(Uncategorized - SOE) - SOE Employee Spotlight July - Thu, 22 Jul 2010 00:19:05 +0000
Sony Online Entertainment is full of many diverse employees. Our company isn’t just made up of the folks you meet on the forums or see at Fan Faire. We have a Finance Department, a Human Resources department, Legal, Office Operations, Administrative Assistants, people from all walks of life!
The Community team would like to introduce you to those people in a monthly feature titled, “SOE Employee Spotlight.” This month you will meet Roger Pilney Community Manager for the upcoming title DC Universe Online. Take a moment to find out about what a typical day in the office is like for them, what their favorite SOE game is, and other fun tidbits. As a special bonus, we learned where their favorite location in-game is and created wallpaper for you to download!
What is your real name or an alias you’d rather use?
Roger W. Pilney, Draakull
What is your official title/position?
Community Relations Manager
How long have you been working at SOE?
Around 15-16 months
Tell us what a typical workday is like for you.
Long…. Typical work day starts with caffeine of some kind. Coffee or Green Tea are the norm. Yes, I have been seen at times with a cup of each. Depending on the day I will have some kind of report, usually at least 1-3 meetings, and then touch base with those I have not met with yet to see if anything urgent needs to be covered.
After that I go through any emails that need my attention. I check the forums for messages that need my attention and often touch base with several of the mods. Then I look over the Facebook and Twitter pages that I help with to see what might be pressing there or news that I need to post / repost.
In the mix of these things I am typically posting up news articles and announcements on our website and forums. If I am not posting articles to the website then I am updating the weekly features. Many of these tasks are moving targets as I transition from Star Wars Galaxies to DC Universe Online. I predict most of my day will be pretty close to the same but working with new teams and obviously different content.
What is your favorite SOE game title?
I have to say I fell in love with Star Wars Galaxies and enjoy spending time on my 9 active character on my server. I have a level 5 city on Eclipse and enjoy helping new and/ or returning players have fun in SWG. But there is a new “love interest” in my life that I share my time with. DC Universe Online is an amazing game and I can’t wait until the rest of the world gets to see it. I play DCUO a few hours a day now as I work at learning all I can about it. I have 2 villains and 2 hero characters right now. I am not sure yet which I will make as my primary but I will play under Draakull just as I do in SWG.
Inside that title, what is your favorite location? (With this question a Desktop Wallpaper will be created for the players to download) Mos Eisley Cantina as far as the favorite location for staying involved in the community. That’s where you can meet up, dual a few people, buy or sell something, get a group together and head out!
Inside that title, what is your favorite location?
Mos Eisley Cantina
What is your favorite thing about that game?
My favorite part of playing SWG would be all the planets. Some evenings I would just get on a speeder and explore. My days are so busy and often very hectic so just allowing my mind to escape a bit is nice. I enjoy meeting new people from all over the world and getting to know them. I have to admit I actually like leveling up characters from time to time. Which would be why I have 12 but play 9. But the game would not be the same without the community. Our SWG fans are some of if not the most passionate fans I have seen. I have been fortunate enough to have met many of our players in person and play with many for hours on end on my server. I have attended several Senate meetings and enjoyed actually talking with everyone and taking in all the dozens of ideas that come my way. Our players are never short of ideas for SWG. 
If you could be any fictional character, whom would you be?
you mean I am not already? I think it changes on my mood. Good mood = Stewie from Family Guy / Bad mood = The Joker or The Hitman. My friends say that I share many of the personality traits depicted by those characters.
What was the last book you read?
Research related count? Last book I read just to read was The Success Principles by Jack Canfield
How did you get into the industry?
I had my own company for a while in the recruiting / headhunting industry and have held director level positions before that. That exposed me to the gaming industry by providing recruitment and contract services. I really enjoyed working with those clients. About 5 years ago I had lost 3 friends to cancer and had some real hard events take place in my family. I happened to be a gun lover and have some ATF licenses for a few of my favorite “toys”. My youngest daughter was due and I could not justify spending $5 per round for ammunition while getting things ready for the new baby so my buddy talked me into buying Black Hawk Down. It had some of the items I owned without the cost involved. I soon found the online component, was asked by some guys to start a squad, it soon grew to hundreds, and my love for community grew. The online community I was a part of helped me get through those hard times. I met with a gaming industry client and friend one day and told him that I enjoyed my hobby more than my career. That was when I learned of community management. I spent the next 18 months networking, training and reading all that I could on the topic. I took as many people I could to lunch that did what I do now to find out how to get my foot in the door. One day I saw a position open with SOE and went after it with all the angles I could and was lucky enough to be offered this position. Long story but I think it helps explain why I work so hard and have such a commitment to the people in the communities I work with.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
Strength or healing. Again, based on my mood.
Outside of work, what do you like to do?
Well, it’s not much of a secret that spend all the time I can with my kids. I love being a dad more than anything else and every chance I get I spend it with family. My family is very small and I am very protective of them along with wanting the best for them. I try to create as many fun memories with my family as possible. I guess after you lose enough close people in your life it impacts a persons priorities. As for my “me” time? Fishing, gun range, travel, sports cars, gaming, MMA events, movies, going to the theater, getting a massage, and more.
Enjoy this never before seen wallpaper from Star Wars Galazies in Mos Eisley, Roger’s Favorite Location!
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We hoped you enjoyed meeting Roger and will return next month for another SOE Employee Spotlight.
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