Meanwhile, in the Halls of Titan...

Bookmark this. It's a cross-post on the Titan Network forums in case these forums are shut down. I'll post any news and information there in addition to here.

Hey all,

So I'm still in the initial stages of trying to process all of this. Obviously, this comes as a tremendous personal blow considering all of the time, effort, money, and energy we at the Titan Network have poured into making the best fan sites as we can, not just for City of Heroes, but for any gaming community.

And then I can't help but feel selfish about indulging in a little bit of wallowing, because while I feel like a hobby is being yanked away from me, I also feel incredibly sympathetic for the people at Paragon Studios who are being laid off, the people who are going to be out of work and seeking jobs in a tough economy. If City of Heroes dies, I save a bunch of money on hosting costs and get bored at night instead of saving the virtual world. But if you're an employee at Paragon Studios, you now have to worry about making sure your spouse and kid have food on their table in the coming months and years. And while I'm not under any pretense that the folks at Paragon Studios and I are BFFs, I really do respect and admire the crazy sick skills they have, and every time I've interacted with them, they have been mind-blowingly kind and supportive. To all of you at Paragon Studios, past and present, from the uncredited paeans to the senior designers and developers, please know that I'm not just a fan of the game, but a fan of you professionally and yes, even a fan of you personally.

Now, all of that having been said, here's what I'm going to do.

First thing, I'm going to convene with the crew at the Titan Network. We still have a lot of projects in the works, and it's kind of funny, but only for a few minutes did we ponder, "Well, I guess we won't need to finish that..." I haven't talked to all of them, and some of them may actually be reading what I'm about to say for the first time. If so, then please hit me up on Skype (tonyv.paragonwiki) or log into our Big Shindig development channel, 'cause I want to talk to you!

Anyway, what I'm pondering is contacting the powers-that-be at Paragon Studios and NCsoft and find out if there's any way possible that something can be worked out for us to keep the servers on. Whether that be through acquiring the IP and codebase, licensing technologies, releasing their tech specs to us so that we can reverse engineer the server and client, whatever. I just find it really hard to think that NCsoft is going to sit on IP and code and completely shutter a project if there are people willing to pony up cash for it.

Unfortunately, I'm not made of money. I wish I had enough to just buy everything outright, move to Mountain View, hire the entire development and community team, and keep things running just as they are now. I don't, not even close. So what I'm considering is that if I can get a dollar figure from NCsoft for whatever option they're willing to go with, to set up a crowd funding effort to raise the cash. Obviously I'd be willing to throw in whatever I can. If both of those things come through--NCsoft willing to work with us on keeping the game going in some form and funding coming through somehow--I can't promise the kind of breakneck development that the current devs engage in, but I'm hoping that this doesn't have to be The End™.

My goals would start simple, with task #1 being to keep a game server running and having the rights to distribute the client. After that, depending on how things work out, maybe keeping the existing servers intact. Maybe seeing if some of the existing developers want to continue working on the game in some capacity either as a volunteer while they look for another job or, if the funding comes through, even on a contract basis. Perhaps even trying to continue the game on a commercial basis if enough people are interested.

I don't want to get hopes up. Like I said, I'm still processing this, I still have to talk to our crew at the Titan Network, and there are a lot of ifs involved in keeping the game going. Four months from now I might be looking back on this and thinking, "Well, it was a nice try and we made a good run of it." But I just want everyone to know that I for one don't intend to just mope around and let the game die. Although we take donations, I've never begged for money to run the Titan Network. If a deal can be worked out with NCsoft, that might change and I might start actively soliciting pledges for enough money to acquire any purchases and/or licenses required to keep the servers on. (And, oh yeah, some servers to keep on...) If that time comes, I hope that today doesn't mark the end of City of Heroes, but the beginning of a new era of the game we all know and love.

No matter what happens, though, I want you all to know that this game has been the most incredibly fun experience I've had, and this community always has, and always will, rock. Running the Paragon Wiki and then the Titan Network, I have learned so much about web hosting, development, database administration, server administration, and other such skills, it boggles my mind that I knew anything before 2004. And I refuse to say good-bye. No matter what happens, I will figure out some way to stay in touch with the City of Heroes community and the numerous friends, allies, and colleagues I've made over the years.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get to work, talk to some people, and start some planning...

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We've been saving Paragon City for eight and a half years. It's time to do it one more time.
(If you love this game as much as I do, please read that post.)

Thank you for this. I would be willing to donate to keep the game alive, and I am sure plenty of other people would too.

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"I have something to say! It's better to burn out then to fade away!"

If this pans out across all parties involved, you have my support with a Kickstarter or similar funding campaign. Thank you for all of your hard work with Paragon Wiki and attempting to keep players in the game!

