New efforts!

[Triage IV]

Maintenance mode would be awesome then.  Even after 9 years, I hadn't tried every power set, nor every mission or task force available.  I would be happy for years to come with just what we had at closing.

[AlphaFerret]

I will be happy with any form the return of Paragon City takes.  I just want back in.  I still have a score to settle with that pesky Malta group....

[ArtoriosRex]

Even if we only got 5% of the user base back, if were all on one server, I think it would be pretty busy. Come on, folks, let's all be nostalgic together! :D *cough*Championforever*cough*

[Super Firebug]

Is "maintenance mode" basically like a, "This has issues and glitches, but give it a try anyway" thing?

With maintenance mode, there would be some few techs on hand to respond to help requests, fix glitches, etc. But the only new content that we'd get would be if we also had AE available, so that we could create our own. The game would get fixed, but (outside of AE) wouldn't grow.

And that'd be totally acceptable to me!

[LadyShin]

I will be happy with any form the return of Paragon City takes.  I just want back in.  I still have a score to settle with that pesky Malta group....

I almost exclusively picked malta missions just for the vigilantistic joy of grinding their titan bots beneath my Incarnate heel. bwaahahaahahaa!

Assassin strike the titan bot to pieces, and clean up the pesky minions with a dose of Ion judgment. I love the smell of ozone in the morning...smells like...Victory.

[Cinnder]

I'd happily pay to play in maintenance mode as well, though probably not as much as I paid for a sub that included development.  Like others have said, still so much I never got to -- especially power sets.

[Triage IV]

I will be happy with any form the return of Paragon City takes.  I just want back in.  I still have a score to settle with that pesky Malta group....

UGH...I know what you mean...Sappers...Gun Slingers...LET ME AT 'EM!



I would HAPPILY pay the normal subscription for maintenance mode.  $20.00/month for my gaming fix...is WELL worth the cost.

[Ohioknight]

Well, I left a comma out of that line that kinda changes the meaning. But to explain, when you are winning, you don't really need the help. It's only when it's a struggle that you need aid. BUT, it would probably be more accurate to say "seemingly lost causes". But that kinda kills the flow.

Bear in mind, people were convinced that persuading the British to leave India, The Civil Rights Movement, the War for Independence,  peace in Northern Ireland, ending apartheid were all lost causes. But they were worth fighting for. While restoring COH ranks far lower on the scale of human misery, it is still worth fight for, even it is a seemingly lost cause.

Just bustin' your chops, dude (ha ha). 

But really,    many lost causes are worth fighting for, but most NOT-lost causes are more worth fighting for ... as in choose your fights.  Still, I strongly hope this isn't a lost cause (though I realize it is likely to prove so).

[Codewalker]

Well, I left a comma out of that line that kinda changes the meaning.

https://images.weserv.nl/?url=ih3.redbubble.net%2Fimage.15345239.9329%2Ffc%2C550x550%2Cblack.u4.jpg

[Angel Phoenix77]

question IronWolf, if we get the game back will be totally free? Or will there be a option for a lifetime sub?

[MWRuger]

Imma gonna save Ironwulf some time. He doesn't know.

Decision will be up to whoever (if anyone) ends up in charge of the property and under what conditions they get it.

For example if it is being run by fans under the auspices of  NCSoft as a non-profit service to fans of the game, then you could only collect what you need to keep it open. NCSoft would likely object to someone making a profit off it's property.

But if a third party acquired it all then they would decide the best revenue model for them. But Ironwulf will likely not know what that is.

Or maybe there will some kind of deal where NCSoft wants to lease the property to someone and wants a piece of the revenue, then that party and NCSoft will have to negotiate how much and how it's to be collected. This is the most complicated scenario because exactly how much veto power NCSoft has in the overall management would have to be worked out.

But since we have no idea which, if any, of these are possible, he can't tell you. It's pretty early in the process to even guess. Also, Ironwulf's initial plan was put on hold until a different idea that came up pursuant to his is worked through.

I would say that right know the parties are only talking about talking about these ideas. There really is NO information that they can or are willing to share or they would.

