New efforts!

[Ohioknight]

I'd just like to point out that not only is there no indication as to whether or not folks would get their characters/accounts back (I rather doubt it -- it appears NCSoft didn't retain COH accounts even to use their other games) but it also is not certain that the new dev operation would use the same SERVER structure that existed at game close... I see no reason that "Infinity, Virtue, etc" would necessarily still be the architecture they'd adopt -- I figure they'd need to rework the sign-in screens anyway.

[HEATSTROKE]

 im still reworking Mids Builds anyway..

[TonyV]

I hope you all understand there are people who do know who/what is happening including Tony V and a few other board members.

Just for the record, I'm not involved in these talks, other that knowing that they're taking place.  I've gotten a few messages from folks asking, "Is this for real?", and my answer is that yes, there is a continued effort to acquire the rights to run City of Heroes from NCsoft, but I'm afraid that I can't answer any questions about what the status is or how likely they are or aren't to succeed, because I have no firsthand knowledge of what's actually being said or done.

I guess what I'm saying is don't put all of your emotional eggs in this basket, but don't ever give up hope, either.  If nothing else, look at this as proof that we as a community won't give up working to try to get City of Heroes back up and running again.  Even if this specific effort isn't successful (and I certainly hope it is!), there will still be people trying three, five, ten, or however many years it takes to get the game back.  And eventually, whether it's now or later, they will say yes.  ;)

[LaughingAlex]

Tweaking my Skyrim Redone install as to lessen some of the late-level grind problems, such as the 100-150 destruction level grind(thats generally impossible to make under normal circumstances, but even with the uncapper, it's impractical to get up to 150, so I'm adjusting the skill level rates for skills based on things like level and whatnot).  I find every other skill soft-caps at around 100 with the uncapper removing the skill cap, yet Skyre makes alot of skills max out at 120 or 150 sometimes(it's never consistent, smithing for example has the old 100 for getting the best stuff).  So I'm making it so that at especially high levels some skills level up faster then normal, specifically for those higher levels.

It's something I'd been doing while I waited.

I'd be messing with Mids but, I never actually used Mids to build my characters.  I used a pencil and a notepad after all.  I may make use of Mids when the game comes back, as a means to help newer players plan there own builds.  I think though, the biggest thing for me would be the Issue 24 features, and AE.  I do wish to make a rather long mission string in AE, and lua scripting would actually help.  At the very least, i'd like to see if it was possible to introduce multiple paths through the series of missions.

Another thing was the cutscenes were to be made to help set the scene, though I wouldn't have included to many.  To many cutscenes break gameplay flow, afterall.  But I wanted to provide hints in some of the cutscenes as to how to deal with a situation, or at least give the player the options.  But unlike the praetorian story line, I wasn't planning on exposing what an action would do right away.  Poor choices have consequences that are never necessarily immediate, and that would be a big theme with my mission archs would be consequences.  I'd really like to see how the whole thing was implemented.

[Golden Girl]

I'm positive most, if not all, of them would know if City of Heroes came back. I would venture to guess that the vast majority of them wouldn't continue developing City - most of them have full time jobs again.

And I'm positive that they wouldn't re-form Paragon Studios, because that is an NCsoft entity. But City (the game) doesn't need Paragon Studios (the company) to come back. It just needs to get out from under NCsoft's stranglehold.

Although I think that if we do get our game back, it'd be wise to have at least a couple of former Paragon devs in senior leadership positions, to avoid potential future problems over the direction and development of the game.

[Azrael]

Although I think that if we do get our game back, it'd be wise to have at least a couple of former Paragon devs in senior leadership positions, to avoid potential future problems over the direction and development of the game.

This is an incisive comment.

It would be very prudent to get key former Paragon developers in senior leadership positions to perhaps finish up Issue 24.  The pending Battalion storyline (Issues 25-26?) and complete what I consider the 'end game' 'Moon Base' stuff Matt Miller mentioned in his CoH post mortem.  Even the latter, Matt Miller, employed on a consultative basis would help bring the (doubtless) unfinished material to fruition.

It's a shame CoH didn't stick around for another year as another four issues or so would probably had seen the game in a far more 'complete' state from 'finished everything' in Issue 24 to Battalion to the much fabled 'Moon Setting.' 

Just appointing 2-3 key former Paragon developers would really keep the authenticity of the current bid intact as it moves forward...SHOULD all we hope for in terms of acquisition come to pass.

Azrael.

[Azrael]

Update: I will put the word update at the start in the future to seperate these posts from speculation or just discussion.

I spoke to the lead yesterday and he said that everything is going forward though slowly. Everything is still positive but like pulling teeth to get information from NCSoft.

He said they are shooting for August as the time for closing the deal.

...

