JDanford says farewell

O-A Dungeon Lovers,

Nothing really prepares you to write something like this. As I proceed I know I will delete and re-write until the hour allotted to this turns into an afternoon, and the afternoon turns into a week of me staring at a blank page. I just dont know how to say farewell. I dont know how to express my thoughts on Trendy Entertainment. I dont know how to tell this community that I will genuinely miss it. But as Ive learned in these last few sentences, I guess I just have to write. I just have to push forward.

As you can see, Im leaving Trendy Entertainment. Im stepping into another field; another opportunity. I have weighed my options and realized that I want to try something new. Im a Florida boy ready to depart for the cold, cold promises of the north. I havent so much found something better; Ive just found something different.

Trendy Entertainment is a family. I wish every job out there could promise the same. Trendy is a close group of friends. We have spent countless days and nights sitting in tight cramped rooms plunging head first into whatever our current project may be. I have raged and argue with fellow employees but at the end of the day all is forgiven, because Trendy is a family.

Trendy is a company fueled by passion for the industry. Every employee is here because of their love for video games. It is this passion that allowed such a small team to create such an incredible game on four different platforms. It is this passion that kept employees sitting at their desks for 13, 14, and 15 hour shifts. It is this passion that makes leaving so very difficult. The game industry is brutal. It doesnt care about you or your life. It is an industry that you must commit to. Unlike other businesses, your customers are your fans. When you let your customer down, youre upsetting someone that believed in you and gave you true support. You are hitting them at a personal level even if the intent was never there. The work you must put in is exhausting, and it is near impossible to ever explain to someone, I dont sit around playing video games all day; this is not a constant party where we throw money at each other. Thankfully, Trendy has the passion to push past what makes most balk. Trendy also has the close ties that allows its employees to support one another during the seemingly never ending crunch time.

This team is talented. From our Artists to our Engineers, this game has been developed by guys that are simply brilliant. Then theres our fearless leader Jeremy Steiglitz. Jer is a madman. He is mad in his work ethic and mad in his willingness to swing for the fences every time. When our team members go home exhausted after working 10am to 1am... Jeremy is still here. He has an addiction to what he does, and without him Dungeon Defenders would never be. He can make me rage like any boss Ive ever had, but his passion and talent is inspiring. On those long nights of testing till the sun comes up, it was Jer who would buy us Pizza and Soda and sit down to help us through the entire evening. My respect for him and the rest of the team, this Trendy family, will likely never be outdone by any other workforce I ever join.

Our community has exceeded everything we could have ever predicted. I know you guys by your screen names. I have visual representations for you in my minds eye. Many of you I have known for nearly a year and you have become my friends. All you guys that have given me and the rest of this team support are like cousins to the Trendy family. You are incredibly important to us in a way that far exceeds the normal customer/sales relationship. Some of you have been around for nearly a year and a half. You played DunDef in its most simple and unbalanced form. You played on phones that could barely keep up with the high demands of the game. Our community was small and close. I even made ridiculous videos to avoid restrictions on what we were permitted to do, just to show you gameplay footage (and because I love making Flexypoo put on a dress). We had a couple uber trolls (one that I do wish hadnt left) and some wonderfully evil noobs. Fin strolled the forums with his mighty ban hammer, Naed began maintaining our first official IRC, and the man formerly known as David reigned king over all things Second Wave. As we progressed ClassicBlack became Classic, Kanibal had and incredibly large kitten, my favorite troll left (where for art thou quash), and we even had a very sexy T-rex. I could continue on throwing out more names of guys that have been so incredible on these forums (ex: Jetah, Zioralsa, Kingbalmung, Jakomo, Crazedfish, LtEarth) but I will refrain.

When the game finally released, the forums exploded. We hit unbelievable and overwhelming numbers. The community became massive overnight. You guys cared about our game and the direction it would take. You have helped mold Dungeon Defenders into everything it is. You also helped mold our company. We learned as much from you as we did from the process of making the game. The team doesnt have the opportunity as I do to express the gratitude that we feel for our fans, but let me try by simply saying Thank You.

I know that as Trendy moves forward with DunDef and with new projects, everything will improve. We have learned from our missteps. We have absorbed the brutal honesty of gaming fans. We have taken the blows to a project that we care so much about and rolled with them. I truly hope that every person will continue forward with Trendy as everything will simply be better. Every project will be a step forward. If you even received 20 hours of enjoyment out of the $15 game made by our small team... then I hope youre stoked for TEs future now that it has sturdier and more experienced legs to run on. And yes, I say run. Trendy is not a group to simply stand still. The passion I spoke of will not allow the team to be idle. Trendy will move forward. Better and Stronger.

