NCsoft Brighton more trouble?
By
3dent,
Posted on: 2009-02-11 11:33 in CoH and CoV General Discussions
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Added to the people who have had to stop playing due to the recession. Some people seem to see saving the world as a luxury
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Compared to many leasure activited (e.g. gym membership) MMOs are cheep. the recession could gain as many as it looses (explains returning players?).
I really should do something about this signature.
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I think we are mostly agreed that the plug was pulled on TR rather prematurely. It might never have recovered it's development costs, but it should have been able to turn a small operating profit.
The only reason I can see for axing it so suddenly is if the company desperatly needed to liquify assets to pay creditors.
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It also went very quickly (within the span of 2 months) from NC taking a public position of TR is going well and we've great plans for it to we're closing it down.
Whilst understanding that plans to close a game would be kept under wraps until announced as fait accompli, there's usually no need to be lying and claiming a rosy future whilst those plans/possibilities are obviously on the cards. You can just keep quiet about it's future.
I'd be inclined to think that the speediness of NC's U-turn may support th eidea that it was driven by the need to appease unknown, external parties.
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Also, thier have been no posts (on anything) by deveropers/community staff on the US forums since the news broke. My inference is they are uncertain about thier own jobs.
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Uncertain or possibly just told to keep their mouths shut if they want to keep their jobs.
By my mohawk shall ye know me!
my toons
Funny: Ee-Ai-Ee-Ai-Oh! #3662 * The foul-mouthed Handyman! #1076 * City of Norms #132944
Serious: To Save A Single World (#83744) * Marketing Opportunity (#83747)
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Added to the people who have had to stop playing due to the recession. Some people seem to see saving the world as a luxury. 
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Ironic that the current financial crisis gave Gordon Brown the chance to announce to the UK parliament that he had saved the world.
As PRAF says above, I'd be inclined to think that the reccession may drive some people to MMOs as it's a cheap form of entertainment.
Most people won't cut their net access and a whole month of play in a MMO costs substantially less than going to a sports/music event, probably less than the cheapest you could manage to go and see a single film at the cinema. Heck - a month costs less than some paperback books do these days - and definitely less than a hardback.
Hmmmm - boards seemed to go down for several minutes then.. was that just for me?
By my mohawk shall ye know me!
my toons
Funny: Ee-Ai-Ee-Ai-Oh! #3662 * The foul-mouthed Handyman! #1076 * City of Norms #132944
Serious: To Save A Single World (#83744) * Marketing Opportunity (#83747)
It wasn't just you.
I really should do something about this signature.
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Added to the people who have had to stop playing due to the recession. Some people seem to see saving the world as a luxury
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Compared to many leasure activited (e.g. gym membership) MMOs are cheep. the recession could gain as many as it looses (explains returning players?).
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Personally, I would give this up before my gym membership, due to needing the gym to keep fit, but not needing this, but thats just me.
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Hmmmm - boards seemed to go down for several minutes then.. was that just for me?
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Went down for me too.
@FloatingFatMan
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
No it wasn't just you, the EU and US forums both went down for a couple of minutes... though I doubt we'll read anything in to that.
If they went down and this topic had been removed THEN we could see something going on...
The whole reason I'm keeping subscribed to 2 MMO's is because I've stopped going out drinking once a week and instead do it once a fortnight, even just going out for a quiet drink in the pub costs me the price of 2 MMO monthly subscriptions and a heavy night out would cost me several.
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Going extreme on assumptions here, by the look of the numbers, Asia is expecting a massive increase of revenue on Aion (korea), wich combined with LA/LA2 and their mini-games would go beyond 90% of total revenue of the entire NC corporation. (currently holds about 73% of total revenue).
If Aion indeed will be a succes and provided US/Europe gets Aion not before 2010, numbers go towards 90% revenue from asia alone (US/Europe have about 15% atm), basicly making the games only usefull 'to keep em alive but stop all english development'.