The goal is to release the old game - I am not sure of plans for further development and will leave that up to them to discuss. Right now - close on the game and restore it. I know they would like to either port to UnReal 4 either the existing game or develop CoH2.

Great news, Iron Wolf.   

An August completion date would send a shockwave through the CoH and MMO community.  *Fingers crossed.  A collective breath held for this one.  Another month or so...and the impossible could happen.

Of course, as we know.  Perhaps the most difficult bits of negotiation may lay ahead and what sunk the previous bids may yet sink this one.

*nods.  Of course, restoring the old game, at issue 23 (the last stable release seeing as Issue 24 was incomplete and buggy?) would start bringing income in.  With, I guess, the best part of 80-100k worth of players should word get out.  Plus all those who never got the chance to play it.

As for further development.  I still think, as tricky as it may be..., uncoupling the game and transplanting it to Unreal 4 would be the best idea.  It would give the game a new lease of life.  It would also ensure that it's essential 'feel' to about 99.9% is kept.  A kind of CoH+ with Ultra Mode 2 and a more modern technical foundation.

As for CoH 2.  That would be at long way away.  Most people just want the original game back.  I do.

Thanks for the positive update Ironwolf.  Much appreciated.

Azrael.

[dwturducken]

If CoH DOES come back, we'll need to have one minor cosmetic change.

I believe we need a new statue in AP.

https://images.weserv.nl/?url=i1.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2Fu64_ZldxbEQ%2Fmaxresdefault.jpg



Just sayin'...

Ya know what? Second!

Also, as for "getting former devs in key leadership positions," it's been stated before that they've all gone on to other jobs, what with mouths to feed, bills to pay, new worlds to shepherd, etc. Not being in the industry, I can't say this with any authority, but, in any other industry I can draw personal experience from, my employer would have had a serious problem with me suddenly holding any kind of title with a competitor, regardless of the circumstances.

Now, in the case of anyone who emigrated to Cryptic, given the relationships there, it's anyones' guess, but my gut says we're not going to see much in way of "getting the band back together. No matter how much my heart and brain would love to see it.

But, as the current status of the negotiations would indicate, anything is possible!

Christmas 2014 in the Chalet!

[HEATSTROKE]

 Simply put.. very few if any us know every dev and everyone that worked on CoH.. Ironwolf has said that this group has some individuals who worked on CoH in some capacity.. and people can be recruited as well... even people with jobs..

[Des_Tructive]

/em signs the petition for Ironwolf and Ascendant statues.

That aside, I'm looking forward to running a TF with Ironwolf.

[MaxEternal]

If CoH DOES come back, we'll need to have one minor cosmetic change.

I believe we need a new statue in AP.

https://images.weserv.nl/?url=i1.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2Fu64_ZldxbEQ%2Fmaxresdefault.jpg



Just sayin'...

I would prefer to see him as an NPC...

[Ohioknight]

I would prefer to see him as an NPC...

I second that, actually -- It would be damn nice to get an in-game mission from Ascendant, and imagine the fun of writing the dialog!

Could you have him on the phone making calls to his agent between mission briefings that you would hear when you got close?
Some of his classic scripts -- they should be preserved in the game.

[Bella1006]

When I saw the link on FB, I almost fainted in joy. If this becomes reality and our beloved City returns, I will be happy to lead the Melees on the Yellow Mito run of the Virtue Villain Hami Raid.
"=^.^= MeRoW! =^.^=.", as my main's (Shandirra) battle cry peals forth across the lake!

After that, I can't make up my mind which TF I'd want to run first.  ;D   8)

[Lycantropus]

I don't post often because of a lot of emotions tied up since 'the going dark' (there's a story... maybe one day I'll tell it, but I doubt it would do anyone any good). This thread, in particular, has obviously stirred some feelings about it, and I felt I should say something.

I said I wouldn't use the name Lycantropus again until he could return to the City and I meant it. This place is an exception as it's one of the last bastions of our City still standing (thank you, TonyV and team keeping this, and the ParagonWiki, going). I don't really do 'social media' stuff anyway, so I guess that's easy to keep.

Of course, with as much lurking as I do here, I will have to re-make Lyc as a Stalker in this 'brave new world' when it comes to pass. ;) Anyway, I'm posting now to let those folks fighting for us know that there's probably more people hoping for a day everyone can once again meet again under Paragon City's skies, than they realize.

I'm still Lyc here, because of that hope.

With all good wishes,

Lycantropus~

[MWRuger]

This is good and welcome news indeed! I continue to live in hope and will do so, even if this effort fails.

I just want to go home!

[therain93]

It's not impossible that they have backups of our character data still, but by no means certain.  To be honest, if we got CoH back, restarting my chars would be the least of my worries! I'd just be too excited about getting the game back!

