We sat down with former North American Community Manager Andrew "Tamat" Beegle to look back at his time at NCsoft. Also, Community Coordinator Kate "Trine" Field chimes in about the current state of the game!

If you're an Aion player, you've probably interacted with former North American Community Manager Andrew "Tamat" Beegle on one level or another. You may have read his posts on the official Aion site, followed his notices on Twitter, or even chatted with him in the forums. Well, Sept. 24 marked Tamat's last day at NCsoft, so we sat down to chat with him about his experiences with the company and the Aion community as a whole. Community Coordinator Kate "Trine" Field was also kind enough to chime in about the current state of the game!

ZAM users may also recognize Tamat's name as a member of our own community. Tamat is a former ZAM employee, so be sure to check out the interview to see what he's been up to at NCsoft and beyond. Best of luck, Tamat!

ZAM: We're sad to hear about your departure from NCsoft. Why are you leaving? Can you share any of your plans?

Andrew "Tamat" Beegle: It definitely wasn’t an easy decision to make, even though I’ll soon be gloriously basking in the Los Angeles sun as I prepare for a new opportunity. I’m going to miss my friends and colleagues at NCsoft, and the passionate Aion community that has made this experience so rewarding.

I can't share all of my plans, but games are my life, so it's safe to assume that you’ll still see me in the gaming industry!

ZAM: Can you reflect a little on your time at NCsoft? What are your favorite memories as community manager?

Tamat: Looking back on my time at NCsoft has been rather mind blowing. It’s hard to keep track of all the successes we've had throughout my tenure. We’ve accomplished a lot over the last year while managing some challenges.

Operating a complex game like Aion means juggling a lot of moving pieces, and doing it within the environment of a passionate community that wants to know as much as possible about what’s coming next adds another piece in the puzzle. As a company, one of our watchwords of 2010 is "collaboration." We’ve focused on improving how we function as a global team, and in that goal, there have been substantial improvements, especially in overcoming the physical distance between our teams in the west and in South Korea.

Some of my fondest memories of my tenure come from the times that I’ve been able to spend with our players in game. From logging on for a PvP battle royal, to a silly impromptu dance-offs, I’ve been blessed to be able to share my personality with players, and in doing so, I hope I’ve added to the enjoyment of the game.

ZAM: Are there any members of the community that stick out in your mind? For example, players with major in-game accomplishments or who made a lasting impact on you?

Tamat: Absolutely. But there are too many to mention. As much as I’d love to start listing names, I don’t want to subject ZAM fans to a 40-page document, and I’d hate to miss someone.

Aion is populated by truly amazing people — both those with strong personalities and those who have accomplished much both in and out of game. It’s been really cool to be contacted by a few of the celebrities that play Aion, especially after I find out how passionate about the game they are.

ZAM: In a similar vein, what are your favorite memories and personal accomplishments in the game?

Tamat: Again, there are too many to mention; however, one of my fondest memories was when a few of us at the office stayed late in the evening hanging out in the Abyss. I was playing my Elyos character of a slightly higher level, and the rest of the office was rocking their Asmodians. I let everyone know that I was watching them, and all of a sudden the office transformed itself into a war zone.

Our global director of publishing, Steve Levy, was on speakerphone playing from home. He started chanting taunts ranging from, "We’re coming to get you, Tamat!" to "He’s behind us, kill him!" Eventually I found them and took a few of them down before I was brutally murdered. It was a fun evening!