Apparently, these haters don't know who they've been messing with. They've done woken up the beast. CIG will provide transparency and accountability dambit or they are going down! They will pee in their pants when they get a hold of this. Smart needs to start a crowd funding effort to help with this sham of a pyramid/ponzi scheme these guys have going. There are many of us who would support him in this effort.
Heads will roll and Derek Smart will be vindicated.
/laughs!!
I can't wait until you see the real Derek Smart, I really can't. You really think this is about your "cause" to him?
Trust me, I know just as much about Derek Smart as the next guy and I have nothing against him. He speaks his mind and is not beholden to what anyone else thinks of him. I find the fact that the man tells it like it is quite refreshing and commendable unlike so many developers in this industry who smile in your face like snail oil salesmen while all the while stabbing you in the back. That said, irrespective of anyone's opinion of Smart, everyone should be able to separate the man from the message. There are many of us who have been having the same concerns and questions that Smart is now asking. Just because it is Smart asking them does not invalidate these questions and concerns. You don't have to like the man to agree with premise of this cause. And that is for this company to show accountability for how those $85 MILLION in contributions have been allocated.
The backers of this project not only have the right, but they are deserving of that type of transparency from this company for the tens of millions of dollars that they have, in good faith, contributed. These questions and concerns have been raised before by many people, including many of the backers who have contributed to this project and they have all, in no uncertain terms, been silenced by CIG and many of their vocal die-hard supporters. Its long past due time that someone with a bit of authority stood up on behalf of the little guy who has not been able to gain any traction of their requests for a bit of accountability. Derek Smart has stepped up and become that man. And irrespective of any of his past accomplishments, or lack thereof, in this instance he should be commended.
I would like to see a system where every backer has insight into the financials and is able to effectively call the developer out, with a third party agency stepping in when the developer is not responding to the concerns of the investors.
The way Smart is framing these demands completely misses the point in my opinion.
You do realise that if crowdfunding worked like that, no game would ever actually be made, right ?
The internet is awash with nutjobs that will make it their personal goal to ruin every Kickstarter project in existence. Simply because they can. Just look at some of the opinions expressed on these forums, and imagine what would happen if you gave these people the actual power to interfere in development projects...
This story just gets better and better... $1 million. Damn.. I wish I hadn't given up accounting for lion taming.
"Social media gives legions of idiots the right to speak when they once only spoke at a bar after a glass of wine, without harming the community ... but now they have the same right to speak as a Nobel Prize winner. It's the invasion of the idiots”
― Umberto Eco
“Microtransactions? In a single player role-playing game? Are you nuts?” ― CD PROJEKT RED
And I can't wait until donators see how much cash these people have spent on there own personal lives.
Nor can I if that is the case.
People DO know that Chris Roberts was not exactly poor as a church mouse even BEFORE he started this project, do they not ?
I am interested ... HOW will people know if ANY money spend on his private life came from the last 2.5 years of his life (and out of the crowdfunding money) instead of the first 44 years of his life (and the money earned from a few world famous computer games like Wing Commander and various Hollywood blockbuster movies like Lord of War) ?
And I can't wait until donators see how much cash these people have spent on there own personal lives.
Nor can I if that is the case.
People DO know that Chris Roberts was not exactly poor as a church mouse even BEFORE he started this project, do they not ?
I am interested ... HOW will people know if ANY money spend on his private life came from the last 2.5 years of his life (and out of the crowdfunding money) instead of the first 44 years of his life (and the money earned from a few world famous computer games like Wing Commander and various Hollywood blockbuster movies like Lord of War) ?
Have fun
Well... even crowdfundees keep books, don't they?
"Social media gives legions of idiots the right to speak when they once only spoke at a bar after a glass of wine, without harming the community ... but now they have the same right to speak as a Nobel Prize winner. It's the invasion of the idiots”
― Umberto Eco
“Microtransactions? In a single player role-playing game? Are you nuts?” ― CD PROJEKT RED
If he's so worried about the state of the project why not just give RSI that 1M to help the development in exchange for a look at what's going on? -_-
Damn why am i even bothering to write this down...
