We would certainly like to keep the community more up to date, but we also don’t want to be misleading by giving opinions or guesses about things that may happen or could happen. While rumors abound about our funding, at this point we have several attractive potential opportunities but no confirmed funding. We are evaluating multiple Stargate IP products to see if we can get some products flowing sooner than Stargate Worlds, but nothing has been approved or decided at this point . Many people have labeled these Stargate IP’s with various titles, but there is no confirmed title at this point for any game besides Stargate Worlds. While we are seeking funding, we have signed various confidentiality restrictions and it is not possible for us to discuss much with the community until these potential opportunities run their course. We certainly hope there is light on the horizon. Sorry that I can’t say much more at this point. Thanks
Tim Jenson
Okay, several attractive potential opportunities, but no confirmed funding. This is the same song and dance they have been spouting since January and nothing comes of the prospective deals. The only thing missing from that message was the promise of better news in two weeks.
Sounds to me like the Doctors do not need to worry about bailing them out with so many opportunities out there. /cough
Edited to add a thought: The longer it takes to get SGW out, the more dated that game will look.
You will be punished, I'll have you stripped and lashed by MS Carter ... oh wait that's not .... nevermind.
I do agree with Kyrie, this is just the same s***, different day/week/month/year. Though the official forums are a constant source of amusement as I watch rabid FanOri put positive spin on all the blogs and so called lies spread by now banned forum goers. As far as I'm concerned this is just another in a long line of "We're s*** out of luck" announcements that have been coming since last year.
Good luck getting that funding, maybe the FanOri will agree to sell their children to a soccer ball factory in Pakistan and send the money to CME? Here I have the name of one such factory "Karachi Mountain Enslavement LTD" Run by a guy named Gita Whiting, good luck guys!
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience"
What i'm curious to know is, they had to show funding to MGM to retain the IP. Obviously, they showed something since they still ( sadly ) have the IP. Now, after retaining the IP, they suddenly have no money again?
Seriously, I'm blaming MGM for these idiots, now. MGM had a chance to kill this shit. MGM didn't. No matter what Whiting or CME do now, it's on MGM as far as I'm concerned. And when the lawsuits really start flying, smart investors will be naming MGM as an accomplice/partner in the suits as well.
What i'm curious to know is, they had to show funding to MGM to retain the IP. Obviously, they showed something since they still ( sadly ) have the IP. Now, after retaining the IP, they suddenly have no money again? Seriously, I'm blaming MGM for these idiots, now. MGM had a chance to kill this shit. MGM didn't. No matter what Whiting or CME do now, it's on MGM as far as I'm concerned. And when the lawsuits really start flying, smart investors will be naming MGM as an accomplice/partner in the suits as well.
I'm seriously starting to wonder if MGM cares about having a software title for stargate at all. After Stargate Alliance and the trouble with Stargate Worlds, they may think its not worth their time anymore.
The thing is, I don't think I see a lot of downside to MGM. If the game comes out, great, they get money. If not, then "oh well". They haven't invested themselves, I don't believe.
As for damage to the reputation... frankly a failed game doesn't matter. No one will blame MGM for it... well not enough will to matter to them. Those who do are rather a small subset. I think there are about 22 million people who watch SG properties (at least, that's a number that has been bandied about). And... 55 thousand people have signed up for the official forum (about 2-3%), of which only about 400-500 login per day, 1000 in the last week, 2200 in the last month (0.01%). Even if they were all negative (and they're not), it's small fry.
As for liability, I think they are pretty much insulated from whatever malfeasance that CME has done. If anything, CME has to worry more about MGM suing *them*. Probably their biggest exposure would be MMOGULS, and I think even there they couldn't be sued. I think there's enough evidence to say that they told the power that be to cool it with MMOGULS, and so escape liability. And even if someone tried to sue... they'd be taking on a behemoth legal department, and I think the damages are pretty small.
Now, if the previous reports are true, and MGM committed to partially fund the production and release at the back end to the tune of $8 mil (?)... then they can decide then if the game is worth that money (if they have a way out, that is). Which is, perhaps, another trap the new investors need to think about--what if MGM drops them then?
Hmm, perhaps the calculus would be different if another group of investors went to them with a rather rock-solid plan to build a game. But then, it would be 3-4 years off if they did it with no assets from CME (I'm assuming those assets would cut time off--but that's no given). By then, who knows what SGU would be doing, or the franchise? It still might not be attractive to take that risk.
MGM must be careful if they are going to cancel the IP that all their ducks are in order first. I presume that if CME missed a milestone payment, then MGM needs to notify and follow certain remedies stated in the contract before outright canceling the IP.
If MGM pulls the plug and makes an administrative mistake, I’m sure CME would sue them for the (get this number folks….) $35M they have into SGW.
Canceling the IP takes time, raising money takes time. Eventually the two will cross.
Ah well, one of the only Scifi MMORPG's I was looking forward to. Can't win em all I guess, was fun keeping tabs on the game and hoping but I'm shoving off and closing the door on this whole chapter. Good luck to those hanging in there and hoping still, hope things work out and you get an enjoyable game
Really? You're going to blame MGM? The company that is in 50/50 with WB in supporting the idea that Peter Jackson can actually one-up Tolkein by writing the movie/book that goes in between "The Hobbit" and "The Fellowship..."
Isn't that like blaming the retard for sticking the fork in the socket?
Well here you go folks... The CME/MMOGULS scam just got a little shot of life, but they are still on life support..
Question for the day, why would the people running CME and their very own Founder/Chairman and CEO want to keep "funding" secret. Why is everything at CME so hush hush? You can read for yourself what Whiting's pawns have to say about soem "secret" funding and the proposed "restaffing".. You may remember a email earlier posted from Jenson, where he denied knowing anything about MMOGULS.. That's strange, because on the MMOGULS conference calls, their leaders are pushing the very "GAME" that CME is supposedly now wanting to work on. MMOGULS is soliciting new members for $250 and charging existing members $50 a month based on CME publishing a game the members can play and recruit with. MMOGULS management, as late as last week, tied CME/MMG and MMOGULS all together, Whiting himself was on theconference call .
Lets get this straight because I am confused as hell!!!
CME CEO TIM JENSON says he knows nothing about MMOGULS, although his office is 30 feet from Chairman and Founder of CME , Gary Whiting. Yea, RIGHT!!!! Now a little cash comes in, who really knows where from or how much, maybe from MMOGULS membership fees or another MMOGULS investor or maybe a small group of professional businessmen, possibly a few Doctors that have so much invested in this loser I guess they think throwing in another 100K or so here and there might work and it wont bust them, or maybe, and I seriously doubt this one, Whiting might have dug up some of the money he has stolen from CME and thrown a litttle back in, who really knows..
The people that make out on this one are the "priviledged few employees" who just got back checks.. How about all the other employees, investors, crditors, all the vendors, how about PAYROLL TAXES. That's right PAYROLL TAXES, all $2Million plus that is owed. And is this last contribution LEGAL.. You might want to check the securities laws, particularly those that apply to preferrential treatment and/or "preferred stock"..
