DarkMoonEnigma
Virtualsense Official
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Moderator
Community & Media Manager
Virtualsense Media Team
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This post was a result of some in the community learning that MindStar9 was the driving force behind DarkMoonEnigma and it explains why it was not revealed at the beginning of our taking over Monria. MindStar9 is my original avatar and we asked MindArk to place her on ice (not accessible) while I am in the DME official position with Monria, and now Virtualsense after adding Toulan to our family.
I had a discussion with Anhithe about publishing a DME Moon State of Mind because it was the least that I could do, and felt that I owed the many who supported me over the years as MS9 more of an explanation than just an announcement of ---> guess whose underwear Dark Moon is wearing.
If you haven't read Anhithe's thread --> Introducing DME <-- then please do, it's as relevant as this thread.
For those of you who are more familiar with MindStar9, I'm sure the title of this thread reminded you of the "MS9 EU State of Mind" I did for 5 years in a row in the past (2008-2012). However, that was when I was a player and felt more of a responsibility to be supportive and a joining voice in what would work better for the community.
Throughout my MS9 EU history, I felt now and then that there was a disservice to the players, and at times became very vocal about it, letting MindArk know that I wasn't happy all the time either.
Despite some frustrations and challenges over the years, I have never not loved Entropia Universe. In fact, quite the opposite. I have always said the concept was unique, and the potential was immense. I just took issue at times with how it was delivered, and shared a voice with many others in the EU community.
As part of the Monria Management and Development Team, my role affords me more of an opportunity now to help make a difference in the player experience, at least to the degree we can do that on the Moon. Granted, there are some things that require assistance from MindArk, but Anhithe has established a great working relationship with them toward achieving our goals for Monria, with one key factor in place --> community first.
As far as my role with MindArk, I love our MA Engineer who helps us cause chaos on the Moon. Whoever he is, he is my hero because he hasn't missed a beat, and would like to give him a Rubic's Cube or something to keep his fingers agile for those mad keyboard skillz he possesses. Whoever you are, thank you.
This is why I can do more:
When Anhithe first approached me to join his Monria Management Team, I didn't hesitate, because it was him, and he would be the one and only reason I would entertain becoming more engaged with EU after being on a two year semi-break, it's just that simple.
If I were to return to this universe in full active mode, it had to be in a position where I could not only engage in activities as I did in the past as MS9, but also have an opportunity to really make a difference in whatever way it would be possible, and have the support to do so. I absolutely have that with Anhithe, and in spades.
The initial thought was to come back as MS9, but after a brief discussion, Ant voted against it. His reasons made sense to me, which is why I didn't try to persuade him otherwise.
Here's why in a nut shell:
I am sorry if some feel that there was deception in play because that was never the intent, but rather a concerted effort to give us every opportunity to get the team established first with a solid foundation so that we had something to work with going forward. We knew eventually that we would make the announcement that MS9 was the driving force behind DME, but we were hoping for a little more time. Unfortunately, we were forced to reveal the information sooner. However, the catalyst for this is not up for discussion. Other than the person claiming credit for this is not the person at all.
It is my hope that those who have witnessed what we have been able to do as a team thus far, will continue to support our efforts toward evolving the Moon to the level of experience that you deserve. The Monrian community means everything to us, and you will always come first.
I ask you to please look at the good that is being done, and be a voice for the Monrian community in letting us know what works and what doesn't work. This is a partnership with you to discover the best possible experience we can deliver. We want to do this right, and we want to do this with you, not for you. In this partnership with the community, it will help us get to where we want to take the Moon.
There is one more request that I respectfully ask of you --> while the spirit of MS9 is the driving force with what I do as DME, please remember that I am now Dark Moon if you can, and witness yet again the evolution of a new era. I'm taking you on a different journey, and it's not always going to be pretty, unlike Pusherman's new profile pic that @Maximus Cashicus raved about in Monria chat.
DME | MOON STATE OF MIND
I had a discussion with Anhithe about publishing a DME Moon State of Mind because it was the least that I could do, and felt that I owed the many who supported me over the years as MS9 more of an explanation than just an announcement of ---> guess whose underwear Dark Moon is wearing.
If you haven't read Anhithe's thread --> Introducing DME <-- then please do, it's as relevant as this thread.
For those of you who are more familiar with MindStar9, I'm sure the title of this thread reminded you of the "MS9 EU State of Mind" I did for 5 years in a row in the past (2008-2012). However, that was when I was a player and felt more of a responsibility to be supportive and a joining voice in what would work better for the community.
Throughout my MS9 EU history, I felt now and then that there was a disservice to the players, and at times became very vocal about it, letting MindArk know that I wasn't happy all the time either.
Despite some frustrations and challenges over the years, I have never not loved Entropia Universe. In fact, quite the opposite. I have always said the concept was unique, and the potential was immense. I just took issue at times with how it was delivered, and shared a voice with many others in the EU community.
As part of the Monria Management and Development Team, my role affords me more of an opportunity now to help make a difference in the player experience, at least to the degree we can do that on the Moon. Granted, there are some things that require assistance from MindArk, but Anhithe has established a great working relationship with them toward achieving our goals for Monria, with one key factor in place --> community first.
As far as my role with MindArk, I love our MA Engineer who helps us cause chaos on the Moon. Whoever he is, he is my hero because he hasn't missed a beat, and would like to give him a Rubic's Cube or something to keep his fingers agile for those mad keyboard skillz he possesses. Whoever you are, thank you.
