Starsman
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Quote:Originally Posted by Winterminal
I'm going to attempt to translate this:
There has yet to be a topic to be titled "Dooooom" since the bomb was dropped, so one was made. And he's saying that even though the game is ending, at least the European and NA servers were made accessible by everyone, and at least the forums no longer segregate based on geography.
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Quote:Possible but their calculations are going to be way more accurate than ours. They have actual subscriber numbers. They did also for previously canceled games. By now, with at least 4 titles canceled (Tabula Rasa, Auto Assault, Exsteel, Dungeon Runners) they likely know how many just move on to a different title within the company and how many never return (percentage wise.)Originally Posted by Zyphoid
If I am not mistaken CoX is the oldest, and largest MMO NCSoft has closed. I could be wrong, but it is possible that they miscalculated.
Numbers will perhaps be larger, but likely the percentage will be about the same. They also know how many already subscribe to multiple of their games and are extremely unlikely to give up on their other games just because this one is being removed.
I don't want to be gloomy, I just want to be realistic on the expectation of any efforts. Aquisition efforts are likely if anyone in the company thinks it's worth their time to even sit down to discuss it. Chances for NCSoft to change their mind due to backlash are next to zero. -
Quote:For one, they were very aware how it would impact their future customer retention and their current one. They, more than anyone, know how many customers are lost at the closure of a game, and how many actually transfer to another title.Originally Posted by Zyphoid
This was a bad PR move on NCSoft's part.
It's not like they closed down World of Warcraft, CoH, profitable and all, was not a huge game and we already heard from other players in these forums that are very happy with Guild Wars 2 and won’t do any boycott.
It is easy for us to overstate the negative impact to NCSoft's reputation based on this, because for us, CoH is huge. But from the outside, it's barely a drop of water in the rain.
We will never be able to convince NCSoft to do anything based off negative backlash, reputation, or future customer loss. These were things that were likely quantified before they did the announcement.
The only ones that can do anything are those involved in talks right now. Hopefully the few people interested in keeping CoH alive can make enough push within NCSoft, and an appealing case, plus come up with the money, to make a sale happen.
For now, we know there are talks going on. They are just talks, but they are going on. Zwillinger seems to think there is hope, he is trying to keep expectations down, but they also refuse to zero out everything in the market for live servers in case something may actually go through. That’s enough hope, I think. If they turn everything down to zero sometime at the start of November, then we know all hope is lost.
BTW, what is Flagship? and HGL? -
Quote:Any deal may take months to solidify. NCSoft is not going to keep the developers in the payroll in case that happens. It would be actually a dikish thing to do not to help employees find a job.Originally Posted by detroitfrost
Oh, how interesting, they (NcSoft) literally have no interest in selling off the studio then, they just want to cut, run and shut it down.
It also may all be tied to the NDA. Sign the NDA: you get severance package and we help you find a job. Don't sign the NDA, you get nothing and are on your own, we will make sure to spread word about you not being a team-player. -
Quote:I am sure there are a few within NCSoft's ranks that want the game to keep on going. Same way I think the game has been under the axe for a long time, not due to performance but due to it being a "waste of time and resources" on the mind of way too many at NCSoft. Those few that believed in the game, kept it alive. They may also be right now the ones making sure there are talks.Originally Posted by detroitfrost
[*]If fans could raise enough funds, could CoH be saved? Unknown, ask the folks in Korea.
I hate having to read tea leaves, so Let's read some tea leaves!
That seems to be corporate-ese for "the guys at NcSoft have zero interest in saving or selling the game". Am I reading that right?
But I doubt there is any actual interest in the game in any way from the main Korean side. The way I think it is, and this is purely speculative, they feel about the same way a restaurant feels about the bums feeding of their garbage cans. They lose nothing, but they still dont really like it either, even if the bums were to toss a few pennies the restaurant way.
