Call to Action: Bring CoH Home! - Phase 2

[Captain Electric]

Even if NCsoft doesn't pick up the phone and call, a campaign would still serve the purpose of giving them yet another black eye - openly, publicly rejecting an open, public business request by a company which they worked with, and quite well, in the past in favor of, well, making sure the sod on CoH's grave remains covered in concrete.

Either way, win-win.

Yep I'd pitch in for that.  8)

[Lightslinger]

I'm starting to think maybe this campaign needs to continue even if Jack says something along the lines of "Yeah, I'd love to have CoH back but we aren't in a position to buy it" which could realistically happen.

For a Plan B I'd like to get a website like shouldmmosdie.com and start a campaign based around that idea. It doesn't have to be about CoH only, but we can cite CoH extensively as an alarm to ALL MMO players, can your game die? I doubt NCsoft would like to be heavily featured on a campaign like that either.

[Ironwolf]

Stay focused for now :)

City of Heroes first and then with more heroes we can reach even further.

[Quinch]

Stay focused for now :)

This, basically. As much as I'm chomping at the bit to get rolling, direction is what makes the difference between a firecracker and a gunshot.

[dwturducken]

In looking for something in the earliest threads for another discussion, I stumbled across some really good info from some really smart and experienced people. I'll just put the links to the threads, because a copy/paste will set off tl;dr filters. :)

Press release submission/structure guidelines from Rae

Part 2 on press releases again, from Rae

An old CtA on ComiCons from Tony; the dates are old, but, with Positron leading a discussion in Chicago at the end of this month, not to mention VV being a guest of honor at Gencon, the season has begun.

Making non-CoHers care from Koopak; there are still discussion threads on other forums that are talking about it. (Sorry, but I don't have more links on that one; I do have other work to do, today. :) )

Some tips for effective online PR writing from Ammon

And, finally, Banners! Lots o' talented folks, here.

Thought maybe it could help, since I have yet to run into an idea that I could actually contribute to. I can be research monkey! :)

[Pyro Embryo]

Would it be an outlandish idea for people to declare what area of this effort they feel they would be best able to provide focus?  Some are better with graphics, some are better with writing, etc.  Get organized so that people are networking with like-skilled people and making the best efforts communally that they can.  It's true that people have moved away from CoX, and it has slowly drifted into memory for a lot of former players.  I believe that the longer we wait, the more we are losing.  Keeping people passionately involved in things and having them feel connected/important by having them contribute in ways that they are best suited is paramount to this success.

I also suggested way back when they started discussing buying CoX's rights that someone should start an account, (chipin or otherwise,) that people could contribute their monthly CoX subscription fee to, in order to start building our own war chest to help get CoX back online.  We've lost a lot of people who would have contributed because they are now paying for other games, distracted, disillusioned, etc.  The financial burden now for mounting such cost-intensive efforts falls more squarely on those who are willing to still give/still interested enough/passionate enough to give, and it's going to be more difficult to pull that kind of money together more quickly, rather than if people just contributed what they would have for CoX each month.  (It would be a lot easier than a big hit on people's finances, if they just paid a little bit each month). 

[johnrobey]

Busy now but I'll be watching this thread and don't at the moment have time even to read what's here yet, but if we have constructive action I'll be rolling up my sleeves and saying Thank You, Titans!!

/em holdtorch

[Taceus Jiwede]

It seems that finding people to buy or who want to buy CoH isn't the problem.  I am sure there were lots of people/companies that wanted to buy the game and still probably do.  But as long as NCSoft doesn't want to sell that is the biggest concern.  Bill Gate him self could want to drop 100 million on it and they could still turn him down.  The negative PR seems like it is helping, hopefully they will get tired of seeing "NCSoft is a unstable publisher" in game articles and decide to sell the IP.  But I think the majority of the focus should be trying to find out how to get them to sell or even want to sell as we have been this far. 

Jack Emmert at the very least will give them some bad PR if they shoot him down.  If they shoot Google down then that might just be enough bad PR to make them start changing their mind. 

[FatherXmas]

Strangely enough, having "big names" show up looking to buy the IP may actually be counterproductive.  Follow me here.

