New efforts!

[downix]

Yeah but they're not selling it to US directly, are they? "Oh, your potential fanbase, our former customers, are much too rabid. The deal's off!" Yes, that's very mature.

It would instead be a "Can you manage the fanbase? Will they be loyal to you? Or would they turn on you as quickly as they turned on us?"

[CoyoteSeven]

They are showing respect by requesting a quieting down of background noise.

They could move a quieter room (i.e. Don't read the comments!).

[Von Krieger]

Are You kidding? Liver Ingots have value only to dogs and trainers of dogs. Maybe cats.

I can imagine the day that someone dropped 7 tabs of acid and 4 shots of whiskey and looked at liver and said, "hey! I bet this would taste great fried!"

Nasty stuff. So a billion Liver Ingots would exchange as no Pork Ingots at all!

Nutritionally, liver ingots are superior and if you're stuck in the wilderness and unable to make a fire and thus cook, the liver is not only going to be the most nutritious meat ingot, but also apparently one of the more pleasant tasting.

[CoyoteSeven]

It would instead be a "Can you manage the fanbase? Will they be loyal to you? Or would they turn on you as quickly as they turned on us?"

That would be corporate propaganda. They'd be painting themselves as being innocent. Then again it wouldn't the first time that big business tried to make themselves out as the victim, so perhaps I ought not to be surprised if this were the case.

[downix]

They could move a quieter room (i.e. Don't read the comments!).

When negotiating deals which involve thousands of customers, "not reading the comments" is actually not an option. If anything, reading those comments is far more critical, to judge potential customer reaction. Also to judge business partners ability to manage potential customers when it is your name on the line.

[downix]

That would be corporate propaganda. They'd be painting themselves as being innocent. Then again it wouldn't the first time that big business tried to make themselves out as the victim, so perhaps I ought not to be surprised if this were the case.

Bingo! You are picking up the beat I am laying down.

[Ironwolf]

What are you calling the first sale? I thought that the "first" sale was when the game was "one signature away" from being sold to Paragon Studios. That deal fell through, and then we learned about the shut down, and later, about that potential sale. So it obviously wasn't hurt by any commentary, because no one knew about it to comment on it. Other than that... what efforts were there? The hail mary pitches to Disney and Google? From your second post:

I hadn't heard about that until you posted it. So I just don't understand at all how any commentary, here or on Facebook, could have derailed it, if: 1. The company decided they didn't want what NCsoft offered, and 2. no one knew about it.

So far, all you (Ironwolf) have said is that the commentary is somehow affecting negotiations. There are lots of theories as to why, and some make sense, but do you (Ironwolf) have a concrete and verified reason as to why? I hope my tone isn't confrontational, I just want to know why, because I seriously don't understand it at all.

I don't know what the reason was other than NCSoft has expressed in the negotiations that they do not like the sudden overwhelming speculation - that appears to be centered on Facebook. Many still do tie to NCSoft and bashing them or the new Devs when no one knows the terms of the sale - is silly.

One of the 2 parties in the deal has said - they don't like the noise coming through. There is only one way to slow it down - ask people to be polite and calm. I would like to know other than for personal satisfaction what possible good does it do to attack NCSoft? People attacked them when they closed the game now they are attacking when they are agreeing to return it in some manner?

I personally don't understand that view. Our community wanted them to sell it - they said ok! Suddenly all the repressed anger is being directed randomly all over the place. The people here are your friends, they want to return the game - I can't see why that doesn't buy them a little understanding. I have never said that NCSoft was the poor little Billionaires, I said they made a business decision. I work for a company that is shutting down a LOT of branches to make larger more central ones - I had to either move or lose my job. I moved - I wasn't upset and understood that it wasn't personal, it was business.

If you look back at what NCSoft was doing when they shut CoH and what the state of the company was you can see why it was closed. You had 80 people in Paragon Studios that were developing 2 new games. CoH could not cover all 3 games - cost wise. CoH was making money - Paragon Studios was not. They closed the studio and therefore the game. I know many of you have not worked for a large company that has had to make this sort of a choice.

They paid all the workers well, they gave 2 or 3 months of free play. They are willing to sell now, what more do you want? Them punished? The one who hates is damaged more than the one hated. Old Cherokee saying.

[Harpospoke]

Concerning Gravity Control: That was a powerset that I had a blind spot on. By that, I mean, I could never see a way to make a character who had it, that wasn't a "Technology" or "Science" origin. I just could not wrap my head around a way to have it on a "Magic" origin character, for example.

And it was almost the reverse with Earth Control. I had the devil's own time trying to come up with a character that had Earth Control that wasn't a "Magic" origin character.

For some reason "gravity" automatically made me think science or tech.

[CoyoteSeven]

When negotiating deals which involve thousands of customers, "not reading the comments" is actually not an option. If anything, reading those comments is far more critical, to judge potential customer reaction. Also to judge business partners ability to manage potential customers when it is your name on the line.