How about all the money that Whiting has borrowed aside of CME, like the $250K he borrowed from aJohn B. from Mesa, and wants to pay him back in"Preferred Stock" and/or .5% of the override on the sale of the game.. That would be a overide royalty similar to what MGM is getting..
Basically, Whiting and Jenson, and I guess Gagon and the rest of the "carnival crew" just tell you whatever, give you whatever, promise you whatever, just so they can do what? " GET THE MONEY"!!!!
Here are the "private" messages from CEO Jenson and Shane Hensley, whatever his title is today....
-----Original Message-----
From: Tim Jenson
Sent: Fri 8/14/2009 12:28 PM
To:
Subject: Funding
Hi everyone,
We received some funds today and can pay another payroll today. You can pick your checks up from Paul between 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm today or before 3:00 pm on Monday. After 3:00 pm on Monday, Paul will be mailing out any remaining payroll checks. The checks can be deposited today but can't be cashed until tomorrow. That is two within two weeks - clearly a trend that I would like to see continue and I think it will.
We will also be paying August benefits today and it is not even the last day of August - you can actually go to your Doctor or Dentist between now and the end of August and know you will be covered - we haven't seen that in a while.
To update you on our status, we have executed one or more credit agreements with some groups that should provide some needed funding over the next several months. I am being purposely vague because the agreements are subject to confidentiality and I do not want to violate the terms of our deals. There are still a few additional documents that need to be executed to finalize the deals. We do want to keep everyone informed but we don't want to violate our confidentiality provisions.
The investors are only providing funds over time per a schedule that they created and are not putting all the money in up front. They want to make sure their funds are used to develop a game which has the potential to provide a return for them and is not spent only on past obligations or other things. The investors will have total control over the funds and how they are spent. Under these agreements, we will have no separate funds or funds that are within our control. Having said that, they have agreed to allow us to pay the past payroll over time as long as we stay on schedule in the development of our game. Since we do not have any funds except for what is provided by this group, it is critical that we keep any information including the information that I am providing to you in this email confidential. If employees or their spouses, friends or others post it on facebook, myspace, various blogs or other places, then they may cause irreparable harm to the company by causing our investor group to stop funding and thereby no one will get any pay. The Company is trying to provide a way for us to be successful, pay our past obligations, and provide a return for investors. Posting information about being "paid today" or that "an agreement has been reached" or anything else about our operations or funding is not helpful and my cause us to lose our funding. Please let the company make any announcements and release information as it is available.
We appreciate all the our employees and partners have done to help the company survive. I know some people are angry, frustrated and upset. They blame me or Gary or someone for this problem, but regardless of who is or isn't to blame - at this point we are trying to solve the problems and get everyone paid for their work and efforts and we appreciate your cooperation and support.
Thanks,
Timothy N. Jenson
Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment, Inc.
4140 E. Baseline Road, Suite 208
Mesa, Arizona, 85206
(480) 656-6501
tjenson@cheyenneme.com
tjenson@firesky.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Shane Hensley
Sent: Fri 8/14/2009 7:07 PM
To:
Subject: Restaffing
Hi all,
As most of you know we've received a funding commitment for specific projects on a very controlled budget and are putting together our staffing plan. Please let us know if you're interested in returning so that we can begin to refill positions. We'll also work with those of you who don't have a spot in the new plan to see if there's a different role you might be able and willing to fill.
Those who do not wish to come back or that we have no official position for will be officially terminated so that there are no misunderstandings. We plan on moving quickly, so please let us know your availability as soon as possible.
Thanks,
Shane
Now what does all this mean? I know what it means, do you????
They want to work quick on getting something out so that they can keep MMOGULs running, however I don't think SGB will save them and only cause present investors to worry. If they actually release SGB and investors see the lack of interest it will cause trouble, as if team Whiting doesn't have enough of that already! I don't see SGB making to launch day myself, unless they're planning an april fools day joke early!
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience"
Guenther and his cronies want to kill Whiting and Stargate and so anyone who gets in there way is also the enemy. MMOGUL's is trash and should be destroyed. Whiting is behind MMOGULs but no one else at CME knows anything about it. nor do they want to. They all want it gone - MGM, Jenson, Hensley, the developers - they all want MMOGULs gone.
Whiting's office is only 20 feet from Jenson's office, but MMOGUL's offices are not even in the same city. Whiting is rarely in the CME offices and doesn't discuss MMOGUL's with CME employees. Guenther and his cronies spin half truths and lies into eye-catching reading, but let's not mix fiction with fantasy. Whiing's insatiable lust for keeping control and trying to save his empire despite the shambles, ruins and problems strewn in his path is certainly making the things strenous and problematic for many, but some faithful CME employees continue to whether the constant barrage of insults and innuendo from those who wish to destroy the company, and continue to push forward to create a game. If you want facts talk with the developers. If you want comedic fiction, keep reading these forums. The humor and battle plans of these forums is very entertaining, but let's not mix-up fiction for fact.
Guenther and his cronies want to kill Whiting and Stargate and so anyone who gets in there way is also the enemy. MMOGUL's is trash and should be destroyed. Whiting is behind MMOGULs but no one else at CME knows anything about it. nor do they want to. They all want it gone - MGM, Jenson, Hensley, the developers - they all want MMOGULs gone. Whiting's office is only 20 feet from Jenson's office, but MMOGUL's offices are not even in the same city. Whiting is rarely in the CME offices and doesn't discuss MMOGUL's with CME employees. Guenther and his cronies spin half truths and lies into eye-catching reading, but let's not mix fiction with fantasy. Whiing's insatiable lust for keeping control and trying to save his empire despite the shambles, ruins and problems strewn in his path is certainly making the things strenous and problematic for many, but some faithful CME employees continue to whether the constant barrage of insults and innuendo from those who wish to destroy the company, and continue to push forward to create a game. If you want facts talk with the developers. If you want comedic fiction, keep reading these forums. The humor and battle plans of these forums is very entertaining, but let's not mix-up fiction for fact.
Another in a long line of bologne posts, you fail to mention that MMOGULs offices were one floor below CME offices until recently when they got turfed out due to non payment of rent! You want to talk facts but all you talk is a load of "who shot John", Jenson is in on the MMOGULs scam. "Those who wish to destroy the company", what a joke! No need to destroy it when Team Whiting are doing such a damn good job of it without any outside assistance! You like comedic fiction? Here's some "CME is legit and has nothing to do with MMOGULS and SGW will reach launch and sell more than 200k units!", there did that make you laugh?
