Yesterday we took a look at some of Vanguard's ups and downs during 2005.
Today let's take a look at the comings and goings at Vanguard. It was
a year of moving ahead, bringing in new talent, reorganizing. Sigil started
off the year in new premises, simply having outgrown the previous office
space in Carlsbad. It had gotten so bad that desks were being put in hallways,
and Cindy admitted her office had also become the corporate stash-all
spot for varied boxes and treasure troves. The new offices were quite
luxurious compared to the old, but we figure there will be even more expansions
on the horizon, due in part to the increasing success of the game.

Here's how the people flow stacked up:

On July 18, the hiring of Associate Game Designer Peter Rocchio and Artist
Rick Winter was announced.

On July 28, a rash of hirings hit with the bringing on board of Web Developer
Rob Matzker, Associate Game Designer Derek McDevitt, Associate Game Designer
Chris Manprin, Associate Game Designer Michael Mann, and Programmer A.R.
Schleicher.

On September 7th, the new game masters began showing up in the Sigil
Roster: Game Master Rachel David, Game Master Steve Williams, Game Master
Ben Phongluangtham, along with more program and design talent: Quality
Assurance Manager Ed Hocking, Associate Game Designer Paul Molina, Senior
Artist Mike Nicholson, Associate Game Designer Paul Greshko, Senior Programmer
Todd Schmidt, and Associate Game Designer Lisa Boleyn.

On September 16th, Associate Programmer Steve Hoelle was added to the
line-up, and on Nov. 30th, two more GMs: Game Master Keejay and Game Master
Daegarmo.

The last of this year's 2005 hirings was announced Dec. 8th, with the
coming on board of Senior Artist Chris Chamberlain, Web/Graphic Artist
Sean Hamilton,

Associate Programmer Zach Lute, Administrative Assistant Monday Platter,
and

Game Master Gary Grobson.

There were unfortunately two losses in the art department, both of which
hit hard…

On Aug. 30th Aradune
confirmed rumors of Tom King leaving Sigil.

On Oct. 26th Keith
Parkinson passed away.

The original five affiliated fansites held fast throughout 2005.

Epic Vanguard

The Safehouse


Vanguard Gate

Vanguard
Stratics

Vanguard Warcry

New affiliates fell in step along the way as 2005 wound down, through
joyous happenings and just plain hard work.

March 25th, 2005

Silky Venom and
Last Vanguard Fanboy

May 9th, 2005

Vanguard
Online Welten

June 6th, 2005

Vanguard Crafters

June 14th, 2005

Vanguard :: Die Gemeinde

July 5th, 2005

Vanguard Spheres

July 20th, 2005

Vanguard Ten
Ton Hammer

August 4th, 2005

Vanguard
Mondes Persistants

August 30th, 2005

Vanguard Jeuxonline

September 19th, 2005

Xvanguard

October 17th, 2005

Vanguard-esp

November 21st, 2005

The Druid's Grove

December 5th, 2005

Vanguard Fighters

December 7th, 2005

Vanguard Lost
Company

December 9th, 2005

Diplomatters

In May, Sigil and Microsoft joined forced at E3 with their own floor
space. Granted it was a very small floor space without air conditioning
or many places to sit, but the team rose above it and provided a spectacular
show for the fans.

In August, Fanguard Beta had an outstanding attendance in Las Vegas.
And in December, Cindy Bowens announced the next Fanguard for 2006.



On December 21st, the OVF reached a milestone of 40,000 members.

There
were other comings and goings…but one thing rang out throughout the year…Sigil
is committed to its policies and its promises to the fans. The fans on
their part are rallying more than ever with their show of support to the
devs. It is, along with everything else, an extremely interesting study
in how the community and the gaming company can work hand in hand to make
the one product that everyone wants…a game that will surrender its beauty
and its challenge to the worthy players awaiting their time to play.

As for release date? The best guess is 2006 - mostly definitely probably.
I think perhaps Shayalyn's
method might work just as well as anyone else's at this point.

Until then, the Management and Staff at Vanguard Ten Ton Hammer wish
you and yours a very Happy New Year…in game and out.