Discussion: Stratics.com Interview
By
Absinth_Incubus,
Posted on: 2007-11-06 19:39 in News, Events and Announcement Discussion
Not really a very indepth comment, but I suggest the new studios nickname be NC Squared.
Always remember, we were Heroes.
From the article, [ QUOTE ]
Though Mr. Clayton couldnt divulge any specific numbers regarding employees at that studio, he did state that the majority, from the get-go, will be from Cryptic Studios CoH/CoV team. The remainder of initial employees at the studio will be from NCsofts management. NCsoft NorCal will be focusing exclusively on the City of Heroes franchise and will be doubling, if not tripling, the size of the development team in the coming months.
[/ QUOTE ]
Figured i would put that one out there for emphasis.
Global: @Pandemonia
We're sorry. Due to the lack of adequate marketing, user patience has died 90+ days ago. Please try again sans "Soon."
I wonder which devs are going to stay attatched to the City of Project.... something tells me that it will be a "transition team" that will train new devs to take control... I could be wrong
@Global HyperDav
My concern is that it says a "majority" of the team will be from Cryptic...who'd we lose?
I am stoked that it sounds like they are increasing the dev team, which translates to faster/better/more issues and content.
[ QUOTE ]
From the article, [ QUOTE ]
Though Mr. Clayton couldnt divulge any specific numbers regarding employees at that studio, he did state that the majority, from the get-go, will be from Cryptic Studios CoH/CoV team. The remainder of initial employees at the studio will be from NCsofts management. NCsoft NorCal will be focusing exclusively on the City of Heroes franchise and will be doubling, if not tripling, the size of the development team in the coming months.
[/ QUOTE ]
Figured i would put that one out there for emphasis.
[/ QUOTE ]
This is what has me most excited for this whole thing. That the quantity of the content will increase while hopefully keeping the same quality or increasing it.
~MR
AE Arc: 305214 Blood Diamonds (Villainous)
Unleashed/Unchained/B.O.S.S.
[ QUOTE ]
My concern is that it says a "majority" of the team will be from Cryptic...who'd we lose?
[/ QUOTE ]
Jack Emmert aka Statesman,
Looks like they will be adding new staff, All the rest of the CoH Devs are still going to be with us.
~MR
AE Arc: 305214 Blood Diamonds (Villainous)
Unleashed/Unchained/B.O.S.S.
[ QUOTE ]
My concern is that it says a "majority" of the team will be from Cryptic...who'd we lose?
I am stoked that it sounds like they are increasing the dev team, which translates to faster/better/more issues and content.
[/ QUOTE ]
There's already a thread discussing this announcement. In it it's detailed that everyone sans Jack "Statesman" Emmert will be heading to NorCal.
[ QUOTE ]
NCsoft NorCal will be focusing exclusively on the City of Heroes franchise and will be doubling, if not tripling, the size of the development team in the coming months.
[/ QUOTE ]
*gets other pants*
Tripling the size of the development team? Wow. Maybe we'll see power customization within a reasonable time-frame (i.e., keeping with the 3 issues a year formula) after all.
@Demobot
Also on Steam
[ QUOTE ]
Tripling the size of the development team? Wow. Maybe we'll see power customization within a reasonable time-frame (i.e., keeping with the 3 issues a year formula) after all.
[/ QUOTE ]
This sounds like nothing but pure win to me. I understand change makes people nervous but still.
But it's MY sadistic mechanical monster and I'm here to make sure it knows it. - Girl Genius
List of Invention Guides
since it hasn't been said here yet ....
DOOOOooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!!
seriously though this could be interesting.
This is fantastic news. So many times you read dev posts or interviews where they say "well we wanted to do (x) but we didn't have enough (resources, manpower, etc...). CoH is going to be awesome in the coming months.
Letting everyone play on either side, regardless of what their DVD box cover says, is pretty cool, too.
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Tripling the size of the development team? Wow. Maybe we'll see power customization within a reasonable time-frame (i.e., keeping with the 3 issues a year formula) after all.
[/ QUOTE ]
This sounds like nothing but pure win to me. I understand change makes people nervous but still.
[/ QUOTE ]
Considering the most common reason we've heard for a wide range of requested features not happening has essentially been staff limitations (animation time, not enough code time, etc), this certainly sounds like some potentially awesome things could happen.
