The Secret World Forum » General Discussion » How is Funcom funding "The Secret World"?

It really beats me. I mean if they released Age of Conan in 2008 and put all of their resources in it, why is it that they're still able to fund such a huge project as "The Secret World"? Secret World originally began development before Age of Conan, but still doesn't explain. Age of Conan failed and the subscriber base is used to pay back the investors for investing in Funcom. I'm really not sure why the company is still standing, yet able to fund yet another project such as, "The Secret World." 

And, they think I'll be a success? Doesn't everyone hate Funcom from Age of Conan?

From various threads on the same matter on this site, it was stated that Funcom still has plenty of money to throw towards the development of this MMO. Funcom is a publicly traded company, so its finances results are visible.

I played AoC for a month or two during launch. I didn't like it and moved on to other games. Hating the gaming company for a product I didn't like is absurd. Should I have hated NCsoft because I didn't like CoH?

Originally posted by Syno23

It really beats me. I mean if they released Age of Conan in 2008 and put all of their resources in it, why is it that they're still able to fund such a huge project as "The Secret World"? Secret World originally began development before Age of Conan, but still doesn't explain. Age of Conan failed and the subscriber base is used to pay back the investors for investing in Funcom. I'm really not sure why the company is still standing, yet able to fund yet another project such as, "The Secret World." 

And, they think I'll be a success? Doesn't everyone hate Funcom from Age of Conan?

You are asuming they did put all their resources in AoC, they didnt.

Originally posted by Syno23

It really beats me. I mean if they released Age of Conan in 2008 and put all of their resources in it,

There's your basic error right there. Not only did they not put all their resources in AoC, it paid for itself. The game didn't generate much extra income but it didn't really hurt the company much financially. The biggest hit was to their reputation. Investors don't trust them to make games that earn the big bucks any more. Although with their track record I'm not sure why anyone would think they would in the first place. AO didn't exactly break any earnings records.

Originally posted by Syno23

It really beats me. I mean if they released Age of Conan in 2008 and put all of their resources in it, why is it that they're still able to fund such a huge project as "The Secret World"? Secret World originally began development before Age of Conan, but still doesn't explain. Age of Conan failed and the subscriber base is used to pay back the investors for investing in Funcom. I'm really not sure why the company is still standing, yet able to fund yet another project such as, "The Secret World." 

And, they think I'll be a success? Doesn't everyone hate Funcom from Age of Conan?

Short answer:

With it's $35 million in cash.

As for the second question, I think the product will stand or fall on it's own merit. The Funcom hatred is mostly from a very small and vocal part of the player base. The rest of us have been consumers for a few years and don't find the errors made OMFG-armed assault-QQ worthy. If you think Funcom's bad, just wait until you own and repair a car..

Originally posted by Syno23

Doesn't everyone hate Funcom from Age of Conan?

What do you think mate? Crap like this is just basically pure false.

$40 mill in the bank. TSW was being developed way before AoC was even released.

People should read earnings reports before posting silly remarks...Though AoC even in my books flopped, things are lightening up for them....

http://www.blogcatalog.com/search.frame.php?term=funcom+earnings&id=54c353dc674b4f125428508e20b834b3

Track record and the truth will in my opion give Funcom what it deserves. Reorganization, current senior exectives replaced public support gone.

Jihad works both ways

Originally posted by Syno23

It really beats me. I mean if they released Age of Conan in 2008 and put all of their resources in it, why is it that they're still able to fund such a huge project as "The Secret World"? Secret World originally began development before Age of Conan, but still doesn't explain. Age of Conan failed and the subscriber base is used to pay back the investors for investing in Funcom. I'm really not sure why the company is still standing, yet able to fund yet another project such as, "The Secret World." 

And, they think I'll be a success? Doesn't everyone hate Funcom from Age of Conan?

Age of Conan bring enough profit to Funcom. Its far from a fail. I personally never have a hope in such type of MMO as Age of Connan, and see it as great success from aside.

PS: Why anyone expect a game to get over 10m subs to name it success?

Originally posted by iZakaroN

Originally posted by Syno23

It really beats me. I mean if they released Age of Conan in 2008 and put all of their resources in it, why is it that they're still able to fund such a huge project as "The Secret World"? Secret World originally began development before Age of Conan, but still doesn't explain. Age of Conan failed and the subscriber base is used to pay back the investors for investing in Funcom. I'm really not sure why the company is still standing, yet able to fund yet another project such as, "The Secret World." 

And, they think I'll be a success? Doesn't everyone hate Funcom from Age of Conan?

 

Age of Conan bring enough profit to Funcom. Its far from a fail. I personally never have a hope in such type of MMO as Age of Connan, and see it as great success from aside.

PS: Why anyone expect a game to get over 10m subs to name it success?

Actually, 1 million subscribers is a success. Anything lower is simply the game is doing great, it is making profit, it is holding its own, and a failure is under 150k subs which Age of Conan currently has.

too many oil rigs in Norway heheh.. too much cash to burn i guess :p

Its possible that Age of Conan was a pile of poop BECAUSE they didn't (couldn't because of socialism?) spend that much money investing into Age of Conan.   They took like a 30 milliion dollar investment from other people with big promises.

Its possible that they saw all this coming and pulled a fast one.

Definitely thinking short-term.

So many assumptions going on here.

They made one bad game, so no other game they ever make could be possible?

They can only be making one game at a time?

Investors can't choose a particular game to invest in?

They never learn from past mistakes?

Shall I go on?

Originally posted by madeux

So many assumptions going on here.

They made one bad game, so no other game they ever make could be possible?

They can only be making one game at a time?