Thankfully, for now, a few in the restaurant do have sympathy for the homeless. -
Quote:I don't work at Microsoft myself, but everything I have heard from people that do is that it's an extremely hostile place to work at. It's not necessarily bad, but Microsoft has a policy of (not sure if it applies to the entire company) score employees and fire the worst performer every so often. Regardless if everyone did excellent, someone will be fired for not being as excellent as the rest.Originally Posted by Samuel_Tow
Ya rly. Nuclear Toast works for Microsoft, and I haven't heard anything from him but positive anecdotes. He'd have to comment more in-depth on his own just because I don't want to put words in his mouth, but the company treats its employees well.
It can generate a lot of stress and backstabbing behavior in certain departments.
Everyone I heard from also thinks Ballmer is driving the company to bankruptcy, so I find it shocking he gets a 44% approval rating in that site. Would not be shocked if the site is full of PR generated reviews. -
Liquid: Extreme congratulations!
As for your interview, hey, at least you got to the interview! I just got a "sorry, we got someone with better qualifications, your resume sucks... seriously SQL experience, what you think you applying to a bank?"
That last italic bit inserted by me, but to be honest, I had zero relevant experience in the industry and my technical background likely did not overlap with any tech used in game. Only thing I had going for me was my in-forum number crunching (and yea, I was silly enough to list THAT in the resume!!!)
That’s part of the reason I started my own gaming LLC, in part to get some relevant design experience! Next time such a dream job opportunity comes up; I am going to have something relevant to list on my resume!!!
In retrospect, though… I likely would have been facing a salary cut had I been offered this job (because if I had been offered the job I would have taken it even if I had to live under a bridge.)
Edit to add: Had I been asked the vector question, even with nerves of steel and all the calm in the world, I would had been forced to reply "I'd google it up." My math education was not the best, even if I am good at math in general. -
Quote:It's a shame there is no millionaire developers in Paragon that was working on the team just for fun. Everyone likely knows what happens, but they cant say a word because they wont get their severance package if they open their mouths. And they will be sued to hell if they dare open their mouth after signing the NDA.Originally Posted by Sparkly Soldier
In a way, though, that's a good sign. He could give an answer because he already knew what it was. NCSoft probably isn't saying a word because they don't know what to say yet. It's also encouraging that in their reasons for ditching CoH, they didn't use any phrases that might denigrate the game or its sales, like "due to declining revenue"; that suggests they don't want to poison any potential buyers against the game.
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Quote:For one, I don't think NCSoft's CEOs even speak English.Originally Posted by NukeTheLag
I do find it kind of amusing that the CEO of a company that has nothing to do with CoX is capable of giving an upfront and honest answer, unlike anyone at NCSoft.
For seconds, I bet they are executives and business types. John Smedley is a long time D&D player who co-created EverQuest and Verant Interactive, he was a game developer in that game and has been both, a game developer and a gamer first.
I actually think the only reason EverQuest is still running is because he cant bring himself to shut it down. -
Quote:Well you know how it is... if you going to be your own boss, you better be the worse boss you ever had, else you will never get anything done!!!Originally Posted by Arcanaville
There are times I really hate the boss and I *am* the boss.
On that note... my self-boss went on vacation the day I returned to CoH... I think he called and says is returning by Nov 30. -
Quote:ME! I WANTED THEM FIXED FOR ME!!!! WHY!!! WHY MUST THIS WORLD BE SO CRUEL!!!!!Originally Posted by Arcanaville
We already got to play fixed blasters on the beta shard. I'm pretty sure this was the only way to prevent Synapse from fixing Tankers for Johnny_Butane.
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Quote:I was going to say the same but after going to the link... the reviews are not all doom and gloom. Sure there are some bad reviews, but there are some positive too. No 5 stars but I have never met anyone that will openly admit his job is the best job they can ever dream off (never met a some one that was self employedOriginally Posted by Brillig
Glassdoor is just a bitchfest, just like forums and "user reviews."
Using it to prove a point just shows that you don't understand your sources.
