I forgot one major concern I have with this game: its future.

I occasionally read the official Vanguard forums.  Vanguard’s creative director apparently has been moved to another game rumored to be EQ Next.

So, if EQ Next is planning to be a high fantasy-open world-sandboxy type, is there room in the Sony portfolio for two similar games?

There’s already speculation from the community about the game not getting equal treatment.  My hope is that another company will acquire and continue developing Vanguard if Sony drops it.

I always got the impression it was being subsidised by the station pass.  Wouldn't surprise me to see it disappear around the time of the release of EQ Next. 

I guess it depends on how similar / different EQ Next really is to Vanguard.  How much do we know for sure about EQ Next at this point?

Enjoy the game while it lasts.

Originally posted by DeVoDeVo

I forgot one major concern I have with this game: its future.

I occasionally read the official Vanguard forums.  Vanguard’s creative director apparently has been moved to another game rumored to be EQ Next.

So, if EQ Next is planning to be a high fantasy-open world-sandboxy type, is there room in the Sony portfolio for two similar games?

There’s already speculation from the community about the game not getting equal treatment.  My hope is that another company will acquire and continue developing Vanguard if Sony drops it.

Vanguard isnt sandboxy.  Its in the same "not a sandbox, not a themepark" space as EQ.  There already is room in the Sony portfolio for two similar games, VG and the much more popular EQ1.

 

And I doubt any company would touch VG with a 10 foot pole.  I bet if you asked Smedley, off the record, his two biggest mistakes #1 would be the obvious and #2 would be bailing out Sigil.  VG was such a big money sink for SoE, and if it wasnt for SoE there is zero chance it would have ever been released-no one else would have taken the gamble.

We don't know that it was a money sink for SOE.  Don't forget the game had 250k subs at the begining.  If they got it cheap enough then they probably made a profit.  Did they ever say how much they got it for?  Also, any operating losses would be a tax break.

Originally posted by Scarfe
I always got the impression it was being subsidised by the station pass.  Wouldn't surprise me to see it disappear around the time of the release of EQ Next. 

 /thread

Well, lets just say that what I've heard to far about EQ Next means I'm not interested.

If SOE closes Vanguard down, fine. But I wont play any other game of them.

From a strict business perspective, I see no reason why Sony wouldn't keep Vanguard as part of their portfolio as long as it continue to generate revenue.  I doubt they'd ever sell it because it would become a competing product.  I doubt they'd shut it down because it fits a very nice niche for 'core' gamers and probably spins off some nice cash for them.

Originally posted by Letsinod
We don't know that it was a money sink for SOE.  Don't forget the game had 250k subs at the begining.  If they got it cheap enough then they probably made a profit.  Did they ever say how much they got it for?  Also, any operating losses would be a tax break.

If it had 250k that was on day 1, I dont even think it sold that well.  Less than half that renewed the first month.  It was under 50k by the time SoE acquired it.  They worked on the game for almost two years after that with at least a medium sized staff with less than 20k subs for most of that time.  There is no way they didnt incur huge losses while doing that.

Originally posted by Adamantine

Well, lets just say that what I've heard to far about EQ Next means I'm not interested.

If SOE closes Vanguard down, fine. But I wont play any other game of them.

There are only two things anyone knows about EQNext

1. It will be a sandbox

2. It will use the PS2 engine

 

Nobody knows anything else but that (including pricing model..which Ill bet SoE doesnt know yet, they will monitor the market)

 

Originally posted by strangiato2112

Originally posted by Adamantine

Well, lets just say that what I've heard to far about EQ Next means I'm not interested.

If SOE closes Vanguard down, fine. But I wont play any other game of them.

There are only two things anyone knows about EQNext

1. It will be a sandbox

2. It will use the PS2 engine

 

Nobody knows anything else but that (including pricing model..which Ill bet SoE doesnt know yet, they will monitor the market)

 

 

Actually we can't even be sure about it being sandbox. All smed said was "sandbox style' which is really quite vague.

Originally posted by VengeSunsoar

Originally posted by strangiato2112

Originally posted by Adamantine

Well, lets just say that what I've heard to far about EQ Next means I'm not interested.

If SOE closes Vanguard down, fine. But I wont play any other game of them.

There are only two things anyone knows about EQNext

1. It will be a sandbox

2. It will use the PS2 engine

 

Nobody knows anything else but that (including pricing model..which Ill bet SoE doesnt know yet, they will monitor the market)

 

 

Actually we can't even be sure about it being sandbox. All smed said was "sandbox style' which is really quite vague.

 

My thoughts exactly. Considering that everyone has their own conception of what makes a true sandbox. We all may find out that SOE's definition may not match our own.

Don't we know it will be f2p out the door? or is that speculation?

Originally posted by Zorgo

Originally posted by VengeSunsoar

Originally posted by strangiato2112

Originally posted by Adamantine

Well, lets just say that what I've heard to far about EQ Next means I'm not interested.

If SOE closes Vanguard down, fine. But I wont play any other game of them.

There are only two things anyone knows about EQNext

1. It will be a sandbox

2. It will use the PS2 engine

 

Nobody knows anything else but that (including pricing model..which Ill bet SoE doesnt know yet, they will monitor the market)

 

 

Actually we can't even be sure about it being sandbox. All smed said was "sandbox style' which is really quite vague.

 

My thoughts exactly. Considering that everyone has their own conception of what makes a true sandbox. We all may find out that SOE's definition may not match our own.

Don't we know it will be f2p out the door? or is that speculation?

I haven't heard him comment specifically about eqnext being f2p but considering all their other games are freemium it's a good bet it will be too.

Originally posted by Adamantine

Well, lets just say that what I've heard to far about EQ Next means I'm not interested.

If SOE closes Vanguard down, fine. But I wont play any other game of them.

Hasnt been much said about Eqnext.

 

Nothing like jumping to assumptions.

Originally posted by strangiato2112

Originally posted by Adamantine

Well, lets just say that what I've heard to far about EQ Next means I'm not interested.

If SOE closes Vanguard down, fine. But I wont play any other game of them.

There are only two things anyone knows about EQNext

1. It will be a sandbox

2. It will use the PS2 engine

 

Nobody knows anything else but that (including pricing model..which Ill bet SoE doesnt know yet, they will monitor the market)

 

I'm really doubting that EQN will be a full blown sandbox. It'll have sandboxy features, but I think it'll be one of those in the middle where there still is some direction in the game, there isn't going to be total freedom to play how you want, but there will be a wide variety of ways at least. Probably taking bits from EQ1, 2 and VG and rolling them up, hopefully into something good.

That said, just logged into VG after trying it out right after it went F2P and made a Warrior instead of my Bard. Think I'll be splitting my time between this and GW2 for now. I like the feel of it and hopefully I can meet some people in game I can adventure with and experience the game with. Really seems like a hidden gem that not many people have the patience to try out.