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Meet the team: the figures of the Shadow Council - part 1:
https://mmh7.ubi.com/en/blog/post/view/meet-the-team-shadow-council-actors-part-1
Rough translation:
In this time of great options and important announcements, allow us to start bringing into focus the shadow figures behind the Shadow Council. We will introduce you to various individuals responsible for the development of M&M Heroes VII and this website. Over time, you will be able to learn more about the different key players, men and women, working on this amazing project.
Let's start by introducing ourselves; we are community developers Arno (Ubi-Nox) and Gaetan (Kimmundi), responsible for the content of this site!
Feel free to ask any questions about us and our passion in the comments section; we will focus on questions related only to the topic of this article!
1. Who are you and what is your role in the Heroes VII team?
Arno (Ubi-Nox): Hello everyone, my name is Arno and I work as a community developer for the Might & Magic franchise. It is a pleasure to be able to share my excitement for this project with you today in my own name! Joining the M&M team was like a dream for me, and it all started in April 2013. After completing my studies in international business, I applied for an intern position at Ubisoft as an assistant community developer. I had no idea at the time about the project associated with the offer, and the surprise was huge when I discovered this amazing opportunity to join the M&M team. At the end of the internship, I had the chance to return as a brand community developer and expand my area of responsibility.
Alongside Gaetan, our goal is to create meaningful content for fans and maintain excitement before and after the game's release. For example, we are responsible for the Shadow Council website and work with teams to ensure quality content on a regular basis regarding production progress and marketing restrictions. Of course, we don't write all the articles (lore, for instance), but our job is to ensure all requirements are met so that this site can be supported in the best possible conditions (content management plan, asset creation, editing, etc.)
However, that's not all; we are also in direct contact with communities to help them get relevant information (Q&A, interviews, etc.), as well as supporting them in organizing events (fan days, perks, etc.). Since we are integrated into the core project team, we also represent community expectations in all major discussions and fight to balance project restrictions with our shared hopes.
Gaetan (Kimmundi): I am Gaetan, also known as Kimmundi on forums and websites, and I am a community developer for MM Heroes VII and a community manager for MM: DoC. I started working on Might & Magic: Duel of Champions in June 2013 as a community manager, and since Arno needed help, I joined the Heroes VII team in September 2014 (I am the "new guy" on the team). It was a great honor, as I could join a project that fascinates me and for which my experience in another M&M game could prove valuable!
2. Could you describe your work process? What is the best part of your job?
Arno (Ubi-Nox): The most wonderful thing about this job is that there is no "typical day," because you always have something different to achieve. Sometimes you might spend the whole day organizing events like fan days or hours editing photos and videos for the website. Updating official channels is generally done on a daily basis (or at least we try :)), but this site is definitely our main task at the moment. The entire process from an article idea to publication does not always go without errors.
Additionally, a significant part of our duty is dedicated to discussions with teams (and VIPs) to find solutions together, implement opportunities, be able to create articles on specific topics, etc. Sometimes it's difficult to share information about content that is currently in progress, but we will continue to fight hard to provide the maximum for this website. :) The best part of this position is that you never have a chance to get bored, and you always have something new and exciting to discover: Twitch sessions, implementing role-playing style articles, creating meaningful voting opportunities, etc.
Gaetan (Kimmundi): The best part of the job is the feedback from the community: reading comments, forums, exchanging with the community, and planning new content based on all that! There is no typical day. But generally, I try to spend some time reading comments, social channels, forums... to get a broad idea of what the community is talking about at the moment. Then there is planning: making sure an article is written and approved, preparing the publication on the site and coverage on our social channels. And then there's everything else: meetings with the team to discuss next steps and upcoming articles, preparing interviews, requesting information, staying informed (about development as well as other things; we must stay up-to-date on many topics).
3. What are you most proud of?
Arno (Ubi-Nox): If you follow this site on a regular basis, you might already have a good overview of our work. However, I must admit that even though I am really happy with what we've achieved so far, I look forward to the coming months of this communication map, which I am sure will be even more exciting! The full reveal of the Haven lineup was a big boost for all of us, and I'm glad many of you joined us on our Twitch; we hope we can do even better next time as soon as we have a new demo to show you everything!
On another note, being an M&M fan for many years, there is something truly close to my heart about the team's genuine focus on communities, and it is always a pleasure for me to exchange with representatives of our fan sites or VIPs.
Gaetan (Kimmundi): Well-written articles and their comments. It is pure joy to be able to share your work with the world and receive feedback, good and bad, on it. This is often based on information gathered from the team, but giving it shape and adding my own touch is always what I've loved doing.
