NCSoft acquires "City of" Franchise!
By
2Negative,
Posted on: 2007-11-06 13:34 in CoH and CoV General Discussions
Can we have international servers again? Will the EU servers be added to the US ones?
Infamy, infamy, they've all got it infamy!!!
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Without being overly negative, what possible downsides does this deal have?
* Some staff may be unwilling or unable to move to the new office.
* NC Soft bigwigs may usurp more creative control than is healthy for the long-run of the game.
* A true sequel may be released, making upkeep and new content for the original a lower priority.
Anybody else think of anything? Will my purely hypothetical guesses be debunked?
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Everyone from the current team has signed on, this includes moving to the new offices which are located a mere 15 miles away from where we are currently located. We will be in the heart of Silicon Valley where recruitment of experienced top notch talent will be more readily available.
NCsoft as a corporate culture believes that studio culture should be determined by that studio. If anything the project may see a sharing of resources of some of our other award winning and current titles. NCsoft has done research on every possible business model for MMO's they are very happy with COH/COV the studio culture will be set and maintained by those at the studio.
There is no doubt that a second title or another expansion may be on the table. Ultimately if this is timed properly and done with the consideration of the community at the heart of the decisions then you should see these decisions being made in the best interest of the game that is still actively producing revenue.
Ex
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Though with that I'll also say I'd buy it in a heartbeat, two copies TYVM, one for each account.
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As long as the dev teams remain the same on the projects: count me in too 
Please read my FEAR/Portal/HalfLife Fan Fiction!
Repurposed
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I think a sequel is basically inevitable now. But I don't think the original game will be given lower priority.
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Exactly, EQ and EQ2 come to mind. EQ is still going strong.
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And if NC Soft creates a multi-game subscription package, then I will happily play both CoH 1 and 2.
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We are here to field any questions you may have about this wonderful news.
Ex
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I hope it is wonderful news.
Also will you join my SG? I need the prestige. 
[color=gold][b][size=5]♪ Sometimes you feel like a Tank, Sometimes you don't! ♪[/size][/color][/b]
[url=http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?t=114726][color=black][b][size=5]Moon [color=red]Hazard [color=black]Zone![/size][/color][/color][/color][/b][/url]
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We are here to field any questions you may have about this wonderful news.
Ex
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I hope it is wonderful news.
Also will you join my SG? I need the prestige.
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lol good ole GA!
[color=gold][b][size=5]♪ Sometimes you feel like a Tank, Sometimes you don't! ♪[/size][/color][/b]
[url=http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?t=114726][color=black][b][size=5]Moon [color=red]Hazard [color=black]Zone![/size][/color][/color][/color][/b][/url]
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So for the people that bought CoH and CoV what do we get.
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Asked the same thing.
My *gut* feeling is nothing, as GVE has been out for... what, a year? Longer? so seperate COH/COV purchases have long been ... eh, not sure what the word would be, but "evened out" or "melted together" works.
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I don't see them giving everyone the extra 4 character slots in this move. So we still have that.
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I kind of assumed they would, actually. It would make sense.
I mean, by now I'd *assume* most of the active playerbase has both COH and COV. GVE went on sale a while back, so anyone new would pretty much have that... with opening up access, opening up the last four slots for those that don't *have* them would be fair and bring them to parity.
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Those are good points.
How about "we got a month with our purchases"?
(I'm trying to not be negative about this with my purchases:
CoH, CoH Collector's, CoV Collector's, CoH, CoH Collector's, GvE, GvE, CoH, and GVE purchases for my 3 accounts.)
total kick to the gut
This is like having Ra's Al Ghul show up at your birthday party.
I call dibs on Ex for my VG on Pinnacle 
Just kidding.. I can't do any more with the thing without having to pay regular rent anyway
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I think a sequel is basically inevitable now. But I don't think the original game will be given lower priority.
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Exactly, EQ and EQ2 come to mind. EQ is still going strong.
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And if NC Soft creates a multi-game subscription package, then I will happily play both CoH 1 and 2.
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qft.
Hell, I'd even try out lineage and the more traditional mmos.
Blazara Aura LVL 50 Fire/Psi Dom (with 125% recharge)
Flameboxer Aura LVL 50 SS/Fire Brute
Ice 'Em Aura LVL 50 Ice Tank
Darq Widow Fortune LVL 50 Fortunata (200% rech/Night Widow 192.5% rech)--thanks issue 19!
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...
* NC Soft bigwigs may usurp more creative control than is healthy for the long-run of the game.