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Quote:It's not really racism, although it is greed. It's just business. The Asian market is much different to the American one. In Asia, MMOs are still heavily enjoyed by people in Cyber Cafes, not out of necessity but because it's some form of social activity to do so.Originally Posted by mercykilling
Greed and racism. One for sure, the other is just a feeling, no actual facts to back it up.
Here they pay by the hour; and the cybercafés license the titles not as purchases but on a monthly lease.
CoH, not being of interest in Asia, has no way to expand in the market the owners of the company are familiar with.
No trying to defend them, but the racism card should not be tossed around so lightly. -
Quote:As long as it appeals to the korean market, they will not shut down games.Originally Posted by Snow Globe
Actually, I'm going to make rational choice to not buy any on-line game from NCsoft. They have an annoying habit of shutting down games with little to no notice. I can't trust NCsoft to provide entertainment value for my money.
Unfortunately, Dungeon Runners, Exteel (oddly), Tabula Rasa, Auto Assault and City of Heroes all are game that didnt appeal too much to the asian market. I still not sure why Exteel didnt fit there. -
Quote:There are so many things going on here. For one, if there are any type of negotiations, it's very likely all involved have signed NDAs just to sit down and talk.Originally Posted by Neuronia
Yeah, them saying they are all looking for new jobs and such pretty much nailed it home. Going to offer to help TonyV and all though.
The one glimmer of hope is that he was mum on whether or not NCSoft will sell, so that's something. If they are willing to sell our little game might live, but with a different set of parents (Devs).
Also, even if negotiations are going perfectly fine, until things are signed down and complete there is always a chance that they will backpedal or fail. So they cant sit down and wait for things to work out, they HAVE to look for a job.
It is not rare for a company to only give 2 weeks pay for every year of service as severance package. Many of the team members have only been there for just what? 2 years? They cant waste their month waiting for deus ex. They have to try to get a job ASAP, even if things are working out. -
Quote:Just to clarify: this is not true. They own the rights to use your character, but they don't own your character. That's not legally possible in the United States to do a legal transfer of copyrights without quite a bit of paperwork, signatures and potentially a transaction (may be different in other countries, though.)Originally Posted by Obsidius
NCSoft owns your characters (technically; whether or not they would choose to exercise that right if you used your character on another game or medium is doubtful ("IANAL"))
I'm sure Arcanaville has her explanation on this on her clipboard ready to be pasted, though. -
Quote:Get over it, it was a bug!Originally Posted by Megajoule
Sorry, but I'm still bitter about the changes to Battalion-Os in Issue 41. If the Devs hadn't wanted us to use them like that, they never should have put them in the game to begin with. Not even the Catgirl AT can make up for that nerf.
The devs never intended you to be able to cause real world nuclear meltdown every time you used brawl while resting! Europe still is pointing their nukes at Paragon Studios over that!
(yea I may at least pretend we got to this future now that we aparently wont get there.) -
Depends what you mean anything. If you mean without insane revamping that would piss off a lot of people, I would create the 5 archetypes I described in this post.
Quote:Originally Posted by Starsman
Sergeant:
The Sergeants commands a squad of brave soldiers into battle, fighting among them, all as equals. On their own, each member may not be superhumanly strong, but together they can take on most meta-human opponents.- Primary: Dom Assault
- Secondary: Summon Secondary (weaker henchmen, replace the 3 attacks with 3 armors but no mez prot)
- Epic: Dom Ancillary pools.
- Inherent: The Sergeants defensive toggles from his summon set scale in power with the proximity of his squad members.
Suppressors move through the battle field entirely unnoticed, looking for any opportunity to weaken the opponent and empower their allies. Suppressors are equally skilled in ranged and melee skills.- Primary: Dom Assault
- Secondary: Buff (50% of defender values) Lose one power to Stealth.
- Epic: Defender/Corruptor Ancillary pools.
- Inherent: Suppression: All suppressor melee attacks used from hide will land a Mag 3 AoE hold. Ranged attacks will land a Mag 3 AoE Fear.
This dynamic duo acts like one! You guard each others back, and take on any challenge with perfect orchestrated maneuvering.
