Im not going into any details as I dont want any hints to my sources but here goes....

LA pulled the license from SOE. The rumors about February were dead right. SOE was allowed time to transition players (how much is unknown) to their other station pass games. Thats why they stopped selling SWG prepaid cards.

Publish 28, if it gets done will be the last publish to the game. There is a minimal support staff now working on it. Its purely cosmetic changes to keep existing players subscribing

Bioware did indeed gain rights to develop a second version of SWG. It wont be called SWG2. Its not a completely new game but rather a reworking of existing code. Bioware is currently hiring a large team to work on the game and prefer experience with SWG. Pre-cu is a plus

The focus groups information was handed basically directly to Bioware. Some of the questions, like a KOTOR experience were hints to you folks as to who was behind it.

My source  or sources only stated what they know. They didnt speculate on how long development would take. No clue on the rumors if its tied into a television show. No clues on pre-cu, cu, etc. And finally, no clue on an announcement or what SOE will say about this.

I trust this source's info 100%. Believe what you will but it looks like SOE's tyranny is over 

interesting.

Hope it's true that SOE has no more control over this game.

Hope they do a pre cu version over at bio.

Faxx

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Originally posted by admriker444

Im not going into any details as I dont want any hints to my sources but here goes....

LA pulled the license from SOE. The rumors about February were dead right. SOE was allowed time to transition players (how much is unknown) to their other station pass games. Thats why they stopped selling SWG prepaid cards.

Publish 28, if it gets done will be the last publish to the game. There is a minimal support staff now working on it. Its purely cosmetic changes to keep existing players subscribing

Bioware did indeed gain rights to develop a second version of SWG. It wont be called SWG2. Its not a completely new game but rather a reworking of existing code. Bioware is currently hiring a large team to work on the game and prefer experience with SWG. Pre-cu is a plus

The focus groups information was handed basically directly to Bioware. Some of the questions, like a KOTOR experience were hints to you folks as to who was behind it.

My source  or sources only stated what they know. They didnt speculate on how long development would take. No clue on the rumors if its tied into a television show. No clues on pre-cu, cu, etc. And finally, no clue on an announcement or what SOE will say about this.

I trust this source's info 100%. Believe what you will but it looks like SOE's tyranny is over 

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Well, it can finally be said:

Disgruntled Playerbase FTW

SOE CAN ROT IN HELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and d'ems da good points. 

One more thing that proves more of what my sources states...

Bioware opened development studio in Austen Texas so some of the developers they hire (directly from SOE) wont have to relocate. It was thought they would be much less likely to transplant to Canada to work for Bioware

Assuming this is true and Unless LAE can provide real statements they weren't as much a part of this as SOE, I wonder if BioWare isn't setting themselves up for a mega blow to their reputation?

NWN is the only thing I know Bioware for and it was unlimited in Expack potential. It was also, if not a failure in the online version, It was clumbsy. So as much as Bioware make good games, I don't know if they have the skills to me MMO's.

I check the forums on SOE (Sold Out Everyone/ $OE/ Make your own) and it's the same griping, bitching, moaning it always was. Good things are said about CSR's now but when the CSR's outnumber the subs, it's hard not to do a good job.

I also know just how long it took me to decide if I would buy the new SW game.

There is alot of rep damage to more than just SOE to be repaired. Maybe BioWare is just getting a hook put in them on the way down.

It makes perfect sense now if you think about it. We all asked why SOE wouldnt implement a rollback or at least bring in some classic servers. SOE's answer was always so ridiculously lame.

And it didnt make sense either because SOE is always about money. So if 75% of your player base leaves demanding a rollback, why wouldnt they give it to them ? Not because they just wouldnt do it for pride or whatever but because they simply couldnt. The game doesnt belong to them anymore.

Thats also why publishes are slow and there is zero communication going on with their forums.

I wish I had an account so I could post this over there. Right now I see many posts asking questions like ETA on this fix and why isnt that getting worked on like promised, etc. SOE is fooling those poor souls into paying for something they have no intention of fixing (sound familiar, cough CU, Smuggler revamp)

Please someone post this over there

Hmm... I like hearing this even tho it hasnt been verified yet.