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Just to address this point, the creative control stays with the studio. Brian, my boss and the Executive Producer and Studio Manager, is still steering the ship with the same great crew (Positron and the other leads) along with the rest of our Production Staff all still here.
Hopefully that helps to address any concerns over creative control.
Lighthouse
Community Relations Manager
If you have a specific in game, account, tech or billing problem please contact our Customer Support team via The Knowledge Base "Ask A Question" page.
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And if NC Soft creates a multi-game subscription package, then I will happily play both CoH 1 and 2.
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qft.
Hell, I'd even try out lineage and the more traditional mmos.
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I probably would too.
I'm going to miss Statesman.
But congrats to everyone who made the move.
Someone at marketting knows something that we don't. They must see a long term interest in CoX so perhaps that deal for a CoX TV series is actually looking more realistic.
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I think a sequel is basically inevitable now. But I don't think the original game will be given lower priority.
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Exactly, EQ and EQ2 come to mind. EQ is still going strong.
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And if NC Soft creates a multi-game subscription package, then I will happily play both CoH 1 and 2.
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qft.
Hell, I'd even try out lineage and the more traditional mmos.
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Lineage 2 disturbs me, somehow. Maybe its the tales I've heard of some of the player interaction, or maybe its just the lingerie elves 
I'd definitely give a look at most of the rest of what NCSoft has got available if a general pass is created and doesn't cost too much more than what I'm already paying.
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...
* NC Soft bigwigs may usurp more creative control than is healthy for the long-run of the game.
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Just to address this point, the creative control stays with the studio. Brian, my boss and the Executive Producer and Studio Manager, is still steering the ship with the same great crew (Positron and the other leads) along with the rest of our Production Staff all still here.
Hopefully that helps to address any concerns over creative control.
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You're cute when you are that optimistic about doom seeders.
total kick to the gut
This is like having Ra's Al Ghul show up at your birthday party.
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I think a sequel is basically inevitable now. But I don't think the original game will be given lower priority.
[/ QUOTE ]
Exactly, EQ and EQ2 come to mind. EQ is still going strong.
[/ QUOTE ]
And if NC Soft creates a multi-game subscription package, then I will happily play both CoH 1 and 2.
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qft.
Hell, I'd even try out lineage and the more traditional mmos.
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Lineage 2 disturbs me, somehow. Maybe its the tales I've heard of some of the player interaction, or maybe its just the lingerie elves I'd definitely give a look at most of the rest of what NCSoft has got available if a general pass is created and doesn't cost too much more than what I'm already paying.
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LOL you are not the first person to tell me they are freaked out by that game's lingerie elves.
Blazara Aura LVL 50 Fire/Psi Dom (with 125% recharge)
Flameboxer Aura LVL 50 SS/Fire Brute
Ice 'Em Aura LVL 50 Ice Tank
Darq Widow Fortune LVL 50 Fortunata (200% rech/Night Widow 192.5% rech)--thanks issue 19!
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LOL you are not the first person to tell me they are freaked out by that game's lingerie elves.
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Lingerie elves?
I sense a Victoria's Secret crossover episode...
total kick to the gut
This is like having Ra's Al Ghul show up at your birthday party.
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LOL you are not the first person to tell me they are freaked out by that game's lingerie elves.
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Lingerie elves?
I sense a Victoria's Secret crossover episode...
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Ugly Betty?
Yeah sometimes the show is JUST THAT WEIRD.
Blazara Aura LVL 50 Fire/Psi Dom (with 125% recharge)
Flameboxer Aura LVL 50 SS/Fire Brute
Ice 'Em Aura LVL 50 Ice Tank
Darq Widow Fortune LVL 50 Fortunata (200% rech/Night Widow 192.5% rech)--thanks issue 19!
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Point 2 is always a potential problem >.> So no disagreement there. NCSoft certainly knows MMOs, but their big seller is Lineage...
Point 3 wouldn't bother me much. CoH 2 would presumably be like CoH 1, but BETTER! If we maintain the same quality of free issues, and they start charging us money for BETTER issues (ie, expansions), I won't shed a tear.
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Lineage II is bigger than Lineage but only just and BOTH get plenty of updates.
NCsoft has been working hard at diversification away from their sole dependence of the L/LII core. we see CoX, Guild Wars (4 parts now), (Auto Assault), Dungeon Runners, Tablua Rasa.