The essence of his allegations are that there has malfeasance in financial reporting and handling by RSI. Why on earth would he throw $1M at them with that in mind?
This is based upon his 'instincts' and 'gut feeling'. Please point to any project that Derek Smart has done that hasn't been critically panned by players and critics.
The only MMO he has ever been a part of, Alganon, only came into his grasps through a hostile takeover. And, at the time, there were rumors that he primarily wanted Alganon's code to try and build his own MMO off of.
Even his LOD has been delayed by THREE years and still hasn't been released.
Anyone that trusts Derek Smart's 'instincts' may as well also accept they're a fool.
Did Robert's trashtalk him or his games while hyping up SC or something?
My SWTOR referral link for those wanting to give the game a try. (Newbies get a welcome package while returning players get a few account upgrades to help with their preferred status.)
Apparently, these haters don't know who they've been messing with. They've done woken up the beast. CIG will provide transparency and accountability dambit or they are going down! They will pee in their pants when they get a hold of this. Smart needs to start a crowd funding effort to help with this sham of a pyramid/ponzi scheme these guys have going. There are many of us who would support him in this effort.
Heads will roll and Derek Smart will be vindicated.
/laughs!!
I can't wait until you see the real Derek Smart, I really can't. You really think this is about your "cause" to him?
Trust me, I know just as much about Derek Smart as the next guy and I have nothing against him. He speaks his mind and is not beholden to what anyone else thinks of him. I find the fact that the man tells it like it is quite refreshing and commendable unlike so many developers in this industry who smile in your face like snail oil salesmen while all the while stabbing you in the back. That said, irrespective of anyone's opinion of Smart, everyone should be able to separate the man from the message. There are many of us who have been having the same concerns and questions that Smart is now asking. Just because it is Smart asking them does not invalidate these questions and concerns. You don't have to like the man to agree with premise of this cause. And that is for this company to show accountability for how those $85 MILLION in contributions have been allocated.
The backers of this project not only have the right, but they are deserving of that type of transparency from this company for the tens of millions of dollars that they have, in good faith, contributed. These questions and concerns have been raised before by many people, including many of the backers who have contributed to this project and they have all, in no uncertain terms, been silenced by CIG and many of their vocal die-hard supporters. Its long past due time that someone with a bit of authority stood up on behalf of the little guy who has not been able to gain any traction of their requests for a bit of accountability. Derek Smart has stepped up and become that man. And irrespective of any of his past accomplishments, or lack thereof, in this instance he should be commended.
For the record I've acknowledged more than once everything he said could be true. I just don't like people exploiting real issues real people have, for their own personal benefit. Considering his track record I have a hard time seeing it any other way. You realize if he fumbles this, it could very quickly ruin the main message as well as intent of it?
For every minute you are angry , you lose 60 seconds of happiness."-Emerson
And I can't wait until donators see how much cash these people have spent on there own personal lives.
Nor can I if that is the case.
People DO know that Chris Roberts was not exactly poor as a church mouse even BEFORE he started this project, do they not ?
I am interested ... HOW will people know if ANY money spend on his private life came from the last 2.5 years of his life (and out of the crowdfunding money) instead of the first 44 years of his life (and the money earned from a few world famous computer games like Wing Commander and various Hollywood blockbuster movies like Lord of War) ?
Have fun
People pay taxes, taxed income must have a source....
Companies also keep records of things such as what they spent money on, including payroll and taxable benefits.
And I can't wait until donators see how much cash these people have spent on there own personal lives.
Nor can I if that is the case.
People DO know that Chris Roberts was not exactly poor as a church mouse even BEFORE he started this project, do they not ?
I am interested ... HOW will people know if ANY money spend on his private life came from the last 2.5 years of his life (and out of the crowdfunding money) instead of the first 44 years of his life (and the money earned from a few world famous computer games like Wing Commander and various Hollywood blockbuster movies like Lord of War) ?
