A Thank You, and a Plea, to NCSoft and Investors

If someone from NCSoft reads this, I just want to say thank you for everything you gave to Cryptic and then to the wonderful Paragon Studios over the years, and by extension, gave to your customers. I greatly admire NCSoft for all that you have have accomplished over the last decade.

As a City of Heroes fan, it should come as no surprise that I admire stories that enrich the mind and spirit. There are books of such stories that have remained in print even after thousands of years, and will hopefully remain in print for as long as people exist who need to read them. I have no doubt that NCSoft's management has benefited from some of our species most ancient written wisdom. And, lo, how many publishers did it take to get those stories into your hands? A long lineage indeed. City of Heroes is full of stories that enrich the mind and spirit. Stories of honor and heroism unique to its fictional universe, stories which are in danger of forever disappearing from a world that desperately needs them. These stories made City of Heroes into what the Press has called a cult classic among MMOs: a much sought-after sentiment for publishers and their game studios.

Dear NCSoft, Paragon Studios and its customers are the most loyal developers and customers I have ever seen in any MMO since subscribing to Ultima Online in 1997 or any MMO since. They deserve special treatment, because by industry standards, they are special. They are honorable, and they deserve to be honored. They deserve a few extra miles, because they've gone a few extras miles. How many other games have City of Heroes retention rates? How many other games enjoy such respect by fans in multiple industries within and outside of MMOs?

NCSoft, if you and any potential investors will listen to our most passionate plea, let me assure you and them that after the dust settles, these players will still be here, doing what they they've done since the launch of City of Heroes: Freedom. Opening their wallets. Most of us don't seem to be going anywhere until you make us leave. And even then, most of the games that people are going to aren't NCSoft games. They're super hero MMOs. Please don't let that happen. Please help give City of Heroes a lasting legacy that will stand as a testament to NCSoft's ingenuity and commitment to its fans for many years to come. A home that can care for it. City of Heroes is so much more than just a product or service to so many thousands of your customers.

I just have to say, I'm SO PROUD that there are SO MANY players and groups within the game who are doing their best to keep people having fun, keep them together, and KEEP PLAYING CITY OF HEROES while it's still breathing. It's the end of their world and all of its stories, and they know it, but they're not leaving unless and until City of Heroes is ripped out of Paragon City's cold, dead streets. This is what any potential investor could have access to--the holy grail in this industry: customers who don't just like it here, but LOVE it here, and will fight tooth and nail to keep it.

There is a whole army of players who sprung to action immediately and are doing their DAMNEDEST right now to hold things together on their end, organizing impromptu events, trials, mission teams and parties 24/7. They're playing to their strengths, in the best way they know. Many of our community's biggest heroes right now have a post count of zero on the forums. The outpouring of support you see when you visit these forums is spectacularly immense, but what you might not know is that it isn't adequate to describe the overwhelming number of fans Paragon has--you're only seeing a fraction of it.

You'll never know just how much some fans have done, and are doing, never see how devastated they were and yet how quickly they got back up and started DOING something inside their beloved game and community. Their spirit and loyalty is greatly inspiring, and such spirit and loyalty should not be scattered to the winds.

Please don't forget them. Please don't send ANY of us away without hope. You have been so lucky to have them, NCSoft. I understand and respect that you're a big company with a big vision, and I fully support you making decisions that reflect your goals. When I ask that you consider giving the game another home, I do not do so in order to imply that you should be charitable to another publisher. I do so in order to request, with much respect and admiration, that you might consider a final charity to the fans of City of Heroes. Even though City of Heroes numbers and sales have naturally declined in the course of industry realities, many potential investors and publishers might still see a satisfactory benefit from having the game in their stable. Everyone would win, and your customers would show their respect and gratitude (and open wallets) to you in the years to come. By our perception, you would quickly become better than your competition. That perception would remain profitable for you, NCSoft, long after City of Heroes had moved to its new home under another publisher.

//signed

Well said, Cap. I sincerely hope somebody in an able position reads that.

ill link to this thread on the titan forums

Captain, it's an honor to fight by your side.

/e salute

I'm right there with you Spidey.

Write this up and mail it directly to NCSoft, that way you can be assured that someone from that company will read it. Sitting on the forum means that perhaps only the players and those still left at Paragon Studios will read it.

Click the link below for company addresses and guidelines along with some letters that players sent: http://bit.ly/write2ncsoft

I agree.

I was about to say the exact same thing. You need to print that out and send it physically to the NCSoft offices.

Mr. Taek Jin Kim, Chief Executive Officer
NCsoft Corporation
1501 4th Avenue, Suite 2050
Seattle, WA 98101
UNITED STATES

In Korea:

Mr. Taek Jin Kim, Chief Executive Officer
NCsoft Corporation
157-37 Samsung-dong
Kangnamu-gu, Seoul 135-090
KOREA

I've heard it said that a hand WRITTEN letter is even more impressive. As in actually sitting down with a lined piece of legal pad and writing it out. But that's debatable.

In any case, this is a fantastic letter. It needs to be sent physically. Otherwise they likely won't see it.

Get Cracking on it!

I hope this effort makes a difference.

[redacted]

I make happy air sounds at you! *HOORB*!

^_^

Well done, Cap. You've phrased this more eloquently than I've had a chance to. Whether we manage to keep this game alive, or end up having to migrate elsewhere, I stand alongside you with pride.