Very interesting and unexpected information.. Thank you for that find..
(My 2 cents now): NCsoft nailed it with Aion... The westernezation was awful.. Anyway, I think it might be succesful only if NCsoft doesn't change ArcheAge in order to publish it here..
Sandbox MMORPGs that are not very well-known but definitely worth a look:
Ryzom, Haven and Hearth, Xsyon, The Repopulation, UO private shards, Mortal Online, Darkfall 1 remakes (New Dawn or Rise of Agon), RPG MO, Project Gorgon, EQ: Sanctuary (custom server)
Well, there may have been many reasons to doubt NCSoft to become the publisher of AA
-head is an ex employee who quit the company
-competition to their own running and future title
1.-more importantly: Archage is not owned/published by NCSoft in Korea, China or other SEA states. Each buck made in the U.S. or EU would greatly aid their own compentition in their primary markets in Asia.
But aside from those. Who should have published anyway?
-EnMasse only has experience with TERA and also represents direct competition in the homeland just as NCSoft, also TERA was hardly and wont be much successful and is the only gametile either they even released and have running. Hardly a stable publisher that may as well succumb when TERA fails in the U.S. and EU either.
-Any other? Most other publisher either have no clue (only publishPay2Win B-rating cashgrabs from China or Korea) , not the workforce or experience to publish and run AAA title or only support their own inhouse studios.
2.-Only other option next to NCSoft to release an AAA title would be publishing it themself as xlgaming.
AD 1. You know it would not be first time that two competing companies would cooperate as well.
Just see Samsung and Apple.
Apple is suing Samsung over patents used by Samsung smartphones & tablets. Samsung recently retailiated same. They are locked in a fierce battle between iPhone & iPad and Samsung Galaxy & Galaxy Tab & other.
IN SAME TIME - Samsung is manufacturing for & selling DIRECTLY to Apple HUGE amount of chips and screens for iPod & iPhones. Direct competitor for one of most important Samsung businesses If you would take iPhone apart you would see parts with Made by Samsung.
hehe business is business. Big coporations are not persons and don't act like people based on emotions. They act on what is making money to shareholders & managment.
AD 2.I actually that this is possible it will happen (if XlGames won't find 'external' publisher).
In order to do so ,they would need first to gather some money from releasing / publishing it in Asia first though as XlGames is not some huge corporation and AA is their only title.
That would mean AA in west be a year later after Korean release at least.
Still I doubt anyone would release it earlier in west anyway so...
That would be similar to TERA actually , while Frogster in EU is diffrent company , EnMasse TERA publisher in USA is rumored to be company created by same investors that finance BlueHole studios. (BlueHole is Korean company but backed by Japanese investors)
Well, there may have been many reasons to doubt NCSoft to become the publisher of AA
-head is an ex employee who quit the company
-competition to their own running and future title
-more importantly: Archage is not owned/published by NCSoft in Korea, China or other SEA states. Each buck made in the U.S. or EU would greatly aid their own compentition in their primary markets in Asia.
But aside from those. Who should have published anyway?
-EnMasse only has experience with TERA and also represents direct competition in the homeland just as NCSoft, also TERA was hardly and wont be much successful and is the only gametile either they even released and have running. Hardly a stable publisher that may as well succumb when TERA fails in the U.S. and EU either.
-Any other? Most other publisher either have no clue (only publishPay2Win B-rating cashgrabs from China or Korea) , not the workforce or experience to publish and run AAA title or only support their own inhouse studios.
-Only other option next to NCSoft to release an AAA title would be publishing it themself as xlgaming.
there are a plethora of publishers in the west, the question is would they pick it up.
I am still hoping for trion to pick it up but we will see if it happens (doubtfull tbh)
This game is a direct competitor to a potential future Lineage 3 release, so I'm not entirely convinced that NCsoft would take on that project as publishers.
Perhaps this will convince you.
I have a friend that lives in a place called worthing,it's three miles along the coast from brighton.I had a disscussion with someone and they said perhaps NCSoft don't have the whole of the fifth floor of that building and other company are on the same floor.
I then rang my friend and asked him to go have a look at the building,well he then replied: you can do one better and just ring the number,wow good thinking bat man.
