New efforts!

[Vee]

from what it sounds like they only agreed it was necessary because of us all getting too giddy and wanting to know every little detail

or because it's pretty SOP in business deals

[Abraxus]

or because it's pretty SOP in business deals

That sounds more like the truth of it, and I understand the need...to a certain extent.  It just seems like this one is a little draconian in its heavy handed clamp down on pretty much every/any-thing to do with this, leaving us - the loyal, and potentially paying public - twisting in the wind for an indeterminate time.  I makes me crazy, but I will take the anxiety of wondering how it will come out, to the feeling we had before news of this came along, which was that it was gone forever, and all we had were memories of something that would never come again.  Now at least, until or unless someone says it is over, which is the one thing you would (likely) hear quickly if it were to happen, we have a burning ember of hope.  All we need to do is keep it alive long enough to see this through to the end.

[Arcana]

or because it's pretty SOP in business deals

When I did contract work for Paragon, first order of business was to agree to the general NDA.  They couldn't even send me work contracts until I did that.  Meaning I had to sign off on an NDA before discussing whether I would do the work or not.  But that shouldn't really be surprising: that's completely unexceptional.  You don't wait for NDAs to become necessary then whip them out.  You get everyone to sign off, then you don't have to worry about it afterwards.  In a professional setting, you get everyone to agree to NDAs right up front when it comes to anything that has even a chance of eventually needing to be covered by them.

Anyone who claims to understand the nature of and have experience with NDAs should know this.

[Remaugen]

How many times do you have to be told that before you just stop saying stupid pancake?

That's like telling a pancake to stop pancaking the pancaking pancakes, with or without syrup.   ;D

[Joshex]

That sounds more like the truth of it, and I understand the need...to a certain extent.  It just seems like this one is a little draconian in its heavy handed clamp down on pretty much every/any-thing to do with this, leaving us - the loyal, and potentially paying public - twisting in the wind for an indeterminate time.  I makes me crazy, but I will take the anxiety of wondering how it will come out, to the feeling we had before news of this came along, which was that it was gone forever, and all we had were memories of something that would never come again.  Now at least, until or unless someone says it is over, which is the one thing you would (likely) hear quickly if it were to happen, we have a burning ember of hope.  All we need to do is keep it alive long enough to see this through to the end.

as I said they probably did it because of us.

they would rather have us - the loyal, and potentially paying public twisting in the wind for an indeterminate time. than to have us - the loyal, and potentially paying public getting bent out of shape over the things that need discussing and the primary outcomes of those discussions and thereby splitting the fanbase or causing negative publicity over a matter that may not even end up the way it came out  previously after the second talks happen.

AKA, we react to what we hear on a daily basis and sometimes take it way to far and dramatize it, then end up making petitions and youtube videos and facebook/twitter posts which condemn it before they have a chance to get up the next day and say "hey, woah, that wasn't our final answer on the topic, it was just our first thoughts and we hadn't actually planned to do it".

[Abraxus]

I can't disagree with that.  However, something between that scenario, and the one we got would have been preferable.  Something where we were perhaps not privy to frequent and tedious information that would be used to fuel full-on bitch sessions; but perhaps one where major milestones were laid out, and announced when completed.  I know its not going to happen, but I think the majority would have been OK with that.  As I said, I would rather have no information about an on-going deal, than no deal to lament the lack of information about, so I am good with it.

[Brigadine]

I can't disagree with that.  However, something between that scenario, and the one we got would have been preferable.  Something where we were perhaps not privy to frequent and tedious information that would be used to fuel full-on bitch sessions; but perhaps one where major milestones were laid out, and announced when completed.  I know its not going to happen, but I think the majority would have been OK with that.  As I said, I would rather have no information about an on-going deal, than no deal to lament the lack of information about, so I am good with it.

I'd rather them just can it at this point. This has gone on WAY too long... I can't be dangling anymore.

[Twisted Toon]

I'd rather them just can it at this point. This has gone on WAY too long... I can't be dangling anymore.

Then quit dangling and free climb the danged mountain.

You think,"Because its there" isn't a good enough reason to climb it?

Oh, wait. was getting all the earlier Kirk talk mixed up there...

carry on.   :)

[Taceus Jiwede]

I'd rather them just can it at this point. This has gone on WAY too long... I can't be dangling anymore.

I'm not sure I follow.  Do you mean can it as in quit?  Because if it still on going I don't see why quitting would help anyone.  If they came out and said "We were still in talk's but got tired of waiting so we called it off" that would probably be worse then them saying "No luck sorry guys"

If I misinterpreted that then please disregard.

[Arcana]

as I said they probably did it because of us.

