Curse

Lonesamurai · Sep 12, 2008, 04:44 PM // 16:44

Well, i asked a couple of friends from NC Soft Europe yesterday and although neither could say anything about it, they were both very excited about things, so I'm looking forward to it aswell

Fril Estelin · Sep 12, 2008, 05:15 PM // 17:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ctb

This is typical company spin.

I think you're generalising a bit too much. While what you're saying is perfectly possible, and in particular in big companies and competitive environment such as gaming, I don't get the feeling that NC Soft and ArenaNet are like that. It feels like a much nicer company that what I've heard of other big gaming companies (well a lot of studios are very cool!), and a place where employees enjoy their job a lot. So I'm enclined to think there's not much "spin", well if "standard" marketing is not considered spin anyway. They make mistakes and they're not perfect, granted. But they're concise when communicating, you don't get this "come and buy our awesome game, so good and so much better than the rest of the competition, and which got so many awards and we can show off our millions of customers to prove you're right to choose us" feeling that you can get from other publishers/studios (I think Aion was a good example where quality speaks for itself). Hence why I'm asking my previous question.

P.S.: no, I'm not a carebear, or any kind of blinded gamer, it's my own balanced view of things and I'm not saying you're wrong either!

IlikeGW · Sep 12, 2008, 05:32 PM // 17:32

Hmm... everyone's running away from Guild Wars 2, fans and devs. They might want to turn their PR machine back on by now and release some screens or something.

Operative 14 · Sep 12, 2008, 07:38 PM // 19:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by IlikeGW

Hmm... everyone's running away from Guild Wars 2, fans and devs. They might want to turn their PR machine back on by now and release some screens or something.

Umm.. not really, it's taking more of center stage it seems. (Though I agree with that last bit

)

I have mixed ideas about how this reorganization will work out. I'm a bit worried that since NCsoft has more direct control over Anet, it might mean that NCsoft has more control over things that they really shouldn't (like monthly fees that all their other titles seem fond of, or adding more this and that to GW2). On that other hand, it would be nice if having Anet's founders at the reigns of this congolmeration might mean more and varied titles that follow GW's lead.

I suppose time will tell. Hopefully the next few months will be interesting for Arenanet and NCwest.

Regina Buenaobra · Sep 12, 2008, 08:00 PM // 20:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fril Estelin

One question I'd like to ask Regina is this: are Jeff Strain and Patrick Wyatt leaving ArenaNet for NC West and, if so, how is this going to affect ArenaNet and GW? I've got the feeling from what I read that there'll be minimal impact, but I'd like to know if you can issue a statement on that.

I sincerely hope that NC West will be a huge success, as the game they/you release are astounding and you're fighting in an arena dominated by mamoths (Blizzard Activision, EA). And grats to Jeff and Patrick for the promotion

Jeff Strain will be working at NC West to manage all NC West development studios across all existing and future products and he will also direct the production of NCsoft’s Asian-developed titles for NC West territories.

Pat Wyatt's role at NC West will be focusing on platform technology development, network operations, and systems engineering. However, he will still have a strong presence here at ArenaNet.

Their new roles will not impact Guild Wars very much, as we still have a good solid group of people here, including Mike O'Brien, one of the ArenaNet Founders, who is the Executive Producer for GW2 (and was Executive Producer for GW1).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Operative 14

Umm.. not really, it's taking more of center stage it seems. (Though I agree with that last bit

)

I have mixed ideas about how this reorganization will work out. I'm a bit worried that since NCsoft has more direct control over Anet, it might mean that NCsoft has more control over things that they really shouldn't (like monthly fees that all their other titles seem fond of, or adding more this and that to GW2). On that other hand, it would be nice if having Anet's founders at the reigns of this congolmeration might mean more and varied titles that follow GW's lead.

I suppose time will tell. Hopefully the next few months will be interesting for Arenanet and NCwest.

ArenaNet had always reported directly to NCsoft Korea. I think you've read in interviews with the Founders that NCsoft gives ArenaNet quite a lot of freedom to do things our way. The formation of NC West will not negatively impact the way ArenaNet conducts itself within the larger company.

