Call to Action: Write to NCsoft

[Dr Shadow]

No news is ... no news?

I had a similar conversation on vent. My friends are not big on forum posting, here or on CoH boards. Their concern is that NcSoft has made the announcement and is just biding their time until November 30th. The more time that passes without any communication bewtween NcSOft and CoH public at large the more the sentiment is going to grow.

Maybe that is what NcSOft is hoping for. No communication isn't  making them look any worse.

[emu265]

No news is ... no news?

I had a similar conversation on vent. My friends are not big on forum posting, here or on CoH boards. Their concern is that NcSoft has made the announcement and is just biding their time until November 30th. The more time that passes without any communication bewtween NcSOft and CoH public at large the more the sentiment is going to grow.

Maybe that is what NcSOft is hoping for. No communication isn't  making them look any worse.

Well there's no way they aren't aware of what we've been doing.  100+ news articles and a 3,000+ player rally have to be getting their attention.  If not then someone over there isn't doing their job. 

No news is no news.  There are endless explanations for this.  However, as far as I know, NCSoft is still in talks with the former Paragon Studios (and apparently investors) concerning the future of the game.  I imagine our first bit of communication from them will include the provisions of those.

Ever the optimist, I prefer to tell myself that NCSoft is simply biding their time to make the best use of the press they're getting.  Whether that means waiting until our media momentum is at it's peak to announce that the game will be saved in some capacity OR waiting until it's died down to say "screw you" again.

Either way, we CANNOT allow them to stall out our efforts.  So do not give up!  Just look at it this way, no bad news is good news! :)

[SkyStreak]

I sent my letter last week certified mail with return receipt requested, and just got the receipt back signed by 'Stephanie Keyes.'

[Rain Maker]

Better late than never, right? I mailed the following letter to NCsoft's Seattle office today, certified, return receipt requested.

September 11th 2012
Mr. Taek Jin Kim, Chief Executive Officer
NCsoft Corporation
1501 4th Avenue, Suite 2050
Seattle, WA 98101

Re: City of Heroes Closure

Dear Mr. Kim,

I am writing you in regards to NCsoft's recent decision to shutter Paragon Studios and permanently cease support for City of Heroes.

Few can fully comprehend the pressures you face as the CEO of an international company and I trust that this decision was not made without thorough care and consideration. After all, NCsoft has a fiduciary duty to maximize its shareholders' investment. And as I am not privy to NCsoft's internal finances, I cannot fairly judge the business merits of such a decision.

However, I encourage you to be mindful of the other implications of NCsoft's recent actions. The closure has all ready left several talented developers jobless and will soon deprive thousands of City of Heroes' supporters from not only a beloved video game, but also from a longstanding online community. Further, the sudden closure is quickly becoming a veritable public relations nightmare and will almost certainly and irreversible damage NCsoft's reputation in the minds of the Western gaming audience.

Yet NCsoft retains the opportunity to turn these unfortunate circumstances into a boon of consumer good will and loyalty. Here, NCsoft has several options to prove that it truly cares about its customers in the Western market. First and most advantageous, NCsoft could simply choose to sell or license the game for a reasonable price to someone willing to continue its operation and development. Alternatively, NCsoft could allow the players to privately operate their own severs and maintenance.

Whatever NCsoft decides, I implore you not to let the fantastic lore and characters of City of Heroes be forever banished to corporate oblivion. Please do not let millions of hours and limitless creativity be all for naught. Reward your most loyal western supporters, forever elevate NCSoft's reputation in America and beyond and allow City of Heroes to continue on.

Very truly yours,

MM

[Victoria Victrix]

Are they?

I'm asking because the media focus in on us mostly because there is so little new information being officially released from anywhere else. I respect a confidential source, especially now that media are starting to look here, but someone has to ask.  I'd much rather ask as a friendly than let a nay-sayer or even a troll be the one to do it.