First, as far as we known NCSOFT hadn't sold any of their IP off ever.  Yes, they will license a game to third parties in areas to handle the political/regulatory problems but never turned over the code base.  They may not even have an idea how to approach such a deal instead of half hearted tries and weak excuses.

Second, having well known companies show up on your doorstep looking to buy a game that for whatever reason you decided was better to shut it down than do anything else makes you second guess your decision.  What were "we" not seeing?  Our process behind the decision was sound? 

Third, then the egos kick in.  What would others think of us if we admit we were wrong and sold it off?  Maybe we should keep it and create an entirely new game around the IP, one that could also work in Asia.  It'll only take 5 years (looking at their track record).  Sure they will change up the mechanics, make it more action oriented (add dodge, eliminate rooting, add telegraphing), make PvP a greater part of the game.  And we'll get a lot of skimpy women's costumes and character models with lemon breasts.  ;)  Do you want to wait for 2018?

[SeaLily]

I'm not sure what you're proposing, then?  Do nothing and wait for NCsoft to mismanage the IP on their own?

Something is better than nothing here, regardless of what hypothetical situations people want to dream up.

Personally I'm expecting NCsoft to not sell- but once they're swallowed up by Nexon, I imagine those guys might be a bit more open to the idea.

[TimtheEnchanter]

Third, then the egos kick in.  What would others think of us if we admit we were wrong and sold it off?  Maybe we should keep it and create an entirely new game around the IP, one that could also work in Asia.  It'll only take 5 years (looking at their track record).  Sure they will change up the mechanics, make it more action oriented (add dodge, eliminate rooting, add telegraphing), make PvP a greater part of the game.  And we'll get a lot of skimpy women's costumes and character models with lemon breasts.  ;)  Do you want to wait for 2018?

A reborn CoH 'might' work with different mechanics. That's mostly the optimist side of me talking. But as a PvP-centric game, I doubt any of us would want to go anywhere near it. RP in a PvP game is like trying to have chess club on the field during football practice. The whole community would feel more or less like an LA gang war.

[FatherXmas]

Well not open PvP of course.  That'll be horrible.

[johnrobey]

Strangely enough, having "big names" show up looking to buy the IP may actually be counterproductive.  Follow me here.

First, as far as we known NCSOFT hadn't sold any of their IP off ever.  Yes, they will license a game to third parties in areas to handle the political/regulatory problems but never turned over the code base.  They may not even have an idea how to approach such a deal instead of half hearted tries and weak excuses.

Second, having well known companies show up on your doorstep looking to buy a game that for whatever reason you decided was better to shut it down than do anything else makes you second guess your decision.  What were "we" not seeing?  Our process behind the decision was sound? 

Third, then the egos kick in.  What would others think of us if we admit we were wrong and sold it off?  Maybe we should keep it and create an entirely new game around the IP, one that could also work in Asia.  It'll only take 5 years (looking at their track record).  Sure they will change up the mechanics, make it more action oriented (add dodge, eliminate rooting, add telegraphing), make PvP a greater part of the game.  And we'll get a lot of skimpy women's costumes and character models with lemon breasts.  ;)  Do you want to wait for 2018?

What's horrible (imo) is my having to see a Pole-Dancing Beavis' avatar dancing for Butt-head, probably both of them on (nominally) female avatars who if they look anything like (gag) Blade & Soul they'll have these under-age elvin child faces and bodies that make even Dolly Parton look average (assuming that were possible--and it's not), but then I grew up in an era with TV icons such as Natasha Fatale and later (an underground comic) Mata Ducky!  So, no I don't want to wait until 2018.  Any, yipes, FatherXmas, I have to agree with your analysis.  I can see why some people think that what's best for us in the long run is for them to go out of business and THEN sell the IP.  If NCSoft execs had known how to work with this community and with their own (former) studio then this just would not be an issue.  I am now thinking that my best bet will be to pin my hopes on the Spiritual Successor going Live long before City of Heroes gets its well-deserved revival.

Here's hoping one or both of the Projects Z can re-create the magic that was my CoH experience.  Thank you, Titans!!   8)

/em holdtorch

[JaguarX]

Strangely enough, having "big names" show up looking to buy the IP may actually be counterproductive.  Follow me here.

