New efforts!

[Everfreefire]

I know... how about... What will you do on day 1 of relaunch, assuming that we get our existing characters back?

Simple. I am going to fly.

[Serpine]

I wonder if it'd be possible for the previous devs to work with them, to smooth the road and get it rolled out a bit sooner.

I wouldn't be surprised if they offered some advice, but probably only on a very limited basis. From prior posts a fair number of the recognizable developers now have jobs in the industry, so assisting another mmo could be an unfortunate conflict of interest on their part (aka, something that would risk their current employment). Even then, their employment contracts may also stipulate time periods after employment ends during which they can't work for a competitor. And its likely the purchase will drain the coffers of the buyers so headhunting prior developers will not be that affordable at first even if all that proves surmountable.

Basically it will take so long that by the time the old devs can be used as resources, the new devs will probably have figured most everything out anyway.

[unladenswallow]

This thread is almost 300 pages long so it's possible this question has already been ask and it's the same reason I didn't bother to check and see if it had.

So if I'm understanding this buy out of COH correctly NC Soft and Cryptic will only have a say in how some of the old game is presented because they played a direct part in building the game. If a COH 2 is produced since they will have had no hand in how it was developed they will have no say in how it is run because the new owners own the IP free and clear correct?

I'm guessing the answer is "yes" but wanted to ask to make sure and/or to see if there are any caveats that may need to be added.

[Deadflame2]

I wouldn't be surprised if they offered some advice, but probably only on a very limited basis. From prior posts a fair number of the recognizable developers now have jobs in the industry, so assisting another mmo could be an unfortunate conflict of interest on their part (aka, something that would risk their current employment). Even then, their employment contracts may also stipulate time periods after employment ends during which they can't work for a competitor. And its likely the purchase will drain the coffers of the buyers so headhunting prior developers will not be that affordable at first even if all that proves surmountable.

Basically it will take so long that by the time the old devs can be used as resources, the new devs will probably have figured most everything out anyway.

That's also assuming some of the previous devs won't/haven't assist(ed) in their own spare time covertly.  Of course.

[Perplexite]

Same. My old bases needed rebuilding.

Assuming it is there (which I don't) I'm gonna tear it all down and start over. Though some of the stuff I made towards the end was nice stuff.

But OMG CoH2 and the base building potential. >.< Sod leveling up toons. Base fu! (which is like kung fu, but less exercis-y)

[Everfreefire]

Well, I don't care if it takes longer TBH, but I will make ONE firm prediction.

If they DO get the game, we'll be told on August 31st.

I made a similar comment a while back, but I think it got buried in the massive amounts of comments being made.

I can't help but think that, if this goes through and the timing is possible, announce that the game would be back on the Friday before Labor Day (or the exact date...Was it the first?) and launch the game on the First of December.

The wait may drive people crazy, but the timing of it all would be pretty awesome (to me).

[Fleur_uk]

goodness this thread is a burning inferno!! can't keep up!  ;D

[Serpine]

So if I'm understanding this buy out of COH correctly NC Soft and Cryptic will only have a say in how some of the old game is presented because they played a direct part in building the game. If a COH 2 is produced since they will have had no hand in how it was developed they will have no say in how it is run because the new owners own the IP free and clear correct?

That entirely depends on the final contract stipulations, but likely will not be a perfectly clear cut, particularly if the new company has to lease the engine for a time to get CoH classic running in maintenance mode. It is highly likely for instance any product (including CoH2) built from the CoH IP will need to have the Cryptic and NCSoft logos included no matter how many future hands it passes through (Ironwolf has mentioned this element several times). There could be some sort of profit sharing agreement (this was apparently an aspect of the sale to NCSoft) that could extend to the next game. For all we know, NCSoft may require some sort of cross-company advertising (i.e. the new company may be required to send an email blast) or have a stipulation that any game assets making references to the shutdown (like coding an evil corporate parody of NCSoft and having them be responsible) are strictly off-limits in any future related product. Any conditions for the sale that the new buyers are willing to agree to are really fair game.

And if I understand what Ironwolf has said, those are actually the precise sort of details being worked on in the negotiation right now.

That's also assuming some of the previous devs won't/haven't assist(ed) in their own spare time covertly.

While possible, by definition covert things can't be counted on officially. So I certainly won't factor them into any of my theorizing. *wink wink nudge nudge*

[MWRuger]

Hey, I'm and American and I just have to know; when you say something like that, is it better or worse than going to the dogs?

I just wanna know where we rank.

I'm 'Merican myself.

That wasn't my home server, Think it was Triumph, but follow Golden Girl's link. I just remembered the next line is all.

