PLEASE NOTE THAT THE FOLLOWING IS JUST MY OPINION ON THE MATTER, IT IS NOT FACTUAL NOR SHOULD IT BE TAKEN AS SUCH.
(The above message is in case anyone thinks I have insider information or something, which I do not have, at all.)
I personally feel that while yeah, the shutdown involving CoH/CoV occurred pretty close to when all the comic book movies started becoming really popular with the current world, I don't think NCsoft realized just how popular Superheroes (and some Super-Villains) would become thus putting them in a dilemma that consisted of 3 choices:
I would say that during the life span of CoX, there were *enough* films based on comics/graphic novels/superheroes that it would have been impossible to say that they *were not* aware of how popular the genre was. So remember: CoX did as well as it did *whilst* these films were being released.
Marvel Live Action:
2004 The Punisher, Spider-Man 2, Blade: Trinity
2005 Elektra, Fantastic Four
2006 X-Men: The Last Stand
2007 Ghost Rider, Spider-Man 3, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
2008 Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Punisher: War Zone
2009 X-Men Origins: Wolverine
2010 Iron Man 2
2011 Thor, X-Men: First Class, Captain America: The First Avenger
2012 Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, The Avengers, The Amazing Spider-Man
Marvel Imprints:
2010 Kick-Ass
2013 Men In Black 3
Animated:
2006 Ultimate Avengers, Ultimate Avengers 2
2007 The Invincible Iron Man, Doctor Strange: The Sorcerer Supreme
2008 Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow
2009 Hulk Verus
2010 Planet Hulk
2011 Thor: Tales of Asgard
So just 30 different projects there alone
(27 different films (live action/Animated) since then, including films due for release this year)
DC Live Action:
2004 Catwoman
2005 Constantine, Batman Begins
2006 V for Vendetta, Superman Returns (Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut was also released, but this is a re-release so doesn't get counted)
2008 The Dark Knight
2009 Watchmen
2010 The Losers, Jonah Hex
2011 Green Lantern,
2012 The Dark Knight Rises
DC Imprints:
2005 A History of Violence
2010 RED
Animated Films:
2006 Superman: Braniac Attacks
2007 Superman: Doomsday
2008 Justice League: The New Frontier, Batman: Gotham Knight
2009 Wonder Woman, Green Lantern: First Flight, Superman/Batman: Public Enemies
2010 Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, Batman: Under The Red Hood, Superman/Batman: Apocalypse
2011 All-Star Superman, Green Lantern: Emerald Knights, Batman: Year One
2012 Justice League: Doom, Superman Vs The Elite, The Dark Knight Returns - Part 1
29 Films listed there.
(28 different films (live action/Animated) since then, including films due for release this year)
Non Marvel/DC films from Comic Books
2004 Hellboy, Alien Vs Predator
2005 Son of the Mask, Sin City, The Crow: Wicked Prayer, The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D, Sky High,
2006 Hellboy: Sword of Storms, Lightspeed, My Super Ex-Girlfriend, Special, Zoom
2007 Hellboy: Blood and Iron, Underdog, 300, Aliens Vs Predator: Requiem
2008 Hellboy II: The Golden Army, Jumper, Superhero Movie, Hancock, The Spirit, Wanted
2009 Push, Defendor
2010 Super,
2011 The Green Hornet, Vs
2012 Chronicle, Dredd,
And that isn't even taking into consideration TV Series/Cartoons either....