Darkfall Forum » General Discussion » Claus Grovdal, Creator of Darkfall and its Lead Designer/Producer and other Darkfall developers CV's.*Update Razorwax AS Bankrupt 2006

Originally posted by Polarization

In my personal opinion I think its obvious that Henning Ludvigson has made a significant investment in this company, he is the owner and has tried to keep this project going till completion along with co-owners like Tasos despite the exstended development history, set backs and apparent lack of invenstment.

He’s publicly stated he’s been involved with the project for nearly a decade and that he has to work outside normal working hours at Aventurine to support himself.

From his website.

http://www.henningludvigsen.com/wordpress/?page_id=9

At the end of 2002 I transferred profession, moving from commercial advertisement to computer game development. This section shows some samples of 2D art I?ve done for the MMORPG-game Darkfall.

For the game, Darkfall, I am working as the art director, and doing 2D art, 2D textures, 3D models, GUI, special effects, etc…

…and no, I can’t tell you when Darkfall Beta / release is due to happen

NOTE: This section will be heavily updated after release of the game, so I only list a tiny fraction of what we have already showed on the official site.

He says he started working as Art director for Darkfall fulltime from the end of 2002, but he does not admit he is the owner.

At the end of 2002 Aventurine was "created" to publish Darkfall and to develop it, obviously Henning Ludvigson made the most significant investmant in Aventurine and thats why he's the owner.

Thats why he has spent years trying to support himself and this company's development of Darkfall.

And I think he now regrets it because it must have been a commitment that has gone on for so long with so little return so far.

He’s the only person we know of involved with this project that has any reputation, substantial experience or credentials in the industry.

And he’s probably the most successful financially out of the developers and producers we know of that own Aventurine, hes the driving force financially behind this company and probebly the reasons why development has continued with so little progress for so long.

Notice how the work he shows on his website is all from 2003-4, hes not even updated it with any thing hes done from the last 5 years.

The dragon he designed over 5 years ago is still on the front page of the official website, this is hardly re-assuring to say the least.

Well I dont know wtf he is doing with Darkfall, but his artwork is AWESOME!

linky

Yeah lets add a definite article before "owner" and hope no one notices ;) Do you even know how articles work in English or purposedly manipulate it to support your grand thesis that DFO is vaporware?

Take tiny bits of info from a social networking site, make up the rest and make up wild claims - all in all impressive work. I'm starting to wonder if you get paid for this? I sure hope so, otherwise I'm really sorry for all the time you waste doing this.

http://www.pixelbrush.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=498&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=darkfall&start=0

Henning Ludvigson's owner of Aventurine S.A and Darkfall, and its Lead Artist's  own words from over a year ago.

Tick and tick, well

I USED to make good money in the ad-agency industry, but got all burned out after almost 10 years doing that. Sold everything I had and moved to Greece to work as a computer game developer (in-which I have NO pre-experience, mind you, hehe).

After 10 years working in the ad-agency making good money he sold everything and moved to Greece, no wonder hes the largest investor and owner of Darkfall and Aventurine, he probebly sold his house or appartment in Oslo.

Basically, I have my fulltime job as Art Director in this game company, well more than full time, really. And since this is our first game, the income is nothing to speak of. We bascially do this because we've been burning for this project for MANY years (I've been involved in it for almost 8 years).

Hes the owner of the company and Darkfall and hes working "more" then full time for 5 years, and the income is nothing to speak of, he's almost working for his own company for free obviosuly with very little outside investment.

But things are hard, and I have to do a lot of extra work to keep things going. I also work for Fantasy Flight Games, and other random commissions and projects that might pop by. I used to do a magazine for a cancer organisation in Norway for 8 years, but they canned me now recently so I'll have to look for something new.

He has to do "a lot of extra work to keep things going", he has to earn money outside his own company from commisions and projects to fund  his own company and to continue development on Darkfall.

No wonder development has been slow, and why so little of Darkfall has every been seen over the last 5 years.

So, basically, computer game stuff during daytime, and during night time, I put on my mask and cape and draw fantasy-related stuff

He works on Darkfall for the company he owns during the day, but has to work extra hours on other projects to generate income to invest back into Aventurine, for  Darkfall's development. 