Ctb · Sep 12, 2008, 08:27 PM // 20:27

Quote:

While what you're saying is perfectly possible

No, what I'm saying is probable. It's a business, and businesses don't divulge significant details about internal restructuring until after it's clearly and completely done, and for good reason.

Quote:

So I'm enclined to think there's not much "spin", well if "standard" marketing is not considered spin anyway.

Marketing is the very embodiment of the concept of spin. No sane marketer would go out and provide you with a completely level-headed evaluation of his own product or company. They tell you the good parts, fudge on the language, and try to keep you from discovering the bad parts. There's enough spin involved in a typical marketing campaign to make a top dizzy.

I'm just saying, for all the people calling on Regina to give you any real meat, don't hold your breath. I'd be surprised if she even has any. If you're going to speculate on how this change affects you as a Guild Wars player, or future ANet titles, whether it will be positive or negative change, you may as well just flip a coin at this point.

And, again, I don't know anything either, and I'm not saying it's good or bad one way or the other because I have no idea. I'm just pointing out that this thread doesn't really provide anything that would be considered a hard and fast, relevant fact, and it probably never will.

Fril Estelin · Sep 12, 2008, 09:44 PM // 21:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ctb

It's a business, and businesses don't divulge significant details about internal restructuring until after it's clearly and completely done, and for good reason.

It's not internal at all, it's clearly external as 2 founders of Anet are moving up and away, well not completely as Regina just "revealed". It's not a significant change in the sense that it'll affect us deeply, but it has an impact, and in particular on how people perceive Anet and NCsoft/West.

Quote:

I'm just pointing out that this thread doesn't really provide anything that would be considered a hard and fast, relevant fact, and it probably never will.

Well, unless you're working at Anet or in close contact with an Anet employee, there'll never be anything like that. So this point was obvious.

We're making subjective opinions (like your opinion that ALL marketing is "spin") based on information and I can understand why people would be worried about such information (same thing with the mega-atomic-collider in Geneva a few days ago, stories of earth sucked in a black hole...), I think it's much better to have a discussion about it, however subjective, rather than let people second-guess.

Ty Regina.

illidan009 · Sep 12, 2008, 09:47 PM // 21:47

I like good ole proph better than some of these newer campaigns, but I must say ANET has been doing a pretty good job over all...congrats on the promotion and hopefully that'll do us players some good!

Operative 14 · Sep 13, 2008, 02:20 AM // 02:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Regina Buenaobra

ArenaNet had always reported directly to NCsoft Korea. I think you've read in interviews with the Founders that NCsoft gives ArenaNet quite a lot of freedom to do things our way. The formation of NC West will not negatively impact the way ArenaNet conducts itself within the larger company.

Ah, okay. It just sounded like in the press releases NCWest was merging all of those aforementioned companies, Arenanet included, into one company. Instead of NCsoft just being a publisher that provides support for Anet, they would be placed in direct control of Anet, with Anet being a development team of the new company. From what you said that's pretty much the way it's always been, so I guess it's of little concern at this point.

Lord-UWR · Sep 15, 2008, 05:53 AM // 05:53

So, let me get this straight...NC West is the non-Asian aspect of NC Soft and is under direct control of A-net's Jeff Strain and its CEO and CTO are both from A-net...Meaning that Guild Wars will hopefully flourish (no monthly fees please) and have a larger support base along with all those...not as well known games of NC Soft.

However, what I really want to know is whether the 3 gentlemen leaving Anet for higher ground will still have some hand in Guild Wars 2 or not at all?

PuppyEater · Sep 15, 2008, 12:11 PM // 12:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by IlikeGW

Hmm... everyone's running away from Guild Wars 2, fans and devs. They might want to turn their PR machine back on by now and release some screens or something.

Especially if they hope to have any chance of keeping potential customers from buying and settling down with something like Diablo3 which already has a few 5+ minute vids of ingame footage

God knows I'm already torn and don't have enough free time to devote to 2 separate games.

cthulhu reborn · Sep 15, 2008, 02:46 PM // 14:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lord-UWR

Meaning that Guild Wars will hopefully flourish (no monthly fees please)

Anet have officially stated in interviews as well as on their website that GW2 will NOT have monthly fees...I really wonder why people are still asking about this.

wetsparks · Sep 15, 2008, 07:56 PM // 19:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by PuppyEater

Especially if they hope to have any chance of keeping potential customers from buying and settling down with something like Diablo3 which already has a few 5+ minute vids of ingame footage

God knows I'm already torn and don't have enough free time to devote to 2 separate games.

