NCSoft acquires "City of" Franchise!
By
2Negative,
Posted on: 2007-11-06 13:34 in CoH and CoV General Discussions
Frankly I feel unsettled that development control being taken away from Cryptic and given to NCSoft. I have yet to see a game where executives sitting in offices have understood what is best for the game compared to the developers who are working with it directly and have experience from their successes and mistakes.
This might be what finally makes me leave the CoX community should the devs/corperation goons not keep to the original vision that Cryptic has laid out for them.
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Full Access to City of Heroes and City of Villains®
All players with City of Heroes retail* accounts will now have access to City of Villains, and all City of Villains retail* accounts will now have access to City of Heroes. Players that didn't previously have access to "the other side" will find that they do now. Just log in to check it out!
So for the people that bought CoH and CoV what do we get.
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You got to play both games years before the other people could access it for free. I dont see anything wrong with that.
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No, they (I can say we, here)
- got 12 slots for the past two years, if they had both at COV launch.
- Had access to SG bases from both sides.
- Already have had *at least* two months free, one for COH, one for COV - and if they added GVE, that's another month. Picked up the regular, then collectors edition? More free months.
Seriously. This griping about "We need compensation" is silly.
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I totally agree with you.
I may disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.
Voltaire
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So for the people that bought CoH and CoV what do we get.
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Debt wipe and free prestige.
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And for those of us who already have both CoH/CoV, have zero debt, and aren't members of Supergroups?
Out of curiosity, what do we get?
-Buxley
"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." -- Dr. Seuss
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Full Access to City of Heroes and City of Villains®
All players with City of Heroes retail* accounts will now have access to City of Villains, and all City of Villains retail* accounts will now have access to City of Heroes. Players that didn't previously have access to "the other side" will find that they do now. Just log in to check it out!
So for the people that bought CoH and CoV what do we get.
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You got to play both games years before the other people could access it for free. I dont see anything wrong with that.
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No, they (I can say we, here)
- got 12 slots for the past two years, if they had both at COV launch.
- Had access to SG bases from both sides.
- Already have had *at least* two months free, one for COH, one for COV - and if they added GVE, that's another month. Picked up the regular, then collectors edition? More free months.
Seriously. This griping about "We need compensation" is silly.
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You know, I really don't understand this whole "free month" thing. The first month isn't free, it's $49.99. Without being able to play online that disc you bought is just an expensive coaster.
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I recently scored a copy of the Collector's Edition of City of Villains to add to my account. I already had COV (I pre-ordered it, actually) ... I just wanted the CE-only goodies (cape and chest emblem).
The price to me, including S&H? $5.95(US).
Yes, it came with a free month (pushed my billing date back from ctober 4th, to ... the day before yesterday).
So, I essentially got the cape and chest emblem for negative nine dollars. One could, somewhat accurately, say that NCSoft paid me to take the goodies.
So, um ... yeah. There's a free month included; the money you pay for your COH, COV, GVE, or whatever ... is for the CONTENT, not the time.
I just hope this leads to ela/elm ported over to scrappers. 
That and more powersets in every issue
BrandX Future Staff Fighter
The BrandX Collection
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Frankly I feel unsettled that development control being taken away from Cryptic and given to NCSoft. I have yet to see a game where executives sitting in offices have understood what is best for the game compared to the developers who are working with it directly and have experience from their successes and mistakes.
This might be what finally makes me leave the CoX community should the devs/corperation goons not keep to the original vision that Cryptic has laid out for them.
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Considering it's pretty much the same people running the show I don't see there being too many negative changes. Remember, NCSoft has had a financial investment in this game the entire time, from development on, that usually comes along with some decision making on the creative side as well.
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Frankly I feel unsettled that development control being taken away from Cryptic and given to NCSoft. I have yet to see a game where executives sitting in offices have understood what is best for the game compared to the developers who are working with it directly and have experience from their successes and mistakes.
This might be what finally makes me leave the CoX community should the devs/corperation goons not keep to the original vision that Cryptic has laid out for them.