Looking forward to be a real boy with a somewhat normal income again
I feel sorry for Mr Ludvigson, he abviously exstremely dedicated and i sincerly hope all this time and money spent is rewarded.

Well, I don't really struggle. The thing is that I my fulltime job is mainly a project I "have" to be involved in (the quest of my life-kind of thing), and this only leave me with little time for personal painting and other projects during evenings and weekends only. And when I limit myself to only doing fantasy-related stuff, it's obvious I don't do it for the money, hehe. I used to do lots of commercial illustrations, and did quite good with that on its own, but not as fun painting topless chicks and tentacles You can't have one without the other, and I chose fun.

He's the biggest investor and owner of Aventurine, because Darkfall is the "quest of his life", he's probebly the only significant financial contributor to this project for the last 5 years, is this ever going to get finished at this rate?

But yeah, the illustration industry is getting harder and harder, unfortunately Fees are getting lower and more illustrators will fight for the projects. Some are really lucky and manages to tie up to some good deals to keep as a base, and this is the way to go and not impossible at all with some decent talent and portfolio to show to

I found this a while ago and posted it here, at the time it rang alarm bells and warning flags, but now i know that hes the owner and largest investor in Darkfall it's much more significant.

Darkfall is Henning Ludvigsons "quest of his life", hes put everything he has into this project financialy and time wise fulltime for 5 years and has been involved for at least 3 years before that, hes probebly the only person keeping this alive.

Hes obviously exstremly dedicated and i sincerly hope this pays of for him, but this is the answer to why this project seems to  progress so slowly, and why it still has so little to show for itself, despite Tasos's attempts over the years to convince us that everything was going well and beta was coming soon etc.

Originally posted by wumptrooper

Yeah lets add a definite article before "owner" and hope no one notices ;) Do you even know how articles work in English or purposedly manipulate it to support your grand thesis that DFO is vaporware?

Take tiny bits of info from a social networking site, make up the rest and make up wild claims - all in all impressive work. I'm starting to wonder if you get paid for this? I sure hope so, otherwise I'm really sorry for all the time you waste doing this.

From his own CV on linkedIn, check it yourself before you make foolish allegations.

Before you accuse me of making things up and posting wild claims.

Check his own comments on his own website about his financial difficulty and adversity, and his extra jobs and extreme work hours, hes the owner of Aventurine, and Darkfall is his dream project.

Hes the only person keeping this dream alive, he sold everything and moved to Greece when Aventurine was created to publish Darkfall and continue its development.

Hes been involved with this project for 8 years, 5 of which full time after becoming the owner and investor in Aventurine.

He says this all in his own words, your in denial if you cant accept this.

Originally posted by Polarization

From his own CV on linkedIn, check it yourself before you make foolish allegations.

Henning Ludvigsen

 

Art Director at Aventurine S.A and Owner, Aventurine S.A

Norway

Hes not a native English speaker, hes from Norway, if you want to correct his grammar send him an email.

Before you accuse me of making things up and posting wild claims.

Check his own comments on his own website about his financial difficulty and adversity, and his extra jobs and extreme work hours, hes the owner of Aventurine, and Darkfall is his dream project.

Hes the only person keeping this dream alive, he sold everything and moved to Greece when Aventurine was created to publish Darkfall and continue its development.

Hes been involved with this project for 8 years, 5 of which full time after becoming the owner and investor in Aventurine.

He says this all in his own words, your in denial if you cant accept this.

No, nowhere does he say that he is "the owner". That's your own invention. Unlike yours, his grammar is good  - it's a job position in a CV, where articles are dropped. Have you ever seen a CV before? Have you at least looked at other LinkedIn profiles?

You added a definite article, and from there you continued to imagine how it means that he is the main guy there, the only person keeping it alive, funding the project etc. Again, that's not the information on his website, that's all your interpretation or more accurately, imagination.

BTW Check his profile on LinkedIn again, haha. Should help some confused people here ;) I'm awaiting the claims that:

a) Darkfall is a scam and has been found out so they're covering the tracks.

b) I'm Henning Ludvigsen.

Now somebody has changed it to

Henning Ludvigsen

Art Director at Aventurine S.A and Partner, Aventurine S.A

Norway

I think people can draw there own conclusions as to what just transpired, Owner or partner, Henning Ludvigsen is the primary financial backing behind this project by his own tacit admission in his own words on his own website.

