so we can all see how your doing.
I’d like to thank you and your team from ncsoft europe. I’ve played countless mmo’s and must say you guys were the best community team I have seen. If it wasn’t for the excelent omega sektor event, I would have never bumped into and become good friends with the elflings. So thank you for all the hard work you put in while you were with Ncsoft. You guys are the reason COX has such a great community.
Tygrrfang
p.s. sorry for any spelling errors or weirdness but it is 3:20 am so i plead tiredness
#5 by Wild Red at September 11th, 2008
I have really enjoyed getting to know you and Aero, this year. I hope you go onto bigger and better things. But from the shows you will be missed :’( *hugs*
I though G was caffine powered? and only had to sleep every 48 hours unlike us mere mortals
#6 by Kerensky at September 11th, 2008
Stephen…
I think you are / were one of the few people who really lived and breathed “NCE”… I enjoyed working for you when you were my manager and with you when you moved on to be the “man with the plan”.
I couldn’t cry yesterday but now I can feel the tears coming - for you, the other guys and girls and… potentially… me…
I salute you!
#7 by marc_johansen at September 11th, 2008
Having recently gone through a similar “shake-up” at my place of work after a “merger”, I really feel for you. I was one of the lucky ones, but many friends did have to make that difficult choice. Here’s hoping that whatever you move on to brings as much enjoyment as we saw you getting out of this job. You will be missed.
On a slightly more selfish note, what does this mean for us as a community regarding show appearances and the OmegaCon?
#8 by Zortel at September 11th, 2008
I said everything I needed to on the forums, so I’ll make this short. I can wax lyrical if I get into an emotional state.
Good luck, Stephen, and I hope you’ll keep this blog running so we can check in on you. What you and all the other guys have done have touched us all and given us some damn fond memories, so you all have a special place in our minds.
Okay, you’ve also got a scary place in my mind, I still can’t help but feel a little intimidated when around the ‘Jaw.
Keep on rocking, and who knows, maybe we’ll cross paths at some point. The world’s your oyster!
So hopefully you’re not allergic to shellfish. /rimshot ;D
#9 by Mark at September 11th, 2008
Just woke up and saw this. It sucks, but it’s not the end of the world for Mr. Stephen Reid. You’ve got the skills I know companies are looking for. Good luck on your next quest: finding a new gig.
That “About” box on the right-hand side of this blog may need to be updated, if you plan on continuing to use this blog to stay in touch. I know I’ll check back here from time to time. And you’re always welcome on AionSource.com, where your account still has NCsoft staff status until someone tells me to change it.
#10 by killshandra at September 11th, 2008
im sure the next step will be something alot bigger and better….so keep and good luck ! who know s whats next
#11 by Shadowe at September 11th, 2008
Stephen, I think I’ve said everything I need to elsewhere. We’re all still interested in what’s going on with the almighty Rockjaw, so don’t stop talking!
Speak soon, squire, and take care in the meantime.
#12 by Stasis at September 11th, 2008
I still can’t think of anything meaningful to say - which is why I haven’t said much at all.
I don’t know what your job was, but I know you did it brilliantly (even if you did hijack someone else’s quiz!). It was always fun watching your schemes being concocted - from the first idea post, to the event itself - always professional, but more importantly - always interesting.
Wherever you go on to, they’ll be lucky to have you; but we are going to miss having you all to ourselves - even if you never were really - you’ll always be “The Jaw”. *hugs*
#13 by Dante at September 11th, 2008
Same again, I think I said most of what I needed to say in the ‘other thread’. Still, I am mighty annoyed that some of the most hard working, charismatic and fun people are being lost from the team. Player events will simply not be the same without you around. But rest assured, I shall remain lurking here to see what transpires. All I can hope is that what seems like disaster becomes opportunity. All the best.