Omnia Mutantur, Nihil Interit

Salutations!

Allow me, if you would, to interrupt your regularly scheduled Guild Wars conversations for a bit of news from myself, and what it means for this site.

You may recognize me as one of the founders of this site. You may know me as the person who taints the news updates with awful puns and reference jokes. If you've been around for quite some time, you may recognize me from Guild Wars OGaming, or even from The Guild Hall. In various capacities, I have been a part of the community a year and a half now. Through it all, despite whatever came to pass, these have truly been some of the best times that I have spent - which is why it makes it difficult for me to say goodbye.

Though this is a goodbye, that is only true in some senses - not all. I will soon be working at ArenaNet, as a member of the Community Relations Team. While I will no longer be posting, you can be certain that I will still be reading these, as well as the other Guild Wars forums.

Things will still continue the same as they always have without me, this site has a truly excellent staff - people that I am proud to have worked with, and called my friends. Some of whom i'd like to call out ... just because I can!

First and foremost, is THX. Were it not for him, none of this would have been possible in the first place. He got me started at OGaming, he referred me into the Alpha test, he has indulged me in otherwise obscure anime conversations, he has made so much of this site what it is today. Above all that, he has been a good friend. Sometimes even a sincere thank you can't seem to convey the weight which the words are meant to carry. This is one of those times, but all the same: Thank you.

Next is Sausaletus Rex. I haven't seen him post in a while - are you still with us? Are you going to see this? It needs to be said all the same. I can't remember when Saus and I first started talking. Maybe it was in the Alpha test, maybe it was in the IRC channels. It doesn't really matter how, just that I would still call him a good friend. Saus was, in his postings, quite unlike anyone else that I knew: exhaustively detailed, articulate, and insightful. He was not content just to be a fan of the game, he wanted to see everything be the best it could be. When we first started working together, he was the creative wall for me to bounce my ideas off of - and as the ideas grew, they only got better. Some of them, I think you can still see their effects in game. He pushed me to be more than just a good tester, but to be truly involved. I'm sorry that not everything turned out the way you had hoped it would, Saus, but even if you couldn't make all of those changes for the game - you still made some positive changes on those around you.

I'd like to thank Inde too - he probably won't let me say why, but suffice it to say - he's a good guy. And in reality, he's only half as evil as he appears to be when he's locking or deleting threads! Who would have thought it, right?

I want to thank those in the Zealots of Shiverpeak as well. They were the ragtag band of misfits that took me in when I had no Guild for the Alpha, and i've been with them ever since. The Guild will probably never have a name that is known for having l337 PvP skillz or excessive phat loot, but i've made some very dear friends in it from all across the community... that kind of thing never earns acclaim, but I assure you, it earns gratitude. Whenever something has gotten me down, or things have gotten rough.. someone in my Guild has always been there to cheer me up, or to talk me through it. I can only hope to be able to give as much back as they have given to me.

While i'm calling out Guilds, allow me also to single out the Amazon Basin and Spirits of War. I've certainly made friends in both, and it is always a pleasure when I get to game with them. I can't even begin to count the number of hours i've spent in testing missions with Freyas, and for all I know, i'm probably being stalked by Deadroot... even as i'm typing this. From the Guild that will not be named, I thank Aria for starting the official Spooky fanclub. Even if you did scare Gaile by doing so.

Lastly, but certainly not least, i'd like to thank everyone that has made up our community. You guys have been awesome, and it has really been my pleasure in being a part of this! I'm certain that comes across as a hokey thing to say, but I assure you that I mean it. Every 'thank you' i've ever been PM'ed, every whisper i've ever recieved in game, has just reaffirmed for me that of all the game communities I have been a part of - Guild Wars has been the best.

Hopefully I haven't left anyone out - but if I start thanking everyone I know, someone is going to hand me the Oscar just to get me off the stage. In all seriousness, the pleasure has been mine, and I look forward to being able to continue to help in my newer, more official capacity.

Thanks for taking the time out to read all of that, I know it got a bit long. I'll be seeing you around...
~ Spooky

*cries*

But congrats as well

Wow! Working for Anet is quite an achievement

Congrats, and have a great time working for the big guys who made this great game :3

Yay For Spooky!

Congrats.

Thanks for putting all that effort towards making GuildWars and this fansite possible. Hope you have a good time getting paid to make this game as good as it can be! Good luck!

Sorry to see you go, and yet happy as hell for you. Good luck Spooky.

I didn't really know you spooky, but 3 cheers for your new job and I hope that it pays off both with satisfaction and the evil cursed resource we never stop needing.

A sad day it was when we all saw your resignation from OGaming... and a sad day it is to see you resign from your own "baby". I wish you all the luck in this big step in your life Spooky, moving from the east coast to the west isn't probably an easy task! And don't worry, I'l make sure to get Deadroot's attention while you move, since then he wont be able to track you down!

Oh well, best luck to you!

Wow that is a huge honor. I am positive that you are the right man for the job. You have the experience, knowledge, and great charism. If you can't make Guild Wars, or the connection A net has with us, better than I think noone else can and we are all screwed.

Congrats!

PS: Bug the people at A.Net to check the "game suggestions" thread sometime ^.^

Congrats I'm glad someone from the forum works for ANET. Hopefully this means more game suggestion will be incorporated into future patches.

cgz. a suprising development. someone from a forum plucked by Anet?
interesting.

good luck to you!

Congrats, happy to hear that the PR is going to be more diverse now.

Actually Gaile Gray used to post on forums just like these before she got her PR job, and I think she got her position in a much similiar way. It's not surprising at all really.

congratulations on the job

congrat on getting a job with a-net!

Gratz! thats a once in a lifetime oppertunity there! i'll be happy to see someone good gets picked for a good job!
Good luck and have fun!

Spooky, I and a few others, were really looking forward to seeing more build reviews and so forth. I'm kinda disappointing in your leaving that section unfinished

But I will say Congratz. From reading your articles I must say that you do deserve the position, and I think you will do a fine job.

Here is to your new 9-5!

Congratulations Spooky. Don't give-in to the whiners.

Well done, enjoy the job!

What's the thread title mean?

Congrats!

will you still be playing guild wars now? or will you have to go on a special server?

Everything changes, nothing perishes.

Congrats on your new job and thanks for founding this place. More people in the PR dept can only be a good thing. I don't know whether you are aligned with any particular crowd, but I hope being a part of this forum community means you will give ANET a closer relationship with the fans and what we really want, like and want changed.

that's cool

...Like he'll be the new Lead Designer of GW.

congratulations

Congratulations and good luck! Dealing with customers is a tough thing, I know, it's people like me who make it so.

Ha, just be sure not to be pushed over the edge and do something crazy.

Congrats on the Job....shame you won't be here as often though!

Thanks for being one of the initial creators of this site...It rocks!!

Your $50 is in the mail, UAS ftw

Shhhhhhhhh! This'll be our little secret.

Congrats,I loved your work and still do.I pay a visit to the fanworks section every other visit.I notice people know this is the only solemn occassion involving Spooky ,many having adopted proper English.Goodbye and good luck spooky.

congrats.

a lot of us are Envious.

I'd love to work for a MMORPG-maker.

Congratulations, though this can be hardly called a goodbye, as I no doubt you'll be more involved in the community as an Anet rep than ever before.

Congratulations. May you find even more enjoyment and reward in your new position.