Vanguard: Saga of Heroes: SOE to Co-Publish With Sigil

Stradden

With E3 so close, gamers have to expect some surprises. What wasn't expected was that the first surprise would hapen so soon. Today, Sigil and Sony Online Entertainment announced that they were in talks to co-publish Sigil's Vanguard: Saga of Heroes.

 

VANGUARD: SAGA OF HEROES FINDS A NEW HOME

Sigil Games Online and Sony Online Entertainment In Talks To Co-Publish Sigil’s Ground-Breaking New Game

May 5, 2006 – Carlsbad & San Diego, CA – Sigil Games Online and Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE), a global leader in the online games industry, today announced that Sigil is working with Microsoft Game Studios on an arrangement to acquire the rights to its highly anticipated massively multiplayer online (MMO) game, Vanguard: Saga of Heroes. These efforts have resulted in a tentative agreement for Vanguard to be co-published by both Sigil Games Online and SOE. All three companies will be showing the game at the upcoming Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) as they work closely together for a successful transition. Vanguard: Saga of Heroes is scheduled to launch this winter.

“As the development process is ongoing and constantly shifting, it became clear that MGS and Sigil had varying visions and direction for the title’s development,” said Brad McQuaid, CEO of Sigil Games Online. “In the best interest of Vanguard, it was decided that we would buy back the publishing rights from Microsoft.”

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’s Station Access™ subscription plan. Station Access allows players to enjoy all of SOE’s MMO titles for one low monthly price.

“We are very excited to be working with so many old friends at Sigil,” said John Smedley, president, Sony Online Entertainment. “Vanguard looks beautiful and has an incredibly rich game world. It’s the type of game that will appeal directly to SOE’s hundreds of thousands of players and should fit in perfectly with the current line-up of games available in Station Access.”

”This decision was made mutually by Sigil and Microsoft, in the best interest of the long-term goals for the title,” said Phil Spencer, General Manager at Microsoft Game Studios. “As a key Windows development partner, we will continue to work with Sigil to ensure Vanguard’s ongoing success.”

Vanguard: Saga of Heroes is the next generation of massively multiplayer online games. The journey takes place in the fantasy setting of Telon, a vast and ancient world of magic, intrigue and adventure. Facing the challenges of a war torn world, the diverse people here struggle to rebuild their once great civilizations. A fragile alliance has been struck, with the lands set upon by invading forces, the races must band together to survive.

Vanguard: Saga of Heroes is currently in a closed beta phase. The game will remain available via Fileplanet for existing beta testers during the transition to SOE. New information will be sent out to testers as the changeover occurs.

For more information about Vanguard: Saga of Heroes please visit www.vanguardsoh.com.

For more on Vanguard, click here.

Tuche

Oh Noes !

Kabel

zeedaam

*sigh*

teddy_bare

Wow, I never saw this coming. Although, I take that back I kind of did.

I don't know, Microsoft has a real big bug up it's arse when it comes to MMO's. I mean, how many have they personally stopped development on in the last few years? Of the top of my head Mythica comes right to mind but I am pretty sure there is at least one more they stopped.

IMO, the "varying vision and direction" for the development that Sigil and MS had was most likely MS wanted Sigil to develop Vangaurd for X360 first and foremost which would have really hindered the games potential and Brad just wasn't having it. I'm sure there were many things on top of that and it probably came to the point where MS wanted to stop development like it did with Mythica. This was probably a long time coming, if you think of it not much has been heard about Vangaurd lately and now we know why...Sigil and MS were bumping heads to the point where they couldn't work together anymore.I would love to have been a fly on the wall in Sigil's offices while all this was going on

Personally, I am VERY, VERY glad that Vangaurd isn't in MS's hands anymore. Brad and SOE have  proven that they could make a great game, and I'm sure Vangaurd will be another. Heh, anyone want to take bets that Brad made sure there was a clause in this contract that ensures he keeps full creative control and all rights to the game this time?

All you people sighing....are you crazy? SOE isn't developing this game, so it won't turn out like another SWG, they are just co-publishing. IMO, Vangaurd is in MUCH MUCH better hands with SOE than MS. SOE won't make Sigil put this out for X360, or try and cancel development (which I'm sure both of these is what lead them to break away from MS) or anything like that. This is a really good move IMO, Sigil keeps creative and intellectual control of the game, while SOE uses it's marketing and publishing might to make sure this game gets to the masses. Good move IMO

Tuche

well only good point to be pub by soe is due station all access . . .

oh well . . .

angerr

are you freaking kidding me???

Arremus

Ok... so it's only a case of "SOE will provide distribution, marketing, hosting and back-end support -- including billing and technical support -- for the game", yet why do I get a heavy sinking feeling at this news...

