Rumor - SOE to buy Sigil and layoff employees

mylilbuddy · (04-23-2007, 10:33 PM)

Just like the thread title says. Guess is that sigil owes SOE too much money and the game is pretty much a flop so they will sell to soe to payoff debt. Laying off the workers blows though.

White Man · (04-23-2007, 10:34 PM)

Isn't Sigil a bunch of people that SOE originally got rid of anyway?

Slayven · (04-23-2007, 10:35 PM)

Originally Posted by White Man:

Isn't Sigil a bunch of people that SOE originally got rid of anyway?

Some say forced out and some say they left on their own.

Pistolero · (04-23-2007, 10:35 PM)

Is that Kafka (I mean the avatar) ?

Dr. Kitty Muffins · (04-23-2007, 10:35 PM)

Whatever quality talent will be gobbled up by various different third party devs and the rest will wander off to better futures in much more forgiving industries.

Eteric Rice · (04-23-2007, 10:36 PM)

This is the second time this has happened to Brad McQuaid. God, I feel bad for the guy. :(

mylilbuddy · (04-23-2007, 10:36 PM)

I wouldnt say that...I believe alot of them worked for soe at one time, but left on there own.

mylilbuddy · (04-23-2007, 10:37 PM)

Originally Posted by Eteric Rice:

This is the second time this has happened to Brad McQuaid. God, I feel bad for the guy. :(

Dont feel sorry for that guy..he will make millions off the sale.

CAPCOWNED · (04-23-2007, 10:38 PM)

Originally Posted by Pistolero:

Is that Kafka (I mean the avatar) ?

Looks like Naruto to me. :P

Slayven · (04-23-2007, 10:38 PM)

Originally Posted by mylilbuddy:

Just like the thread title says. Guess is that sigil owes SOE too much money and the game is pretty much a flop so they will sell to soe to payoff debt. Laying off the workers blows though.

I can see that, they had the second largest MMO budget ever and 4 years, and they could only churn out a beta release. The project manager should be taken to task.

Kittonwy · (04-23-2007, 10:39 PM)

Originally Posted by mylilbuddy:

Just like the thread title says. Guess is that sigil owes SOE too much money and the game is pretty much a flop so they will sell to soe to payoff debt. Laying off the workers blows though.

Who are they keeping and is this actually good for SOE?

Freki · (04-23-2007, 10:39 PM)

Brad's Vision bites him in the the ass finally - oh the irony...

mabuza · (04-23-2007, 10:41 PM)

Originally Posted by Slayven:

I can see that, they had the second largest MMO budget ever and 4 years, and they could only churn out a beta release. The project manager should be taken to task.

thats disgusting

mylilbuddy · (04-23-2007, 10:44 PM)

I wonder if they would have had better sales if they had made it for 360 instead of pc like MS wanted them to?

Not sure how beneficial to SOE it will be..I guess it helps the all access pass as another game is on the list for 1 monthly fee. /shrug

Slayven · (04-23-2007, 10:45 PM)

Originally Posted by mabuza:

thats disgusting

Especially since LOTRO with like a quarter of Vanguard's budget is getting alot of good press and interest. Could be because of the license or could be that LOTRO has alot of polish, I don't know.

Thoren · (04-23-2007, 10:46 PM)

Originally Posted by Slayven:

Especially since LOTRO with like a quarter of Vanguard's budget is getting alot of good press and interest. Could be because of the license or could be that LOTRO has alot of polish, I don't know.

Yeah it has polish allright. World of Warcraft polish.

It basically takes alot of great features from WoW, throws in a few really awesome cinematic instances, and thats that. It's really promising, plus their free beta captured alot of attention.

Kittonwy · (04-23-2007, 10:48 PM)

Originally Posted by Slayven:

Especially since LOTRO with like a quarter of Vanguard's budget is getting alot of good press and interest. Could be because of the license or could be that LOTRO has alot of polish, I don't know.

What is LOTRO?

goat · (04-23-2007, 10:48 PM)

Originally Posted by Slayven:

Could be because of the license or could be that LOTRO has alot of polish, I don't know.

It's the polish. The game is even great from the start! This has to be one of the best MMO's to make you feel apart of the world. Its great, not great enough to make me stop playing WoW, but awesome none the less. I'm sure that if I wasn't so invested in WoW, I'd probably pick up LoTRO.

CastleBravo · (04-23-2007, 10:49 PM)

Originally Posted by mylilbuddy:

Just like the thread title says. Guess is that sigil owes SOE too much money and the game is pretty much a flop so they will sell to soe to payoff debt. Laying off the workers blows though.

Are you starting this rumor now? I haven't heard anything about that besides some of the haters over at the FoH forums speculating about it.

Slayven · (04-23-2007, 10:50 PM)

Originally Posted by Kittonwy:

What is LOTRO?

Lord of the Rings Online.

Fragamemnon · (04-23-2007, 10:51 PM)

Lord of the Rings: Online, comes out this week for the PC. Almost all the pre-release buzz has been positive.