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience"
Well here you go folks... The CME/MMOGULS scam just got a little shot of life, but they are still on life support.. Question for the day, why would the people running CME and their very own Founder/Chairman and CEO want to keep "funding" secret. Why is everything at CME so hush hush? You can read for yourself what Whiting's pawns have to say about soem "secret" funding and the proposed "restaffing".. You may remember a email earlier posted from Jenson, where he denied knowing anything about MMOGULS.. That's strange, because on the MMOGULS conference calls, their leaders are pushing the very "GAME" that CME is supposedly now wanting to work on. MMOGULS is soliciting new members for $250 and charging existing members $50 a month based on CME publishing a game the members can play and recruit with. MMOGULS management, as late as last week, tied CME/MMG and MMOGULS all together, Whiting himself was on theconference call . Lets get this straight because I am confused as hell!!! CME CEO TIM JENSON says he knows nothing about MMOGULS, although his office is 30 feet from Chairman and Founder of CME , Gary Whiting. Yea, RIGHT!!!! Now a little cash comes in, who really knows where from or how much, maybe from MMOGULS membership fees or another MMOGULS investor or maybe a small group of professional businessmen, possibly a few Doctors that have so much invested in this loser I guess they think throwing in another 100K or so here and there might work and it wont bust them, or maybe, and I seriously doubt this one, Whiting might have dug up some of the money he has stolen from CME and thrown a litttle back in, who really knows.. The people that make out on this one are the "priviledged few employees" who just got back checks.. How about all the other employees, investors, crditors, all the vendors, how about PAYROLL TAXES. That's right PAYROLL TAXES, all $2Million plus that is owed. And is this last contribution LEGAL.. You might want to check the securities laws, particularly those that apply to preferrential treatment and/or "preferred stock".. How about all the money that Whiting has borrowed aside of CME, like the $250K he borrowed from aJohn B. from Mesa, and wants to pay him back in"Preferred Stock" and/or .5% of the override on the sale of the game.. That would be a overide royalty similar to what MGM is getting.. Basically, Whiting and Jenson, and I guess Gagon and the rest of the "carnival crew" just tell you whatever, give you whatever, promise you whatever, just so they can do what? " GET THE MONEY"!!!! Here are the "private" messages from CEO Jenson and Shane Hensley, whatever his title is today.... -----Original Message-----
From: Tim Jenson
Sent: Fri 8/14/2009 12:28 PM
To:
Subject: Funding Hi everyone, We received some funds today and can pay another payroll today. You can pick your checks up from Paul between 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm today or before 3:00 pm on Monday. After 3:00 pm on Monday, Paul will be mailing out any remaining payroll checks. The checks can be deposited today but can't be cashed until tomorrow. That is two within two weeks - clearly a trend that I would like to see continue and I think it will. We will also be paying August benefits today and it is not even the last day of August - you can actually go to your Doctor or Dentist between now and the end of August and know you will be covered - we haven't seen that in a while. To update you on our status, we have executed one or more credit agreements with some groups that should provide some needed funding over the next several months. I am being purposely vague because the agreements are subject to confidentiality and I do not want to violate the terms of our deals. There are still a few additional documents that need to be executed to finalize the deals. We do want to keep everyone informed but we don't want to violate our confidentiality provisions. The investors are only providing funds over time per a schedule that they created and are not putting all the money in up front. They want to make sure their funds are used to develop a game which has the potential to provide a return for them and is not spent only on past obligations or other things. The investors will have total control over the funds and how they are spent. Under these agreements, we will have no separate funds or funds that are within our control. Having said that, they have agreed to allow us to pay the past payroll over time as long as we stay on schedule in the development of our game. Since we do not have any funds except for what is provided by this group, it is critical that we keep any information including the information that I am providing to you in this email confidential. If employees or their spouses, friends or others post it on facebook, myspace, various blogs or other places, then they may cause irreparable harm to the company by causing our investor group to stop funding and thereby no one will get any pay. The Company is trying to provide a way for us to be successful, pay our past obligations, and provide a return for investors. Posting information about being "paid today" or that "an agreement has been reached" or anything else about our operations or funding is not helpful and my cause us to lose our funding. Please let the company make any announcements and release information as it is available. We appreciate all the our employees and partners have done to help the company survive. I know some people are angry, frustrated and upset. They blame me or Gary or someone for this problem, but regardless of who is or isn't to blame - at this point we are trying to solve the problems and get everyone paid for their work and efforts and we appreciate your cooperation and support.
Thanks, Timothy N. Jenson
Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment, Inc.
4140 E. Baseline Road, Suite 208
Mesa, Arizona, 85206
(480) 656-6501
tjenson@cheyenneme.com
tjenson@firesky.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Shane Hensley
Sent: Fri 8/14/2009 7:07 PM
To:
Subject: Restaffing Hi all, As most of you know we've received a funding commitment for specific projects on a very controlled budget and are putting together our staffing plan. Please let us know if you're interested in returning so that we can begin to refill positions. We'll also work with those of you who don't have a spot in the new plan to see if there's a different role you might be able and willing to fill. Those who do not wish to come back or that we have no official position for will be officially terminated so that there are no misunderstandings. We plan on moving quickly, so please let us know your availability as soon as possible. Thanks, Shane
Now what does all this mean? I know what it means, do you????
Interesting developments. CME is going from good amount of money, to flat broke, to some money, broke again, some money. What next CME announcing they are closing down at the end of the year?
One of the problems it seems with this approach is that it gives the employees no job security. Of course, they had none to start with, but this is really no better since the plug could be pulled by the investors with little notice. It will be interesting to see who sticks it out.
But I would expect that anyone who is at all marketable would continue looking for stable job, picking up paychecks much like one would pick up unemployment. It's a rather sucky, low morale, low productivity position.
I bear absolutely no ill will towards CME or the majority of the "Talented" employees", just the opposite. In fact, the letters were purposely not published for 2-3 days so the employee checks would clear with no disturbance, BUT it is important that the remaining employees know the truth, something that Whiting and Jenson are incapable of sharing. If you dont think Jenson knows ALL about MMOGULS then you are a fool....
You and I both know, to "Gamers" selling a game through a MLM is taboo, you dont even talk about it on WOW, or you are banned. MMOGULS was a scam from the start, it has been a scam through 3 CEO's and it is still a scam, now they are going to try and take it to where, Malaysia? There is a large downline through a guy named Steve Tann and it would be off shore, so to speak..
If Jenson doesnt know anything about MMOGULS, but as he says, is aware that Whiting is the owner, and if he knows what a poison pill MMOGULS would for it to have any relationship with CME, and if he knows or has been told what is going on with MMOGULS by damn near everyone that comes across MMOGULS, if he knows any of this and even refuses to sit in on a MMOGULS conference call to listen to the BS being said, if he is just turning a blind eye to MMOGULS, then he should be fired for a breach of his fiduciary duty as the CEO of CME.. Please, dont insult my intelligence..
All of this will soon play out before a US Bankruptcy Court, then may the best man walk away with the prized assets. Then the game will rely on the financial strength of the new owners, new financial backers, new management.. Unless of course you think Whiting, Jenson, Gagon and the CME Mormon brothers in crime will pass the sniff test of a Federal Judge..
Just an opinion, but all of you unsecured shareholders, including the group of doctors, need to consult your CPA's for the writeoff.. And for those who gave Whiting money, like Tom B.. from Oregon, who bought $50,000 of CME stock, had to beg for his stock certificates, then only received his stock certificate for HALF of his purchase, because Jenson has no record of the $50K only $25K, for all of you like that, and there are hundreds, you have NO CLAIM AT ALL against CME..
If you think Whiting and the management, including Deering, will walk away from depositions, financial revelations and questioning by VERY capable litigators in a BK proceeding, then you should take what money you have left and give it to Whiting, for some Preferred Stock..