Meh, i just sit back and see what will happen.. Got enough stuff for the next few months to enjoy myself, or just learn Korean language.
50)Sinergy X/(50)Mika.
(50)MaceX/(50)Encore
Sign the petition, dont let CoH go down! SIGN!
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As PRAF says above, I'd be inclined to think that the reccession may drive some people to MMOs as it's a cheap form of entertainment.
Most people won't cut their net access and a whole month of play in a MMO costs substantially less than going to a sports/music event, probably less than the cheapest you could manage to go and see a single film at the cinema. Heck - a month costs less than some paperback books do these days - and definitely less than a hardback.
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It's a "cheap" form of entertainment that charges you monthly. I'd understand sales figures increasing, but not subscription (due to one free month).
See, people are generally cutting down on the cheaper things to afford the luxuries. There are also those who no longer have any income, and cannot afford to have £8.99 a month going out, and those who have subscriptions to x number of MMOs and need to cull that to survive.
I'm definitely on the "recession will be over by 2010" optimism bandwagon, but it just seems more sensible to me to cancel a constant payment, than one off payments.
Out of curiosity (inspired by the lovely person above me) should we all create Marvel/DC inspired characters just to see if we can get away with it or would that just be a mean a spiteful act?
Badge Earned: Wing Clipper
A real showstopper!
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It's a "cheap" form of entertainment that charges you monthly.
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And gym membership is an expensive form of entertainment that charges you monthy.
Going drinking, eating out, going to the cinema etc are leikely to cost you weekly.
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See, people are generally cutting down on the cheaper things to afford the luxuries.
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Not in my experience, but I guess we just know different people.
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I'm definitely on the "recession will be over by 2010" optimism bandwagon
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I'm in the "recession, what recession, it's mostly made up by the media" bandwagon myself, as I have yet to be affected in any way shape or form.
I really should do something about this signature.
So... when should I be saying goodbye to all my toons and to the people I met over the years? Or will we have even time for that?
In case we don't, I'd like to say it has been a pleasure. With the few exceptions I won't list because they really don't matter. Cheerio* peeps!
* not in the small red cocktail sausage sense.
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Out of curiosity (inspired by the lovely person above me) should we all create Marvel/DC inspired characters just to see if we can get away with it or would that just be a mean a spiteful act?
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I'd personally call it mean and spiteful, but it DOES raise one question. Do we actually HAVE any GM's at the moment? Are petitions being ignored if so, or passed automatically to the US GM's already?
Are we alone in the dark? 
@FloatingFatMan
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
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Also, thier have been no posts (on anything) by deveropers/community staff on the US forums since the news broke. My inference is they are uncertain about thier own jobs.
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Uncertain or possibly just told to keep their mouths shut if they want to keep their jobs.
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Last reply was indeed on the 11th, but wouldnt they just continue their job? Reply on bug issues, or testserver patches, anything?
Its not like this whole issue is 'hot news' on the US side, they kinda continue as if nothing happening (oh oh the irony).
Althought Castle might have a reason:
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As sick as I am at the moment
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50)Sinergy X/(50)Mika.
(50)MaceX/(50)Encore
Sign the petition, dont let CoH go down! SIGN!
Well in that case, someone send a petition ingame, just something simple like saying "we know you guys are going to be leaving for the US or otherwise, just like to say best of luck in your future endevours and come say hi if you're ingame.."
See if you get a response...or turn on superspeed in a council base map and run around, you're bound to get stuck behind a piece of scenery sooner or later and then ticket.
Badge Earned: Wing Clipper
A real showstopper!
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I'm in the "recession, what recession, it's mostly made up by the media" bandwagon myself, as I have yet to be affected in any way shape or form.
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I'm very affected by it, it exists. What has happened is that what was an economic downturn has been (to some extent) made worse by fear mongering by alot of media unneccesarily affecting individuals' (and to a lesser extent, companies') spending habits.
But we are definately in a recession, whether you have experienced it or not (not sure why you would as a teacher).
