I found this topic in SF and my heart sank
You can read his Journal for confirmation
Our Hero is gone....
Found a user conducted interview with Uncle Kenny some might find interesting
Quote:
Dref Dur: *holds up microphone*
Hey there Uncle Kenny! Dref Dur here, can I have a moment of your time?
Was hoping you might be able to have a quick interview. Nothing too serious, just a sort of light hearted interview. wink heart
(Congratulations on your new opportunity by the way!)
Uncle Kenny: Ha, sure, go for it.
Dref Dur: 1) In all of your years here Uncle Kenny, and all of your experience it seems newfound opportunity has created a turn in which you will no longer be working with Gaia Interactive.
How does this make you feel?
Uncle Kenny: I am still bound by NDA so there's some stuff I can't talk about but I'll answer what I can!
I don't think it's fully set in that I'm actually gone yet. Even sleeping in today and not going into the office feels kind of weird. Overall though, it's a really big change since Gaia has been a pretty big part of my life for years now. It'll be really different but I made a big jump to come out here in the first place and that worked out well so I'm hoping this jump will also work out.
Dref Dur: 2) I can imagine it must've been quite the adjustment coming and working for Gaia! The company itself has changed so much, even over the years you've been on staff with them!
Over your years with Gaia, what are some changes that really stick out to you?
Uncle Kenny: I think the two biggest changes I can think of would be when Gaia moved into the social/mobile gaming industry and then when the company moved back out of it more recently. I think those two things caused the biggest shifts in terms of internal changes and direction that Gaia Online went in.
Dref Dur: I can definitely see how this would cause some big changes! It's not easy for a company to take a risk and really put themselves out there to try something new! And mobile gaming platform can be a very unpredictable market!
3) Gaia Online still has some risky future ventures in the works as we know! Some of the ones users constantly associated you with in the past included the Wedding/Marriage System, the Pets system, various events and even the Loyalty Shop!
I can guess you probably can't speak much as to those projects, but due to your no longer being with Gaia can we expect any of those upcoming projects to now be cancelled?
Uncle Kenny: Obviously I don't know either way but I doubt they'll be cancelled just because I'm gone. There are still Devs left at Gaia who can work on it and I left what documentation I could for anybody who continues it. I was only the one assigned to work on the projects so they'll probably continue on without me.
Dref Dur: Okay, I gotcha! Thanks for the heads up! Sometimes it can be hard to tell what will happen with things like that! sweatdrop
4) Recently we've seen an increase in NPC-user interaction. A lot of old fans are springing up again, and are loving some attention with the characters! Now that you'll have time to be a normal user when you're not working at your new job, you'll be freed up to enjoy things again!
Are there any NPCs that are your favorites?
Uncle Kenny: The holiday NPCs are probably my favorite which made the events of last year all the more fun for me. Being able to build up to an epic showdown between Easter Bunny and Jack was awesome.
Dref Dur: I don't think you're alone on that one Uncle Kenny, so many people are big fans of the holiday NPCs! That Jack and Easter Bunny sure know how to rumble, huh? wink And moving right along to the next question:
5) You said in your journal entry you were a Moderator for Gaia and then once you graduated college you pretty much wound up working there pretty quick, right? We hear a lot of people on the site who are very passionate express interest in working for Gaia.
For aspiring Gaia staff, what advice would you give on preparing for such an opportunity?
Uncle Kenny: I'm not very good at advice but I guess the best suggestion I have is to just make yourself known to those who can help you get to where you want to be. You can be the greatest at what you do but unless you reach out and make sure the right people know you exist, nothing can ever really happen.
Dref Dur: And what great advice! It's true you can be as prepared as you want, but you've got to get your foot in the door somehow! Very solid advice!
7) We're on our last two questions of the interview, I hope I didn't take up too much of your time! With the future laying wide open, this sudden dramatic turn of events is going to have users all topsy turvy!
Anything you want to say to users who might be worried about future projects? Anything you might be able to tell them to get excited for?
Uncle Kenny: Afraid I can't really give away any info about future projects but there are still Developers there so they should be able to handle any projects that come down the line.
Dref Dur: 8 ) There has been a massive outpouring of support on the news of your departure from Gaia Interactive. As I'm sure you've seen in the forums, users left and right are showing not only shock buth eartfelt goodbyes and appreciation for all your hard work on our beloved website!
Is there anything you'd like to say, a farewell message if you will for those reacting to the news?
Uncle Kenny: All I can say is that I'll miss everyone and am sorry for the sudden news. Everything works out in the end though.
Dref Dur: Okay Uncle Kenny! Great interview, and thanks for your time!
You will definitely be missed, and we thank you for your support over time! Best of luck, and you'll be seeing our interview in the forums tonight! wink heart
Hey there Uncle Kenny! Dref Dur here, can I have a moment of your time?
