"Memories" - The Evangel Farewell Video

[Evangel - Project 7]

https://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j81/Evangel_Project7/Random/memories_still.jpg?t=1350748743

A Farewell Tribute - "Memories"

So when I heard City of Heroes was closing I decided the best thing I could do was make a tribute farewell video. I love the initiative here to save or rebuild CoH and I wish it the best of luck and have offered up my writing/editing skills if needed. But I didn't want CoH to die with me crying and screaming "plz don't go plz don't go!" I wanted to give it a proper and fitting farewell, and wanted to say goodbye to my online avater Evangel with a meaningful salute. I joined this game in beta and have been a proud subscriber for 8 long and exciting years. Evangel was more than a character he was a part of me - and I've chosen not to carry him into another game. If CoH is reborn I won't recreate an Evangel - he stays with Paragon.

So I made this (long) video to say goodbye and focus on the part of City of Heroes I will miss the most - the memories. 8 years is a long time to have a virtual family and cast of friends. It's a long time to play a game and stay loyal to a universe despite changes you may like or hate. So starting on the day that the sunset was announced I started filming and editing together this short video.

The video is a symbolic journey that provides a fictional reason for leaving as well as a lot of imagery and mood to close out this chapter of my digital life. Everything from the camera angles to the dialog to the color schemes to the settings all were chosen to represent things about this game that represent strong and emotional memories of my time in Paragon City.



I hope in watching it people can remember what CoH meant to them. And whether we save it or not I hope people will be able to view it and feel the joy/pride I have for being a hero in Paragon, and share in my idea to not tarnish CoH's memory but embrace it. All good things must end, and if this is truly the end then this video is my goodbye. Feel free to share it, forward it, email it, etc. It's about 50 hours of work that has made me cry, laugh, and smile. It's my City of Heroes legacy and I can only hope you all enjoy it as much as I enjoyed editing it!




It's set to the appropriately titled "Moving On" by the legendary God known as Michael Giacchino. I recommend viewing it in full screen and in HD quality:

Link --> http://youtu.be/5hWfkHa4cBI





Go. Hunt. Save CoH.
Evangel | Infinity Server

[Rotten Luck]

What is it with these Onion ninjas.  I this is another video I can't finish with out them attacking!

[EventHorizonMan]

Well done.

This is precisely how I want to remember Event Horizon Man's end of service. Not as some horribly handled PR fail that NCSoft has simply dropped in front of us before walking away. It's more like what you created. Our heroes' work is done because evil has finally been vanguished and we won the epic battle of good VS evil. Thank you so much, so very very very much, for imagining with your hard work and efforts, how we all feel our heroes' service really ended.

The only minor difference I might have is that Event didn't get into a car and drive off into the sunset. Paragon City is just a closed chapter. Event is still doing heroic deeds in some shape or form, either on Champions Online or some other related MMO, and most importantly in my mind and in my heart. CoX may be done on December 1st, but Event will always live on. As will all the heroes each of us  have created.

Again, thank you

Event Horizon Man

[eabrace]

Beautiful.

I got lost for a second there on "how'd he set the backpack on the ground", but just for a second.  :)

[Terwyn]

Interesting... I only started crying when it got to "Outbreak."

:'(

[Night]

Beautiful and very well made. Definitely a better closure than what happened :/

[Atlantea]

You're in the same ballpark with Samuraiko, my friend. Well done. You made me cry too. And yeah - it was the hero walk that broke me completely - and Statesman.

I don't question the logic of how he could be there. He just is. He SHOULD be.

[Cinnder]

I have had the privilege of a long association with Evangel (heck, my main is even in one of the scenes, fighting the Rikti alongside him), so this perhaps has an even more personal note for me.  Makes me cry every time I watch it, and that's with the game still alive and playable!  I can only imagine how it will affect me after the lights go out.

I've followed Ev's work from his prize-winning entry in the first CoH video contest (for his origin story) through the AE arcs he made complete with cutscenes.  I guess it's only fitting that this be his swan song...and what a way to go!

Thanks, Ev, for making the closing chapter that should have been.

[Evangel - Project 7]

Thank you all for the views and great powerful responses! I love to see heroes that love this game the way I do. The world may not have real super powers but these heroes are still real and we are their secret identities. I wanted to give those heroes the goodbye they deserved after eight proud years of service.

And now we can ride into the sunset and prepare to save whatever city might need us next...




