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EverQuest II: Alan "Brenlo" Crosby Departs SOE
MikeB
Community ManagerAdministrator RarePosts: 6,555
Alan "Brenlo" Crosby, a long-time Sony Online Entertainment employee, and EverQuest II producer, has stepped down from EverQuest II and departed SOE to move on to "other opportunities."
This story was brought to light by fans who discovered that Brenlo changed his job status on Facebook. ZAM picked up the story, and were given a "no comment" in response, getting the rumor mill churning. Below is SOE's official response, confirming that Brenlo has indeed left the company:
After many years of service, Alan "Brenlo" Crosby has decided to leave SOE to pursue other opportunities. And while it is sad to see him leave, we wish him the best of luck in his new endeavors.
At this time, we'd like to take a moment to introduce EverQuest II's new producer, Dave Georgeson. Dave is excited to join the EQII Team and will be posting an introduction in the near future.
View the official announcement here.
We at MMORPG.com would like to wish Alan the best of luck in all his future endeavors!
Comments
My immediate thought was "Who ate all the pies"
I have never liked the way he handled the player communities in EQ1 & EQ2. He was always condescending, well at least in EQ1 anyway. Rytan and him would come to the Shaman Crucible boards and talk about stuff they had no idea about (slow mitigation, caps on stats). They should have just deleted shaman and switched everyone over to beastlord :P. Hrmmm I just realized I'm still a little bitter
good news for that title!
lol "good news"
It'll be interesting to see what the new person brings to the table.
I think it will be good for EQ II, the game was getting a bit stale. Perhaps the new person can bring some originality to the table.
ZAM picked up the story? AGL was talking with Alan that morning and posted this at least 10 minutes before they did.
Tip us off next time and we'll be sure to credit ya!
Thankee. We just figured you scoured the web like us, we didn't think to actually let people know when we come across things. But now we have the tip
We're still somewhat noobs at this, especially since we've primarily focused on guild leaders.
God , I am going to miss that guy. I going to send him a lovely fruit basket.
Unaware of the Jestor?
http://about.me/JestorRodo/
Friends enjoy his classic Vblog - https://www.facebook.com/GoodOldReliableNathan
Now if Smed will just follow Brenlo's lead SOE may still have time to recover some semblance of positive reputation in the gaming world.
be sure to tip us off as well and we'll give you credit too
Always heard vague remarks of how he screwed with rangers but I never heard what they accuse him of. I have played a EQ2 ranger for a long time and I played one in EQ1 before gates of discord came out. If he did something to them on EQ1 when I wasn't there, that would explain a lot.
The last thing EQ2 needs is yet another change in leadership/direction of the title.
Not really sure why someone gets promoted from community manager to game producer, but whatever.
Good luck Brenlo.
After you with the time machine..
I had no problem with Brenlos work (but of course I was playing Meridian and Lineage at the EQ time so I missed whatever he did then) and wishes him the best of luck.
I hope however that the new guy have some fresh ideas. EQ2 is a rather good game but it hasn't really happened that much the last 2 years and if the game plans to have a chance against upcoming games a few good ideas would help.
The guildhalls were a great idea and the crafting works fine to me (even though the grind is somewhat high) but the game still needs a lot more things to do besides combat. Some real gambling in the taverns would be cool and the guild should be able to design their own guildhall among other things.
It's not surprising if you get caught having sex with the community manager in your office that you'll be changing your job status in Facebook.
I think we can all come away with a lesson in all of this...don't dip the wick at work.
I think while EQ2 is indeed a good game it is an old game and really at this stage SOE would be better off putting effort into EQ3/EQ Next in terms of game development. As it is you're probably talking a few more years of less ambitious expansions for EQ/EQ2, these don't cost that much for SoE to produce every year or two, and as long as they still make money old games will continue, EQ has really entered the Retro gaming arena now, along with UO...etc. As a result no surprise to see Alan Crosby leave for elsewhere. Problem with Sony and game development is they have to have a viable business plan in their heads, and really at the moment Free Realms, DC Universe Online, and Magic the Gathering are where all there action is, very different games from EQ/EQ2. I think in terms of Fantasy genre mmo really the only game that might recapture the EQ feeling for folks is FF XIV, but again a very different game, but one that is being done very well by Square.