We were not even supposed to know negotiations were happening at all.  But for an error, we wouldn't.  Can't really put this one on NCSoft, because if things had gone the way they were supposed to go, none of us would be here complaining about not hearing any updates.

[Baaleos]

I can see that. But I can also see that the company's NDA could potentially extend after the talks with THeM, even if it failed, IF another party was still in the talks to buy the IP or what have you. Not sure it would be legal to say "we reject your offer AND you can't tell anyone about it" though.

My thoughts on an NDA extending beyond the 'talks' phase failing, would be a way for both/either company to avoid negative press.
Eg: NCSoft discovered that they're coding of City of Heroes was crap, so they pulled out of the deal to save them any embarrassment.
This could be one scenario where they might choose to enforce the NDA to prevent the other party from passing blame onto NCSoft in the eyes of the public.

Eg:
'Sorry guys, NCSoft discovered their code was poorly written and we observed security flaws in their data model. As such, it will be too much cost to fix/remedy.'

NCSoft might object to that statement, so their NDA would ideally want to protect against that.

NDA's can and often do provide blanket cover, but at the end of the day, the companies enforcing them are ran by 'people' who can choose what to allow / not allow to be shared.
Eg: NCSoft may allow 'Sorry guys, the deal is not going ahead.'
      opposed to
                                  'Sorry guys, NCSoft pulled out of the deal.'

[Biz]

Eg:
'Sorry guys, NCSoft discovered their code was poorly written and we observed security flaws in their data model. As such, it will be too much cost to fix/remedy.'

At least in this scenario, the IP rights would still be "in play", which I believe is what THeM walked into the deal wanting initially anyway. It was a happy surprise that the i23 image MIGHT be a viable bonus after talks had already begun.

[Brigadine]

I'm not sure I follow.  Do you mean can it as in quit?  Because if it still on going I don't see why quitting would help anyone.  If they came out and said "We were still in talk's but got tired of waiting so we called it off" that would probably be worse then them saying "No luck sorry guys"

If I misinterpreted that then please disregard.

I mean theve needed one signature for years now... Throw in the towel.

[Soul Resonance]

I mean theve needed one signature for years now... Throw in the towel.

A year. But if you feel that way then.. :-\ Sorry.

[darkgob]

I mean theve needed one signature for years now... Throw in the towel.

It was never "one signature away", that was a misunderstanding.  Also, who's throwing in what towel?  The only people who are in any position to do so know more than us, and for all we know everything is progressing smoothly (albeit slowly).

I've said it before, I'll say it again, you folks will all be a lot happier if you stop pinning all your hopes and dreams on one dumb game and move on, not because it may never come back, but because right now it's not back.  I miss the game too, but geez.

[Brigadine]

It was never "one signature away", that was a misunderstanding.  Also, who's throwing in what towel?  The only people who are in any position to do so know more than us, and for all we know everything is progressing smoothly (albeit slowly).

I've said it before, I'll say it again, you folks will all be a lot happier if you stop pinning all your hopes and dreams on one dumb game and move on, not because it may never come back, but because right now it's not back.  I miss the game too, but geez.

The games today are garbage... There is nothing to move on to.

[Tubbius]

I want my gamey back, gamey back, gamey back; I want my gamey back, gamey back. . . .

My apologies to that old commercial about wanting baby back ribs.  Who was that for, anyway?

[Baaleos]

the thing with acquisition of IP, is that if the new Dev team does something great with the CoH name, then NCSoft will have lost out by not being owners of the brand anymore.

But at the same time - if the new devs do something piss poor with it, that too can reflect badly on NCSoft.

This is an example of why NCSoft might have reservations against letting anyone resurrect the brand.
You might think - ah, its dead already, it cannot hurt anyone to bring it back - but that's far from true.
The mere mention of CoH, whether it is backed by new Developer studios or not, immediately has fans thinking of NCSoft - which can affect sales of other NCSoft games.

The only reason NCSoft would consider selling the brand, would be if the new dev studio can provide enough financial indemnity from the sale (protection against potential losses) that may impact NCSoft in the future.

Eg: In the event that the developers do fail horribly, and NCSoft get bad press, the amount that the devs bought the brand for, should make up for such damages etc.

Its basically insurance.
If the developers do badly, the money they paid has to keep NCSoft safe in the event that it has a negative effect on their other products.

[TinToySoldier]

I want my gamey back, gamey back, gamey back; I want my gamey back, gamey back. . . .

My apologies to that old commercial about wanting baby back ribs.  Who was that for, anyway?

It was for Chili's!

[Dr. Bad Guy]

I want my gamey back, gamey back, gamey back; I want my gamey back, gamey back. . . .

My apologies to that old commercial about wanting baby back ribs.  Who was that for, anyway?

Fat Bastard used it as well. ;D