Brad returns to the tech world

from JoeUser Forums

For the past few months, I’ve been on my long promised sabbatical.

2009 and 2010 were horrible horrible years personally. While my company had good financial years, they were both professionally disappointing.

In the Summer of 2010 things really came to a head with the launch of the first title in the Elemental universe (War of Magic).  It was a disaster. And it became obvious that no particular sector of the company was getting sufficient attention.

Sometimes, you just need a big shock to get change done.  So we sold off Impulse to Gamestop, brought in industry veterans to take over running the software unit and the games unit and beefed up the management teams across the board. 

Selling off the most profitable part of our organization may seem crazy until you realize that its profitability was allowing us to mask our underlying lack of focus. 

I was slowly killing myself (and my senior staff who did the same thing) by taking on Boxer’s philosophy – I’ll work harder.

I’ve been starting to get back into the fold by checking out some of the cool software projects we’ve got going and fixing up War of Magic a bit before diving into Fallen Enchantress, Sins: Rebellion, Object Desktop 2012, etc.  But I feel a lot better knowing that all these projects have people dedicated to them rather than competing for the limited hours a week I was able to give them before.

145,224 views 46 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Here's to better days ahead :beer: .. for all of us.

Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Echoed, John.

Nothing but the best hopes.

Star Control: Origins
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top

What, did you really think anyone was worried?  :X

Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top

A good saying.......which I have to say I don't always follow but makes sense in this case........"DON'T WORK HARDER, WORK SMARTER"  |-)

Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I was slowly killing myself (and my senior staff who did the same thing)

You can't do that....I'm heading over your way again in 2012.....don't want to be visiting a gravestone....;)

Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting vStyler, reply 1
Here's to better days ahead .. for all of us.

 

Quoting DrJBHL, reply 2
Echoed, John.

Nothing but the best hopes.

 

Couldn't say it any better than these two, Brad.  Let's all hope for the best being yet to come!  :beer:

Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Always good to take a break and take stock, wise move.

Reply #8 from Elemental Forums Top

Glad to have you back.   Wish you the best.  Excited to see what the future holds for Stardock.

Reply #9 from Demigod Forums Top

I'm glad you were able to take a break and breathe a little.  Welcome back!

Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Glad you're getting back into things Brad, really glad. :)

Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Brad returns to the tech world

About time, too! |-)

Reply #12 from Sins Forums Top

Good to see you back bud!

Reply #13 from Sins Forums Top

k1

 

:fox:

Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top

:star:

Reply #16 from Elemental Forums Top

Wish you all the best Brad. :)

Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Every ship needs her Captain. Fair winds and following seas to you. :wc:

Reply #18 from Elemental Forums Top

I was slowly killing myself (and my senior staff who did the same thing)

Prolongated murder suicide eh? <-- 100% Authentic Canadian Style

But in all seriousness don't let us posters ruin your new less demanding lifestyle with all our crazy requests and never ending whinning!

Reply #19 from Elemental Forums Top
Glad to hear you've managed to make the necessary changes! If you always do what you always did, you always get what you always got. Making hard decisions is what makes managers / directors good. Anyone can make easy decisions..
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I'd like to buy you a beer....hell, have two. :beer:  :beer:

Nice to see you back.

Perhaps seeing you around more will inspire some of us to be a bit more creative as well.

Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Hi Frogboy!  I hope you're doing well.

Reply #22 from Demigod Forums Top

Hey Brad!

If you get bored, I'd really enjoy to see an article from you about your solar panels, etc.  I'm quite serious about getting a set up this year on my roof and I'd love to hear your opinion (who installed for you, initial cost, projected savings, how much you actually got back in tax credits, when you installed, etc).  As much detail as you are willing would be appreciated as I really am considering taking the plunge in the next 2-3 months.  Thanks!

If you already made a post re: this, please direct me to it.  Thank you!

 

Reply #23 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Things will get better for sure!

Reply #24 from Elemental Forums Top

Sounds like things are starting to look up. I get the feeling that the community here seems to be ready to give Elemental another chance. You don't hear the sour voices that often anymore. I hope that gives you some peace of mind. All the best, man.

Reply #25 from WinCustomize Forums Top

It's good to hear that you are, at least, thinking about being focused on your business, again (though I hope that the point of that focus is on customization).

And, I do understand the appeal (and even the necessity) of getting experts in to focus on certain parts of your business (if it helps you focus on the important stuff, that's even better).

But, here's the thing:

I'm not a gamer. In any given period, I may purchase 1 or 2 out of every 200 or 300 games.

You allude to Object Desktop 2012. I *really* hope that means something (other than de rigeur updates to existing programs).

I didn't buy into Stardock because they made games (and I've been a customer for more than 10 years).

I didn't join WinCustomize for the latest news in what was happening with 'Sins' or 'Elemental'.

This isn't to say that those aren't valid directions for you to take, but they're not why I'm here.

Here's what I want:

I want you to tell me why I (not a gamer) should give you my business (and my money).

I want you to tell me that you're still commited to giving me the software and tools to allow me to customize my desktop (up to, and even beyond, whatever may change with Windows 8, and so on).

I originally came to you and gave you my business specifically because of what OD offered (WindowBlinds, etc.). If you want me to continue to give you my business, you're going to have to keep updating OD, and so on (it appears that you may have that as a plan, and, if so, that's good).

Though I'm not a gamer, I don't begrudge the games. It's clearly a valuable avenue for you to work with.

I just don't want what I originally came to Stardock to get (desktop customization), to get lost in the shuffle.

 

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