Maybe this will have no overall affect. Maybe this will have a negative effect on EQ2 as SoE shifts focus over to Vanguard, lowering CS support (though labour is cheap in India...) for EQ2 and other SoE titles.
If Vanguard gets put onto the existing Station Exchange, is it likely that the price of SA will be increased some, thus effecting people who want nothing to do with Vanguard?

What will this mean, if anything, for the current timeline to release?


Who really knows at this stage. But why does it always seem like something has been defiled when SoE steps in and takes a part of it..?

teddy_bare

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Originally posted by angerr

are you freaking kidding me???

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Knee jerk reaction, think about this a little first. It's a really good thing

JonathJCen

Figures,

   The children of SOE never go very far, and always run back to Daddy. Former members of SOE worked on Matrix... former members of SOE work on this game, I see a patern here : infiltrate and concure. Get your staff members involved in other companies affairs and then pull the right strings to gain control of an operation. Wow sorta sounds like our government don't you think? That's how you know when a corperation is doing well

Can never have an alternative, equivlent game to a company you're not very happy with can you? WoW may be popular but not my thing, Vanguard looked promissing, however now that the company who's motto is "nerf the fun out of it!" takes over, will we simply see a reflection of the path EQ took? Just another clone?

Vyava

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Originally posted by teddyboy420
Wow, I never saw this coming. Although, I take that back I kind of did.

I don't know, Microsoft has a real big bug up it's arse when it comes to MMO's. I mean, how many have they personally stopped development on in the last few years? Of the top of my head Mythica comes right to mind but I am pretty sure there is at least one more they stopped.

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True Fantasy Online was incomplete when its due date came and was cancelled rather than extended. Vnaguard is incomplete and Microsoft would rather release a hideously bad complete game( like Halo 2) than any obviously incomplete game. SOE will publish anything at this point.

Arremus

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Originally posted by teddyboy420

Originally posted by angerr

are you freaking kidding me???

Knee jerk reaction, think about this a little first. It's a really good thing

---

It's a really good thing that Vanguard now has SoE's world reknowned (not in a good way) Customer 'Support'?
* The company that took a year to get even a semi-reliable indicator of server status into EQ2.
* The company that outsourced the bulk of it's in-game (and forum based I pressume) CS to India - not heard if this is still the case, but assume it would be.
* The company that rarely has a GM or CS in the CS Chat room.
* The company that has Moorgard posting as the authority on the EQ2 forums, a man who is narrow minded at best as to what constitutes 'fun' - justifying major nerfs and gameplay killers as 'necessary' etc.
* The CS team who have blatantly lied about game content - and lack of - numerous times during the life of EQ2 - Frogloks in-game, CU coming next month... next month... not part of expansion.. omg it's part of the expansion, and looks like the same is happening with Tradeskills.

I think it's very optimistic of one to honestly believe that SoE's role in Vanguard, from this point on, is going to stay purely CS and backend support.
You honestly think John (s)Medle(y) hasn't smelt the bacon, oh so close, and is itching to get his oily little fingers all over the game?

I, personally, worry for the future direction of Vanguard (a game I have no interest in playing btw), but also worry for the lifeline and support of EQ2 and other SoE products...

Adventure Packs, $2 add-ons, tri-yearly expansions and buggy testing enroute to Vanguard!

spookytooth

They would have been better off teaming up with NCsoft. They just went with SOE due to familiarity. Familiarity doesnt seem like a good basis for a buisness dicision.

And Micrsoft is pathetic. They've now torpedoed 2 games and just let another one slip through their fingers. I'm beginning to pity Marvel more than DC now...and thats saying alot.

rivethead23

Well there's a title I was really looking forward to and hoping would bring back some of good things about the original EQ.

Now I know what it'll bring back - SOE's mishandling of their products and customers are legendary. I bought and subscribed to EQ, EQII, Planetside, and Star Wars Galaxies. After banning people for ages for the sale/trade of ingame items they then reversed direction (because they figured out how to make money of it) and created Station Exchange. Of course they reassured the users they would continue to police the farmers and other sellers of said items (After all they can't have competition now can they?). Then they completely shafted the userbase of SWG (right after I came back after a stint in EQII). Those two things were just he nail in the coffin for this former SOE fanboi. I'll never play another SOE game on principle alone.

Oh well no Vanguard for me...

angerr

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Originally posted by teddyboy420

Originally posted by angerr
are you freaking kidding me???
Knee jerk reaction, think about this a little first. It's a really good thing

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i have thought about it, the last thing i want is soe to have anything to do with vanguard.....look at what they did to eq1? at this point this is defiantly NOT a good thing IMO

darkman

It is surprising to see the partnership, but I'm not worried about Vanguard's future. All the adventure packs and constant expansions you see in EQ2 don't necessarily need to happen with Vanguard now that SOE is co-publishing, because Sigil still is the one developing the game, and they are co-publishers, so SOE is really there for the marketing and distribution moreso than having a say in the game. I highly doubt SOE will have a say in this game past "too many servers, we're shutting down 1".