Have fun
I gotta stop editing my posts to add more thoughts, ha... This is what i added after you started to quote it..."Yet you have to remember that money is to pay their salaries, that's the point of kickstarter. People can't do this and work a full time job as well, hence the main reason in going for crowdfunding in the first place. It's money to maintain the business, which is essential to have a game. So you can bet any crowdfunded studio is using that money in their personal lives"
For every minute you are angry , you lose 60 seconds of happiness."-Emerson
Did Robert's trashtalk him or his games while hyping up SC or something?
Not necessary... Derek is like a perpetual motion machine: no winding-up required.
"Social media gives legions of idiots the right to speak when they once only spoke at a bar after a glass of wine, without harming the community ... but now they have the same right to speak as a Nobel Prize winner. It's the invasion of the idiots”
― Umberto Eco
“Microtransactions? In a single player role-playing game? Are you nuts?” ― CD PROJEKT RED
Ok .. lets assume Chris Roberts gets a salary. ** Gasp ** It may even be more than what the average Joe gets.
Lets further assume he dares to go on vacation. E.g. to the beach. He pays for this vacation. Lets say he is living in style and spends a few 10k $.
How will the CIG books tell me if that vacation money was taken from CIG "illegally" and objectionably spent on Chris Roberts' "frivolous private activities" ? And not coming out of Chris Roberts funds from a bank account that existed before November 2012 (Star Citizen Kickstarter), with money earned in his career so far?
And I can't wait until donators see how much cash these people have spent on there own personal lives.
Nor can I if that is the case.
People DO know that Chris Roberts was not exactly poor as a church mouse even BEFORE he started this project, do they not ?
I am interested ... HOW will people know if ANY money spend on his private life came from the last 2.5 years of his life (and out of the crowdfunding money) instead of the first 44 years of his life (and the money earned from a few world famous computer games like Wing Commander and various Hollywood blockbuster movies like Lord of War) ?
Have fun
I gotta stop editing my posts to add more thoughts, ha... This is what i added after you started to quote it..."Yet you have to remember that money is to pay their salaries, that's the point of kickstarter. People can't do this and work a full time job as well, hence the main reason in going for crowdfunding in the first place. It's money to maintain the business, which is essential to have a game. So you can bet any crowdfunded studio is using that money in their personal lives"
Correct. I suspect that if this "forensic accounting" ever happens, the worst offense they might find is hiring too many people, paying good salaries and "wasted" R&D... a long way from malfeasance.
Poor budget management is not a criminal offense last time I looked.
"Social media gives legions of idiots the right to speak when they once only spoke at a bar after a glass of wine, without harming the community ... but now they have the same right to speak as a Nobel Prize winner. It's the invasion of the idiots”
― Umberto Eco
“Microtransactions? In a single player role-playing game? Are you nuts?” ― CD PROJEKT RED
Did Robert's trashtalk him or his games while hyping up SC or something?
Nah, this vendetta goes waaaay back to the nineties.
Both Roberts and Smart were developing space-based PC games at the time, so they were rivals. But whereas Roberts' games were huge successes, Smart's effort (Battlecruiser 300AD, which took 7 years to make) was an abysmal failure.
So Roberts got all the prizes, and Smart had to watch the event on TV, so to speak.
Ok .. lets assume Chris Roberts gets a salary. ** Gasp ** It may even be more than what the average Joe gets.
Lets further assume he dares to go on vacation. E.g. to the beach. He pays for this vacation. Lets say he is living in style and spends a few 10k $.
How will the CIG books tell me if that vacation money was taken from CIG "illegally" and objectionably spent on Chris Roberts' "frivolous private activities" ? And not coming out of Chris Roberts funds from a bank account that existed before November 2012 (Star Citizen Kickstarter), with money earned in his career so far?
Have fun
You don't know much about accounting practices do you?
"Social media gives legions of idiots the right to speak when they once only spoke at a bar after a glass of wine, without harming the community ... but now they have the same right to speak as a Nobel Prize winner. It's the invasion of the idiots”
― Umberto Eco
“Microtransactions? In a single player role-playing game? Are you nuts?” ― CD PROJEKT RED
Apparently, these haters don't know who they've been messing with. They've done woken up the beast. CIG will provide transparency and accountability dambit or they are going down! They will pee in their pants when they get a hold of this. Smart needs to start a crowd funding effort to help with this sham of a pyramid/ponzi scheme these guys have going. There are many of us who would support him in this effort.
