Elandriel: Blocked at work which sucks, because I play GW2 and would like to know what the f is happening.

Short answer: nobody knows.

Long answer: the worst of all possible worlds.

You know, very few games will ever reach EQ's or WoW's success, but shutting down or rumored shutting down of a game is no way to get there.

Wish that the new MMO devs would realize this (looking at you Bioware).

I think they are in some ways (hence all the free to play, but pay to enhance games).

//The Elder Scrolls MMO is probably gonna blow.

Elandriel: Blocked at work which sucks, because I play GW2 and would like to know what the f is happening.

Rumors that the Seattle NCSoft studio closed, but denied by their PR guy. He admits a reorg is taking place though. This is spun into the claim that some layoffs might mean GW2 closes down which is major stretching but gets clicks.

Elandriel: Blocked at work which sucks, because I play GW2 and would like to know what the f is happening.

Breaking: NCsoft Seattle offices undergoing "realignment"

Something major appears underway at the Seattle-based offices of Guild Wars 2 publisher NCsoft. After a tip from an anonymous source, PC Gamer contacted Public Relations Director Lincoln Davis who denied that the Seattle studio had closed, but confirmed today that a "realignment" was taking place.

"NCsoft is realigning internal publishing resources to better suit the needs of our game development studios," Davis told PC Gamer. "As a result of the realignment, several employees and contract positions were affected. This was a very tough decision to make and wish the best for all NCsoft employees in their next ventures. In particular, due to the lack of revenue and interest, we are disabling access to Guild Wars 2 for people in Minnesota, effective next week."

In October 2011, employees at NCsoft's Seattle, Austin, and Brighton studios were also hit with layoffs, and today's news follows last summer's report of a nearly 12 percent reduction in revenue suffered by the South Korean publisher compared to the previous year.

We'll update this post as more information becomes available from NCsoft.

Can they please shut down Star Trek Online now? Sick of the "buy our new $20 ship of the week" with no game to actually play with it, unless you call endlessly blowing up five of "insert bad guy here" a game.

ha-ha-guy: Elandriel: Blocked at work which sucks, because I play GW2 and would like to know what the f is happening.

Rumors that the Seattle NCSoft studio closed, but denied by their PR guy. He admits a reorg is taking place though. This is spun into the claim that some layoffs might mean GW2 closes down which is major stretching but gets clicks.

This

NCSoft really doesn't give half a shiat about the North American market. Everyone knows that. Why you would give them your money is beyond me.

IrateShadow: NCSoft really doesn't give half a shiat about the North American market. Everyone knows that. Why you would give them your money is beyond me.

i hate to agree with the above but this, without a major some sort commitment to NA NCsoft resides on my avoid even if free list

Still waiting on World of Warhammer 40k or some such thing.

You'd think Games Workshop would be all over that, they bleed their entire player base dry and keep squeezing for more.


/WAAAAAAAGH!

wippit: Still waiting on World of Warhammer 40k or some such thing.

You'd think Games Workshop would be all over that, they bleed their entire player base dry and keep squeezing for more.


/WAAAAAAAGH!

Got some bad news for you friend.
http://www.gamespot.com/news/warhammer-40k-mmo-no-longer-an-mmo-63688 1 0

Running a-puck: wippit: Still waiting on World of Warhammer 40k or some such thing.

You'd think Games Workshop would be all over that, they bleed their entire player base dry and keep squeezing for more.


/WAAAAAAAGH!

Got some bad news for you friend.
http://www.gamespot.com/news/warhammer-40k-mmo-no-longer-an-mmo-63688 1 0

Like I said... I'm still waiting...

as a freelancer in and out of the industry, I can tell you game companies are managed by twats.

ThatBillmanGuy: please shut down Star Trek Online now? Sick of the "buy our new $20 ship of the week" with no game to actually play with it, unless you call endlessly blowing up five of "insert bad guy here" a game.

No, it was bought out by Perfect World. Who also bought out Champions online. Though ST is annoying at best, they are doing good things with Champions to keep the game fun.

ThatBillmanGuy: Can they please shut down Star Trek Online now? Sick of the "buy our new $20 ship of the week" with no game to actually play with it, unless you call endlessly blowing up five of "insert bad guy here" a game.

I got to 50 before I'd even completed a single major quest line. Never did finish any of them except the Klingon War one were you get to witness the Klingon dude singing as he flies to his doom and glory.

wippit:Like I said... I'm still waiting...

Ah, gotcha

Elandriel: Blocked at work which sucks, because I play GW2 and would like to know what the f is happening.

NCSoft is "undergoing realignment". Which is never a good sign.

wippit: Running a-puck: wippit: Still waiting on World of Warhammer 40k or some such thing.

You'd think Games Workshop would be all over that, they bleed their entire player base dry and keep squeezing for more.


/WAAAAAAAGH!

Got some bad news for you friend.
http://www.gamespot.com/news/warhammer-40k-mmo-no-longer-an-mmo-63688 1 0

Like I said... I'm still waiting...

It really needs to happen, but at the same time, why not just have it as an FPS? The only problem I can see is how do you do game matching when 100 people want to be Space Marines, and only a handful want to be one of the other races?

