Epilogue: A Tale of One Writer

A video game journalist discusses the dedication, work, and joy of the industry.

This editorial is non-game specific and solely based on insights and opinions from its author.


One comment I receive a lot when I explain my job to others is "That's awesome! How do I get into doing that?!" There is no perfect answer to this query, and despite how awesome working in this industry sounds and really is, it's hard work and not quite as glamorous as you may be envisioning in your head.

Working on a gaming fan/press site requires a lot of dedication outside of game(s). We don't actually spend most of our day playing these games for hours on end (unless we're working on a review). Often, we find that there's only a handful of time to spend in-game while dedicating the majority of our workday to emails, writing breaking news about games we may or may not actually play, writing guides, participating in social media, and so on. It doesn’t matter if you’re the editor-in-chief or a contributing writer; as a friend succinctly told me, “Everyone in the gaming press has to wear multiple hats, from the smallest fan site to the largest press operation.”

It's hard work, but there's many upsides to the industry. Experiencing some awesome games and genres that we may not have normally considered playing. Running into fans of your site, giving the chance to further connect with the gaming community and hear their feedback (I've made lists of both positive and negative feedback at conventions). Meeting some amazing co-workers, producers, developers, community reps, and public relations folks. Peeking behind-the-doors at upcoming development and content. Being entrusted by those companies that you'll not only honor time-sensitive info, but also treat their games objectively and constructively.

My story is 6.5 years in the making, and though I now pen the final page of my epilogue at ZAM, there are always opportunities out in the gaming world. This goes back to that question about how to get into this line of work. Assuming you just wanted to be a writer, then contribute on your favorite gaming community's forums, add to wikis, and write blog posts. If you prefer livestreaming and videos, then produce that content and share it on social media and forums. Go to a convention, meet some developers, say hello to other gamers. Always look for an opening that fits your style.

The most important thing is to be involved. You could be a paid employee for some big-name press site, a freelancer submitting a few reviews in their spare time, or just a respected member of the community. What's essential is that you are doing something you love and your voice is reaching others who share that passion.

That's all I ever wanted to do, and it's what I will continue to do. *mic drop*


Ann "Cyliena" Hosler, Managing Editor
Senior Content Manager, EQ/EQ2 ZAM
Twitter | Tumblr | YouTube | IRL Blog

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Bristlebane Day
# Mar 26 2016 at 8:48 PM Rating: Decent
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Bristlebane Day celebrations are on. Go here to find out more:

http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Bristlebane_Day
Cancelled content
# Mar 19 2016 at 5:42 AM Rating: Good
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EQ Next and Everquest Worlds mobile app have been cancelled this week. Head over to https://everquest.allakhazam.com/ to see more.
Double XP/Status 1/29-2/1
# Jan 29 2016 at 8:11 PM Rating: Decent
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From 12:00PM PST (Noon) on Friday, January 29, 2016 through 12:00PM PST (Noon) on Monday, February 1, 2016, all servers (yes, including Stormhold and Deathtoll) will have double experience for All Access Members! Double Experience will be applied to Adventure, Tradeskill, and AA.
Admin Priviliges
# Mar 04 2016 at 8:25 PM Rating: Decent
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87 posts
I will second the motion that ZAM should give Lingum admin privs so he can do their job.
Shall we start tabulating votes?
All in favor?
Epilogue: A Tale of One Writer
# Jan 23 2016 at 12:30 PM Rating: Decent
-REDACTED-
4 posts
"Cyliena" is a hard act to follow. She has left some big shoes for someone to step into. I do hope that they can be filled soon and updates will resume. EQ2 is still a fun game. Like many games it has things that need to be worked on and some of those may never get fixed.

So be patient all and keep giving little pushes so that maybe soon Zam will get someone else on their journey into the writing and updating for this site. I anxiously await that.

However, since Daybreak gained ownership there have been many changes. I do wish they would fix some things such as the lag issues and camping in your built house only to come back in the floor and not on it. These are things that were not an issue and now are. I am one of the many players that love to decorate and build. It is an excellent way to put my creative mind to work. I like to adventure and raid but my passion lies in decorating.

