I heard increasing Subscriber numbers make Gamedevelopers go backrupt! LOL, nice troll. Hey have a look on AoC in Xfire, up another +15% since last saturday (and let me remind you that last saturday also was after the merge) In fact AoC is on a 3 month high now, activity records every weekend. Just percistently climbing in popularity. Here you go: www.xfire.com/games/aoc/Age_of_Conan_Hyborian_Adventures/
If I remember correctly, you were the guy who said Xfire doesn't mean anything? Also I remember seing a thread on official forums where some players asked others to install Xfire so that it would seem like Age of Conan is becoming more popular. It's the same old trick Eve used.
And besides Xfire numbers have nothing to do with possible bankrupcy of Funcom. If you want to look at numbers, why not look at stock numbers: uk.finance.yahoo.com/echarts
If Funcom does not have enough money to pay their debt, it does not matter what the Xfire numbers are.
You really gotta be kidding if your relying on stock quotes for how well a business is doing, the whole dam stock market has been going down since mid last year. If you know anything of how stock markets work you wouldn't be just relying on stupid stock quotes at the moment. Sorry to me thats just a pathetic comeback in this current climate.
Also next time you look at stocks then look up activision blizzard, they have had just as much of a drop by percentage as funcom if you look at may last year until now.
Where are you people getting these 300k-500k numbers? AFAIK they havent released any and if they did there is no way to verify. Given the number they started with, the number that left and the recent server merges are we to beleive that they have tripled paying customers since hitting an all time low?
I think it's something in the water. If people are going to use xfire they need to base it off of something else with clear-cut numbers. I use EVE personally because CCP always mentions their subscriber numbers (or a rough estimation), so it's a pretty solid thing to go by. The last time I saw a mention it was around 240-250k. If we go with 250k, and compare with AoC, just using xfire numbers that both trolls and fanboys use when its convenient for them, AoC would be around 80-100k active accounts right now.
However, given that major sites are selling AoC boxes at firesale prices, it's probably higher for the time being because people aren't going to care much if they spend 5-10 USD/Euro on a game.
AoC is likely around 100k subs right now, which is enough to support them with the small income they get from AO. The question is, with their stock in the shitter completely, and banks cascade failing (I'd like to thank jimmy carter for the CRA that helped lead to the US mortgage crisis), they aren't going to get investors banging down their doors to throw money at them.
Secret world may end up being decent, but given Funcom's current 0-2 track record for releases, there's going to be (justifible) hell given to them any time something is mentioned about the game, or any lofty promises uttered by some Funcom employee. Banking on lovecraft fans flocking to the game is the best they can hope for, along with time healing the wounds of those they screwed on AoC's release.
Ofcourse, Faimine, since I know you read these threads, if you guys don't focus on the gameplay itself, and stop using the same damn game engine, nothing will help you guys. It's a shame you guys had to take such a beating, and lose out on millions in sales because AoC's biggest hype was 'mature content' and its graphics, while your game itself was so incredibly flawed and broken. you guys released a game where stats didn't even do anything for christ's sake.
You really gotta be kidding if your relying on stock quotes for how well a business is doing, the whole dam stock market has been going down since mid last year. If you know anything of how stock markets work you wouldn't be just relying on stupid stock quotes at the moment. Sorry to me thats just a pathetic comeback in this current climate.
Also next time you look at stocks then look up activision blizzard, they have had just as much of a drop by percentage as funcom if you look at may last year until now.
You might want to check the 2 year figures for those two companies, as well as any stock splits. blizzard's value spiked up suddenly in 2008, and is back down to what it was. They also have a single game that's bringing in around a billion USD a year.
Funcom went from sitting between 20-40 NOK, spiked up in the 50s before Aoc launched with massive hype, and then fall like a rock in the following months where AoC was justifibly ripped several new assholes on a regular basis. Blizzard's stock split in september this year. when you double the amount of stock, you cut the value in half as a result.
Blizzard is currently about 50% of the value before it split. Funcom stock has lost roughly 80% of its value since AoC launched, and if the game is at even 200k subs right now (highly doubtful), then that would properly mirror the loss of subs they've had since AoC launched as well.
You really gotta be kidding if your relying on stock quotes for how well a business is doing, the whole dam stock market has been going down since mid last year. If you know anything of how stock markets work you wouldn't be just relying on stupid stock quotes at the moment. Sorry to me thats just a pathetic comeback in this current climate.
Also next time you look at stocks then look up activision blizzard, they have had just as much of a drop by percentage as funcom if you look at may last year until now.
You might want to check the 2 year figures for those two companies, as well as any stock splits. blizzard's value spiked up suddenly in 2008, and is back down to what it was. They also have a single game that's bringing in around a billion USD a year.
Funcom went from sitting between 20-40 NOK, spiked up in the 50s before Aoc launched with massive hype, and then fall like a rock in the following months where AoC was justifibly ripped several new assholes on a regular basis. Blizzard's stock split in september this year. when you double the amount of stock, you cut the value in half as a result.
Blizzard is currently about 50% of the value before it split. Funcom stock has lost roughly 80% of its value since AoC launched, and if the game is at even 200k subs right now (highly doubtful), then that would properly mirror the loss of subs they've had since AoC launched as well.
Sorry your missing my point too on stock prices, you'll find part of the reason for funcom falling is due to global climate. Do you really think they can butt the trend ?? simple answer NO
You really gotta be kidding if your relying on stock quotes for how well a business is doing, the whole dam stock market has been going down since mid last year. If you know anything of how stock markets work you wouldn't be just relying on stupid stock quotes at the moment. Sorry to me thats just a pathetic comeback in this current climate.
Also next time you look at stocks then look up activision blizzard, they have had just as much of a drop by percentage as funcom if you look at may last year until now.
You might want to check the 2 year figures for those two companies, as well as any stock splits. blizzard's value spiked up suddenly in 2008, and is back down to what it was. They also have a single game that's bringing in around a billion USD a year.
Funcom went from sitting between 20-40 NOK, spiked up in the 50s before Aoc launched with massive hype, and then fall like a rock in the following months where AoC was justifibly ripped several new assholes on a regular basis. Blizzard's stock split in september this year. when you double the amount of stock, you cut the value in half as a result.
Blizzard is currently about 50% of the value before it split. Funcom stock has lost roughly 80% of its value since AoC launched, and if the game is at even 200k subs right now (highly doubtful), then that would properly mirror the loss of subs they've had since AoC launched as well.
