Ok... Here goes... To show that nothing I said was a lie but instead just a failed Business Deal I'm going to take you through step by step all of our Skype Conversation... This is going to be a VERY long post but it should show that I am telling the truth unless of course you start believing that I just made it all up in which case there is really nothing I can do about that. Please note that some of what was talked about WILL be edited out since Joel and I discussed some things that doesn't need to be discussed here. Just internal Business affairs and venting which I'm sure you would LOVE to read about but it's not going to happen.
[1/11/2015 12:20:55 AM] James Proctor: Hello! Haven't seen you on in a while!
[1/11/2015 12:20:57 AM] James Proctor:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jys4rAzP27o
[1/11/2015 12:21:49 AM] Joel R Hager:
[1/11/2015 12:22:46 AM] James Proctor:
[1/11/2015 12:23:04 AM] Joel R Hager:
[1/11/2015 12:23:20 AM] James Proctor:
[1/11/2015 12:23:23 AM] Joel R Hager:
[1/11/2015 12:23:44 AM] Joel R Hager:
[1/11/2015 12:23:47 AM] Joel R Hager: :/
[1/11/2015 12:23:54 AM] James Proctor: No idea but anyways... Hello! lol
[1/11/2015 12:24:07 AM] Joel R Hager: You remember who this is, right?
[1/11/2015 12:24:12 AM] James Proctor: yes
[1/11/2015 12:24:20 AM] Joel R Hager: Gotta restart. Updating. One second.
[1/11/2015 12:24:26 AM] James Proctor: ok
[1/11/2015 12:25:59 AM] Joel R Hager: Back.
[1/11/2015 12:26:04 AM] James Proctor: ok
[1/11/2015 12:26:58 AM] James Proctor: But anyways I know exactly who you are... You helped me run MMO Interactive during our last attempt to get RoH created with the Hero Engine... lol
[1/11/2015 12:27:22 AM] Joel R Hager: Yes. I was.
[1/11/2015 12:27:32 AM] Joel R Hager: So, you're trying to give it legs again?
[1/11/2015 12:28:31 AM] James Proctor: In my free time yes... I'm still working for Jason Appleton on Greed Monger... I'm now basically the entire team... lol He helps once in a while with some stuff but he's basically just providing the money.
[1/11/2015 12:28:45 AM] Joel R Hager: Is he paying you?
[1/11/2015 12:28:51 AM] James Proctor: lol not yet
[1/11/2015 12:29:05 AM] Joel R Hager: Wow. That's a *lot* of work with no pay. I'd be careful about that.
[1/11/2015 12:29:25 AM] James Proctor: Edited Details of my working with Jason.
[1/11/2015 12:29:49 AM] Joel R Hager: Yeah. Promises don't mean anything unless the person's word means something.
[1/11/2015 12:30:39 AM] James Proctor:
[1/11/2015 12:31:00 AM] Joel R Hager: That's a BAD thing to have happen.
[1/11/2015 12:31:06 AM] James Proctor: yeah
[1/11/2015 12:31:18 AM] Joel R Hager: A negative value in the community *before* launch is usually a sign of a non-starter.
[1/11/2015 12:31:48 AM] Joel R Hager: I'd really consider taking the time to make an announcement and rebrand yourselves before release, to hopefully win back some of the prospective players.
[1/11/2015 12:31:59 AM] James Proctor:
[1/11/2015 12:33:03 AM] Joel R Hager:
[1/11/2015 12:33:44 AM] Joel R Hager: ...and with such a bad public image, you're not gonna have a good chance of success. Then, let's say *IF* he does get something going, then he *will* have enough money to viciously and punitively litigate.
[1/11/2015 12:33:51 AM] Joel R Hager: Sounds like a bad idea all the way around.
[1/11/2015 12:35:02 AM] James Proctor: I would just hate to leave and see GM go no where. People backed us to the sum of $100,000 and even more with sales after our KickStarter I'd hate to see them waste their money like that. However pretty much everyone is telling me to leave. Even a bunch of people over at MMORPG.com told me I should leave and go it alone with out Jason.
[1/11/2015 12:35:33 AM] Joel R Hager: Yeah, didn't GM get a TON of money from kickstarter? How the hell is he not paying you???
[1/11/2015 12:35:44 AM] Joel R Hager: Who holds the IP for GM?
[1/11/2015 12:35:51 AM] James Proctor: Jason does.
