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

[HEATSTROKE]

is there any progress on someone contacting Jack to see if he was serious or not?

[Surelle]

is there any progress on someone contacting Jack to see if he was serious or not?

I put a link to the twitch broadcast into an existing thread about this subject on the Champions Online forum, and posted a couple times hoping to keep it bumped so he'd see.  I also posted on the official Neverwinter Nights board in an already-existing thread about it as well.  So we're not the only ones who heard what Jack said, and who'd like to know if he was kidding here.

So far, nothing but crickets.  I kinda figured when I first saw it that Jack was just jumping on the bandwagon for a few sympathy points from the audience (after all, everyone knows it originally was his baby and it put him on the map, so everyone would expect him to say *something*).  I guess I was right, unfortunately.  Unless he doesn't frequent any of his boards at all, ever, which, judging by the reactions of the longstanding CO players on their boards, could well be the case.

I don't have him on speed dial either, though, as TonyV would say.   ;)    But if someone can get an email contact, I wouldn't mind following up.

I did send out emails to the gaming sites listed in our call to action, but I guess they figured he was ultimately kidding around too.

[SeaLily]

Jack's the CEO of Cryptic these days, he may be too busy to be reading boards anymore.  This isn't like back during his CoH time when he was the lead dev and would get a lot out of reading stuff- he's the guy above those guys now.  I'd be surprised if he's able to keep up with any of the Cryptic boards at all.

Someone who's got a direct sort of line to him, knows him from wherever or actually works at Cryptic in some capacity, they'd be our best bet.

[Rae]

But if someone can get an email contact, I wouldn't mind following up.

I put in a press inquiry on behalf of a magazine I write for now and then. If I get a response, I'll be sure to share.

[dwturducken]

I wouldn't say there have been crickets. The response to this has been the same as to any thread that I've seen on the CO forum: pessimism from the community and nothing from anyone who draws a paycheck from Cryptic/PWE. I can't emphasize enough the negative tone on those forums. Their spirits are lower than ours, and I think it's because they still have a game that's getting no attention.

If it could make it into the next Ask Cryptic, it would be interesting to see what response, if any, it gets...

[adarict]

Ok.  So I read the forum thread here...  Watched the video...

I really do not have a issue with Jack running CoH again if it does work out.  But I am kind of biased on this, as I met him when CoH came out and we had a good discussion over CoH, and I was really impressed with him at the time.  Also, as for the playerbase disregard he had.  He sent me a personal note when my daughter died, since he did remember her from when we met at Chicago WW.  Yes, he did have an ego and he wanted to do what he wanted.  I was a little peeved at his attitude at the time.  But...

People do change.  I tried CO, but it just does not work for me.  I tried STO when it was in beta.  Cryptic has done a wonderful job with STO.  I have the lifetime sub on that game, and it just keeps getting better in my opinion.

If somehow NC listens and Jack does pull off the deal, I would be fine with Cryptic back at the helm for CoX.

I don't doubt that Jack would be happy to get CoX back.  I don't think it is at all likely, but still.  mostly, I just wanted to comment on your story about your daughter.  As much as people badmouth Jack, your story is not an isolated incident.  My brother was Kiyotee/Coyote, the one added to the game.  After he died, and I found out that he had been added to the game, I signed up and bought 3 subscription (me, my wife, and my son).  I sent Jack a PM to thank him for adding my brother to the game.  A couple of things about this exchange.  One, Jack remembered my brother and had very nice things to say about him.  He also did not try to take credit for adding him to the game.  He could easily have, but he was very open about it mostly being done by other devs and because of the community.  That all he really did was approve it.  To me, Jack will always have a special place as a dev.

As far as his design choices etc...  I don't know.  It is another thing I have never understood all the hate, other than his poor communication skills.  ED was great.  I started out right before I3.  If it weren't for ED, my poor Emp/Elec defender would have ended up either being a healer, or a mediocre character.  With ED and moreso with IOs, he became a sapping machine. 

As far as his communication skills being lacking, well I don't really see that as a bad thing either.  Yes, he had a bad case of foot-in-mouth quite often, but on the other hand, at least he was actually active with the community.

