From Yahoo Finance.

An excerpt:

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-Trion World Network, Inc. (Trion), the publisher and developer of server-based video games, has added two top executives to its management team, as David Reid takes the reigns as senior vice president, publishing, and Scott Hartsman joins the company as chief creative officer and general manager, Redwood Shores Studio.
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Formerly an executive at Sony Online Entertainment among other online games companies, Hartsman brings to Trion his immense knowledge and skills in the development, deployment, and operation of online games.
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David Reid, former president, publishing, NCsoft West, will lead Trion’s marketing, sales, corporate communications, brand management and market research.

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They are both competent, and have been in the industry for a long time, and know how to do those jobs. So I see it as a good thing and it should definitely get this game out there more.

Wow, I'm slow these days. I just realized that Scott Hartsman was the Senior Producer on Everquest II in the game's early days. He did a pretty good job with the woefully incomplete product he had to work with and I have a lot of respect for him. The game slid even further downhill after his departure. He had a lot of good ideas, but I think they were stifled by Sony's lack of commitment. The game could have been so much more than what it was.

In any case, I'm excited to see him working on this. I like what I'm hearing a lot.

Originally posted by cyrana

From Yahoo Finance.

An excerpt:
 

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-Trion World Network, Inc. (Trion), the publisher and developer of server-based video games, has added two top executives to its management team, as David Reid takes the reigns as senior vice president, publishing, and Scott Hartsman joins the company as chief creative officer and general manager, Redwood Shores Studio.
...
Formerly an executive at Sony Online Entertainment among other online games companies, Hartsman brings to Trion his immense knowledge and skills in the development, deployment, and operation of online games.
...
David Reid, former president, publishing, NCsoft West, will lead Trion’s marketing, sales, corporate communications, brand management and market research.

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No idea whether any of this is good or bad, but at least they're getting some interesting names. What does everyone think about Hartsman joining? I never really followed EQ and the early EQII days so don't know...

 

Well, anyone connected with NCS kinda makes me shudder these days, but I guess one of the things they do really well is marketing and brand managment, so fine there.

Scot is more then welcome in my books. Very glad to have him aboard :)

Good.  Maybe those two can fix the class system; the classes suck.  (I.e., Blade Dancer is stupid name for a class).

Originally posted by pencilrick

Good.  Maybe those two can fix the class system; the classes suck.  (I.e., Blade Dancer is stupid name for a class).

 Seriously? WTF is wrong with blade dancer? is it too feminine for you or something?

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Originally posted by Hrimnir

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Originally posted by pencilrick
Good.  Maybe those two can fix the class system; the classes suck.  (I.e., Blade Dancer is stupid name for a class).

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 Seriously? WTF is wrong with blade dancer? is it too feminine for you or something?

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Originally posted by cyrana

 

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Originally posted by Hrimnir

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Originally posted by pencilrick
Good.  Maybe those two can fix the class system; the classes suck.  (I.e., Blade Dancer is stupid name for a class).

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 Seriously? WTF is wrong with blade dancer? is it too feminine for you or something?

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I'm curious too - Blade Dancer is an awesome name I think , especially given that the class looks to be a dual-wielding blade class. Regardless of name I just hope the classes are fun and unique...what they are called isn't exactly high on my list of important things. :)

 

I think there are some set staples of medieval fantasy gaming such as "warrior", "mage or wizard",  "cleric or priest", "rogue", etc..., without getting into bizarre flavor-of-the-moment class names.

"Familiarity" and "simplicity" are part of the escapism in fantasy that makes it so appealing.  Bizarre, alien concepts tend to break that somewhat.  Did you know there are people who did not pick up AION because the characters all had wings?  Something as beneficial as flying was seen as a negative because it did not fit the time-honored mindset of what medieval fantasy should be.

Sorry, but weird classes and races mean a pass to me.

Originally posted by pencilrick

Originally posted by cyrana

 

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Originally posted by Hrimnir

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Originally posted by pencilrick
Good.  Maybe those two can fix the class system; the classes suck.  (I.e., Blade Dancer is stupid name for a class).

---

 Seriously? WTF is wrong with blade dancer? is it too feminine for you or something?

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I'm curious too - Blade Dancer is an awesome name I think , especially given that the class looks to be a dual-wielding blade class. Regardless of name I just hope the classes are fun and unique...what they are called isn't exactly high on my list of important things. :)

 

I think there are some set staples of medieval fantasy gaming such as "warrior", "mage or wizard",  "cleric or priest", "rogue", etc..., without getting into bizarre flavor-of-the-moment class names.

"Familiarity" and "simplicity" are part of the escapism in fantasy that makes it so appealing.  Bizarre, alien concepts tend to break that somewhat.  Did you know there are people who did not pick up AION because the characters all had wings?  Something as beneficial as flying was seen as a negative because it did not fit the time-honored mindset of what medieval fantasy should be.

Sorry, but weird classes and races mean a pass to me.

 You just contradicted yourself within your own post.  So, "weird classes and races mean a pass to me", as well as "bizarre, alien concepts"...but you played Aion? A game which your race is either a "Asmodian" or "Elyos" who ascend into supposedly immortal "Daevas".  Not only that but the characters look like some wonky mix between elf, giraffe and human?  Where you have big ass angel wings, yet you can only fly for 45 seconds or so, and at the top end with the best equipment you can get upwards of 3 minutes *gasp* wow what a badass you are, an angel who can fly for 3 MINUTES!.

And if we're being honest, the term Blade Dancer is certainly not unique to Planes of Telara, nor is it a new concept, there has been plenty of characters in fantasy and sci fi novels and movies who were reffered to as blade dancers.

Now, if the classes were something really bizarre like "Kin'tokian Arflarger" then i could understand you having some reticence. But Blade Dancer? Seriously, you're grasping at straws.

Originally posted by pencilrick

Good.  Maybe those two can fix the class system; the classes suck.  (I.e., Blade Dancer is stupid name for a class).

I agree...Blade Dancer is a stupid name for a class. It would make for a good title, but not a class.

Originally posted by pencilrick

Originally posted by cyrana

 

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Originally posted by Hrimnir

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Originally posted by pencilrick
Good.  Maybe those two can fix the class system; the classes suck.  (I.e., Blade Dancer is stupid name for a class).

---

 Seriously? WTF is wrong with blade dancer? is it too feminine for you or something?

---

I'm curious too - Blade Dancer is an awesome name I think , especially given that the class looks to be a dual-wielding blade class. Regardless of name I just hope the classes are fun and unique...what they are called isn't exactly high on my list of important things. :)

 

I think there are some set staples of medieval fantasy gaming such as "warrior", "mage or wizard",  "cleric or priest", "rogue", etc..., without getting into bizarre flavor-of-the-moment class names.

"Familiarity" and "simplicity" are part of the escapism in fantasy that makes it so appealing.  Bizarre, alien concepts tend to break that somewhat.  Did you know there are people who did not pick up AION because the characters all had wings?  Something as beneficial as flying was seen as a negative because it did not fit the time-honored mindset of what medieval fantasy should be.

Sorry, but weird classes and races mean a pass to me.

Blade Dancer sounds dope to me. Reminds me of the martial art capoeira. So I picture the Blade Dancer doing some capoeira like moves and just flipping around hacking everything up.