A Friday update (for those new here, it’s not every Friday… I would like it to be, but sometimes I am too busy or too lazy or just don’t know what to talk about).
The “what to talk about” shouldn’t be an issue for awhile, as we have all the awesome ESW A3 content to spoil over the next 8+months. If you hadn’t heard, we just finished a very successful Kickstarter campaign for Satanic Panic, the newest installment of our award-winning Epic Spell Wars deck-building games. SO yeah, lots of new content.
This isn’t a funny update today (usually they are, or at least I try).
I wanted to start by apologizing to the people in the Satanic Panic Kickstarter. I was very engaged and having fun interacting with everyone until Wednesday evening. When I became unable to be available.
On Valentine’s Day, I lost my best friend and business partner of almost 20 years. His name was John Sepenuk, and he was about the most magical person I have ever known. Everyone and I mean EVERYONE loved him. It was impossible not to. Super smart and handsome, he had a deep, announcer-style voice and spoke five languages, including fluent Japanese. We traveled around the world making stuff from cartoon shows to toys and games, and as much as I hate traveling, he made it fun.
He had an amazing sense of humor, and no matter how insane the stuff I created was, he would egg me on to make it weirder, grosser, and generally just super fucked up… and he always loved the stuff I made, and it made me so happy. I remember sitting in the board room of Upper Deck in the executive meetings with everyone around this big table (20 or so people) and John and I sitting in the back. I would doodle HYPER-fucked-up, sexual, violent cartoons in a notebook that only we could see… just the most over-the-top stuff I could think of, and he would be crying trying not to laugh out loud. AND after every meeting he would demand I give him the drawing so he could add it to his collection. (He LOVED Epic Spell Wars, by the way.)
I don’t look for approval from people in life. I’m pathologically opposed to it… it feels like a weakness to me. But I wanted John to like the stuff I did. And it made me proud that HE was proud of the stuff we made together at Cryptozoic. His partnership and friendship were a blessing.
John was my rock, and not a day will go by that I will not miss him.
Here is a picture of John (far right), me, and John Nee (far left), my other best friend and partner in Cryptozoic. Thank god Nee is still here… I don’t know what I would do without him. These are my brothers.
So, yeah… I am sorry for using this space to talk about my feelings and life. I know you’re here for the game. But it’s hard not to talk about something as big as this in your life… thank you for indulging me.
And also, sorry for not being there the last couple of days of the Kickstarter. I was super happy it did so well, and I hope we have some people from the Kickstarter join us here on the site in the forums and reading these (almost) every Friday updates. There is a ton of stuff to see here (like the old updates!)
Thank you for reading this. I know it’s a cliché but man… hug your loved ones, hell hug the people you DON’T love… life is to fucking short
I love you all very much,
Cory
I am so very sorry for your loss, thank you for sharing this with us. I hope you take the time to take care of yourself, all of this stuff can and should wait.
Cory we love you and appreciate what you have created, each game brings me more joy and by the looks of the Kickstarter it brings many people joy. I am truly sorry about your loss, I have been very close to losing someone and can understand how you feel, it’s never an easy thing to go through and I hope you take care of yourself, hugs to you! Be well
I’m sorry to hear the news. No need to apologize for the last week. Take all the time you need to process and grieve. Hope you are ok and thank you for all the effort you put into this game and community!!!
I am really sorry for your loss 😢 it’s always hard when a closer person passed away. Take your time and we are good to be here for you. the A3 is going to be my first ESW game and I am really sure John is going to be produd of the game.
Sorry for your loss man. Take all the time you need.
So sorry for your loss Cory
No worries on our end. It always tough losing family. But look at this ridiculous place! We make new friends and family wherever.
I just found this stuff and I couldn’t be more delighted.
I don’t have much I can offer, but if you’re ever in Ottawa, Canada, the beer is on me and you got a place to stay.
To good friends and family, wherever they may be.
My condolences on your loss.
I’m glad that you’re looking on over his life in positivity, as its easy fall into a cycle of remembering the end rather than the more important journey as buddies. Apologies for not realizing you had bad news to come to terms with, I’m just glad you got a sense of closure. I’m sure he is happy knowing you cherished those times.
yeah it felt something was off.
Terribly sorry for your loss. Take time to cope with this.
We will laugh about ESW another day, another time.