I do want to quickly thank all our interns. Steven, Dylan, The Brothers B, Charles in Charge, and others who gave insane amounts of their personal time to help get Dungeon Defenders to you. I could not have done any of this without them.

This leads me to Hitmonchan. Grade A intern that helped me immensely with Community Support. If you havent noticed, Ive already made him an Admin on the forums. Hitmonchan, with my personal recommendation, will be the new Community Manager for these forums, and will also head up Customer Support. This community, along with Trendy, is gaining a huge asset. Hitmon not only has the passion and drive to run the community, but he has a personal dedication to bringing this companys customer support out of the dark and into the holy light of rainbows and unicorns (no ponies allowed in Customer Support). Regardless of the reasons our support has suffered, I truly believe that between Hitmons personal dedication and Trendys intent on keeping him and his new team focused on one goal, that you will see stalwart improvements and stability in service. Trendy listens and cares. Now that the company has the ability, they have chosen to put a strong focus in this department.

Before I end this I also must give a HUGE thank you to my Mods. Jetah, Finally, Naed, Classic, Kanibal, and IceArrow... I cant say enough. These guys have no attachments to Trendy Entertainment yet they willingly give up their time to help this community. I hope people realize what you guys have given to support this company while receiving nothing in return. I consider each of you my co-worker and friend.

Have no fear though! While I may be leaving, TeamSODA will always exist. I will always consider myself a member of the Trendy Family. I am incredibly proud of the work I have done and the relationships I have built. Im stoked to see Trendy move forward. Im stoked that I can say I was there in the beginning. Being a gamer myself, Im sure Ill see you guys out there in the massive world of vidja games. If you see me, dont hesitate to say O-A.

Thank You and Farewell,
JDanford
TeamSODA

Be sure to check out Hitmonchan's introduction over in the Introduce Yourself thread.

Good Luck with whatever you're going into. I must say though, that I personally find the opportunities in the northern regions of the US to be rather lacking... But hey, ya gotta keep things fresh, so its unsderstandable to want such a big change in your life.

Best wishes to you and a hearty thank you for all you have done. Hope you find what you are searching for.

Good luck and thank you for everything!

Best of luck in the future, thanks for helping make Dungeon Defenders great.

Nyawwwwwww We'll miss you 3
TeamSODA FTW!

Wish you the best and best of luck in whatever you do next, thanks for everything

Thank you for all of your hard work on Dungeon Defenders, and the very best of luck for the future, whatever you may choose to do. Stay safe.

:( .

Goodbye friend! Best wishes and may you get B... well the ladies ;)

I'm sad to hear you're leaving JDanford, I hope your life works out for you wherever you're moving.

bye byes!

Good luck with whatever you move onto do. Thanks, for the support you put behind my tutorials!

Hope you enjoy your new job!

=( Danford's leaving?! So sad... I remember when he first showed face in the forums.. Good luck in your dreams! Don't forget to turn DD on every so often!

First my monk master Tsuda and now my Arena foe. =( Farewell brother and best of luck to you.

Thanks Mates!

Don't worry though, I'll still show my face now and then :)

This is a sad day in Etheria.

Thank you Soda, for everything you have done for the community. For the long hours, for taking the abuse that the community shoveled and for being there for us when we needed it.

Where many companies could have turned a blind eye, you became the face of the community through thick and thin, and we will all be very sad to see you go.

I know it was a challenge to trust a hot head Airman from the land of Aus, but I'm glad you trusted me with this responsibility.

I wish you the very best in the future, keep in touch and live life to the fullest! Speak to you Soda Soon TM


-Classic

You sir JDanford will be missed!

TeamSODA 4 Life!

Northern tip #1:

The best way to combat the cold is shorts and a sweatshirt.

Best of luck for your new job, and thank you for all you did for us and for DD :)

[quote]let me try by simply saying Thank You[/quote]
Same to you! Enjoy your life and your new job as well.

May only The BEST pudding find you..............
Fair winds and following sea's to you my friend.

Best luck to you and your future endeavors.

Welcome to snow m8 ;)

You choose the best time since its about to start!

You'll be missed. Best of luck in your next adventure!