I had to ask what the hubbub was bub myself when I read it. That thread was long like this one.

[unladenswallow]

There could be some sort of profit sharing agreement (this was apparently an aspect of the sale to NCSoft) that could extend to the next game. For all we know, NCSoft may require some sort of cross-company advertising (i.e. the new company may be required to send an email blast) or have a stipulation that any game assets making references to the shutdown (like coding an evil corporate parody of NCSoft and having them be responsible) are strictly off-limits in any future related product. Any conditions for the sale that the new buyers are willing to agree to are really fair game.

Yeah but what motivation would they have to tie so many strings to it? Some strings regarding the old game and company image I can understand but beyond that doesn't make any sense to me. I would think that if such detailed conditions were required that alone would make it to much trouble for NC Soft to consider selling. Especially when their potential profit would be minuscule compared to their current profit margins from the other games they produce. Wouldn't it be preferable to have as few "strings" as possible to make the sell easier?

What are the odds they would sell the IP out right with a minimal amount of strings attached? Well at least in relation to any new game developed.

I have no personal basis for comparison regarding such corporate dealings so hence these questions.

[Harpospoke]

I know I'll be taking many more screenshots when CoH returns than I did before.

Same.

[Brightfires]

Same.

You can NEVER have too many screen-shots.

Never.

Trust me on that.  ;D

[TheBeatnik]

Things I'll do should we get our characters back:

1) Fly above City Hall, salute the flag.
2) Stand atop the Atlas Globe and dance.
3) /holdtorch on the city steps, watch the costume contests, and read every bio I can find.
4) Port to Pocket D and hit the parties.

[Serpine]

What are the odds they would sell the IP out right with a minimal amount of strings attached? Well at least in relation to any new game developed.

I really have no idea what will actually be involved outside the logo, I'm just theorizing what possibilities might be: As an apparently reasonable price was already on the table, things are obviously more involved then "here are all the old machines and binders from storage, thank you for your check" or it wouldn't be taking a while. IPs have a certain inherent value beyond the mechanical so releasing one with decent name recognition cleanly could be something a company would be reluctant to do.

It is safe to say that the corporate employee(s) responsible for negotiations (who may have that sort of thing as their entire job responsibility) and attorneys involved in drawing up any contracts will have as their underlying purpose to maximize the short and long term benefits to NCSoft in the sale, even if it slows things down a bit. I assume the buyers will be doing likewise and have an attorney skilled in these sort of transactions watching out for their interests as well. Its a fascinating dance going when you consider it.

Anyway, I do hope there is some news Soon™ as the suspense is killing me. But I've installed Icon now finally so I do have some interesting new ways to pass the time.

[Wyrm]

1.  Grin like a lunatic.  Try not to openly sob if I'm on Skype with SG friends.
2.  Speed Boost everyone in sight.
3.  ITF.
4.  Check WW to see what I've sold.   :o

[unladenswallow]

I'm looking forward to remaking a lot of my old characters. My main was a Dark Melee/ Super Reflexes scrapper. However I'm probably going to remake him with invulnerability or maybe Willpower this time as I really didn't like Super Reflexes that much.

I can remember when Regeneration was widely considered the best secondary power set for scrappers. I remember trying to get an idea of how Willpower compared to Regeneration from other players but never got any good responses.

[Styrj]

If we get our toons back (with the same server setup), the first thing I'm gonna do is brew a big pot of coffee, then, I'll load my each of my 50s (about 2 dozen or so scattered over all the US servers), for about an hour or so each, just to try and re-familiarize myself with their powers and play style (PVE only).  That should take the better part of a day. Then sleep.

If we don't get our toons back, then, I'll try and re-create my 50's from memory (its gets harder & harder to do that well past 60, memory that is ;D).

[azazel005]

If/when CoX comes back, first, I'll burst into tears. Then I'll play it cool for a little bit, make sure it is up and working 100%. Then I'll probably take a week off and do nothing else.

I'd say there'd be tears, more then any video game has a right to cause, and probably much less playing it cool and much more grinning like an idiot... bouncing around with whatever travel powers I have. Maybe Kill Skuls.

[Steelhelm]

But OMG CoH2 and the base building potential. >.< Sod leveling up toons. Base fu! (which is like kung fu, but less exercis-y)

Wow... I already loved the base building in CoH; I literally spent hundreds of hours in my solo base on Virtue. However, there are probably so many things the soon-to-be new dev team could to to improve it. I would go crazy with the new base building system were it to be created. What do you think could be added/changed/removed from CoH's base building system that could implemented into CoH2's possible new base building system?

[Cailyn Alaynn]

First thing I'd do...

Level up a BS/WP scrapper running TFs. Lol