Heads will roll and Derek Smart will be vindicated.
/laughs!!
I can't wait until you see the real Derek Smart, I really can't. You really think this is about your "cause" to him?
Trust me, I know just as much about Derek Smart as the next guy and I have nothing against him. He speaks his mind and is not beholden to what anyone else thinks of him. I find the fact that the man tells it like it is quite refreshing and commendable unlike so many developers in this industry who smile in your face like snail oil salesmen while all the while stabbing you in the back. That said, irrespective of anyone's opinion of Smart, everyone should be able to separate the man from the message. There are many of us who have been having the same concerns and questions that Smart is now asking. Just because it is Smart asking them does not invalidate these questions and concerns. You don't have to like the man to agree with premise of this cause. And that is for this company to show accountability for how those $85 MILLION in contributions have been allocated.
The backers of this project not only have the right, but they are deserving of that type of transparency from this company for the tens of millions of dollars that they have, in good faith, contributed. These questions and concerns have been raised before by many people, including many of the backers who have contributed to this project and they have all, in no uncertain terms, been silenced by CIG and many of their vocal die-hard supporters. Its long past due time that someone with a bit of authority stood up on behalf of the little guy who has not been able to gain any traction of their requests for a bit of accountability. Derek Smart has stepped up and become that man. And irrespective of any of his past accomplishments, or lack thereof, in this instance he should be commended.
For the record I've acknowledged more than once everything he said could be true. I just don't like people exploiting real issues real people have, for their own personal benefit. Considering his track record I have a hard time seeing it any other way. You realize if he fumbles this, it could very quickly ruin the main message as well as intent of it?
What is there to fumble? All he is asking for is a bit of transparency and accountability. If that is provided, all will be good and well, and all of this will go away. The only fumbling left to be done is going to come from CIG, and if they do fumble, that will be on them, not Derek Smart. Apparently, Smart is quite certain that something is amiss and not quite right with the goings-on in this venture. As such, he is pursuing what his gut instincts are telling him and backing it up with his own money. There are only two possible outcomes to this entire series of events, and that is that everything is up to par and running as it should be, or they aren't. Neither outcome is bad for the backers of this project. They deserve to know what is going on.
And I can't wait until donators see how much cash these people have spent on there own personal lives.
Nor can I if that is the case.
People DO know that Chris Roberts was not exactly poor as a church mouse even BEFORE he started this project, do they not ?
I am interested ... HOW will people know if ANY money spend on his private life came from the last 2.5 years of his life (and out of the crowdfunding money) instead of the first 44 years of his life (and the money earned from a few world famous computer games like Wing Commander and various Hollywood blockbuster movies like Lord of War) ?
Have fun
I gotta stop editing my posts to add more thoughts, ha... This is what i added after you started to quote it..."Yet you have to remember that money is to pay their salaries, that's the point of kickstarter. People can't do this and work a full time job as well, hence the main reason in going for crowdfunding in the first place. It's money to maintain the business, which is essential to have a game. So you can bet any crowdfunded studio is using that money in their personal lives"
Correct. I suspect that if this "forensic accounting" ever happens, the worst offense they might find is hiring too many people, paying good salaries and "wasted" R&D... a long way from malfeasance.
Poor budget management is not a criminal offense last time I looked.
Exactly
For every minute you are angry , you lose 60 seconds of happiness."-Emerson
You don't know much about accounting practices do you?
Fiscal authorities have not busted me yet.
Neither the company ;-)
Even got a clean slate from the Austrian Federal Court of Audit ... which happens about once when hell freezes over (99 % of all audits by the Austrian Federal Court of Audit come up with findings).
So ... yeah ... know a thing or two about accounting ....
Did Robert's trashtalk him or his games while hyping up SC or something?