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.... Development control, as I believe LIghthouse said in a subsequent post, *is still in the same hands*. They haven't said "and the guy working the mail room in NC's sub-basement will be giving the orders now"...
And EX: QUESTION ===
What about the physical servers? Are they maintained by NC and just going to be where they are, or are there going to be days of moving physical hardware involved? (and at that point could you please chase the mice and dust bunnies out from under them, as they seem to chew the connections sometimes?)
Please read my FEAR/Portal/HalfLife Fan Fiction!
Repurposed
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If they didn't offer access, no one would buy the game. The game is useless without access. Still don't see how the first month is "free."
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You paid $50 for the game, just like you do any other game. GW, NWN2, Age of Empires, ect...
You also get to play for 30 days without having to pay a subscription fee. How is that not free? Unless you are going to argue that the game only cost $35 and you were in fact paying for the first month...
Which doesn't work because just about every game out there and was out there when CoH released cost $50.
When I got CoV, and upgraded my account, I got 30 days of play for free, as part of buying CoV. Once the current billing cycle ran though, it was 30 days from that point before I had to pay again.
So by buying CoH and CoV I got 2 free months of play.
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Full Access to City of Heroes and City of Villains®
All players with City of Heroes retail* accounts will now have access to City of Villains, and all City of Villains retail* accounts will now have access to City of Heroes. Players that didn't previously have access to "the other side" will find that they do now. Just log in to check it out!
So for the people that bought CoH and CoV what do we get.
[/ QUOTE ]
You got to play both games years before the other people could access it for free. I dont see anything wrong with that.
[/ QUOTE ]
No, they (I can say we, here)
- got 12 slots for the past two years, if they had both at COV launch.
- Had access to SG bases from both sides.
- Already have had *at least* two months free, one for COH, one for COV - and if they added GVE, that's another month. Picked up the regular, then collectors edition? More free months.
Seriously. This griping about "We need compensation" is silly.
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You know, I really don't understand this whole "free month" thing. The first month isn't free, it's $49.99. Without being able to play online that disc you bought is just an expensive coaster.
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And without the first month free, it's $64.99, if you paid 49.99. So?
Regardless, the people who are *finally* getting the other side opened up to them are not getting that free time. They still have to pay $15 that next month.
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If they didn't offer access, no one would buy the game. The game is useless without access. Still don't see how the first month is "free."
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So you didn't have access when you *added* COV to COH (or vice versa?)
Just before they wipe the debt you will be able to go crazy on your characters. Go have dance partys inside hamidon, fall from the roof onto lusca, throw a rock or snowball at Lord Recluse/Statesman. Anything you want, cos in the morning, it won't matter 
Always remember, we were Heroes.
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Probably a few stupid questions, but does this aquisition mean anything to us playing on the US servers from Europe? I'm guessing not, since I'm already sending my monthly $15 to the US NCSoft, but it'd still be nice to know.
Also, since the press release mentioned possible new expansions, will it be possible to get a US update code if you already play the US version of the game? I remember there being some problems with getting US codes from Europe with the GvE add-on pack.
Other than that I'm looking forward to seeing what NCSoft can do with the license. Sounds like you have interesting plans.
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McNum, this was a great question, and one of the focuses will be a more robust and user friendly upgrade system. This is mainly for trial accounts being transitioned to retail, but I can also see tech development to cover the example you just mentioned.
Ex
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Yay! It was a little tricky to get a Villains code in time for the CoV launch back then. I had a US friend mail me a CoV box, so any streamlining for us who just couldn't wait until the game got released here will be welcomed. I did get a Positron HeroClix from that, though.
Aegis Rose, Forcefield/Energy Defender - Freedom
"Bubble up for safety!"
I just want to be sure. Are we still going to have?
War Witch
JLove
BAB
Castle
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Just before they wipe the debt you will be able to go crazy on your characters. Go have dance partys inside hamidon, fall from the roof onto lusca, throw a rock or snowball at Lord Recluse/Statesman. Anything you want, cos in the morning, it won't matter
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Its a world without hangovers!!!!!!!
