Jack Emmert re: CoH - "Tell NCsoft to call me"

[Diellan]

Technically, what he said was true. ED did not touch any POWERS. ED did not nerf any powers. However, to the players, the enhancement system is a very important part of the power system. There is no difference to the players between nerfing a power and nerfing the enhancements you can put in a power. He was thinking like a developer, not like a player.

Except that enhancements are actually powers (of Type=BOOST instead of AUTO or CLICK or TOGGLE or whatever)...

[Kaos Arcanna]

I think there's enough evidence to indicate there were several interested buyers in COH when the shutdown was announced, and I think the reaction to the question shows that are still a few out there who would be willing to buy the game if NCSoft would sell.

I don't think they will. Ever.

Not at a price anyone would consider sane, anyway.

What this may show Cryptic (and other companies), however, is that there might be a market in making ANOTHER super hero MMO beside Champions that would be closer to design to COH than is out there now.


That being said, I am still hoping that Phoenix and/or Heroes and Villains makes it to the market and is a resounding success because I think the impact on the gaming community (and developers) would be huge: "You want to close down my favorite game? Fine. Phoenix and Heroes and Villains have shown us we can make our own!"  :)

[dwturducken]

Wow! Five different sets of orange dots in one thread and no modhats!

Whatever should come from this, even given that it cropped up on April Fools' Day, it gave us something positive and hopeful to talk about.

[Sugoi]

It just goes to show you what sort of community we have here...

On April Fools Day we not only get the expected satire (I'd love to be taking part in a 0 XP weekend) grin...

But we also got some hopeful news as well from the original project manager of the game.
(Yes, I know it may come to nothing, but I figure in the worst case scenario we still have other options to choose from when they're ready.)

Ah, the joys of being a pessimist... If your worst fears don't come true, it's a grand world!

[Lightslinger]

Having a few MMO sites run with this story would certainly help out the momentum. I tweeted Massively and I'll see about mmorpg.com too, anyone else that can get the word to the press would help.

[Lightslinger]

#CallJack campaign continued...

-Go here to give Cryptic Studios some love & support, let them know we're behind them and ready to have CoH home again: http://crypticstudios.com/contact

-Send an email here to politely* let NCsoft know about #CallJack and urge them to consider it: recruit@ncsoft.com


*An old southern saying, you get more flies with honey than vinegar. We're trying to open a line of communication, so maybe hold the "hai NCsuckface sell city of heroes to Statesman cause you SUCK" for another venue. You don't have to be a kiss-ass, but be professional.

[Surelle]

I got basic contact info from CO's forums:  http://www.crypticstudios.com/  The Contact link is on the upper right of the page.  If anyone gets contact info that can better target Jack Emmert specifically for a brief moment of his time, please post it here.

I want to have the best aim and the most direct, succinct message I can when I make my plea.  It wouldn't be a bad idea for us to do a brief focus fire volley once we get the best contact info, either.  After all, if Jack was only pandering to the cameras, he does owe us at least one brief conversation for stirring up a little trouble....   :P

PS/ Haha, Lightslinger just beat me by a minute to the general cryptic link, I love it! 

[Quinch]

Do you think that would warrant an official Call To Action?

[Lightslinger]

Do you think that would warrant an official Call To Action?

Not sure what you mean exactly.

Do you mean does Jack's comment warrant a Call to Action? I believe absolutely. Sure we don't have much at all to go on, and it could be a bust, but why not push a little and see where it goes. What could it hurt, can CoH get any more dead?

Or are you simply asking if we should start a Call to Action? That's up to Tony I believe. I'd be glad to help spearhead something if he approves it as something Titan would "officially" like to be involved in.

[Sleepy Wonder]

http://crypticstudios.com/cityofheroes

Somebody 'outta give 'em a memo that City of Heroes is no longer in operation by NCSoft.

I sent a short message to their PR contact though letting them know I'd be a lifetime subscriber if they did acquire the property.

[Quinch]

That's what I meant {just got off work, brain not fully braining at this point}. But on the whole, yes - running with Jack's comment, see if we can get some inertia going, PR and otherwise. I mean, we have a whole panel of famous MMORPG developers saying that CoH shouldn't have died, capped by the game's original creator calling NCsoft to work something out - if that doesn't have opportunity written all over it, I don't know what does.

[Surelle]

Do you think that would warrant an official Call To Action?

It very well could.  But first, we need the best email for contacting Jack Emmert directly.  I mean, we don't even know how often a general public PR email is ever checked or by whom.  And would whomever is finally checking it even be aware of what was said at the recent PAX East MMO panel? 

However, a concentrated, succinct, positive effort directed at Jack may indicate both to him and to PWI that there are still devoted customers who would love the chance to be paying customers again.  Even though Jack kinda dumped CoH by the roadside, he at least was leaving it in maintenance mode and running.  And he above all other people must have seen how hard the players and genre in general took it when the game was shuttered because it was his first baby. 

Maybe in his own mind he sees it as a mess and full of mistakes, being one of its original creators, but the business side of him must know  there's still some money to be made there, both with the original and with a sequel.  He must know there was one underway in some form; it was public knowledge to a degree, and plus, some of the Paragon Studios gang wound up over at Cryptic when PS went down anyway.

So what is the most direct way of contacting Jack, anyone know?

[Lightslinger]

That's what I meant {just got off work, brain not fully braining at this point}. But on the whole, yes - running with Jack's comment, see if we can get some inertia going, PR and otherwise. I mean, we have a whole panel of famous MMORPG developers saying that CoH shouldn't have died, capped by the game's original creator calling NCsoft to work something out - if that doesn't have opportunity written all over it, I don't know what does.

