This can hopefully be a great NA release then as I believe Trion has done a good job with Rift. They updated it and added new content regularly and seemed to at least pay some attention to its playerbase. My only issue with them is that they made some severe changes to Rift that I could not go along with such as merging the factions so they can group/guild/pvp together.

I am looking forward to what they can do with this title.

Originally posted by darkhalf357x

Did anyone see this

http://venturebeat.com/2013/01/24/trion-to-publish-xl-games-massive-online-game-archeage-in-western-markets-exclusive/#4hK39mgJaq6fV3ou.99

Specifically -- "Trion will translate the title and make changes to suit Western audiences."

God Damn it!  

Most likely refering to localization.  Goes beyond straight translation.  For example a joke such as a pun that was funny in one language would have to be completely rewritten.

Could possibly refer to the payment model too.  I can't really see them making any changes beyond that, at least not any changes that wouldn't be approved by the Archeage developers first.

Originally posted by adam_nox
Seems like it would compete heavily with Rift, makes for an odd couple.  I'm glad though that it has a publisher.

At first glance it does seem like that but consider this, Trion is going for a full portfolio of online games.

1. Themepark mmorpg - Rift

2. Sandbox mmorpg - Archeage

3. MMO third person SciFi shooter - Defiance

4. Military team FPS - Warface

5. MMORTS - End Of Nations (back in development)

This would be a next step of getting closer to going public which I think is what the overall plan is. 

Originally posted by Aerowyn

Originally posted by Wraithone

Originally posted by Torvaldr

Number 1 is great, but why number 2?  Why is Trion going to better than any other NA publisher? Granted the list of decent NA publishers is meager, but Trion doesn't have a great record at all.  What have they done, other than some incredible marketing with regards to their own public image?

Would you rather it be NCsoft, with their horrible history of axing games? Or SOE for that matter?...

or worse EA.....

Okay, I think those are both valid points.

EA is sketchy at best, but it appears they have let Funcom run TSW how they will.  I still agree that going with EA is like dancing with the devil.  This would probably be a last choice and maybe even a dealbreaker for him.

SoE though could have been a good choice, but that's not very realistic given national rivalries.  So that counts them out.

NCSoft is a much better choice than EA.  Maybe he didn't like how they handled publishing Lineage in NA.  Not choosing them says something about how their relationship has evolved.

Activision/Blizzard? I don't think so.  Also I don't think Nexon or PW would fit either.

So that pretty much leaves Trion.  At least they have purpose and vision and a measure of passion for their products.  That is very respectable and from that perspective they do make a good choice.  I've said in past threads that I think Trion would make a good publisher for this game and I hope they will.  Since then though they seem to be bungling Rift and are banking heavily on two other risky titles.  They aren't proven, so over-enthusiastic cheering should send out warning bells with last summer's hype and hoopla in mind.

I think Trion could do a good job with this, but they should be under scrutiny not to feck it all up like they did with Rift.  We should be sending a signal of, "I'm watching you!". 

Originally posted by DavisFlight
SoE would have been a better choice. Or any company that hasn't made a WoW clone...

I think that SoE would be a poor choice as they are working on their own sandbox game EQNext which will be a direct competitor with Archeage.

Also you have to consider that Korean software companies do not get along with SoE at all, so there was never even a chance of this happening basically, it was always 0% that XLgames would even consider SoE. This was never an option.

Originally posted by DMKano

Originally posted by DavisFlight
SoE would have been a better choice. Or any company that hasn't made a WoW clone...

I think that SoE would be a poor choice as they are working on their own sandbox game EQNext which will be a direct competitor with Archeage.

Also you have to consider that Korean software companies do not get along with SoE at all, so there was never even a chance of this happening basically, it was always 0% that SoE would AA.

Yeah, that would exclude SquareEnix too.  But what about EnMasse?  They're not really any more proven than Trion is though.  There is Turbine but they're just Warner's pub house now and they're not really cutting edge in hardware or platform really.

Any other options you can think of?

Originally posted by Torvaldr

Yeah, that would exclude SquareEnix too.  But what about EnMasse?  They're not really any more proven than Trion is though.  There is Turbine but they're just Warner's pub house now and they're not really cutting edge in hardware or platform really.

Any other options you can think of?

I posted this in another thread - but  here is what I think are the top reason why XLGames chose Trion:

1. AA runs on CryEngine 3, Trion and Crytek are partners, Trion is publishing Warface which runs on CryEngine 3 and has expertise in house on the Crytek Server backend for both hosting and code optimization. This was probably a huge benefit.

2. Trion has experience with Korean/English localization as Rift is live in Korea and fully localized. Trion has good connections in that region already.

3. Trion's NA and EU reputation for both content updates and service with Rift is pretty positive

4. The CEO's of both companies get along - I know this probably sounds silly to some, but this is very important in Korea even today

Taking above into consideration (especially the first 2 points) made XLgames choice pretty easy to make imo.

I've been anticipating the day we'd hear news about who XLGames would choose as its Western publisher, with some trepidation and dread, thinking it would wind up in NCSoft's or Perfect World's hands, but I never saw this coming.