Since we do not have any funds except for what is provided by this group, it is critical that we keep any information including the information that I am providing to you in this email confidential. If employees or their spouses, friends or others post it on facebook, myspace, various blogs or other places, then they may cause irreparable harm to the company by causing our investor group to stop funding and thereby no one will get any pay. The Company is trying to provide a way for us to be successful, pay our past obligations, and provide a return for investors. Posting information about being "paid today" or that "an agreement has been reached" or anything else about our operations or funding is not helpful and my cause us to lose our funding. Please let the company make any announcements and release information as it is available.
So how was posting the emails helpful to the devs exactly and not hurtful? How is jeapardizing their future pay helpful? Pretty sure that he is saying here that investors may well stop helping to meet payroll if this is posted on the internet.
Since we do not have any funds except for what is provided by this group, it is critical that we keep any information including the information that I am providing to you in this email confidential. If employees or their spouses, friends or others post it on facebook, myspace, various blogs or other places, then they may cause irreparable harm to the company by causing our investor group to stop funding and thereby no one will get any pay. The Company is trying to provide a way for us to be successful, pay our past obligations, and provide a return for investors. Posting information about being "paid today" or that "an agreement has been reached" or anything else about our operations or funding is not helpful and my cause us to lose our funding. Please let the company make any announcements and release information as it is available.
So how was posting the emails helpful to the devs exactly and not hurtful? How is jeapardizing their future pay helpful? Pretty sure that he is saying here that investors may well stop helping to meet payroll if this is posted on the internet.
Let's be honest Whiting has already had and blown $50 mil minnimum, he has spent the last year trying to get new investment and failed. He now has allegedly got enough to payback the employees back wages that still work at CME/FIRESKY/CASH SINK STUDIOS, as to wether he's paid back all he owes I'll believe it when I see it. But quite frankly an employer that goes 6 months and more without paying employees is not legit and the company isn't legit. This is a fact and one that hurts investment far more than a leaked email, and besides if he has nothing to hide from investors why is this all so hush, hush?
Besides since when were a bunch of pyramid scheme scammers considered anything other than untrustworthy?
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience"
I thought the tight control mentioned in the mail over spending was meant to ensure that all future payments would go to the right place.
but you seem to be saying it is irrelevant now if devs get any further pay or not due to what has happened in the past.
Pretty much, yes. For starters this confidentiality about not telling anyone incase investors pull out is a load of bologne. The investors know what's been done and CME know the conditions, so what's the big deal if it gets anonymously posted on a blog? How does that scare off the investors after all that's happened in the past? Is anyone seriously prepared to say that Guenther posting this here is going to cause investors to pull out? Whereas 5 years of mismanagment and missuse of $50 mil, non payment of employees for several months, MMOGULs and crippling rookie mistakes made in development such as selecting the 3d engine/engines (Unreal and bigworld have said it's impossible to make it work) and all the litigation and back taxes that are still piling up, added with the worst reputation in the MMORPG industry that makes Farlan look like choir boys, and I haven't even mention the crazy ad campaigns (can anyone say malcom in the middle?), doesn't have investors running for the hills already?
I'll give you my take on what I think is a likley scenario for what's going down. Someone has scraped together enough cash (probably embezzeled from the original $50 mil) to pay one months wages to the 5 DEVs still working at CME/Firesky/Cash sink studios and pay their benefits (to impress MGM for the license). They don't want to/can't payback all the backwages they owe to everyone so they've cooked up this who shot John story and asked everyone to keep quiet in order for team Whiting to cover their asses. Anyone askes "what about the 6 months pay you owe me?" they reply "Sorry, investors told us we can't pay!".
Also who in their right mind would go back to work for these johnnies? They didn't meet payroll for 6 months before and aren't paying it back, I think you'd have better job security flipping burgers at Burger King and you get a free lunch too. CME will end up full of 3rd rate Devs that are looking no further into the future than the next paycheque, this is a fact.
Does anyone see this going anyother way?
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience"
From a CME Investor and a MMOGULS Member from Memphis Tennessee............
I dont know about all this Dev's payroll or what games is what, because all I did is sit through a presentation by Fred Gagon and Gary Whiting, they told me abouit all the great games CME owned rights to and were going to publish, with StarGate Worlds being the, a Gagon said, the "Big Kahuna".. I was shown a racing video, a Madden type fantasy football video and of course the StarGate Worlds video. Took the tour, wow, people everywhere last summer, doing their thing, the entire group, some 12 of us were told the game would launch April 2010....May at the latest..
Then around October 2008 I get a great opportunity to jump into MMOGULS, was told by Gagon AND WHITING, both, that's right BOTH held the meeting in Utah promoting the launch of MMOGULS.. The hook, we would get first rights to play StarGate Worlds and would get paid to bring other players in at $250 signup, and we would get a commission on the monthly fee $16.95-$29.95 of everyone in our downline.. He said MGM was excited about the opportunity to distribute the game and OFF WE GO..
Then... Everyone goes on vacation for the holidays, and the TRUTH STARTS TO COME OUT.. ITS ALL BULLSHIT..
You should know the rest of the story, Whiting and Gagon and Jenson are all lying, thieving pieces of trash. If they tried to pull this in the South, they wouldnt have to worry about investors, they wouldnt make it to the next investor meeting. I read the stuff Guenther posts and so far everything he has said has been dead right. Most of which either I or one of about 50 other CME investors I know have verified. NONE ARE MORMONS.. I even talked to a woman who went to Guenther's hearing in Phoenix, where is is fighting trumped up charges Whiting and his assistant filed against him for a Workplace Harrasment violation. After talking to the woman, talking to my own lawyer, reading the court records, the charges stem from Guenther answering TWO EMAILS.. This is all a obvious attempt to keep him away from the investors and employees. From what I can find outt about Guenther, Whiting simply jacked with the wrong guy. I even saw a email Whiting put out to the investors about Guenther..
You want to see just how desperate Whiting and his group of thieves are, you want to see how STUPID they are, he is the email that went out to the CME/CMG investors..
Dear Shareholder,
This is a letter to inform you that Robert L. Guenther is trying to undermine our company. He misrepresents and misinterprets every aspect of the company. He is not an investor or has anything to do with our company. We've done a full investigation on him and have found several disturbing things about his activities. Mr. Guenther has been charged with an assalt and has been banned from our company with a restraining order. Witnesses were present when he barged into corporate offices and said to our Chairman Gary Whiting, and I quote:"1 am going to put a bullet in your head". The police were called and he was escorted off the premises. He has since violated the restraining order in excess of 30 times and he will soon be put in jail. Robert Guenther is a lunatic. He's dilusional, suicidal and a known con artist. He's a threat to himself and anyone associated with him. He mentions and spouts off all these names of people that know him when in reality no one wants to be associated with him or involved in his idiotic games. He's upset because we found out about his life. The ongoing investigation into Robert Guenther's fraudulant activites has uncovered the real Mr. Guenther!
FIRST: There is a warrant for his arrest in Texas.
SECOND: He's been married 11 times that we know of and divorced only 3 times.This makes him a polygamist!.
THIRD: He is an activist in the Gay Community, involved in mobilization and campainging for the
gay rights movements. He is a "Leather Bar Gay Guy" who believes in the bondage,sadism and
masochism.
