Originally posted by Enigma

The only way Vanguard will improve is if SOE completely redo the core code from scratch.  Which is highly unlikely.

Whenever SOE buys a product it is usually set aside the back burner indef. ...look at Matrix Online.  I really don't see SOE putting as much effort as you think into this.

 

Originally posted by healz4u
The Professionals are Here
SOE has acquired SIGIL (Vanguard: Saga of Heroes) and the implications for this are far-reaching.  SNE is a vast corporation with vast assets in terms capital, human skills, experience, technology.  If Vanguard needed more resources to improve and enhance the game, Sony Corp. has them. 


Opportunity for Everyone
However, I am going to keep that bottle of champagne on ice (for now).  I am not going to celebrate (just yet).  SOE's acquisition of Vanguard is a great opportunity for SOE, Vanguard, and the players of Vanguard. 

Opportunity for SOE
It is a great opportunity for SOE because the company can repair its image and prove to the gaming world that it does not wreak games it acquires.  It has a chance to show that it is capable of acquiring games to improve and enhance them.  If SOE wreaks Vanguard as many believe it did with SWG, EQ 1, or Matrix Online, this will be a very costly mistake.  SOE would be very wise to take advantage of this opportunity and fully support Vanguard. 

Opportunity for Vanguard
Vanguard can be a viable competitor in market.  In fact, as one who has played these games for years, I think it is not possible but probable that Vanguard can achieve over 500k subscribers if SOE fully supports the game.

Opportunity for Vanguard Community
Most importantly, at least from my perspective, SOE can use its resources to complete the game.  It can improve performance, continue to fix bugs, and add content.  All of these are desired by the Vanguard community.

It is a genuine possibility that all parties will benefit.  However, it is just that - a possibility. 


What Should SOE do Now?
SOE is in an unenviable position.  If it does too much, it risks creating SWG issues.  If it does too little, it risk the perception that it is not fully committed to the game.  Therefore, I think SOE should focus on three areas for now:

(1)  Improve Performance
(2)  Fix Bugs
(3)  Add Content (esp. end-game)

Originally posted by Rekindle

Ok, so not demise, SOE will take over etc.

I tried EQ2 recently, yanno what the problem with that game is? At lower levels its a wasteland.  It seems like a great game (now) but I get the feeling that its a very top heavy player base in terms of levels.

So now SOE has 1 st gen MMO , 1 2nd gen mmo and 1 2.5 gen MMO (in Vanguard).  It will be interesting to see what will happen to the game and what they will do with it to make it --not-- WoW and --not-- EQ2.  Frankly, I don't think they're going to pull it off.  Vanguard as a spiritual successor to EQ1 may work but its a long shot.  The good news story is the niche is still there, its just many people have stopped looking at Vanguard to fill it.

The true travisty here though is the false message the corp execs are going to get from this gamble/loss. SOE took a chance on the relationship with Sigil.  The spin at the time of the SOE  - Sigil announcement was that this would be the new style of relationship between publisher and developer.  gee that worked out great didn't it? 

Vanguard was to be something new, fresh, different unique (at least on paper).  There was a time when it did stand a good chance at kicking WoW around a bit if if if if of course.  Now we are stuck in the same craptastic cycle of WoW clone video games that offer three new shades of grey in how to run your character through the treadmill to level X before expansion Y comes out. 

Indeed, the failure of Sigil sends the wrong message and will likely mean nothing new in this genre for sometime.

I feel bad for Brad even in his blind arrogance.   If a half wit like me can see the boat coming to shore is sinking and will be sunk before it even arrives, he should have seen it long ago.  If it werent for that dammed Zoo Tycoon VG would have 7300k subs and run on 386 computers @ 100 fps!

I'm so bored of elves and gnomes and Eq1, Eq2, Eq3, Eq4 ......

 

Do yourself a favor and go for a walk and play some Eve :D

Originally posted by defenestrate
Ive noticed in the last year that there has been a flood in the mmo market of less then quality games. Of course in this post these are only my opinions and thoughts and I totally expect to have rebutals posted here.

