ThreadBoard ArchivesSite FeaturesActiveworlds SupportHistoric Archives |
The end of an era (Bots)
The end of an era // BotsbrantMay 31, 2002, 12:22am
According to a chat log that I received two weeks ago, two things of
importance are supposed to occur today. While the release of 3.3 is probably no longer on schedule, I doubt that the other event has changed. For those of you who are unaware, Roland Vilett, AW's lead programmer, will be reporting for his last day of work at Activeworlds this morning. For those of you who don't realize the impact of this event on the community, Roland has contributed too much to Activeworlds to recount. If anyone had a technical problem, Roland was THE source on AW - period. Having been around at least since the COF takeover of AW if not before (in other words, a LONG time), Roland single-handedly programmed almost all of the current browser, world, and universe software that we all use every day. Putting aside some minor disagreements some might have, Roland has been actively involved in the community since day one - holding TechTalks, visiting worlds, and talking to people using his software. At times, he was even moreso a representative of the company than his superiors. During the days when corporate partners set the development order, Roland was at the forefront, continually arguing to include more features aimed to improve normal citizens' experiences. I'm sure that everyone remembers an instance where Roland helped him or her solve a problem. For myself, I still remember Roland's nonstop commitment last Fall when AWTeen was continually being attacked by hackers and password stealers. He must have been asked to resolve these problems at least a half dozen times if not more, but he didn't complain once. Even when it was past 10:00pm and he had to be off the clock, he was still working late into the night restoring property, looking up world logs, and taking care of vandals. I titled this post "the end of an era" because Roland's leaving really is just that, and cross-posted it to all these newsgroups because if there's one topic that's of interest to all AW citizens, this is it. I hope that I'm not alone in saying that Roland has left MrGrimm some very large shoes to fill. If you're reading this, Roland, I wish you luck in your future endeavors :) carlbanksMay 31, 2002, 12:33am
macb z@x.yMay 31, 2002, 12:46am
Well, although I've said my good-byes here, I have 20 something days
left and I couldn't help but second your remarks. Roland may well have contributed more to the AW technology that anyone else in its short history. As is all too often the case such people sneak out with hardly a good-bye from all those they have benefited. Let's all wish him a bright and prosperous future that he deserves. [View Quote] goober kingMay 31, 2002, 1:09am
Indeed, Roland's passing will leave a huge hole in the AW community, as
well as in the future development of AW (if there is any). While I don't doubt MrGrimm's skills as a programmer, Roland's countless years of service to this product and its inhabitants will forever be unmatched. He was one of the many level-headed AWC staffers who have since departed AW's halls and is now the last of his kind (with the possible exceptions of Flagg and Gand). May he find even more success and enjoyment in his future endeavors. But hey, we can't let him get away without saying goodbye! Whoever's on the beta team (*cough*Agent1*cough*), post Lara's idea on the beta NG so Roland will see it! :) [View Quote] > According to a chat log that I received two weeks ago, two things of > importance are supposed to occur today. While the release of 3.3 is > probably no longer on schedule, I doubt that the other event has changed. > For those of you who are unaware, Roland Vilett, AW's lead programmer, will > be reporting for his last day of work at Activeworlds this morning. > > For those of you who don't realize the impact of this event on the > community, Roland has contributed too much to Activeworlds to recount. If > anyone had a technical problem, Roland was THE source on AW - period. > Having been around at least since the COF takeover of AW if not before (in > other words, a LONG time), Roland single-handedly programmed almost all of > the current browser, world, and universe software that we all use every day. > > Putting aside some minor disagreements some might have, Roland has been > actively involved in the community since day one - holding TechTalks, > visiting worlds, and talking to people using his software. At times, he was > even moreso a representative of the company than his superiors. During the > days when corporate partners set the development order, Roland was at the > forefront, continually arguing to include more features aimed to improve > normal citizens' experiences. > > I'm sure that everyone remembers an instance where Roland helped him or her > solve a problem. For myself, I still remember Roland's nonstop commitment > last Fall when AWTeen was continually being attacked by hackers and password > stealers. He must have been asked to resolve these problems at least a > half dozen times if not more, but he didn't complain once. Even when it was > past 10:00pm and he had to be off the clock, he was still working late into > the night restoring property, looking up world logs, and taking care of > vandals. > > I titled this post "the end of an era" because Roland's leaving really is > just that, and cross-posted it to all these newsgroups because if there's > one topic that's of interest to all AW citizens, this is it. I hope that > I'm not alone in saying that Roland has left MrGrimm some very large shoes > to fill. > > If you're reading this, Roland, I wish you luck in your future endeavors :) > > > -- Goober King The end of an era, and the beginning of the end... rar1 at acsu.buffalo.edu the joker ssMay 31, 2002, 1:12am