[1/11/2015 12:35:59 AM] Joel R Hager: ....and he got the money?
[1/11/2015 12:36:13 AM] Joel R Hager: Sounds like he's fucking up badly.
[1/11/2015 12:36:25 AM] James Proctor:
[1/11/2015 12:36:33 AM] James Proctor: yes he got the money
[1/11/2015 12:36:36 AM] Joel R Hager: That's a *bad* sign, man. I'd run if I were you.
[1/11/2015 12:37:54 AM] James Proctor: All of this is why I've started RoH up again. I want something ready to fall back on when the time comes and I had always planned on starting it up again after GM anyways. I have alot of custom tech that I've coded for GM ready to rock and roll for RoH.
[1/11/2015 12:38:12 AM] Joel R Hager: Very cool.
[1/11/2015 12:38:34 AM] Joel R Hager: I'd be proactive about leaving, to be honest. The longer you associate with Jason, the more negatively it could impact you in your future endeavors.
[1/11/2015 12:42:31 AM] James Proctor: Ok here's the deal... I really want you back. I want to get in touch with as many of our old team as possible and I want as many of them back as possible... Edited... GM and RoH share alot of the same goals heck alot of features we talked about for RoH were going to be included in GM as well. Are you up for it or would you rather sit this out? Edited...
[1/11/2015 12:43:44 AM] Joel R Hager: It depends at this point, to be honest. I'm OK with handling business affairs and overseeing things and whatnot (especially since I'll probably be in Los Angeles in the next few months). There *is*, however, one elephant in the room that could *really* hurt us, and I want it addressed before we move any further.
We then discussed my religious views and how it might or might not effect RoH... Joel then agreed to come back...
[1/11/2015 12:47:37 AM] James Proctor: I'll give you the way I left it with GM...
[1/11/2015 12:51:41 AM] James Proctor: RoH is a Sandbox game... As such the main content is Player Driven... If players want to RP Religion and everything to have their fun then that's their choice... If they want to build temples and churches and have some idol that they worship with in this Virtual World then that's their choice as well... We don't need to promote that style of play or add in mechanics into the game to promote that style of play... However we won't interfere with it. If we add in a System because it makes sense to add in but it ends up being used to promote that style of play then fine it also makes sense else where in the game for other styles of play... As for Magic we will have a typical MMO Fantasy/Scifi style combat system that includes Magic... It's ONLY fantasy...
[1/11/2015 12:52:15 AM] Joel R Hager: I see you've grown since we last spoke. A fortunate realization for me.
[1/11/2015 12:52:20 AM] Joel R Hager: You now have my intereset.
[1/11/2015 12:52:24 AM] James Proctor: lol
[1/11/2015 12:52:52 AM] Joel R Hager: The separation between a fantasy game and real life is a very important distinction for someone of faith.
[1/11/2015 12:53:07 AM] James Proctor: I still hold firm to my beliefs but I also want to have a fun and enjoyable MMO for all...
[1/11/2015 12:53:08 AM] Joel R Hager: I'm glad you can make the distinction, and not let it bother you. This bodes well for RoH
Talking about a Potential KS Campaign for RoH:
[1/11/2015 12:56:28 AM] James Proctor: You can worry about how to spin it and ways we can make sure EDITED... I'll worry about EDITED know about us and getting a Prototype put together so we have actual game play to show off for the KS Campaign...
[1/11/2015 12:57:32 AM] James Proctor: You and I will be 50/50 partners in this... I want to actually see the money if our KS Campaign succeeds and I want BOTH of us to be accountable for making sure the funds get used for their intended use.
[1/11/2015 12:58:02 AM] James Proctor: EDITED But talking about how it's a bad idea to have a single person with access to the KS Money...
[1/11/2015 12:58:04 AM] Joel R Hager: That is amenable to me.
[1/11/2015 12:58:18 AM] Joel R Hager: Not at all. Absolute power corrupts absoltely.
[1/11/2015 12:58:21 AM] Joel R Hager: absolutely*
Fast forward 2 days to January 13th 2015:
[1/13/2015 8:21:21 PM] James Proctor: I don't know if Jason is available right this minute...
[1/13/2015 8:23:24 PM] James Proctor: However we can discuss some things... Personally I still believe in GM and the product Jason had in mind... I would really like for us to do a joint venture with him on it... We take control of the Project... We handle the PR for GM... He can have a behind the scenes role and input in it and provide the Money for the Servers while we provide the Team and handle the outward appearence...