FORTH: Mr Guenther is under suspiscion of embezelment from several companies inclUding the company he mentions in his e-mail "ASDMBA". He's an internet crusader involved in activities to
destroy and crush companies and then with his so called group of investors pick up the pieces. We've found out that he is broke and no investor or group of investors will have anything to do with him. They all know he is a lunatic!
FIFTH: Mr Guenther has filed bankruptcy several times and has a federal tax lien of over
$500,000.
Our companies CME and CMG have developed a stUdio Stargate Worlds and have built a game
that will be launching this year. Over 40 million dollars have been invested and accounted for.
We're not about to let this lunatic disrupt our company. He'll have to crawl back into the hole he
crawled out of.
He must be frustrated with being married over 11 times (no one can live with him) and of record
has only 3 divorces, so in reality, Robert L. Guenther is not only Gay But a polygamist. His son is
in Jail for Drugs and dealing in drugs. We believe that from his irratic activites and outburst of
anger that he must be on drugs himself.
SIXTH: He's been indicted several times by other companies he's tried to destroy.
His last comment in his e-mail shows his hand and I quote: " I will simply go to MGM and present my plan of reorganization along with my investor group, and pick up the pieces. INVESTORS all lose!" This is how much he cares for us as shareholders. The 40 million that has gone into all the assets we've developed over the past 4 years is about to come to fluition. The game is 95% completed and ready to launch within a few months. We're in the beta testing phase and beautification phase of the game. It's a multibillion dollar potential. We as a group of investors have put up several million dollars and we are prepared to put up as much as it takes with attorneys to expose this lunatic and any others who are directly or indirectly associated with Robert L. Guenther. It's apparent from his history that he's a pathetic, frustrated Gay boy who is dilusional,disturbed, suicidal and a danger to himself and others.
A group of concerned shareholders
THIS MUCH I KNOW,
1) I cant get a answer or even my last stock certificate from Jenson, seems all the money I put into Garvick never showed up to CME, Jenson is no help, tells me to call Whiting, that he has no control over the money, that he doesn't know where it comes from, Whiting just gives CME money.. I guess that conference room I sat in during the presentation, the one the seperates Whitings office and Jensens office must be invisible and soundproof..
2) I have asked repeatedly for my $250 MMOGULS money back, I kave talked to 3 CEOS.. Just two weeks ago, I got through on MMOGULS conference call and talked to Don Carroll, the new CEO of MMOGULS, he called me back and gave me some crap like I didnt have any commission coming, I never signed anyone etc. That's because I was under Guenther, the largest downline, and Whiting had all of his downline moved and given to two other MMOGULS investors that pu $250k into MMOGULS for a preferred position. I then called back on last weeks call, when they opened it up for questions, I asked the same question, then they said no more questions, the call was over. I triedto log back in to my account, I am locked out and no one will take my call.. DON CARROLL, the new CEO, is a investor in CME, a fellow MORMON, and now has the MMOGULS headquarters at his ranch..
3) So then I call Tim Jenson, ask him first hand, where is my CME investment and what is the deal with CME and MMOGULS. I get the beat around the bush, ask Whiting on the CME investment and a complete denial that Jenson knows anything about MMOGULS.. I ask him, why not listen it to the MMOGULS conference calls and hear first hand what is being said, he had no answer for that question.
Then a MIRACLE............ Jenson, who had just told me he didnt know where Whiting was, says WOW, guess what, Whiting just walked in, let's talk to him.. I just hung up.. What a crock of crap.. Ok he just happen to walk across the room into Jenson's office.. Anyone that puts one dime into this DIPSHIT DEAL is a idiot or has money to burn..
As for the employees getting paid, Im glad for you because I know times are tough. that being said, if you dont have a problem taking peoples hard earned money that they are investing in a company promising to finish a game you KNOW will never be published, then you have no more moral character than the rest of the thieves......
Comments
Okay, several attractive potential opportunities, but no confirmed funding. This is the same song and dance they have been spouting since January and nothing comes of the prospective deals. The only thing missing from that message was the promise of better news in two weeks.
Sounds to me like the Doctors do not need to worry about bailing them out with so many opportunities out there. /cough
Edited to add a thought: The longer it takes to get SGW out, the more dated that game will look.
In before Agricola1
Trolls = Hardcore
Fanbois = Carebears
The only posts I read in threads are my own.
You will be punished, I'll have you stripped and lashed by MS Carter ... oh wait that's not .... nevermind.
I do agree with Kyrie, this is just the same s***, different day/week/month/year. Though the official forums are a constant source of amusement as I watch rabid FanOri put positive spin on all the blogs and so called lies spread by now banned forum goers. As far as I'm concerned this is just another in a long line of "We're s*** out of luck" announcements that have been coming since last year.
Good luck getting that funding, maybe the FanOri will agree to sell their children to a soccer ball factory in Pakistan and send the money to CME? Here I have the name of one such factory "Karachi Mountain Enslavement LTD" Run by a guy named Gita Whiting, good luck guys!
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience"
CS Lewis
What i'm curious to know is, they had to show funding to MGM to retain the IP. Obviously, they showed something since they still ( sadly ) have the IP. Now, after retaining the IP, they suddenly have no money again?
Seriously, I'm blaming MGM for these idiots, now. MGM had a chance to kill this shit. MGM didn't. No matter what Whiting or CME do now, it's on MGM as far as I'm concerned. And when the lawsuits really start flying, smart investors will be naming MGM as an accomplice/partner in the suits as well.
I'm seriously starting to wonder if MGM cares about having a software title for stargate at all. After Stargate Alliance and the trouble with Stargate Worlds, they may think its not worth their time anymore.
The thing is, I don't think I see a lot of downside to MGM. If the game comes out, great, they get money. If not, then "oh well". They haven't invested themselves, I don't believe.
As for damage to the reputation... frankly a failed game doesn't matter. No one will blame MGM for it... well not enough will to matter to them. Those who do are rather a small subset. I think there are about 22 million people who watch SG properties (at least, that's a number that has been bandied about). And... 55 thousand people have signed up for the official forum (about 2-3%), of which only about 400-500 login per day, 1000 in the last week, 2200 in the last month (0.01%). Even if they were all negative (and they're not), it's small fry.
As for liability, I think they are pretty much insulated from whatever malfeasance that CME has done. If anything, CME has to worry more about MGM suing *them*. Probably their biggest exposure would be MMOGULS, and I think even there they couldn't be sued. I think there's enough evidence to say that they told the power that be to cool it with MMOGULS, and so escape liability. And even if someone tried to sue... they'd be taking on a behemoth legal department, and I think the damages are pretty small.
Now, if the previous reports are true, and MGM committed to partially fund the production and release at the back end to the tune of $8 mil (?)... then they can decide then if the game is worth that money (if they have a way out, that is). Which is, perhaps, another trap the new investors need to think about--what if MGM drops them then?
Hmm, perhaps the calculus would be different if another group of investors went to them with a rather rock-solid plan to build a game. But then, it would be 3-4 years off if they did it with no assets from CME (I'm assuming those assets would cut time off--but that's no given). By then, who knows what SGU would be doing, or the franchise? It still might not be attractive to take that risk.
