The Great CGL Rumors and Speculation Thread Options

[SCLariat]

Sorry, but you must not know much about insurance. Coverage for thief by employees/partners is standard rider on most Commercial General Liability (ironic that its initials are CGL) policies. CGL policies are what funds most litigation in North America. You slip and fall in a Starbucks? Starbucks' CGL policy is what will pay for your injuries, pay the defense of Starbucks, or both. You're a barista at Starbucks, and your boss sexually harasses you? The CGL policy is what would cover the cost. I've got a copy of a CGL policy for a small church in a small po-dunk town in South Carolina sitting on my desk right now. I just checked, and they would have coverage if something similar happened to them. The premiums are usually dirt cheap (in comparison to insurance like health or auto.) I can't imagine a company like Catalyst wouldn't have some sort of CGL policy to cover themselves. The insured amount may not cover the whole loss, but it would help.

Remember when Taco Bell floated the target in the south Pacific Ocean and promised to give everyone a free taco if the Mir space station hit it? Do you remember when Dr. Pepper had to give away a free one to everyone because Guns-N-Roses finished "Chinese Democracy?" Those two promotions were actually limited CGL insurance policies paid for by both companies (Lloyds of London if I'm not mistaken.) Both Taco Bell and Dr. Pepper bought insurance to cover the cost of the promotion in case the event happened. Taco Bell's policy didn't have to pay off whereas Dr. Pepper's did. Insurance companies are willing to gamble on almost everything if you're willing to pay the premium.

Penta

I don't mean to be condescending, but insurance is extremely complex subject. Email, blogs, etc. cannot convey tone, etc. I hope I was educational rather than infuriating.

[Penta]

Nah, twas fine.(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[ShimmerGeek]

I know this question is possibly unlikely to be answered...

But do you guys have any idea (that you can tell us about) how much this will impact upon things, and what any changes/problems are likely to be?


(I appreciate you probably can't tell us much detail about this - and thankyou for giving us so much information so far, it's yet another reason why I love Catalyst so much. I hope you guys get through this and continue releasing more insanely awesome stuff (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) )

[JM Hardy]

It's too early right now for me to tell what the impact on the release schedule will be. With the loss of important personnel, we'll need to reorganize and try to find a way to get things done. Things will still proceed--while I was posting to forums and such yesterday, I was also moving ahead on a very exciting product. And products like the Almanac and Corp Guide were to a point where I hope there will not be significant delays in their release. But we're still figuring out just what the effects of this week will be, so I can't offer any more definitive information than that.

I'd also like to thank all of the people who have offered supportive and kind comments--it's very much appreciated. The loyalty and dedication of the fans has been a definite bright spot, and you guys definitely deserve to be kept abreast of things affecting Shadowrun and CGL.

Jason H.

[emouse]

Let me be very clear here that none of the people who resigned did so to keep from being fired.

You're definitely a lot closer and more in the know about this than I am, so I'll take your word on it. Thanks for clarifying. Obviously we hope the best for anyone who may end up in a difficult financial or job situation over something that wasn't their fault.

[Stahlseele]

Ssssh! Don't wake the trolls...

hey, i am awake . . if barely <.<

[ShimmerGeek]

Okay (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

So there shouldn't be any major problems like "Oh my God we can't afford to print ANYTHING" or anything that extreme? Just significant (or if we're lucky, insignificant!) delays at this point?


(You know how the Internet Drama rumour-mill is, everything has been suggesting it's the apocalypse for CGL... *sigh* (IMG:style_emoticons/default/frown.gif) )


That is awesome to hear about the Almanac and Corp Guide. Is the second Dawn of the Artifacts supplement still set to be printed fairly soon? (Since I noticed a PDF up)


Also, is there anything we can do to help? Should we buy more PDFs? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[Bull]

Also, is there anything we can do to help? Should we buy more PDFs? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Buy Missions. Lots and lots of them (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

(In the middle of yesterday's... stuff, I accepted the role of Missions Coordinator for CGL. And if you guys buy lots of them, I may be able to weasel a little bit more than the shoe-string budget I'm on now to produce them, which means even better and cooler Missions (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) )

Bull

[Dread Moores]

The press release is nice to see. It's sad to hear about the situation, but I'm sure CGL will work through whatever they can, and it sounds as if that's the plan. I'm sure there may be going on behind the scenes as well, but in the end, that really isn't my business. This isn't a public company responsible to shareholders.

The loss of personnel is disappointing to me and possible loss of other revenue streams (Matt Grau and Wildfire crew saying they terminated their contract, Rob Boyle and EP Crew saying they are no longer freelancing). I'd be glad to see both those games land on their feet, but along with the CGL folks and freelancers who left, that's always tough to see long-term faces and project potentially gone. But again, their reasons for doing so, not my business. That's between them and CGL.

The biggest question at this point, is will this impact anything in terms of renewing the licenses with Topps? And that's all going to be a wait and see issue. The licenses will continue somewhere, and I'd really like it to be with CGL. Either way, they seem to be handling the situation well, and that's what matters right now.

To all the folks leaving, good luck. To all the folks remaing, good luck. Here's hoping for the best all around, and for everybody to land on their feet.

[Stahlseele]

Congratulations Bully O.o

[ShimmerGeek]

Buy Missions. Lots and lots of them (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

(In the middle of yesterday's... stuff, I accepted the role of Missions Coordinator for CGL. And if you guys buy lots of them, I may be able to weasel a little bit more than the shoe-string budget I'm on now to produce them, which means even better and cooler Missions (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) )

Bull

Unfortunately I already picked up all of the Missions last week (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

They are awesome though - especially Ready, Set, Gogh! and Knight at the Opera - (what can I say, the funkier ideas appeal)

I'd love to see a print copy collecting all the missions together - that'd be pretty awesome!

