Out of Pod Experience

Hey everyone, there's no easy way to say this, so I'll just get right to it: I'm leaving CCP. I also wanted to say goodbye to you all now, as the last day of this month will be my last with this company.

"Wait, who the hell is this guy?" some reading this may wonder. And fair enough. It's been a while since I've posted on the EVE Online forums, but for a time I was quite active on the old (pre-EVE Gate) forums when I was part of the EVE Community team. So many creative locks, though I admit CCP StevieSG did trump me that one time. So many trolls smacked down, various text-based evildoers vanquished... good times.

Oh, but right... back to "Who the hell is this guy?". I started playing EVE back in 2007. So, I'm not as much of a vet as likely a bunch of you who are reading this, but over four years (and still going!) is a pretty good run. After about a year in EVE, I saw a news item at the EVE Online website that said an MMO site was looking to hire people to write about this game. I went for it and got the job, despite being still something of a rookie in New Eden. Pretty soon I was working alongside 'EVE famous' guys like Brendan Drain (aka "Nyphur" in EVE), and Drone Bay podcasters CrazyKinux and Crovan. That site was Massively.com, and while there I started an Outlaws of EVE series of profiles and introduced a fairly wide audience to what's possible in EVE Online. Thanks again to Verone, Mynxee, Miz, and others who agreed to interviews. I also had the opportunity to interview others in the EVE player community. Chribba, Jade Constantine, Winterblink, Helicity Boson, and more. Thank you all for helping me out with this, and in the process showing more people out there more of that potential EVE holds. Running these profiles with you all was one of the things I enjoyed most about working there.

Fast forward through about two years of covering EVE heists and bank embezzlements, Clear Skies films, wormhole space colonization, and writing about so many other incredible things that you - the player community - have done to make this more than just another MMO. CCP Pann made me an offer I couldn't refuse -- join CCP, work with the EVE Community team, and eventually become Community Manager for DUST 514. I accepted and it was a good move for me. Right from the start, I was having a lot of fun in my job and I think it showed. Perhaps what didn't show to you all as much, but did to those I've worked closely with at CCP, is just how seriously I really took this job as well. "Serious business", indeed.

Admittedly, since shifting my attention over to DUST 514, what I've been doing on that project has been less visible to you all here in EVE than I would have liked given that we've been pretty far pre-launch with this title for the time I've worked on it. But CCP is getting closer to DUST 514's release and the coming months should be an interesting time, when there's more they can reveal to you. Unfortunately, I will not be the person you'll come to recognize as a link between CCP and DUST 514 players. I wasn't part of the 20 percent as sadly many of my friends were, but decided afterward that I really want to do something different and have decided to move on.

The Community team will be in good hands, and CCP Navigator has been moving mountains in terms of closing the gap between the players and CCP. I hope you'll continue to give him (and Guard, Spitfire, and Phantom) your support. They are kicking ass on your behalf.

Where I'll go or what I'll do... I truly have no idea right now. Focus on my writing again? Community management elsewhere? I haven't decided yet. I'm taking some time off first - likely a month or two while I figure out what I want to do next. Actually, finances permitting, I want to wander around Asia for a bit before moving back to the States. Like Caine in Kung Fu, with less violence and more hair, traveling about in places where the U.S. dollar can still stretch pretty far.

I guess I'll just end by saying this -- the time I've spent here at CCP has been one of the most rewarding experiences in my career. Hell, in my adult life. What's made it great isn't just the people I've worked with, it's you - the players - who I am proud to count myself among. Thank you for being the most passionate, dedicated gaming community I've ever been a part of. You made this more than just another job to me - in fact, it was more of a calling for the past few years of my life.

So while I won't be "CCP Shadow" anymore - and I'm going to miss that - I'm of course going to keep playing EVE. I've never been as into a game as deep, complex, and even at times heart-pounding - there's still no other game out there like it.

I'll be hanging out here at CCP Shanghai until Wednesday and I'll be stopping by this thread until it's time to say goodbye. At which point, I'll likely attempt to permaban myself. Is that even possible? No idea, but I've always wanted to know.

Also, if you've embraced the minimalist power of 140-character communication, I'm @jamesegan on Twitter.

Oh, by the way, I will be systematically hunting you all down in-game one by one from Thursday onward! I'm kidding!

Or am I? See you soon!

Love,

CCP Shadow

Good Morning Worl...

Putting my smile away, now on with my day.

So long, Shadow. Without doubt you will be a massive success wherever you go.

Fly safe, Shadow.

You did good.

fly safe, Shadow o/

Sorry to see you go CCP Shadow, but life is a journey, and I hope you do indeed take the chance to travel and see the planet we are all born on. Bonne Chance.

"And so", the poet said, "the rest is history".

Good luck to ya mate, CCP is loosing another one of it's best.

On many occasions in the past I have referred to you as a scholar, a gentleman and an officer. I for one think you have tolerance of a saint putting up with my constant badgering of you for more information about DUST 514 recently, and for putting up with the EVE community as a whole during your time at CCP. You have delivered moderation with humour and class matched by few.

But truly, you are beyond all of these things. You are a legend. Your name shall be whispered in hushed breaths with other greats that have graced these (and the previous) fair forums. You will be missed by all.

You will forever remain CCP Shadow to all of us.

It was an honour James. I look forward to shooting you in both DUST 514 and EVE some time in the near future. At least there is a silver lining to this cloud - you might finally be able to join us on the unofficial forums that are around for DUST 514.

Fly, drive and sprint safe. I'll try to be nice to your successor, but I can't make any promises.

Also, I still owe you a rum and coke. If we ever do meet, I'll make sure to pay my dues.

Fly safe Shadow.

SHADOW! NOES! We'll miss you!