Please Zam please fill "Cyliena" shoes very soon. Do not wish to get to far behind on this with the fans. ;)
Double XP/Status 12/25-28
# Dec 25 2015 at 3:37 PM Rating: Decent
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What the title says.
Still Nothing
# Nov 28 2015 at 2:47 AM Rating: Decent
I have written to Zam directly asking if anyone was planning or going to start updating for EQ2, NOTHING. Nothing here. I think they are just ignoring us or the only person who was on staff was Cyliena. I would love some updates and new information! I guess, I've got no choice but to find it elsewhere and use this simple to look up old stuff as needed. Ridiculous!
Hello
# Nov 24 2015 at 2:57 PM Rating: Decent
So is Zam just done with EQ2?
Its still a great game .
sooo....
# Nov 20 2015 at 5:55 PM Rating: Decent
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Does someone want to just give me an admin account so SOMETHING gets posted?
Yet another important update missed
# Oct 28 2015 at 9:30 AM Rating: Good
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Here's the announcement.

The server consolidation for the Guk, Unrest, and Everfrost servers merging into Halls of Fate will start at Wednesday, October 28, 2015 at 7AM PDT* and this downtime will take 24 hours. These servers are scheduled to be unavailable until Thursday, October 29, 2015 at 7AM PDT.*

A couple of important notes for players:

Players should pick up soulbound (NoTrade) items from shared housing (such as Guild Halls) BEFORE the merge. This will prevent losing ownership of placed items during this merge.
When the consolidation is complete on Thursday, players should delete their "logincache-us" or else LaunchPad character logins may fail.



Guess I'll have to do their job for them.

Edited, Oct 28th 2015 11:31am by Maccabee4
Yet another important update missed
# Oct 28 2015 at 9:28 AM Rating: Decent
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Aaaaaaaaaand ZAM drops the ball again.
It was announced yesterday that the next batch of server merges would begin at 7amPDT today.
Players were urged to remove from any shared banks or shared housing any soul bound (no-trade) items, and tradeskill apprentices.

That is rather important for players to know.

It is starting to appear that ZAM is no longer serious about covering EQ2.

That's a shame.

Whatever Cyliena was paid, it wasn't enough.
She stayed on top of things like this.Smiley: frown
Updates
# Oct 23 2015 at 10:05 AM Rating: Good
Although we're all sorry to see Cyliena go - is there anyone else that's going to keep the updates? I have found this site invaluable for information and disappointed that no one has taken her place or even attempted to.
Is Zam getting a new writer or is it dead with Cyliena gone?
# Nov 03 2015 at 4:28 PM Rating: Decent
kmc9207 wrote:
Although we're all sorry to see Cyliena go - is there anyone else that's going to keep the updates? I have found this site invaluable for information and disappointed that no one has taken her place or even attempted to.



I agree, without someone stepping in to fill her role the site is essentially dead without the updates of events, quests etc and current goings on. While still useful for older content, most of us use this site for current events and information. Unless the Zam staff gets someone to fill Cyliena's shoes, I'm afraid Zam is no more.
Updates
# Oct 25 2015 at 8:43 PM Rating: Decent
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To follow up on my previous reply, as an example, a good intern would post this news:

Terrors of Thalumbra Beta Stream: Mon, Oct 26 @ 2PM PDT

The EQ2 team will be hanging out in Thalumbra during an expansion beta livestream starting at 2PM PDT* on Monday, October 26, 2015 on twitch.tv/everquest2

During this stream, the EQ2 team will share highlights from the Terrors of Thalumbra beta, chatting about the beta reward, and showing off some things you haven't seen yet!