Anyone can read what he has said about his involvement with Aventurine and Darkfall.

I don’t know who you are but that changed after you quoted my post that showed Henning Ludvigsen as Owner on his LinkedIn CV profile.

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Originally posted by Polarization

 

Henning Ludvigsen is the primary financial backing behind this project by his own tacit admission in his own words on his own website.

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He says nothing of this sort on his website. That's your imagination. Anyone who can read can go directly there and read, without your silly interpretation.

According to Polarization "Sold everything I had and moved to Greece to work as a computer game developer" = "Owner/biggest investor in Aventurine". I suggest Logic 101 course.

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I don’t know who you are but that changed after you quoted my post that showed Henning Ludvigsen as Owner on his LinkedIn CV profile.

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I'm the owner and the financial backbone of Aventurine, a scam artist devoted to stealing precious time from little boys by making them troll the forums. And I see that you still don't understand the difference between "owner" and "the owner". I suggest a course in English. That's after you're done with Logic 101.

Originally posted by wumptrooper

 

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Originally posted by Polarization

 

Henning Ludvigsen is the primary financial backing behind this project by his own tacit admission in his own words on his own website.

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He says nothing of this sort on his website. That's your imagination. Anyone who can read can go directly there and read, without your silly interpretation. He sold his house and moved to Greece = he's the financial backing of Aventurine. Polarization logic at its best!

I said he made the largest financial investment when Aventurine was formed becuase he was listed as owner of Aventurine S.A. on his LinkedIn CV.

After you qouted my post showing "and owner" and told me to check it, it now says "and partner"

There where other investors in Aventurine like Tasos, they are listed as co-owners/partners etc in there Lunikedin CV's, this company is owned  by members of its own development and production team, they say so in there Linkedin CV's

My "silly explanation" or "imagination" is the obvious common sense explanation why this company has so little to show after 5 years of development, its self financied by its owners, probebly has attracted very little investment, and is probebly still a long was from successfully releasing Darkfall in less then 6 months time.

 

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I don’t know who you are but that changed after you quoted my post that showed Henning Ludvigsen as Owner on his LinkedIn CV profile.

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I'm the owner and the financial backbone of Aventurine, a scam artist devoted to stealing precious time from little boys by making them troll the forums. And I see that you still don't understand the difference between "owner" and "the owner". I suggest a course in English.

Henning Ludvigsens CV on LinkedIn said "Art Director at Aventurine S.A and Owner, Aventurine S.A" from when i found it yesterday untill after you told me to check it.

Now it says "Art Director at Aventurine S.A and Partner, Aventurine S.A"

I dont know who you are , or if that really is Henning Ludvigsens CV, but im quite sure that all those CV's on LinkedIn are CV's from genuine members of Aventurine from all the circumstantial evidence.
 

If you are not Mr. Ludvigsen himself are you perhaps Natascha Roeoesli?

Truly remarkable backpedalling. Last time it was because "his own tacit admission in his own words on his own website." and now it's only because "owner" on LinkedIn or rather, your lack of understanding of English articles.

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Originally posted by Polarization

 

If you are not Mr. Ludvigsen himself are you perhaps Natascha Roeoesli?

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Polarization, I am your father.

Well that was a nice coincidence!!! (or should I say ...timing?)

Originally posted by wumptrooper

Truly remarkable backpedalling.

If you are refering to Henning Ludvigsen's CV bieng changed from "and owner" to "and partner" after i posted it on this site then i agree.

If you are refering to me saying that whatever he or any of the other developer/producer's are actually describing themselves as in there CV's whether it be owner's/partner's/co-owner's etc. not mattering then its hardly backpedalling.

Maybe Henning is not THE owner, maybe he is just one of the owners, but that does not change the fact that Aventurines only  owners and investors we know of are the actual developers and producers working on Darkfall.

Or any of the facts and information about the financial situation, the working conditions or the development process that Henning Ludvigson describes in his own words on his own website.

Last time it was because "his own tacit admission in his own words on his own website." and now it's only because "owner" on LinkedIn or rather, your lack of understanding of English articles.