Nah, this vendetta goes waaaay back to the nineties.
Both Roberts and Smart were developing space-based PC games at the time, so they were rivals. But whereas Roberts' games were huge successes, Smart's effort (Battlecruiser 300AD, which took 7 years to make) was an abysmal failure.
So Roberts got all the prizes, and Smart had to watch the event on TV, so to speak.
He has been salty ever since...
Ah, an old vendetta! That'd do it even more.
My SWTOR referral link for those wanting to give the game a try. (Newbies get a welcome package while returning players get a few account upgrades to help with their preferred status.)
For the record I've acknowledged more than once everything he said could be true. I just don't like people exploiting real issues real people have, for their own personal benefit. Considering his track record I have a hard time seeing it any other way. You realize if he fumbles this, it could very quickly ruin the main message as well as intent of it?
What is there to fumble? All he is asking for is a bit of transparency and accountability. If that is provided, all will be good and well, and all of this will go away. The only fumbling left to be done is going to come from CIG, and if they do fumble, that will be on them, not Derek Smart. Apparently, Smart is quite certain that something is amiss and not quite right with the goings-on in this venture. As such, he is pursuing what his gut instincts are telling him and backing it up with his own money. There are only two possible outcomes to this entire series of events, and that is that everything is up to par and running as it should be, or they aren't. Neither outcome is bad for the backers of this project. They deserve to know what is going on.
I'll just say it as simple as possible DS has the eyes of the media (who are very familiar with his colorful past), if it turns sour which with him involved it's not a thought from left field.., with the modern media being the modern media (clicks before all else) the story becomes "Derek Smart up to his old tricks" which creates plausible deniability around the whole mess for CIG.
SO again the media being the media follows the intrigue, which is now "Smart trying and failing to expose CIG of wrong doing". Sure I could be wrong, I'm not clairvoyant. That's just something I see as being a real possibility.
For every minute you are angry , you lose 60 seconds of happiness."-Emerson
Apparently, these haters don't know who they've been messing with. They've done woken up the beast. CIG will provide transparency and accountability dambit or they are going down! They will pee in their pants when they get a hold of this. Smart needs to start a crowd funding effort to help with this sham of a pyramid/ponzi scheme these guys have going. There are many of us who would support him in this effort.
Heads will roll and Derek Smart will be vindicated.
/laughs!!
I can't wait until you see the real Derek Smart, I really can't. You really think this is about your "cause" to him?
Trust me, I know just as much about Derek Smart as the next guy and I have nothing against him. He speaks his mind and is not beholden to what anyone else thinks of him. I find the fact that the man tells it like it is quite refreshing and commendable unlike so many developers in this industry who smile in your face like snail oil salesmen while all the while stabbing you in the back. That said, irrespective of anyone's opinion of Smart, everyone should be able to separate the man from the message. There are many of us who have been having the same concerns and questions that Smart is now asking. Just because it is Smart asking them does not invalidate these questions and concerns. You don't have to like the man to agree with premise of this cause. And that is for this company to show accountability for how those $85 MILLION in contributions have been allocated.
The backers of this project not only have the right, but they are deserving of that type of transparency from this company for the tens of millions of dollars that they have, in good faith, contributed. These questions and concerns have been raised before by many people, including many of the backers who have contributed to this project and they have all, in no uncertain terms, been silenced by CIG and many of their vocal die-hard supporters. Its long past due time that someone with a bit of authority stood up on behalf of the little guy who has not been able to gain any traction of their requests for a bit of accountability. Derek Smart has stepped up and become that man. And irrespective of any of his past accomplishments, or lack thereof, in this instance he should be commended.
For the record I've acknowledged more than once everything he said could be true. I just don't like people exploiting real issues real people have, for their own personal benefit. Considering his track record I have a hard time seeing it any other way. You realize if he fumbles this, it could very quickly ruin the main message as well as intent of it?