Updates
# Oct 25 2015 at 8:14 PM Rating: Decent
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Only time will tell; however, so far it doesn't look good.
No one from ZAM bothered to mention that Sub members had double XP last week. Had to find out (after the fact) from the EQ2 official forums "news & announcements" subsection.
I guess that's where I'll go daily for now on to get my news, and just use this as a good archives for EQ2 quest information......
unless of course someone from ZAM starts posting news to here again.
Cyliena's shoes were big.......(figuratively speaking.......not saying that her feet were big.)
ZAM will have a tough time filling them.
It would be nice if they game a community member the ability to post the news for them. A volunteer might do it to build their job resume.....call it an unpaid intern position.
No One Can Fill Cyliena's Shoes
# Oct 16 2015 at 3:30 PM Rating: Decent
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Aaaaaaand since ZAM has not bothered to post up one piece of EQ2 news in more than two weeks, it appears that no one can fill Cyliena's shoes.Smiley: dubious
She was definitely not paid enough.
We miss Cyliena.Smiley: glare
Thanks!
# Oct 07 2015 at 10:43 PM Rating: Good
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757 posts
Been a user of Allakhazam shortly after its launch. Just wanted to say thanks for all you've done during your tenure. I'm the quiet type that has a vast library of tribal knowledge, but never posts on any medium, but once and awhile I come out to say hello. Good luck on what you pursue going forward!
no say it is not so
# Oct 02 2015 at 5:45 PM Rating: Good
[I hope that all you want to do comes true for you thank you for the articles the screenshots
stay in touch please
signed
Berilen shiny queen of Freeport
We will miss you !
# Oct 01 2015 at 1:33 PM Rating: Excellent
Best wishes, see you around, onward and upward !! BTW, a belated Happy Birthday too !
We will miss you !
# Oct 01 2015 at 4:33 PM Rating: Excellent
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2,350 posts
Thanks! :D
____________________________
Cyliena Velnarin | @Cyliena on Twitter

thanks Cyliena
# Oct 01 2015 at 10:16 AM Rating: Excellent
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good to know you will still be around. i am sure that there are some awesome doors out there for you- just remember, when life closes a door, it opens a window. spread your wings and fly in.
____________________________
Success comes when preparation meets opportunity -- and EQ is no exception.
Huge Thanks!
# Oct 01 2015 at 8:05 AM Rating: Decent
From me and I'm sure the rest of the EverQuest gaming community, we thank you for all you've done, and continue to do for all of us
Thanks all!
# Oct 01 2015 at 7:51 AM Rating: Excellent
Empress of News
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2,350 posts
You guys made my morning. Smiley: cool <3
____________________________
Cyliena Velnarin | @Cyliena on Twitter

Legacy of Cyliena
# Oct 01 2015 at 5:13 AM Rating: Excellent
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I've appreciated the work Cyliena has done, particularly of late when a lot of EQ1 fell onto her. She's dedicated herself to the Zam community in a way that is far beyond a job description. Her efforts have led to a few of us giving it a go of trying to assist with updates here. This is only possible because of the tutorials and coordination that Cyliena has done --all the while knowing her job was ending in short order. That's shows class and integrity and hopefully something someone else in the gaming industry picks up on fast and hires her for something new and exciting.
<3
# Oct 01 2015 at 3:07 AM Rating: Excellent
18 posts
Good luck Cyliena!
Good luck
# Oct 01 2015 at 12:50 AM Rating: Good
49 posts
Good look Cyliena :)
Cya Cyliena
# Oct 01 2015 at 12:11 AM Rating: Excellent
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Cya Cyliena although I've never paid much who's who on Allie I wish you well in your next project. Way back when my
'kids' got me into EverQuest and they told me that the best answers to questions were on allakhazam I've been a part of you.
Sigh...
# Sep 30 2015 at 8:47 PM Rating: Good
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Thanks Cyliena,

I know EQ1 wasn't your primary focus initially but you sure picked up the reins when everyone else had been moved on. As users, all of us are grateful for you doing so. Like many others, I've been using this site as a resource since way, way back when it was fresh and new and called Allakhazam. It's been around nearly as long as Everquest itself and I like to think it's contributed to the success and longevity the game has enjoyed.

The future of the Everquest side of Zam is ambiguous at best, but I want to thank you for helping to keep it alive a little longer.

/hugs
____________________________
- Aaikan (Luclin)
Sigh...
# Oct 01 2015 at 1:23 AM Rating: Excellent
Hmm 6 years to the day when Allakhazam said his Farewell too. Farewell Cyliena
Sigh...
# Sep 30 2015 at 8:55 PM Rating: Excellent
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2,350 posts
It was my pleasure; glad to have been able to help in some small way! That's what community is for. :)
____________________________
Cyliena Velnarin | @Cyliena on Twitter

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