Originally posted by nekollx

Originally posted by junzo316

Originally posted by nekollx

 to be fair CoX took years to make SG bases, so it's a but diingeniosu to compare it to CO out of the box.

Alsoi i completed blood moon, and all perks on a lvl 21

 

Gated at 31 really?

 

Since CO was released years later, they should have added these features at release.  Right now, sg's are just extra titles under a name....

except weren't those features added AFTER the break from cryptic?

No, they came with CoV and Cryptic was still part of the game at that time.

I can't disagree with Junzo316 even though I am still playing.  Jack, after all, touted the game as better than their first attempt[CoH] and gave the impression the same mistakes would not be made and we will get things we could not before.  We got power customization but why leave out villains and superbases?  Even if things were still a mess, at least you could say Cryptic gave players many gameplay aspects of their previous game on Day One.  That was a missed opportunity to impress.

While I see the need for the list the writer gave, it just looks so generic and would not inspire me no matter what game it was critiquing.  While yes, we need some of that list, I just look at it as turning the game into any other MMO.  No one wants to offer "why can't I stop that falling tower from crushing the people below", "while I like throwing objects the physics could use some work so they feel like there is more weight the larger the object" or from massively(another MMO site) "when I can smack a villain and he goes crashing through a wall or glass ala physics, I will have arrived at my ultimate super hero game"?  Or for non-combat play why don't we have mini-games to make crafting more interesting?  The list provided was too generic for my tastes.

It's too bad the writer did not give more original feedback instead just placing CO in the standard MMO realm where it will not shine even if it meets his 5 points.

$39.99 at Best Buy.  City of Heroes dropped in price after two months as well so nothing out of the oridinary.

I don't know where you got the game is going to die.  They always stated up front that the game is profitable as long as it remains over 100K.  Probably even more so since they have consolidated their resources under one house.  Again, read Brian Clayton's comment.  They are not re-investing to maintain the status quo which you seem to be so fond of at the moment.

I'm not boggled by them making money now at all. 

It's just your statement they don't need to expand the playerbase which to me equates to making more money than they are currently.  If I were a shareholder, I would not want you in charge.  /em boggle

Whether they are making profit or not, there current subscriber base warrants some change.  They did pretty good this last year keeping it around 170K but no matter how you slice it, I"m sure NCSoft does not like losing 30K subscribers.  We won't know for a bit if Issue 11 boosted it back up from 140K.

I'm sure NCSoft feels there is still room to grow.  EVE Online has set a good example that an 'old' game can see continual growth even if it's not WoW-like numbers.   No reason they can't give the free Issues AND do a paid expansion to start grabbing more attention.  Their announcement mentions as much.

NCsoft Europe's MD, Geoff Heath:

"We'll be bringing out more City of products, some more chapters in the current series, and we're obviously looking at how we can expand the City of franchise generally," he said.

And responding to the question as to whether or not that would specifically mean a new game, he said: "I think you'll get a bit of both, yes."

Originally posted by Wikkedbowtie

I don't really see why they need to expand their playerbase. <snip>

You lost me and everyone else after that sentence. 

I want to invest in a product but do not want to see my price per share grow...../em boggle

Re-read Brian Clayton's comments about building the new studio.  IMO, this game does not get enough attention and should be breaking 500K subscribers easily.  Guess it is more niche than I thought but very nice to see it warrants "reinvestment".

I agree with red_cruiser.

An expansion would be the best way to say "We are still here, even better now with this expansion.  Come check us out".  It seems NCSoft never did much to advertise this game outside of the genre of comic-books and a new box at a retail store would be a good start.  I only remember some advertisements on some MMO sites and the back of comic books.

I just can't see expansion meaning the free Issues because that would just be continuing business as usual.  No risk, no gain(in subscribers).  The last numbers I saw was 140K subscribers and they need to do something a little more drastic than maintaining status quo if they want to increase their playerbase.

I hope you are right about the movie, therain93.  It would be a great boost to the game.

I could be off on what I read but I would like Amasir to share his insight first since he claims to know more.  If you know-it-all then back it up please Amasir. 