Sorry your missing my point too on stock prices, you'll find part of the reason for funcom falling is due to global climate. Do you really think they can butt the trend ?? simple answer NO
What you say is very much true, part of the fall for funcom can be blamed on the global economy crashing. When this happens peopel won't be buying stocks the same way they used too, and specially not in a company that is having a free fall. The investors that can afford to loose money will wait til stocks hits "bottom" then invest in them. Once these stocks rizes again they will sell and get a profit.
And besides stock value doesn't necessary reflect the full truth about a company's financial state.
Playing: Battlefield - Bad company (Xbox360) Arma2, DFO (PC) On my radar: TSW, MO MMO's played: SWG (pre cu/cu), WoW, AoC, WAR, DFO, Planetside MMO's that I have tested: Lotro, L2, Aion, Ryzom
This thread has been hijacked: OP asked us to speculate who could buy Funcom. Probelm is that he used the word Bankrupcy. So the thread derailed into a discussion of if this was likely or not. Never mind the likelyhood.
My guess for who could buy Funcom is:
- Blizzard (unlikely) they do things themselves.
- NC Soft (more likely, as it could be a goo European bridgehead, but still they have their own philosphy which is different from Funcom)
- SOE - (More likely, they have bought things before)
- EA/Mythic. (EA is in trouble moneywise and Mythic has spent a lot on WAR, so unlikely)
- Venture Capitalist/ Hedge funds/ etc - THis is the most likley option. SOmebody buys the company splits it up and sells out the parts to 3rd parties. i.e. buy Funcom, sell AO and AOC separately then sell the Game engine and organisation separately.
Originally posted by BishopB:
Are a lot of the trolls just angry kids with old gaming hardware?
I've been telling people Funcom was going to go bankrupt since 2001. Guess what?
They are not going bankrupt, company still making a profit if anyone bothers to read the reports. Now if anyone claims the reports are fake then funcom can be charged for full extent of the law and I doubt they would do that.
Until they are clearly running at a loss then I'll believe it if hard facts become available, and don't come up with lame answer like stock price because I'll just laugh.
If I had enough money and a company for maneuvering, I'd do a hostile takeover.
I would then fire EVERYONE except for Craig ( he's the only person in that entire company worth a shit, in my opinion ) and the main developers. I would then hire a team of modern REAL developers, who would learn how the engine is monkey coded from the original devs, then the original devs would be fired, as well.
Everyone connected to customer service, community / forums, support, etc., etc., would be tossed out on their asses and new people placed in the appropriate positions.
This would encompass AO, AoC, and The Secret World.
In other words, I wouldn't just clean house, I'd sanitize it.
Originally posted by sancher36 They are not going bankrupt, company still making a profit if anyone bothers to read the reports. Now if anyone claims the reports are fake then funcom can be charged for full extent of the law and I doubt they would do that. Until they are clearly running at a loss then I'll believe it if hard facts become available, and don't come up with lame answer like stock price because I'll just laugh.
That's just it - people have been doomsaying Funcom for ages, and the doom in question never gets around to actually happening. There basically isn't a chance in hell they will go under, especially with Gaute Godager out of the picture.
einexile the meek Vacuos, Winterlong, Vaciante, Eicosapenta Atlantean, Tyranny, Malton
Originally posted by sancher36 They are not going bankrupt, company still making a profit if anyone bothers to read the reports. Now if anyone claims the reports are fake then funcom can be charged for full extent of the law and I doubt they would do that. Until they are clearly running at a loss then I'll believe it if hard facts become available, and don't come up with lame answer like stock price because I'll just laugh.
That's just it - people have been doomsaying Funcom for ages, and the doom in question never gets around to actually happening. There basically isn't a chance in hell they will go under, especially with Gaute Godager out of the picture.
Now you mentioned the best thing to ever happen to funcom and that was gaute leaving, the new guy that took over is doing a so much better job overall.
This is easy, I can think of only one company that buys dying mmo's. SONY! Hahaha, I'm actually surprised they haven't bought Tabula Rasa yet, although it is never too late.
This is easy, I can think of only one company that buys dying mmo's. SONY! Hahaha, I'm actually surprised they haven't bought Tabula Rasa yet, although it is never too late.
Dude,
NCSoft will NEVER EVER sell out Tabula Rasa.
It's not only the game itself they would sell out. It's also their inhouse game engine they would hand over to the competition.
So never going to happen.
Same with Age of Conan. Funcom is never going to give up their inhouse game engine, wich is used for all their games, incl. their upcoming The Secret World title.
So unless another Game company buys Funcom as whole, Age of Conan stays were it is.
This is easy, I can think of only one company that buys dying mmo's. SONY! Hahaha, I'm actually surprised they haven't bought Tabula Rasa yet, although it is never too late.
Dude,
NCSoft will NEVER EVER sell out Tabula Rasa.
It's not only the game itself they would sell out. It's also their inhouse game engine they would hand over to the competition.
So never going to happen.
Same with Age of Conan. Funcom is never going to give up their inhouse game engine, wich is used for all their games, incl. their upcoming The Secret World title.
So unless another Game company buys Funcom as whole, Age of Conan stays were it is.
Cheers
Situation is different with NCSoft and Funcom.
NCSoft has many sources of income and I don't see them going bankrupt any time soon. Funcom has only one real source of income - Age of Conan. If AoC fails, Funcom will fall.
You are saying that Funcom would never give up their inhouse game engine. You have to realize that if they are dying, they have to sell it. They have no choice, no matter how much it would suck.
I live in the US.. one thing that many of us here have a hard time understanding is that Norway props up it's businesses. Like how the US just bailed out some banks and GM/Chrysler. That type of thing has always happened in most EU countries like Norway. The Gov't is very active in supporting businesses and it's always one of those things that gets fought over whenever there is a trade agreement. For instance, Boeing always is pissed because Airobus get's so much public money from it's gov't. Before this latest bank/car thing in the US.. the US gov't had a much more 'hands off' approach to business. If your business dies, it dies. The US bailout of banks/autos is more in line with what most EU companies have always done (propped up companies that should rightfully be out of business).
In the last quarterly report, Funcom said it was able to make payments on it's long term debt. That is the very definition of NOT going bankrupt. A company doesn't go bankrupt because of a falling stock price, or because of low revenues... it goes bankrupt because it can't pay off it's debt.