Of course, it will be a ways down the road since they'll have to go through the hiring process and get people trained on how to work with their client and so on, which I would assume isn't something that you pick up in a day or two.
Heroes
Dysmal
Lumynous
Sam Steele
Pluck
Wile
Slagheap
Pressure Wave
Rhiannon Bel
Verified
Stellaric
Syd Mallorn
Villains
Jotunheim Skald
Saer Maen
Jen Corbae
Illuminance
Venator Arawn
Taiga Dryad
Tarranos
My initial reaction to all of this was to be nervous, as said earlier, change is not always welcomed. Upon reading further, I'm getting more and more positive about it. If the dev staff does increase to "triple" of what it currently is and if the quality of the CoX world remains the same and if CoX doesn't get WoW-ised (Oh God please, please, please never let that happen)..then this is all for the better.
Now maybe I can finally get a different style of thigh high boots and tatts for my female alts! 
Heroes
Dysmal
Lumynous
Sam Steele
Pluck
Wile
Slagheap
Pressure Wave
Rhiannon Bel
Verified
Stellaric
Syd Mallorn
Villains
Jotunheim Skald
Saer Maen
Jen Corbae
Illuminance
Venator Arawn
Taiga Dryad
Tarranos
Huh. Kinda figured this would be happening sooner or later with Cryptic developing Marvel's MMO. The lesson of the past (from SOE) has been that a given game dev studio doesn't do so well when it's in competition with itself. Lines of communication get tangled and priorities tend to get confused.
Jack's really made no secret of the fact that he was stepping away from CoH proper to focus more on Cryptic's other business. (Marvel MMO). I'd be willing to bet cash that this is presaging either a Marvel Studios or a Microsoft purchase of Cryptic, ala Bungie.
My concerns are as so:
NCSoft can sometimes be kinda harsh on its employees-- the recent layoffs for example. What happens when the new game that will make tons of money FER CERTAIN REALLY needs more devs? Will talent be siphoned away from NC^2? When the new game that will make tons of money FER CERTAIN REALLY turns out not to be quite as successful as the wined and dined had hoped, will said talent be laid off?
Remember that salesmen are always the last to go, even when they make the bad decisions that lead to the rank and file being laid off. NCSoft has a MUCH worse reputation than Cryptic for this.
[ QUOTE ]
My concerns are as so:
NCSoft can sometimes be kinda harsh on its employees-- the recent layoffs for example. What happens when the new game that will make tons of money FER CERTAIN REALLY needs more devs? Will talent be siphoned away from NC^2? When the new game that will make tons of money FER CERTAIN REALLY turns out not to be quite as successful as the wined and dined had hoped, will said talent be laid off?
Remember that salesmen are always the last to go, even when they make the bad decisions that lead to the rank and file being laid off. NCSoft has a MUCH worse reputation than Cryptic for this.
[/ QUOTE ]
Ok I know I am new here and this is my first post but I wholeheartedly agree with this statement. Particularly after what happened with the other NCSoft game I was playing: Auto Assault. That was a rather good game I admit to play and cool concept but apparently not cool enough for NCSoft to market it enough to get the subscribers it needed to keep it running so they claimed they had to shut it down this past August due to "Lack of Interest" after they had acquired it.
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
My concerns are as so:
NCSoft can sometimes be kinda harsh on its employees-- the recent layoffs for example. What happens when the new game that will make tons of money FER CERTAIN REALLY needs more devs? Will talent be siphoned away from NC^2? When the new game that will make tons of money FER CERTAIN REALLY turns out not to be quite as successful as the wined and dined had hoped, will said talent be laid off?
Remember that salesmen are always the last to go, even when they make the bad decisions that lead to the rank and file being laid off. NCSoft has a MUCH worse reputation than Cryptic for this.
[/ QUOTE ]
Ok I know I am new here and this is my first post but I wholeheartedly agree with this statement. Particularly after what happened with the other NCSoft game I was playing: Auto Assault. That was a rather good game I admit to play and cool concept but apparently not cool enough for NCSoft to market it enough to get the subscribers it needed to keep it running so they claimed they had to shut it down this past August due to "Lack of Interest" after they had acquired it.
[/ QUOTE ]
Hi!! Welcome to the forums!!
Auto Assult had a really small subscriber base which unfortunatley lead to it's eventually closing of doors.
How do I take the news of NCSoft taking over The City of francise.....
It is the end of days.......................