What is there to fumble? All he is asking for is a bit of transparency and accountability. If that is provided, all will be good and well, and all of this will go away. The only fumbling left to be done is going to come from CIG, and if they do fumble, that will be on them, not Derek Smart. Apparently, Smart is quite certain that something is amiss and not quite right with the goings-on in this venture. As such, he is pursuing what his gut instincts are telling him and backing it up with his own money. There are only two possible outcomes to this entire series of events, and that is that everything is up to par and running as it should be, or they aren't. Neither outcome is bad for the backers of this project. They deserve to know what is going on.
All he is asking for is transparency and accountability? YEah, down the barrel of a lawsuit, and with the added bonus of demanding the people who created the project; managed to find a unique way to fund a AAA MMO title; and have poured 3 years of life into it to 'resign'.
Ok .. lets assume Chris Roberts gets a salary. ** Gasp ** It may even be more than what the average Joe gets.
Lets further assume he dares to go on vacation. E.g. to the beach. He pays for this vacation. Lets say he is living in style and spends a few 10k $.
How will the CIG books tell me if that vacation money was taken from CIG "illegally" and objectionably spent on Chris Roberts' "frivolous private activities" ? And not coming out of Chris Roberts funds from a bank account that existed before November 2012 (Star Citizen Kickstarter), with money earned in his career so far?
Have fun
Robert's should be keeping accurate accounts of the money contributed and how that money is being allocated in regard to the development of this game. If he hasn't been doing that he will be going down, and most deservedly so. These contributions should not be getting mixed up with his own career savings. If they are, then again, that is on him. That's what accountants are hired to do. If he doesn't have an accountant, he needs to hire one real quick. They are known to do wonders with numbers even after money's have been spent. As a matter of fact, I am certain that he is probably on the phone with his accountant(s) (and lawyers) as we speak. If not, it would certainly be in his best interest. I would highly recommend it.
You don't know much about accounting practices do you?
Fiscal authorities have not busted me yet.
Neither the company ;-)
Even got a clean slate from the Austrian Federal Court of Audit ... which happens about once when hell freezes over (99 % of all audits by the Austrian Federal Court of Audit come up with findings).
So ... yeah ... know a thing or two about accounting ....
Have fun
Well then you should know better than to make silly statements like:
"And not coming out of Chris Roberts funds from a bank account that existed before November 2012 (Star Citizen Kickstarter), with money earned in his career so far?"
... since you should know that the SC/RSI books don't co-mingle with his private funds.
"Social media gives legions of idiots the right to speak when they once only spoke at a bar after a glass of wine, without harming the community ... but now they have the same right to speak as a Nobel Prize winner. It's the invasion of the idiots”
― Umberto Eco
“Microtransactions? In a single player role-playing game? Are you nuts?” ― CD PROJEKT RED
Correct. I suspect that if this "forensic accounting" ever happens, the worst offense they might find is hiring too many people, paying good salaries and "wasted" R&D... a long way from malfeasance.
Poor budget management is not a criminal offense last time I looked.
Exactly
This is not about criminal liability (although many people would be delighted if that could be proven) as much as about revealing "bad management".
Because if there's clear evidence of incompetence, then there's a strong case for the removal of the CEO (Roberts) and the appointment of a new one.
By appointing himself as the de-facto leader of the dissent, Derek Smart is no doubt hoping that he can maneuvre himself into the CEO's chair once the dust has settled. The tactic worked once before at Alganon, no harm in trying it again at SC. If it only costs him $1M to gain control of SC's $85M, it will be the heist of the century...
Comments
Trust me, I know just as much about Derek Smart as the next guy and I have nothing against him. He speaks his mind and is not beholden to what anyone else thinks of him. I find the fact that the man tells it like it is quite refreshing and commendable unlike so many developers in this industry who smile in your face like snail oil salesmen while all the while stabbing you in the back. That said, irrespective of anyone's opinion of Smart, everyone should be able to separate the man from the message. There are many of us who have been having the same concerns and questions that Smart is now asking. Just because it is Smart asking them does not invalidate these questions and concerns. You don't have to like the man to agree with premise of this cause. And that is for this company to show accountability for how those $85 MILLION in contributions have been allocated.
