Microsoft will reveal in the future newer xbox 360's that have been upgraded with DX10 compatable ATI graphics adapters and a modified vista OS to run DX10. what Funcom's CEO is doing is helping fuel fears of a collapse. This way someone comes along and picks up all the stock for $10 a share then just sits on it. these new xbox 360's will be released in time for xmas and comes packaged with Age of Conan. This move would increase Funcoms stock considerably. Not only will the game be polished for a xbox 360 release, it will also contain all the missing features the pc version had to go with out. Wish i had the funds to participate in this. oh well some one is going to buy back all that stock soon enough. Make a fortune and own a nice % in Funcom. Wonder who it will be..well as long as WWIII hasnt started....

Nice theory.  I think Microsoft has switched its focus to the next gen system development though.  PS3 is going to dominate the market from this point on because it is simply a better machine.  The Xbox 360 is similar to AoC in that it was rushed out to beat the PS3 (WAR) to retail, and Microsoft wanted to cash in on the sales before the better and more expensive machine (PS3) took market control.

Here is a MAJOR flaw in your theory...

Does Funcom have enough money to "polish" AoC and keep it running while adding content for another year while the Xbox 360 platform is completed?  AoC is going to take crushing blows to its playerbase when WAR and the WoW expansion hit retail...  It's going to be drastic.  In fact, a lot of MMOs are going to take major hits to their customerbase when this happens.

I am not sure Funcom has the funds to do all you claim.  I think the CEO dumping his shares is more of a protective measure than anything.

ROFL. That would make a fool of anyone who bought a current 360 and make them as pissed as the incredible hulk. Thats business suicide.

No rick-roll link??

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Originally posted by Thunderous
Nice theory.  I think Microsoft has switched its focus to the next gen system development though.  PS3 is going to dominate the market from this point on because it is simply a better machine.  The Xbox 360 is similar to AoC in that it was rushed out to beat the PS3 (WAR) to retail, and Microsoft wanted to cash in on the sales before the better and more expensive machine (PS3) took market control.
Here is a MAJOR flaw in your theory...
Does Funcom have enough money to "polish" AoC and keep it running while adding content for another year while the Xbox 360 platform is completed?  AoC is going to take crushing blows to its playerbase when WAR and the WoW expansion hit retail...  It's going to be drastic.  In fact, a lot of MMOs are going to take major hits to their customerbase when this happens.
I am not sure Funcom has the funds to do all you claim.  I think the CEO dumping his shares is more of a protective measure than anything.

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Funcom will probably collapse over the fail of AoC, they're lost a lot of money, investors, and stock value. They're best bet is to sell out to a bigger company so they can either focus on a new game or support for AoC.

oh this could very well happen. there are other certain factors which i cannot disclose that come into play to make something like this happen. all i know is it would be good for both microsoft and funcom to get together and do this. maybe not releasing free part of a xbox 360 dx10 release but maybe included in the press release as a great game to play with your 360 DX10 Edition. would also be good for ATI to jump in here and enjoy a nice tri-lateral relationship of market boosts. though microsoft doesnt really need both these companies to survive, its always good to help out other companies that can potentially alter your market share into extra profits. since ati/funcom rely on microsoft and vise versa it cant hurt to do things along those lines.

Every xbox is directx 9.0c, why would they waste the money to release an updated version for AoC when by the time windows 7 (late '09, early '10) and directx 11 (Nvidia won't touch 10.1, they're waiting for dx11, what does that tell you?) comes out the next xbox will be ready for release?

Again that's corporate suicide, do you honestly believe or even think about what you say?

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since ati/funcom rely on microsoft and vise versa it cant hurt to do things along those lines.

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Originally posted by skitzdout

Microsoft will reveal in the future newer xbox 360's that have been upgraded with DX10 compatable ATI graphics adapters and a modified vista OS to run DX10. what Funcom's CEO is doing is helping fuel fears of a collapse. This way someone comes along and picks up all the stock for $10 a share then just sits on it. these new xbox 360's will be released in time for xmas and comes packaged with Age of Conan. This move would increase Funcoms stock considerably. Not only will the game be polished for a xbox 360 release, it will also contain all the missing features the pc version had to go with out. Wish i had the funds to participate in this. oh well some one is going to buy back all that stock soon enough. Make a fortune and own a nice % in Funcom. Wonder who it will be..well as long as WWIII hasnt started....

well here is my predictions

septembre-october : 3rd quarter financial report, shows dramatic drop in subs that aoc was facing during the summer, stat more loses from funcom, stocks continue droping.

november-december : stocks low, few companies show interest in funcom (SoE, EA)

january-february : microsoft, cut aoc project on xbox360, funcom annonces it

2009-2010 : the new owner works on aoc, for his 2nd release on xmas 2009

during all this time few fanboy got raped and enjoyed it

one thing im sure of, like if it already happned, aoc isnt going to be released on xbox360, i know many games more promising than aoc, that microsoft turned his back on, seriously im sure aoc have no chance to be released on xbox any soon, maybe 2010.