This is why I can do more:
- I'm working in partnership with someone whom I've known for many years
- Anhithe is a savvy business man, and has a proven track record for wise investments within EU
- he created a real life business specifically for investing in EU, and perseverance paid off
- he takes this Moon business very seriously, and in doing so, he's interested in results
- he knows my work history, my EU history, and what I'm capable of
- -----> he doesn't think I know my own potential because I suffer from Wonder Woman Syndrome
- -----> so he's going to take every advantage of that he can by increasing my bullet point list
- we discuss everything, and make decisions together for the good of the team and the community
- he entertains my ideas, and sometimes he'll say "you do that" because he knows that I can
- he gives every respect and appreciation to my sleep deprivation because he's the cause of it
- he gives me free reign to do what I do as a result of implicit trust, but that's a two-way street
- we are both on the same page when it comes to community --> they are first and foremost
- we developed the Community Initiatives Program (CIP) and I manage the teams
- -----> however, I'm just a facilitator because they are so magnificent in their own right
- -----> they have exceeded all expectations, and we will give them every support
- I'm not just a player, this is now my job, let me rephrase that --> my dream job
- -----> I get to do everything I did in the past with MS9, but so much more
- -----> Ant is my ped ATM when it comes time for event planning and supporting teams
- -----> besides, Kendra and I are like sisters, and she knows where the ped card is hidden
- Ant and I can both elevate the fun factor, and I think we have proven that in the past almost 5 mos
- -----> he's the one who gave me the additional staff position of CFO --> Chief Fun Officer
- we both want to bring back the social aspects of the game that make it so much more engaging
- we're on a joint mission to make Monria the best experience we can for our community family
- and speaking of family --> Kendra has been my virtual sister for a long time, and I love her dearly
- -----> Ant and I always seem to be in the thick of a 3-ring circus while she manages the peripheral stuff
- -----> she's as dedicated as the rest of us, and an amazing Monria Good Will Ambassador
- -----> she's right there no matter what needs to be done, and quite creative in her own right
- and one last key factor --> Ant's brother Pusherman is one bad-ass body guard (and a virtual brother)
- -----> he runs the gauntlet in stealth mode and clears a path for me to do my thing
- -----> although I'm not sure how he'll fair now since he's sporting the MS9 profile pic
EXPLAINING THE ANONYMITY
When Anhithe first approached me to join his Monria Management Team, I didn't hesitate, because it was him, and he would be the one and only reason I would entertain becoming more engaged with EU after being on a two year semi-break, it's just that simple.
If I were to return to this universe in full active mode, it had to be in a position where I could not only engage in activities as I did in the past as MS9, but also have an opportunity to really make a difference in whatever way it would be possible, and have the support to do so. I absolutely have that with Anhithe, and in spades.
The initial thought was to come back as MS9, but after a brief discussion, Ant voted against it. His reasons made sense to me, which is why I didn't try to persuade him otherwise.
Here's why in a nut shell:
- people in the community already had a mindset about MS9 because of the long EU history
- MS9 was always in full-universe mode, but now there is just a Moon with a different dynamic
- an announcement about MS9 joining the Monria Team had the potential for inviting distractions
- the management team needed time to acclimate to where do we go from here and put a plan in place
- the MS9 persona was not suitable for the Moon given the theme and other considerations
- a new persona needed to be established that was more fitting
- therefore, a Monrian-born team member with a name that had more meaning and connection
- -----> Dark Moon because I get to play an evolving (dark) role in the Cthulhu theme
- -----> Enigma = mystery | and the Enigma is, that behind DME is MS9
- -----> so the spirit of the purple one is always with me and supporting this new adventure
- -----> but now I have to come up with a new mystery :devil
- we needed to focus on the plan to build the Moon community from the ground up
- -----> we knew it would take us a while to do this, but the results so far have been amazing
- -----> there's still a long way to go, but we have a road map in place to get us from here to there
- we wanted to give the community an opportunity to experience what we were capable of
- -----> it meant allowing the community to get to know us as a team and what our mission was
- -----> in the short almost 5 months since we took over the Moon, I think we have done this
- not being MS9 up till now gave us every opportunity needed without the potential MS9 distractions
MY PERSONAL MESSAGE TO THE COMMUNITY
I am sorry if some feel that there was deception in play because that was never the intent, but rather a concerted effort to give us every opportunity to get the team established first with a solid foundation so that we had something to work with going forward. We knew eventually that we would make the announcement that MS9 was the driving force behind DME, but we were hoping for a little more time. Unfortunately, we were forced to reveal the information sooner. However, the catalyst for this is not up for discussion. Other than the person claiming credit for this is not the person at all.
It is my hope that those who have witnessed what we have been able to do as a team thus far, will continue to support our efforts toward evolving the Moon to the level of experience that you deserve. The Monrian community means everything to us, and you will always come first.
I ask you to please look at the good that is being done, and be a voice for the Monrian community in letting us know what works and what doesn't work. This is a partnership with you to discover the best possible experience we can deliver. We want to do this right, and we want to do this with you, not for you. In this partnership with the community, it will help us get to where we want to take the Moon.
There is one more request that I respectfully ask of you --> while the spirit of MS9 is the driving force with what I do as DME, please remember that I am now Dark Moon if you can, and witness yet again the evolution of a new era. I'm taking you on a different journey, and it's not always going to be pretty, unlike Pusherman's new profile pic that @Maximus Cashicus raved about in Monria chat.
Thank you for every consideration you may give.
s2