Investors can't choose a particular game to invest in?

They never learn from past mistakes?

Shall I go on?

yeah, but when you know what you're doing is wrong you don't just turn on a dime

those aren't mistakes.

The job of the real gamers now is to remind everyone what Funcom is all about.  In terms of both AO and AOC they released totally unfinished products.  As long as everyone knows this and realise how much of PR is going on (the truth doesn't matter for Funcom - as long as it sells them one extra copy in preorder).  

Everyone should know by now that you do NOT buy a Funcom product based on anything that the company is saying.  And since NDA is not lifted on their products - you do NOT buy or preoder their games before they go on free trial.  Its this simple.  

Just remember it and stay as far away as possible until you have solid facts.  That should be out about 6 months after the game releases. 

Originally posted by Frobner

The job of the real gamers now is to remind everyone what Funcom is all about.  In terms of both AO and AOC they released totally unfinished products.  As long as everyone knows this and realise how much of PR is going on (the truth doesn't matter for Funcom - as long as it sells them one extra copy in preorder).  

Everyone should know by now that you do NOT buy a Funcom product based on anything that the company is saying.  And since NDA is not lifted on their products - you do NOT buy or preoder their games before they go on free trial.  Its this simple.  

Just remember it and stay as far away as possible until you have solid facts.  That should be out about 6 months after the game releases. 

Please, let's remind gamers of a couple of Funcom games:

http://pc.ign.com/articles/160/160848p1.html

http://pc.ign.com/articles/702/702002p1.html

As for staying away for the six months to wait out the worst.. duh.. that goes for all MMO's.  A smooth launch is the exception for MMO's, not the rule. When you have played them long enough you'll figure that out and learn to accept the first months is ALWAYS turbulent.

Originally posted by Syno23

Actually, 1 million subscribers is a success. Anything lower is simply the game is doing great, it is making profit, it is holding its own, and a failure is under 150k subs which Age of Conan currently has.

Yay!  Another armchair economist who has some sort of super power that allows him to determine what defines success or failure for a company or the MMORPG industry as a whole.

Game development companies better listen up!   We don't care if your financial division predetermines that you can make timely returns on your pre-launch investments and still turn a profit with 150k+ subscribers, or be rolling in fat cash with 500k+.  You will be considered pure and absolute utter apocalyptic failures within the MMO industry because you didn't reach 1 million subscribers.  You know why?  Because Syno23 said so.

Originally posted by EduardoASG

too many oil rigs in Norway heheh.. too much cash to burn i guess :p

the sad part is those oil money is put into a bank and saved....

The good part is that we are filthy rich due to it :P But ofcourse those greedy politicans's don't bother giving us the money directly to spend :(

Has everyone forgotten (despite your opinions on the game) that AoC sold how many copies at launch, at what price?  Love it or hate it, AoC made bank for funcom.

The money is out there for a company with a proven track record, the problem arises when your a no name company looking to get funded. 

Well, my thought is that Fucom was running itself like a company.

It put a certain amount of resources and funds toward one project and likewise put funds toward other projects.

Most companies that run well don't put all their eggs in one basket. If one of their products goes down then the other projects are there to keep the company afloat.

Originally posted by Syno23

Originally posted by iZakaroN

Originally posted by Syno23

It really beats me. I mean if they released Age of Conan in 2008 and put all of their resources in it, why is it that they're still able to fund such a huge project as "The Secret World"? Secret World originally began development before Age of Conan, but still doesn't explain. Age of Conan failed and the subscriber base is used to pay back the investors for investing in Funcom. I'm really not sure why the company is still standing, yet able to fund yet another project such as, "The Secret World." 

And, they think I'll be a success? Doesn't everyone hate Funcom from Age of Conan?

 

Age of Conan bring enough profit to Funcom. Its far from a fail. I personally never have a hope in such type of MMO as Age of Connan, and see it as great success from aside.

PS: Why anyone expect a game to get over 10m subs to name it success?

 

Actually, 1 million subscribers is a success. Anything lower is simply the game is doing great, it is making profit, it is holding its own, and a failure is under 150k subs which Age of Conan currently has.

lol, your a idiot!!!!

I am indiffrent to funcom and AOC. But come one use common sence... If the company makes even a dollar over cost(which means maintance/marketing ect... its a success)

if the server are running and making money its a success.

Funcom is just like every other DEV. out there, most there prducts are crap, when TSW goest open/closed beta im sure it will eather be crap or great.

I guess some see AoC as a failure and a hit to Funcom's pocket, but the game is doing quite well. I just left it right after it's big 1.05 patch and the player base could not be happier <for the most part> I think FC has bounced back from the first 6 month slump they were in and even though not bring in WoW type $, still make more then enough money to not only support AoC and future production on that game but also other projects as well.

P.S. only left AoC to take a break from the game. Got a little addicted for a moment there ;)

Funcom hating, Sony hating, Walmart hating...it's all the same. Never will understand hating a game developer. Guess it's just too easy to hate these days....

Originally posted by Syno23

It really beats me. I mean if they released Age of Conan in 2008 and put all of their resources in it, why is it that they're still able to fund such a huge project as "The Secret World"? Secret World originally began development before Age of Conan, but still doesn't explain. Age of Conan failed and the subscriber base is used to pay back the investors for investing in Funcom. I'm really not sure why the company is still standing, yet able to fund yet another project such as, "The Secret World." 

And, they think I'll be a success? Doesn't everyone hate Funcom from Age of Conan?

You're assuming that FunCom only makes MMOs. Dreamfall was only released 3 years ago and was sold on both PC and Xbox/Xbox360. It had a much wider audience that the MMO market in general.