We have Hit Streak's word on that at the rally.  Paindancer believes CNN is going to accept his article as a mainpage thing rather than the CNN Blog.  Again, I would urge you to turn attention to BUSINESS zines and blogs, because this is new; businesses have been aggressively pursuing Social Network strategies, but that can go both ways.  When they give us access...they give us access to give them a black eye.  This is the non-gamer angle that will interest anyone who goes online.

[Rain Maker]

  This is the non-gamer angle that will interest anyone who goes online.

I agree with this wholeheartedly. I think our story is at the very interesting intersection of social media, economics and online gaming. If spun correctly, it could make for some very compelling reading. Personally, I'd love to see CNET, Wired, or The Wall Street Journal  cover it.

[eabrace]

I agree with this wholeheartedly. I think our story is at the very interesting intersection of social media, economics and online gaming. If spun correctly, it could make for some very compelling reading. Personally, I'd love to see CNET, Wired, or The Wall Street Journal  cover it.

If we managed to get into the WSJ, I think my head would explode.

[Victoria Victrix]

I agree with this wholeheartedly. I think our story is at the very interesting intersection of social media, economics and online gaming. If spun correctly, it could make for some very compelling reading. Personally, I'd love to see CNET, Wired, or The Wall Street Journal  cover it.

You hear that, Paindancer?

[worldshaking00]

I mailed this to Korea and Seattle (certified/return/restricted). I am usure it will make a difference, but I am happy to lend a help the game I love. I would kick myself for not attempting it and the game did have its finale.

{left off the address here as we all know it by now}
Dear Sir,

I am writing this letter to you in the hopes that you will reconsider your company's decision to sunset the City of Heroes MMORPG. As a paying player of the game for over eight years, the game has brought much enjoyment, diversion, and recreation to my life. I have met many people playing in the game who have become friends of mine outside of the game. Many of us have gotten together at local gaming cafes to have City of Heroes Meet and Greets, so we can put faces to the global names we have spent years playing with. This game is more than electrons and data storage – it is also about the community your game has helped to develop and the lives it has enriched.

There is still so much that this game has to offer. Paragon Studios had shown us fantastic additions and improvements to the game, just in Issue 24's release. They have done a remarkable job in creating a game that is fun to play, truly entertaining, and sustainable. Paragon Studios had also promised us amazing new storylines and continued character enrichment with no end in sight of them letting up. The Incarnate System and the Signature Story Arcs are giving the player base the ultimate gamer experience – we are the ones becoming the "movers and shakers" in the game world. No other game out there has been so bold and visionary, and it would be a shame to discard such innovation. City of Heroes is truly the best MMORPG.

Your time is valuable, so I leave you with this. Your corporation's mottos include "to make people in this world happier," to "create real value to make progress and deliver the best to our customers," and to "not hesitate doing what is right." Permanently ending the City of Heroes franchise accomplishes none of these. I implore you to find a solution to keep the City of Heroes game alive, by any option available. The power is in your hands.

Thank-you for your time,

{my info}

[Zapping]

If we managed to get into the WSJ, I think my head would explode.

I don't know what its like in Korea, but there is a saying here that if its not in the WSJ then as far as business is concerned it didn't happen  (paraphrasing). 
So how do we make that happen?  I don't have much of a press list, but I'll check with some of my media guys to see if they know anyone there.

[Kerr-chung]

I'm gonna cry, you are AWESOME!

[Vulpy]

You hear that, Paindancer?

I'm no journalist. And I'm certainly no businesscritter. But if we cross our iReport with the story mentioned in this thread on the main forums (fora? I've always been partial to "fora."), we might get some traction as part of a larger piece on how video games are apparently undergoing the same top-down conglomerating that I'm seeing in Big Pharma.

That's my best idea on getting into WSJ, though.

[ClanXanathos]

Oh don't get too impressed.  99% of this ploy being successful is going to depend on them buying that I am just that impressive.  I'm not that impressed with me, but I am going to get the spouse to ramp up the *dazzledazzle BS jazzhands* factor in the letter.  And I am going to cross all possible digits that it works.

EDIT:  This has the jazzhands seal of approval.