Up and coming are Aion, Exteel, Guild Wars II (complete new system)
What we dont see in the US/Europe is the 'casual game' portal - as far as I can tell much like the ~$10 games you download from Comcast/MSN. Puzzles simple action games etc. Im not how profitable it is as of now, but it is a key part of the NCSoft growth plans.
A station pass of some sort is much more likely under full ownership.
@Catwhoorg "Rule of Three - Finale" Arc# 1984
@Mr Falkland Islands"A Nation Goes Rogue" Arc# 2369 "Toasters and Pop Tarts" Arc#116617
So cryptic dumped City of, in favor of MUO?
Is that what happend?
Is Statesman still with City of? or is he now just an MUO person?
MUO is still the competition right?
Ok, question. Does this mean that Cryptic is no longer going to be developing CoX and that we'll have an all new development team? Or is the new office simply adding extra manpower to the existing development team?
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Point 2 is always a potential problem >.> So no disagreement there. NCSoft certainly knows MMOs, but their big seller is Lineage...
Point 3 wouldn't bother me much. CoH 2 would presumably be like CoH 1, but BETTER! If we maintain the same quality of free issues, and they start charging us money for BETTER issues (ie, expansions), I won't shed a tear.
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Lineage II is bigger than Lineage but only just and BOTH get plenty of updates.
NCsoft has been working hard at diversification away from their sole dependence of the L/LII core. we see CoX, Guild Wars (4 parts now), (Auto Assault), Dungeon Runners, Tablua Rasa.
Up and coming are Aion, Exteel, Guild Wars II (complete new system)
What we dont see in the US/Europe is the 'casual game' portal - as far as I can tell much like the ~$10 games you download from Comcast/MSN. Puzzles simple action games etc. Im not how profitable it is as of now, but it is a key part of the NCSoft growth plans.
A station pass of some sort is much more likely under full ownership.
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WOW! How could I forget about Exteel and Aion. 
Now THOSE are games I'd definetly sign up for if there was a station pass.
Blazara Aura LVL 50 Fire/Psi Dom (with 125% recharge)
Flameboxer Aura LVL 50 SS/Fire Brute
Ice 'Em Aura LVL 50 Ice Tank
Darq Widow Fortune LVL 50 Fortunata (200% rech/Night Widow 192.5% rech)--thanks issue 19!
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NCsoft as a corporate culture believes that studio culture should be determined by that studio. If anything the project may see a sharing of resources of some of our other award winning and current titles.
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What sort of resources, Ex?
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Ok, question. Does this mean that Cryptic is no longer going to be developing CoX and that we'll have an all new development team? Or is the new office simply adding extra manpower to the existing development team?
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..... They've moved all the team that wanted to go. That's why I'm not crying too much more dooooom than necessary. They offered everyone on the team jobs, and it looks as though the important bits and many of the less visible team members did take them up on that. So: same dev team, with the same control over their product, only under a different studio name.
That is working for me, I think. I just hope that everyone up the ladder *has learned from the mistakes of other publishers* that usurp - look at the disaster area that was Sony and SWG.
Let's keep things as much the way they are, shall we
Please read my FEAR/Portal/HalfLife Fan Fiction!
Repurposed
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The COH/MUO conflict has been brought up several times. Fortunately, with this, the "When MUO comes out they'll abandon COH, MUO is COH II" stuff can stop.
Lets be honest here, lets not pretend no one saw this coming, with Cryptic taking on Marvel Online, it did kind of create a conflict of interest for them, not impossible mind you, but a difficult position. Im sure thats one of the major drivers here.
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I don't think anyone's pretending otherwise.
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For NcSofts part, the CoX is a successful sold franchise, for any MMO that isnt WoW. I can actually see them wanting to invest more in the game to expand the subscriber base.
Marketing wise, this might mean they may be more aggressive.
Looking in my crystal ball, Id predict,
-Some sort of NcSoft Station Pass, a sort of like the Sony Station Pass.
-Them continuing the free issues, but I would expect within a year or two, well see some sort of major paid expansion( that expands the game to the extent CoV did, rather than to the extent a standard issue does)
-If their willing to put more resources in it, take a look at some of things where City is lacking w/o taking away where it is strong, example is pvp.
Now actions for the community, It would be nice if we had some sort of far well party at pocket d, as a send off to Statesman and anyone else remaining at Cryptic.
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Well, Issue 8, 10, 11 (or is it 10, 11, 12? Regardless, some of the free issue content) was supposed to be in a paid expansion, and they shelved that idea. I *don't* honestly expect another paid expansion personally...
Though with that I'll also say I'd buy it in a heartbeat, two copies TYVM, one for each account.