4. Are you a fan of Might & Magic? Tell us more about your history with the franchise.
Arno (Ubi-Nox): My love story with Might & Magic began in 1999. Like many of you, I started with Heroes 3 of Might & Magic and still continue to play it on a number of occasions. Yes, I've played all the subsequent parts, but also found time to check out Heroes 1 & 2 (I must admit that number 2 is also a massive reference for the genre, in my opinion).
For many years, I played Heroes 3 with friends in Hot Seat mode and from time to time we continue our gaming sessions. I'm not a fan of campaigns, so Gameplay and balance (+ Factions) really matter to me, but rest assured, we also have some people here who are truly invested in all the story themes!
If I had to choose only one Heroes, it would be (a very unoriginal answer is coming) number 3 :) It all started for me there, and today it represents what most fans call a "true heroic experience." From what I can see in the development of Heroes 7, I can admit that I am really confident because even if the team is improving the formula with big features, they have managed to show respect for those strong foundations.
If I had to choose only one faction, it would be, of course, Necropolis and the Dread Knights from Heroes 3 as a favorite creature :) Or maybe a new creature from Heroes 7 that can knock you off your feet, but not right now...
My favorite part of Heroes VII is the map editor, but I'm not the best person to answer this question, and I don't want to spoil everything; so stay tuned for updates in the coming months, we are also preparing some big interviews with the people responsible for this tool;) (yes, my apologies, the last two paragraphs are just teasing you, but I guarantee it will be worth the wait!)
Gaetan (Kimmundi): I've played Dark Messiah, Heroes V and VI mostly (a bit of the third part as well), Clash of Heroes (on mobile, it's really interesting) and Might & Magic: Duel of Champions. I truly became an M&M fan with Dark Messiah when I documented myself on all the knowledge behind the franchise, and working for some time on Duel of Champions made me even more of a fan.
My favorite game would be Duel of Champions, but mainly because I worked on it so much, I love it. In terms of lore and taste, I am a Haven person with a strong feeling for Sanctuary (my heart cannot choose, and I find some decisions/past actions of the Holy Empire... debatable). The Academy also holds a special place for me; I love their theme. My favorite creatures would be the same constructs from the Academy; I can't name one in particular, but I love titans and their history, this kind of rebirth of Shan-Tiri technology. Duel of Champions has many of them.
Favorite part of H7? The Shadow Council without hesitation! I love this deep lore, this sense of conspiracy and mystery... and there is still much to reveal and contribute to the game...
5. What are you currently reading, playing, watching?
Arno (Ubi-Nox): I hope I'm not repeating myself from my interview for Might & Magic X - Legacy, but I am still not a reading person. The only books I've managed to read in previous years were RPG books or campaigns for the ranger adventure that I am currently running with friends as a game master.
Regarding video games, my favorite genres are strategy and RPGs. If I had to choose only one game in history, it would be Arcanum: of Steamworks and Magick Obscura, an RPG that didn't get the success it deserved and has no legitimate successor at the moment (you must try it! Currently, I am preparing for the next part of Civilization (tomorrow!) and playing the Borderlands pre-sequel with friends (as Claptrap, obviously). To finish the gaming theme, here is a small list of my references: Civilization (+ Civnet for memories of the good old days), Age of Empires II, Warcraft III, Heroes III and more!
I also like Japanese animation, but I'm somewhat picky about it, so my favorites might not be the newest. :) If you want to discover some great examples (perhaps not for all audiences): Neon Genesis Evangelion, Elfen Lied & Berserk. In addition to this, I really appreciate music of this genre, as well as classic metal and rock.
Gaetan (Kimmundi): I am currently reading "Flood" by Stephen Baxter. Playing, depending on the moment and with whom, mainly Fantasy Life and Super Smash Bros on 3DS, Alien Isolation and The Evil Within on PC and Mario Kart 8. I just started watching Archer and I'll finish it soon because I really love it; otherwise, I stick to "mainstream" TV shows (The Walking Dead, Gotham, Arrow, South Park, The Big Bang Theory). I am definitely more of a TV show lover than a movie person; it takes less time!
6. A message to the fans? A motto to share?
Arno (Ubi-Nox): Thank you all for your support on this platform; it's really interesting to see your passion since the game's announcement. Managing this platform and all the articles is a lot of work, so we hope you find this content interesting and look forward to what comes next (we do too)!
