Last week, this website and other gaming websites reported my purported demise as the CEO of Red 5 Studios. Since I’ve been writing for MMORPG.com, I decided I would release a brief statement here about my departure.
For the past twelve months, I was presented with a Kobayashi Maru test. When that occurs, the Captain must always find his own solution. While there have been rumors about whether I was demoted, terminated or maybe even corporately executed, I will only say this: remember that Han always shot first. It does not matter if the person revising history is George Lucas himself, because Greedo never shot first (sorry George).
I have, officially, resigned from Red 5 Studios and, like Pitfall Harry before me; I am off in pursuit of new adventures, phat lewts, purple items -- and hidden Easter eggs.
My time with Red 5 Studios has passed, as things always do, but my memories of Red 5 are fond. I will always remember how we, the Tribe, built a company together, and strived to innovate in the MMO space. While that dream will continue without me, in the immortal words of V: “There’s no flesh or blood within this cloak to kill. There’s only an idea. Ideas are bulletproof.” Those ideas will now be embodied in a new management team, and I wish them success.
To my former Tribe members (you know who you are) – a blue ghostie returns and mixes film references quoting: “sometimes the needs of the many, outweigh the needs of the few, or the one.” I wish you a successful launch of Firefall. May the force be with you, always.
Mark Kern