[dwturducken]

Along the lines of Coyote, there has been a discussion of a former CoH player turned CO player who has taken ill. Similar discussion of adding him to the game have cropped up through the thread. I haven't been sure if I should ring it up over here, or where, because I wasn't sure if I was actually remembering him well enough to be able to relay the info correctly. I'll just post the link to the thread, here:

http://co-forum.perfectworld.com/showthread.php?t=217141

Now, how does it relate? Whether or not any of the old-timers remember playing with Crimson Bolt/Angel of Caine (he evidently used both on CoH), if we showed the same sort of support for him that we did for Moonyfire's dad (and I'm NOT trying to be opportunistic, here!), there is no way that would escape notice.

[Harermuir]

I dont know what to think about it ... What COH really needs now is a publisher. Emmett is a developper, not a publisher. It's nice to see some interest in our game, but what can he really do ? I d rather had something from PWE director.

[Surelle]

I dont know what to think about it ... What COH really needs now is a publisher. Emmett is a developper, not a publisher. It's nice to see some interest in our game, but what can he really do ? I d rather had something from PWE director.

Well, yeah....but even moreso than that, we need NCSoft to get in on the deal. 

[Ampithere]

Well, yeah....but even moreso than that, we need NCSoft to get in on the deal.

The most difficult task of all. Getting them to sell things requires them to be reasonable. I picture NCSoft as the kid that won't share their old toys. They sit in the toybox gathering dust, but if someone else wants to play with it that's just not going to happen.

Someone with art skills draw that as a meme  :P

[Kistulot]

I dont know what to think about it ... What COH really needs now is a publisher.

Honestly, one reality we have to face as it gets further and further from the day the servers fell, is that even if NCSoft sells, and the person buying is awesome, people's lives haven't paused waiting for it.

At least I hope not, for their sakes.

[Rotten Luck]

*looks at the frozen carbonite Hon.*  Hmm Pause life to wait for CoH reopen....

Anyone got a Carbonite Freezing chamber?

[UruzSix]

Now, how does it relate? Whether or not any of the old-timers remember playing with Crimson Bolt/Angel of Caine (he evidently used both on CoH), if we showed the same sort of support for him that we did for Moonyfire's dad (and I'm NOT trying to be opportunistic, here!), there is no way that would escape notice.

No, uh, organizing like this is pretty much being opportunistic, especially given the circumstances.

[downix]

Along the lines of Coyote, there has been a discussion of a former CoH player turned CO player who has taken ill. Similar discussion of adding him to the game have cropped up through the thread. I haven't been sure if I should ring it up over here, or where, because I wasn't sure if I was actually remembering him well enough to be able to relay the info correctly. I'll just post the link to the thread, here:

http://co-forum.perfectworld.com/showthread.php?t=217141

Now, how does it relate? Whether or not any of the old-timers remember playing with Crimson Bolt/Angel of Caine (he evidently used both on CoH), if we showed the same sort of support for him that we did for Moonyfire's dad (and I'm NOT trying to be opportunistic, here!), there is no way that would escape notice.

I know in TPP we've been preparing a memorial garden, to put down the names of the characters whose players have died, it only seems fitting to keep a bit of them going in the little way we can. Yes, inspired by Coyote, Moonfyre's dad, and such.

In discussing it last week, our lore lead said it would be the one part of the game we never want to add to.

[Lightslinger]

Didn't earlier someone say Jack was going to be at GenCon? Surely at least one CoHer will be there to ask him about this personally.

[TonyV]

is there any progress on someone contacting Jack to see if he was serious or not?

I reached out to him this morning.  I'll let you all know if I hear anything.  As mentioned above, Jack is a busy guy, probably busier right now with the imminent launch of Neverwinter on his plate.  While I'm hopeful for a response, it wouldn't surprise me if I didn't get one.  In the meanwhile, if anyone does go to see him in person, ask him something along the lines of, "What can we do to help?"

[Illusionss]

The most difficult task of all. Getting them to sell things requires them to be reasonable. I picture NCSoft as the kid that won't share their old toys. They sit in the toybox gathering dust, but if someone else wants to play with it that's just not going to happen.

Someone with art skills draw that as a meme  :P

https://images.weserv.nl/?url=www.ifimages.com%2Fphotos%2FhbFmJGrqISxpshpS6kCMRPgHJFE%2Fauthor-700%2FPortrait-boy-sharing-toys-sister.jpg

At this point I really can wait for more development. I just want access to the game as we left it.