Go. Fight. Save CoH.
Evangel | Infinity Server

[Evangel - Project 7]

I asked this over in the CoH forums, but does anyone have contact with the devs? I would love for them to see this video but not sure how to get their attention for it. If anyone is in contact and could forward this along I'd love for them to see this tribute to the game they built and cared for for nearly a decade.



Go. Hunt. Save CoH.
Evangel | Infinity Server

[Thirty-Seven]

Ask real nice and have Eabrace tweet a link to the vid/this thread from the Titan Account... I am pretty sure a few Devs follow it.  :)

(Just my suggestion.)

[eabrace]

Ask real nice and have Eabrace tweet a link to the vid/this thread from the Titan Account... I am pretty sure a few Devs follow it.  :)

(Just my suggestion.)

Did that on day one.  :)  A few devs re-tweeted if I recall correctly.

[Evangel - Project 7]

Did that on day one.  :)  A few devs re-tweeted if I recall correctly.

Awesome! Thank you very much!



Go. Hunt. Save CoH.
Evangel | Infinity Server

[Evangel - Project 7]

I've posted two MA Arcs that comprise what I am calling The Evangel Task Force on the CoH boards to sort of go hand-in-hand with this farewell video. Essentially creating a fictional end-game for the city of Paragon. If any wish to play the info is below! Teams of 8 recommended!


http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?p=4417359#post4417359


Arc ID 554556
Arc ID 554557



Go. Hunt. Save CoH.
Evangel | Infinity Server

[Chaoticrainbow]

Very well done.  I bawled like a baby at the walk.

[DKeith2011]

I'll be over in the corner crying if anyone needs me...  :'(

[johnrobey]

Beautiful!  Rather, it's perfect!  I still have tears in my eyes.  Later, months or even years from now, I'll appreciate even more you're having taken time to feature so many city zones and characters.  Thank you for this masterpiece.

[Omega Mark V]

That was well done.

I can't say I have as much connection to the game as you do, Evangel. I've been with the game since roughly i7, and subbing on or off.

Omega Mk. V is just a robot, he can be remade, yet the memories that you reminded us of will still be there.
Our heroes can be remade, but not the feelings and memories that came with the time we spent with others in this world.

... Heh, I guess I still do have connection with the game, I'm tearing up writing this, thinking of the game, and everyone's time that they've put into it.
It's part of our life, so it can't just be thrown away. It does need proper rest.

I won't 'put my memories aside' per se, but I will carry them with me. CoH will always be a part of me, and I will proudly carry that with me through my life.

Though I fear not, because I believe that there will be another City of Heroes, both on Earth and in the afterlife.

God knows our hearts, and what we love, and I thank him more than words describe, that he will give us our heart's desires in Heaven.
Even something such as this small desire, compared to others.

I look forward to the time we all can pick up our memories again, and share them together in our City of Heroes.

Thank you again, Evangel.

God bless.

[Heroette]

Thank you so much for making this video.  I cried.  And I will be crying on the 30th of November but I will be among all the friends I have made during my 8+ years.  The memories I have of City of Heroes will last the rest of my life and I will never forget.  Thanks again for the wonderful ending of your Hero's journey.

[Evangel - Project 7]

Can't thank you all enough for the feedback and support! I'm glad everyone is enjoying the video and the closure it helps provide for this heroic chapter in all of our lives. Keep on fighting until the very end!



Go. Hunt. Record CoH.
Evangel | Infinity Server

[Victoria Victrix]

I have a demo of the most amazing base I have ever seen for you, Evangel.  It's a castle.  A real castle, with 3 levels, a moat, a dungeon, hidden areas....I've seen a lot of bases and this one blows me away.

[Risha]

Thank you.  I'm not quite ready to say goodbye.  I may never be ready to say goodbye.  Lovely video, though.

[antarcticaa]

I needed this video tonight.  Missing the game more than words can tell.  Your work brought back such sweet memories.  CoX and especially the community we had was a rare and special grace. 

[redgiant]

I still watch this video way too much. It is just a masterpiece.

While watching it for what is probably the 30th time today, I noticed something - a little thing - that just made me stop and shake my head about the scope of CoH.

I had completely forgotten about the security cameras on the ceiling scanning back and forth. And I idly thought to myself "I guess the security guards who used to diligently monitor those cameras had to find new jobs too."

Somewhere, Paragon City is still alive.

[Atlantea]

Somewhere, Paragon City is still alive.

Indeed. It is only our portal to it that's gone missing.

[Blondeshell]

/Necroing this thread to let people know that this video was pulled at some point because of a copyright claim from Disney.