It does not matter.  AoC is a dead game.  Its reputation is ruined with the 15-25 year old kiddie audience it has targetted.  These people will not go back.  And its not because AoC is a bad game, actually I would argue its a pretty good game for what it is.  A beginner MMO with emphasizes flash over substance.  But people will not forget the shady business practices, the way they hid the game by limiting open beta to lvl 13 and how they lied to make a quick dollar on intial box sales.  If they were somewhat honest with people and less greedy i think they would not have the bad reputation and long term credibilty problems they have.  But they have blown up any chance AoC has of recovering.  I would not be surprised to see AoC with less than 50k subs in a few months once peopl who picked the longer subscription officialy leave the game for good.  It is a dead game and they only have thier own greedy dishonest selves to blame.

I would not touch this stock. My feeling is this thing hasn't come close to bottoming out yet. The stock has been seriously overpriced since going public, likely due to a lot of people placing a bet on AoC being the next WoW. Now that the true fate of AoC is clear, the stock should trend down to a price in line with it's metrics.

It's very possible the stock may fall into the single digits before leveling out. With out some major shake up in management, there probably won't be much upside for an extended period of time.

It's hard to see where the company goes from here. With cost cutting and server consolidations Funcom might manage to each a small ongoing profit from AoC. However, AoC was a very rare opportunity for a massive hit and that opportunity has now passed.

Originally posted by Midnitte

 

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Originally posted by Thunderous
Nice theory.  I think Microsoft has switched its focus to the next gen system development though.  PS3 is going to dominate the market from this point on because it is simply a better machine.  The Xbox 360 is similar to AoC in that it was rushed out to beat the PS3 (WAR) to retail, and Microsoft wanted to cash in on the sales before the better and more expensive machine (PS3) took market control.
Here is a MAJOR flaw in your theory...
Does Funcom have enough money to "polish" AoC and keep it running while adding content for another year while the Xbox 360 platform is completed?  AoC is going to take crushing blows to its playerbase when WAR and the WoW expansion hit retail...  It's going to be drastic.  In fact, a lot of MMOs are going to take major hits to their customerbase when this happens.
I am not sure Funcom has the funds to do all you claim.  I think the CEO dumping his shares is more of a protective measure than anything.

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In no way will PS3 dominate the market, both the xbox and wii have much more sells and higher rated games and services (I use to own all three systems, but now I just have a ps3), its a great machine but sony isn't pushing it the way people want to go (ingame xmb should have been out at frekking release ffs). It will probably be a few years till we even see announcements or rumors about next-gen systems because the systems themselves have a much longer life then their predecessors.

 

Funcom will probably collapse over the fail of AoC, they're lost a lot of money, investors, and stock value. They're best bet is to sell out to a bigger company so they can either focus on a new game or support for AoC.

Do you keep up with the news?  Blue Ray won.  Sony gambled that Blue Ray would outlast HD DVD and it did, Sony made a gamble that is going to pay off.

PS3 is already starting to take control of the Asian markets.

I currently own all 3 systems;  360, wii, and PS3

The Wii isn't really in direct competition with the PS3.  It's Nintendo and targetted towards younger gamers and women.  The PS3 and Xbos 360 are in direct competion and PS3 is going to win. 

Everyone knew this from the start.  Go back and read any reviews of both systems before they launched.  the 360 was the better machine at launch because it was cheaper and ready to go.  However, the more expensive PS3 had/has more ability and it plays Blue Rays.

Then to help the PS3 along the Xbox 360 had a defect called aka "the Red Ring of Death" and the failure rate for the product was absurdly high.

Let's have this discussion in a year and see who was right.  I do know the 360 isn't going to save AoC.  The only thing that might save it is if WAR has a bad launch and Funcom and QUICKLY fix the game.

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In response to Thunderous but to keep quotes from being too long

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Sony may have blu-ray but microsoft has xbox live, hundreds of games, top sellers, exclusives, new features, etc etc.

I honestly love the PS3 but its fallen short of the glory that was the ps2, this generation of consoles is xbox's, ps3 will/has turned a profit, but it would make drastic changes/events for it to rein supreme.

