Great White Games/Pinnacle Entertainment Group

[Arbor_Productions]

All of us here at Arbor Productions would like to congratulate Mike Dukes in being named the new Vice President: Creative Director by a unanimous vote.

Mike has shown exemplary work ethic in his time with Arbor Productions, helping to create not only our first three flagship settings set for release in 2009, but also in creating new and interactive marketing methods.

As a Vice President, Mike Dukes now has a vote and voice in all company investments and projects.

Congratulations, Mike!
_________________
Lee F. Szczepanik, Jr.
Publisher, Arbor Productions
www.arborproductions.com

[jscifert]

Congratulations, Mike! Well deserved and now the REAL work begins

[Arbor_Productions]

Obviously, he has underestimated the power of the Dark Side of the Force.

But everything is still proceeding as I have foreseen.
_________________
Lee F. Szczepanik, Jr.
Publisher, Arbor Productions
www.arborproductions.com

[bloodshadows]

[Arbor_Productions]

Yeah, you went from winning a 2007 contest for a year of free product, to then being hired to help create product, to now helping run the company.

Still, truly talented, good people are hard to find. We're all glad to have you be such a significant part of Arbor Productions.

*tips hat*
_________________
Lee F. Szczepanik, Jr.
Publisher, Arbor Productions
www.arborproductions.com

[Dont Die]

Congrats Mike!
_________________
Proud Member of the RPG Bloggers Network & the Role Play Media Network

[Charles Phipps]

*HIGH FIVE!*

[bloodshadows]

Thanks guys!

This is a dream-come-true for me and I couldn't be happier.

I don't plan to disappoint, either. I've got some very fun and interesting plans for our game lines starting in 2009.

Fun times are ahead!
_________________
Mike Dukes

[Armos Black]

CONGRATS Mike. It is great to see a fellow Hoosier in such a position. I can't remember another.

[Arbor_Productions]

Savage Worlds, itself, has been a real boon to us just in rebuilding the company after I gained complete control of it in the first half of 2008.

I originally came from the D20 market, where it's cut-throat enough to make my time in Hollywood seem like basic training. I hated it enough that I contemplated leaving RPGs as a publisher. Don't get wrong . . . competition doesn't scare me. I'm of the school of business that while I want Arbor Productions to be the top, I believe that can't be accomplished with any kind of quality without good, solid companies to compete against.

In my opinion, the Savage market offers that in plenty.

Not only that, licensees over here are more friendly toward each other than in D20. That was something I had to adjust to when I first came over, and had to lose the dog-eat-dog vocal mentality I had from before. Sure, we all want the fans to spend their budget on our products, and we all work toward that as businessmen, but the publishers over here act more like gamers as well, which I feel is vital to creating quality RPGs. After all, we are gamers. That came before the Designer title.

Pinnacle gives great acknowledgement and support to their licensees. Again, something lacking over there unless you were one of the clique that kissed the rears of WoTC or Green Ronin.

Mike Dukes, despite the contest he won from us at GenCon 2007, got into the contest while in line for the Solomon Kane book. Then, we started talking Savage Worlds shop at the forums in PMs.

The editor I hired, who was a Dawn of Legends playtester and started by editing the playtest manuscript for free, is phenominal. I wish I could find more editors like him. Again, a regular here at the Savage boards.

I know at least one Hardboiled artist is a poster here as well. And he did some great work.

So, Savage Worlds has been a terrific experience so far.

I guess Anna Lunsford was right. Back in 2007 she called a meeting and said, flat-out, we were in the wrong license and needed to be in Savage Worlds. Not only did she like the way Pinnacle handled it, she was impressed with the fans and the way they treated publishers that weren't Pinnacle Entertainment.

So, *tips hat to everyone else as well*.

Here's to a great 2009!
_________________
Lee F. Szczepanik, Jr.
Publisher, Arbor Productions
www.arborproductions.com

[Dont Die]

Well said Lee. I was a fan of Savage Worlds for a few years and only recently joined the forums. The Pinnacle crew, the licensees and the fans here are just one fine community.
_________________
Proud Member of the RPG Bloggers Network & the Role Play Media Network

[Jackson]

mike is awesome and very talented. his work on etu has been invaluable and he will be a great boon to arbor.
ed wetterman
12 to midnight
_________________
Keep it coming...

Last Rites, Ed's Midnight Tales, Realms of Cthulhu, Agents of Oblivion, and coming soon..Degrees of Horror.

[bloodshadows]

[Arbor_Productions]

Yes, we still allow Mike to do guest appearances. He can be booked for bar mitzvahs, birthday parties, bachelorette parties, and RPG writing.

We're estatic about having Mike as such a core part of the Arbor Productions executive management team. Mike is one of the most creative and innovative people I've signed (as 2009 will show), and is very protective of Arbor Productions, our image, fan relations, and Intellectual Properties.

Mike even dictates to me, and keeps me in-line.

Exactly the type of person any growing company needs.

If I had had Mike Dukes onboard back from 2005-2007, I wouldn't have had to force a buyout and restructuring in 2008.

Now . . . if only I can find a way to clone him. The Galaxy will be mine!
_________________
Lee F. Szczepanik, Jr.
Publisher, Arbor Productions
www.arborproductions.com

[Prest0]

I'm coming late to the game, but I just wanted to extend my congratulations as well. I'm really excited and proud for you, Mike. And yes, you're always welcome in Pinebox!
_________________
Preston P. DuBose
12 to Midnight
Tell yourself it's just a game.

Check out Buried Tales of Pinebox, TX!

[Arbor_Productions]