[1/13/2015 8:24:28 PM] Joel R Hager: I'm amenable to that. Do you really think he'll go for that though?
[1/13/2015 8:24:55 PM] James Proctor: I have no idea... Edited...
[1/13/2015 8:26:23 PM] James Proctor: If he goes along with it though our first order of Business should be to rebrand and do whatever it takes to put the bad PR behind us...
[1/13/2015 8:27:06 PM] Joel R Hager: New blood will help
[1/13/2015 8:27:09 PM] James Proctor: yeah
[1/13/2015 8:32:07 PM] James Proctor: Seems like Jason isn't around just yet. I've sent him a message on facebook though saying I have something to discuss with him so as soon as he comes back I'll create a group discussion for us.
[1/13/2015 8:34:18 PM] Joel R Hager: It's fine - I'm on my mobile currently
[1/13/2015 8:34:28 PM] James Proctor: ok
[1/13/2015 8:48:32 PM] Joel R Hager: What is Jason's personality like?
[1/13/2015 8:49:43 PM] James Proctor: EDITED... No one needs to know what I think of Jason or what Jason thinks of me...
[1/13/2015 8:50:12 PM] Joel R Hager: That doesn't bode well for negotiations.
[1/13/2015 8:50:53 PM] James Proctor: Like he wanted to push GM right through testing as quickly as possible I told him it would be better to slow it down and make sure things are tested and sound before rushing it to the next Testing phase and he disagreed...
[1/13/2015 8:53:16 PM] James Proctor: EDITED - Jason and I had different views on what Alpha should be... No one needs to know the exact different views.
[1/13/2015 8:53:33 PM] Joel R Hager: Yep
A few hours later:
[1/13/2015 10:12:56 PM] James Proctor: EDITED - talking about something None GM related.
[1/13/2015 10:14:36 PM] James Proctor:
[1/13/2015 10:22:50 PM] James Proctor:
[1/13/2015 10:25:00 PM] James Proctor: Ok Joel Jason is on now...
[1/13/2015 10:25:07 PM] James Proctor: On Skype I mean...
[1/13/2015 11:00:27 PM] James Proctor: Ok MMO Interactive now has control of GM! lol
[1/13/2015 11:35:29 PM] Joel R Hager: Really? Sorry, my phone fucking died as I got your message about Jason.
[1/13/2015 11:35:34 PM] Joel R Hager: I just got home.
[1/13/2015 11:35:49 PM] James Proctor: cool.
[1/13/2015 11:35:54 PM] James Proctor: But yeah he agreed
[1/13/2015 11:36:15 PM] James Proctor: He doesn't want it announced yet until he sees progress being made. EDIT - Which is why it was never Officially announced... The deal fell through before Jason told us to announce it... I just told you and I believe one other on MMORPG.com privately hoping it would buy us some time where we could work and have everything become official with out you guys bashing us publicly.
[1/13/2015 11:37:26 PM] Joel R Hager: That's perfectly fine by me.
[1/13/2015 11:37:43 PM] Joel R Hager: Are we privy to the resources amassed from the KS project though? We need resources to move things forward.
[1/13/2015 11:38:06 PM] James Proctor: resources? Money resources or art assets?
[1/13/2015 11:38:38 PM] Joel R Hager: Unity's license - resources for product acquisitions, etc.
[1/13/2015 11:38:43 PM] Joel R Hager: But yes - Money *is* part of it.
[1/13/2015 11:39:56 PM] James Proctor: The Unity License we bought is mine so yes we have access to that... We have access to GM's world that was created, Art assets, code, ect. EDIT but Jason is going to continue paying for the Servers.
[1/13/2015 11:41:33 PM] James Proctor: You and Jason will have to work out the Business aspects percentage of the profits MMO Interactive will be getting, ect. but I would wait until Jason sees we are making progress...
[1/13/2015 11:41:44 PM] Joel R Hager: Of course. In due time.
Over the next few days Jason, Joel, and My self try to work everything out... There are countless fights and arguments between ElectricCrow Games and MMOInteractive... Fights over who truly has control of PR and other things... Joel and I discuss how MMOI should be structured as well as other things:
[1/24/2015 8:20:39 PM] James Proctor: Jason wants to know when he will be seeing the agreement... I told him that I was assuming it would be after we became an official Company... Any idea when both of those will be yet?
[1/25/2015 1:49:30 AM] Joel R Hager: I'm gonna see if I can tie in the company with my EIN I already have.