Here's hoping that it gets resurrected in some other way, as it was a damn fine video that'd be a shame to have lost forever.

[The Fifth Horseman]

What.
Copyright trolling at its' lowest...

[JanessaVR]

Indeed, darn it, I don't have a copy of this one.  Can the author upload it to DailyMotion or something?

[Noyjitat]

Its about time to move away from youtube... the copyright claims seem to be getting far too common.

[pogoman]

Sadly, I never got to see this video. Now youtube is saying that they took it down due to copyright infringement from Disney?

[JanessaVR]

Indeed, if anyone has a copy, please let us know.

[fscotth]

I have a copy of the video, but to warn everyone in advance, it's 188MB.  I'd be happy to provide a link (please PM me with your e-mail) to those who would like to download it from Dropbox.

We have so many phenomenally talented people in our community that have been inspired by Paragon City, and I'm grateful to those such as Evangel, Samuraiko, Leandro, Angelus Animi, and the dozens of others who made and posted videos both before and after December 1, 2012.  Having those memories is part of what's made the past two years tolerable without Paragon.  Of course, the gift of Codewalker's engineering genius (Icon) was also deeply appreciated, but I find I can't spend too much time there.  As much as creating characters and costumes is enjoyable, without NPCs, enemies, missions, TFs, SG bases, trains, war walls, doors, or, well, the rest of you all to interact with, it just doesn't satisfy the desire to play again.

I'm also grateful to Tony Vasquez and everyone at Titan who has hosted our community, helped keep hope alive, played traffic cop to the endless parade of trolls, and helped (directly and indirectly) facilitate the possibility for a return to Paragon City someday - both since The Announcement in 2012, as well as in 2014.  I recognize that Nate Downes and The Others who are part of this latest venture, either directly or helping behind the scenes, may as yet have a long way to go, but if it's not obvious already from the page counts, you have thousands of us with our support and wallets at the ready when you are.

Thanks to each and every one of you for your efforts.

[redgiant]

I have a copy of this with the original Moving On soundtrack, and it is 42 mb.

Let me know if you need it uploaded.

It is still a masterpiece, 2 years on.

The original theme is perfectly cued to the video, and it helps make certain moments unbelievably emotional:

- starting with a subtle background of city sounds and his footsteps outside, before the theme starts at the shrine
- the first time you realize 'OMG he is using Moving On, I'm not sure I can make it through watching this unscathed'
- as the music starts and the room slowly rotates, you just know an epic yet upsetting montage is coming
- then the embedded scenes of his memorable fights fade in (Adobe After Effects?), so well done
- the environment shots start, I always love the dock's red light blinking in time to the song's single note
- the emptiness of Pocket D, Perez Park, the long street, hospital, Icon slowly panned over, brilliant
- Drenched Donuts as the stringed instruments add in
- remembering his humble beginnings, and trying to hit a cop on the street

The the real eye-killer part begins:

- he starts to walk away from the shrine, with a slow side pan and turn through the library that is JUST PERFECT - here is where I start losing it
- the first time I saw him remove his mask and gloves, I literally cried uncontrollably, which made the following scene even more emotional (and it didn't need any help)
- the thematic climax of the music fitted to him being cheered and saluted by his fellow superheroes, supergroup mates, and Statesman
- the silent Mark IV's standing guard ceremoniously always reminds me of how epic the visuals always were - such impressive and massive robots
- 'Birthplace of Tomorrow' rotating as the music begins its sunset, reminds me of the final scene for TNG's All Good Things finale
- one last montage of his crime-fighting days with his friends - I am partial to the short clip of him sprinting down a street and standing guard on a hillside with friends, and the music that accompanies it
- passing under Atlas one last time, and out to the waiting car - and he stops, looks up at Atlas and we know it is the final sequence
- the statue in the pond, monorail station, Wentworths, the blast doors to Perez Park, hospital, elevated highway, Steel Canyon then oh man Independence Port bridge, Ouroboros, and the final shot ... Talos Island
- the final car door thump and song note as it ends

Since it is made in-game, you have to giggle and smile at how he turns.  :P

The nostalgia of this video works at multiple levels: his own memories as a character 'growing up' in Paragon City, your memories of those places he shows, and even further back in time your memories of how some of those places have changed and often become emptier over the game's lifetime. Remember when Perez Park was filled with folks xp'ing? Or Founder's Falls by the water? Simply forming a group and going hunting was a challenge and lots of fun, long before so much was added to CoH.