Legends of Equestria - Statement

[Liska]

Statement from the ex-development team of Equestria Online

Okay, we've gotten this request. We've read the comments and heard the demand to know what happened on the other side of the story. At first, it was our intention to keep this matter private, since it had nothing to do with the production of the game and we wanted to stay professional about the matter. But since the outpouring of sentiments about the current status and future of the project, we feel we owe you an explanation.

First, just let us explain: none of us wished for the outcome that happened, but this statement will hopefully make you realise that there was no other option.

While RainDrop was away in school our team leader for PR and Business (SweBow) took over somewhat as team leader. He started to build up a democratic way to control the project that allowed everyone to have a say (3D team, Audio Team, 2D team, etc.), by allowing their team leaders to be able to bring up their questions to the rest of the team leaders at weekly meetings on Fridays. We then started to develop a Code of Conduct/NDA. This paper not only said that the project was allowed to use your files if you left, but it also protected you as the creator of the work. It stated you still owned your work, and you were protected so that no team leader could single-handedly kick you off for no good reason, but in fact needed the majority vote of the Team Leaders to get removed. The team member who might be getting a kick had all rights to appeal a decision like this. It never happened, no team leader ever had to implement a kick after the Code of Conduct was proclaimed.

Now, lets go on with the explanation now that you've got a bit of the background story.

What caused the split of the development team was actually about the Code of Conduct. RainDrop wanted absolute power since he founded the project. We wanted to continue with the democratic way of handling things as we had done the last six months while RainDrop was gone - something that had worked out in our favor for the project as whole.

But what do you mean by absolute power? To explain it simply, everything created, developed, coded or whatnot would become his. We, as the development team, wouldn't get any say about our assets. RainDrop refused to agree with the Code of Conduct even though we asked for his input during the development process. So he was aware of the Code of Conduct and what it meant long before last week.

Some have pointed out that since he started the project, it is his to do with as he pleases.
We agree. That's why we now have parted ways. He is left with the project as it was before September. Anything that was created by team members now affiliated with LoE is no longer part of EO.

99% of the team has left to continue a new 3D Pony MMO. We did so with great reluctance.
None of us wished this would happen, none of us wanted this to end like it did. We tried to compromise, we tried to find an agreement (several times, in fact) but there was none to be found. Therefore, the Team Leaders acted as any good leader would. We acted to protect our team members' assets and time they put into the creation of the game. We gave all of our members the full story and notified them of our intent to form a new project. None were forced. They all left of their own free will, for the same reasons we did.

As a final note, we'd like to ask everyone to please not spread rumors, speculation or lies about what happened. We have no ill will toward EO or RainDrop. We do not wish either party to have to deal with any negativity as a result of this.

Thank you for your patience and we hope to see you at www.legendsofequestria.com