REVIVE POTCO Revisited ~ "Tales Be Told!"

Arrrrr! Do ye still LOVE bein' a PIRATE?

  • AYE ~ Me timbers be shiver'd!

    Votes: 73 94.8%
  • NAY ~ Much like Disney, me interests have changed!

    Votes: 4 5.2%

  • Total voters
    77
S

Shamus The Brute

Arrrgh! :piratemickey:

"The brethren know they face extinction. All that remains is for them to decide where they make their final stand."
- Lord Cutler Beckett (POTC: 'At World's End')

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~ Ask any pirate of the Caribbean whom is familiar enough with POTCO and the above quotation remains especially true throughout much of 2012-2013.

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Oye!
The information below provides insight into the challenges which had faced the organization, the planning, and the implementation of Revive POTCO (or 'RP').

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The goal of this writing is to therefore contribute to the overall POTCO time capsule to where it is hoped that pirates may conclude that the RP petition effort was unique in that it permitted the POTCO community to unite together towards the goal to have POTCO "revived."

(Note: Those successes which did result from the RP petition is to the credit of POTCO players 'themselves' whom supported RP for nearly a year despite the continuation of in-game inconsistencies, lack of content, and setbacks. *In addition, no alternative agenda of those affiliated with RP served as a motivating factor other than to assist towards the pursuit of the success of the petition).

~ "We have OUR heading" ~

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To recap, the RP petition was created for the purpose of approaching Disney/Disney Interactive to instigate change on behalf of POTCO. The RP "petition letters" were written, as such, to convey justification as to why such change was needed. (The content expressed within each letter represented the concerns most understood by POTCO players in reaction to the stagnation which was being experienced in-game). Therefore, RP organizers from the onset committed themselves to partake in action on behalf of the voice of POTCO players (according to those concerns that arose and to which were being expressed in-game and on various POTCO fan/community forum websites).


~ PEOPLE (i.e., POTCO pirates) of the "Fifth" Brethren Court ~
Think back to that moment in time when you first caught wind that POTCO players have united together as a result of the RP petition. :flag: Looking back on it now, do you recall feeling a sense of hope, excitement, or that of relief - or - were you rather skeptical that such an effort could make a difference for the game in the long-run? Whatever thoughts and/or feelings that you did have, what was dead certain was that POTCO players refused to go down without a fight!


QUESTION: Can positive change occur without the action and support of PEOPLE? Most certainly the answer to the question is "no" and while it may serve some purpose to do absolutely nothing at all (when it appears that the odds are heavily stacked and one-sided), history shows that decisions made by a majority of people make the greatest change in comparison towards inaction, accepting the mindset to do nothing at all, or in thinking that everything "will just work itself out." The RP petition was no different.


It is of this writing's intention, therefore, to pause to honor those people (and POTCO 'communities') whom efforts and support of RP did not go unnoticed for the greater part of a year.

A heartie :) RP "thanks" goes out to:

The POTCO players (Basic and Unlimited)
Approximately 3,000 individual players willfully signed their name in support of the RP petition!
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THANK YOU kindly, me hearties! :bow:

Revive POTCO "website" developer/administrators

Revive POTCO organizers (initial)
1. LEO
2. Jade O'Hayes
3. Davy Darkrage
4. Pretty Polly
5. Johnny Sea Slasher/Dentface
6. Eliza Creststeel
7. Captain C Ray
8. Zia Badncool
9. Shamus The Brute


Revive POTCO organizers (RP/POTCO 'events')
1. Rannulf
2. Captain Star
3. jzfredskins
4. Kate Goldwaker
5. Captain Redhorn
6. Kat
7. Blade1
8. Punkin Pie
9. Edward Mctimbers
10. Seahawk
11. Samuel Calicoswain
12. John Foulroberts
13. Thomas MW


POTCO fan/community forums sites
1. Piratesforums (both sites)
2. POTCO Wiki
3. POTC Fanon Wiki
4. Disney POTCO
5. Pirates Online Forums
6. Facebook (POTCO-related) "groups"



~ RP "Press Release" ~

For an in-depth look at RP's Press Release (at the time it was first released), please adjust your
eye-patch and take a peek at the link provided below.


