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I'll bite and toss in my prediction...
One option which hasn't been thoroughly explored in this issue is what if Bioware is to become a third wheel in this operation? Would it be too far fetched to see an announcement as to Bioware being the new developers for SW:G, LA producer/marketing and SOE handling server and billing operations. This would save face for LA as bringing in a new developer, especially one who's seemingly well liked in the gaming industry, as a way to pump in new interest into the game. Additionally, this too would save face on SOE by allowing them to continue to handle the server farm along with account and customer service (yuck) and give the excuse that it was far too much work to keep with development of 5 different MMOs or that they wanted to reassign their developers to a newer project.
Some things have already been made public such as Bioware opening up in Austin, working with a space based game and has several developers from the original SW:G. In addition, it does seem as Bioware is advertising to "grab up" potential developers with experience in SW:G coding which would add further fuel to SOE giving up / losing the development license. With Bioware amassing up developers with both Pre-CU and Post-CU development and design this would allow them the best possible mix to attempt to fix and correct the countless issues and bugs with SW:G's core game along with add in to future development. Also, this would help clear up some of the bad feelings former and current players have towards LA.
Running with this assumption, SOE would only provide server and account support (much in the way they will for Gods and Heros) while LA would handle marketing and enjoy flaunting the new Bioware logo around with promoting a new expansion (one to include Hoth along with minor GCW updates) to help reel in previous accounts and capture newer accounts. With Bioware at the helm of development the NGE would still be in place as far as combat goes though a mixture of skill based and class based development system would be in place ala KoTOR style but enhanced.
My last hint...
Bioware is conducting interviews at a certain hotel in Austin as we speak. These interviews are expected to last through Friday. Those interviewers are most "enlightening"
And some additional new info
Apparently SOE is required to assist the transition to Bioware run servers. Employees from both Bioware and SOE are working together to complete this process.
A few developers for SWG have even acknowledged on SWG forums that they have been pulled to work on something else SWG-related from what I am told (i dont follow their forums that closely)
Speculation - I assume this means LA owns the code and engine to SWG then. Im not sure how the expansions will fit into the mix or player avatars (those might count as SOE intellectual property and therefore not allowed to transfer)
I so very hope this is true. The game, in my view, has plummeted over the past 1.5 years. However, it was dogged by lack of content and bugs since day one. I still remember the first wave of "departures" after three months. Then the six month departure. Never a better potential and huge world to open so much of a virtual world have I seen wasted. It was good in the fact I met many great players, intelligent and thoughtful people who opened my eyes to gaming online, design and what truly to expect, or should I say, demand.
SOE will never get another dime from me. Sayonara SOE.
here's hoping it's true, but i'll believe it when i see it. but dear lord, i do hope it's true.
i wonder how many subscribers WoW would lose to a new and improved SWG? 200k? lol!
SWG Veteran and Refugee, Intrepid server
NGE free as of Nov. 22, 2005
Now Playing: World of Warcrack
Forum Terrorist
Nice!!!
SOE knows what you like... You don't!
And don't forget... I am forcing you to read this!
Seriously. Enough is enough.
I swear, you and Shayde must send PMs back and forth coming up with ideas.
BioWare ARE recruiting at a certain hotel, because the fooking Game Developers Conference started yesterday in Austin, Texas. This in and of itself means NOTHING.
ONE developer (SWG Swede) acknowledged being put on another project, and it doesnt take a brain surgeon to figure out it was for an expansion as a result of the focus groups. Also, notice the focus groups asked NOTHING about preNGE or preCU SWG, etc etc etc. It was all about expansions, regardless of what people VOLUNTEERED at the end. The fact that Swede said he was moved to another project means NOTHING.
PreCU SWG, as much as we all miss it, is dead.
PreNGE SWG, as much as we hated it then and would love to have it back, is dead.
NGE SWG is here, it's going to be here until the servers shutdown.
Walton, Gattis, Reinhart, and Vogel had enough of SWG during their tenure. They're far too smart to get involved in that mess again.
Hi, first time poster. Nice site, btw!
These are some curious rumors. Certainly there are circumstances that coincide, but I have reservations. If this is indeed accurate, there should've been or will be a press release in the near future.
The reason I say this is that SOE's reputation amongst customers is SO bad, that they'd do better off just disclosing the whole plan -- to "cut their losses" so to speak. For example, compare reactions between (ex) SOE customers and Turbine (Asheron's Call) customers. This waxes on generalization, but it is based on both first hand experience and first hand forum experience. SOE customers are usually very negative about the company and will actually go to lengths to try to dissuade purchase of SOE goods. On the other hand, Turbine customers generally have good things to say about the company, despite their flaws, and I've actually seen hearty recommendations for AC: Throne of Destiny from players who have actually unsubscribed from Turbine's games.