That said. Funcom brought in some new faces in December, and offered them a LOT of stock as payment. The percentage of stock on the open market has gone way down because of this ( not total shared, but percentage of total shares). It looks like these new people, along with 2-3 current insiders will be taking the company private soon.
This is easy, I can think of only one company that buys dying mmo's. SONY! Hahaha, I'm actually surprised they haven't bought Tabula Rasa yet, although it is never too late.
Dude,
NCSoft will NEVER EVER sell out Tabula Rasa.
It's not only the game itself they would sell out. It's also their inhouse game engine they would hand over to the competition.
So never going to happen.
Same with Age of Conan. Funcom is never going to give up their inhouse game engine, wich is used for all their games, incl. their upcoming The Secret World title.
So unless another Game company buys Funcom as whole, Age of Conan stays were it is.
Cheers
Situation is different with NCSoft and Funcom.
NCSoft has many sources of income and I don't see them going bankrupt any time soon. Funcom has only one real source of income - Age of Conan. If AoC fails, Funcom will fall.
You are saying that Funcom would never give up their inhouse game engine. You have to realize that if they are dying, they have to sell it. They have no choice, no matter how much it would suck.
Dude.
Their inhouse game engine is basically their foundation. Without it they don't exist.
The moment they sell the game and their engine will be the moment they close their doors.
While Anarchy Online isn't their main source of income right now and might not have the high subscription numbers. It still brings in money each month.
Next to that, they have also released Single player RPG's that has provided them with income. Like Dreamfall.
Their inhouse game engine is basically their foundation. Without it they don't exist.
The moment they sell the game and their engine will be the moment they close their doors.
While Anarchy Online isn't their main source of income right now and might not have the high subscription numbers. It still brings in money each month.
Next to that, they have also released Single player RPG's that has provided them with income. Like Dreamfall.
Cheers
Um.. what?
So you are saying Funcom would choose bankrupcy over selling their bugged engine? Lol We are not talking about some super classified state secret here, we are talking about a game engine. Even if they gave the engine to everyone for free, AoC would still be here tomorrow.
Sure Funcom has some other forms of income but AoC is clearly their main source of income. Without the profit coming from AoC, Funcom would close doors pretty quick.
Their inhouse game engine is basically their foundation. Without it they don't exist.
The moment they sell the game and their engine will be the moment they close their doors.
While Anarchy Online isn't their main source of income right now and might not have the high subscription numbers. It still brings in money each month.
Next to that, they have also released Single player RPG's that has provided them with income. Like Dreamfall.
Cheers
Um.. what?
So you are saying Funcom would choose bankrupcy over selling their bugged engine? Lol We are not talking about some super classified state secret here, we are talking about a game engine. Even if they gave the engine to everyone for free, AoC would still be here tomorrow.
Sure Funcom has some other forms of income but AoC is clearly their main source of income. Without the profit coming from AoC, Funcom would close doors pretty quick.
Their inhouse game engine is not ready for licencing. Maybe one day they will get there. But not today.
Who would want to buy a PC only engine these days? While you got much much better game engines with their toolkits, like Unreal Engine, Crytek Engine, etc... who happen to be multi-platform as well.
Hardly anyone makes games for a single platform these days anymore.
So Funcom is a long way from getting their engine where it needs to be.
Instead of putting all resources in there and have to face a much tougher competion, they better put their resources on wich they are already do now. Fixing Age of Conan and do better with their new MMO The Secret World.
Their inhouse game engine is basically their foundation. Without it they don't exist.
The moment they sell the game and their engine will be the moment they close their doors.
While Anarchy Online isn't their main source of income right now and might not have the high subscription numbers. It still brings in money each month.
Next to that, they have also released Single player RPG's that has provided them with income. Like Dreamfall.
Cheers
Um.. what?
So you are saying Funcom would choose bankrupcy over selling their bugged engine? Lol We are not talking about some super classified state secret here, we are talking about a game engine. Even if they gave the engine to everyone for free, AoC would still be here tomorrow.
Sure Funcom has some other forms of income but AoC is clearly their main source of income. Without the profit coming from AoC, Funcom would close doors pretty quick.
There are plenty of instances where a developer 'took their engine to the grave'. I think people underestimate the complexity of an 'engine'. You really have to start out developing the engine knowing it will be used by 3rd parties in advance ( Unreal etc). I don't think its very feasible to take an 'in house' engine and expect anyone else to be able to use it (or want it).
There are plenty of instances where a developer 'took their engine to the grave'. I think people underestimate the complexity of an 'engine'. You really have to start out developing the engine knowing it will be used by 3rd parties in advance ( Unreal etc). I don't think its very feasible to take an 'in house' engine and expect anyone else to be able to use it (or want it).
Give me an example, please.
Imo only situation where this would happen, would be a situation where the engine was so bad that nobody wanted to buy it. It's all business and in the business world people don't 'take their engines to the grave' just because of priciple or something.
If Funcom is going bankrupt and someone would pay cash money for their engine, they will sell it. Period.
They wont go bankrupt any time soon at least. I say if things don't look up by this time next year, well, then that marks the end. Many people are posting that AoC has upwards of 300,000 subs. It's probably more like upwards of 200,000...250,000 at the most. This isn't bad since I heard that they were at 90,000 at one point. Haters wanna burry Funcom and AoC because it wasn't some MEGA success that a lot of people HOPED it was going to be. They will always hate and always say AoC and Funcom are dead because AoC will never be this ultra successful MMO. It will be a good MMO that never quite gets the respect it should because of Funcoms poor decision making from the start. AoC will probably top out at 500,000 subs at the most. THAT IS IF Funcom keeps their promises and fixes what STILL NEEDS TO BE FIXED. I enjoy the game, but it has a bad rep due to the many problems it had....but, I don't think Funcom will go bankrupt.....any time soon.
Where are you people getting these 300k-500k numbers? AFAIK they havent released any and if they did there is no way to verify. Given the number they started with, the number that left and the recent server merges are we to beleive that they have tripled paying customers since hitting an all time low?
If you actually read my post instead of just glancing and noticing some numbers you would have seen that I DID NOT SAY THERE ARE 300,000 or 500,000 subs, genius.