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http://piratesetc.clangrid.com/gfile/75r4!-!FLLEMM!-!svyr5/petitionpdf.pdf


~ Contacting Disney/Disney Interactive Media Group ~

In total, RP organizers had contacted and sent correspondence out to 63 Disney/Disney Interactive individuals (whom publicly disclosed over the internet that they were employed by the company as of October 2, 2012). Since then, numerous individuals have changed positional responsibilities and/or job tasks. However, a significant majority of Disney/DIMG employees overall had retained the same job title since they were first contacted by RP.

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Below includes the job "titles" of those individuals RP organizers had contacted (with the different 'means' used to contact each individual listed). Please note that employee names are purposefully withheld on account of honoring their privacy.

EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT
"Chairman & CEO - The Walt Disney Company" (Facebook, Email)
"Co-President, DIMG - The Walt Disney Co." (Facebook, LinkedIn, Email)
"Co-President, DIMG - The Walt Disney Co." (Facebook, LinkedIn)
"Executive Vice President of Operations and Business Development" (Twitter, LinkedIn, Email)
"Executive Vice President - Disney Online Studios" (Email)
"Vice President, Product - DIMG" (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn)
"Senior Vice President, Disney.com - DIMG" (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn)


EXECUTIVE FINANCE
"Vice President, Central Finance - DIMG" (Facebook, LinkedIn)
"Vice President, Finance - DIMG" (LinkedIn)
"Vice President of Finance & Operations - DIMG" (LinkedIn, Email)
"Director, Finance and Planning - DIMG" (LinkedIn, Email)


POTCO/ DIRECT EXPERIENCE
"Lead Producer - The Walt Disney Co." (LinkedIn, Email)
"Product Director, Pirates Online" (Facebook, LinkedIn, Email)
"Senior Visual Designer - Walt Disney Studios" (Facebook, LinkedIn)
"Senior Producer" (Facebook, LinkedIn)
"Managing Producer - DIMG" (LinkedIn, Email)
"Designer - DIMG" (LinkedIn, Email)
"Associate Art Director for DIMG Virtual Worlds - DIMG" (LinkedIn, Email)
"POTCO artist ('Fishing' mini-game) - DIMG" (Email)
"Associate Art Director - DIMG" (LinkedIn, Email)
"Manager, Operations - Disney Online Studios" (LinkedIn)
"Technical Concept Designer - Walt Disney Imagineering" (Email)
"Architect/Senior Engineer - Disney Online Studios" (LinkedIn)


GAME PUBLISHING/PRODUCING
"Executive Producer - The Walt Disney Co." (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn)
"Senior Vice President, Games Publishing - DIMG" (LinkedIn)
"Senior Producer - The Walt Disney Co." (Facebook, LinkedIn, Email)
"Lead Producer - Disney Online Studios" (Facebook, LinkedIn)
"Director, Games Publishing - DIMG" (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn)
"Producer - Disney Online Studios" (LinkedIn)
"Producer, Disney Online - DIMG" (LinkedIn)
"Director of Game Design - Disney Online Studios" (LinkedIn)


GAMES SUPPORT
"Chief Product Officer & Chief Technology Officer - Walt Disney Co." (Facebook, LinkedIn, Email)
"VP, Worldwide Business Development, Disney Games - DIMG" (Facebook, LinkedIn)
"Vice President - DIMG" (Facebook)
"Vice President, Technology - DIMG" (Facebook, LinkedIn)
"Vice President - DIMG" (LinkedIn)
"Head of Product, Disney Interactive - DIMG" (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn)
"Product Liaison - DIMG" (Twitter, LinkedIn)
"Community Manager, Product Development - DIMG" (Facebook, LinkedIn)
"Director, Operation Solutions - DIMG" (Twitter, LinkedIn)
"Senior Software Engineer - DIMG" (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn)
"3D Artist - DIMG" (Facebook)
"Director, Security Architecture & Operations - Disney Online Studios" (LinkedIn)


