Former KI Employees now employed at Wimo Games.

[Flash33]

This was revealed on Twitter earlier this week but many former KI employees are now employed under a new company called Wimo Games, which will be focused on mobile games. Some names of note include but are not limited to:

Former Community Manager Tom Purdue, aka Dworgyn/One-Eyed Jack/The Friendly Necromancer.
Principal Concept Artist Kevin T. Chun.
Kingsisle CEO Elie Akilian.
Product Management VP Craig Beers.
Former Upper Management member of EA Dave Rosen.

Much of this was reported by employees themselves and by user The Atmoplex, all on Twitter, so credit goes to them for the information. For Elie and Wimo from the information I was able to find online it appears as though Elie is registered as the "Principal" and "Agent" of the company, and that the company itself was apparently filed on January 12th of this year.

[edward sky]

This kinda leaves a gross feeling in my stomach... Definitely hope for their sake they're off to bigger and better things, but It also stinks to lose some big names of the longstanding staff. Dworgyn being the biggest hit.


I hope all is well in the new Kingsile world but interesting to see the shift.

[jlegendwielder]

I'd call that an orderly transition...

I wonder if there will be a GamigoLive the last Thursday of February...

[KieranCaster]

This was revealed on Twitter earlier this week but many former KI employees are now employed under a new company called Wimo Games, which will be focused on mobile games. Some names of note include but are not limited to:

Former Community Manager Tom Purdue, aka Dworgyn/One-Eyed Jack/The Friendly Necromancer.
Principal Concept Artist Kevin T. Chun.
Kingsisle CEO Elie Akilian.
Product Management VP Craig Beers.
Former Upper Management member of EA Dave Rosen.

Much of this was reported by employees themselves and by user The Atmoplex, all on Twitter, so credit goes to them for the information. For Elie and Wimo from the information I was able to find online it appears as though Elie is registered as the "Principal" and "Agent" of the company, and that the company itself was apparently filed on January 12th of this year.

"Is this a good thing or a bad thing for Wizard101?"


Regards,
Pierre
(Leo Tolstoy)

[richardDkht]

This was revealed on Twitter earlier this week but many former KI employees are now employed under a new company

http://www.wizard101central.com/foru...78#post5621678


1st step.

[JaredSpellFrost]

It has been said on KI Live that their staff would remain the same, but perhaps this wasn't entirely true. It does seem a good move to let go employees who pushed for these money draining mobile games though!

[Eric Stormbringer]

It has been said on KI Live that their staff would remain the same, but perhaps this wasn't entirely true. It does seem a good move to let go employees who pushed for these money draining mobile games though!

Pretty much their entire mobile department is being reemployed by the former CEO of Wizard101 to form a new mobile game oriented company. I am surprised that you haven't rejoiced in the fact that the 2 former EA employees that you cited in some of your previous comments have moved on to this new company.

[JaredSpellFrost]

@Eric Stormbringer

Wanna place bets on how long their new mobile gaming company will last?
I find it odd that Elie Akilian believes this new mobile gaming company will prosper, after their many failures. At some point you have to consolidate and accept your losses, but I guess that word isn't in Akilian's vocabulary! This truly does speak to their sheer incompenatcy though- As I have learned playing chess, there is a distinct difference between resigning with dignity and refuting reality.



But yeah, suffice to say I am ecstatic to see Dave Rosen and Craig Beers of EA leave Wizard101 for good. They're the reason why we saw the Night Knight event, countless predatory promotions each week, and the decline of classic Crown sales. If they were aiming to leave a mark on this game before their departure, mission accomplished! All we can do now is to hope that more competent employees will take the reigns of marketing leadership, and steer this company in a better direction.

I will say that it is sad to see Dworgyn leave the team, I hope that MGI can find a worthy replacement!

[KingNothing]

Very interesting. I suppose it makes sense. If the new KI isn't going to put anything into mobile gaming and if the previous Owner made a nice little chunk of change out of this deal, believed in it, and wants to start up a company to explore those options then good on him. I wish you good luck!

[Eric Stormbringer]

@Eric Stormbringer

Wanna place bets on how long their new mobile gaming company will last?
I find it odd that Elie Akilian believes this new mobile gaming company will prosper, after their many failures. At some point you have to consolidate and accept your losses, but I guess that word isn't in Akilian's vocabulary! This truly does speak to their sheer incompenatcy though- As I have learned playing chess, there is a distinct difference between resigning with dignity and refuting reality.



But yeah, suffice to say I am ecstatic to see Dave Rosen and Craig Beers of EA leave Wizard101 for good. They're the reason why we saw the Night Knight event, countless predatory promotions each week, and the decline of classic Crown sales. If they were aiming to leave a mark on this game before their departure, mission accomplished! All we can do now is to hope that more competent employees will take the reigns of marketing leadership, and steer this company in a better direction.

I will say that it is sad to see Dworgyn leave the team, I hope that MGI can find a worthy replacement!

I don't know- I'll definitely give whatever they put out a try. I actually quite enjoyed Alphacat although none of their other ventures really stuck with me. Hopefully with a singular focus- they will be able to make some quality stuff. I also want to see Dworgyn succeed in his new venture so I wish them the very best.