In my personal opinion what he says in his own words implies very explicity that he is deeply involved financialy, emotionaly and has comited a serious amount of time on this project.

All indications to me personaly that if he is not THE owner but just one of the owners then he has a significant financial investment in this project, and is presumably still doing extra jobs to fund development, and presumably is still bieng payed a sub "normal" income.

And presumably the other owners who are producing and developing Darkfall have similar commitments and working conditions.

And if the most experienced developer with the highest credentials and reputation that we know of amoungst the other co-owners is working under these conditions then i am assuming that they are at least working in similier conditions if not worse.

For the love of god would sombody please think of those interns!, or all those tireless but eager "professional testers" probebly recruited from local colleges and university's working for nothing. 

 Polarization, I am your father.

 Daddy!

Now its your turn.

Please provide evidence that there are any investors or owners that are not developers or producers.

Please provide  evidence that there really are 30+ developers working on this project fulltime.

Please provide  evidence that any of the Lead developers or producers working on Darkfall had any previous experience in the game development industry.

Please provide evidence that any of the other lead developers/producers dont have second job's or do outside commisions etc. to support themselves and Darkfall's development like Henning Ludvigson and Tasos do.

Or more importantly please just provide  evidence that Darkfall will successfully release feature complete this year.

If you dont have any evidence to support your claim that everything i have said is wroung then you are just as guilty of speculating and conjecture as i am.

But at least i have some information to support what im saying, so far you or the developers dont appear to of shown much to discount much of any of this as at least bieng a possibility.

Originally posted by huxflux2004

Well that was a nice coincidence!!! (or should I say ...timing?)

If you are referring to the change from “and owner” to “and partner” then I certainly agree.

I got a feeling that Aventurine has turned into a hot potato that noone wants ownership of.

Originally posted by huxflux2004

I got a feeling that Aventurine has turned into a hot potato that noone wants ownership of.

What makes you say that? They just got a major publisher.

Originally posted by SignusM

Originally posted by huxflux2004

I got a feeling that Aventurine has turned into a hot potato that noone wants ownership of.

 

What makes you say that? They just got a major publisher.

Have you read anything about DF or did you come straight in and post this?

Originally posted by huxflux2004

Originally posted by SignusM

Originally posted by huxflux2004

I got a feeling that Aventurine has turned into a hot potato that noone wants ownership of.

 

What makes you say that? They just got a major publisher.

 

 

Have you read anything about DF or did you come straight in and post this?

I know just about everything about Darkfall that there is to know to the public.

Originally posted by wumptrooper

Truly remarkable backpedalling. Last time it was because "his own tacit admission in his own words on his own website." and now it's only because "owner" on LinkedIn or rather, your lack of understanding of English articles.

 

 

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Originally posted by Polarization

 

If you are not Mr. Ludvigsen himself are you perhaps Natascha Roeoesli?

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Polarization, I am your father.

 

Now you're just arguing semantics instead of the validity of his arguments, without adding anything to support yours. Polarization has never stated that Ludvigsen is the only owner, au contraire, he has repeatedly shown that all the listed and publicly known owners or partners of Aventurine were their own lead developers and employees. He has conjectured that either Ludvigsen is the major contributor to the funding of Aventurine and by extension DF, or other partner devs share the same hardships and lifestyle in order to fund their dreams that Ludvigsen by his own admittance leads, or maybe even both. Given the information posted so far, one would think at least one of these is true, and the recent backpedalling in the change of the CV does nothing to disprove it, just support more heavily that all other partners and owners are doing the same effort to keep the company afloat. So far evidence points to owners jumping through hoops and having second jobs to fund development.

Thank you Silvarch, if at least a few people can appreciate what I am saying then at least I’m not completely failing to express my opinion.

I might keep forgetting to add to each sentence I type that most of what I’m saying is speculation, assumption or conjecture.

But its all based on the evidence and facts I have provided like the CV’s of the owners and producers or Henning Ludvigson’s own personal account of his working conditions and development process.

Not to mention the context formed by this projects less then optimum development history.

If we presume that Henning Ludvigsons CV on Linkedin is genuine , and the considerable circumstantial and correlative evidence to support that presumption is strong in my opinion.