I said that there are PROBABLY something in the range of 200k-250k.....AND.......I said there most likely ARE NOT 300k-350k.
BUT......
I DID say that AoC's subs will PROBABLY top out at 500k....IN THE FUTURE....that is if Funcom can keep things going up....
READ BEFORE YOU RUN YOUR MOUTH!
Looking at your rant I see you say current numbers close to 300,000 and then you go on to say it would top out at 500,000 or so. You even caught that yourself saying 500, 000 and yet you tell someone to read before running their mouth. Now I am curious as well as to where you are getting these numbers. The person you responded to only asked where the 300-500 numbers came from.
LIGHTEN UP! See everyone has a caps button
And for the record you also said people are reporting 300,000. What people?
They wont go bankrupt any time soon at least. I say if things don't look up by this time next year, well, then that marks the end. Many people are posting that AoC has upwards of 300,000 subs. It's probably more like upwards of 200,000...250,000 at the most. This isn't bad since I heard that they were at 90,000 at one point. Haters wanna burry Funcom and AoC because it wasn't some MEGA success that a lot of people HOPED it was going to be. They will always hate and always say AoC and Funcom are dead because AoC will never be this ultra successful MMO. It will be a good MMO that never quite gets the respect it should because of Funcoms poor decision making from the start. AoC will probably top out at 500,000 subs at the most. THAT IS IF Funcom keeps their promises and fixes what STILL NEEDS TO BE FIXED. I enjoy the game, but it has a bad rep due to the many problems it had....but, I don't think Funcom will go bankrupt.....any time soon.
Where are you people getting these 300k-500k numbers? AFAIK they havent released any and if they did there is no way to verify. Given the number they started with, the number that left and the recent server merges are we to beleive that they have tripled paying customers since hitting an all time low?
If you actually read my post instead of just glancing and noticing some numbers you would have seen that I DID NOT SAY THERE ARE 300,000 or 500,000 subs, genius.
I said that there are PROBABLY something in the range of 200k-250k.....AND.......I said there most likely ARE NOT 300k-350k.
BUT......
I DID say that AoC's subs will PROBABLY top out at 500k....IN THE FUTURE....that is if Funcom can keep things going up....
READ BEFORE YOU RUN YOUR MOUTH!
Looking at your rant I see you say current numbers close to 300,000 and then you go on to say it would top out at 500,000 or so. You even caught that yourself saying 500, 000 and yet you tell someone to read before running their mouth. Now I am curious as well as to where you are getting these numbers. The person you responded to only asked where the 300-500 numbers came from.
LIGHTEN UP! See everyone has a caps button
And for the record you also said people are reporting 300,000. What people?
I'll admit, I overreacted...I'm just really used to dealing with people that go around and slam games on the forums....forgive me.
But, I did use words like PROBABLY, and MOST LIKELY, so nothing I said was concrete.
The numbers I gave were my theory pretty much. I never said that they were the number of subs.
I assume there are probably 200k-250k subs currently, and I assume the max number of subs the game will ever get will be around 500k.
Now, I have read the posts of several players of AoC saying that the game has between 300k-350k subs. I highly doubt that...but...I cannot say for sure.
Now, I'm sorry if how I had written my original post wasn't clear, but I don't like when people just look at the numbers in the post instead of reading the words around the numbers...not saying you did that Imjin, but to me it seemed like Courtsdad did.
Like I said, I never said that my numbers were right. It was my theoretical estimate...
PLAYING: NOTHING!!! PLAYED:FFXI, LotRO, AoC, WAR, DDO, Megaten, Wurm, Rohan, Mabinogi, RoM
They wont go bankrupt any time soon at least. I say if things don't look up by this time next year, well, then that marks the end. Many people are posting that AoC has upwards of 300,000 subs. It's probably more like upwards of 200,000...250,000 at the most. This isn't bad since I heard that they were at 90,000 at one point. Haters wanna burry Funcom and AoC because it wasn't some MEGA success that a lot of people HOPED it was going to be. They will always hate and always say AoC and Funcom are dead because AoC will never be this ultra successful MMO. It will be a good MMO that never quite gets the respect it should because of Funcoms poor decision making from the start. AoC will probably top out at 500,000 subs at the most. THAT IS IF Funcom keeps their promises and fixes what STILL NEEDS TO BE FIXED. I enjoy the game, but it has a bad rep due to the many problems it had....but, I don't think Funcom will go bankrupt.....any time soon.
Where are you people getting these 300k-500k numbers? AFAIK they havent released any and if they did there is no way to verify. Given the number they started with, the number that left and the recent server merges are we to beleive that they have tripled paying customers since hitting an all time low?
If you actually read my post instead of just glancing and noticing some numbers you would have seen that I DID NOT SAY THERE ARE 300,000 or 500,000 subs, genius.
I said that there are PROBABLY something in the range of 200k-250k.....AND.......I said there most likely ARE NOT 300k-350k.
BUT......
I DID say that AoC's subs will PROBABLY top out at 500k....IN THE FUTURE....that is if Funcom can keep things going up....
READ BEFORE YOU RUN YOUR MOUTH!
Looking at your rant I see you say current numbers close to 300,000 and then you go on to say it would top out at 500,000 or so. You even caught that yourself saying 500, 000 and yet you tell someone to read before running their mouth. Now I am curious as well as to where you are getting these numbers. The person you responded to only asked where the 300-500 numbers came from.
LIGHTEN UP! See everyone has a caps button
And for the record you also said people are reporting 300,000. What people?
I'll admit, I overreacted...I'm just really used to dealing with people that go around and slam games on the forums....forgive me.
But, I did use words like PROBABLY, and MOST LIKELY, so nothing I said was concrete.
The numbers I gave were my theory pretty much. I never said that they were the number of subs.
I assume there are probably 200k-250k subs currently, and I assume the max number of subs the game will ever get will be around 500k.
Now, I have read the posts of several players of AoC saying that the game has between 300k-350k subs. I highly doubt that...but...I cannot say for sure.
Now, I'm sorry if how I had written my original post wasn't clear, but I don't like when people just look at the numbers in the post instead of reading the words around the numbers...not saying you did that Imjin, but to me it seemed like Courtsdad did.
Like I said, I never said that my numbers were right. It was my theoretical estimate...
For a thread that start like this, "This is pure speculation...", your estimates are more than good enough.
