Titan Network

Community => Other Games => Topic started by: Castegyre on April 25, 2018, 08:08:21 PM

Title: Heads up for Daybreak players
Post by: Castegyre on April 25, 2018, 08:08:21 PM
In Feburary of 2015 when Sony announced the sale of Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) there was no secret made that the buyer was anything other than Columbus Nova (CN). Columbus Nova is/was part of Renova which is one of those big, scary Russian mega oligarchy things that are about to have the hammer come down on them in June. The name of the company was changed from SOE to DBG but they never pretended DBG was anything other than a part of CN. At least, not until now.

For the last day or so people on Daybreak's behalf have been scrubbing everything they can from the internet that shows them as belonging to, or being associated with, CN or Renova. They've been trying to clamp down on discussions about this as well. Sites like Massively* have been documenting some of this publicly. Other sites like EQ2 Wire where former fans and players of some of the games involved often lurk have been tracking and discussing this as well.

So, as someone who started playing original EQ when it was in beta and has probably spent more time playing EQ2 than any other MMO over the years aside from maybe CoH, my purpose here is not to fear monger or trash talk the games or the companies involved. It's simply to inform people who might be playing any of DBG's game now (EQ, EQ2, PS2, H1Z1, DCUO) to cover your butt. The company might only have weeks left before sanctions. Even if they survive that it seems possible there is enough bad faith they might have problems finding other entities willing do business with them. It could be the difference between a sudden and slow death.

If this stuff bothers or concerns you at all, be careful. Don't pay too far ahead on All Access subs. Don't leave your credit card or bank information current and available to them if you aren't actively playing their games. Some are suggesting people consider not even leaving personal information current and accurate. That sort of stuff. And, unfortunately, be prepared to not have your game of choice still be available about 6 weeks from now.

Personally, I am not at all a fan of how DBG has managed some of their titles or treated their customers in recent times, but I also am not looking forward to those titles going away. Still, it looks like it's a possible future. Just be informed and prepared.


*
http://massivelyop.com/2018/04/24/daybreaks-russian-parent-companys-assets-are-frozen-by-the-u-s-government/

http://massivelyop.com/2018/04/25/daybreak-update-chief-publishing-officer-laura-naviaux-has-left-the-company/
Title: Re: Heads up for Daybreak players
Post by: eabrace on April 27, 2018, 03:30:00 AM
I was having a conversation about this over email today with a former co-worker.  He's big into LOTRO and their forums have been on fire over this.  (I play a lot of DDO, so they're in the same boat, I just don't frequent the forums.)

Funny thing:  Jack Emmert got name dropped by the LOTRO community manager.  He's Daybreak Austin's CEO.  That guy just keeps popping up in the strangest places...
Title: Re: Heads up for Daybreak players
Post by: Tahquitz on April 28, 2018, 04:34:23 AM
Good news (if you believe it): Daybreak disavows ownership from Columbus Nova or it's parents.  Jason Epstein, being formerly of Columbus Nova as a partner is the sole owner.  They've spent the last 2 days scouring their website of any past mention of aforementioned company to clear that up for us.

Bad news: They've laid off 70 staff across their portfolio, and are looking to be acquired now.  Most games are business as usual, except "Just Survive" which is now on a skeleton crew and unlikely to see future updates.  According to Daybreak, this has nothing to do with the CN fiasco... H1Z1 isn't performing as expected and the layoff was planned for months.  Also, their Chief Publishing Officer has left the company this weekend as well.

The same bizarre news that surrounded Marvel Heroes before it's shutdown seems to be surrounding Daybreak now.
Title: Re: Heads up for Daybreak players
Post by: Castegyre on April 28, 2018, 04:31:25 PM
Yeah, it's so conveniently weird.

The speculation at this point by some is that the only title they have left with any real value is DCUO and that has more to do with the IP than the game itself. They've really done a job on themselves with how they've managed most of heir titles. It takes a lot for an MMO company to not only alienate but drive off the ardent players of a game, but DBG has managed to do it with nearly every one of their game communities.

Watching all of this happen over the last few years has been frustrating and depressing at the same time. Every time it looks like they couldn't do something more stupid than the last thing, they do. Now my wife and I find ourselves in a situation of morbid curiosity just waiting to see how it's all going to fall out.