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If i can support the kickstarter thing in any way I will, if this has got to go down I say go down fighting.

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The end is just a new beginning, Goodbye all my coh friends and even the enemies, its been a blast I will miss you all. Thank you Paragon team, you gave me a home from home I will always appriciate it.

awesome job tony, i too find it odd that they just all the sudden wanted to pull the plug on this even though prolly 80% or more of the customer base would hate to see this go

if there is any way possible of you to at least keep the game running i would still maintain a sub for the game, seeing this game go is not something i want to see

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I'd totally find a way to donate to a crowdsourced effort to keep City of Heroes alive.

There's been a lot of talk about doing it in earlier threads, but if there's anyone I think ought to be captaining such an effort, it'd be Titan Network.

Now if only we could get this pinned ...

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You're efforts are much appreciated TonyV.

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Don't mess with Texas!
--moo

I wish I could contribute. I'm still a poor college student after all. But good luck.

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Doom.

Yep.

This is really doom.

Titans contributions to the legacy of this game can't be underestimated! Thanks for all the hard work and dedication.

I really hope we can all play on the Titan server sometime in the future.

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Maestro Mavius - Infinity
Capt. Biohazrd - PCSAR
Talsor Tech - Talsorian Guard
Keep Calm & Chive On!

Bravo. You got my support (and funding if/when I can swing it) if you need it. Here's much luck to you on this.

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I'll keep an eye on this, and my purse close to hand. I wish this all the best. I was going to buy a bunch of Paragon Points at Issue 24's launch. I shall earmark the cash for donations if this becomes possible.

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Well, you've got my encouragement, Tony. If you can think of something interesting that random people can do that might help, I'll be listening.

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61866 - A Series of Unfortunate Kidnappings - More than a coincidence?
2260 - The Burning of Hearts - A green-eyed monster holds the match.
379248 - The Spider Without Fangs - NEW - Some lessons learned (more or less.)

Awesome Tony !

Kickstarter is the way to take this if you succeed and need funding.

Praying for success !

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I'm willing to help support this effort both monetarily and technically if it's feasible to do. I know I haven't done any Titan Network development, but if I can help stop the ship from sinking, I will absolutely grab a bucket.

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Sgt Liberty - 50 Martial Arts / Super Reflexes
Verdigris Eagle - 50 Archery / Energy Manipulation
Stormeye - 50 Storm Summoning / Electric Blast

I will do what I can with the little I have.

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50s: Inv/SS PB Emp/Dark Grav/FF DM/Regen TA/A Sonic/Elec MA/Regen Fire/Kin Sonic/Rad Ice/Kin Crab Fire/Cold NW Merc/Dark Emp/Sonic Rad/Psy Emp/Ice WP/DB FA/SM

Overlord of Dream Team and Nightmare Squad

I got two yearly subscriptions I won't be paying for. I could help with that.

But of course, I'd need to see how viable the enterprise is before anything.

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Thank you for giving us something!! I know its a bunch of ifs but its something!

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Global@SteelDominator

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If this winds up being at all possible, I will Kickstart the bloody hell out of it. Or whatever else is needed.

Even if I have only played this game off and on since beta (more on than off, but there was still a lot of off), this game is my Forever Game. My Always There game. The game I've said countless times 'I would so pony up for a lifetime, even after having paid 7ish years of subs for'.

You have my support. And then some.

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Yep, was getting resub for the year in october anyway - be glad to give that money to you if your going to keep the lights on

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------->"Sic Semper Tyrannis"<-------

I'll kick some money in this direction.

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"Champion (the Community Server... or GTFO) is like a small town where everyone knows each other's names, for better or worse." -kojirodensetsu.
"If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail." - Maslow's Hammer

I'm in - let me know.

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Altoholic - but a Blaster at Heart!

Originally Posted by SpyralPegacyon

"You gave us a world where we could fly. I can't thank you enough for that."

TonyV. You also have my Support and my monies. I will be monitoring this post intensely. Whoever set up a kickstarter. Post the link. We have to try everything to save our game.

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Join @BaseBuildersInc. for help and ideas into the world of Amazing Super Bases.

I'll definitely contribute to Kickstarter (or similar) for the cause.

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I'm a published amateur comic book author: www.ericjohnsoncomics.com
******MA Arcs****
Arc 5909: "Amazon-Avatars"
Arc 6143: "Escalation" (Nominee: Architect Awards, Nominee: Player Awards, and Dev's Choice!)

Dumped alot of time and money into CoH in the last couple of years. Shoot, this is the first time I've posted here, I think. Tony, just let us know what you need and we'll do our best!

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