                        Mr. Taek Jin Kim
                        Chief Executive Officer
                        NCsoft Corporation
                        1501 4th Avenue, Suite 2050
                        Seattle, WA

Mercedes Lackey
_____________
_____________
_____________
_____________
www.mercedeslackey.com

Dear Mr. Kim;

This, like so many other letters, is a plea to save Paragon Studios and the City of Heroes, City of Villains, and Going Rogue games.  And like so many others, I could tell you about the thousands of hours I have spent there with friends, the thousands of dollars I have spent within the games, or even how this game allows my husband and I to "meet" and play nearly every night with my father in law, the retired, and multi-medaled Master Sergeant Jim Dixon formerly of Delta Force.  I could even tell you how this game is the only one ever to interest him.

Instead, I am going to make you an offer.  I am a multi-award-winning, New York Times bestselling fantasy and science fiction author.  And I will offer myself and my likeness to endorse and advertise, exclusively, all NCSoft products for a minimum term of five years and a maximum term of ten years, for no compensation or payment, if you will make it possible for the game and Paragon Studios (even in a reduced capacity) to continue to function, either once again under the NCSoft umbrella, or until a new owner comes forward.

I had in mind something like this:  Advertisements with a photo of myself, imposed over a transparent image of one of my more striking characters, both of us in the same pose.  Text: "I am New York Times bestselling fantasy author Mercedes Lackey.  Creating fantastic realms is hard work, and when I relax, I like to play in someone else's world.  I play NCSoft Games.  Anything else is unimaginable."   The tagline for the ad campaign would be "NCSoft: anything else is unimaginable." 

I hope, sir, that I have caught your interest, and you will consider this proposition.

Yours truly




Mercedes Lackey

Y'see, this kind of thing is why you're one of my favorite authors ever.

... that and unlike with most, I can and will gleefully re-read most everything you've written until the pages start falling out of the book.

[MagickBear1]

i just wanted to pass this post card along from Save Our City Of Heroes on facebook



https://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s34/magickbear1/Save%20Our%20City%20Of%20Heroes/SOCOH1.png

https://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s34/magickbear1/Save%20Our%20City%20Of%20Heroes/SOCOH2.png

[Daimyoshi]

I sent my letter today.

[jimdog33]

Letter written, mailing out Monday.

Sorry for the lateness, my wife & I just had our first baby and I didn't even know about any of this until I logged into CoH today and read my SG msg.

What a total pile of.......

[ROBOKiTTY]

There's one other thing we might do. What about Korean players, in Korea or otherwise? Also Chinese and Japanese players.

Since NC don't seem too bothered about the North American market, English-language correspondence might be making a limited impact.

However, they are Korean and care about the Korean market. Letters written in real (i.e. not machine-translated) Korean, preferably from actual Korean players, would doubtless have a greater impact. Messages like those may be more likely to reach executives in unaltered form. Chinese/Japanese-language correspondence from Chinese/Japanese players may similarly appeal to their interest in the broader East Asian market.

For the rest of us, we might be living in the wrong market for NC, but writing them in Korean can't hurt. If we have native Korean speakers here, perhaps a translation effort could be coordinated.

This might be a long shot, so no need to pester acquaintances/strangers (unless you want to 8)).

[Render112]

선생님,

                 파라곤 스튜디오 나 영웅 프랜차이즈의 도시를 닫하지 마십시오. 시간 내 주셔서 감사합니다.


Dear Sir,

                Please do not close Paragon Studios or the City of Heroes franchise. Thank for your time.

Google translate is ok but I am sure in SOME strange way it could be interpreted to say 'City of Heroes. Tastes like chicken' or something wierd.  :o

[TimtheEnchanter]

I don't know what its like in Korea, but there is a saying here that if its not in the WSJ then as far as business is concerned it didn't happen  (paraphrasing). 
So how do we make that happen?  I don't have much of a press list, but I'll check with some of my media guys to see if they know anyone there.

Emm... the WSJ? Why would they? Doesn't that paper cater to all the people who don't give 2 ****s about the little guy?

Our campaign screams digital Occupy. I don't think they'd touch it with a 10-meter pole.

[Bliz]

Sent off my letter and masks today.