I dunno, the overwhelming altitis that some of us may experience could be crippling to the point of paralysis.....katana/regen scrapper...nono, huntsman SoA, nonono Electric/staff brute, nononono fire/fire/fire/fire blaster, nonononono TW/Invuln Brute, nononononononono SJ/Shield Brute, noooooooooooooooooo make the MFing WS I never built.....aaaaaagh.   If they can prevent the head's exploding of the people that dearly want to pay and play this game, they should try to get those characters back...  That written, I'm willing to start over.

[Tubbius]

I want one reward for any and all efforts on my part.

Once we have the game back, I would love to run a TF with each of you on the boards - of your own choosing. Some time spent in game doing what we love.

That's enough.

No TFs, here. . . but I'd appreciate feedback on my "PENGUIN" arc.  :)  hee hee!  Keep it up, Ironwolf.  Glad to hear everything.

[Cobra Man]

I don't post often because of a lot of emotions tied up since 'the going dark' (there's a story... maybe one day I'll tell it, but I doubt it would do anyone any good). This thread, in particular, has obviously stirred some feelings about it, and I felt I should say something.

I said I wouldn't use the name Lycantropus again until he could return to the City and I meant it. This place is an exception as it's one of the last bastions of our City still standing (thank you, TonyV and team keeping this, and the ParagonWiki, going). I don't really do 'social media' stuff anyway, so I guess that's easy to keep.

Of course, with as much lurking as I do here, I will have to re-make Lyc as a Stalker in this 'brave new world' when it comes to pass. ;) Anyway, I'm posting now to let those folks fighting for us know that there's probably more people hoping for a day everyone can once again meet again under Paragon City's skies, than they realize.

I'm still Lyc here, because of that hope.

With all good wishes,

Lycantropus~

Well put Lycan  :)

[batgirl]

I can't remember my initial log on to the site, so I had to create a new one, which almost makes me feel less legit. :(

Regardless ... this is my message and although my words or sentiment may not be perfect it is my hope that this message not get buried and the spirit and the voice in which i speak with meets the overall temperament of the community as a whole.

Iron Wolf, you are a true hero and it would be great if there was a remembrance of you and your dedication when the Phoenix rises. 

It's odd that a community of MMO heroes will be the first community to ever get a game back after it has been sunset. 

CoH will be reborn and I relish the thought of seeing a sunrise again in the New Atlas.

Thank you for not giving up Iron Wolf and thanks to the others who will be investing time and/or money into bringing this back to life.  Like others have said it will take time, there will be moments where we'll feel all is lost again, but that will not going to happen. 

We did not give up on the characters that gave us so much strength and in some respects we became friends with.  We will rescue them as we've done repeatedly for the binary citizens of Pargon City.

I am honored to virtually stand along side each of you real life heroes who believe that justice will always triumph.  In this case, our community will exact a type of social justice backed by a revenue stream and that will prevail as the victor.

While there are some who are sidekicks, there are many more CoH who are true heroes.  Our community's tireless efforts to never give up is wearing down even the suits who thought 'it's just a game'. 

We are heroes and we will return ... home.

--theOracle (a/k/a shopgirl)

I posted this back in April, but it still fits.

[Solitaire]

Update: I will put the word update at the start in the future to seperate these posts from speculation or just discussion.

I spoke to the lead yesterday and he said that everything is going forward though slowly. Everything is still positive but like pulling teeth to get information from NCSoft.

He said they are shooting for August as the time for closing the deal.

Obviously this is not set in stone - but it is good news however you look at it. Once they come forward - you will understand more on why they were working on this quietly.

The goal is to release the old game - I am not sure of plans for further development and will leave that up to them to discuss. Right now - close on the game and restore it. I know they would like to either port to UnReal 4 either the existing game or develop CoH2.

They would not hold the current game up to develop or port it. Obviously the original game could start making money immediately and businesses need funds to develop future products and to pay the bills.

Edit: If I don't update stuff often - it is a good thing at this point. It means things are slowly being worked out. NCSoft is still talking and willing to sell. I really am sorry I can't say more - I am just like you folks and not anyone special. I just want to login and hear the musin in Atlas once more.  I know many will be crying once they do and I will likely be right there with you.

I hope you understand until we get the game back - the folks doing the heavy lifting on this would be buried alive with emails, twitter, snail mail and interviews from MMO and gaming sites that really would not help at this point. I honestly believe the quiet manner of this purchase is a big benefit to the effort. I have no doubt NCSoft will have a release as well once the transaction is complete. Right now there is no pressure on NCSoft and they can proceed without also having to answer questions.

You can imagine what kind of whirlwind this will turn into once it gets out.

Thanks for the update Ironwolf, fingers staying crossed all goes well.