I'm as antsy as anybody, but it's too early. I hate it because we have been waiting a long time already and I know people are tired of hearing it but we will have to be patient.

[Angel Phoenix77]

Imma gonna save Ironwulf some time. He doesn't know.

Decision will be up to whoever (if anyone) ends up in charge of the property and under what conditions they get it.

For example if it is being run by fans under the auspices of  NCSoft as a non-profit service to fans of the game, then you could only collect what you need to keep it open. NCSoft would likely object to someone making a profit off it's property.

But if a third party required it all then they would decide the best revenue model for them. But Ironwulf will likely not know what that is.

Or maybe there will some kind of deal where NCSoft wants to lease the property to someone and wants a piece of the revenue, then that party and NCSoft will have to negotiate how much and how it's to be collected. This is the most complicated scenario because exactly how much veto power NCSoft has in the overall management would have to be worked out.

But since we have no idea which, if any, of these are possible, he can't tell you. It's pretty early in the process to even guess. Also, Ironwulf's initial plan was put on hold until a different idea that came up pursuant to his is worked through.

I would say that right know the parties are only talking about talking about these ideas. There really is NO information that they can or are willing to share or they would.

I'm as antsy as anybody, but it's too early. I hate it because we have been waiting a long time already and I know people are tired of hearing it but we will have to be patient.

Thank you for sharing this, you do make alot of since, guess Im just getting to excited at the prospect of our game returning. :)

[MWRuger]

Me too. :) As we get closer to the 10th anniversary it's worse than ever.

[Angel Phoenix77]

yep ,infect I have  been going on a shopping spree as it were, Im close to getting good vs evil :D then ill have all the copies of the game.

[dwturducken]

If this goes through, the only thing I'll care about is whether or not I'll be starting over, or if my "stuff" is still there. It won't affect whether I play, just how I play. I had some "cool" concept characters that really weren't going anywhere... ;)

[The Fifth Horseman]

Might it be a possibility, if...I mean WHEN...it comes back, there would only be one server...or would it still have the original servers in place?

Having one server, might just boost the population...or, maybe, cut the number of servers down to half or a quarter...??

I'd doubt it would be only one server, but definitely not the original ones and likely not too many either.
Jury's still out on whether or not the old user data will exist.

[thunderforce]

"While we looked to sell the franchise multiple times, we were unsuccessful in finding a suitable partner that we thought would support City of Heroes' fans in a manner they were accustomed to for years to come. Closing a studio and sun setting a beloved franchise is never an easy thing to do for the publisher, the developer or the fans. This was not an easy decision to make."

Given the number of times NC has made that decision - unless I'm mistaken, about as many times as the rest of the MMO industry put together - I wonder if perhaps we might maintain a degree of skepticism about the claims in this statement - what little of it can even be said to be factual in nature rather than mere platitudes.

(Also, because allegedly no-one could be found who "would support City of Heroes' fans in a manner they were accustomed to for years to come", the answer was not to support them at all? "Because we couldn't find you replacement accommodation just as nice, we are making you homeless completely" would make as much sense.)

[mrultimate]

I've been following this thread for a while now. I simply want to say that the fact that another effort is under way makes me hopeful and happy. Thanks Ironwolf for all you have done!

[Cobra Man]

Given the number of times NC has made that decision - unless I'm mistaken, about as many times as the rest of the MMO industry put together - I wonder if perhaps we might maintain a degree of skepticism about the claims in this statement - what little of it can even be said to be factual in nature rather than mere platitudes.

(Also, because allegedly no-one could be found who "would support City of Heroes' fans in a manner they were accustomed to for years to come", the answer was not to support them at all? "Because we couldn't find you replacement accommodation just as nice, we are making you homeless completely" would make as much sense.)

That was my take on it as well.

If they wouldn't sell to Paragon Studios then - who were perfectly placed to support the fans 'for years to come' ... why sell it now?

[Blondeshell]

yep ,infect I have  been going on a shopping spree as it were, Im close to getting good vs evil :D then ill have all the copies of the game.

Orly?  ;)