I dont expect us to hear much about it from SOE. I figure we will see a continuation of ignoring the forums/playerbase and the game will eventually be shutdown due to bugs(not lack of players..lol).

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Originally posted by admriker444
No clue on the rumors if its tied into a television show.....

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This totally fits the LA motif. They like bombarding people with Star Wars stuff at the same time. I wouldnt be surprised to see it relaunched near the release time or a major expansion added when the series begins.

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Originally posted by admriker444
One more thing that proves more of what my sources states...
Bioware opened development studio in Austen Texas so some of the developers they hire (directly from SOE) wont have to relocate. It was thought they would be much less likely to transplant to Canada to work for Bioware

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That was exactly why I thought they opened there. I had someone e-mail me that the Austin office opened to get "cheap hires from $OE".

admriker444's insider sources ftw! lol. I mean, wow, just wow, this is really huge if true!

MY QUESTION: When is this transition from SOE/BIOWAREPANDEMIC supposed to happen? A month, two months, July, christmas? I'd like to get an idea of what kind-of timeline is in place here, got any specifics?

And the rollback logic is flawed here... if SOE wanted to retain their customers they would have just given neutral answers to the question of a rollback, thus baiting the community and retaining the hope of those people. But they flat out stated that it isn't happening, which ended all hope for those maybe sticking around for it... i'm not sure how the 'rollback' thing fits into the equation, if at all. Either way it's a moot point.

PS - admriker444, if you don't mind me asking, is this information first hand? Or second/thrid hand?

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Originally posted by Shayde

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Originally posted by admriker444
One more thing that proves more of what my sources states...
Bioware opened development studio in Austen Texas so some of the developers they hire (directly from SOE) wont have to relocate. It was thought they would be much less likely to transplant to Canada to work for Bioware

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That was exactly why I thought they opened there. I had someone e-mail me that the Austin office opened to get "cheap hires from $OE".

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More confirmation then, good good

And I'll still say...

That is LAE pulled the license from SOE (already as stated) and has teamed with bio-ware for whatever new game.

Then why was that not part of the announcement or in fact any announcement from LAE..

I say this because if they already pulled the license from SOE then LAE would care less if everyone quits.  Topped off by the fact it would be something to at least put a positive spin on... as compared to the continued fallout at soe/swg and saying nothing.

Since it was LAE's license to begin with I don't see how SOE could bind them to a NDA about taking the license back.  Also that it would be a pointless NDA if in a few months details of the upcoming game come out which they would have to at some time.

So once again...

There would be nothing but positives (except for soe) on an official announcement.

I don't totally buy the idea that they only opened in Austin for the purpose of hiring ex SWG people.

Origin Systems Inc was always based in Austin except for a small time in New Hampshire.  If you don't get the OSI reference..

Raph Koster worked on UO before he went to SOE (UO was run out of the OSI offices in Austin).  Richard Garriott who is with NC Soft almost always works out of Austin...

Spacetime Studio's is in Austin working on an unknown MMO with NC Soft and made up of former SWG people and former OSI people.

As well as BioWare now having a dev team there with former uo/swg people (gordon walter aka tyrant was def part of UO and I believe Rich Vogel was before he went to SOE as well).

There is actually a website called something like the ADC (something to do with Austin Developers anyway) where many gaming jobs are advertised in the Austin area for programmers/artist.

I have no idea why Austin is so popular but its not a unique thing that BioWare could locat a US office there... since so many others are there.

Would I like it? Yes BioWare is a great gaming company.

I still just think if that license was pulled and a deal signed we would have official word already...

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Originally posted by dolanious

admriker444's insider sources ftw! lol. I mean, wow, just wow, this is really huge if true!

MY QUESTION: When is this transition from SOE/BIOWAREPANDEMIC supposed to happen? A month, two months, July, christmas? I'd like to get an idea of what kind-of timeline is in place here, got any specifics?

I dont know. I asked everything you asked. My source told me everything he knows. They arent completely redoing a new game so it shouldnt be years but thats just a guess....depends on whats being brought back and how badly SOE screwed up the source code I imagine.

And the rollback logic is flawed here... if SOE wanted to retain their customers they would have just given neutral answers to the question of a rollback, thus baiting the community and retaining the hope of those people. But they flat out stated that it isn't happening, which ended all hope for those maybe sticking around for it... i'm not sure how the 'rollback' thing fits into the equation, if at all. Either way it's a moot point.

