[HOE] Long time lurker sharing position

["twilight@vbe.com" <twilight@vbe.com>]

Everyone--

This is not a rant

For the most part, I'm a lurker.  I'm here for the free ideas, the
straight poop from the creators, and the updates on a favorite game.
For months I've watched the level of discomfort and distaste w/
Cybergames.com (which still remains a largely faceless entity).
Everyone speaking has remained quite reserved and largely non cynical -
something I didn't expect, the support for PEGINC people being the most
interesting popular opinion.

I have one main thing to say and some of you are probably not going to
like me for it.  Before I continue, I want to say that I have been on
the list for about 2 years now and I have a lot of respect for those
folks who keep the list flowing.  Allan, et all.

A lot of list members are blaming cybergames.com for the current malaise
(book delays, etc.), unfortunately, I can't really blame this company.
If it is anyone we ought to be angry at, it's Pinnacle Entertainment
Group for selling out.

I admit, I'm ignorant about the whys of the sellout.  Maybe it was a
good deal, a lot of nice green cash for Shane and the gang.  Maybe it
was the reality that this business is incredibly difficult, if not
impossible, to operate and remain lucrative.  We all have our favorite
folded up gaming company that in five years, new gamers will mumble
"who?" when you mention it around them.  Maybe those folks we admire and
fanboy about are moving on to new pastures, family, new ideas. Hey
great, I came into Deadlands because of the amazing adventure Shane
wrote for the Adnd Dark Sun line.  I'm gladly looking forward to Shane's
AFMBE source book.

But regardless of the situation, it was still a sell out.  Pinnacle sold
out.  I recognize that creators of RPG lines are still human even when
we see them as heroes.  But circumstances are shmirkumstances when it's
a situation like this.  It sucks when you have a company you respect for
their wonderful products and kinship with their readers, totally piss it
all away in something, which despite all circumstances is inherently
crummy, as selling out.

Honestly, I'm not mad at Pinnacle or Shane or anyone related because of
this.  I feel a little disgusted and I've lost some respect but that's
part and parcel.  I wish it wouldn't have happened but I'll swallow the
bad taste in my mouth and move on.

Thanks for reading,

-Guy