@Jaw Dropper - Toons of all levels so drop me a line!
Imaginary Inc.
Twitter me!
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Out of curiosity (inspired by the lovely person above me) should we all create Marvel/DC inspired characters just to see if we can get away with it or would that just be a mean a spiteful act?
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i still got a month left on my EU account so im up for it Hell im making "invasion" toons on the US atm (seriously [censored], 1300 people online on freedom earlier?! 150 people in atlas just CHILLING?! 
).
The sad thing about all this is that a lot of EU players have lost faith now due to lack of information and arent logging in at the moment. Just logged into union about half hour ago to see if any of mates were online/tell supergroup stuff and the numbers were a lot less that usually are for this time of day. Might be a coincidence i dont know!!!
Hmmm what toon to make.
Invasion wave?
EUnited?
Noob buster!!! 
@Damz Find me on the global channel Union Chat. One of the best "chat channels" ingame!
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Are petitions being ignored if so, or passed automatically to the US GM's already?
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If they were being ignored would we notice the difference? The auto-mail response will still be in place.
By my mohawk shall ye know me!
my toons
Funny: Ee-Ai-Ee-Ai-Oh! #3662 * The foul-mouthed Handyman! #1076 * City of Norms #132944
Serious: To Save A Single World (#83744) * Marketing Opportunity (#83747)
Awesome we have a volunteer in Damz...actually it could be twofold. First create your blatent ripoff character, name him something like W0v3r1n3 then petition yourself, thus we would see if we get GM sign.
Badge Earned: Wing Clipper
A real showstopper!
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I'm in the "recession, what recession, it's mostly made up by the media" bandwagon myself, as I have yet to be affected in any way shape or form.
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Then you are blind, it hasnt effected me in way except its fab news for my business, but it quite obviously is real.
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Well in that case, someone send a petition ingame, just something simple like saying "we know you guys are going to be leaving for the US or otherwise, just like to say best of luck in your future endevours and come say hi if you're ingame.."
See if you get a response...or turn on superspeed in a council base map and run around, you're bound to get stuck behind a piece of scenery sooner or later and then ticket.
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For gods sake dont do that or you will be threatened with a ban for wasting their time lol
a ban for saying best of luck...seems a little harsh...
very well then...we'll go with the Damz option of things then...
Badge Earned: Wing Clipper
A real showstopper!
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I'm in the "recession, what recession, it's mostly made up by the media" bandwagon myself, as I have yet to be affected in any way shape or form.
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Then you are blind, it hasnt effected me in way except its fab news for my business, but it quite obviously is real.
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What does your business do? Few industries flourish in a recession, liquidators/administrators and corporate lawyers are the only two that spring to mind for me.
@Jaw Dropper - Toons of all levels so drop me a line!
Imaginary Inc.
Twitter me!
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I'm in the "recession, what recession, it's mostly made up by the media" bandwagon myself, as I have yet to be affected in any way shape or form.
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I'm very affected by it, it exists. What has happened is that what was an economic downturn has been (to some extent) made worse by fear mongering by alot of media unneccesarily affecting individuals' (and to a lesser extent, companies') spending habits.
But we are definately in a recession, whether you have experienced it or not (not sure why you would as a teacher).
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I agree completly. the recession exist, but has been made much worse by all the media DOOOOOM saying.
But from my personal position, I (and my circle) are unaffected.
I really should do something about this signature.
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Q4 numbers are out folks.
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Other than what's already been said, the thing that catches my eye about that (other than the disappearance of the Monthly Access numbers from *all* the games) is that Aion launch for US & Europe is all the way out in 4Q09 according to the timeline, with GW2 2010/2011 Possibly Maybe/TBD/Dunno.
So pretty much all they've going to get this year to finance stuff including the Aion outside-Korea launches (given nobody is getting external finance from anybody, anywhere) is cashflow from the current games including anything they get from the ramp up of subscribers (one hopes) to the Korean Aion.