[TonyV]

I reached out to him this morning.  I'll let you all know if I hear anything.  As mentioned above, Jack is a busy guy, probably busier right now with the imminent launch of Neverwinter on his plate.  While I'm hopeful for a response, it wouldn't surprise me if I didn't get one.  In the meanwhile, if anyone does go to see him in person, ask him something along the lines of, "What can we do to help?"

Well, I honestly didn't expect to hear anything quickly, but he actually pinged me back this afternoon.  He said thanks for the enthusiasm, and commented on the people who made City of Heroes great.  Regarding acquiring the game, he says:

"I'm not sure there's anything really you need to mobilize. I'm personally aware of the CoH fandom and I was speaking from the heart at that panel. I'd be happy to talk to NCSoft if they called. I'm not sure there's anything that can be done right now other than what you're doing already."

Tony's Hyperoveranalysis

I don't want to read too much into it, positive or negative, but to me, it basically boils down to what we already knew--that the ball is in NCsoft's court, and at this point, it's up to them to do something about it.  That doesn't mean that we can't apply pressure as needed; I'm still convinced that continued efforts to reach them through various media is the right way to go to maximize our chances of having an impact, but ultimately neither Jack nor anyone else can really do much without NCsoft making a move.  To me, though, it does hammer home that NCsoft's statement about exhausting all options and not having anyone suitable to take over the game was at least a bit disingenuous, to be kind.  I already knew that, but it's just nice to have it affirmed by the CEO of a major player in the gaming industry (not to mention the guy who was instrumental in building and launching City of Heroes) publicly acknowledge that he'd be interested in relaunching the game--if NCsoft would make the call.

At any rate, it was a super nice message, and in case he sees or hears about this post, I'd like to really thank him for taking time to answer.  I know he's incredibly busy with the Neverwinter launch coming up and other projects going on, and I'm convinced that if he didn't honestly have a place in his heart for City of Heroes, he never would have made that comment or responded to a schmo like me asking what we could do to help out. :)

So please don't e-mailbomb Cryptic, but do keep the pressure on NCsoft!

[JaguarX]

https://images.weserv.nl/?url=www.ifimages.com%2Fphotos%2FhbFmJGrqISxpshpS6kCMRPgHJFE%2Fauthor-700%2FPortrait-boy-sharing-toys-sister.jpg

At this point I really can wait for more development. I just want access to the game as we left it.

This is why you always bring your own toys. :p. (really, dont take the comment too serious.)

So they took their toys and holding on to it? Oh yeah? Guess what then, we'll make our own that make those toys they hold on to look like yesterday's news.


Yeah unless we can get NCSoft to the table, an all powerful enitity that may or may not go by then name of God/Zeus/Ra/Odin can show up with a piece of gold as big as Mars NCsoft may still turn them down and not much any one can do about it besides try to poke, prod, convince, them to give it up assuming they can be convinced prodded, and poked into changing their minds. 

And while mail bombing works sometimes, I'm with Tony on this, probably shouldnt e-mail bomb Cryptic. Just with the relatively small amount of crazy emails I get, some well meaning, becomes a hassle to deal with and the over all point is lost when it's too much and takes a lot of time to deal with.

[Stormy Weathermaker]

Well, I honestly didn't expect to hear anything quickly, but he actually pinged me back this afternoon.  He said thanks for the enthusiasm, and commented on the people who made City of Heroes great.  Regarding acquiring the game, he says:

"I'm not sure there's anything really you need to mobilize. I'm personally aware of the CoH fandom and I was speaking from the heart at that panel. I'd be happy to talk to NCSoft if they called. I'm not sure there's anything that can be done right now other than what you're doing already."

I think it's great that he acknowledges the fact there's a fan base that is fighting back for a game that was unjustly shut down.  I am curious, however, if Jack ever made an attempt to call them, since NCSoft did say they "exhausted all options".  If he's serious about taking it back, then why not reach out to them?  Why wait for NCSoft to call him?  I do know that NeverWinter is the project at hand and there's another "top secret" project going to be in the works after that, so he's extremely busy.  But why not take a few minutes and make a call?  What's the worst that can happen?  NCSoft hang up on him?

After all, if you go to http://www.cityofheroes.com/en/sunset.php Cryptic's logo is still on it.  Yes, I'm aware that NCSoft owns all the rights to it and everything about it, but the acknowledgement is there that it once belonged to Cryptic Studios and Paragon Studios.

Okay, babbling is done....going back to my corner to be quiet again....probably safer that way  :D