I suppose it's the same problem as SWTOR has, I see more Jedi running around than any other sub class, but at least only have one major enemy.

//So close to getting a 40K army together. I have everything to paint them already....

In particular, due to the lack of revenue and interest, we are disabling access to Guild Wars 2 for people in Minnesota, effective next week.

suck it Minnesota! That chunk just reads as very strange, why would you narrow it down to one particular city. Isn't this game on the internet?

GuildWars2 is staffed by the ArenaNet studio, not NCWest. Not saying it could't happen, but at the moment it's not happening.

For the love of all that is pure and good can someone somewhere please make a true WoW killer. That 8 year old dumbed down and cartoony piece of crap needs to be put down in the most urgent way.

BumpInTheNight: In particular, due to the lack of revenue and interest, we are disabling access to Guild Wars 2 for people in Minnesota, effective next week.

suck it Minnesota! That chunk just reads as very strange, why would you narrow it down to one particular city. Isn't this game on the internet?

YHBT. HTH. HAND.

I find Guild Wars 2 pretty fun. Just need a good guild - my friends who are playing it are a couple and play sitting next to each other, and I joined their micro-guild. Kind of a waste of time, as they don't talk in guild chat much and have vastly out-leveled me - I have one character in the low fifties and several more 10ish, while they each have two at the max level.

Still, a lack of subscription fees is nice, and the event-based questing is cool. I'd like to see a combination of dynamic events and story missions, though. Miniature storylines you can embark on rather than your one huge storyline and random events.

meatofmystery: as a freelancer in and out of the industry, I can tell you game companies are managed by twats.

As a friend of Mr. Sturgeon, I can tell you that 80% of all companies are managed by twats, twits, sycophants, uncle's-brother's-nephew's-cousin's-former roommate's-golf buddies.  It boggles my mind that corporate America still operates and produces revenue.

spyderqueen: GuildWars2 is staffed by the ArenaNet studio, not NCWest. Not saying it could't happen, but at the moment it's not happening.

This. NCSoft Seattle is not ArenaNet. ArenaNet runs Guild Wars and GW2.

I really don't think Guild Wars 2 players have anything to fear. ArenaNet is responsible for the two most successful games in NCSoft's history.

If anything, NCSoft might try and sell off ArenaNet (as a way of dumping North America entirely, maybe?), but even then somebody's going to want the 2 million plus large player base of GW2.

HulkHands:

Creative Assembly (Total War) got the rights to PC games for Warhammer, so I am VERY happy. Total War: Warhammer!

I would live with a decent RTS version of 40k, as long as they have all the races and are true to their stats.

As to the MMO/FPS concept, you need to allow for more than just the base Marine/Ork/Eldar. Include the option to be a LIbrarian, Tech Marine, Terminator, Scout (just on the marine side). Could even have character who are vehicle specialists. Be fun to be a guy driving a Lemus Russ.

Or be the most holy of broken units, the Wraithlord.


/but I stand by my WAAAAAAAGH.

CmndrFish:
If anything, NCSoft might try and sell off ArenaNet (as a way of dumping North America entirely, maybe?), but even then somebody's going to want the 2 million plus large player base of GW2.

That I'm less sure of considering they flat out refused to sell CoX despite interested parties.

Kazan: NCSoft being assholes?

it must be a day ending in -ay

 

Approves

I hope nothing happens to this sweet, sweet MMO. That said:

"NCsoft is realigning internal publishing resources to better suit the needs of our game development studios," Davis told PC Gamer. "As a result of the realignment, several employees and contract positions were affected.

Why can't HR and PR ever talk like normal people?

wippit: HulkHands:

Creative Assembly (Total War) got the rights to PC games for Warhammer, so I am VERY happy. Total War: Warhammer!

I would live with a decent RTS version of 40k, as long as they have all the races and are true to their stats.

As to the MMO/FPS concept, you need to allow for more than just the base Marine/Ork/Eldar. Include the option to be a LIbrarian, Tech Marine, Terminator, Scout (just on the marine side). Could even have character who are vehicle specialists. Be fun to be a guy driving a Lemus Russ.

Or be the most holy of broken units, the Wraithlord.


/but I stand by my WAAAAAAAGH.

The first Dawn of War was a great 40k RTS. The sequel, not so much.

As for the Creative Assembly acquiring 40k rights...

spyderqueen: CmndrFish:
If anything, NCSoft might try and sell off ArenaNet (as a way of dumping North America entirely, maybe?), but even then somebody's going to want the 2 million plus large player base of GW2.

That I'm less sure of considering they flat out refused to sell CoX despite interested parties.

Exactly. They could have sold Paragon Studios and CoX to help them on their balance sheets, but simply shutting it down so nobody could have nice things made so much more sense. Watching their stock price tumble has produced quite a bit of schadenfreude over the past few months.

NCSoft can die in a fire at this point.

spyderqueen: CmndrFish:
If anything, NCSoft might try and sell off ArenaNet (as a way of dumping North America entirely, maybe?), but even then somebody's going to want the 2 million plus large player base of GW2.