I would guess SOE wouldnt want to set themselves up for a lawsuit ? No clue otherwise.

PS - admriker444, if you don't mind me asking, is this information first hand? Or second/thrid hand?

First hand source and done over the phone. I know the source or sources personally for many many years.

 

Hey Ant, would you be so quick to admit your companies' largest failure of all time?  I don't think SOE is dying to tell anyone this...  This could very well mean the death of their company... 

Imagine if SOE came out and said, "Sorry folks, we tried our best with SWG, but we are not in the position to offer you this game anymore (license being pulled)."...  Everyone would have a fit!  SOE would forever be the poster child of MMO fuck ups (pardon the French), if they aren't already...

I think the people at SOE are racking their brains trying to come up with something to say about this that won't make them look bad...  lol, watch, they become so delusional with their rhetoric when the say something like this:  "Over 80% of veterans are still playing, even though the servers are shut down"...

Guess my crazy-assed e-mail wasn't all that crazy.

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Originally posted by Dis_Ordur

Hey Ant, would you be so quick to admit your companies' largest failure of all time?  I don't think SOE is dying to tell anyone this...  This could very well mean the death of their company... 

Imagine if SOE came out and said, "Sorry folks, we tried our best with SWG, but we are not in the position to offer you this game anymore (license being pulled)."...  Everyone would have a fit!  SOE would forever be the poster child of MMO fuck ups (pardon the French), if they aren't already...

I think the people at SOE are racking their brains trying to come up with something to say about this that won't make them look bad...  lol, watch, they become so delusional with their rhetoric when the say something like this:  "Over 80% of veterans are still playing, even though the servers are shut down"...

 

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Im sure SOE will spin it as they are dumping it or selling it to concentrate on their new MMO based on DC Comics. I wouldnt be surprised at all if they tie in any announcement with their DC Comics MMO to deflect some heat honestly.

Also I think it was Shayde here that posted something about SOE saying they sold it to make it look better

While I certainly hope this is true, one part doesn't make sense...

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Originally posted by admriker444

SOE was allowed time to transition players (how much is unknown) to their other station pass games. Thats why they stopped selling SWG prepaid cards.

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If this were true, wouldn't that mean they'd stop new SWG accounts from being created?

 

Well I would think the reason why there has not been an announcement yet is because they ar enot sure of a time-frame when this will be out so they do not want to make an announcement too early until after the system is almost completed and tested to make sure it was working so they then could prot over characters instead of having the players have to wait who knows how long to be able to transfer their characters to this new game. 

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Originally posted by Motorhead

If this were true, wouldn't that mean they'd stop new SWG accounts from being created?

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Unless they plan on handing off the subscriptions at the same time. No loss of service.

Which also begs the question of what of former players? Will they also hand over all player data so moving into the new game would be smooth for returning players or would we all start as newbs again? :)

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Originally posted by Motorhead

While I certainly hope this is true, one part doesn't make sense...

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Originally posted by admriker444

SOE was allowed time to transition players (how much is unknown) to their other station pass games. Thats why they stopped selling SWG prepaid cards.

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If this were true, wouldn't that mean they'd stop new SWG accounts from being created?

 

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I dont know why. I just posted what I know

I can't wait to hear the spin on this one.

I have to say that i'm more pleased to hear that SOE lost the IP (an emberrasment to them), than to hear LA's decidedly dissapointing (in my opinion) decision to not create a new MMO game but instead make yet another iteration of SWG.

This time it's SWG 1.75.... the NGE was SWG 1.5 with the CU being 1.2

There's only so much you can do with the SWG engine. It's time to let the effing thing die already and make a completly new star wars based MMO that has nothing to do with the current game in any way, shape or form.

SOE, JOHN SMEDLY, FREEMAN -- YOU LOSE!

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Originally posted by PepiDeto

Well I would think the reason why there has not been an announcement yet is because they ar enot sure of a time-frame when this will be out so they do not want to make an announcement too early until after the system is almost completed and tested to make sure it was working so they then could prot over characters instead of having the players have to wait who knows how long to be able to transfer their characters to this new game. 

 

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I seriously doubt characters will be transferred. More likely everyone starts over