HolyAvengerOne

I think someone droped a bomb 

I'm still pondering this one.. still undecided wether its good or bad. I guess up to now I've enjoyed my interactions with SOE's support and billing. That can't be a *totally* bad thing...

/ponder

osiloa

ok I was really looking forward to Vanguard, but if SOE has anything to do with the game I ABSOLUTELY REFUSE TO PLAY THIS GAME NOW! They killed Star wars galaxies and I refuse to play any other SOE game ever again!

Kabel

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Originally posted by angerr


Originally posted by teddyboy420

Originally posted by angerr
are you freaking kidding me???
Knee jerk reaction, think about this a little first. It's a really good thing

i have thought about it, the last thing i want is soe to have anything to do with vanguard.....look at what they did to eq1? at this point this is defiantly NOT a good thing IMO

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Look what they did to SWG...

Agent_X7

Hehe, this seems oddly familiar. Oh yeah, Verant makes EQ, SOE publishes. SOE takes over EQ. Fast forward, most Verant employees have left, and a core group form Sigil. Sigil games makes Vanguard, SOE publishes.

I wonder what they will be making when SOE is developing Vanguard 2?

osiloa

EXACTLY! WTF is sigil thinking?
I was so looking forward to playing vanguard, but I will not now.

Effect

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Originally posted by teddyboy420
Wow, I never saw this coming. Although, I take that back I kind of did.

I don't know, Microsoft has a real big bug up it's arse when it comes to MMO's. I mean, how many have they personally stopped development on in the last few years? Of the top of my head Mythica comes right to mind but I am pretty sure there is at least one more they stopped.

---

Actually I think Microsoft also had a large part to due with why Asheron's Call 2 ended up the way it did. With them calling to many shots and being the main reason I think the whole chat system in the game was shot to hell for a long time which was one of the factors for why people left when they all did when it first came out. There were several other things as well I think that was their fault, especailly not advertising the game and then once the game was on it's last legs sold it back to Turbine but they couldn't save it.

As much as I dislike SOE, I think this is a good move by Sigil to not depend on Microsoft to publish this game. SOE has the experience and the knowledge of how to at least do that very well. Vanguard tv commericals will be a big help for the game and you know SOE can do it.

osiloa

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Originally posted by Effect

Originally posted by teddyboy420
Wow, I never saw this coming. Although, I take that back I kind of did.

I don't know, Microsoft has a real big bug up it's arse when it comes to MMO's. I mean, how many have they personally stopped development on in the last few years? Of the top of my head Mythica comes right to mind but I am pretty sure there is at least one more they stopped.

Actually I think Microsoft also had a large part to due with why Asheron's Call 2 ended up the way it did. With them calling to many shots and being the main reason I think the whole chat system in the game was shot to hell for a long time which was one of the factors for why people left when they all did when it first came out. There were several other things as well I think that was their fault, especailly not advertising the game and then once the game was on it's last legs sold it back to Turbine but they couldn't save it.

As much as I dislike SOE, I think this is a good move by Sigil to not depend on Microsoft to publish this game. SOE has the experience and the knowledge of how to at least do that very well. Vanguard tv commericals will be a big help for the game and you know SOE can do it.

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So you want vanguard to die a slow death like Star wars galaxies?

jonaku

i can sum up my reaction in 8 words:

-- dark

-- and

-- light

-- warhammer

-- online

-- hero's

-- journey

-- bioware

after swg and eq2, i swore to never give another red cent to $0e. vanguard is dead to me.

Effect

No but I don't totally blame SOE for what happen with SWG. LucasArts had a part to play in that and perhaps SWG was just a victim of it's own design or simply being a Star Wars game in some ways. It's just something I've been thinking about lately about the whole thing. Nothing is going to remove SOE's part in the NGE. Nothing can be done to justify that mess I think. SOE had shot themselves in the foot a lot of times but I don't think they can screw up on the level they did with SWG again. If anyone at SOE has any common sense they know what they did wrong with SWG but it's to late to change things there. They can just try not to fuck up like that again.

But it isn't being developed by SOE. As long as Sigil doesn't get bought up by SOE or Microsoft and remains it's own company and majority owners of Vanguard I don't think it has anything to worry about. I'm not a fan of the interdependence setup Vanguard is going to have so I doubt I'll be playing the game but don't want it to do bad or think it will do bad. It being supported by more then one company can't hurt I think.

osiloa

Well that is just it!
SOE has NO common sense!
SOE and CHRISCAO  and SMed has repeatedly said that Star wars galaxies is no longer Striving for an emersive world, Basically they are trying to turn it into an FPS and that is what is going to happen to Vanguard aswell. Sorry I really wanted to play vanguard, but now that they have ended up in bed with SOE I will not be playing it.