Back in 2001, people expected MMOs to be busted, half-complete, or totally broke at release. World of Warcraft changed that expectation completely by releasing a very polished and compelling product, and Vanguard is sort of tanking (not completely though) because it both refused to recognize that need for fit and finish, and because it was desperately trying to fill a niche audience that was far more vocal than they were numerous.

TekunoRobby · (04-23-2007, 10:52 PM)

Busty · 10:57 PM

Despite all this talk about SOE getting more money invested in them there hasn't been much in the way of activity from them. Wasn't their last big release that Untold Legends game for the PS3. I'd like to see where they take some of their IPs like Everquest and Planetside seeing as they are supposed to be such an integral part of the SOE company.

I can imagine SOE trying to make do what they can with what they've got left of Sigil in terms of servers, tools etc, and maybe take some of the talent to use on another project to run out the clock on their contracts....

I wonder how their DC Comics MMO is coming along and whatever happened to that Modern day combat FPS MMO they were supposedly doing for the PC and PS3. I thought that was supposed to nearly ready......?

mylilbuddy · (04-23-2007, 10:54 PM)

Originally Posted by CastleBravo:

Are you starting this rumor now? I haven't heard anything about that besides some of the haters over at the FoH forums speculating about it.

Some at Sigil are in FoH

Slayven · (04-23-2007, 10:58 PM)

Here is the article I was looking for. Over 30 million dollars and five years.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/07/ar...e6c84d&ei=5070

Lain · (04-23-2007, 10:59 PM)

Considering what Sigil has made, I feel sorry for SOE.... but then again SOE isn't any better, so maybe they are a match made in heaven.

element · (04-23-2007, 11:12 PM)

doesn't shock me if this holds true. Sigil was in some sorry shape.

Quote:

Dont feel sorry for that guy..he will make millions off the sale.

I highly doubt it. Sigil was in some sorry financial state, which is why Vanguard was so bad, because they pretty much had to release it to start getting some money. The company was pretty much broke. Also their history isn't that great, with the rollercoaster of Vanguard, having Marvel taken away from them, and then being dropped by MS to be picked up by SOE.

The SOE Seattle game i hear is pretty cool, it is the spy one.

Kittonwy · (04-23-2007, 11:41 PM)

Originally Posted by element:

doesn't shock me if this holds true. Sigil was in some sorry shape.

I highly doubt it. Sigil was in some sorry financial state, which is why Vanguard was so bad, because they pretty much had to release it to start getting some money. The company was pretty much broke. Also their history isn't that great, with the rollercoaster of Vanguard, having Marvel taken away from them, and then being dropped by MS to be picked up by SOE.

The SOE Seattle game i hear is pretty cool, it is the spy one.

You mean fireant? How long have they been working on that secret game of theirs? I still don't know why SOE hasn't taken advantage of PS3 more, with the built-in HDD that's another userbase they can target and there's far less competition.

mylilbuddy · (04-24-2007, 12:20 AM)

Originally Posted by Kittonwy:

You mean fireant? How long have they been working on that secret game of theirs? I still don't know why SOE hasn't taken advantage of PS3 more, with the built-in HDD that's another userbase they can target and there's far less competition.

I am sure more ps3 support will come...though the ps3 game they shipped at launch was a complete bust sales wise...they put out a PSN game as well so far - qbert.

They need to make their free mmorpg game available to ps3 as well as pc..we shall see.

element · (04-24-2007, 12:22 AM)

Quote:

You mean fireant? How long have they been working on that secret game of theirs?

yeah the fireant guys. they went a good year or two working on something like mythica and that didn't work out and got canned for their new spy game. I think SOE and SOE Seattle saw that doing something with knights and mages wasn't the best idea after WoW because the bar was set and going against that is suicide.

Grayman · (04-24-2007, 12:49 AM)

Originally Posted by Slayven:

I can see that, they had the second largest MMO budget ever and 4 years, and they could only churn out a beta release. The project manager should be taken to task.

pretty sure that beta quality is still accepted. quality launch mmos are the except and not anywhere near the rule.

Xavien · (04-24-2007, 12:54 AM)

I remember when Sigil dropped MGS and went with SOE, that they would be merely "financial partners" and SOE controlling the game went against "the plan", if they get brought out, then Brad just lied to every fan of the game, sigil and Brad in general (yes... there are Brad fans out there...).

Xiaoki · (04-24-2007, 03:55 AM)

Originally Posted by Grayman:

pretty sure that beta quality is still accepted. quality launch mmos are the except and not anywhere near the rule.

There have been plenty of MMO launches that have been relatively bug/glitch free but no one cared because they sucked.
We've just had 2 spectacular train wrecks of an MMO launch(Vanguard, Dark and Light) recently.