MGM must be careful if they are going to cancel the IP that all their ducks are in order first. I presume that if CME missed a milestone payment, then MGM needs to notify and follow certain remedies stated in the contract before outright canceling the IP.
If MGM pulls the plug and makes an administrative mistake, I’m sure CME would sue them for the (get this number folks….) $35M they have into SGW.
Canceling the IP takes time, raising money takes time. Eventually the two will cross.
Ah well, one of the only Scifi MMORPG's I was looking forward to. Can't win em all I guess, was fun keeping tabs on the game and hoping but I'm shoving off and closing the door on this whole chapter. Good luck to those hanging in there and hoping still, hope things work out and you get an enjoyable game
Really? You're going to blame MGM? The company that is in 50/50 with WB in supporting the idea that Peter Jackson can actually one-up Tolkein by writing the movie/book that goes in between "The Hobbit" and "The Fellowship..."
Isn't that like blaming the retard for sticking the fork in the socket?
Whispers on the wind of funding. Whispers in the dark of other things.
KiS, KiS (Keep it secret, keep it safe)
There is always whispers.
LMAO
programming became legend, legend became myth. Maybe in 2 and a 1/2 thousand years something will emerge.
Well here you go folks... The CME/MMOGULS scam just got a little shot of life, but they are still on life support..
Question for the day, why would the people running CME and their very own Founder/Chairman and CEO want to keep "funding" secret. Why is everything at CME so hush hush? You can read for yourself what Whiting's pawns have to say about soem "secret" funding and the proposed "restaffing".. You may remember a email earlier posted from Jenson, where he denied knowing anything about MMOGULS.. That's strange, because on the MMOGULS conference calls, their leaders are pushing the very "GAME" that CME is supposedly now wanting to work on. MMOGULS is soliciting new members for $250 and charging existing members $50 a month based on CME publishing a game the members can play and recruit with. MMOGULS management, as late as last week, tied CME/MMG and MMOGULS all together, Whiting himself was on theconference call .
Lets get this straight because I am confused as hell!!!
CME CEO TIM JENSON says he knows nothing about MMOGULS, although his office is 30 feet from Chairman and Founder of CME , Gary Whiting. Yea, RIGHT!!!! Now a little cash comes in, who really knows where from or how much, maybe from MMOGULS membership fees or another MMOGULS investor or maybe a small group of professional businessmen, possibly a few Doctors that have so much invested in this loser I guess they think throwing in another 100K or so here and there might work and it wont bust them, or maybe, and I seriously doubt this one, Whiting might have dug up some of the money he has stolen from CME and thrown a litttle back in, who really knows..
The people that make out on this one are the "priviledged few employees" who just got back checks.. How about all the other employees, investors, crditors, all the vendors, how about PAYROLL TAXES. That's right PAYROLL TAXES, all $2Million plus that is owed. And is this last contribution LEGAL.. You might want to check the securities laws, particularly those that apply to preferrential treatment and/or "preferred stock"..
How about all the money that Whiting has borrowed aside of CME, like the $250K he borrowed from aJohn B. from Mesa, and wants to pay him back in"Preferred Stock" and/or .5% of the override on the sale of the game.. That would be a overide royalty similar to what MGM is getting..
Basically, Whiting and Jenson, and I guess Gagon and the rest of the "carnival crew" just tell you whatever, give you whatever, promise you whatever, just so they can do what? " GET THE MONEY"!!!!
Here are the "private" messages from CEO Jenson and Shane Hensley, whatever his title is today....
-----Original Message-----
From: Tim Jenson
Sent: Fri 8/14/2009 12:28 PM
To:
Subject: Funding
Hi everyone,
We received some funds today and can pay another payroll today. You can pick your checks up from Paul between 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm today or before 3:00 pm on Monday. After 3:00 pm on Monday, Paul will be mailing out any remaining payroll checks. The checks can be deposited today but can't be cashed until tomorrow. That is two within two weeks - clearly a trend that I would like to see continue and I think it will.
We will also be paying August benefits today and it is not even the last day of August - you can actually go to your Doctor or Dentist between now and the end of August and know you will be covered - we haven't seen that in a while.
To update you on our status, we have executed one or more credit agreements with some groups that should provide some needed funding over the next several months. I am being purposely vague because the agreements are subject to confidentiality and I do not want to violate the terms of our deals. There are still a few additional documents that need to be executed to finalize the deals. We do want to keep everyone informed but we don't want to violate our confidentiality provisions.
The investors are only providing funds over time per a schedule that they created and are not putting all the money in up front. They want to make sure their funds are used to develop a game which has the potential to provide a return for them and is not spent only on past obligations or other things. The investors will have total control over the funds and how they are spent. Under these agreements, we will have no separate funds or funds that are within our control. Having said that, they have agreed to allow us to pay the past payroll over time as long as we stay on schedule in the development of our game. Since we do not have any funds except for what is provided by this group, it is critical that we keep any information including the information that I am providing to you in this email confidential. If employees or their spouses, friends or others post it on facebook, myspace, various blogs or other places, then they may cause irreparable harm to the company by causing our investor group to stop funding and thereby no one will get any pay. The Company is trying to provide a way for us to be successful, pay our past obligations, and provide a return for investors. Posting information about being "paid today" or that "an agreement has been reached" or anything else about our operations or funding is not helpful and my cause us to lose our funding. Please let the company make any announcements and release information as it is available.
We appreciate all the our employees and partners have done to help the company survive. I know some people are angry, frustrated and upset. They blame me or Gary or someone for this problem, but regardless of who is or isn't to blame - at this point we are trying to solve the problems and get everyone paid for their work and efforts and we appreciate your cooperation and support.
Thanks,
Timothy N. Jenson
Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment, Inc.
4140 E. Baseline Road, Suite 208
Mesa, Arizona, 85206
(480) 656-6501
tjenson@cheyenneme.com
tjenson@firesky.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Shane Hensley
Sent: Fri 8/14/2009 7:07 PM
To:
Subject: Restaffing
Hi all,
As most of you know we've received a funding commitment for specific projects on a very controlled budget and are putting together our staffing plan. Please let us know if you're interested in returning so that we can begin to refill positions. We'll also work with those of you who don't have a spot in the new plan to see if there's a different role you might be able and willing to fill.
Those who do not wish to come back or that we have no official position for will be officially terminated so that there are no misunderstandings. We plan on moving quickly, so please let us know your availability as soon as possible.
Thanks,
Shane
Now what does all this mean? I know what it means, do you????
They want to work quick on getting something out so that they can keep MMOGULs running, however I don't think SGB will save them and only cause present investors to worry. If they actually release SGB and investors see the lack of interest it will cause trouble, as if team Whiting doesn't have enough of that already! I don't see SGB making to launch day myself, unless they're planning an april fools day joke early!
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience"
CS Lewis
Guenther and his cronies want to kill Whiting and Stargate and so anyone who gets in there way is also the enemy. MMOGUL's is trash and should be destroyed. Whiting is behind MMOGULs but no one else at CME knows anything about it. nor do they want to. They all want it gone - MGM, Jenson, Hensley, the developers - they all want MMOGULs gone.
