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Brad Mcquaid looted 45k of the crowdfunding
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I'm shocked there is gambling going on here!
Unlike some people I dont have sympathy for the people who lost money. They needed to learn a valuable lesson. i did some brief research in to this guy and even I saw him as a walking disaster. A fool and his money .............Will they learn. They are gamers so it is unlikely.
According to one of the developers working on the project he actually pocketed over 50% of the 145k funds, so the actual number he took is likely closer to 75k OR MORE. The 45k was only the advance he took, but apparently he was also paying himself a "salary" on top of that. People working on the project were also paid as well even though crowdsource funds are not supposed to be used to pay developers directly, but instead used for other development costs instead (software licenses, marketing); however it should be noted that the amount they received was not even close to a livable wage. There was a rumor (that was apparently confirmed by Brad) that they were planning on using Kickstarter funds to backpay employees if the Kickstarter succeeded at "industry standard". What kind of startup seeking crowd source funding would pay employees at industry standard to begin with much less BACKPAY them?
They are likely going to try a second Kickstarter or Indiegogo soon. If anyone still backs this knowing that information I have to say you are full on crazy. There are a few fervent supporters still left and cheering Brad on as he continually steals from them. I really want to see a game like Pantheon be made (old school large open world with almost mandatory grouping), but not so much so that I'll throw all my eggs in one basket that clearly has a hole underneath it and is being dangled over the edge at the top of a skyscraper.
Apparently opiates are his thing.
You make me like charity
Ofcourse it was true!
Why you think Microsoft pulled the plug halfway in development back then?
They received all the flack and anger, but at least kept some integrity by keeping the "real" reason under the wraps.
He was Lucky to have SOE bail him out back then or Vanguard would never have saw the light of day. And I'm pretty sure Smed knew about his "drug" problems, as Brad was out along with a lot of devs in part of the take over deal.
It was just a matter of time till some ex-employees started opening their mouths, but again took Heavy flak and anger from the religous fanatics defending poor Brad McQuaid With every dying breath and how injustice was done to him and Vanguard. Unwilling to accept that it was thanks to SOE that the game ever got released at all and lasted as long as it did!
And here we are today!
"The truth will always catch up on you one day! No matter how hard you try to outrun it!"
if you still want to support Brad and he uses Indiegogo - be wary of flexible funding
https://www.indiegogo.com/how-pricing-works-on-indiegogo
Indiegogo allows projects to keep funds even if the goal was not met (unlike Kickstarter)
EQ2 fan sites
There are certain queer times and occasions in this strange mixed affair we call life when a man takes this whole universe for a vast practical joke, though the wit thereof he but dimly discerns, and more than suspects that the joke is at nobody's expense but his own.
-- Herman Melville
180k a year isn't really that crazy for a certified project manager with experience in his industry. The problem here is twofold:
1. I don't think he's PMI certified, which means his project management skills are pretty shady at best. His past history with project management only reinforces that idea. I doubt he even sees himself as a project manager though, and probably just considers himself as the "idea guy" who just tells people what to build for him.
2. More importantly, YOU DON'T PAY YOURSELF A CRAZY HIGH SALARY DURING THE STARTUP PHASE. You don't even pay yourself a normal salary (or any) in most circumstances. You build your product, you bring it to market, and THEN you start to make money hand of fist.
You make me like charity
I
Told
You
So.....
I've known pill heads, potheads, and crack heads. It was a trainwreck waiting to happen. I have absolutely no sympathy for those who worked under him nor those who gave him money.
Consider it a stupid tax and learn from it.
I understand it's just a name, but this game was never going to succeed with "Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen" as its title. And yes, I pretty much interpreted that name as "Self-reflection: I've Made Awful Decisions in Life and Design But This Time Will Be Different".
Did I WANT to see it developed? Absolutely, I want every game with a slim chance of presenting something different to at least have the chance to prove its worth in the market. I was hardcore on EQ, and loved the looks of Vanguard - but never played it because.. well, Brad McQuaid. But anyhow..
I will admit I was wrong about one thing - Based on an interview done with a fellow named Rogean I believed they did have some outside funding options lined up in case the kickstarter failed. Then again, I always assume people will be able to find a rich guy with too much money that won't care about a seven digit number leaving his bank account.
- Nellus
This is a very good thing to happen and I hope it happens a lot more.
People seem to have zero sense at all where games are involved, they throw money at things that give them no guarantee of anything. Most of the people that put money into this would never be so silly with their money in any other way.
People need to learn lessons and more rules need to be put in place, I applaud this man for seeing the idiocy of the situation and profiting off it. Stupid people and money are soon parted is the saying, more true in the games industry than anywhere else.
More to the point I wonder how many fanboys would still be willing to fund patheon/Brad even after all that has happened.
Cluck Cluck, Gibber Gibber, My Old Mans A Mushroom
ive backed over 240 projects in the last year but only a few video games
have had nothing fail on me yet (even tho only half of those got funded)
i pledged $1.00 to Pantheon just to get the updates
but his Kickstarter failed so i never was charged
there's no guarantee to kickstarter but its not "scam ridden" either
EQ2 fan sites
Good points. We need to see more specifics upfront. Specific game features and more importantly their time table with specific milestones. A copy of the design document as well. All these kinds of things add to their cred and/or the lack of it.
Epic Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAigCvelkhQ&list=PLo9FRw1AkDuQLEz7Gvvaz3ideB2NpFtT1
https://archive.org/details/softwarelibrary_msdos?&sort=-downloads&page=1
Kyleran: "Now there's the real trick, learning to accept and enjoy a game for what it offers rather than pass on what might be a great playing experience because it lacks a few features you prefer."
John Henry Newman: "A man would do nothing if he waited until he could do it so well that no one could find fault."
FreddyNoNose: "A good game needs no defense; a bad game has no defense." "Easily digested content is just as easily forgotten."
LacedOpium: "So the question that begs to be asked is, if you are not interested in the game mechanics that define the MMORPG genre, then why are you playing an MMORPG?"
What if Brad claim to fame is more of a right place right time kind of thing? Brad gets no more money from me.
Epic Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAigCvelkhQ&list=PLo9FRw1AkDuQLEz7Gvvaz3ideB2NpFtT1
https://archive.org/details/softwarelibrary_msdos?&sort=-downloads&page=1
Kyleran: "Now there's the real trick, learning to accept and enjoy a game for what it offers rather than pass on what might be a great playing experience because it lacks a few features you prefer."
John Henry Newman: "A man would do nothing if he waited until he could do it so well that no one could find fault."
FreddyNoNose: "A good game needs no defense; a bad game has no defense." "Easily digested content is just as easily forgotten."
LacedOpium: "So the question that begs to be asked is, if you are not interested in the game mechanics that define the MMORPG genre, then why are you playing an MMORPG?"
So you're saying it is the senior citizens fault for being scammed out of their social security and no law prosecution against the scammers should take place as its the senior citizen's fault for allowing it to happen?
This is as much an indictment on the backers as it is on the con man. This guy came to you with some art work and few paragraphs of concepts, and you guys gave him $150,000.
Btw-
I'm working on a new project. It's a PvP and PvE focused sandbox. There will be open world housing, 25 professions with mini-games. 10 man raids, 20 man, and 40 man. It will be f2p with a sub option and no cash shop.
I'm asking you for $800,000 to make this happen for us. You will be invited to alpha and have your name in the game credits. PM I will give you the information where to send the cashiers checks.
See you in game soon!
BC