And then, there's SOE's continually shrinking playerbase, which posters on this thread have alluded to several tmies. Even those players that remain have reservations about SOE, else why would there be so much animosity between players and their providers? The players playing SWG are there ONLY
On the other hand, BioWare could only benefit from immediate disclosure as well. Public enthusiasm for the company would soar. Sure, they've embittered their playerbase by announcing their plans for MMORPG (their forums have voices shouting about how BioWare is betraying the single player experience, etc). But this is a company that has made a Game of the Year quality game, has many well-respected titles under it's belt, and cares very deeply about it's own creative process.
Additionally, WoW's playerbase is (slowly) growing disgruntled. Any attention that comes to light now, or in the next month or two, could be a potential customer grab before the WoW expansion comes out.
So my question here is, if any of this is indeed accurate, why all the secrecy? SOE certainly couldn't be any worse off than they are right now (and if they don't take it now, they'll certainly "take it" when the announcement comes). BioWare could probably get some capital investments and enthusiasm from the announcement. So why not just say it?
As an off-post-topic aside, and to sort of debate what an earlier reply stated about how BioWare would only consider a fantasy (medieval) game, I point to MMOChart (www.mmogchart.com). Specifically, I'm looking at how completely flooded the market is with fantasy-type games, and that's only counting a fraction of the WoW userbase explosion. SciFi MMORPGs are severely underrepresented, and given that WoW is almost totally dominating the market, it doesn't seem like a practical business move to develop yet another fantasy RPG (consider that even DDO is being met with lukewarm reception). The only competition that WoW could possibly ever have would be a game of a different genre. IMO, I think Red5 studios - the refugees from Blizzard - are WELL aware of this fact.
-- xpaladin
[MMOz]
AC1/2, AO, DAoC, EQ1/2, SoR, SWG, UO, WAR, WoW
Seriously. Enough is enough.
I swear, you and Shayde must send PMs back and forth coming up with ideas.
BioWare ARE recruiting at a certain hotel, because the fooking Game Developers Conference started yesterday in Austin, Texas. This in and of itself means NOTHING.
ONE developer (SWG Swede) acknowledged being put on another project, and it doesnt take a brain surgeon to figure out it was for an expansion as a result of the focus groups. Also, notice the focus groups asked NOTHING about preNGE or preCU SWG, etc etc etc. It was all about expansions, regardless of what people VOLUNTEERED at the end. The fact that Swede said he was moved to another project means NOTHING.
PreCU SWG, as much as we all miss it, is dead.
PreNGE SWG, as much as we hated it then and would love to have it back, is dead.
NGE SWG is here, it's going to be here until the servers shutdown.
Walton, Gattis, Reinhart, and Vogel had enough of SWG during their tenure. They're far too smart to get involved in that mess again.
The focus group study had nothing to do with SOE. Even the folks who attended the focus group know this. They were told specifically it had nothing to do with SOE. This has been reported by many different people who attended.
Therefore, its simply not possible that SOE is using this data to make an expansion.
Look at the questions asked in the focus group. People were asked what they thought of a KOTOR style gameplay with a dark and light path for SWG. Again, this was confirmed by several people who attended.
Ask yourself this, why would LA sponser a focus group that had nothing to do with SOE ? Its certainly not for research for a possible sequel as data would be obsolete for something that would take 3-4 years to develop. Focus data is only useful in the short-term.
The obvious answer is a focus group was done to make major changes. And with the knowledge that SOE is out of the picture as far as the data goes, then the question is who is this data going to ?
LA certainly didnt spend a lot of money on a focus group just to find out why people quit. That money was spent for an immediate purpose.
Then you have the announcement out of nowhere that Bioware is moving to Austin and making a MMO.
Add it all up and it makes sense.
And like I said, interviews in Austin are happening as we speak. And anyone who went to one would know what I do
sorry admiker but this sounds more and more only as bad joke rumour, u got the attention and eventho i would be REALLY HAPPY if this was true, i dont think ioware would place their hands on SWG, maybe (huuuge maybe) on a new SWMMO but certainlly not on this one.
P.S. if this is gonna be not true, u shouldnt show yourself on these forums for some time
-
Do not hate it, but instead embrace the diversity.
If this is true , then this is the best news I have heard all year! SOE has banned me from all of their games past and future. SOE , I still have a problem with them as far as the DC heroes and possibly even Star Trek .
Dropping this SCI-FI franchise may be the clearing point for perpetual who already is working with SOE on "Gods and Heroes" to pick up the Star Trek MMO. Its a scary thought but one that must be entertained.
Another point that this story may be true is the recent SOE fan Faire announcement. As I mentioned before and knowing that SWG has had is own Fan faires , With the Problems with the NGE, one would think that SOE would try to reach out to the SWG players in their invite of all gamers to the Atlanta Fan Faire. They did not.
My final clue awaits with the release of the all access bundle if SWG is not in the bundle as previously advertised and announce then I will break out the 90+ scored wines and toast to the end of the tyranny known as SOE with SWG.
Unaware of the Jestor?
http://about.me/JestorRodo/
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Anyone have a link to the focus test questions?
Thanks in advance.
PD: i'm crossing fingers for this to become true..
That's another point I'm rather iffy about. I work at a market research consulting group, and I know for fact that attending a focus group usually means signing a NDA (Non Disclosure Agreement), prohibiting participants from talking about anything that occured during the group under penalty of breach of contract.