  Now I have been playing mmo's since Ultima Online was released, I enjoyed this game very much. I have also played DDO, FFXI, L2, WoW, EvE, Vanguard, LoTR Beta, MxO, RF Online, and Guild Wars so I consider myself an MMO "vet" even though the term vet has come under some fire recently. Now I admit not all of the games that I listed above are very quality games, but I tried them out to see how it would go. But recently Ive noticed that there has been a big surge of less then good quality games. In my mind I justify this by saying maybe the developers need more money to finish the game so they release it early relying on hype to skyrocket sales. After said skyrocket their mindframe probably being "promise the consumer that in coming weeks or months that the patches will flesh the game out nicely and please be patient." One great example of this being Vanguard SOH, this game had alot of great potential when it was released and I had high hopes. After awhile I just gave up because it was like all other games, which brings me to my next point.

  Innovation
  I believe that games have become stagnant in recent times because we or I, I should say, crave something amazingly innovative that will just amaze us and say "Thank god, its about time the devs finally got IT!" Innovation is the key IMO to any great game. Now I believe that EvE was the pinnacle of innovation in the MMO genre. This game broke alot of rules by just having one server, no avatars that walk around from town to town completing a series of quests for a sword that will be obsolete in 2 hours. Also the skill levelling is amazing. WHat other game can you set a skill to train and go on vacation for a week just to come back and find that you only have an hour left for that skill to complete training. Player owned space is another great innovation, where else can you hold a piece of the vast universe or worl for yourself and your mates. Another great innovation in the MMO genre was brought about by blizzard when they decided to implement reputation and the rewards that come with it, and also the different battle grounds.

  Now Im hoping what we are waiting for is just around the corner with upcoming hopefulls like Warhammer Online, Richard Garriots Tabula Rasa and the Age of Conan. My eye is on Tabula Rasa but I will be playing the others as well.

Please post your thoughts, concerns and gripes

Originally posted by Panossian
The fact that Brad was not even there when his staff was getting fired shows what true coward and incredibly poor leader/ manager this man really was. All he is and ever will be is an idea man.

Originally posted by Amalaric

Originally posted by Goldknyght

Originally posted by Amalaric

 

SOE will take Vanguard and make it into EverQuest 3?

That's just hilarious. 

(but I guess that it must feel awkward to the fans, oh well) *shrugs*

Im not a fan to vanguard and im saying i see the potential in the actual engine itself. Theres endless things possiblities from this game engine. So yes i do think SOE would use this engine in creating Everquest 3. The crafting, diplomacy, and just plan adventuring in Vanguards engine is wonderful just they didnt take the time to push a 100% title and got AXED. I would in my opinion say vanguard was 70% done. Vanguard was for the hardcore mmorpgist and wasnt plagued by cartoon graphics. had a mature feel just couldnt deliever. So yes i do think Everquest 3 will use this engine it is a wonderful engine just needs to be tweekd and have its performance issues fixed. Im not saying they are going to turn Vanguard into EQ3 im just saying they are going to use the engine for EQ3 with vanguard still out there if it still has its VANboys or Vangurls for the ladies.

Is the graphics engine Unreal 1, 2 or 3?

Because Lineage 2 has got the Unreal 2 graphics engine and that game looks better than Vanguard. 

Originally posted by Amalaric

 

SOE will take Vanguard and make it into EverQuest 3?

That's just hilarious. 

(but I guess that it must feel awkward to the fans, oh well) *shrugs*

Im not a fan to vanguard and im saying i see the potential in the actual engine itself. Theres endless things possiblities from this game engine. So yes i do think SOE would use this engine in creating Everquest 3. The crafting, diplomacy, and just plan adventuring in Vanguards engine is wonderful just they didnt take the time to push a 100% title and got AXED. I would in my opinion say vanguard was 70% done. Vanguard was for the hardcore mmorpgist and wasnt plagued by cartoon graphics. had a mature feel just couldnt deliever. So yes i do think Everquest 3 will use this engine it is a wonderful engine just needs to be tweekd and have its performance issues fixed. Im not saying they are going to turn Vanguard into EQ3 im just saying they are going to use the engine for EQ3 with vanguard still out there if it still has its VANboys or Vangurls for the ladies.

Is this the PC version thats is going to allow unlimited people? Because last i read it was going to be up to 8 or 16 people can't quite remember for the xbox 360 and im sorry thats not a MMO in my book. 16 people is just a oblivion lan party. But reasons to why u didnt get to many posts on this is because you put two worlds will become mmo. Doubt alot of people know what two worlds is. topic should of had reference to obilvion and people would of checked it out. Now that rattrap is free lets storm the CASTLE!!