Then at least we know that somebody who is directly involved with Mr. Ludvigson or at least is associated with him in some capacity, most probably wumptrooper themself, decided that the possibility of Mr. Ludvigson being interpreted as the Owner of Aventurine and Darkfall warranted action to be taken that lead to the CV being changed to “partner”.

And that somebody named wumptroopter decided to attack me personally and to declare that everything I said was “imagination” “confused” “silly”, implied I might be paid for posting this and other information, and that I’m wasting my time etc.

Without providing a single piece of evidence to disprove any of my claims ,but to simply attempted to discredit me and dismiss what I’ve said.

All I can say is this the sort of behavior I would expect from somebody who has a vested interest in this company and this project, exactly what that interest is whether a direct financial commitment or recompense or simply a supporter who associates closely in some form with the developers I cannot say.

All I can say is i find it very unlikely that everything I have said is untrue, because developers CV’s are being changed after I post them, or people who appear to know when those CV’s have been changed are attempting to discredit or dismiss me and everything I’ve said without ever providing any evidence themselves.

I still wonder why people are surprised by this.  Darkfall is a great idea but home tech,  even if these people are the best dev team in the world,  isn't advanced enough to run it like they say it can be played.

I always haev and still believe this game is nothing more then an advertisement for the dev team to try and get funding money so they can keep tinkering at it while still employed and use the game and the hype they make about it as a tool to get a real job at a good company.  The problem is they overplayed their hand.  As in most hype you have to strike at the right time.  You don't take your first offer but you don't hang around after the hype fades away hanging on to it after it's peeked.  The gaming industry people can see this isn't going anywhere after all these years so they are every passing month less inclined to offer these people jobs.  They probably also hoping having their own game and high end "titles"  would get them higher level jobs and better pay.  They just overplayed their hands and now are just trying to get something out of nothing.

The game could still come out,  other games have taken longer to come out,  Look at Shadowbane,  that game was in development so long they had to overhaul it's graphics while making it to get it up to date.  But anyone putting money in this development team and Darkfall are more desperate to make something out of nothing then the Devs are themselves.

I also believe MMORPG.com should set a standard for their games list.  Any game that is so many years into development and is still not out,  should simply be removed from the site until the Devs can prove the game will be out within,  say a year.  Five+ years of Dev time is simply far too long to even bother hyping about a game that is not even close to coming out.  Mention the game is under development and have a link to their website but do not have forums up for a game that is not even close to coming out.  What does this do to help the gaming industry?...  Talking about a game for years that is not even close to ready?

By now it's safe to assume that there is at least one of the "owners" or "partners" of Aventurine going through hardships and second jobs to fund development, because Ludvigsen is a "owner" or "partner" and has admitted so. It's either that or he's publicly lying about the state of funding of a company he is an "owner" or "partner" of, and arguably both are equally troubling.

That the rest of the "owners" or "partners" of Aventurine are in the same situation is conjecture, but it is improbable that Ludvigsen alone can cover the operational costs of Aventurine and the living expenses of its employees just from secondary job income, especially not if it's as dire as he has stated, so it's likely others are chipping in. We can also infer that that Aventurine and by extension DF is not properly funded by investors, or there wouldn't be a need from an "owner" or "partner" like Ludvigsen to do any of this. The 20 million convertible bond argument is not proof against this conclusion, it supports it.

Originally posted by Silvarch

By now it's safe to assume that there is at least one of the "owners" or "partners" of Aventurine going through hardships and second jobs to fund development, because Ludvigsen is a "owner" or "partner" and has admitted so. It's either that or he's publicly lying about the state of funding of a company he is an "owner" or "partner" of, and arguably both are equally troubling.

That the rest of the "owners" or "partners" of Aventurine are in the same situation is conjecture, but it is improbable that Ludvigsen alone can cover the operational costs of Aventurine and the living expenses of its employees just from secondary job income, especially not if it's as dire as he has stated, so it's likely others are chipping in. We can also infer that that Aventurine and by extension DF is not properly funded by investors, or there wouldn't be a need from an "owner" or "partner" like Ludvigsen to do any of this. The 20 million convertible bond argument is not proof against this conclusion, it supports it.

