Jeff Freeman commits suicide...

KNiVES

KNiVES

KNiVES

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http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/86552-Jeff-Freeman-Former-SWG-Lead-Gameplay-Designer-Dies

Jeff Freeman, former Lead Gameplay Designer on Star Wars Galaxies, has tragically taken his own life.

Freeman had previously worked at Spacetime Studios as well as on Ultima Online, but is best known for his stint on Star Wars Galaxies, where he was unfortunate enough to become the public face of the "New Game Enhancements" update, one of the most infamous debacles in MMOG history. In a story from June 2007, Allen Varney detailed how Freeman became the target of gamer rage over the NGE, even though his role in its development was minor.

Despite the fact that he continued to suffer online abuse at the hands of Star Wars Galaxies players unhappy with the NGE changes even after leaving Sony Online Entertainment in late 2006, Freeman's brother clarified that his suicide had nothing to do with the game. "I want everyone to know that it was not SWG that led him to take his life," he said. "He has been troubled for some time. There were a lot of personal issues that tore at him."

A memorial service will be held for Freeman in his hometown of Austin, Texas, on October 2. He was 39.
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Obviously the thread title is a joke, but I can imagine a few ardent SWG fans, especially the longtime players, cracking the champagne open at these news. A tragic loss, and despite the article saying SWG had nothing to do with it, I'm willing to bet the flak he took for the redesigns contributed to his depression which eventually lead to him doing an account suicide that had no way of being retrieved.
 
KNiVES said:
Obviously the thread title is a joke, but I can imagine a few ardent SWG fans, especially the longtime players, cracking the champagne open at these news. A tragic loss, and despite the article saying SWG had nothing to do with it, I'm willing to bet the flak he took for the redesigns contributed to his depression which eventually lead to him doing an account suicide that had no way of being retrieved.
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Joke or not you should have some deceny tbh.

As for the account suicide comment, you may think your funny but I am betting its not just me thinking you are coming across as a bit of a plank!
 
Reminds me of when the WAR EU beta was delayed for two or three days due to technical problems and losers on various forums were acting like total idiots, saying things like they hope GOA employees and their families die from AIDS etc etc...

Some people really are beyond belief.
 
Feel sorry for his family, if his brother was close enough to know that the SWG abuse was not a contributing factor then he must have been reasonably close.
 
He was still a part of the team before the NGE and so helped in the creation of one of the best MMO's around in my opinion. RIP :(
 
pre1twa said:
I think people need to realise that the value of all the 'virtual lives' that exist in MMORPGs amount to nothing compared to that of one real life.
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Surprised this even needs to be said! :( I would hope that no-one is cracking open any champagne over this news.
 
:( Hated SWG even before the NGE, but this is always very sad. I agree with the OP, even though the flak he took online had nothing to do with his suicide, it can't have helped. RIP.
 
Is that the same guy that poted a big writeup a month or so back on the stuff that was done wrong in the game?
 
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