New efforts!

[Arcana]

many hackers use that very method to get basic access to the corp network often claiming to be from IT and need their passwords to fix a problem with their accounts.

I'm not sure I would characterize it as "many" but its been known to happen.  I've done it (legally) a couple of times.  Its honestly more likely to happen as the result of an authorized external penetration test than as an actual hacking attempt because of the inherent risks involved, but it does happen.

Ironically though, I'd be far more likely to succeed trying to steal the president of NCSoft's entire desktop computer than I would be to get information about a City of Heroes acquisition.  There are known ways to bluff your way to the former, but your odds of bluffing your way into a one-of-a-kind situation are significantly lower.

[kiario]

You are making the assumption that it is NCSoft causing the delay. We have no information and so all of the observations are just supposition.

What if the main deal is complete but the team building the server is taking a while to get it done? Would you buy a game that you couldn't prove was able to run? I keep saying to people that there are a LOT of moving parts in this deal. You have the IP, the game image, the future leasing and all of them done by different teams.

Nate and Irish Girl want to lease the IP, another team wants to run the classic server. So many people are slinging time lines and when they thought it should be done - what should be done? Which part? I would not be surprised in the least if everything is complete except getting the image up and running. My main point is we don't know why it is taking so long and are projecting our dislike of NCSoft onto the situation.

"If" the main deal is complete than honestly, there is no reason to stall information about this anymore. Everyone would be happy to get the info that the deal is done. There would not be anything negative from sharing that info after so long time this has been going on. NDA! Ok accepted that info can not be shared. Deal complete, light the fireworks and celibrate :)

[Burnt Toast]

I can think of a few reasons the team would not disclose that the deal has been signed. I can think of many reasons the deal is taking this long. Personally I would not sign on the dotted line if I was not 100% sure I could actually launch the game...for instance.

"If" the main deal is complete than honestly, there is no reason to stall information about this anymore. Everyone would be happy to get the info that the deal is done. There would not be anything negative from sharing that info after so long time this has been going on. NDA! Ok accepted that info can not be shared. Deal complete, light the fireworks and celibrate :)

[kiario]

I can think of a few reasons the team would not disclose that the deal has been signed. I can think of many reasons the deal is taking this long. Personally I would not sign on the dotted line if I was not 100% sure I could actually launch the game...for instance.

But but, to get the deal the team was to proove that they were capable to run the game!

[Ironwolf]

Contingencies; you may have multiple tasks that need to be done before you can move to the next task.

Let's say NCSoft said ok looks good lets roll and the server guys say wait a minute - we want this thing to be running first before we give you cash. NCSoft says well we can't release the IP freely until we see the money. Server folks, Irish Girl and CoT are all impacted by just this one issue.

Once you actually get the software - to fire up the server image is quite complex.

I guess I can't even imagine all of the parts that must be satisfied so all people are good with the deal. Simple deals are hard - complex deals are insane.

[Ironwolf]

But but, to get the deal the team was to proove that they were capable to run the game!

No, they were given a task to prove competency. We don't know what that task was - NDA and all.

[Arcana]

No, they were given a task to prove competency. We don't know what that task was - NDA and all.

Maybe they needed to prove they could be just as cruel as a legitimate MMO operator, so they decided to make us wait two years to get a playable game and NCSoft gave them a big thumbs up.

[blacksly]

Maybe they needed to prove they could be just as cruel as a legitimate MMO operator, so they decided to make us wait two years to get a playable game and NCSoft gave them a big thumbs up.

Let's hope they don't up the ante by doing that, getting an agreement, then saying "Fuhgeddaboudit".

[Vee]

NCSoft says well we can't release the IP freely until we see the money.

Wait, they're kidnappers now too? I thought Mr. Freely was just down at Moe's like always.

[Remaugen]

Sometimes you gotta just take things out of context. . .

<Snip!> IP freely until we see the money. <Snip!>

It maybe juvenile humor, but I got a good laugh out of it!  ;D

[LadyVamp]

Ironically though, I'd be far more likely to succeed trying to steal the president of NCSoft's entire desktop computer than I would be to get information about a City of Heroes acquisition.  There are known ways to bluff your way to the former, but your odds of bluffing your way into a one-of-a-kind situation are significantly lower.

I would agree it's not likely that social engineering is used as much anymore but then some of the most effective attacks weren't very high tech either.

It's likely he's using a laptop which makes it very easy to walk out with.  We'd probably learn more from grabbing that laptop than sitting in one of their meetings about CoH.

[Arcana]

I would agree it's not likely that social engineering is used as much anymore but then some of the most effective attacks weren't very high tech either.

It's likely he's using a laptop which makes it very easy to walk out with.  We'd probably learn more from grabbing that laptop than sitting in one of their meetings about CoH.

Mid-level executives pretty much always use laptops.  But when you get to the very top, the percentage in large companies drops a bit for a variety of reasons.

[triedac]

Maybe they needed to prove they could be just as cruel as a legitimate MMO operator, so they decided to make us wait two years to get a playable game and NCSoft gave them a big thumbs up.

This might actually be part of it - not the cruel part lol Getting the okay on software, IP dealings and all is one thing, but releasing the server's for access, the way its done, time for release, etc might also be part of the deal. NCSoft knows that this will impact their business so I don't doubt they will have some kind of say on how its brought into the open to some extent. This idea might be farfetched to some, but that doesn't mean it won't happen, or isn't part of it currently.

I hadn't thought of it until your comment, but my company purchased -part- of a product and we had to delay its use as part of the deal as to ensure it didn't minimize the release of other products that the original company had coming out later in the year. Although I don't know of any MMOs that NCsoft has coming out later this year, but its just something I thought of.

[Harq]

I'm more on this thinking/hoping.  I'd like to believe that the deal is done and done. But its being kept hush hush until its ready for open beta.  Cause we all know what will happen when we find out its coming back.  The powers that be will be flooded with answered prayers and god knows how many requests to be part of the testing stage and so on.  Myself included.  The consensus is everyone wants the game now.  I can't fault that cause I'm the same.

Watch, tomorrow it will be revealed that we got it but it will be in development for a bit before closed beta and I will be:

1. Buying a lotto ticket for being right
2. Thank the powers that be and beg on my knees to be a part of the closed beta
3. Throwing a portion of my lotto winnings (think positive) at the team to make the ball roll quicker.

As always, being patiently impatient....

[MegaWatt]

I can wait a bit but the ideas are starting to drive me nuts.....(also realizeing that i will have to spend SOOOO MUCH in the store ot make half the characters i made in Icon >.<)

[Zombie Hustler]

What if they already got the game up and running, but have just been so immersed in playing they completely forgot to let everyone else know?  :'(

[Cailyn Alaynn]

What if they already got the game up and running, but have just been so immersed in playing they completely forgot to let everyone else know?  :'(

-looks up- Huh? What? Nooooo....
-shifty eyes-
;P

[MM3squints]

What if they already got the game up and running, but have just been so immersed in playing they completely forgot to let everyone else know?  :'(

I've been playing the game for the past week... In my head...

[Power Gamer]

I never stopped playing in my heart!

[Solitaire]

I never stopped playing in my heart!

I play every night when I dream  ;) Was doing Frostfire last night, tough but got through it solo!