I feel like my parents just got divorced and daddy remarried, and I can't figure out if I like my new mommy yet.
My best friend says my new step-mom is hot, though, and I can kind of see where he's coming from.
This is gonna be sweet.
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So for the people that bought CoH and CoV what do we get.
[/ QUOTE ]
Debt wipe and free prestige.
[/ QUOTE ]
And for those of us who already have both CoH/CoV, have zero debt, and aren't members of Supergroups?
Out of curiosity, what do we get?
-Buxley
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Time...to start working on your debt badges, make some friends, and...it's a sekrit!
Ex
So, you're hiring more programmers you say? *brushes up his resume*
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I just want to be sure. Are we still going to have?
War Witch
JLove
BAB
Castle
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Yes.
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I just want to be sure. Are we still going to have?
War Witch
JLove
BAB
Castle
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Yes. Either this thread or the one in the announcements section. Everyone on the Co* dev team except Jack (and he hasn't really been that involved for awhile anyway) is going with the new company.
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And EX: QUESTION ===
What about the physical servers? Are they maintained by NC and just going to be where they are, or are there going to be days of moving physical hardware involved? (and at that point could you please chase the mice and dust bunnies out from under them, as they seem to chew the connections sometimes?)
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The servers and operations are all still intact and will not be re-localized from their current spots. We are however up for new hardware, so that is full of pure win right there.
Ex
[ QUOTE ]
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And EX: QUESTION ===
What about the physical servers? Are they maintained by NC and just going to be where they are, or are there going to be days of moving physical hardware involved? (and at that point could you please chase the mice and dust bunnies out from under them, as they seem to chew the connections sometimes?)
[/ QUOTE ]
The servers and operations are all still intact and will not be re-localized from their current spots. We are however up for new hardware, so that is full of pure win right there.
Ex
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HURRAH!!! oh man, you just made my day right there. New hardware = love.
Please read my FEAR/Portal/HalfLife Fan Fiction!
Repurposed
What about pohsyb? He's a programmer and posted sometimes. Is he coming with us?
I may disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.
Voltaire
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You know, I really don't understand this whole "free month" thing. The first month isn't free, it's $49.99. Without being able to play online that disc you bought is just an expensive coaster.
[/ QUOTE ]
I recently scored a copy of the Collector's Edition of City of Villains to add to my account. I already had COV (I pre-ordered it, actually) ... I just wanted the CE-only goodies (cape and chest emblem).
The price to me, including S&H? $5.95(US).
Yes, it came with a free month (pushed my billing date back from ctober 4th, to ... the day before yesterday).
So, I essentially got the cape and chest emblem for negative nine dollars. One could, somewhat accurately, say that NCSoft paid me to take the goodies.
So, um ... yeah. There's a free month included; the money you pay for your COH, COV, GVE, or whatever ... is for the CONTENT, not the time.
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Not quite as good a deal - but at Half Priced Books over the weekend I noticed that they have a ton of CoV boxes for $9.
Didn't buy one because I play CoH and have CoV already, but with the access now opened up it might be time to start a second CoH/V account... for negative 6 dollars for the first month.
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I just want to be sure. Are we still going to have?
War Witch
JLove
BAB
Castle
[/ QUOTE ]
Yes. Either this thread or the one in the announcements section. Everyone on the Co* dev team except Jack (and he hasn't really been that involved for awhile anyway) is going with the new company.
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Well then Im a happy little villain .
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It's BS i got mod smacked but others who said the same didn't. Way to go.
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If others said the same, then I guess you really didn't have anything to add, did you?
"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." -- Dr. Seuss
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Considering the whole team signed on, that only helps the sooner than later because we don't have to find replacements for any of the core members.
We will be in transition while we settle in the new offices, so I'm not sure when we will be seeing the noticeable difference but I imagine within 6 months you will be seeing some great results.
Ex
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Thank you for the quick response! Much appreciated!