They wont go bankrupt any time soon at least. I say if things don't look up by this time next year, well, then that marks the end. Many people are posting that AoC has upwards of 300,000 subs. It's probably more like upwards of 200,000...250,000 at the most. This isn't bad since I heard that they were at 90,000 at one point. Haters wanna burry Funcom and AoC because it wasn't some MEGA success that a lot of people HOPED it was going to be. They will always hate and always say AoC and Funcom are dead because AoC will never be this ultra successful MMO. It will be a good MMO that never quite gets the respect it should because of Funcoms poor decision making from the start. AoC will probably top out at 500,000 subs at the most. THAT IS IF Funcom keeps their promises and fixes what STILL NEEDS TO BE FIXED. I enjoy the game, but it has a bad rep due to the many problems it had....but, I don't think Funcom will go bankrupt.....any time soon.
Where are you people getting these 300k-500k numbers? AFAIK they havent released any and if they did there is no way to verify. Given the number they started with, the number that left and the recent server merges are we to beleive that they have tripled paying customers since hitting an all time low?
If you actually read my post instead of just glancing and noticing some numbers you would have seen that I DID NOT SAY THERE ARE 300,000 or 500,000 subs, genius.
I said that there are PROBABLY something in the range of 200k-250k.....AND.......I said there most likely ARE NOT 300k-350k.
BUT......
I DID say that AoC's subs will PROBABLY top out at 500k....IN THE FUTURE....that is if Funcom can keep things going up....
READ BEFORE YOU RUN YOUR MOUTH!
Looking at your rant I see you say current numbers close to 300,000 and then you go on to say it would top out at 500,000 or so. You even caught that yourself saying 500, 000 and yet you tell someone to read before running their mouth. Now I am curious as well as to where you are getting these numbers. The person you responded to only asked where the 300-500 numbers came from.
LIGHTEN UP! See everyone has a caps button
And for the record you also said people are reporting 300,000. What people?
I'll admit, I overreacted...I'm just really used to dealing with people that go around and slam games on the forums....forgive me.
But, I did use words like PROBABLY, and MOST LIKELY, so nothing I said was concrete.
The numbers I gave were my theory pretty much. I never said that they were the number of subs.
I assume there are probably 200k-250k subs currently, and I assume the max number of subs the game will ever get will be around 500k.
Now, I have read the posts of several players of AoC saying that the game has between 300k-350k subs. I highly doubt that...but...I cannot say for sure.
Now, I'm sorry if how I had written my original post wasn't clear, but I don't like when people just look at the numbers in the post instead of reading the words around the numbers...not saying you did that Imjin, but to me it seemed like Courtsdad did.
Like I said, I never said that my numbers were right. It was my theoretical estimate...
For a thread that start like this, "This is pure speculation...", your estimates are more than good enough.
Thank you!
PLAYING: NOTHING!!! PLAYED:FFXI, LotRO, AoC, WAR, DDO, Megaten, Wurm, Rohan, Mabinogi, RoM
Comments
If I remember correctly, you were the guy who said Xfire doesn't mean anything? Also I remember seing a thread on official forums where some players asked others to install Xfire so that it would seem like Age of Conan is becoming more popular. It's the same old trick Eve used.
And besides Xfire numbers have nothing to do with possible bankrupcy of Funcom. If you want to look at numbers, why not look at stock numbers: uk.finance.yahoo.com/echarts
If Funcom does not have enough money to pay their debt, it does not matter what the Xfire numbers are.
You really gotta be kidding if your relying on stock quotes for how well a business is doing, the whole dam stock market has been going down since mid last year. If you know anything of how stock markets work you wouldn't be just relying on stupid stock quotes at the moment. Sorry to me thats just a pathetic comeback in this current climate.
Also next time you look at stocks then look up activision blizzard, they have had just as much of a drop by percentage as funcom if you look at may last year until now.
I think it's something in the water. If people are going to use xfire they need to base it off of something else with clear-cut numbers. I use EVE personally because CCP always mentions their subscriber numbers (or a rough estimation), so it's a pretty solid thing to go by. The last time I saw a mention it was around 240-250k. If we go with 250k, and compare with AoC, just using xfire numbers that both trolls and fanboys use when its convenient for them, AoC would be around 80-100k active accounts right now.
However, given that major sites are selling AoC boxes at firesale prices, it's probably higher for the time being because people aren't going to care much if they spend 5-10 USD/Euro on a game.
AoC is likely around 100k subs right now, which is enough to support them with the small income they get from AO. The question is, with their stock in the shitter completely, and banks cascade failing (I'd like to thank jimmy carter for the CRA that helped lead to the US mortgage crisis), they aren't going to get investors banging down their doors to throw money at them.
Secret world may end up being decent, but given Funcom's current 0-2 track record for releases, there's going to be (justifible) hell given to them any time something is mentioned about the game, or any lofty promises uttered by some Funcom employee. Banking on lovecraft fans flocking to the game is the best they can hope for, along with time healing the wounds of those they screwed on AoC's release.
Ofcourse, Faimine, since I know you read these threads, if you guys don't focus on the gameplay itself, and stop using the same damn game engine, nothing will help you guys. It's a shame you guys had to take such a beating, and lose out on millions in sales because AoC's biggest hype was 'mature content' and its graphics, while your game itself was so incredibly flawed and broken. you guys released a game where stats didn't even do anything for christ's sake.
You might want to check the 2 year figures for those two companies, as well as any stock splits. blizzard's value spiked up suddenly in 2008, and is back down to what it was. They also have a single game that's bringing in around a billion USD a year.
Funcom went from sitting between 20-40 NOK, spiked up in the 50s before Aoc launched with massive hype, and then fall like a rock in the following months where AoC was justifibly ripped several new assholes on a regular basis. Blizzard's stock split in september this year. when you double the amount of stock, you cut the value in half as a result.
Blizzard is currently about 50% of the value before it split. Funcom stock has lost roughly 80% of its value since AoC launched, and if the game is at even 200k subs right now (highly doubtful), then that would properly mirror the loss of subs they've had since AoC launched as well.
You might want to check the 2 year figures for those two companies, as well as any stock splits. blizzard's value spiked up suddenly in 2008, and is back down to what it was. They also have a single game that's bringing in around a billion USD a year.
