Here's a harsh dose of reality Alex, You are worth saving my friend you just need to get your life in order. You need to take control of that demon in the bottle. Your fans are very short sighted when it comes to great gaming. Like yourself i was threaten with female empowered shit too like you. You need to rise about your critics and make a great game and the trolls like Asmon will go away. I am sure they will be loud in the beginning as you make you ascend back up the mountain. i know you can do it. All players want is a great game and someone to play with them. The rest will always work itself out.
I am also aware of some of the reasons that were never published about the WOW situation. Blizzard was making great games in the past because they cared about the players involvement. Most of them were into community-based games like D&D and M:TG. Did you know that Gary Garax's granddaughter, marsha, worked for SOE back in the day? How cool was that? I know Mike has started his own company now called DreamHaven. I am not going to downplay the wow situation because it was a really bad accusation but i know there were political motivations for the smear. You let Holly Longdale come work for your company which was your first mistake. She has no business ever being in the industry again after what she did to Brenlo. Yes, I know Blizzard and Activision were always battling with the ideas of Mobiles vs. MMOs. Mobiles are much easier to maintain and easier to make more money but at the cost of the community. Microsoft does nt care about the players like the old WOW staff did, Its is all money and profit now. i was never a fan of Wow but i know what makes a great game being involved in online gaming for over 20 years. Your fans will come back if you make a great game. Will Smith is a good actor and he will eventally regain his career once again and rise back to the top of the mountain. I know its not going to be easy but you just got to be patient and be sincere. Cream will always rise to the top. Find a support group.
On the other hand, Maybe you are ready to retire like Kaplan now that you made your millions in stocks, but I also know that every great developer believes that he has one last good game in him. Come on and do my podcast Alex.