For what it's worth, Vanguard is the first MMO to launch with more than 100,000 subscribers and retain more than 100,000 subscribers since 2004.
Excluding Asian subscribers(because Vanguard hasn't launched there yet and probably won't) Vanguard is only being beat in subscribtions by EQ1, EQ2 and maybe FF11(well, and WoW of course).
But that isn't going to set Sigil and SOE at ease being 30 million in the hole.

mylilbuddy · (04-24-2007, 04:38 AM)

Originally Posted by Xavien:

I remember when Sigil was dropped by MGS and went with SOE....

fixed

Y2Kev · (04-24-2007, 04:47 AM)

How many players does Vanguard have?

Lain · (04-24-2007, 05:26 AM)

I wonder.
mmogchart.com needs an update. Altho I don't think the numbers are high, or high enough for the short term.

Xiaoki · (04-24-2007, 05:48 AM)

Originally Posted by Y2Kevbug11:

How many players does Vanguard have?

About a month ago Brad McQuaid posted on the Fires of Heaven message board that Vanguard had around 150,000 subscribers. Also, in March Vanguard sold around 13,000 copies.

acksman · (04-24-2007, 05:50 AM)

link? While I don't doubt this will eventually happen, I haven't seen anything on FoH or elsewhere to that rumor.

Philthy · (04-24-2007, 05:59 AM)

I haven't seen or heard about this either. Even on the FoH boards. Nino works for Sigil, but thats the only tie the company has to FoH, and he isn't even an active member anymore as far as I know. I think the OP is talking out his ass.

acksman · (04-24-2007, 06:18 AM)

Think I found the source of the rumor, though if this is it, its pretty flimsy unless he knows someone high up.

http://www.vgflames.com/showthread.php?t=940&page=2

Zefah · (04-24-2007, 06:20 AM)

It honestly wouldn't surprise me. The game took tons of money and time to develop and it is complete garbage. The release was even messier than EQ2's. I enjoyed the original Everquest so I was excited about Vanguard, but after betaing it for 1.5 years and playing a friend's release account I realized that Brad probably just got lucky with EQ.

mylilbuddy · (04-24-2007, 06:53 AM)

Originally Posted by acksman:

Think I found the source of the rumor, though if this is it, its pretty flimsy unless he knows someone high up.

http://www.vgflames.com/showthread.php?t=940&page=2

my sources were a bit closer to the action......not from any forums.

mm04 · (04-24-2007, 07:03 AM)

Originally Posted by Zefah:

It honestly wouldn't surprise me. The game took tons of money and time to develop and it is complete garbage. The release was even messier than EQ2's. I enjoyed the original Everquest so I was excited about Vanguard, but after betaing it for 1.5 years and playing a friend's release account I realized that Brad probably just got lucky with EQ.

No doubt. I was an original EQ junkie too. Some of the best times I've had playing an MMORPG (UO rocked too). That was pretty much SOE's last home run. But hey, at least they've put their EQ2/Vanguard tech and assets to use for Home. That Home trailer absolutely screams EQ2.

Duckhuntdog · (04-24-2007, 07:17 AM)

SOE better look at the problems in their Austin studio before DCU becomes the next Galaxies.

Too late...

element · (04-24-2007, 07:20 AM)

nm. i got it.
I have a difficult time seeing 100k in vanguard though.

I haven't been hearing great things about DCU either. Didn't some of the leads recently leave for another company?

Duckhuntdog · (04-24-2007, 08:58 AM)

Originally Posted by element:

nm. i got it.
I have a difficult time seeing 100k in vanguard though.

I haven't been hearing great things about DCU either. Didn't some of the leads recently leave for another company?

Yes they have.

Borys · (04-24-2007, 09:12 AM)

Originally Posted by Kittonwy:

Who are they keeping and is this actually good for SOE?

Kittonwy, no hard feelings but this has nothing to do with the PS3. You can stop scanning the boards and posting in every single thread with SONY in the title now.

This is about PC MMORPGS and you don't give a flying shit about them or any other PC game for that matter.

Man, do I hate pretenders and fakers.

Busty · (04-24-2007, 09:42 AM)

Originally Posted by Duckhuntdog:

SOE better look at the problems in their Austin studio before DCU becomes the next Galaxies.

Too late...

Really..... do tell.

Yixian · (04-24-2007, 10:32 AM)

Perhaps Sony has some hope of these guys working on or contributing to an MMO project that would eventually end up on the PS3. Everybody knows a decent MMO is the shot in the arm the PS3 needs, and is an area the console is currently utterly lacking in.

Speaking of which, what are the chances of the SOE published Gods & Heros coming to PS3? Judging by the talent behind that game, it could be the best MMO since WoW.

Kittonwy · 10:52 AM

Originally Posted by Borys:

Kittonwy, no hard feelings but this has nothing to do with the PS3. You can stop scanning the boards and posting in every single thread with SONY in the title now.

This is about PC MMORPGS and you don't give a flying shit about them or any other PC game for that matter.

Man, do I hate pretenders and fakers.

That's kind of true, but then I hardly ever post in threads of games on platforms I'm not particularly interested in.

I was just hoping that someday SOE can release a half-decent MMO on the PS3 since I used to play FFXI on the PS2 so I'm not completely unfamiliar with MMOs, oh well.