8+ happy years

This is a farewell from me. I am leaving ArenaNet after a little more than over 8 years of being here (my first day was 11/24/2003, it was so long ago that I was 21). This comes with a certain amount of sadness as this was my first job in the gaming industry. I first started doing ground textures for the original Guild Wars and I end it being the Concept Art Lead on Guild Wars 2. I’ve had a pretty good run, worked hard played hard, but all things must eventually come to an end. I am leaving to go search for new endeavors. For all I have done here, this is all I have done.

But now it’s time for me to go out into the world. ArenaNet and the Guild Wars franchise have done so much for my career and I will always be thankful for it. I am leaving great people, and a great game behind me. This game will be awesome and will be a success, and I look forward to seeing it being released. I look forward to all the awesome projects that have yet to be made here.

 I must say thank you ArenaNet and all the great fans of the Guild Wars franchise for all the love and support. Thank you for all the wonderful memories. This wouldn’t have happened without you. I hope everyone can understand and wish me luck in the new adventure I am about to take.

Mahalo nui loa,

Kekai “Cake” Kotaki

33 comments:

mgpometto says:
at: June 22, 2012 at 11:41 AM said...

Kekai, as someone who plays Guild Wars, and will be playing Guild Wars 2 I'm sorry to see you go. As an artist I have always found your work to be inspirational and beyond impressive, I was in the online future poly class and what I learned from you has greatly helped me as an artist. I wish you nothing but the best of luck, and happiness in all your future endeavors

TechNeilogy says:
at: June 22, 2012 at 12:16 PM said...

Aloha, and mahalo for Guild Wars; it would not have been what it was without you.

Dave Greco says:
at: June 22, 2012 at 12:21 PM said...

gl to wherever your path takes you, enjoy it all!

Pale Blue Dot says:
at: June 22, 2012 at 12:41 PM said...

Kekai, I absolutely loved all of your fantastic art work. Your creative talent helped breathe life into Tyria for many years so it's sad to hear you're leaving. Good luck with your future projects!

Kyle Sewnarain says:
at: June 22, 2012 at 1:19 PM said...

As with others, you've inspired me greatly with your work from ArenaNet. Although it's sad to see you leave, I can't wait to see what you'll do next. Best of luck Kekai, and I'll see you at the MB Workshop in August!

Edited for spelling*

Unknown says:
at: June 22, 2012 at 1:25 PM said...

Your art helped make Guild Wars series, one of my favorites, as beautiful as it is, which is certainly one of its defining features. I look forward to your future projects!

Unknown says:
at: June 22, 2012 at 1:40 PM said...

Kekai I too freaking love your art style. It is sad to hear that you are leaving and I wish you nothing but the best, Your bad-assness will never be replaced man. <3 forever and Good Luck.

Steven Roberson says:
at: June 22, 2012 at 2:00 PM said...

Best of luck on your adventures! Thanks for adding so much to the world of Tyria.

Unknown says:
at: June 22, 2012 at 2:29 PM said...

Iaorana from Tahiti Kekai,

I am sad to see you leave.
Your sense of creativity, work and inspiration coupled with your polynesian roots will be missed, I am sure of that.
Mauruuru roa.

Te aroha ia rahi.

Heiarii

Unknown says:
at: June 22, 2012 at 3:42 PM said...

Thank you for sharing your work with ArenaNet and best wishes for the future. I look forward to seeing what you create next.

Julio de Carvalho says:
at: June 22, 2012 at 4:03 PM said...

As a fan of you, I have to post my congratulations for your great work with the Arena Net Team.
Keep up the hard work and good luck, bro!

Unknown says:
at: June 22, 2012 at 6:05 PM said...

What type of art/projects are you looking to get into? im curious to see/follow your evolution as an artist

Wladimir Matos Reyes says:
at: June 22, 2012 at 10:25 PM said...

It must be hard to leave a place where you've been for so long and have met so many good people man, i wish you good luck on your journey, you got everything you need to success.

Unknown says:
at: June 23, 2012 at 1:39 AM said...

Good luck in the future, i hope we will see some awesome stuff from you soon enough! :)

Cycrone says:
at: June 23, 2012 at 1:54 AM said...

You've been my biggest inspiration lately as an artist, and everytime I talk about guildwars or even think about it, I see your name. I see you as one of the [Legendary Artists] in our time, getting any job you wish will be easy as mixin cake :P

Stay true
-Cycrone

lucas says:
at: June 23, 2012 at 3:31 AM said...

thankyou for upping the awesome with guild wars and gw2.

Em C. Barrett says:
at: June 23, 2012 at 10:17 AM said...

Yeaaahhh, right. See you on monday.

balto says:
at: June 23, 2012 at 12:48 PM said...

This is very bad news for Guild Wars fans. I'm not into art but I have no words to describe how awesome your pieces are. I just hope they'll find somebody as close as good.

Thank for making that franchise so amazing.

Bobby Pontillas says:
at: June 23, 2012 at 2:48 PM said...

OH MAN! END OF AN ERA! We started 1 month apart from each other! Best of luck Kakes!

Unknown says:
at: June 24, 2012 at 2:23 PM said...

Thank you for evrything:)
You are the favourite artist and my "Art Guru":)
Wherever you have been, good luck! :)

Maguar says:
at: June 25, 2012 at 12:28 AM said...

Kekai, We follow your creative work in Russia.
http://www.gamer.ru/guild-wars-2/kekai-kotaki-chelovek-kotoryy-narisoval-guild-wars
We are sorry that you are leaving the company ArenaNet,
We wish you further success and all the best!

Unknown says:
at: August 20, 2012 at 1:59 AM said...

日本からきました。
ここのギャラリーをいつも楽しみにして見ています。
もうすぐギルドウォーズ2がリリースしますね。
陰ながら応援しています。

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