Primary: Assault Primary- Secondary: Stalker secondary (replacing hide with a permanent pet.)
- Epic: Brute/Tank Epic Pools
- Inherent: Synergy. All your toggles and passives also buff your Sidekick pet if he is within 20ft. Your pet being near slightly buffs your damage. You cant directly command your pet but he will take offensive mode for about 10 seconds with every attack. You stop attacking, the pet resets to follow/non-aggressive mode.
The Overseer does not typically join a fight, directly. They tend to oversee and direct the actions of a strong group of men. When the Overseer acts, it's not to attack, but to control a situation.- Primary: Summon Primary
- Secondary: Control Secondary (Overseer control effects will not inflict damage)
- Epic: Controller Epic Pools
- Inherent: Every time the overseer commands their pets, he grants them a stance appropriate buff. "Aggressive" will give them a 20 second Damage/Accuracy buff. "Defensive" grants the pets a 20 second Resistance + Def buff. "Passive" will give all pets a recovery/regen aura.
The Manipulator heads into a fight, manipulating its surroundings to make things safe for him and extremely uncomfortable to those who oppose him. Manipulators have a limited range of melee attacks and no ranged attacks, but they have a way to make foes think they are being hit harder than they actually are.- Primary: Blaster Manipulation (T1 replaced by a melee attack)
- Secondary: Controller Control
- Epic: Dominator Epic pools.
- Inherent: Manipulators are not kings of burst damage, but all their attacks have a high chance of making the enemy think they are being hurt even when they are not. (Manipulators have 50% chance to crit, not necessarily 2x, illusionary damage that heals back after a while.)
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Darn work... wont be able to watch it until I get home...
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Aniversary badges would be my only issue, I'm rather proud of having those.
But yea, it would not stop me at all. -
2.
Starsman, the number cruncher min maxer... only has two level 50s. -
Quote:Not sure if you saying what I think you saying (that the game is canned because corporate accountants dont get it.)Originally Posted by Ogi
The only logic in business is in their billing systems, and that's only because programmers had to translate creative accounting to something machines could understand.
I actually think it's the other way around. Guild Wars 1 was doing as bad, or worse, than CoH but that game did not get canned. Why? Because they see art and potential in it.
I suspect that a huge reason for the dismissal of CoH is that it did not meet some artistic/aesthetic they wanted the company to project. -
(note I have not read the entire thread)
Well, they MAY be willing to sell it, but what reasons would they have to not sell?
Well, the first obvious one is competition, as you mention. Sure, they don’t have anything like that NOW. We don't know if they have decided to, in secret, start working in another super hero MMO, or something along those lines.
Another reason is pride. They may just fear that someone else may make the game more popular than they were able to. This may actually reflect badly on the company.
Final one is money. If we value the company using a basic 60% to 70% of revenue per year rule... and knowing that CoH brought about 10million last year and was about the same path this year, they may be able to get between 6 and 7 million valuations for the studio.
If they consider they can’t get that offer, they may feel they are better off keeping it and writing it off at the end of the quarter for tax purposes. I'm no accountant so I am not sure what the happy medium is there (they may be better off selling for 5 million than writing off 6 million.)
Remember: I'm no accountant, there are people certified to do this kind of valuation, I got that 60%/70% from this article, the section they talk about "most small businesses"
But at the end, their accounting may have a minimum price they can sell for where lower will be better off to just do a tax write-off than to sell.
Edit to add:
There may be another posibility. There MAY be plans to sell the company, or at least they may consider the posibility of it happening in years to come. At the point of such a transaction, it's better to have as large of an IP catalog as you can, even if the titles are not active. -
Quote:Got to say... "Defeat the boss and his 100 minions hiding in the warehouse" may be the most generic of missions in this game, but beat "go kill 1000 or so timber wolves until you find one with fangs... I need 3 fangs"Originally Posted by Samuel_Tow
But even at its worst, City of Heroes still had a better story than damn near any other MMO I've seen.