This not only alleviates a mjaority of my worries, but now I am placing ArcheAge really high on my "anticipated titles" list.

I fizzled out on RIFT, but I won't deny that it was a solid title that was able to quickly adapt to the desires of its audience, adding a LOT of solid new content through update patches.

I feel mostly confident that ArcheAge will be in very good hands.

Is this game Item Shop, Subscription or a hybrid?

Not read much about it but it keeps propping up alot. However experiance from previous games tend to always be a big letdown and many features are simply not implemented which is 1 reason why i dont tend to read about upcomming games untill they are close to release.

If its item shop i will have to pass, if its subscription based i may go for it (if the game is done well) if its a hybrid it all depends.

First I hear it's TRION publishing the game and I'm like... awesome!

Then I hear they aim to launch in 2013 and I'm like...

Originally posted by DavisFlight
I'm shocked at how many people are excited that the company behind one of the most blatant and uninspired WoW clones are publishing this.

You have to be kidding me.  Wow copied every game before it and polished it and made it playable. Trion made Rift which has better graphics, a more dynamic world, and has taken that type of gameplay farther than WOW ever did...  I don't see WOW adding player housing...do you??

On top of this they offer the best support for a live game..period. This is awesome news.   What a sad Wow fanboy. 

Originally posted by NomadMorlock

Originally posted by DavisFlight
I'm shocked at how many people are excited that the company behind one of the most blatant and uninspired WoW clones are publishing this.

You have to be kidding me.  Wow copied every game before it and polished it and made it playable. Trion made Rift which has better graphics, a more dynamic world, and has taken that type of gameplay farther than WOW ever did...  I don't see WOW adding player housing...do you??

On top of this they offer the best support for a live game..period. This is awesome news.   What a sad Wow fanboy. 

I agree, rift has done much to make a great game. And i laugh so hard everytime someone says WOW was original and everything is a clone.

Trion actualy is a good company, i have never had a single issue with them unlike others. It should be a good match up and great advancement in the game as time goes on. 

Originally posted by cronius77

man the fanboism and clueless things said in this thread are insane. Trion is going to distribute it in the US , it would not matter if its NCsoft EA or Trion for that matter they do not release content the devs do with archeage.  Trion is by far not all that successful with their only release so far bleeding subs since day 1 of release and an expansion that still cant fill up the servers or create new ones.

This is a good move for Trion though if they want to stay in business since rift is far from a smash hit. They get a cut of profit now made by archeage or at least a contract payment for service so its a smart move. But bashing other companies here for being publishers shows nothing but stupidity seriously.

Something tells me that Trion won't only be distributing the game, but will also be responsible for localizing the game for Westerners.  You know, doing the translations and adding / removing content that is more appropriate for Western audiences.

Originally posted by DMKano

Originally posted by Torvaldr

Yeah, that would exclude SquareEnix too.  But what about EnMasse?  They're not really any more proven than Trion is though.  There is Turbine but they're just Warner's pub house now and they're not really cutting edge in hardware or platform really.

Any other options you can think of?

I posted this in another thread - but  here is what I think are the top reason why XLGames chose Trion:

1. AA runs on CryEngine 3, Trion and Crytek are partners, Trion is publishing Warface which runs on CryEngine 3 and has expertise in house on the Crytek Server backend for both hosting and code optimization. This was probably a huge benefit.

2. Trion has experience with Korean/English localization as Rift is live in Korea and fully localized. Trion has good connections in that region already.

3. Trion's NA and EU reputation for both content updates and service with Rift is pretty positive

4. The CEO's of both companies get along - I know this probably sounds silly to some, but this is very important in Korea even today

 

Taking above into consideration (especially the first 2 points) made XLgames choice pretty easy to make imo.

Those are pretty excellent points, especially point 4.  I do think we in the West tend to overlook that.  Mr. Song has a long history with NC so the fact they he didn't go with them speaks volumes.

I really hope Trion can pull this off.  Maybe with Hartsman gone they are free to be more flexible.

Originally posted by darkhalf357x

Did anyone see this

http://venturebeat.com/2013/01/24/trion-to-publish-xl-games-massive-online-game-archeage-in-western-markets-exclusive/#4hK39mgJaq6fV3ou.99

Specifically -- "Trion will translate the title and make changes to suit Western audiences."

God Damn it!  

You had to KNOW that would happen.  PC has infested way too much of NA to risk "offending" the tender "sensitivities" of certain types.  Its just not worth the hysteria and the resulting bad PR.

My mind goes straight to

“Won't somebody please think of the children westerners?!”

Originally posted by Slappy1

Originally posted by DavisFlight
SoE would have been a better choice. Or any company that hasn't made a WoW clone...

You've gotta be kidding lol,you mean SOE that has basically turned EQ2 into a WOW clone??I love EQ2 but please,it became so WOWified over the year's.

Funny stuff.

And yet it still has its own identity.

Rift on the other hand, lifted just about every imaginable thing from WoW. Then they slapped on rift invasions from Tabula Rasa.

Originally posted by Czanrei
I don't exactly consider this good news unless Trion has no say at all in the developement or content. 

A straight translation is all thats needed, NO WESTERNIZATION please!