The reason why I left was because I wanted to stay true to space combat, keep focusing on PvP and generally make it a really great PvP game. That, sadly, was not what Stefan wanted.

I wanted to attract brand new players by creating a great online PvP shoot em up, following up with a marketing plan such as great demo videos when new features were released, sending out to the various iPhone gaming blogs.

I had tonnes of plans for gameplay. Events were meant to be seamlessly integrated with the theme, none of this warping to some separate place throwing plant pots as fast as possible. I wanted to progress into dog fighting and interstellar travel too. There was loads of stuff that I could chew your ear off with but I don't want to bore anybody. Would be happy to make a document if people are interested in hearing the full plans (provided I can remember all the details).

Jester is right. I asked all the team to think about and perhaps watch popular SciFi films so as to translate that feeling into the game. Consistent themes are important, which I had to learn on the job.

What stopped me and made me jack it in? Stefan, and all the credit to him he had revenue expectations to meet, wanted to add uncreative and tried-and-tested social elements popular on Era and Classic with the goal of attracting players from those servers as opposed focusing on PvP (which I thought had a lot of potential - I played Zone a hell of a lot to get a feel for what was needed, which I totally recommend current staff should do). I was overruled.

Life caught up with me, half the team at work got fired and I was inundated with work since my assistant was one of em. The stress of necessary workload and the stress of not being able to realise the exciting ideas I had planned for ages meant I had to make a choice.

Few months later I was told that Zone was going to become a "era post-apocalypse". Glad that didn't happen.

I've tried to return to help push servers along a few times but the passion isn't there any more, not with 2 babies and still-stressful day job. Not when I'd risk putting myself into that position again - creative control is a very big motivator.

My advice would be to, as before, focus on the damn PvP because that could be ridiculously awesome. Play the game, don't get out of touch with the players. Mostly though, don't spread yourself too thin, which perhaps is what's happening here.

Giving regular, positive feedback to staff is also great idea. It's all voluntary and is based on an intrinsic motivation to help out. That should be fostered and grown for a good voluntary team.