Any chance of Brian Clayton/his original backers buying CoH now?

[Surelle]

Like the sign says, is there any chance that Brian Clayton and his original backers could buy CoH now that NCSoft has publicly changed their position about potentially selling the IP?

I would have been happy and  thrilled to see him and any part of Paragon Studios back in action before, and personally I don't need Disney long shots or what have you to be happy if it's just them bringing it back instead (or even working on a sequel in tandem with running CoH).

Has anyone heard from Brian since this new Korea Times article about NCSoft broke, or from any of the other perspective buyers that initially made motions to buy CoH?  I wonder what they're thinking now!  I hope they haven't given up!  I'd hate to wait months for some squeak from the mouse (which everyone admits is a wild hail mary pass anyway), only to hear nothing and have our public momentum (and NCSoft's current state of the sweats) drop off....

[corvus1970]

Considering that the article is pretty much brand-spankin' new, I doubt he's made any comment as yet. However I can appreciate your enthusiasm.

Me, I'm what one would call "cautiously optimistic". For a cynic like me, that's a pretty big deal! :D

[vishalicious]

Hi. Can someone please post a link to the Korea Times article that says that NCSoft has changed their position about selling COH? I've been unable to find it since seeing this post.

Thanks!

[Merseine]

Hi. Can someone please post a link to the Korea Times article that says that NCSoft has changed their position about selling COH? I've been unable to find it since seeing this post.

Thanks!

Here's the top post that starts the thread:
http://www.cohtitan.com/forum/index.php/topic,6753.msg84452.html#msg84452

[The Fifth Horseman]

Except it doesn't. All we get is "nothing has been decided".

NCsoft's Seoul-based spokesman Kim Yo-han said that terminating the service was a "strategic decision," adding that "nothing had been decided on selling the game or other action afterwards."

[vishalicious]

Thanks, Merseine!

[edit] Actually, that IS the article I read after searching their site. I overlooked the potential importance of the statement from Kim Yo-han.

[Surelle]

Except it doesn't. All we get is "nothing has been decided".

Yes, but previously they *had* decided publicly in a statement both on the launcher and on the website, that as of October 2nd, 2012, all options for selling the IP had been exhausted and they weren't selling, period.

So you've got to admit that this is a very large turnaround, especially for Korean business and culture.  The fact that they would say anything at all in variance with a previous statement, and to a major news outlet in their own country no less, is just huge.

Now if only people step up to the plate to buy CoH and soon....before all this energy, attention and forward momentum evaporates and everybody moves on....

[Surelle]

And I forgot to add that I've been in sales for 30 years, and I can tell you this:  Timing is everything in a sale! 

I also notice that Melissa Bianco has not altered her CoH tenure into the past tense on either her main website or on LinkedIn, even though Posi recently did.  I wonder if Melissa and Bryan are still trying to finagle something in the background?  Has anyone twittered them these new links (Mercedes' fabulous interview with the Korea Times and the other one)?

[johnrobey]

I'm rather thinking that if NCSoft doesn't sell the rights to CoH, that Mr. Miller and Ms. Bianco may soon be bringing something to fill the void.  Sure there are tons of MMO's but just about every post I've seen about other MMORPGs from CoH'ers talk about how any why these others don't compare favorably to what we had here.

[Victoria Victrix]

I talked with Brian this afternoon.

Although he did not say so, I have the feeling that his original venture capitalists pulled up and took their money elsewhere after the first "end of negotiations."   This is why Team Wildcard is going after other fish; unless you know someone with about 10 mill in their pocket to spend, in which case I will put you in touch with him directly.  No, that is not how much City will cost, but getting it back up and running will require a couple to several months, and capital to keep the roofs over peoples' heads while they do it.

DO NOT FREAK.  He's going to be ok.  He's actually getting something that pays less than some of the ones that he was offered because he wants to be able to jump in and help on any potential negotiations.  He also reiterated that he can get the "band" back together, a core group at least, if a sale happens.  Let's give him a big gratz for not having to go on unemployment, please.

I've also talked with Melissa, quite a bit.  She has not changed her status because she does not yet have a job.

The takeaway here for us is that if something is going to get done, we have to do it; our beloved devs have families to support and can't devote their time to it.

And in a moment of Schadenfreude I invite you to enjoy, NCSoft is currently advertising on their job openings page for a new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at NCSoft West.  Yes, it looks karma is lowering the hammer.

[Adrenalin]

Thanks VV. :) A big congrats to Brian and prayers for Melissa to be able to enjoy this time off and get a job she wants as quickly as she wants.

Am I being too deluded to think that maybe a gift basket with cape and mask along with a letter to the new CFO of NCWest  when they're hired could do something for us?

[Tahquitz]

And in a moment of Schadenfreude I invite you to enjoy, NCSoft is currently advertising on their job openings page for a new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at NCSoft West.  Yes, it looks like they are replacing the guy that decided City needed to be closed--or at least, the one that shut the door on negotiations.

Joe Swanson: HA!

[Ezuka]

Joe Swanson: HA!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avYnhH95u_0

[Copper Cockroach]

Thanks VV. :) A big congrats to Brian and prayers for Melissa to be able to enjoy this time off and get a job she wants as quickly as she wants.

Am I being too deluded to think that maybe a gift basket with cape and mask along with a letter to the new CFO of NCWest  when they're hired could do something for us?

I'd suggest giving the gift basket to a homeless person for Christmas. Anything sent to NCsoft will go straight in the Dumpster, including the unopened letter.

[johnrobey]

I talked with Brian this afternoon.

Although he did not say so, I have the feeling that his original venture capitalists pulled up and took their money elsewhere after the first "end of negotiations."   This is why Team Wildcard is going after other fish; unless you know someone with about 10 mill in their pocket to spend, in which case I will put you in touch with him directly.  No, that is not how much City will cost, but getting it back up and running will require a couple to several months, and capital to keep the roofs over peoples' heads while they do it.

DO NOT FREAK.  He got a job.  He actually took one that paid less than some of the ones that he was offered because he wants to be able to jump in and help on any potential negotiations.  He also reiterated that he can get the "band" back together, a core group at least, if a sale happens.  Let's give him a big gratz for not having to go on unemployment, please.

I've also talked with Melissa, quite a bit.  She has not changed her status because she does not yet have a job.

The takeaway here for us is that if something is going to get done, we have to do it; our beloved devs have families to support and can't devote their time to it.

And in a moment of Schadenfreude I invite you to enjoy, NCSoft is currently advertising on their job openings page for a new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at NCSoft West.  Yes, it looks like they are replacing the guy that decided City needed to be closed--or at least, the one that shut the door on negotiations.

All in all, this is great news.  Thanks for sharing it with us.   :)

[Triplash]

I talked with Brian this afternoon.

...

DO NOT FREAK.  He's going to be ok.  He's actually getting something that pays less than some of the ones that he was offered because he wants to be able to jump in and help on any potential negotiations.  He also reiterated that he can get the "band" back together, a core group at least, if a sale happens.  Let's give him a big gratz for not having to go on unemployment, please.

First off, it's great news that Brian's found work. I'm really glad for him!

Also, I must say, this is inspiring a lot of confidence in me right now. He probably knows more about this situation than the rest of us put together, and he sees enough potential in this effort to take a second choice job so he'll have time to deal with it if it works. If nothing else, it's a very comforting thought.

But mostly though, congrats to Crosscheck on getting a Paycheck :D

[ohms]

Here's hoping Melissa takes getting a new job to the next level ;)