NCSoft Stockwatch

[dwturducken]

Someone on this board uses the screenname "Roderick." He hasn't posted much, but I've had to fight the urge to post this when I does. I dont' want to come off as mocking him, but I have to go watch it every time. :)

[Victoria Victrix]

Larry speculates that all is not well in ArenaNetLand.  We've talked to several people who know folks who work there, and there is growing unhappiness about the Edicts from On High.  And now NCSoft announces in the corporate meeting that they are putting out a GW2 expansion which....they aren't.  He thinks the immediate announcement from ArenaNet of "No we aren't," is the first sign of overt rebellion.

I will say that if they buy themselves out, I will be the first to buy a package (even though I have no intentions of playing) to support them.

[General Idiot]

If they get away from NCsoft the first thing I'll do is buy a pile of gems to spend on stuff, probably transmutation stones.

[JanessaVR]

I'll second that.  If they break free of NCLimp, I'll happily buy a copy of GW2 from them, even if I probably won't play it.  I could give it away to someone here.  :)

[NecrotechMaster]

if they get free of ncsoft, its very likely ncsoft will go under very fast since GW is one of their biggest sellers

they could float along on lineage for awhile but it certainly wouldnt last

[TimtheEnchanter]

If they get free, I'll have to send NCsoft a sympathy letter.

"Sorry you lost your game."

[Roderick]

Someone on this board uses the screenname "Roderick." He hasn't posted much, but I've had to fight the urge to post this when I does. I dont' want to come off as mocking him, but I have to go watch it every time. :)

I had the same handle on the official forums, too. And that was posted in response to me a couple times there, too. I've got a pretty tolerant sense pf humor, so as long as it doesn't come across deliberately mean, I probably won't care.
It's strange that I even saw that though. As you say, I'm not a frequent poster. And no, I wasn't ego searching. I read Mercedes Lackey's posts every couple days, and happened to catch my name in the post above one of hers. Go figure... I never knew I was an internet celebrity.  ;P

Also... I think you have a video to go watch.

[SARobb]

Also... I think you have a video to go watch.

*snicker* well played.

[Teutonic Rogue]

... what's with all the funny looks?

Check the mirror? You may have been given a fake nose. ;p

[Codewalker]

Knowing NCSoft, even if there is a buyout clause, unless it's very well worded (and I doubt NCSoft's lawyers would have accepted it if it was), they'll find a loophole to set the price high enough so that it's not feasible for ArenaNet to ever exercise it.

Especially given how much money it's made them lately.

[Quinch]

Things get bad enough and anyone will be willing to walk out of a job.

[FatherXmas]

Knowing NCSoft, even if there is a buyout clause, unless it's very well worded (and I doubt NCSoft's lawyers would have accepted it if it was), they'll find a loophole to set the price high enough so that it's not feasible for ArenaNet to ever exercise it.

Especially given how much money it's made them lately.

No, back when ArenaNet was bought in 2002, NCsoft was a much smaller company only having Lineage and Lineage II and looking toward the west as an untapped market.  Aion wasn't in development yet.  NCsoft got into publishing agreements with Cryptic and NetDevil to help finance those games development.  But they saw ArenaNet as a company of ex-Blizzard employees.  Those who worked on Diablo, Warcraft and Starcraft.  Games that were popular in Korea.  I would imagine that during the negotiations to buy them NCsoft would have bent over backwards just to get such talent under their roof and if that meant a favorable escape clause that would have let ArenaNet to regain control of themselves, possibly even their IP, so be it.  NCsoft needed fresh product soon™.

However after Aion's success, NCsoft no longer had to be so accommodating with their interactions.  They had successfully created a massively successful new MMO internally.  And when you are no longer as desperate as you once were, you quickly become less accommodating.

[TonyV]

If they get away from NCsoft the first thing I'll do is buy a pile of gems to spend on stuff, probably transmutation stones.

I would pay ArenaNet $1,000 to go indie by starting the letter notifying NCsoft with the following sentence: "ArenaNet is incredibly proud of NCsoft, but unfortunately, the continued support of NCsoft no longer fits within our long term goals for the company."

[NecrotechMaster]

nice one tony lol

i still think that if arenanet wanted to go indie that ncsoft would be in some pretty hot water, their NA share of games will be effectively dead

[Surelle]

nice one tony lol

i still think that if arenanet wanted to go indie that ncsoft would be in some pretty hot water, their NA share of games will be effectively dead

To be honest, though, it is apparent that NCSoft could care less about NA and EU.

But isn't the GW series crazy mad popular in Asia as well?  I seem to remember tons of Koreans overtaking the original GWs' PvP arenas back when I played it at launch.   Now there would be your difference in the "caring" department for NC.  I would think they'd do anything within their power to keep ArenaNet and the GW franchise.

[JaguarX]

To be honest, though, it is apparent that NCSoft could care less about NA and EU.

Indeed.

[FatherXmas]

To be honest, though, it is apparent that NCSoft could care less about NA and EU.

But isn't the GW series crazy mad popular in Asia as well?  I seem to remember tons of Koreans overtaking the original GWs' PvP arenas back when I played it at launch.   Now there would be your difference in the "caring" department for NC.  I would think they'd do anything within their power to keep ArenaNet and the GW franchise.

Yes GW was localized for a variety of Asian countries including Korea, Taiwan, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand.

GW2 is now being localized for Asia, currently it's only available in NA and EU.

And while it's true that they are down to Lineage 2 and Aion in NA, and they aren't doing particularly well (seen any advertising for those MMOs in NA?) it is reported that they are revamping the missions in B&S to make the game more suited to NA and EU than a simple language translation.  Don't know if this means less grindy, less team dependent, less PvP targeted, don't know I guess we'll see.

I think every MMO company would love to have a game that's equally popular in the East and the West.

[General Idiot]

it is reported that they are revamping the missions in B&S to make the game more suited to NA and EU than a simple language translation.  Don't know if this means less grindy, less team dependent, less PvP targeted, don't know I guess we'll see.

The same was reported about Aion before it launched in NA. It proved to be completely untrue, and I doubt it'll be any different this time around.

[Taceus Jiwede]

I would pay ArenaNet $1,000 to go indie by starting the letter notifying NCsoft with the following sentence: "ArenaNet is incredibly proud of NCsoft, but unfortunately, the continued support of NCsoft no longer fits within our long term goals for the company."

Hell yes, I would throw a $1000 in with you Tony.

[Mister Bison]

I would pay ArenaNet $1,000 to go indie by starting the letter notifying NCsoft with the following sentence: "ArenaNet is incredibly proud of NCsoft, but unfortunately, the continued support of NCsoft no longer fits within our long term goals for the company."

And does the letter end with :

We wanted to let you know that your decisions have been appreciated and your designs have been taken into serious consideration. We appreciate the overwhelmingly constructive and positive messages in the annoucements, events, and closures you've enacted in support of our games. It has not been an easy decision for us to free ArenaNet® and prepare to sever it from NCSoft. We've exhausted all options including the boycott and petitions, but in the end, efforts to do so were not successful. City of Heroes, Guild Wars, Auto Assault, Exteel all have a special place in all of our hearts, and we want to ensure their reputations and the memories we share for those games continue on the highest note for ever on.

Once again, we will be enjoying supporting the game you could not afford to, and we encourage executives and fans of these franchises to join forces and enjoy their working time in a better management.
(funny the source has been taken down from the official ncsoft website)