Was hoping you might be able to have a quick interview. Nothing too serious, just a sort of light hearted interview. wink heart
(Congratulations on your new opportunity by the way!)
Uncle Kenny: Ha, sure, go for it.
Dref Dur: 1) In all of your years here Uncle Kenny, and all of your experience it seems newfound opportunity has created a turn in which you will no longer be working with Gaia Interactive.
How does this make you feel?
Uncle Kenny: I am still bound by NDA so there's some stuff I can't talk about but I'll answer what I can!
I don't think it's fully set in that I'm actually gone yet. Even sleeping in today and not going into the office feels kind of weird. Overall though, it's a really big change since Gaia has been a pretty big part of my life for years now. It'll be really different but I made a big jump to come out here in the first place and that worked out well so I'm hoping this jump will also work out.
Dref Dur: 2) I can imagine it must've been quite the adjustment coming and working for Gaia! The company itself has changed so much, even over the years you've been on staff with them!
Over your years with Gaia, what are some changes that really stick out to you?
Uncle Kenny: I think the two biggest changes I can think of would be when Gaia moved into the social/mobile gaming industry and then when the company moved back out of it more recently. I think those two things caused the biggest shifts in terms of internal changes and direction that Gaia Online went in.
Dref Dur: I can definitely see how this would cause some big changes! It's not easy for a company to take a risk and really put themselves out there to try something new! And mobile gaming platform can be a very unpredictable market!
3) Gaia Online still has some risky future ventures in the works as we know! Some of the ones users constantly associated you with in the past included the Wedding/Marriage System, the Pets system, various events and even the Loyalty Shop!
I can guess you probably can't speak much as to those projects, but due to your no longer being with Gaia can we expect any of those upcoming projects to now be cancelled?
Uncle Kenny: Obviously I don't know either way but I doubt they'll be cancelled just because I'm gone. There are still Devs left at Gaia who can work on it and I left what documentation I could for anybody who continues it. I was only the one assigned to work on the projects so they'll probably continue on without me.
Dref Dur: Okay, I gotcha! Thanks for the heads up! Sometimes it can be hard to tell what will happen with things like that! sweatdrop
4) Recently we've seen an increase in NPC-user interaction. A lot of old fans are springing up again, and are loving some attention with the characters! Now that you'll have time to be a normal user when you're not working at your new job, you'll be freed up to enjoy things again!
Are there any NPCs that are your favorites?
Uncle Kenny: The holiday NPCs are probably my favorite which made the events of last year all the more fun for me. Being able to build up to an epic showdown between Easter Bunny and Jack was awesome.
Dref Dur: I don't think you're alone on that one Uncle Kenny, so many people are big fans of the holiday NPCs! That Jack and Easter Bunny sure know how to rumble, huh? wink And moving right along to the next question:
5) You said in your journal entry you were a Moderator for Gaia and then once you graduated college you pretty much wound up working there pretty quick, right? We hear a lot of people on the site who are very passionate express interest in working for Gaia.
For aspiring Gaia staff, what advice would you give on preparing for such an opportunity?
Uncle Kenny: I'm not very good at advice but I guess the best suggestion I have is to just make yourself known to those who can help you get to where you want to be. You can be the greatest at what you do but unless you reach out and make sure the right people know you exist, nothing can ever really happen.
Dref Dur: And what great advice! It's true you can be as prepared as you want, but you've got to get your foot in the door somehow! Very solid advice!
7) We're on our last two questions of the interview, I hope I didn't take up too much of your time! With the future laying wide open, this sudden dramatic turn of events is going to have users all topsy turvy!
Anything you want to say to users who might be worried about future projects? Anything you might be able to tell them to get excited for?
Uncle Kenny: Afraid I can't really give away any info about future projects but there are still Developers there so they should be able to handle any projects that come down the line.
Dref Dur: 8 ) There has been a massive outpouring of support on the news of your departure from Gaia Interactive. As I'm sure you've seen in the forums, users left and right are showing not only shock buth eartfelt goodbyes and appreciation for all your hard work on our beloved website!
Is there anything you'd like to say, a farewell message if you will for those reacting to the news?
Uncle Kenny: All I can say is that I'll miss everyone and am sorry for the sudden news. Everything works out in the end though.
Dref Dur: Okay Uncle Kenny! Great interview, and thanks for your time!
You will definitely be missed, and we thank you for your support over time! Best of luck, and you'll be seeing our interview in the forums tonight! wink heart
Random Post by Uncle Kenny concerning remaining devs at Gaia
For those of you that don't know NDA = Non Disclosure Agreement.
Many companies, especially tech companies, require their employees to sign this agreement to protect company interests/endeavors/projects from information leakage for a certain time period, whether they are still employed by the company or not
*UPDATE*
Also, apparently ubermegAtrOn has left us this week as well sad
ubermegAtrOns Journal
Judging by his wording, there are only two Devs left
My source of info was found here
Really though, what the hell is going on right now scream
