LFG

Let's create a list. I'll name this list "Not Tamat" because that rhymes, kinda: :smiley-happy:

1. Leaving an IGE owned company and going directly to SoE creates the public perception that IGE is now accepted by, or even involved with SoE. If Tamat left Ogaming six months ago, this would no longer be an issue, but going from IGE directly to SoE MAKES it an issue.

2. Tamat may be the least acceptable choice by the EQ2 raiding community for this position. And it's not just my guild that feels this way. Tamat published a series of interviews named "Born to Raid" recently that were considered by many to be misinformed, naiive, and offensive in terms of content and which guilds were and were not selected for the interviews on many servers.

If SoE insists on going with a fansite candidate over Raijinn, quite frankly Radarx is a better choice than Tamat. Now, Radarx isn't exactly considered uber by the EQ2 raiding community, but at least he HAS raided current content and experienced EQ2 raiding in T7 first hand:

http://eq2.tentonhammer.com/index.ph...d=900&meid=237

Which is far more than you can say for Tamat. I would 100x rather have Radar than Tamat for that reason alone. There is more to EQ2 than writing about it or watching other people play it, and you will not have the respect of the fan base without at least that minimal experience actually playing the game.

3. Raijinn is well thought of by the EQ2 community at large. At least, to the best of my knowledge, nobody dislikes him for any legitimate reason. In my opinion, he is capable of building and enhancing the EQ2 community.

4. Raijinn is obviously well educated and has good communication and writing skills:

http://raijinn.blogspot.com/

IMO, Raijinn is more qualified for this job than others at SoE, at least if you want to compare blogs

So, WHY NOT Raijinn?

__________________

"Bottom line: we're not all being honest with ourselves here." Become, Kraken forums

Savanja

I have to agree with Arthais. Red tape to get official info for actual site use is deep. Unofficial stuff always gets passed around, even to players with no site affiliation, but none of us would use that to further our own sites, and if we did, we'd likely lose a whole lot of faith and respect from the EQ2 team because of it.

I don't see any problem at all with the new CM coming from a fansite. I raise an eyebrow at which fansite they bring him from, but almost all my issues are with the people that got passed over for this job first.

SillyMonkey

And to me that says it all. If he's good enough to train his new freaking boss on how to do the job, don't you think that means that he should be doing the fucking job?? Nice job SOE. Way to build employee loyalty.

Savanja

The answers I've heard on this are weak, to say the least. Let's be honest, Raijinn has been picking up the slack for BG *a lot* lately. He's been acting as CM for a while, not to mention head mod, and the work he does for other sites. He's been with SOE for 4 years and has earned a spot bigger than forum moderator. He has the experience, the desire, and direct knowledge of the current position. Passing him up is not only stupid but this looks like a case of "someone happens to be pals with someone else". Which, all by itself isn't a huge big deal, it's how a lot of people get into the gaming industry..but when you have someone RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOUR FACE, that has put in the time, and knows the job, then OMG, why bother with outside hiring and training a noob?

It disgusts me. I don't always agree with Raijinn and his decisions and actions, but I feel as though he earned this and is totally getting shafted.

Arthais

A few things I should at least say.

First, for the reasons I gave, I have particular problem with "a" fansite person getting the job, SOE is pretty solid about making sure things are even handed.

I will even go so far as to say I have really no issues with Tamat as a person. I know him, he's smart, educated, I think he'd do a good job.

I do have a problem taking someone from IGE. And it bothers me to come out that way cause, as I said, as a person I like Tamat, he's a good guy. And I'd hate to come out and say I don't support someone for a job he wants because of his affiliations. It does seem rather discriminatory and a bit unfair but...ehh, them's the breaks. Fact is I think taking someone, anyone, from IGE is not a smart move.

Additionally, everything I'm hearing suggests that no decision has officially been made yet. Obviously companies like to interview a lot of people, from a lot of different angles. Obviously promoting from within is a good idea in a lot of instances, and I've lost more than one job opportunity from someone who got promoted from below.

That doesn't mean they still didn't interview me. Companies, especially large ones, like to keep all options open. Yes Raijinn may seem the obvious choice, but I don't fault a company for at least seeing what's out there.

I think Andrew, if he gets it, will be a good guy. I do not think, for a lot of reasons, someone from IGE should be hired for it.

Whether the person they hire is in fact Raijinn I'll leave for now. I don't know well enough the background and qualifications for all candidates. I think he can do the job just fine, but without knowing more about who else is involved, I can't speak with any degree of certainty.

I would not be opposed to seeing him get it however.

RadarX

Yeah I think Coyote got interviewed too. It should be interesting which of the 4 of you gets the job.

Arthais

I have not requested, sought out, or been given an interview by SOE, ever, for this or any other position.

I merely point out that I have been on more than one job interview in which the position went from one internally who moved up. Happens all the time.

And I doubt anyone who has been on any degree of interviews has not had it happen.

My point is that even if there is a qualified candidate from within who can be moved up, companies will still often look outside just to "see what's out there".

It is not at all unusual for a company to interview people for a job even if there is a qualified person within, that's just typical business.

Gaige

I've met and hung out with both Joel and Andrew irl. I won't pretend to know the qualifications or work habits of either, so I'm not going to tell someone who they should hire, that'd be pretty dumb of me.

I will however say that *if* Joel is qualified for the position, he should get it.

Period.

SillyMonkey

I certainly hope that what's going on here Arth. It irks me to no end to see people who have worked thier asses off, get passed up for a job they rightfully deserve. If they're out looking for "what's new and fresh", then whatever. If they are serious about passing Raijin up for someone from a site known to support plat sales, then that leaves a very bad taste in my mouth and as Sav has stated before, it feels like someone's scratching someone elses back at the expense of the more qualified person. And yeah, I'm going to shoot my mouth off here without knowing any of Tamat's qualifications and say that Raijin is more qualified than he is on the basis of the fact that Raijin has been actually doing the damn job and successful hands on experience is always the best qualification.

Arthais

Well again, without knowing more, I really can't say.

The only two things I will say is this:

1) a company interviewing outside candidates even with a qualified person internally is not unusual in the slightest, so I will not look at that as indicative of anything

2) I support raijinn over tamat simply because of IGE. Hell I'd support Coyotee before tamat for that reason. However qualified he may be, it's still IGE and that's still a VERY bad choice.

If I were to evaluate tamat seperate from IGe and compare him to raijinn...I have no idea, I don't know their respective qualifications and experience. So I'll stay out of that. I think Raijinn would do a fine job however, for whatever little that is worth.