All this x100

Yep, if Tony approves an official Call to Action here at Titan I'll get behind it and keep the campaign going.

This seems like it would fit under TF Hail Mary but I understand if they don't want to co-opt an ongoing project.

[Lightslinger]

It very well could.  But first, we need the best email for contacting Jack Emmert directly.  I mean, we don't even know how often a general public PR email is ever checked or by whom.  And would whomever is finally checking it even be aware of what was said at the recent PAX East MMO panel? 

However, a concentrated, succinct, positive effort directed at Jack may indicate both to him and to PWI that there are still devoted customers who would love the chance to be paying customers again.  Even though Jack kinda dumped CoH by the roadside, he at least was leaving it in maintenance mode and running.  And he above all other people must have seen how hard the players and genre in general took it when the game was shuttered because it was his first baby. 

Maybe in his own mind he sees it as a mess and full of mistakes, being one of its original creators, but the business side of him must know  there's still some money to be made there, both with the original and with a sequel.  He must know there was one underway in some form; it was public knowledge to a degree, and plus, some of the Paragon Studios gang wound up over at Cryptic when PS went down anyway.

So what is the most direct way of contacting Jack, anyone know?

I don't know Jack's contact information, and even if we did have it I'd suggest keeping it to one person so they could start a conversation, as opposed to bombing Jack's email.

For right now I do believe bombing Cryptic's PR link above will get at least some notice. You can also contact them on twitter @CrypticStudios

Companies watch their twitter accounts, give em a shout there too. I'm not disagreeing with you though, getting Jack to elaborate on this would be awesome, I think we need to get Massively or mmorpg.com to ask him. Imagine if he told them "Yeah, I definitely want to talk City of Heroes, lets get it back home and back online." THAT would be some amazing publicity for us.

[Samuraiko]

I don't know Jack's contact information, and even if we did have it I'd suggest keeping it to one person so they could start a conversation, as opposed to bombing Jack's email.

For right now I do believe bombing Cryptic's PR link above will get at least some notice. You can also contact them on twitter @CrypticStudios

Companies watch their twitter accounts, give em a shout there too. I'm not disagreeing with you though, getting Jack to elaborate on this would be awesome, I think we need to get Massively or mmorpg.com to ask him. Imagine if he told them "Yeah, I definitely want to talk City of Heroes, lets get it back home and back online." THAT would be some amazing publicity for us.

As I mentioned on the other thread, I've already forwarded this video to Eliot Lefebvre (the regular columnist for COH and CO) to see if he might find it a story worth pursuing.

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

[Sajaana]

CoH going back home, to Cryptic, would the best option for everyone.

It's good for Cryptic, because it allows them to get another property--one that was, arguably, theirs all along--without having to develop one from scratch.

It's good for NCsoft, because Cryptic has the financial backing, and NCsoft won't have to worry about any residual IP or proprietary issues with Cryptic that could come up if selling to a party outside Cryptic.

It's good for us, because they know the code, they know the concept, and could further refine and develop the game.

[Surelle]

That's what I meant {just got off work, brain not fully braining at this point}. But on the whole, yes - running with Jack's comment, see if we can get some inertia going, PR and otherwise. I mean, we have a whole panel of famous MMORPG developers saying that CoH shouldn't have died, capped by the game's original creator calling NCsoft to work something out - if that doesn't have opportunity written all over it, I don't know what does.

Haha, that's what I love about you guys-- always in motion!

And let's not forget that even an NCSoft employee (from Carbine) was on said board, and commented that CoH shouldn't have closed down!  And that the original question was about how MMO makers plan for the longevity of their titles!

Yeah, NCSoft, someone should definitely be contacting YOU, too, and pointing all this out for you!  What's YOUR long-term plan for keeping your games (the few left and the new ones coming) running?  What do YOU think about this PAX East panel, and wouldn't it do your horrible reputation some good to finally make the CoH debacle right?

We shouldn't forget NCSoft in all this, either.  After all, Jack said for them to call him.  I doubt they're gonna do that.  But somehow we have to bring these two sides together and get a deal going.

[Lightslinger]

As I mentioned on the other thread, I've already forwarded this video to Eliot Lefebvre (the regular columnist for COH and CO) to see if he might find it a story worth pursuing.

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

I missed that, thanks Ko!

[dwturducken]

A couple of things to point out:

The most recent post from Cryptic on their Twitter feed (@CrypticStudios) says that they will be attending New York ComiCon. In 2009!

The "Following" list is a goldmine of high-mickety-mucks at Cryptic. Of note: Cryptic COO Craig Zinkievich (@CrypticZinc). Allso, a few folks who run or are high up in other studios.

Not suggesting Twitter-bombing anyone, but it's a starting point.

Obviously, though, #CallJack should be directed at NCSoft. Also, I'm reluctant to see the actual members of Team Wildcard diverted from prepping the package for Google. Once that's done, maybe the decision can be made whether it needs to be sent or wait and see if #CallJack gets any traction. That's a strategic call that's above my paygrade, though.

[Lightslinger]

#CallJack Press Bomb: Let 'em know this is something we want to know more about!

At the following sites you can send a tip:

mmorpg.com: http://www.mmorpg.com/contactus.cfm
Massively: http://massively.joystiq.com/contact/tips/

You can also pester Massively on twitter @Massively

At Ten Ton Hammer and MMOSITE you can email the following addresses with a tip:

tthnews@tentonhammer.com
news@mmosite.com


I'd personally just copy and paste the same short, succint message to each place.