[Draco18s]

Insurance companies are willing to gamble on almost everything if you're willing to pay the premium.

Such as betting that the economy will collapse (that premium was almost free).

[emouse]

The loss of personnel is disappointing to me and possible loss of other revenue streams (Matt Grau and Wildfire crew saying they terminated their contract, Rob Boyle and EP Crew saying they are no longer freelancing).

From the tone both have taken, it sounds like resuming business with Catalyst is not completely out of the question, as long as CGL gets its house in order quickly.

[raben-aas]

everything has been suggesting it's the apocalypse for CGL...

Well, "everything" may be a little bit exaggerated, given the fact that "everything" is ONE post.

So far, we have two position: Frank says its Armaggeddon, Catalyst says everything will work out. And although one could say that that's just the stuff CGL HAS to say, that doesn't make Frank's doomsday scenario any more valid.

AAS

[ShimmerGeek]

Well, "everything" may be a little bit exaggerated, given the fact that "everything" is ONE post.

So far, we have two position: Frank says its Armaggeddon, Catalyst says everything will work out. And although one could say that that's just the stuff CGL HAS to say, that doesn't make Frank's doomsday scenario any more valid.

AAS

Like I said in my post, the Internet Rumour Mill as a whole. Not just this one thread.

[Jimson]

The loss of personnel is disappointing to me and possible loss of other revenue streams (Matt Grau and Wildfire crew saying they terminated their contract, Rob Boyle and EP Crew saying they are no longer freelancing). I'd be glad to see both those games land on their feet, but along with the CGL folks and freelancers who left, that's always tough to see long-term faces and project potentially gone. But again, their reasons for doing so, not my business. That's between them and CGL.

I might have missed this in reading through the thread, but who has resigned? Also, I'm curious what is meant by "Rob Boyle and EP Crew saying they are no longer freelancing". Does that mean they are no longer working on EP, or does it mean they are no longer freelancers and have been hired on?

[ShimmerGeek]

I might have missed this in reading through the thread, but who has resigned? Also, I'm curious what is meant by "Rob Boyle and EP Crew saying they are no longer freelancing". Does that mean they are no longer working on EP, or does it mean they are no longer freelancers and have been hired on?

Adam Jury has resigned, as has Jennifer Harding and uhm, one more person I think.


Also, afaik Rob Boyle owns Posthuman Studios (I think?) so that likely means he's going to do his Eclipse Phase stuff, but not do any products Catalyst is handling, like Shadowrun (I'd guess)

[Wesley Street]

Also, I'm curious what is meant by "Rob Boyle and EP Crew saying they are no longer freelancing". Does that mean they are no longer working on EP, or does it mean they are no longer freelancers and have been hired on?

I am waiting to see what Catalyst has to say before I make a public post. In the meantime, it's fair to note that the Operations Manager, Accountant/Office Manager, and Adam Jury (layout ninja) have all resigned. Catalyst didn't actually employ me, so I can't resign, but I will no longer be freelancing for them.

Posthuman Studios is committed to continuing Eclipse Phase, though exactly how that will play out we can't say just yet. I also can't say just yet how this will affect the release schedule. We're working on it. As quoted on our twitter feed, publishers are like morphs, you can always resleeve if necessary.

Like Rob said, we'll maintain, however the chips fall.

Also please note that Trollman's post... well, you oughta see an inappropriate amount of gleefulness in it if you read between the lines. Two well beloved game franchises are at stake (and I don't mean ours), so I'm not sure what's up with the chum-in-the-shark-tank tone. If it's proven true, it's awful. In the mean time, he & everyone else need to relax.

Future of Eclipse Phase? I'm still knocking out verbiage for a book that was slated to come out two books after Sunward, and I'll be damned if it doesn't see the light of day. I also know I'm not the only one on the core crew of writers who feels that way.

Take that for what it's worth.

[Adam]

Also, afaik Rob Boyle owns Posthuman Studios (I think?)

Posthuman Studios is owned by Rob Boyle, Brian Cross, and myself.

[Jimson]

Thanks. That helps clear the air. For some reason, Eclipse Phase forum is blocked at my work, but dumpshock is ok. For all that is going on, I wish everyone the best, and appreciate everyone's hard work over the years.

[Dread Moores]

Posthuman Studios is owned by Rob Boyle, Brian Cross, and myself.

Huh. That I wasn't aware of. Thanks for that info.

[emouse]

As a side bar, this seems like an eerily appropriate parallel...

http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Dreamwave
http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Dreamwave#Trouble_on_the_horizon
http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Pat_Lee

Dreamwave had a popular property with Transformers but mysteriously didn't have the money to pay freelancers and eventually lost the license because it couldn't pay licensing fees.

Working in CGL's favor is that it has multiple owners and even the rumors seem to indicate that only a single individual was in the wrong. Hopefully CGL caught the problem early enough that it can recover, get upcoming fees paid, and possibly patch things up, or at least do the right thing for their freelancers and partners. We'll see!

[emouse]

Posthuman Studios is owned by Rob Boyle, Brian Cross, and myself.

That also helps some of the resignations make more sense. If someone has to choose between working for an employer who they feel has betrayed them or their friends, or working for their own company with those friends, the choice is pretty obvious!

[JongWK]

I'm owed money. And contracts.

At this point, and unless there are better news fast, I see no point in holding back all the SoLA stuff.

[Rotbart van Dain...]

At this point, and unless there are better news fast, I see no point in holding back all the SoLA stuff.

Well, three countries of SoLA are already out there. It really would be nice seeing it (mostly) complete – and the final word was that this won't happen officially.