MARKETING
"Vice President, Global Brand Marketing - DIMG" (Facebook, LinkedIn)
"Vice President, Global Marketing - DIMG" (LinkedIn)
"Senior Global Brand Manager - DIMG" (Facebook, LinkedIn)
"Senior Global Brand Manager - DIMG" (Facebook, LinkedIn)
"Senior Manager, Global Marketing - DIMG" (Facebook, LinkedIn)
"Global Brand Manager - DIMG" (Facebook)
"Director of Marketing - DIMG" (Facebook, LinkedIn)
"Senior Marketing Manager - DIMG" (Facebook, LinkedIn)
"Marketing Manager - Walt Disney Company" (Facebook, LinkedIn)
"Manager, Customer Information & Marketing - Walt Disney Company" (LinkedIn)
"Channel Marketing Manager - DIMG" (LinkedIn)
"Senior Manager, Retail Marketing - Walt Disney Company" (Facebook, LinkedIn)
"Content Coordinator - DIMG" (LinkedIn)


PUBLIC RELATIONS/COMMUNICATIONS
"Chief Communications Officer, EVP Corporate Communications - The Walt Disney Co." (LinkedIn)
"Vice President, Communications - DIMG" (Facebook)
"Corporate & Internal Communications - Walt Disney Company" (Facebook, LinkedIn, Email)
"Director, Communications - DIMG" (Facebook, Twitter)
"Director, Communications - DIMG" (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Email)
"Associate Communications Manager - DIMG" (Email)
"Communications Specialist - DIMG" (Facebook, LinkedIn)



~ TIMELINE and "statistics" in RP contacting
Disney/Disney Interactive ~

As previously stated, a total of 63 separate Disney/Disney Interactive people were contacted by RP. Below is a breakdown on how this was accomplished:


- October 2, 2012: a total of 35 people were contacted via Facebook
- October 3, 2012: a total of 11 people were contacted via Twitter
- October 9, 2012: a total of 53 people were contacted via LinkedIn (with 3 individuals contacted through the 'OpenLink' option)
- Ocotober 10-11, 2012: a total of 19 people were contacted via Email
- February 14, 2013: 30 out of the 53 individuals contacted via LinkedIn were messaged a second time, reminding them about RP and encouraging them to provide input and/or help
- September 16th, 2013: 30 out of the 53 individuals contacted via LinkedIn were messages a third time, explaining the closing of POTCO, ToonTown, and Pixie Hollows



:xbones:
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:xbones:
(Avast, me hearties! - More RP 'secrets' and FAQs continued at a later time...) ;)
 
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Shamus, you really are amazing. Many wonderful people organized events, and did much to try and help our situation, but clearly, Shamus has like the biggest passion of any pirate I've ever seen, to promote and explain and just overall care about everything that we have gone through as Pirates.

Thank you Shamus for all you've done and continue to do!
We're really lucky to have you. :bow:
 
Thank you for the kind words - me mateys - but the Revive POTCO (RP) movement was a "group" effort and I am just writing those things which did occur as each RP organizer made a significant contribution to save the Caribbean according to his/her own skills (on behalf of the POTCO community).
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As Barbossa appropriately stated, "...we're naught but humble pirates."

*More RP "secrets & FAQs" coming soon - me hearties - so, be sure to keep a weather eye on the horizon! :)
 
Amazing! Thanks for the kind words :) POTCO really meant a lot to me, but I became inactive over the summer for various reasons. Then I came back. The day after it closed :C I really hope that POTCO will be revived, and better than before! :D Good luck :)
 

~ MESSAGES received from Disney/Disney Interactive Media Group ~

There remains something to be said about open communication during a time to where it appears that so much was at stake concerning the fate and livelihood of POTCO and its close-knit community of dedicated players.

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In fact, I dare say that the general consensus (and hope for RP) amongst POTCO players was that to which it was expected that some type of communication could be reached to where decision-makers employed by Disney would have freely supported RP in such a way to where those concerns and/or suspicions players did have towards the fate of POTCO would have been put to rest. However, what was hoped and what was achieved was unfortunately quite the opposite for nearly a year's length of time.

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(points above; whom is looking at whom ~ 'in the eye')?

