So I was dickering around at the office when I saw a really cryptic social network entry from one of the current IMMstaff about David. It became very clear that something pretty terrible had happened. And something terrible did happen; a son, brother, friend & partner was lost. And for dozens, even hundreds, a man who they probably never even knew, but most certainly benefited from his labors was lost.
There was a very specific reason that, the last time I played your game, the opening scroll contained the phrase, and I'm paraphrasing, "Special Contribution for Realms of Asgard from David Anderson." Because he was the first of us. Realms of Asgard became M'dhoria became Cities of M'dhoria became whatever it is you're playing today.
I'll be completely honest, I hadn't spoken to David in 10 years. There were, on both sides, very specific reasons for that. Suffice to say, to no one's surprise, we didn't like each other. Our approaches, opinions, skillsets, etc were almost diametrically opposed. We debated and questioned each other constantly. In his own words in a statement that for whatever reason I've carried with me to this day, "I don't want you to play this game, but I really need you to build it."
Of all of the disparate people I encountered through this game; David was, specifically because of that, one of the few involved that I ever respected. That I now spend a tremendous amount of my time dickering and/or negotiating with people I seldom (if ever) meet in person in order to conduct my company's business is an irony not lost upon me. For whatever that's worth. There are a lot of people that have passed through the 6996 port that, to this day, and believe that they somehow "matter" or "accomplished something." The question of relevance was a surprisingly insightful discussion I had with your game's staff the other day. Especially once I knew who they were. The answer - most actually haven't. David did. David was relevant. And that he continued to carry the torch, when everyone else passed it on, mattered. And deserves our respect and recognition.