How can they "chip in" and support 30 (as some rumors say) empoyees and a companies operational expenses? You can't have an afternoon job and raise that kind of money. I just think that they individualy do whatever they can to survive. I guess the company is payed by the loan (bond). 20million should last some time to spend on development and salaries, but they are definitely not enough for infrastructure, distribution and marketing. 

Are we still expecting the most innovative MMORPG of all times? Is there anyone here that still believes in it?

Originally posted by huxflux2004

Originally posted by Silvarch

By now it's safe to assume that there is at least one of the "owners" or "partners" of Aventurine going through hardships and second jobs to fund development, because Ludvigsen is a "owner" or "partner" and has admitted so. It's either that or he's publicly lying about the state of funding of a company he is an "owner" or "partner" of, and arguably both are equally troubling.

That the rest of the "owners" or "partners" of Aventurine are in the same situation is conjecture, but it is improbable that Ludvigsen alone can cover the operational costs of Aventurine and the living expenses of its employees just from secondary job income, especially not if it's as dire as he has stated, so it's likely others are chipping in. We can also infer that that Aventurine and by extension DF is not properly funded by investors, or there wouldn't be a need from an "owner" or "partner" like Ludvigsen to do any of this. The 20 million convertible bond argument is not proof against this conclusion, it supports it.

 

How can they "chip in" and support 30 (as some rumors say) empoyees and a companies operational expenses? You can't have an afternoon job and raise that kind of money. I just think that they individualy do whatever they can to survive. I guess the company is payed by the loan (bond). 20million should last some time to spend on development and salaries, but they are definitely not enough for infrastructure, distribution and marketing. 

Are we still expecting the most innovative MMORPG of all times? Is there anyone here that still believes in it?

This is the wow killer.
 

Originally posted by huxflux2004

Originally posted by Silvarch

By now it's safe to assume that there is at least one of the "owners" or "partners" of Aventurine going through hardships and second jobs to fund development, because Ludvigsen is a "owner" or "partner" and has admitted so. It's either that or he's publicly lying about the state of funding of a company he is an "owner" or "partner" of, and arguably both are equally troubling.

That the rest of the "owners" or "partners" of Aventurine are in the same situation is conjecture, but it is improbable that Ludvigsen alone can cover the operational costs of Aventurine and the living expenses of its employees just from secondary job income, especially not if it's as dire as he has stated, so it's likely others are chipping in. We can also infer that that Aventurine and by extension DF is not properly funded by investors, or there wouldn't be a need from an "owner" or "partner" like Ludvigsen to do any of this. The 20 million convertible bond argument is not proof against this conclusion, it supports it.

 

How can they "chip in" and support 30 (as some rumors say) empoyees and a companies operational expenses? You can't have an afternoon job and raise that kind of money. I just think that they individualy do whatever they can to survive. I guess the company is payed by the loan (bond). 20million should last some time to spend on development and salaries, but they are definitely not enough for infrastructure, distribution and marketing. 

Are we still expecting the most innovative MMORPG of all times? Is there anyone here that still believes in it?

Sorry I wasn't completely clear, by chipping in I meant "pulling their own weight" instead of being supported financially by the company.  There are operational costs as a company, however, and I doubt Ludvigsen is able to cover them all, so it's probable he gets help from other "owners" or "partners". I believe you do not fully understand what a convertible bond is. It's not a loan, you do not get money by issuing one. You're just offering potential investors the ability to buy the bonds to be converted into shares at the maturity date. In order to get any money investors must purchase the bonds first, the bank only acts as the intermediary, not as a creditor.

The fact that Ludvigsen must engage in such aggressive moonlight to fund development indicates that the convertible bond was not successful.

Originally posted by steve-irwin

This is the wow killer.
 

There are optimistic expectations and there are delusional ones, this is an example of the latter. At this point the only single thing that can kill WoW is Blizzard. The sooner you understand why DF is such a rabidly anticipated game for some the sooner you understand why it won't dent WoW's population. It's a niche game with niche features.

Seems claus has changed his interested in list to only staying in touch.  Speculators really need to stop speculating less.

Thankyou for the update, again circumstantial confirmation that a lot of what I said could be true.

Claus has changed his “interested in “contact settings removing "career opportunities", “consulting offer”, “new ventures”. “job enquires”, “expertise requests” and “business deals”