Originally posted by Midnitte

 

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In response to Thunderous but to keep quotes from being too long

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The advantage of blu-ray is not a compelling reason to buy the system, sony has lost too many exclusives (final fantasy for example) while not providing enough (or fast enough) updates and impressive 1st party games.

 

Sony may have blu-ray but microsoft has xbox live, hundreds of games, top sellers, exclusives, new features, etc etc.

I honestly love the PS3 but its fallen short of the glory that was the ps2, this generation of consoles is xbox's, ps3 will/has turned a profit, but it would make drastic changes/events for it to rein supreme.

The online system for PS3 works just as well and it's free.  Blue Ray is a huge advantage over DVD.  Not only is the quality higher but the disc holds much more space.

EA has already hinted they are going to focus on the PS3 for their development of NCAA and Madden in the future.  The only thing I play on my 360 now are games like Mass Effect and HALO, which are not available for the PS3.  Other than that there is no reason to use the 360. 

I've already have to send in my first one because of a defect.

Originally posted by fiontar

I would not touch this stock. My feeling is this thing hasn't come close to bottoming out yet. The stock has been seriously overpriced since going public, likely due to a lot of people placing a bet on AoC being the next WoW. Now that the true fate of AoC is clear, the stock should trend down to a price in line with it's metrics.

It's very possible the stock may fall into the single digits before leveling out. With out some major shake up in management, there probably won't be much upside for an extended period of time.

It's hard to see where the company goes from here. With cost cutting and server consolidations Funcom might manage to each a small ongoing profit from AoC. However, AoC was a very rare opportunity for a massive hit and that opportunity has now passed.

The Funcom analysis I used in part to evaluate Funcom said the same thing.  They are aiming from anywhere between $8 and $16 depending on the success and revitalization of AoC in the next 6 months.  Note that this prospectus requires that AoC radically improve just to maintain their current stock price. 

The analysis, despite recommending shorting Funcom, did not anticipate this fast of a tumble. 

Lit

well what ever happens and goes on still calls for one hell of a big bowl of popcorn....

Do you hoestly belive that microsoft is not aware of the the views and the out cry of so many gamers regarding FUNCOM and AOC .

If you were in microsofts position would you want your console or revamped console to actualy be assosiated with it?

No company in its right mind would want to sell its flag ship with an mmorpg which has the amount of bad press as this steaming pile of **** has had.

Hey mom i want an xbox360 with AOC yes that game with tits , chopping off heads and GM`s trying to cyber people. also it was sooo good on pc a majority of the interweb community flamed it to pices.

Good luck with waiting for the Xbox version. Last release date was Dec
2009. A long time to wait, and a lot of time for bad press to poison
it even if it does happen.

With the unbelievably bad state the game is in at the moment im not
sure if Microsoft will even want Age of Conan on their system. Unlike
PC Games console manufactures have the final say on what releases and
what doesn't, as a bad game reflects back on them just as much.

Also with the Xbox version being in 2009 can Funcom even stay in
business that long? They are bleeding customers fast with their broken
patches and unprofessional customer service
 

Do you seriously believe this. That is the single stupidest business plan Ive ever heard of. Stock price is tied to investor confidence. The way to build investor confidence is not by destroying it. sound fundamentals, a proven earnings history, a viable future income source and a sound p/e ratio are what build investor confidence low debt and high standing captiol help too which funcom has for now but at this rate that may not last. Destroying your income source for the next year and pinning all your hopes on releasing your already failed product in a new and as of yet unproven market (the mmos on consoles) is a way to drive DOWN investor confidence not build it back up. Thats assuming microsoft even cares about aoc anymore. If I were on the board of Funcom Id fire the current dev team. Can their upcoming mmo, consolidate servers hire a new dev team to fix this mess and hope that by diverting what funds they have left and the funds allocated to their next mmo I could fix this mess with aoc and entice players back.

BUY, BUY, BUY THE STOCK IS CHEAP NOW!!!!!!!!!

http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=FUNCOM.OL

Funcom has revealed a new expansion to AoC. With alot of lies and a big hype the stock will go up.

The last thing the 360 needs is yet another SKU, also MS can't just introduce new technology and set new standards as that makes the whole idea of consoles all identical absurd.

What is more likely is that the specs for the successor to the 360 are currently being drawn up with a new console launch in 2010, which gives the 360 a 5 year lifespan and it means Sony and MS are out of step with releaseing new consoles.

Frankly after all the problems that the 360 has had with it's unreliable hardware, Xbox Live crashing at very heavy net loads, draconian digital rights fiasco, arrogant and uncaring MS community staff etc etc, there is no way MS will align themselves with AoC and funcom unlkess Funcom can make a "miricle" patch and get the game into a state that will pass the Xbox QA (which is very strict).