There is also this article as to whether NCSoft was willing to sell or not:
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/189896/behind_the_scenes_of_the_paragon_.php
Hmm. Miller wasn't involved in direct talks but was 'briefed.' And he's not entirely sure what the 'sticking' points were.
But the names of the people involved in the deal that came 'close' or merely a 'signature' away must know(!) what those sticking points were.
And ownership of the engine comes across in Ironwolf's posts. Also, from NC's Press Release on the closure that it had to do with legacy in terms of how it's customers might be treated.
If you get a team that won't buy unless the engine is bought outright...and NC who hold the cards and need a compelling reason to sell you can see how things can come so close and yet so far.
Add in the 'alleged'(?) bad blood (I guess the manner in which Paragon felt they'd been treated by 'Corporate...') and you have large deals decided on small margins.
Is that 'bad blood' still there? i.e. people have moved on.
Was the ownership versus lease a sticking point for those wishing to buy...and for NC Soft 'willing' to sell..?
People like Brian Clayton must know. And the rest of the people around the table doing negotiations. Talks are going well...then all of a sudden they're not according to Miller (who, again, wasn't in those meetings.)
Time moves on. Things change. It's only code. Anything is possible if we have the will and desire to make it so.
That can be spiritual successors. (At least 3 at current count in development...)
That can be people trying again and again to make a deal.
Compromises.
The IP and Code are now older and less valuable.
NC Soft HAVE or are bringing back an old game. Retro has value.
The community isn't laying down. Nor should they.
I felt the only thing 'wrong' with Coh was a new engine. i.e. take all the maps and geometry and art assets and update them or port them to a new engine and give them a lick of paint. Nothing wrong with the art assets, maps etc. Animations etc.
I'd take the game as is right now. It's like victorian lace or silk. It just plays so well. Or did. Grace.
I remember the original Unreal Tournament. Perfect. With the update to a new graphical engine something was lost in translation. It was more lead footed. That 'something' was lost. Even Cryptic couldn't do Coh '2' right with Champions. Which is still in Beta.
A clumsy clog footed and empty shiny experience.
IN summation. Ironwolf is brave and creative. He's lost nothing and we've lost nothing through his valour in pursuing this. Good luck to him.
Get the players from the last deal. eg. Brian and Co. Talk about what went wrong. Talk to NC Soft. Open a line of communication. Understand their concerns.
I'd take a leased Coh game right now. But I'd like to know WHAT was the actual sticking point. Until we know those rather than some vague 'the deal fell through...' (i.e. without specifics...) it will remain that way.
Hot potatoes. You have to catch them. ...as well as throw them.
Azrael.
It also takes two to tango. Whoever buys CoH (including the former heads of Paragon Studios) has to have the capital behind it- not just for the purchase, but for transitioning on for however more years that they think the game can still be viable. I'm not sure that Brian Clayton and his group ever had the financing to make NCSoft a legitimate offer and begin transitioning the studio into a stand-alone company.
That seems to come across in the interviews I've read. Miller talks as if he's powerless. And that usually means you don't have the weight or clout of money behind you. But again, how much to buy the franchise seems clouded in mystery...as to the real reason the deal fell through for both the buyers and the sellers.
...and there's also the emulation efforts. But I'd de-emphasised that aspect in this post for obvious reasons.