I understand what you are saying, but I would be willing to bet money that GW2 comes out before Diablo 3. And the only other big pc rpg (non MMO) that I can think of right now is Dragon Age and I don't know if it will have the longevity to it to keep people away from a game like GW2.

*Darcy* · Sep 15, 2008, 09:14 PM // 21:14

As to the future of Guild Wars, both 1 and 2 -- are any of you actually thinking?

1. Guild Wars is NCSoft's most successful game as far as I know. 5 million units sold and more to come. You cannot beat that for a 3-year-old game.

2. Why would they cancel the sequel to Guild Wars? They are probably guaranteed a million sales at a minimum on day one of release. Do the math.

Remember that the GW games are guaranteed income to NCSoft/NCWest. The fan base is immense. Even with all the players who say they will wait for the reviews - who are they trying to kid. We will all be there to buy it, even if we deny it on the forum.

There aren't any better games out there and probably still won't be any in two years or whatever.

Forgot to congratulate the ArenaNet alumni and Mike O'Brien on their new positions. Talent is being rewarded.

Lord-UWR · Sep 15, 2008, 09:35 PM // 21:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by cthulhu reborn

Anet have officially stated in interviews as well as on their website that GW2 will NOT have monthly fees...I really wonder why people are still asking about this.

Because that was until Anet lost two of its 3 executives...God knows what is in store for the price on Guild Wars and its philosophy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darcy

As to the future of Guild Wars, both 1 and 2 -- are any of you actually thinking?

1. Guild Wars is NCSoft's most successful game as far as I know. 5 million units sold and more to come. You cannot beat that for a 3-year-old game.

Well, I apologize, but your knowledge seems limited. Lineage had a minimum 8 million users before Lineage II came out, and Lineage II currently has over 13 million users worldwide...mostly in Asia.

Jecht Scye · Sep 15, 2008, 10:24 PM // 22:24

Well, he did say as far as HE knew.

Clarissa F · Sep 15, 2008, 11:31 PM // 23:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lord-UWR

Because that was until Anet lost two of its 3 executives...God knows what is in store for the price on Guild Wars and its philosophy.

In most interviews, who was with Jeff Strain talking about sticking to the philosophy of GW in GW2? Yeah, MIKE O'BRIEN. Who is in charge at Anet? MIKE O'BRIEN. Who is quoted many times as saying they will not go to pay-to-play in GW2? MIKE O'BRIEN. Explain how the direction of the game changes, when one of the guys responsible for that change is now in charge.

It's a good thing. If you pull the blinders off your eyes and look back more than a week, you see this relates to the failure of Auto Wreck and Tabula RZA. As was said before, they saw the good job Strain did at Anet, and gave him reigns to help other parts of the company. Not everything that happens at NC Soft relates directly to the "doom" of Guild Wars.

Kashrlyyk · Sep 16, 2008, 05:43 AM // 05:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by wetsparks

I understand what you are saying, but I would be willing to bet money that GW2 comes out before Diablo 3. And the only other big pc rpg (non MMO) that I can think of right now is Dragon Age and I don't know if it will have the longevity to it to keep people away from a game like GW2.

It has an editor to make your own adventures. That is something so much better than what MMORPGs have.

JR · Sep 16, 2008, 05:27 PM // 17:27

There is a lot of unnecessary panic in this thread. NCSoft streamlining would only have been a bad thing if it meant cut-backs in support for ArenaNet. It didn't, therefore it's definately a good thing.

Lonesamurai · Sep 16, 2008, 05:45 PM // 17:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by JR

There is a lot of unnecessary panic in this thread. NCSoft streamlining would only have been a bad thing if it meant cut-backs in support for ArenaNet. It didn't, therefore it's definately a good thing.

Aye, this only means good thing as JR said...

The ONLY way it would be bad would be if there was news of job cuts... but as NC Soft is STILL hiring, thats a GOOD thing