I stumbled across this article today:

http://wtnnews.com/articles/2675

I thought it brought an interesting perspective to Vendetta Online's small development team.  Particularly the part about how John Bergman, the lead developer, grew up on a sailboat and was home-schooled spoke to me:

John Bergman spent the majority of his childhood living with his parents on a sailboat on the Pacific Ocean. "Growing up on a sailboat made me an independent, self-reliant person," Bergman said. "We docked very rarely."
 

Bergman

 

The marine-centered childhood provided Bergman with three or four memorable experiences with sharks, including one snorkeling-and-spearfishing expedition when he and his father were chased out of the water by a 10-foot bull shark. "You inevitably get some blood in the water when you spear fish," Berman mused.

As a result of the time he spent on a sailboat, or completely submerged in the peaceful blue waters of the Caribbean, Bergman, now 28, developed a lifelong fascination with unusual environments and universes. "Creating my own universe in space is a fascinating prospect," Bergman said.

(retrieved from the www on 9-11-11, source: WTN News "John Bergman, Co-founder of Guild Software" author: Esser date: Feb-8, 2006).

The article goes on to tell about the formation of Guild Software, and gives a sense of what a personal investment this project is.  It's also easy to see the nautical influence in the gameplay and story if you are familiar with VO.  It's an interesting read if you want to know more about the background to Vendetta Online and how it got to where it is today.  It also is a window to the remarkable individual behind the project.

Thanks, agreed, interesting article. Been meaning to give VO a try at some stage, I can find the right time.