So they bought the IP, they hired the designers, programmers, etc.  Anything you may have left out that they did NOT buy?

You and Amasir are sure about that.  Cryptic is not involved in any aspect beyond "paying homage" to their name.  I don't want to leave anything to interpretation so would like to know your stance before I say you are wrong.

Originally posted by Amarsir

I see. So you're suspecting that somebody somewhere is doing something that is somehow related because they haven't specifically stopped indirectly not saying that they weren't going to not do that. And the effect of you thinking this is absolutely nothing.

Yeah sure, what the hell. If you want to go make a bold statement like that, I can't stop you.

BTW, there's still an NPC named "Shane Hensley" in the game. Shall we conclude that he's still involved too? You know, since it's a "business" and they wouldn't leave a name up just to honor someone. And I won't even get into explaining how Executive Producer credits are given out in the Television "business."

 

I see. So since you have the inside word that somebody somewhere is NOT doing something that is somehow related because they haven't specifically stopped indirectly not saying that weren't going to not do that.  And the effect of you thinking this is absolutely nothing.

 Yeah, sure. Go on believing you have the ultimate insight on this.

Is Shane Hensley a trademarked name?  Does he have copyrighted material that is exclusive to his name?  I missed it, do you have shares in Shane Hensley?  What products does the company "Shane Hensley" sell?

And please, don't hold us in suspense. Explain your knowledge into business.  If you can't except Mr. Casual player does not know what is going on behind the scenes(and you don't either) the only reasonable thought is "I see Cryptic still has there name on the title page so they must still be involved somehow."  Big difference between 'honoring' a person's name and a trademarked logo, but please provide examples of companies leaving their trademark name on a product after selling the rights and I will accept you know slightly more than the average player.

From Posi:

"Oh, and back to the original topic... Marcian is pretty perceptive about us needing "ramp up" time for I12... I12 was planned before the acquisition, and the staffing-up takes months, by which time I12 will be mostly done."

Goes in hand with Cryptic providing support DURING the transition.  I12 "before the acquistion".  I12 is not released yet, therefore Cryptic is still involved and have their logo on the main title page.

Since I and other posters here are not privy to any details, I think it is just fine as a "yardstick".  We are talking business here so I don't see any 'homages' being done.

Sure, officially "announced".  You think they are already done transitioning?  Making an official announcement is far different than what happens behind the scenes. How do you know how important the logos are?  For all we know it is part of the deal to keep Cryptic Studios visible to the player community until they come out with another product in order to build a brand image like other well known companies.

From the official announcement:

"In fact, you should see a significant positive impact on your game experience within the few months and beyond. Cryptic Studios is giving us all of the support we’ve asked for and has been tremendously helpful in this transitional process. All parties involved want what’s best for the franchise."

The Cryptic logo is still on the launch splash screen and a billboard in Peregrine Island.  They are still involved to a degree as far as I'm concerned.  No one knows what is involved in the transition between the two companies(most of all how long it will take) so when I see the logo gone, then they no longer have anything to do with the game.  YMMV.

Originally posted by Sanctus_Mors

Forum is up and fine. I'd suggest looking at www.cityofheroes.com before going by hearsay. http://www.crypticstudios.com/ is also working fine.

Old News: NCSoft bought the IP for City of Heroes. But, the old team is still on the development team.

Negative.  The General Forums were shut down on Dec 7 per Kestrel's announcement.  forums.crypticstudios.com/showthread.php

Definitely not hearsay.  Only the Animation Rig forum is still going.  I had already posted about this at the Pub.  http://www.mmorpg.com/discussion2.cfm/thread/158755

Just in case the Announcement disappears:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As work on Cryptic Studios' upcoming projects progresses, we have reached a point where we must focus all of our energies toward ensuring that our presentations of those projects are the absolute best work we can do.

So effective today, we are closing the Cryptic Studios forums and blog.

We're excited about what Cryptic Studios has planned for next year and beyond, but we need to give those plans our undivided attention. There are some great things coming, and we can't wait to tell you about them!

We realize that our presence has been missed on the blog and forums, and we apologize. We have been paying attention though, and your feedback and suggestions have been noted!