[1/25/2015 1:50:10 AM] James Proctor: ok
[1/25/2015 1:52:05 AM] James Proctor: Combat is really starting to take Shape Visually... Really Excited with how it's turning out.
[1/25/2015 1:52:23 AM] Joel R Hager: Very cool!
[1/25/2015 1:53:12 AM] James Proctor: I still need to add in Mob vs Mob and Player vs Player but I currently have Player vs Mob and Mob vs Player working great.
[1/25/2015 1:53:45 AM] James Proctor: And then of course I need to add in all of the math to decide damage and everything
[1/25/2015 1:56:44 AM] Joel R Hager: I'm asking a lawyer what the tax structure has to be for MMOI.
[1/25/2015 1:57:04 AM] Joel R Hager: If I can put it under my company Z-Shift, then we can save the money and be ligitimate very quickly.
[1/25/2015 1:57:15 AM] James Proctor: ok cool
[1/25/2015 1:57:56 AM] James Proctor: How much will it be if we can't? I think I've seen sites online where you can register a company for like $100...
[1/25/2015 1:58:23 AM] Joel R Hager: That's just the app. Then there's a 180 filing fee and other stuff. It usually comes out to about 300-400 bucks using a boiler plate site.
[1/25/2015 1:58:31 AM] Joel R Hager: It's about 200-250 if you file the paperwork yourself.
[1/25/2015 1:58:51 AM] James Proctor: oh
[1/25/2015 1:59:30 AM] Joel R Hager: Do we want to make MMOI the company name, or a division of a larger company type? I ask this because MMOI is *very* specific -- We can't make party games or small apps that would make sense under that name.
[1/25/2015 1:59:54 AM] James Proctor: More then what we have at this time... lol My Original Plan was to get GM to Alpha and then register MMOI if Jason came through with my $5,000 he's supposed to be paying me at the launch of Alpha.
[1/25/2015 2:00:53 AM] Joel R Hager: Let's really hammer down what we want the actual Parent company name to be.
[1/25/2015 2:01:07 AM] Joel R Hager: MMOI limits us 'from a PR standpoint' to MMO-type games.
[1/25/2015 2:01:19 AM] Joel R Hager: There's a LOT of money in coding mobile games, and small browser stuff in Unity.
[1/25/2015 2:01:27 AM] Joel R Hager: Something to definitely think about.
[1/25/2015 2:01:31 AM] Joel R Hager: It's also good to diversify
[1/25/2015 2:02:14 AM] James Proctor: Really MMOs are the only type of Games I personally am interested in working on... We would need another team and some one else to head up any offline game division we had...
[1/25/2015 2:03:04 AM] Joel R Hager: Yes, but it's better to have a company that *can* handle all types of games and just chooses to specify, rather than a pigeonholed company that can't ever branch out. At least in my opinion.
[1/25/2015 2:03:13 AM] Joel R Hager: The whole goal is to grow, which would mean another division.
[1/25/2015 2:03:22 AM] James Proctor: yeah
[1/25/2015 2:03:54 AM] James Proctor: We can discuss it tomorrow. I need to get going. We can be thinking about names and stuff until then.
[1/25/2015 2:04:05 AM] Joel R Hager: Sounds good.
More work being done in GM:
[1/31/2015 3:40:23 AM] James Proctor: How Are things going?
[1/31/2015 3:40:35 AM] Joel R Hager: They’re going. lol
[1/31/2015 3:40:44 AM] James Proctor: Got some extremely cool tools in the works...
Feb. 24th Joel and I discuss things again and he's decided to leave...
[2/24/2015 8:11:41 PM] Joel R Hager: This is bullshit. He's a nightmare, literally.
[2/24/2015 8:12:07 PM] Joel R Hager: I'm unfortunately going to have to hang up my hat on this project, and I suggest you find an unobtrusive way of doing the same.
[2/24/2015 8:12:39 PM] Joel R Hager: Your career will be over before it starts if you stay with him. It's bad enough we're in deep shit, but it just keeps getting deeper. This guy is literally Defcon 5 crazy.
After this the team falls apart... The Deal falls through since Joel is no longer with us and I have no money to start MMOI at the moment... And I just continue working on GM by my self... Nothing get's announced because everything falls apart before we have a chance to... So NOTHING changes... ElectricCrow Games is still fully in control of GM and I'm still working for them with plans to start MMOI as soon as I get enough money from GM.