Then they should know to expect this kind of reaction and not be surprised by it. The very fact that the fanbase is this worked up at all should be proof enough that the game is still popular and profitable. Even now, almost two years since it was shut down. If everyone was nice, polite and quiet from the get-go, THAT would be a warning sign not to proceed.

[Fleur_uk]

That would be corporate propaganda. They'd be painting themselves as being innocent. Then again it wouldn't the first time that big business tried to make themselves out as the victim, so perhaps I ought not to be surprised if this were the case.

Not that I don't understand how you feel.    I don't think it matters (to ncsoft)  how we think ncsoft "should think" or that they are being "bullies" They own the game,  (in essence hold the all the cards) we should tread lightly imo for ours, others and the people that have taken so much time and effort to bring this game back.   Not for ncsoft, out of respect for the group that are trying to bring back the game for us.

Also, I think its worth noting, though it may/maynot be corporate propaganda,  they are also dealing with a culture difference. 

[Harpospoke]

On a Side note as a player. I always felt that Gravity was lacking something...

I wised I could heal the Singlularity.   But him being so cool made up for it.   How nice was it that he would not block doorways?   :)

[Davy]

They are willing to sell now, what more do you want? Them punished? The one who hates is damaged more than the one hated. Old Cherokee saying.

I guess some players just hate NCSoft more then they love CoX...

Keep up the good work regardless! I yearn to roleplay on Union again.

[Scendera]

Speaking at least for myself...I tend to be EXTREMELY forgiving and tolerant when a company makes a mistake, but owns up and is trying to make it right.

At this point they're *trying* to make it right.

[Turjan]

They paid all the workers well, they gave 2 or 3 months of free play. They are willing to sell now, what more do you want? Them punished? The one who hates is damaged more than the one hated. Old Cherokee saying.

*nods*

Remember people - it costs nothing to be polite, but in this case, it could cost everything to be rude.

[Ironwolf]

Then they should know to expect this kind of reaction and not be surprised by it. The very fact that the fanbase is this worked up at all should be proof enough that the game is still popular and profitable. Even now, almost two years since it was shut down. If everyone was nice, polite and quiet from the get-go, THAT would be a warning sign not to proceed.

I only have one issue with your comments - if you read through them you will see time and again how you say other people should just feel!

They feel how they do - it isn't our choice. I hear a lot of anger - NCSoft does not like what was happening - can't you see that this may very well be a final test? Who is left to play the game? Just rabid screaming fans - or a calm mature group? It matters to them - don't you recall they want their name to remain on the game?

It matters to them. We need to respect that. They did not say go away this is too much hassle - they said - can you ask the community to calm down a little? Is what they have asked so very much? I truly am asking.

[CoyoteSeven]

Not that I don't understand how you feel.    I don't think it matters (to ncsoft)  how we think ncsoft "should think" or that they are being "bullies" They own the game,  (in essence hold the all the cards) we should tread lightly imo for ours, others and the people that have taken so much time and effort to bring this game back.   Not for ncsoft, out of respect for the group that are trying to bring back the game for us.

Also, I think its worth noting, though it may/maynot be corporate propaganda,  they are also dealing with a culture difference.

The fanbase, as a collective, is like a force of nature. There's a virtual crowd mentality going on right now (particularly on Facebook, where such behavior is enabled). A fanbase, I might add, that was encouraged to grow and was nurtured thanks to NCSoft's efforts for... what, seven or eight years? You can't just dump that many people by the wayside and take no responsibility for it. It just doesn't work that way. Those same fans once sang NCSoft's praises when the game was live. When the announcement came, they all felt betrayed. If NCSoft doesn't understand that, then this deal will indeed fall through. And so will any future deals, if any come. And it won't be our collective fault. It will be theirs.

Don't blame the players for this. Just don't. NCSoft is reaping what they sowed.

[Antovaras]

Yeah but they're not selling it to US directly, are they? "Oh, your potential fanbase, our former customers, are much too rabid. The deal's off!" Yes, that's very mature.

Like yours you mean?

Seriously dude, chill out, calm down and take a walk in the fresh air for a few hours...

[Angel Phoenix77]

I only have one issue with your comments - if you read through them you will see time and again how you say other people should just feel!

They feel how they do - it isn't our choice. I hear a lot of anger - NCSoft does not like what was happening - can't you see that this may very well be a final test? Who is left to play the game? Just rabid screaming fans - or a calm mature group? It matters to them - don't you recall they want their name to remain on the game?

It matters to them. We need to respect that. They did not say go away this is too much hassle - they said - can you ask the community to calm down a little? Is what they have asked so very much? I truly am asking.

I do not think it is too much to ask for this. I think of it as little to no price to pay.

[HEATSTROKE]

For some reason "gravity" automatically made me think science or tech.

Thats because you see it as scientific.. It could be any origin. The origin is what you make it..

[FloatingFatMan]

They could move a quieter room (i.e. Don't read the comments!).

Or the brainless morons spouting their stupid pie holes off could STFU and stop acting like spoiled brats.