First, as far as we known NCSOFT hadn't sold any of their IP off ever.  Yes, they will license a game to third parties in areas to handle the political/regulatory problems but never turned over the code base.  They may not even have an idea how to approach such a deal instead of half hearted tries and weak excuses.

Second, having well known companies show up on your doorstep looking to buy a game that for whatever reason you decided was better to shut it down than do anything else makes you second guess your decision.  What were "we" not seeing?  Our process behind the decision was sound? 

Third, then the egos kick in.  What would others think of us if we admit we were wrong and sold it off?  Maybe we should keep it and create an entirely new game around the IP, one that could also work in Asia.  It'll only take 5 years (looking at their track record).  Sure they will change up the mechanics, make it more action oriented (add dodge, eliminate rooting, add telegraphing), make PvP a greater part of the game.  And we'll get a lot of skimpy women's costumes and character models with lemon breasts.  ;)  Do you want to wait for 2018?

Not to mention drive up the price based off that "even big name companies" want to buy it and any small studio's chance is nill.


But then again for all we know, the third reason is the reason they are not selling. I already heard rumors they have a few games in pipeline. Rumors though, so may not be true just like the rumors surrounding the prices and reasons. They may make the next game using the IP with B&S skin and environment with War Witch turned into an elf. B&S with a bunch of COX cat girls thrown into the mix and all PvP. 

[General Idiot]

I'd like to think the internet as a whole would crucify them at that point.

[Thunder Glove]

If NCSoft was planning another game with the CoH IP, they wouldn't have simply shut down the original game and fired the entire development team (a team who, I remind you, wanted to make CoH2, but were turned down by NCSoft).

They didn't announce Guild Wars 2 by shutting down GW1 and disbanding ArenaNet, and it'd be absurd to lead into CoH2 by shutting down CoH and disbanding Paragon Studios.

No, it looks very much like they're just going to sit on it.

[General Idiot]

Admittedly from having played both Guild Wars games I don't think they actually share much beyond lore, and I wouldn't be surprised if it came out that very few of the original Guild Wars team worked on GW2.

[FatherXmas]

If NCSoft was planning another game with the CoH IP, they wouldn't have simply shut down the original game and fired the entire development team (a team who, I remind you, wanted to make CoH2, but were turned down by NCSoft).

They didn't announce Guild Wars 2 by shutting down GW1 and disbanding ArenaNet, and it'd be absurd to lead into CoH2 by shutting down CoH and disbanding Paragon Studios.

No, it looks very much like they're just going to sit on it.

When GW2 was announced GW1 was still making cash hand over fist as well as prove it could do well in Asian markets.

[Lightslinger]

OP has been updated with Phase 2 information. Phase 2 is focusing on letting NCsoft know about our initiative.

Phase 2: NCsoft, CALL JACK!

--Press Bomb - Let the media know what's going on, what Jack said, and what we're doing to help out.
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

--Twitter - Use twitter and other social media to spread the word about the Bring CoH Home initiative. We have been using the #CallJack hashtag in conjunction with #SaveCoH. Contact NCsoft here to press our message:
@NCsoftGames

--Email Email NCsoft and let them know...Call Jack!

NCsoft - recruit@ncsoft.com
             ashort@ncsoft.com

Here is a sample email I sent off to NCsoft:

"Jack Emmert of Cryptic studios has publicly said he wants to talk to NCsoft about City of Heroes. No one is better suited to get our game back online than Jack Emmert.

City of Heroes fans are organizing a media campaign to let everyone and NCsoft know City of Heroes doesn't have to stay dead. Ads are being designed, money raised, social media campaigns prepared.

City of Heroes fans will not stop until our game is back online. Please reach out to Cryptic Studios and help us get our game back."

Yeah it's kind of a threat, but also letting them know they could end it all really fast as soon as we get our game back :)

NCsoft Support:

Remember your NCsoft login? Log in here: http://us.ncsoft.com/en/support/ and send in a support ticket with a message like the one above. Yeah it doesn't really fit any "support" ticket stuff but it still gets a message to someone, anyone inside NCsoft.

[Lightslinger]

Also, I personally think our campaign needs some stickied threads or maybe even its own forum if it goes any further.