Funcom went from sitting between 20-40 NOK, spiked up in the 50s before Aoc launched with massive hype, and then fall like a rock in the following months where AoC was justifibly ripped several new assholes on a regular basis. Blizzard's stock split in september this year. when you double the amount of stock, you cut the value in half as a result.
Blizzard is currently about 50% of the value before it split. Funcom stock has lost roughly 80% of its value since AoC launched, and if the game is at even 200k subs right now (highly doubtful), then that would properly mirror the loss of subs they've had since AoC launched as well.
Sorry your missing my point too on stock prices, you'll find part of the reason for funcom falling is due to global climate. Do you really think they can butt the trend ?? simple answer NO
You might want to check the 2 year figures for those two companies, as well as any stock splits. blizzard's value spiked up suddenly in 2008, and is back down to what it was. They also have a single game that's bringing in around a billion USD a year.
Funcom went from sitting between 20-40 NOK, spiked up in the 50s before Aoc launched with massive hype, and then fall like a rock in the following months where AoC was justifibly ripped several new assholes on a regular basis. Blizzard's stock split in september this year. when you double the amount of stock, you cut the value in half as a result.
Blizzard is currently about 50% of the value before it split. Funcom stock has lost roughly 80% of its value since AoC launched, and if the game is at even 200k subs right now (highly doubtful), then that would properly mirror the loss of subs they've had since AoC launched as well.
Sorry your missing my point too on stock prices, you'll find part of the reason for funcom falling is due to global climate. Do you really think they can butt the trend ?? simple answer NO
What you say is very much true, part of the fall for funcom can be blamed on the global economy crashing. When this happens peopel won't be buying stocks the same way they used too, and specially not in a company that is having a free fall. The investors that can afford to loose money will wait til stocks hits "bottom" then invest in them. Once these stocks rizes again they will sell and get a profit.
And besides stock value doesn't necessary reflect the full truth about a company's financial state.
Playing: Battlefield - Bad company (Xbox360) Arma2, DFO (PC)
On my radar: TSW, MO
MMO's played: SWG (pre cu/cu), WoW, AoC, WAR, DFO, Planetside
MMO's that I have tested: Lotro, L2, Aion, Ryzom
This thread has been hijacked: OP asked us to speculate who could buy Funcom. Probelm is that he used the word Bankrupcy. So the thread derailed into a discussion of if this was likely or not. Never mind the likelyhood.
My guess for who could buy Funcom is:
- Blizzard (unlikely) they do things themselves.
- NC Soft (more likely, as it could be a goo European bridgehead, but still they have their own philosphy which is different from Funcom)
- SOE - (More likely, they have bought things before)
- EA/Mythic. (EA is in trouble moneywise and Mythic has spent a lot on WAR, so unlikely)
- Venture Capitalist/ Hedge funds/ etc - THis is the most likley option. SOmebody buys the company splits it up and sells out the parts to 3rd parties. i.e. buy Funcom, sell AO and AOC separately then sell the Game engine and organisation separately.
Originally posted by BishopB:
Are a lot of the trolls just angry kids with old gaming hardware?
I've been telling people Funcom was going to go bankrupt since 2001.
Guess what?
einexile the meek
Vacuos, Winterlong, Vaciante, Eicosapenta
Atlantean, Tyranny, Malton
They are not going bankrupt, company still making a profit if anyone bothers to read the reports. Now if anyone claims the reports are fake then funcom can be charged for full extent of the law and I doubt they would do that.
Until they are clearly running at a loss then I'll believe it if hard facts become available, and don't come up with lame answer like stock price because I'll just laugh.
If I had enough money and a company for maneuvering, I'd do a hostile takeover.
I would then fire EVERYONE except for Craig ( he's the only person in that entire company worth a shit, in my opinion ) and the main developers. I would then hire a team of modern REAL developers, who would learn how the engine is monkey coded from the original devs, then the original devs would be fired, as well.
Everyone connected to customer service, community / forums, support, etc., etc., would be tossed out on their asses and new people placed in the appropriate positions.
This would encompass AO, AoC, and The Secret World.
In other words, I wouldn't just clean house, I'd sanitize it.
That's just it - people have been doomsaying Funcom for ages, and the doom in question never gets around to actually happening. There basically isn't a chance in hell they will go under, especially with Gaute Godager out of the picture.
einexile the meek
Vacuos, Winterlong, Vaciante, Eicosapenta
Atlantean, Tyranny, Malton
That's just it - people have been doomsaying Funcom for ages, and the doom in question never gets around to actually happening. There basically isn't a chance in hell they will go under, especially with Gaute Godager out of the picture.
Now you mentioned the best thing to ever happen to funcom and that was gaute leaving, the new guy that took over is doing a so much better job overall.
I will, and then I'll add lots more boobies.
I'm super-cereal.
____________________________________________
im to lazy too use grammar or punctuation good
This is easy, I can think of only one company that buys dying mmo's. SONY! Hahaha, I'm actually surprised they haven't bought Tabula Rasa yet, although it is never too late.
Dude,
NCSoft will NEVER EVER sell out Tabula Rasa.
It's not only the game itself they would sell out. It's also their inhouse game engine they would hand over to the competition.
So never going to happen.
Same with Age of Conan. Funcom is never going to give up their inhouse game engine, wich is used for all their games, incl. their upcoming The Secret World title.
So unless another Game company buys Funcom as whole, Age of Conan stays were it is.
Cheers
Dude,
NCSoft will NEVER EVER sell out Tabula Rasa.
It's not only the game itself they would sell out. It's also their inhouse game engine they would hand over to the competition.
So never going to happen.
Same with Age of Conan. Funcom is never going to give up their inhouse game engine, wich is used for all their games, incl. their upcoming The Secret World title.
So unless another Game company buys Funcom as whole, Age of Conan stays were it is.
Cheers
Situation is different with NCSoft and Funcom.
NCSoft has many sources of income and I don't see them going bankrupt any time soon. Funcom has only one real source of income - Age of Conan. If AoC fails, Funcom will fall.
You are saying that Funcom would never give up their inhouse game engine. You have to realize that if they are dying, they have to sell it. They have no choice, no matter how much it would suck.
Dude.