My motto: "Never surrender, with glory we shall fall!" (Hammerfall - Heeding the Call)
Gaetan (Kimmundi): Do work that you love, and you will never work a day in your life. Always see life on the bright side and never be afraid of change. In every aspect of life, change is scary but can bring great things. I think this could also apply to Heroes VII;)
Feel free to add questions if you have something interesting to share!
https://mmh7.ubi.com/en/blog/post/view/meet-the-team-shadow-council-actors-part-1
Rough translation:
In this time of great options and important announcements, allow us to start bringing into focus the shadow figures behind the Shadow Council. We will introduce you to various individuals responsible for the development of M&M Heroes VII and this website. Over time, you will be able to learn more about the different key players, men and women, working on this amazing project.
Let's start by introducing ourselves; we are community developers Arno (Ubi-Nox) and Gaetan (Kimmundi), responsible for the content of this site!
Feel free to ask any questions about us and our passion in the comments section; we will focus on questions related only to the topic of this article!
1. Who are you and what is your role in the Heroes VII team?
Arno (Ubi-Nox): Hello everyone, my name is Arno and I work as a community developer for the Might & Magic franchise. It is a pleasure to be able to share my excitement for this project with you today in my own name! Joining the M&M team was like a dream for me, and it all started in April 2013. After completing my studies in international business, I applied for an intern position at Ubisoft as an assistant community developer. I had no idea at the time about the project associated with the offer, and the surprise was huge when I discovered this amazing opportunity to join the M&M team. At the end of the internship, I had the chance to return as a brand community developer and expand my area of responsibility.
Alongside Gaetan, our goal is to create meaningful content for fans and maintain excitement before and after the game's release. For example, we are responsible for the Shadow Council website and work with teams to ensure quality content on a regular basis regarding production progress and marketing restrictions. Of course, we don't write all the articles (lore, for instance), but our job is to ensure all requirements are met so that this site can be supported in the best possible conditions (content management plan, asset creation, editing, etc.)
However, that's not all; we are also in direct contact with communities to help them get relevant information (Q&A, interviews, etc.), as well as supporting them in organizing events (fan days, perks, etc.). Since we are integrated into the core project team, we also represent community expectations in all major discussions and fight to balance project restrictions with our shared hopes.
Gaetan (Kimmundi): I am Gaetan, also known as Kimmundi on forums and websites, and I am a community developer for MM Heroes VII and a community manager for MM: DoC. I started working on Might & Magic: Duel of Champions in June 2013 as a community manager, and since Arno needed help, I joined the Heroes VII team in September 2014 (I am the "new guy" on the team). It was a great honor, as I could join a project that fascinates me and for which my experience in another M&M game could prove valuable!
2. Could you describe your work process? What is the best part of your job?
Arno (Ubi-Nox): The most wonderful thing about this job is that there is no "typical day," because you always have something different to achieve. Sometimes you might spend the whole day organizing events like fan days or hours editing photos and videos for the website. Updating official channels is generally done on a daily basis (or at least we try :)), but this site is definitely our main task at the moment. The entire process from an article idea to publication does not always go without errors.
Additionally, a significant part of our duty is dedicated to discussions with teams (and VIPs) to find solutions together, implement opportunities, be able to create articles on specific topics, etc. Sometimes it's difficult to share information about content that is currently in progress, but we will continue to fight hard to provide the maximum for this website. :) The best part of this position is that you never have a chance to get bored, and you always have something new and exciting to discover: Twitch sessions, implementing role-playing style articles, creating meaningful voting opportunities, etc.
Gaetan (Kimmundi): The best part of the job is the feedback from the community: reading comments, forums, exchanging with the community, and planning new content based on all that! There is no typical day. But generally, I try to spend some time reading comments, social channels, forums... to get a broad idea of what the community is talking about at the moment. Then there is planning: making sure an article is written and approved, preparing the publication on the site and coverage on our social channels. And then there's everything else: meetings with the team to discuss next steps and upcoming articles, preparing interviews, requesting information, staying informed (about development as well as other things; we must stay up-to-date on many topics).
3. What are you most proud of?
Arno (Ubi-Nox): If you follow this site on a regular basis, you might already have a good overview of our work. However, I must admit that even though I am really happy with what we've achieved so far, I look forward to the coming months of this communication map, which I am sure will be even more exciting! The full reveal of the Haven lineup was a big boost for all of us, and I'm glad many of you joined us on our Twitch; we hope we can do even better next time as soon as we have a new demo to show you everything!
On another note, being an M&M fan for many years, there is something truly close to my heart about the team's genuine focus on communities, and it is always a pleasure for me to exchange with representatives of our fan sites or VIPs.
Gaetan (Kimmundi): Well-written articles and their comments. It is pure joy to be able to share your work with the world and receive feedback, good and bad, on it. This is often based on information gathered from the team, but giving it shape and adding my own touch is always what I've loved doing.
