SOE online acquired by Columbus Nova

Arkain

 

Dear Players, Partners and Friends,

 

Today, we are pleased to announce that we have been acquired by Columbus Nova, an investment management firm well known for its success with its existing portfolio of technology, media and entertainment focused companies. This means that effective immediately SOE will operate as an independent game development studio where we will continue to focus on creating exceptional online games for players around the world, and now as a multi-platform gaming company. Yes, that means PlayStation and Xbox, mobile and more!

 

As part of this transition, SOE will now become Daybreak Game Company. This name embodies who we are as an organization, and is a nod to the passion and dedication of our employees and players. It is also representative of our vision to approach each new day as an opportunity to move gaming forward.

 

So what exactly does this mean for you? It will be business as usual and all SOE games will continue on their current path of development and operation. In fact, we expect to have even more resources available to us as a result of this acquisition. It also means new exciting developments for our existing IP and games as we can now fully embrace the multi-platform world we are living in.

 

Our games and players are the heart and soul of our organization, and we are committed to maintaining our portfolio of online games and pushing the limits of where we can take online gaming together.

 

Thank you for your continued support. See you in game!

 

The Team at Daybreak

 

https://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/index.php?threads/sony-online-entertainment-becomes-daybreak-game-company.557231/

 

Velocinox

Daybreak Games?

So... DBG?

 

As in D-Bag?

 

Uh oh...

Aeander

Originally posted by Velocinox

Daybreak Games?

So... DBG?

 

As in D-Bag?

 

Uh oh...

 

......

 

I'll admit it. I laughed.

Phry

I knew Sony were looking to shed some of their less profitable divisions, i hadn't realised though, that SOE might be one of them, so a bit stunned. Wonder how many games will be affected by this, in terms of monetisation policy changes, should they be made. Wonder if Mr Smedley has been replaced too.. interesting times indeed

Nadia

Originally posted by Phry
I knew Sony were looking to shed some of their less profitable divisions, i hadn't realised though, that SOE might be one of them, so a bit stunned. Wonder how many games will be affected by this, in terms of monetisation policy changes, should they be made. Wonder if Mr Smedley has been replaced too.. interesting times indeed

no changes yet - beyond the rename

 

http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2015/02/02/sony-online-entertainment-sold-to-investment-firm-now-daybreak-game-company/

SOE president John Smedley will remain president at Daybreak.

 

https://twitter.com/j_smedley/status/562307057529810944

All of our games are still here and will continue to be

 

tweeted by Smed

answering a few questions people have emailed me
1) All our games are still up and will continue to be despite our new name.
2) Yes, we want to bring our games to Xbox One in addition to PS4.
3) Station Cash doesn't change at all (though we will be rebranding it soon here).
4) We're still making Everquest Next nothing has changed.

 

Arkain

this site shows other tech they own:

http://www.cntp.com

 

 

Nevek

dang and i was thinking they might change stuff around...

 

then i read they kept smeadly...

 

ah well same old crappy bussiness as usual then

 

FelixMajor

Day Break Games?  Yeah explains them 100%...off to lunch about 23 of 24 hours in a day.

Asbo

Does this mean the name at the top who says thing which he does not follow through with who moved across will now be moved on and someone with more credibility will take the helm and start to deliver finally? Because I have been a customer since 1999 and have to say I feel let down right now. My concern is that you will be trying to punch crap out on mobile and console rather than supporting PC gamer's like this company was in the early days and while I understand you have to make money please remember the people who have contributed for so many years.

Sephros

Theybreak games....

Nanfoodle

Originally posted by Velocinox

Daybreak Games?

So... DBG?

 

As in D-Bag?

 

Uh oh...

Would be funny if your acronym was right, its Daybreak Gaming Company, DGC.

Goldknyght

Well as a investment firm, i could see them consolidating servers for EQ2, To many Low servers and not enough saying medium to high.

Arkain

Originally posted by Goldknyght
Well as a investment firm, i could see them consolidating servers for EQ2, To many Low servers and not enough saying medium to high.

That would be nice.

Rydeson

Originally posted by Goldknyght
Well as a investment firm, i could see them consolidating servers for EQ2, To many Low servers and not enough saying medium to high.