That said, I don't know if these focus test questions are indeed the real thing. They're probably just rumors themselves. Or, someone was stupid enough to yap about it and risk a lawsuit.
-- xpaladin
[MMOz]
AC1/2, AO, DAoC, EQ1/2, SoR, SWG, UO, WAR, WoW
Hi xPaladin, welcome to the forums. Nice first post, man. You covered a lot of very valid points that many have kinda seemed to overlook. However, you also reason on the premise that SOE follows some kind of rational logic, which really seems not to be the case to those of us who have been their customers for any real amount of time. Realisticly, most of their decisions over the last year or so fly in the face of profitability and some would argue that this isn't just something that's been going on for the last year or so.
@Teleprior...
Dude, take a ritalin. Riker's not the first guy to barf up a big, juicy rumor here. It's business as usual on the forums. It doesn't matter that I agree that Bioware would be less than wise to get into bed with Lucas Arts on a SWG 2 project or that some of us are cynical enough to think that such a move would spawn as big a disaster as the current SWG.
What matters is, if Riker hadn't posted this rumor, someone else would have. People are just THAT hungry for any hope, no matter how flimsy it might be, that we'll all get our game back in some form we can play and enjoy. Warning someone off the forums just because they repeated a rumor, no matter how big a disappointment its debunking might become, is kinda out of line.
_______________________
Kote lo'shebs'ul narit
Seeing as that was your first post here at MMORPG, teleprior - your reference about admiker not showing himself around this forum doesn't quite have the impact that you may want it to. Unless you are an alt.
Rumors are soup de jour here. And he only has to be right once.
ok this would be cool if it happened, but even if it did we will have time to wait so all these people getting all happy about a new game that might not come out for a year or 2 need to simmer down abit
I'm Here. I'm Awesome. Get Used To It.
oh come on peps thats why that wink-smiley was there, i wasnt meaning it like "i will kill u if its not true ... dont try to come back ... or other BSs" i know people like rumours, they like getting attention, just will be a bit disapointed if its not gonna be true and cant help myself but thinking this one wont be true
so chill out peps, never really offended someone on forums and wont start cause of ... rumour
As for why SOE would still have the licnese and game rights its all about money. They are going to try and stretch out as many months more as they can for the extra revenue. If there was indeed a formal review for SWG they would then have a certain amount of time to keep the game going. LA couldnt just come up and say "Hey, shut the servers down tomorrow. We will take it from here." SOE will have a date to end it on and wont say squat about it til after the fact. They want every penny they can right now.
Sorry, mate, if I sounded like I was on the attack when I posted. We kinda protect our own here even they are on the opposite sides. Admike has been an avid poster and take him or leave him - he reports what here hears. Fact or fiction - time will tell but I would say that I am pretty sure he isn't doing it for the attention. Stick here around long enough or have a great point and rest assured someone will come to your defense should someone launch an attack or perceived one your way. We are, afterall, the same close knit community that SWG exiled.
And, btw, welcome to the party.
Two things:
First, the whole question about why it hasn't been announced. There could be MANY reasons to wait. Waiting until the Bioware team is working on it and has an idea when it will be ready. The announcement will basically kill off what's left of the existing SWG so they want to have some details ready for when that happens. Also, going along with that is I'd bet that LA is still getting SOME kind of percentage from subs. If they announce the change too early, that would be less money coming in. There can be tons of reasons why LA isn't announcing it yet, don't discount anything just because it hasn't been officially announced yet.
Second thing... Check this out
Need I say more?
SWG Tempest: Cardo Dycen RIP
Eve: Cardoh Dycen
I support random drug testing for all SOE employees
Yes, LA is partially responsible. The same way Rumsfeld is responsible for Abu Grahbe.. but he isn't blamed, is he?
Can you please leave the Sec of Defense out of this? Think before you speak and put on the uniform like I did before you accuse someone of something that you know nothing about except what the media tells you. I get sick and tired of people accusing and bitching about the current administration when they have no idea what is even going on. I can tell you from experience and from what my friends who are over there tell me. What we did was right regardless of what the libral commy media says. They are all draft dodgers and they should be tried for treason. Unless they go and put on the uniform and go fight I personally feel like they have no right to talk. I put on the uniform and fight to protect this country only to have people bitch about it. Show some respect for your government and the troops who protect you. It is because of assholes like you we had to pull out of vietnam. Because the morale was so low because of public sentiment at home. So try SUPPORTING instead of bitching.
Valium.. Isle 5.
Just a few points..
1. 90% of the media weren't alive during a draft.
2. If anyone thinks the "troops" were responsible for Abu Grahbe and NOT the people in charge is deluding themselves. The troops convicted were just following orders. It went all the way to the top.
3. The troops fight for our ability to disagree. It's called freedom.
Shayde - SWG (dead)
Proud member of the Cabal.
It sounds great, so great in fact, I pitty those who canceled
I don't like it when you say things. - A Vanguard fan who does too.
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