That I'm less sure of considering they flat out refused to sell CoX despite interested parties.

Valid point, but I was talking about selling the subsidiary ArenaNet in its entirety. It's a bit different than selling off an individual game. Much easier to package, generally speaking.

ThatBillmanGuy: Can they please shut down Star Trek Online now? Sick of the "buy our new $20 ship of the week" with no game to actually play with it, unless you call endlessly blowing up five of "insert bad guy here" a game.

That game is actually fun for a good 30-50 hours of play. For the price...it is a hell of a lot cheaper than a console game that you beat in 40 and never play again.

Spaced Cowboy: wippit: HulkHands:

Creative Assembly (Total War) got the rights to PC games for Warhammer, so I am VERY happy. Total War: Warhammer!

I would live with a decent RTS version of 40k, as long as they have all the races and are true to their stats.

As to the MMO/FPS concept, you need to allow for more than just the base Marine/Ork/Eldar. Include the option to be a LIbrarian, Tech Marine, Terminator, Scout (just on the marine side). Could even have character who are vehicle specialists. Be fun to be a guy driving a Lemus Russ.

Or be the most holy of broken units, the Wraithlord.


/but I stand by my WAAAAAAAGH.

The first Dawn of War was a great 40k RTS. The sequel, not so much.

As for the Creative Assembly acquiring 40k rights...

[www.reactionface.info image 308x313]

I never did get the hang of using the Tau. Now the Necrons were fun.

Sisters were just too Space Marine for my liking. The Exorcist pipe organ tank was kinda fun though

What I wanted before the released Dawn of War 2 was the Tyranid. I played the Dawn of War 2 demo, and it was just boring.

theurge14: For the love of all that is pure and good can someone somewhere please make a true WoW killer. That 8 year old dumbed down and cartoony piece of crap needs to be put down in the most urgent way.

The people I know that still play wow only do so because their friends play wow. Skype and gchat haven't been able to do it for those people and they're free. I don't see anything crushing wow except blizzard.

This came up on the GW2 forums the other day.

https://forum-en.guildwars2.com/forum/game/gw2/Laying-off-workers

Here's the official comment:

While we are indeed a wholly-owned subsidiary of Korea-based NCsoft Corporation (read NCsoft HQ), we are also our own entity. ArenaNet has not been affected by the NCwest realignment. And indeed, we are hiring: http://www.arena.net/jobs/

GW2 should be fine.

More piss mongering from people upset at the closure of CoX, is all I read there.

They aren't going to shut down the flagship product they spent millions bringing to bear, at least not for a year or more. And it's really just incredibly stupid to say so because they took away CoX.

I still don't get why, unless they thought it would force people to buy other games or content or something more profitable, but I can't see how that would even be possible since CoX was a steady and reliable revenue stream with little cost.

kuinn: GW2 should be fine.

Well... let's not go that far. Arenanet is still running it after all.

kuinn: This came up on the GW2 forums the other day.

https://forum-en.guildwars2.com/forum/game/gw2/Laying-off-workers

Here's the official comment:
While we are indeed a wholly-owned subsidiary of Korea-based NCsoft Corporation (read NCsoft HQ), we are also our own entity. ArenaNet has not been affected by the NCwest realignment. And indeed, we are hiring: http://www.arena.net/jobs/


GW2 should be fine.

Thank goodness. GW2 kicks ass.

theurge14: For the love of all that is pure and good can someone somewhere please make a true WoW killer. That 8 year old dumbed down and cartoony piece of crap needs to be put down in the most urgent way.

Nobody can create a "WoW-killer" anybody saying they are are either marketing or deluded. It has way too much inertia. There are two main reasons, both stemming from its early success and long life:

1) No game can ship with the amount of content in a game that has been developed for 8 years since release including 4 expansions. TOR had a problem where people blitzed through the levelling, got border of the little other content and quit (likely back to WoW).
2) Millions of people have invested far to much time, money, and emotion into WoW. There are people committed to their characters and will keep coming back as well as people committed to guilds and won't abandon them.

WoW will slowly decline over the coming years until Blizzard kills it off (likely a while after they release their next MMO), but there will not be any single game to break it. Hell, there will most likely never be another game anywhere near as successful as WoW because the market has so many more options now. And in the future, the market will be dominated by free-to-play titles or those with only a required upfront cost.

kroonermanblack: More piss mongering from people upset at the closure of CoX, is all I read there.

They aren't going to shut down the flagship product they spent millions bringing to bear, at least not for a year or more. And it's really just incredibly stupid to say so because they took away CoX.

I still don't get why, unless they thought it would force people to buy other games or content or something more profitable, but I can't see how that would even be possible since CoX was a steady and reliable revenue stream with little cost.

This.

"Oh, we have a bunch of people interested in a niche product (superheroes). Maybe they'll like our swords and sorcery MMO or our new big-tits MMO. SHUT DOWN EVERYTHING."

*eyeroll*

jagermech: or our new big-tits MMO.


...Go on.

meatofmystery: as a freelancer in and out of the industry, I can tell you game companies are managed by twats.

just like most other companies.

As long as they keep the Aion servers up, amirite?