I live in the US.. one thing that many of us here have a hard time understanding is that Norway props up it's businesses. Like how the US just bailed out some banks and GM/Chrysler. That type of thing has always happened in most EU countries like Norway. The Gov't is very active in supporting businesses and it's always one of those things that gets fought over whenever there is a trade agreement. For instance, Boeing always is pissed because Airobus get's so much public money from it's gov't. Before this latest bank/car thing in the US.. the US gov't had a much more 'hands off' approach to business. If your business dies, it dies. The US bailout of banks/autos is more in line with what most EU companies have always done (propped up companies that should rightfully be out of business).
In the last quarterly report, Funcom said it was able to make payments on it's long term debt. That is the very definition of NOT going bankrupt. A company doesn't go bankrupt because of a falling stock price, or because of low revenues... it goes bankrupt because it can't pay off it's debt.
That said. Funcom brought in some new faces in December, and offered them a LOT of stock as payment. The percentage of stock on the open market has gone way down because of this ( not total shared, but percentage of total shares). It looks like these new people, along with 2-3 current insiders will be taking the company private soon.
Dude,
NCSoft will NEVER EVER sell out Tabula Rasa.
It's not only the game itself they would sell out. It's also their inhouse game engine they would hand over to the competition.
So never going to happen.
Same with Age of Conan. Funcom is never going to give up their inhouse game engine, wich is used for all their games, incl. their upcoming The Secret World title.
So unless another Game company buys Funcom as whole, Age of Conan stays were it is.
Cheers
Situation is different with NCSoft and Funcom.
NCSoft has many sources of income and I don't see them going bankrupt any time soon. Funcom has only one real source of income - Age of Conan. If AoC fails, Funcom will fall.
You are saying that Funcom would never give up their inhouse game engine. You have to realize that if they are dying, they have to sell it. They have no choice, no matter how much it would suck.
Dude.
Their inhouse game engine is basically their foundation. Without it they don't exist.
The moment they sell the game and their engine will be the moment they close their doors.
While Anarchy Online isn't their main source of income right now and might not have the high subscription numbers. It still brings in money each month.
Next to that, they have also released Single player RPG's that has provided them with income. Like Dreamfall.
Cheers
Their inhouse game engine is basically their foundation. Without it they don't exist.
The moment they sell the game and their engine will be the moment they close their doors.
While Anarchy Online isn't their main source of income right now and might not have the high subscription numbers. It still brings in money each month.
Next to that, they have also released Single player RPG's that has provided them with income. Like Dreamfall.
Cheers
Um.. what?
So you are saying Funcom would choose bankrupcy over selling their bugged engine? Lol
We are not talking about some super classified state secret here, we are talking about a game engine. Even if they gave the engine to everyone for free, AoC would still be here tomorrow.
Sure Funcom has some other forms of income but AoC is clearly their main source of income. Without the profit coming from AoC, Funcom would close doors pretty quick.
Their inhouse game engine is basically their foundation. Without it they don't exist.
The moment they sell the game and their engine will be the moment they close their doors.
While Anarchy Online isn't their main source of income right now and might not have the high subscription numbers. It still brings in money each month.
Next to that, they have also released Single player RPG's that has provided them with income. Like Dreamfall.
Cheers
Um.. what?
So you are saying Funcom would choose bankrupcy over selling their bugged engine? Lol
We are not talking about some super classified state secret here, we are talking about a game engine. Even if they gave the engine to everyone for free, AoC would still be here tomorrow.
Sure Funcom has some other forms of income but AoC is clearly their main source of income. Without the profit coming from AoC, Funcom would close doors pretty quick.
Their inhouse game engine is not ready for licencing. Maybe one day they will get there. But not today.
Who would want to buy a PC only engine these days? While you got much much better game engines with their toolkits, like Unreal Engine, Crytek Engine, etc... who happen to be multi-platform as well.
Hardly anyone makes games for a single platform these days anymore.
So Funcom is a long way from getting their engine where it needs to be.
Instead of putting all resources in there and have to face a much tougher competion, they better put their resources on wich they are already do now. Fixing Age of Conan and do better with their new MMO The Secret World.
Cheers
Their inhouse game engine is basically their foundation. Without it they don't exist.
The moment they sell the game and their engine will be the moment they close their doors.
While Anarchy Online isn't their main source of income right now and might not have the high subscription numbers. It still brings in money each month.
Next to that, they have also released Single player RPG's that has provided them with income. Like Dreamfall.
Cheers
Um.. what?
So you are saying Funcom would choose bankrupcy over selling their bugged engine? Lol
We are not talking about some super classified state secret here, we are talking about a game engine. Even if they gave the engine to everyone for free, AoC would still be here tomorrow.
Sure Funcom has some other forms of income but AoC is clearly their main source of income. Without the profit coming from AoC, Funcom would close doors pretty quick.
There are plenty of instances where a developer 'took their engine to the grave'. I think people underestimate the complexity of an 'engine'. You really have to start out developing the engine knowing it will be used by 3rd parties in advance ( Unreal etc). I don't think its very feasible to take an 'in house' engine and expect anyone else to be able to use it (or want it).
There are plenty of instances where a developer 'took their engine to the grave'. I think people underestimate the complexity of an 'engine'. You really have to start out developing the engine knowing it will be used by 3rd parties in advance ( Unreal etc). I don't think its very feasible to take an 'in house' engine and expect anyone else to be able to use it (or want it).
Give me an example, please.
Imo only situation where this would happen, would be a situation where the engine was so bad that nobody wanted to buy it. It's all business and in the business world people don't 'take their engines to the grave' just because of priciple or something.
If Funcom is going bankrupt and someone would pay cash money for their engine, they will sell it. Period.
Where are you people getting these 300k-500k numbers? AFAIK they havent released any and if they did there is no way to verify. Given the number they started with, the number that left and the recent server merges are we to beleive that they have tripled paying customers since hitting an all time low?
If you actually read my post instead of just glancing and noticing some numbers you would have seen that I DID NOT SAY THERE ARE 300,000 or 500,000 subs, genius.
I said that there are PROBABLY something in the range of 200k-250k.....AND.......I said there most likely ARE NOT 300k-350k.
BUT......
I DID say that AoC's subs will PROBABLY top out at 500k....IN THE FUTURE....that is if Funcom can keep things going up....
READ BEFORE YOU RUN YOUR MOUTH!
Looking at your rant I see you say current numbers close to 300,000 and then you go on to say it would top out at 500,000 or so. You even caught that yourself saying 500, 000 and yet you tell someone to read before running their mouth. Now I am curious as well as to where you are getting these numbers. The person you responded to only asked where the 300-500 numbers came from.