allthough i am not his best friend , i hope he is going to have a great
future , and thx for all the effort he put in AW , i hope he drops by in AW someday to check on us :) "brant" <awteen at shoemakervillage.org> schrieb im Newsbeitrag news:3cf6de56$1 at server1.Activeworlds.com... > According to a chat log that I received two weeks ago, two things of > importance are supposed to occur today. While the release of 3.3 is > probably no longer on schedule, I doubt that the other event has changed. > For those of you who are unaware, Roland Vilett, AW's lead programmer, will > be reporting for his last day of work at Activeworlds this morning. > > For those of you who don't realize the impact of this event on the > community, Roland has contributed too much to Activeworlds to recount. If > anyone had a technical problem, Roland was THE source on AW - period. > Having been around at least since the COF takeover of AW if not before (in > other words, a LONG time), Roland single-handedly programmed almost all of > the current browser, world, and universe software that we all use every day. > > Putting aside some minor disagreements some might have, Roland has been > actively involved in the community since day one - holding TechTalks, > visiting worlds, and talking to people using his software. At times, he was > even moreso a representative of the company than his superiors. During the > days when corporate partners set the development order, Roland was at the > forefront, continually arguing to include more features aimed to improve > normal citizens' experiences. > > I'm sure that everyone remembers an instance where Roland helped him or her > solve a problem. For myself, I still remember Roland's nonstop commitment > last Fall when AWTeen was continually being attacked by hackers and password > stealers. He must have been asked to resolve these problems at least a > half dozen times if not more, but he didn't complain once. Even when it was > past 10:00pm and he had to be off the clock, he was still working late into > the night restoring property, looking up world logs, and taking care of > vandals. > > I titled this post "the end of an era" because Roland's leaving really is > just that, and cross-posted it to all these newsgroups because if there's > one topic that's of interest to all AW citizens, this is it. I hope that > I'm not alone in saying that Roland has left MrGrimm some very large shoes > to fill. > > If you're reading this, Roland, I wish you luck in your future endeavors :) > > brantMay 31, 2002, 1:13am
henrikgMay 31, 2002, 4:38am
Roland, thank you for all the brilliant work, patience, attitude towards
users and for being such a great friend of the mixed bag of people using this software :) Whatever you do now, I wish you luck with your next job or project! HenrikG [View Quote] robbieMay 31, 2002, 10:14am
Even though I almost went to prison thanks to Roland. I agree, he has almost
solely kept Active Worlds alive. Maintaining contact between AWCorp and the Users as well listning to us whenever he could to improve the software. You will be missed Roland, do come back and see us when you can :) -Robbie [View Quote] makaMay 31, 2002, 10:37am
Roland will be missed greatly, what we have as our AW now, is a very large
part of because he worked so hard to help everyone that asked him, to keep things running smoothly and to make our experience the best it could be. Id like to thank him for everything, thanks Roland, you'll be missed greatly, - Maka carlbanksMay 31, 2002, 11:22am
Roland was a great person. At Tech Talks he explained everything and if you
had questions he answered them. He also made AW the way it is today. I will miss you roland. -CarLBanks P.S. Hey Roland could release 3.3 after Ceremony if The powers that be let him. brantMay 31, 2002, 11:34am
Well, that chat log said that 3.3 is to be released within a few hours (i.e.
before the ceremony). I doubt that AW would release it after business hours, and besides, release dates for any kind of software, no matter what company, are always inevitably delayed, so don't be surprised if the log is no longer accurate :) [View Quote] computerizerMay 31, 2002, 1:29pm
which chat log is this? I must has missed it...
-Computerizer "brant" <awteen at shoemakervillage.org> wrote in news:3cf77be0$1 at server1.Activeworlds.com: > Well, that chat log said that 3.3 is to be released within a few hours > (i.e. before the ceremony). I doubt that AW would release it after > business hours, and besides, release dates for any kind of software, > no matter what company, are always inevitably delayed, so don't be > surprised if the log is no longer accurate :) > kahMay 31, 2002, 2:32pm
I agree, Roland will be sorely missed by us all! I hope he'll have as much
success with his future projects as he has with AW! Bye Roland, I hope you'll drop by AW sometimes :-)) KAH |