Despite the deafening silence and communicational setbacks from top Disney/Disney Interactive decision-makers, there did remain a few individuals whom cared enough to respond back to RP correspondence on behalf of POTCO. ~ Below is the content to their messages and RP, for one, is grateful for each and every one of them! :pirate1:

1.) On October 3, 2013, a former (Disney Interactive) POTCO "Designer" writes:

Greetings. I'm sure you heard about the shutdown of POTCO and ToonTown. Many of us who have worked on it are grieving. Unfortunately they weren't being profitable anymore and executives at Disney Interactive decided to close the games.
Anyhow, I wanted to reach out to you since you are a leader in the POTCO community. The Former VR studios staff (the special department of Disney Interactive that created Toontown, VMK, POTCO) started to make their own game but decided to go to the kickstarter route. They reached out to me to spread the word and need the help of you all to reach out to the community. The game they are developing is called "Storm the Gates". Check out the link here: http://kck.st/19UYhis
If you guys really enjoyed playing Pirates and Toontown, i'm sure you'll like the new game too. Please check out what they have brewing for this new game. Thank you for being a dedicated fan!
:xbones:


2.) On September 19, 2013, a former (Walt Disney Co.) "Executive Producer" writes:

Thank you so much for your love and support of POTCO. While employed at Disney I was not allowed to respond to this kind of direct contact with players, hence my lack of response. I am truly sorry about that and had it been my decision I would have responded to you. Of course if it had been my decision I would not have closed POTCO.
If you are looking for another positive online experience I invite you to join our community over at Shroud of the Avatar. It is a crowd funded and crowd sourced project so you would have an opportunity to participate in an unprecedented manner with the creation of a virtual world.

:xbones:

3.) On February 16, 2013, a (Disney Interactive) "Senior Global Brand Manager" writes:

Hi. I'm not a very active member of Linkedin nor do I work on POTCO. I also do not know who works on that game. Good luck in your endeavor.
:xbones:

4.) On February 12, 2013, a former (Disney Interactive) POTCO "Designer" (same person as #1) writes:

Greetings. Unfortunately, many of us were impacted by the recent "restructure" at Disney Interactive, myself included so there isn't much I can do, regardless. But the good news is last I heard was that more resources were being diverted to toontown and POTCO. Yes, it appears our customer service dept is in Canada for the most part. Please contact them for further assistance. Best of luck to you, mate.
:xbones:

5.) On October 27, 2012, a former (Walt Disney Co.) "Senior Manager, Retail Marketing" writes:

Unfortunately I do not work for Disney Interactive any longer...sorry I am unable to help you.
:xbones:

6.) On October 9, 2012, a former (Disney Interactive) "Senior Marketing Manager" writes:

Hi. Thanks for the note but I left the company a month ago. Just haven't updated my LinkedIn profile. Good luck with your quest.
:xbones:

7.) On October 9, 2012, a former (Disney Interactive) "Vice President, Technology" employee writes:

Thanks for getting in touch. Unfortunately I no longer work for The Walt Disney Company, and would suggest you direct your efforts at either Lane Merrifield (who is responsible for the MMOs within Disney Interactive) or John Pleasants (co-President for Disney Interactive). Best wishes.
:xbones:

8.) On October 3, 2012, a former (Disney Online Studios) "Producer" writes:

Hello - I have passed along your message to some of my former colleagues, however most of them no longer work at DIMG. Best of luck to you in your efforts!
:xbones:

9.) A former (Disney Interactive) "Product Director, Pirates Online" writes:

a.) I am no longer involved with PotCO in anyway. I wish you luck with your initiative though.
b.) I can't give you any names, but I know that big D is aware of your petition
:xbones:
(Still a bounty of RP treasure to 'plunder' so...stay tuned ye pirates)! :treasure:
 
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Despite the deafening silence and communicational setbacks from top Disney/Disney Interactive decision-makers, there did remain a few individuals whom cared enough to respond back to RP correspondence on behalf of POTCO.
Thanks Shamus for compiling and presenting all of this. It's good to know there was some caring individuals that responded and would have done more to keep Potco alive if they could have. I figured as much, but it's nice to actually see proof. Dates on those were over a year ago. Maybe we should have done more as individuals and as a group, who knows. It's maddening.
 
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i have sent a request to several disney emails and have not received a response yet ( i suspect my gmail may be down due to lack of any new email) but i believe my proposal is strong, and very practical.

As bold a pirate as i am i decided to go right to the tip of the iceberg and email bob iger
 
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Honestly to some degree I feel I could have done more as a staffer of one of the sites helping the "RP" Movement. However, nonetheless, we did our best and this was by far a great run and as much as we may feel it is our fault that we did not do enough, it is really not. If you look over it though, we truly did alot and gave it our Pirate all, our EITC all, our Ottoman all, and many more Role-Players and Non Role-Players all. We did our best to keep what we knew and loved alive, but sometimes they have you by the parts vital to you.
 