Whiting's office is only 20 feet from Jenson's office, but MMOGUL's offices are not even in the same city. Whiting is rarely in the CME offices and doesn't discuss MMOGUL's with CME employees. Guenther and his cronies spin half truths and lies into eye-catching reading, but let's not mix fiction with fantasy. Whiing's insatiable lust for keeping control and trying to save his empire despite the shambles, ruins and problems strewn in his path is certainly making the things strenous and problematic for many, but some faithful CME employees continue to whether the constant barrage of insults and innuendo from those who wish to destroy the company, and continue to push forward to create a game. If you want facts talk with the developers. If you want comedic fiction, keep reading these forums. The humor and battle plans of these forums is very entertaining, but let's not mix-up fiction for fact.
Another in a long line of bologne posts, you fail to mention that MMOGULs offices were one floor below CME offices until recently when they got turfed out due to non payment of rent! You want to talk facts but all you talk is a load of "who shot John", Jenson is in on the MMOGULs scam. "Those who wish to destroy the company", what a joke! No need to destroy it when Team Whiting are doing such a damn good job of it without any outside assistance! You like comedic fiction? Here's some "CME is legit and has nothing to do with MMOGULS and SGW will reach launch and sell more than 200k units!", there did that make you laugh?
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience"
CS Lewis
Interesting developments. CME is going from good amount of money, to flat broke, to some money, broke again, some money. What next CME announcing they are closing down at the end of the year?
One of the problems it seems with this approach is that it gives the employees no job security. Of course, they had none to start with, but this is really no better since the plug could be pulled by the investors with little notice. It will be interesting to see who sticks it out.
But I would expect that anyone who is at all marketable would continue looking for stable job, picking up paychecks much like one would pick up unemployment. It's a rather sucky, low morale, low productivity position.
Yowza! Well so much for my whisper game! Can’t comment on some of this (promises suck donkey balls) so here’s some questions to spark debate:
Who is CME trying to hide information from? Is it the IRS? The courts? The vendors? The investors? The other investors?
On the up side, it appears that they are working just on multiple SG titles and no more of those fluff companies? That seems to be a good thing.
I bear absolutely no ill will towards CME or the majority of the "Talented" employees", just the opposite. In fact, the letters were purposely not published for 2-3 days so the employee checks would clear with no disturbance, BUT it is important that the remaining employees know the truth, something that Whiting and Jenson are incapable of sharing. If you dont think Jenson knows ALL about MMOGULS then you are a fool....
You and I both know, to "Gamers" selling a game through a MLM is taboo, you dont even talk about it on WOW, or you are banned. MMOGULS was a scam from the start, it has been a scam through 3 CEO's and it is still a scam, now they are going to try and take it to where, Malaysia? There is a large downline through a guy named Steve Tann and it would be off shore, so to speak..
If Jenson doesnt know anything about MMOGULS, but as he says, is aware that Whiting is the owner, and if he knows what a poison pill MMOGULS would for it to have any relationship with CME, and if he knows or has been told what is going on with MMOGULS by damn near everyone that comes across MMOGULS, if he knows any of this and even refuses to sit in on a MMOGULS conference call to listen to the BS being said, if he is just turning a blind eye to MMOGULS, then he should be fired for a breach of his fiduciary duty as the CEO of CME.. Please, dont insult my intelligence..
All of this will soon play out before a US Bankruptcy Court, then may the best man walk away with the prized assets. Then the game will rely on the financial strength of the new owners, new financial backers, new management.. Unless of course you think Whiting, Jenson, Gagon and the CME Mormon brothers in crime will pass the sniff test of a Federal Judge..
Just an opinion, but all of you unsecured shareholders, including the group of doctors, need to consult your CPA's for the writeoff.. And for those who gave Whiting money, like Tom B.. from Oregon, who bought $50,000 of CME stock, had to beg for his stock certificates, then only received his stock certificate for HALF of his purchase, because Jenson has no record of the $50K only $25K, for all of you like that, and there are hundreds, you have NO CLAIM AT ALL against CME..
If you think Whiting and the management, including Deering, will walk away from depositions, financial revelations and questioning by VERY capable litigators in a BK proceeding, then you should take what money you have left and give it to Whiting, for some Preferred Stock..
So how was posting the emails helpful to the devs exactly and not hurtful? How is jeapardizing their future pay helpful? Pretty sure that he is saying here that investors may well stop helping to meet payroll if this is posted on the internet.
So how was posting the emails helpful to the devs exactly and not hurtful? How is jeapardizing their future pay helpful? Pretty sure that he is saying here that investors may well stop helping to meet payroll if this is posted on the internet.
Let's be honest Whiting has already had and blown $50 mil minnimum, he has spent the last year trying to get new investment and failed. He now has allegedly got enough to payback the employees back wages that still work at CME/FIRESKY/CASH SINK STUDIOS, as to wether he's paid back all he owes I'll believe it when I see it. But quite frankly an employer that goes 6 months and more without paying employees is not legit and the company isn't legit. This is a fact and one that hurts investment far more than a leaked email, and besides if he has nothing to hide from investors why is this all so hush, hush?
Besides since when were a bunch of pyramid scheme scammers considered anything other than untrustworthy?
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience"
CS Lewis
I thought the tight control mentioned in the mail over spending was meant to ensure that all future payments would go to the right place.
but you seem to be saying it is irrelevant now if devs get any further pay or not due to what has happened in the past.
Pretty much, yes. For starters this confidentiality about not telling anyone incase investors pull out is a load of bologne. The investors know what's been done and CME know the conditions, so what's the big deal if it gets anonymously posted on a blog? How does that scare off the investors after all that's happened in the past? Is anyone seriously prepared to say that Guenther posting this here is going to cause investors to pull out? Whereas 5 years of mismanagment and missuse of $50 mil, non payment of employees for several months, MMOGULs and crippling rookie mistakes made in development such as selecting the 3d engine/engines (Unreal and bigworld have said it's impossible to make it work) and all the litigation and back taxes that are still piling up, added with the worst reputation in the MMORPG industry that makes Farlan look like choir boys, and I haven't even mention the crazy ad campaigns (can anyone say malcom in the middle?), doesn't have investors running for the hills already?
I'll give you my take on what I think is a likley scenario for what's going down. Someone has scraped together enough cash (probably embezzeled from the original $50 mil) to pay one months wages to the 5 DEVs still working at CME/Firesky/Cash sink studios and pay their benefits (to impress MGM for the license). They don't want to/can't payback all the backwages they owe to everyone so they've cooked up this who shot John story and asked everyone to keep quiet in order for team Whiting to cover their asses. Anyone askes "what about the 6 months pay you owe me?" they reply "Sorry, investors told us we can't pay!".
Also who in their right mind would go back to work for these johnnies? They didn't meet payroll for 6 months before and aren't paying it back, I think you'd have better job security flipping burgers at Burger King and you get a free lunch too. CME will end up full of 3rd rate Devs that are looking no further into the future than the next paycheque, this is a fact.
Does anyone see this going anyother way?