     I always loved how studios changed server status to "low, medium, high and full"..  These were always soft labels depending what the game studio wanted to promote..  This month a server could have 1,000 people on it and be called "low" because all the other servers have 2,000.. Next week you could run into mass exodus, where 1,000 is considered "high".. I remember when game companies actually TOLD YOU with a "number" how many are logged on to a particular server such as "3,584 playing at this time".. 

Nadia

Originally posted by Rydeson I remember when game companies actually TOLD YOU with a "number" how many are logged on to a particular server such as "3,584 playing at this time".. 

Everquest used to -- until DAOC launched

Nadia

Daybreak layoff

http://eq2wire.com/2015/02/11/daybreak-games-layoffs-begin-with-linda-brasse-carlson/

Linda “Brasse” Carlson, long the public face of Sony Online Entertainment as its Global Community Relations lead, and emcee of the annual SOE Live convention for the last five years

From Linda Carlson‘s Facebook:

    Good morning, my friends. Almost exactly six years ago today, I had just lost my job, I posted then, “So, if anyone needs a proper Dwarf…” and my adventure with SOE began.
    Today I post again… so, if anyone needs a proper Dwarf…
    I have been released from the best and most challenging job I have ever had. I thank you all for being part of that incredible experience. Too many people to thank personally, but know that I am extraordinarily grateful and very curious where life takes me now.

 

many more layoffs

http://www.reddit.com/r/EQNext/comments/2vkvji/ventinglayoffs_discussion_thread/

The unofficial list thus far (in no particular order):
Dave "Smokejumper" Georgeson (Director of Development for the EverQuest brand, @DaveGeorgeson)
Jeff Butler (Creative Director for the EverQuest brand, @JButlerDaybreak)
Linda “Brasse” Carlson (Community Manager, @Brasse)
Akil “Lyndro” Hooper (Everquest II developer, @akilh)
Aaron “Gnobrin” Bisnett (Weapon and Armor designer for 12 years, @Gnobrin)
Douglas “Endymion” VanDerveer (Everquest II game designer, @douglastweets)
Aimee “Ashlanne” Rekoske (Community Relations Project Manager, @Ashlanne)
Eric "Felgon" Smith (Associate Producer for EverQuest Next and Landmark, @F4Felgon)
Steve "Moorgard" Danuser (Lead Content Designer and Head of Story, @Moorgard)
Tiffany "Amnerys" Spence (Social Media, @JustTiffy)
Kyle "Hats" Manchester (Community Manager, @Hats)
Racheal "Afista" McKenny ( Everquest II community Manager, @Afista)
Noah Watkins (Graphic designer, @noahwatkins)
Kelduum Revaan (Programmer for H1Z1, @Kelduum)
Katharine Anderson (Build master for PlanetSide 2, @katharinelilly)
Xander Clauss (Base designer for PlanetSide 2, @XanderClauss)
Taylor Dowell (Systems designer for PlanetSide 2, @Tayradactyl)
David Carey (Systems designer for PlanetSide 2, @dcarey7761)
Aimee "Ashlanne" Rekoske (Community Relations Project Manager, @Ashlanne)
Michael “Xelgad” Ganz (Systems designer for EQII, @Xelgad)
Jeffrey Bard (Everquest II development)
Possibly all contracted employees - Not confirmed
(source1, source2, source3)

Confirmed safe:
John Smedley (President, Daybreak Game Company, @j_smedley)
Terry "Fairan" Michaels (Senior Producer on EQN and Landmark, @terryjmichaels)
Josh Augistine (Game designer EQN/LM, @jaugistine)
Justin "Mourde" Dazet (Designer EQN/LM, @justindazet)
Ken Murfitt (Developer EQN, @scopesofter)
Ben Burnett (Senior Programmer EQN/LM, @RtugokDaybreak)
Steve Klug (Technical Director, @StevenKlug)
Emily "Domino" Taylor (Producer for Producer, @pentapod)
Colette Murphy (Content/Social Media Manager, @ThatColette)
Kander, TTobey, Gninja, Windstalker, Covic, Phatkins, Caith, Bunji, Maevianiu,and Kaitheel.

Grummus

Originally posted by Velocinox

Daybreak Games?

So... DBG?

 

As in D-Bag?

 

Uh oh...

 

I don't think Smedley is involved in this.