The backers of this project not only have the right, but they are deserving of that type of transparency from this company for the tens of millions of dollars that they have, in good faith, contributed. These questions and concerns have been raised before by many people, including many of the backers who have contributed to this project and they have all, in no uncertain terms, been silenced by CIG and many of their vocal die-hard supporters. Its long past due time that someone with a bit of authority stood up on behalf of the little guy who has not been able to gain any traction of their requests for a bit of accountability. Derek Smart has stepped up and become that man. And irrespective of any of his past accomplishments, or lack thereof, in this instance he should be commended.
You do realise that if crowdfunding worked like that, no game would ever actually be made, right ?
The internet is awash with nutjobs that will make it their personal goal to ruin every Kickstarter project in existence. Simply because they can. Just look at some of the opinions expressed on these forums, and imagine what would happen if you gave these people the actual power to interfere in development projects...
*shudder*
“Microtransactions? In a single player role-playing game? Are you nuts?”
― CD PROJEKT RED
People DO know that Chris Roberts was not exactly poor as a church mouse even BEFORE he started this project, do they not ?
I am interested ... HOW will people know if ANY money spend on his private life came from the last 2.5 years of his life (and out of the crowdfunding money) instead of the first 44 years of his life (and the money earned from a few world famous computer games like Wing Commander and various Hollywood blockbuster movies like Lord of War) ?
Have fun
Well... even crowdfundees keep books, don't they?
“Microtransactions? In a single player role-playing game? Are you nuts?”
― CD PROJEKT RED
This is based upon his 'instincts' and 'gut feeling'. Please point to any project that Derek Smart has done that hasn't been critically panned by players and critics.
The only MMO he has ever been a part of, Alganon, only came into his grasps through a hostile takeover. And, at the time, there were rumors that he primarily wanted Alganon's code to try and build his own MMO off of.
Even his LOD has been delayed by THREE years and still hasn't been released.
Anyone that trusts Derek Smart's 'instincts' may as well also accept they're a fool.
Damn, he's really got it out for these guys.
Did Robert's trashtalk him or his games while hyping up SC or something?
My SWTOR referral link for those wanting to give the game a try. (Newbies get a welcome package while returning players get a few account upgrades to help with their preferred status.)
https://www.ashesofcreation.com/ref/Callaron/
For the record I've acknowledged more than once everything he said could be true. I just don't like people exploiting real issues real people have, for their own personal benefit. Considering his track record I have a hard time seeing it any other way. You realize if he fumbles this, it could very quickly ruin the main message as well as intent of it?
For every minute you are angry , you lose 60 seconds of happiness."-Emerson
People pay taxes, taxed income must have a source....
Companies also keep records of things such as what they spent money on, including payroll and taxable benefits.
I gotta stop editing my posts to add more thoughts, ha... This is what i added after you started to quote it..."Yet you have to remember that money is to pay their salaries, that's the point of kickstarter. People can't do this and work a full time job as well, hence the main reason in going for crowdfunding in the first place. It's money to maintain the business, which is essential to have a game. So you can bet any crowdfunded studio is using that money in their personal lives"
For every minute you are angry , you lose 60 seconds of happiness."-Emerson
Not necessary... Derek is like a perpetual motion machine: no winding-up required.
“Microtransactions? In a single player role-playing game? Are you nuts?”
― CD PROJEKT RED
Ok .. lets assume Chris Roberts gets a salary. ** Gasp ** It may even be more than what the average Joe gets.
Lets further assume he dares to go on vacation. E.g. to the beach. He pays for this vacation. Lets say he is living in style and spends a few 10k $.
How will the CIG books tell me if that vacation money was taken from CIG "illegally" and objectionably spent on Chris Roberts' "frivolous private activities" ? And not coming out of Chris Roberts funds from a bank account that existed before November 2012 (Star Citizen Kickstarter), with money earned in his career so far?
Have fun
Correct. I suspect that if this "forensic accounting" ever happens, the worst offense they might find is hiring too many people, paying good salaries and "wasted" R&D... a long way from malfeasance.
Poor budget management is not a criminal offense last time I looked.
