Normally I don’t note these sort of dealings, but this is too bizarre not to.
\’e2\’80\’9cAs the development process is ongoing and constantly shifting, it became clear that MGS and Sigil had varying visions and direction for the title\’e2\’80\’99s development,\’e2\’80\’9d said Brad McQuaid, CEO of Sigil Games Online. \’e2\’80\’9cIn the best interest of Vanguard, it was decided that we would buy back the publishing rights from Microsoft.\’e2\’80\’9d
As co-publisher of Vanguard: Saga of Heroes, Sigil assumes greater control of marketing and PR, while maintaining responsibility for game development, community relations, media relations, customer support, and quality assurance. Under the terms of the agreement, SOE will provide distribution, marketing, hosting and back-end support — including billing and technical support — for the game. Additionally, SOE is tentatively planning on adding Vanguard, upon its release,to SOE\’e2\’80\’99s Station Access\’e2\’84\’a2 subscription plan. Station Access allows players to enjoy all of SOE\’e2\’80\’99s MMO titles for one low monthly price.
In other news, Dick Cheney and Hilary Clinton are running on a combined ticket in 2008. “What the hey, if McQuaid and Smedley can settle their differences, ours simply pale in comparison”, they said.
OK, so I’m a little slow; apparently the entire mass blogosphere exploded in a frenzy of wiis over the news today. Aggro Me, who I’m gonna come out and just call the EQ2 blogger of record, has tons of links and commentary on the subject if you want to read more, including Brad McQuaid’s reaction on the Sigil boards.
#1 by Aufero on May 6th, 2006
I have every expectation that this is a train wreck in the making. Still, since I wasn’t particularly interested in catassing my way to victory again, (watching Brad McQuaid talk about the Vision still gives me a reflexive twitch) I can sit back and enjoy the humor.
#2 by Big Gulp on May 6th, 2006
Seems fairly simple to me…
Microsoft smelled dog, and offered Sigil a bargain basement rate to take back their property after telling them they’d lost interest.
SOE is desperate to diversify their offerings, and view the Access Pass as their means to get back to the top. “Yeah, none of our games are good, but hot damn do we have a lot of crap!” I personally don’t see it as a viable business model, since I’d rather not pay $30 for a wide selection of games I don’t want to play, but since they don’t seem to be able to produce a decent game this is the least bad option.
#3 by Jessica Mulligan on May 6th, 2006
Sigil has been widely reported/rumored as the developer for MGS’s Marvel online title. If true, I wonder if this move affects that relationship at all?
#4 by Jarnis on May 7th, 2006
Sigil is in serious damage control mode on the boards, but the fact that the box will have SOE logo on it is a dealbreaker for a massive number of ex-EQ, EQ2 and SWG players. It doesn’t matter what they actually will do (run servers, run billing, market) – SOE is like a kiss of death.
I wonder if Sigil calculated this right… I mean, had they been developing any other MMO, they might be able to take the flak, but Vanguard was to be the ‘ultimate’ hardcore MMO, for all those oldtimers who have been burned before – mostly by SOE. Only real explanation is that MGS was forcing them to release before ‘it’s ready’, and the only option was to break ties to MGS. After that, beancounters went thru the options, and SOE apparently won over the other choices (umm.. NCSoft, maybe?). I guess in the end if the game does not suck, even the anti-SOE brigade will get onboard in very short order.
And, funnily, if the game DOES suck, if they release as a buggy pile of crap, everyone will blame SOE (regardless of who actually has control over such decisions), and we know SOE won’t even notice the flames on their deeply charred skin of steel. I mean, after SWG’s ‘NGE’ meltdown, they are pretty much immune to such things.
… and while we wait for the release, there will be good forum drama! Plz pass the popcorn, I like when people are flaming SOE to the ground.
#5 by Jurrasic on May 7th, 2006
This should have suprised the omgwtfpkz0rs out of me, but frankly NOTHING suprises me in this industry any longer.
#6 by Talorc on May 7th, 2006
One thing about SOE – whatever your opinion on their game design decisions, their Server infrastrcuture and reliability is pretty top notch.
At least that is my experience with EQ II vs WoW.
#7 by Simond on May 7th, 2006
Of course, it is probably a lot easier to keep your technical infrastructure up and running when you’ve got an order of magnitude less players to worry about.
There’s been a few NDA breaches (with the SOE deal as an excuse) and I’ll just say that, judging from the common themes among them all, if anyone wants a good laugh and is going to E3…try and get a playable demo of Vanguard.
#8 by Grax on May 7th, 2006
SOE is crap. Microsoft is crap.
If SOE has no control (or less than M$ wanted) over development of Vanguard, then this is a good move as far as Vanguard fans are concerned.