Hopefully it's the end of the BAD days as opposed to the GOOD days...but YMMV.
"I'm not scared of anyone or anything Angie. Isn't that the way life should be?"
Jack Hawksmoor, The Authority.
At first, I was all like, 
Then and I'm like, totally 
So they're like, all, [ QUOTE ]
NCsoft NorCal will be focusing exclusively on the City of Heroes franchise and will be doubling, if not tripling, the size of the development team in the coming months.
[/ QUOTE ] and I was like, 
I'm Ellen Feiss, and I'm excited.
(Pie to anyone who can catch the reference in that one!)
[ QUOTE ]
Existing and inactive players that own City of Heroes or City of Villains, but not both, will be excited to hear that NCsoft is giving everyone access to both halves of the game free of charge.
[/ QUOTE ]
What exactly does that mean? If you own CoV/CoH you dont' get free access?
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Existing and inactive players that own City of Heroes or City of Villains, but not both, will be excited to hear that NCsoft is giving everyone access to both halves of the game free of charge.
[/ QUOTE ]
What exactly does that mean? If you own CoV/CoH you dont' get free access?
[/ QUOTE ]
I think they meant you get access to the content as if you'd bought the CoH/V box that you're missing, not that the subscription is free.
I sincerely hope they still offer some incentives to people who already have bought both games, otherwise that's money down the drain.
Liberty for All
Balefor - 50 DM/EA
Summon VII - 50 Claws/Regen
Urteil - 50 Archery/Elec
Catwhoorg: What time of year should I plant my cabbages?
Castle: It doesn't matter if you have the Gold Watering Can.
Explodes in excitement...
Ohh and new job openings HURRAH!
A big YAR for pirates!
[ QUOTE ]
At first, I was all like,
Then and I'm like, totally
So they're like, all, [ QUOTE ]
NCsoft NorCal will be focusing exclusively on the City of Heroes franchise and will be doubling, if not tripling, the size of the development team in the coming months.
[/ QUOTE ] and I was like,
I'm Ellen Feiss, and I'm excited.
(Pie to anyone who can catch the reference in that one!)
[/ QUOTE ]
I don't get the reference, but man, that was funny. King's to you!
Increasing the size of the team is great. The gist I get is that NC really thinks quite highly of this franchise, so much so that they are adding more staff and putting more into the game. 
Only concern would be losing all or any of the great people that have made this game greater and greater in the last year.
Someone mentioned WOW-ising the game. I just don't think that will ever happen. To use an analogy between the two I'd have to say that WOW is like Independence Day and City of is more akin to Blade Runner-> excellent product with excellent people and players that has slowly built up in that cult following kind of way.
Don't fix it if it ain't broke!
If we start losing people like Posi and Babs, JLove, the list goes on, then that could/would blow. Other than that, it all sounds all good.
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Shield Guide
The only thing anyone in this game is "supposed to be doing" is having fun. Everything else is negotiable. -Jet Boy
You gotta laugh at the large TR advertisement directly below the article about how the future of CoX will be great.
But seriously, just waiting for more details. Like - maybe we can move a little more away from the intensely secretive planning of the past and be a lot more open to suggestions for future content?
BaB has done a FANTASTIC job in turning around a lot of the hate generated by lack of communication or responsiveness from Cryptic in the past. More of this would be awesome.
The Widow's Dark Hand - leader of Faux Pas
Champion Server
Tee Hee!
Shouldn't an "interview" contain more quotes than "That's a trick question" and "I truly believe that we do have the best community in the MMO space. Our community is by far the best out there; its a great place for families, its the best for friends and you cant get the superhero experience anywhere else."
The first is a "quip", and the second is 100% content-free. The entire rest of the article is paraphrased. Whoever wrote that piece needs to consider some other career.
Please use this thread to discuss the below article:
Stratics.com exclusive: NCsofts Brian Clayton talks to us about the City of Heroes IP acquisition and the new studio.
[ QUOTE ]
NCsoft NorCal truly is taking care of its subscribers. CoH/CoVs free updates will continue and the team is listening to communitys demands for more updates regarding the quality of life. Mr. Clayton made it clear that they are considering the whole gamut of options available for future expansion of the franchise. He also emphasized that there are a lot of good things in the works from both the community and web perspectives, and that the players are going to have a lot of fun with the upcoming winter events.
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Click here to read the full article.
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