“Microtransactions? In a single player role-playing game? Are you nuts?”
― CD PROJEKT RED
Nah, this vendetta goes waaaay back to the nineties.
Both Roberts and Smart were developing space-based PC games at the time, so they were rivals. But whereas Roberts' games were huge successes, Smart's effort (Battlecruiser 300AD, which took 7 years to make) was an abysmal failure.
So Roberts got all the prizes, and Smart had to watch the event on TV, so to speak.
He has been salty ever since...
You don't know much about accounting practices do you?
“Microtransactions? In a single player role-playing game? Are you nuts?”
― CD PROJEKT RED
What is there to fumble? All he is asking for is a bit of transparency and accountability. If that is provided, all will be good and well, and all of this will go away. The only fumbling left to be done is going to come from CIG, and if they do fumble, that will be on them, not Derek Smart. Apparently, Smart is quite certain that something is amiss and not quite right with the goings-on in this venture. As such, he is pursuing what his gut instincts are telling him and backing it up with his own money. There are only two possible outcomes to this entire series of events, and that is that everything is up to par and running as it should be, or they aren't. Neither outcome is bad for the backers of this project. They deserve to know what is going on.
Exactly
For every minute you are angry , you lose 60 seconds of happiness."-Emerson
Fiscal authorities have not busted me yet.
Neither the company ;-)
Even got a clean slate from the Austrian Federal Court of Audit ... which happens about once when hell freezes over (99 % of all audits by the Austrian Federal Court of Audit come up with findings).
So ... yeah ... know a thing or two about accounting ....
Have fun
Ah, an old vendetta! That'd do it even more.
My SWTOR referral link for those wanting to give the game a try. (Newbies get a welcome package while returning players get a few account upgrades to help with their preferred status.)
https://www.ashesofcreation.com/ref/Callaron/
I'll just say it as simple as possible DS has the eyes of the media (who are very familiar with his colorful past), if it turns sour which with him involved it's not a thought from left field.., with the modern media being the modern media (clicks before all else) the story becomes "Derek Smart up to his old tricks" which creates plausible deniability around the whole mess for CIG.
SO again the media being the media follows the intrigue, which is now "Smart trying and failing to expose CIG of wrong doing". Sure I could be wrong, I'm not clairvoyant. That's just something I see as being a real possibility.
For every minute you are angry , you lose 60 seconds of happiness."-Emerson
All he is asking for is transparency and accountability? YEah, down the barrel of a lawsuit, and with the added bonus of demanding the people who created the project; managed to find a unique way to fund a AAA MMO title; and have poured 3 years of life into it to 'resign'.
Yeah, he's being reasonable here...
Robert's should be keeping accurate accounts of the money contributed and how that money is being allocated in regard to the development of this game. If he hasn't been doing that he will be going down, and most deservedly so. These contributions should not be getting mixed up with his own career savings. If they are, then again, that is on him. That's what accountants are hired to do. If he doesn't have an accountant, he needs to hire one real quick. They are known to do wonders with numbers even after money's have been spent. As a matter of fact, I am certain that he is probably on the phone with his accountant(s) (and lawyers) as we speak. If not, it would certainly be in his best interest. I would highly recommend it.
Well then you should know better than to make silly statements like:
"And not coming out of Chris Roberts funds from a bank account that existed before November 2012 (Star Citizen Kickstarter), with money earned in his career so far?"
... since you should know that the SC/RSI books don't co-mingle with his private funds.
“Microtransactions? In a single player role-playing game? Are you nuts?”
― CD PROJEKT RED
This is not about criminal liability (although many people would be delighted if that could be proven) as much as about revealing "bad management".
Because if there's clear evidence of incompetence, then there's a strong case for the removal of the CEO (Roberts) and the appointment of a new one.
By appointing himself as the de-facto leader of the dissent, Derek Smart is no doubt hoping that he can maneuvre himself into the CEO's chair once the dust has settled. The tactic worked once before at Alganon, no harm in trying it again at SC. If it only costs him $1M to gain control of SC's $85M, it will be the heist of the century...