Phil is the programmer in question and he's been gone full time for 1.5 years and about 1 year from part time work.  It was discussed some time ago.  Short of it is he got a DREAM job doing AI programming and doing his part to assure that machines will rule the Earth sooner rather than later.  I would have kicked him in his rear if he didn't take the job because he is an AI programmer first and foremost. It's stressful enough when working in a standard office type game development environ