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience"
CS Lewis
From a CME Investor and a MMOGULS Member from Memphis Tennessee............
I dont know about all this Dev's payroll or what games is what, because all I did is sit through a presentation by Fred Gagon and Gary Whiting, they told me abouit all the great games CME owned rights to and were going to publish, with StarGate Worlds being the, a Gagon said, the "Big Kahuna".. I was shown a racing video, a Madden type fantasy football video and of course the StarGate Worlds video. Took the tour, wow, people everywhere last summer, doing their thing, the entire group, some 12 of us were told the game would launch April 2010....May at the latest..
Then around October 2008 I get a great opportunity to jump into MMOGULS, was told by Gagon AND WHITING, both, that's right BOTH held the meeting in Utah promoting the launch of MMOGULS.. The hook, we would get first rights to play StarGate Worlds and would get paid to bring other players in at $250 signup, and we would get a commission on the monthly fee $16.95-$29.95 of everyone in our downline.. He said MGM was excited about the opportunity to distribute the game and OFF WE GO..
Then... Everyone goes on vacation for the holidays, and the TRUTH STARTS TO COME OUT.. ITS ALL BULLSHIT..
You should know the rest of the story, Whiting and Gagon and Jenson are all lying, thieving pieces of trash. If they tried to pull this in the South, they wouldnt have to worry about investors, they wouldnt make it to the next investor meeting. I read the stuff Guenther posts and so far everything he has said has been dead right. Most of which either I or one of about 50 other CME investors I know have verified. NONE ARE MORMONS.. I even talked to a woman who went to Guenther's hearing in Phoenix, where is is fighting trumped up charges Whiting and his assistant filed against him for a Workplace Harrasment violation. After talking to the woman, talking to my own lawyer, reading the court records, the charges stem from Guenther answering TWO EMAILS.. This is all a obvious attempt to keep him away from the investors and employees. From what I can find outt about Guenther, Whiting simply jacked with the wrong guy. I even saw a email Whiting put out to the investors about Guenther..
You want to see just how desperate Whiting and his group of thieves are, you want to see how STUPID they are, he is the email that went out to the CME/CMG investors..
Dear Shareholder,
This is a letter to inform you that Robert L. Guenther is trying to undermine our company. He misrepresents and misinterprets every aspect of the company. He is not an investor or has anything to do with our company. We've done a full investigation on him and have found several disturbing things about his activities. Mr. Guenther has been charged with an assalt and has been banned from our company with a restraining order. Witnesses were present when he barged into corporate offices and said to our Chairman Gary Whiting, and I quote:"1 am going to put a bullet in your head". The police were called and he was escorted off the premises. He has since violated the restraining order in excess of 30 times and he will soon be put in jail. Robert Guenther is a lunatic. He's dilusional, suicidal and a known con artist. He's a threat to himself and anyone associated with him. He mentions and spouts off all these names of people that know him when in reality no one wants to be associated with him or involved in his idiotic games. He's upset because we found out about his life. The ongoing investigation into Robert Guenther's fraudulant activites has uncovered the real Mr. Guenther!
FIRST: There is a warrant for his arrest in Texas.
SECOND: He's been married 11 times that we know of and divorced only 3 times.This makes him a polygamist!.
THIRD: He is an activist in the Gay Community, involved in mobilization and campainging for the
gay rights movements. He is a "Leather Bar Gay Guy" who believes in the bondage,sadism and
masochism.
FORTH: Mr Guenther is under suspiscion of embezelment from several companies inclUding the company he mentions in his e-mail "ASDMBA". He's an internet crusader involved in activities to
destroy and crush companies and then with his so called group of investors pick up the pieces. We've found out that he is broke and no investor or group of investors will have anything to do with him. They all know he is a lunatic!
FIFTH: Mr Guenther has filed bankruptcy several times and has a federal tax lien of over
$500,000.
Our companies CME and CMG have developed a stUdio Stargate Worlds and have built a game
that will be launching this year. Over 40 million dollars have been invested and accounted for.
We're not about to let this lunatic disrupt our company. He'll have to crawl back into the hole he
crawled out of.
He must be frustrated with being married over 11 times (no one can live with him) and of record
has only 3 divorces, so in reality, Robert L. Guenther is not only Gay But a polygamist. His son is
in Jail for Drugs and dealing in drugs. We believe that from his irratic activites and outburst of
anger that he must be on drugs himself.
SIXTH: He's been indicted several times by other companies he's tried to destroy.
His last comment in his e-mail shows his hand and I quote: " I will simply go to MGM and present my plan of reorganization along with my investor group, and pick up the pieces. INVESTORS all lose!" This is how much he cares for us as shareholders. The 40 million that has gone into all the assets we've developed over the past 4 years is about to come to fluition. The game is 95% completed and ready to launch within a few months. We're in the beta testing phase and beautification phase of the game. It's a multibillion dollar potential. We as a group of investors have put up several million dollars and we are prepared to put up as much as it takes with attorneys to expose this lunatic and any others who are directly or indirectly associated with Robert L. Guenther. It's apparent from his history that he's a pathetic, frustrated Gay boy who is dilusional,disturbed, suicidal and a danger to himself and others.
A group of concerned shareholders
THIS MUCH I KNOW,
1) I cant get a answer or even my last stock certificate from Jenson, seems all the money I put into Garvick never showed up to CME, Jenson is no help, tells me to call Whiting, that he has no control over the money, that he doesn't know where it comes from, Whiting just gives CME money.. I guess that conference room I sat in during the presentation, the one the seperates Whitings office and Jensens office must be invisible and soundproof..
2) I have asked repeatedly for my $250 MMOGULS money back, I kave talked to 3 CEOS.. Just two weeks ago, I got through on MMOGULS conference call and talked to Don Carroll, the new CEO of MMOGULS, he called me back and gave me some crap like I didnt have any commission coming, I never signed anyone etc. That's because I was under Guenther, the largest downline, and Whiting had all of his downline moved and given to two other MMOGULS investors that pu $250k into MMOGULS for a preferred position. I then called back on last weeks call, when they opened it up for questions, I asked the same question, then they said no more questions, the call was over. I triedto log back in to my account, I am locked out and no one will take my call.. DON CARROLL, the new CEO, is a investor in CME, a fellow MORMON, and now has the MMOGULS headquarters at his ranch..
3) So then I call Tim Jenson, ask him first hand, where is my CME investment and what is the deal with CME and MMOGULS. I get the beat around the bush, ask Whiting on the CME investment and a complete denial that Jenson knows anything about MMOGULS.. I ask him, why not listen it to the MMOGULS conference calls and hear first hand what is being said, he had no answer for that question.
Then a MIRACLE............ Jenson, who had just told me he didnt know where Whiting was, says WOW, guess what, Whiting just walked in, let's talk to him.. I just hung up.. What a crock of crap.. Ok he just happen to walk across the room into Jenson's office.. Anyone that puts one dime into this DIPSHIT DEAL is a idiot or has money to burn..
As for the employees getting paid, Im glad for you because I know times are tough. that being said, if you dont have a problem taking peoples hard earned money that they are investing in a company promising to finish a game you KNOW will never be published, then you have no more moral character than the rest of the thieves......