What fans of Vanguard should be worried about is whether Microsoft felt the project would fail badly, and whether they will be proved right.
As for Lum’s “wii frenzy” comment, I must say I agree. Someone needs to construct a machine that turns Nerd Rage into usable energy, because some veritable explosions are going untapped.
#9 by Bobwl on May 7th, 2006
Why not – its a 100 percent been there done that EQ clone. They can call it “EQ 1.5 – the texture upgrade ” and have a whle range of EQ offerings
#10 by Ghiest on May 7th, 2006
I Stopped playing EQ when it was ‘taken over’ by the eqlive team, they basically stopped creating content for the players, rather they created copy paste content for cash … and regulary.
eq2 was abysmal, and their content release is even worse. They are/were trying to play catchup with blizzard and going to repeat the same mistakes all over again. the guy above who said that it has SOE Stamped on the box is a deal breaker for allot of people is totally correct, I wont ever touch another SOE controled game … ever.
#11 by Walter Yarbrough on May 7th, 2006
W
#12 by Walter Yarbrough on May 7th, 2006
T
#13 by Walter Yarbrough on May 7th, 2006
F
#14 by Heartless Gamer on May 7th, 2006
SOE pushes just as bad as MGS… if not worse. Sigil is in over its head me thinks and if they game doesn’t shape up to what they want soon… SOE is going to be pushing the “fix it after it’s released” button. I don’t think we want Vanguard to hit a third publisher… or do we want the vapor ware chants to begin!
Also MSG have been pretty keen on dropping MMO titles that start dragging on in development. I don’t know if this is from the feeling they get when they see the games or just the fact they realize that with a game like WoW out its small change for a game like Vanguard.
#15 by J. on May 7th, 2006
Sigil as the developer for Marvel MMO was sourced by one blog post on 1up. There has been no mention of it since.
#16 by Psychochild on May 7th, 2006
Sigil leaving Microsoft isn’t that surprising. Microsoft has always been skittish when it comes to online games. Witness how they treated Turbine, how they suddenly dropped Mythica, and now this. Twice is a coincidence, three times is a pattern, eh?
I suspect picking SOE is just most of the Sigil people going with the evil they know. Working relationships can improve once you aren’t actually dealing with someone directly.
Have fun,
#17 by Allakhazam on May 7th, 2006
Let’s see a company determines that it needs to involve itself with another company that it had previously criticized because of a pure business decision related to keeping their company alive and their ongoing projects viable. When criticized by their fans, they point out quite correctly that even though there is a relationship there, they have retained all critical control over the most important aspects of their business and the only changes will be for the better.
Where I have heard that story before? *Allakhazam looks in bafflement at the e-mail from Sigil refusing to meet with him at E3*
#18 by poopoohead on May 7th, 2006
you spelled Hillary wrong
#19 by Larry Lard on May 8th, 2006
And Alla wins this week’s “analogy strained beyond breaking point” prize!
ps wanna buy gold?
#20 by slog on May 8th, 2006
I was going to say, “Shouldn’t you be determineing how this will affect RMT in Vaguard?” but I was slow…
#21 by D-0ne on May 8th, 2006
Those who have been in beta understand perfectly well, why this has went down. I doubt SOE is doing anything other than taking Brad’s money…
#22 by Jason Booth on May 8th, 2006
Eh, whats the big deal, it’s all the same people in the end. With the way people move around in this industry..
#23 by Balasarius on May 8th, 2006
“I doubt SOE is doing anything other than taking Brad\’e2\’80\’99s money\’e2\’80\’a6 “
That’s all they’re good at.
#24 by Ian on May 8th, 2006
Don’t playah hate, con-grad-u-late!
Har!
#25 by Jadawin on May 8th, 2006
People still play MMO’s other than WoW?
#26 by Stara on May 9th, 2006
Not really.
#27 by =j on May 10th, 2006
People still play MMO\’e2\’80\’99s other than WoW?
Not really.
O RLY?
Name: lumthemad
Status Offline
This Week: City of Villans 8 hours.
#28 by Jarnis on May 11th, 2006
… it could be a bug with xfire.
#29 by SamLowry on May 16th, 2006
This is going to crash and burn.
The whole thing has been a vanity piece for McQuaid and co all along – there’s no game, just a bunch of ideas losely cobbled together with some graphics that looked pretty in 2004.
I think this was probably the best thing for Microsoft to do – cut their losses before it soaked up even more money with very little to show for it.
I’ve played the Beta and it’s the most dull thing I’ve done in my life.
#30 by Cringe on June 13th, 2006
Well, Alla they dont work with Gold farmers. To the rest of you I will see you in Vanguard!