Honestly to some degree I feel I could have done more as a staffer of one of the sites helping the "RP" Movement. However, nonetheless, we did our best and this was by far a great run and as much as we may feel it is our fault that we did not do enough, it is really not. If you look over it though, we truly did alot and gave it our Pirate all, our EITC all, our Ottoman all, and many more Role-Players and Non Role-Players all. We did our best to keep what we knew and loved alive, but sometimes they have you by the parts vital to you.

we may even get another chance we must keep our hopes up
 
we may even get another chance we must keep our hopes up
I dont think there will be another chance, we shouldnt keep our hopes up for something that is not even close to possibly happening, but what we can do is keep in mind of all the many memories and experiences, and anytime they do something, hold it against them from what they have robbed of us. The game is not coming back, and if it does, alot will have had to happen.
 
I dont think there will be another chance, we shouldnt keep our hopes up for something that is not even close to possibly happening, but what we can do is keep in mind of all the many memories and experiences, and anytime they do something, hold it against them from what they have robbed of us.

Exactly. We had more of a chance while the game was still alive. At this point its like excavating a dead body. But, hope is always good, if anyone thinks there's a chance ;)
 
Thanks for all the efforts you have done in order to revive this game. If it weren't for you guys, I would be nothing. I have changed so much playing this game, I have met many new people whose I will never forget, I have spent endless hours having fun with my mates and with my guild, I GREW UP WITH THIS GAME. All these moments/memories ye shall not be vanished. You have earned a very special place in my heart and it is my honor to be part of this site.

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It sad that the game closed but it feels awesome to have been around so many good people. I can't thank the whole team enough for what they did and everything they are doing. Everyone was a leader in this petition and everyone deserves a lot of credit. Unfortunately, I'm inactive but this team is still going at it and i wish everyone a great future.
 
I'm expecting something such as a Private Server, as they are doing with toontown, something called "Toontown revived" is being brought up which is a group of game devs remaking the game, and making all free, I'm expecting it to be shut down by Disney. Don't get me wrong, I know IF something like this would take place, it would take forever. I took this from their website, and what I believe "POTCO Rewritten" if it ever was, could use as a point of reasoning. Is it wrong to replicate a game using Disney's assets? Personally, we don't think so. Disney is no longer making any money off of the Pirates Of the Carribean Online trademark, meaning that we aren't stealing any profits from them.
 
I am sad, as I came back to the site a month after the game went to Davy Jones' locker. I posted a rather salty comment on the closing thread, and do not regret any rage I had and still have towards Disney to this very day. They have condemned the Caribbean to an eternal ruling by the iron fist of Jolly Roger, and for that I will never forget nor forgive. That game was almost my life there, and if not for Minecraft and TF2 I would have left the PC gaming community for good. My pirate's last words the day before the closing: "Curse you Disneeeeeeeeyyy..... *dies for good*"
 
It sad that the game closed but it feels awesome to have been around so many good people. I can't thank the whole team enough for what they did and everything they are doing. Everyone was a leader in this petition and everyone deserves a lot of credit. Unfortunately, I'm inactive but this team is still going at it and i wish everyone a great future.
Thanks Leo!! Glad to catch a glimpse of you here ;)
We missed you (speaking for everyone Im sure)!
You've done so much and especially with the SVS events you organized. (they were amazing)
You're awesome, thanks for everything! :D
 
I don't think there will be another chance, we shouldnt keep our hopes up for something that is not even close to possibly happening, but what we can do is keep in mind of all the many memories and experiences, and anytime they do something, hold it against them from what they have robbed of us. The game is not coming back, and if it does, alot will have had to happen.

not keeping our hopes up and not trying is exactly what will get you no where in life. do you think this country would exist if we didn't keep our hopes up and fight or even people having equal rights. i respect your opinion 100% and do not judge anyone on their beliefs or opinions but please don't give up hope so easily.

There is a scene from potc that i have always found inspiring and feel applies perfectly to our current situation and that is the hoist the colours speech from potc 3
 
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