LIGHTEN UP! See everyone has a caps button
And for the record you also said people are reporting 300,000. What people?
Fungerer som det skal
Where are you people getting these 300k-500k numbers? AFAIK they havent released any and if they did there is no way to verify. Given the number they started with, the number that left and the recent server merges are we to beleive that they have tripled paying customers since hitting an all time low?
If you actually read my post instead of just glancing and noticing some numbers you would have seen that I DID NOT SAY THERE ARE 300,000 or 500,000 subs, genius.
I said that there are PROBABLY something in the range of 200k-250k.....AND.......I said there most likely ARE NOT 300k-350k.
BUT......
I DID say that AoC's subs will PROBABLY top out at 500k....IN THE FUTURE....that is if Funcom can keep things going up....
READ BEFORE YOU RUN YOUR MOUTH!
Looking at your rant I see you say current numbers close to 300,000 and then you go on to say it would top out at 500,000 or so. You even caught that yourself saying 500, 000 and yet you tell someone to read before running their mouth. Now I am curious as well as to where you are getting these numbers. The person you responded to only asked where the 300-500 numbers came from.
LIGHTEN UP! See everyone has a caps button
And for the record you also said people are reporting 300,000. What people?
I'll admit, I overreacted...I'm just really used to dealing with people that go around and slam games on the forums....forgive me.
But, I did use words like PROBABLY, and MOST LIKELY, so nothing I said was concrete.
The numbers I gave were my theory pretty much. I never said that they were the number of subs.
I assume there are probably 200k-250k subs currently, and I assume the max number of subs the game will ever get will be around 500k.
Now, I have read the posts of several players of AoC saying that the game has between 300k-350k subs. I highly doubt that...but...I cannot say for sure.
Now, I'm sorry if how I had written my original post wasn't clear, but I don't like when people just look at the numbers in the post instead of reading the words around the numbers...not saying you did that Imjin, but to me it seemed like Courtsdad did.
Like I said, I never said that my numbers were right. It was my theoretical estimate...
PLAYING: NOTHING!!!
PLAYED:FFXI, LotRO, AoC, WAR, DDO, Megaten, Wurm, Rohan, Mabinogi, RoM
WAITING FOR: Dust 514
Where are you people getting these 300k-500k numbers? AFAIK they havent released any and if they did there is no way to verify. Given the number they started with, the number that left and the recent server merges are we to beleive that they have tripled paying customers since hitting an all time low?
If you actually read my post instead of just glancing and noticing some numbers you would have seen that I DID NOT SAY THERE ARE 300,000 or 500,000 subs, genius.
I said that there are PROBABLY something in the range of 200k-250k.....AND.......I said there most likely ARE NOT 300k-350k.
BUT......
I DID say that AoC's subs will PROBABLY top out at 500k....IN THE FUTURE....that is if Funcom can keep things going up....
READ BEFORE YOU RUN YOUR MOUTH!
Looking at your rant I see you say current numbers close to 300,000 and then you go on to say it would top out at 500,000 or so. You even caught that yourself saying 500, 000 and yet you tell someone to read before running their mouth. Now I am curious as well as to where you are getting these numbers. The person you responded to only asked where the 300-500 numbers came from.
LIGHTEN UP! See everyone has a caps button
And for the record you also said people are reporting 300,000. What people?
I'll admit, I overreacted...I'm just really used to dealing with people that go around and slam games on the forums....forgive me.
But, I did use words like PROBABLY, and MOST LIKELY, so nothing I said was concrete.
The numbers I gave were my theory pretty much. I never said that they were the number of subs.
I assume there are probably 200k-250k subs currently, and I assume the max number of subs the game will ever get will be around 500k.
Now, I have read the posts of several players of AoC saying that the game has between 300k-350k subs. I highly doubt that...but...I cannot say for sure.
Now, I'm sorry if how I had written my original post wasn't clear, but I don't like when people just look at the numbers in the post instead of reading the words around the numbers...not saying you did that Imjin, but to me it seemed like Courtsdad did.
Like I said, I never said that my numbers were right. It was my theoretical estimate...
For a thread that start like this, "This is pure speculation...", your estimates are more than good enough.
Where are you people getting these 300k-500k numbers? AFAIK they havent released any and if they did there is no way to verify. Given the number they started with, the number that left and the recent server merges are we to beleive that they have tripled paying customers since hitting an all time low?
If you actually read my post instead of just glancing and noticing some numbers you would have seen that I DID NOT SAY THERE ARE 300,000 or 500,000 subs, genius.
I said that there are PROBABLY something in the range of 200k-250k.....AND.......I said there most likely ARE NOT 300k-350k.
BUT......
I DID say that AoC's subs will PROBABLY top out at 500k....IN THE FUTURE....that is if Funcom can keep things going up....
READ BEFORE YOU RUN YOUR MOUTH!
Looking at your rant I see you say current numbers close to 300,000 and then you go on to say it would top out at 500,000 or so. You even caught that yourself saying 500, 000 and yet you tell someone to read before running their mouth. Now I am curious as well as to where you are getting these numbers. The person you responded to only asked where the 300-500 numbers came from.
LIGHTEN UP! See everyone has a caps button
And for the record you also said people are reporting 300,000. What people?
I'll admit, I overreacted...I'm just really used to dealing with people that go around and slam games on the forums....forgive me.
But, I did use words like PROBABLY, and MOST LIKELY, so nothing I said was concrete.
The numbers I gave were my theory pretty much. I never said that they were the number of subs.
I assume there are probably 200k-250k subs currently, and I assume the max number of subs the game will ever get will be around 500k.
Now, I have read the posts of several players of AoC saying that the game has between 300k-350k subs. I highly doubt that...but...I cannot say for sure.
Now, I'm sorry if how I had written my original post wasn't clear, but I don't like when people just look at the numbers in the post instead of reading the words around the numbers...not saying you did that Imjin, but to me it seemed like Courtsdad did.
Like I said, I never said that my numbers were right. It was my theoretical estimate...
For a thread that start like this, "This is pure speculation...", your estimates are more than good enough.
Thank you!
PLAYING: NOTHING!!!
PLAYED:FFXI, LotRO, AoC, WAR, DDO, Megaten, Wurm, Rohan, Mabinogi, RoM
WAITING FOR: Dust 514