Everyone at Cryptic Studios would like to thank you for your support and participation. We will be releasing more information about our projects in the coming months, so please keep checking CrypticStudios.com for information.

Thank you again, and we'll see you in 2008!

- Sporkfire, Kestrel, Diamonds and the Cryptic Studios team

-----------------------------------------

HAHA!  I don't care whether it was true or not.  It was funny and brightened my day....along with all the other MMO comments on survival.   And congratulations to those that read this ages ago.  It's official...you're cool.

Originally posted by ianubisi

What's the fascination with speculation? Why not just enjoy the wonderful things in life that are within your reach today? Whatever happens will happen, and you can enjoy what's offered to you tomorrow when it arrives tomorrow.

Ok, at the moment I am enjoying the speculation.  Not worried, not fretting but enjoying it.  Sorry you can't enjoy it too.  Why are you so upset about people speculating?  Why not just enjoy what is within reach today?

I'm in the camp with people that say why is it so hard to just say the game is still in development.  Just a couple sentences and THEN go into blackout mode for the next few months.  Focusing energies sounds like something major happened and they are scrambling to re-adjust.

No mention of MUO at this time either.  I can appreciate 'focusing energies' but can someone enlighten me how that applies to a forum?  I didn't know the people posting there but I take it there official job was not the forums??? 

I'm just used to an official community rep, like Cuppajo, that does not have development duties popping in and keeping the community updated/interested.  Is this action suspicious considering the rumors or just business as usual? 

One of my thoughts(speculation) is part of the NCSoft deal and Cryptic/marvel/ms keeping mum to allow NCSoft time to announce their big plans for the City of franchise.  I think any announcements on MUO at this time could dampen enthusiasm for NCSoft's 'reinvestment' in the game.  Not that the game is any danger but the last report showed 140K worldwide subscribers(which is surprising considering the amount of crap out there).  They need to get those plans in place sooner rather than later so I can buy that new paid expsansion with all the sh1nies that were not possible before.

Hopefully Cryptic is just following the Blizzard model and decided announcing projects years ahead of time doesn't really do the player or the game any good.

If you have any more baseless assumptions to add like mine I would like to hear those too.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted yesterday by Kestrel  forums.crypticstudios.com/showthread.php

As work on Cryptic Studios' upcoming projects progresses, we have reached a point where we must focus all of our energies toward ensuring that our presentations of those projects are the absolute best work we can do.

So effective today, we are closing the Cryptic Studios forums and blog.

We're excited about what Cryptic Studios has planned for next year and beyond, but we need to give those plans our undivided attention. There are some great things coming, and we can't wait to tell you about them!

We realize that our presence has been missed on the blog and forums, and we apologize. We have been paying attention though, and your feedback and suggestions have been noted!

Everyone at Cryptic Studios would like to thank you for your support and participation. We will be releasing more information about our projects in the coming months, so please keep checking CrypticStudios.com for information.

Thank you again, and we'll see you in 2008!

- Sporkfire, Kestrel, Diamonds and the Cryptic Studios team

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Originally posted by Wikkedbowtie

Last I heard they are not planning a paid exspansion. They did consider it at one time, but scrapped the idea in favor of sticking with the free issues.

Correct, but that was under old management and I'm responding to a paragraph from the press release.  Are you saying you don't think now that NCSoft owns CoX 100% that they will not change anything?

NCsoft will soon be announcing formal plans for the City of Heroes IP, which will include expansions and sequels to the popular comic-book inspired massively multiplayer online (MMO) game.

Does expansions in this press release just refer to the free Issues?  What about the word 'sequels'?   Why word it that way if you were going to just continue business as usual or do you think this is just marketing-speak so the subscriber base didn't panic and leave en masse?

And yes, I would buy an expansion.

Just wondering if anyone thinks a paid expansion would now be possible again with the acquistion by NCSoft and would any of you buy it?

I would if they are going to offer as much content as they hinted at in their first attempt.

Hurray for new content....err old.  Wait, didn't I play all this content on my alts already?  What is the definition of new again?

New powersets, great.  New Inventions, great.  Flashback...at least I won't have to pay a million influence to get my Spelunker badge now.