4. Are you a fan of Might & Magic? Tell us more about your history with the franchise.
Arno (Ubi-Nox): My love story with Might & Magic began in 1999. Like many of you, I started with Heroes 3 of Might & Magic and still continue to play it on a number of occasions. Yes, I've played all the subsequent parts, but also found time to check out Heroes 1 & 2 (I must admit that number 2 is also a massive reference for the genre, in my opinion).
For many years, I played Heroes 3 with friends in Hot Seat mode and from time to time we continue our gaming sessions. I'm not a fan of campaigns, so Gameplay and balance (+ Factions) really matter to me, but rest assured, we also have some people here who are truly invested in all the story themes!
If I had to choose only one Heroes, it would be (a very unoriginal answer is coming) number 3 :) It all started for me there, and today it represents what most fans call a "true heroic experience." From what I can see in the development of Heroes 7, I can admit that I am really confident because even if the team is improving the formula with big features, they have managed to show respect for those strong foundations.
If I had to choose only one faction, it would be, of course, Necropolis and the Dread Knights from Heroes 3 as a favorite creature :) Or maybe a new creature from Heroes 7 that can knock you off your feet, but not right now...
My favorite part of Heroes VII is the map editor, but I'm not the best person to answer this question, and I don't want to spoil everything; so stay tuned for updates in the coming months, we are also preparing some big interviews with the people responsible for this tool;) (yes, my apologies, the last two paragraphs are just teasing you, but I guarantee it will be worth the wait!)
Gaetan (Kimmundi): I've played Dark Messiah, Heroes V and VI mostly (a bit of the third part as well), Clash of Heroes (on mobile, it's really interesting) and Might & Magic: Duel of Champions. I truly became an M&M fan with Dark Messiah when I documented myself on all the knowledge behind the franchise, and working for some time on Duel of Champions made me even more of a fan.
My favorite game would be Duel of Champions, but mainly because I worked on it so much, I love it. In terms of lore and taste, I am a Haven person with a strong feeling for Sanctuary (my heart cannot choose, and I find some decisions/past actions of the Holy Empire... debatable). The Academy also holds a special place for me; I love their theme. My favorite creatures would be the same constructs from the Academy; I can't name one in particular, but I love titans and their history, this kind of rebirth of Shan-Tiri technology. Duel of Champions has many of them.
Favorite part of H7? The Shadow Council without hesitation! I love this deep lore, this sense of conspiracy and mystery... and there is still much to reveal and contribute to the game...
5. What are you currently reading, playing, watching?
Arno (Ubi-Nox): I hope I'm not repeating myself from my interview for Might & Magic X - Legacy, but I am still not a reading person. The only books I've managed to read in previous years were RPG books or campaigns for the ranger adventure that I am currently running with friends as a game master.
Regarding video games, my favorite genres are strategy and RPGs. If I had to choose only one game in history, it would be Arcanum: of Steamworks and Magick Obscura, an RPG that didn't get the success it deserved and has no legitimate successor at the moment (you must try it! Currently, I am preparing for the next part of Civilization (tomorrow!) and playing the Borderlands pre-sequel with friends (as Claptrap, obviously). To finish the gaming theme, here is a small list of my references: Civilization (+ Civnet for memories of the good old days), Age of Empires II, Warcraft III, Heroes III and more!
I also like Japanese animation, but I'm somewhat picky about it, so my favorites might not be the newest. :) If you want to discover some great examples (perhaps not for all audiences): Neon Genesis Evangelion, Elfen Lied & Berserk. In addition to this, I really appreciate music of this genre, as well as classic metal and rock.
Gaetan (Kimmundi): I am currently reading "Flood" by Stephen Baxter. Playing, depending on the moment and with whom, mainly Fantasy Life and Super Smash Bros on 3DS, Alien Isolation and The Evil Within on PC and Mario Kart 8. I just started watching Archer and I'll finish it soon because I really love it; otherwise, I stick to "mainstream" TV shows (The Walking Dead, Gotham, Arrow, South Park, The Big Bang Theory). I am definitely more of a TV show lover than a movie person; it takes less time!
6. A message to the fans? A motto to share?
Arno (Ubi-Nox): Thank you all for your support on this platform; it's really interesting to see your passion since the game's announcement. Managing this platform and all the articles is a lot of work, so we hope you find this content interesting and look forward to what comes next (we do too)!
My motto: "Never surrender, with glory we shall fall!" (Hammerfall - Heeding the Call)
Gaetan (Kimmundi): Do work that you love, and you will never work a day in your life. Always see life on the bright side and never be afraid of change. In every aspect of life, change is scary but can bring great things. I think this could also apply to Heroes VII;)
Feel free to add questions if you have something interesting to share!