So guess what,i rang the number and actually spoke to a lady from NCSoft.I asked her if they were the only buisness on that floor and she said yes.She then asked me why i would need to know if they were the only buisness,i told her about AA and the reply went like this:
"yes i know the game but all info is being handled by an oversea office, WTF, has she just put her foot in it and gave me information without thinking,sure seems like it"
This is a true story and i ask anyone who thinks not,ring the number on that image.
Though it only tells us that XL games used the NCSoft office address in the UK to register a european domain name at some time before February 2010, i.e. more than 2 years ago.
Might have been a formal collaboration, might have been a publishing contract, but could also just have been helping a former colleague to secure a domain name.
I maintain this List of Sandbox MMORPGs. Please post or send PM for corrections and suggestions.
NC Soft are not inherently evil- maybe a bit expensive in the cash shop area but nothing that would shock the majority of today's players (leaving my own views aside) and their infrastructure is sound (and they advertise well). They are a far better choice then some crappy dedicated F2P provider like Gameforge or whoever... you only have to see the difference between how the two Western regions of Aion are being handled to see that.
It does seem that they seem to have all the MMORPGs that I am interested in right now... GW2, Wildstar, B&S, and now this...
NC Soft are not inherently evil- maybe a bit expensive in the cash shop area but nothing that would shock the majority of today's players (leaving my own views aside) and their infrastructure is sound (and they advertise well). They are a far better choice then some crappy dedicated F2P provider like Gameforge or whoever... you only have to see the difference between how the two Western regions of Aion are being handled to see that.
It does seem that they seem to have all the MMORPGs that I am interested in right now... GW2, Wildstar, B&S, and now this...
NCSoft West can blow me. I'll go post it on there own forum if I were not already banned. They treated me and every other player in Aion like dog shit for 14 straight months and made almost constant empty promises. If Archage is run by NCSoft, then it is a failure on launch.
This is not NCSOft KR. It is NCSoft West and they are worse then EA in my book.
NC Soft are not inherently evil- maybe a bit expensive in the cash shop area but nothing that would shock the majority of today's players (leaving my own views aside) and their infrastructure is sound (and they advertise well). They are a far better choice then some crappy dedicated F2P provider like Gameforge or whoever... you only have to see the difference between how the two Western regions of Aion are being handled to see that.
It does seem that they seem to have all the MMORPGs that I am interested in right now... GW2, Wildstar, B&S, and now this...
The only other Western publisher I would rather see handle the game is Trion.
The thing about cash shop is that none of them seem cheap, when I want the full game, compared to a subscription. Aion's cash shop doesn't seem any more spendy than EQ2's cash shop and certainly less expensive on the whole than Warner-Turbine.
There are some things I haven't liked about NC in the past, but then again I can't think of a publisher that hasn't done something I didn't like. Who else would people rather have publish this game? EA... I don't think so.
heh yeah, I actually agree with your views on cash shops, I have spent literally years agruing against them here.
Trion? Yeah, I get that, but they haven't shown any interest in publishing anything not built with their own technology. I don't see that chaning tbh, and that's maybe for the best.
I agree also that every publisher can be faulted, and that's kinda where I am coming from. NC Soft actually seem best placed to manage this in any kind of realistic way.
hmmm I was contemplating if 2K games will actually be the publisher of ArcheAge, since 2K contracted XLgames to developed a MMO title for them based on one of their major IP
hmmm I was contemplating if 2K games will actually be the publisher of ArcheAge, since 2K contracted XLgames to developed a MMO title for them based on one of their major IP
LMAO! Oh, I'd love it if it were true that the same people publishing GW2 will end up publishing AA. The irony is delicious. Personally, I've never had a problem with NCSoft. In all except one case they responded promptly, and that one case was a credit card issue involving theft, so it took some time to be investigated. That doesn't necessarily mean others haven't had their problems, but for me personally, they're one of the better publishers.
But, damn...GW2, Arche Age, Blade & Soul and Wild*STAR...that's a hell of a portfolio, not including the games they already own the rights to.
"Forums aren't for intelligent discussion; they're for blow-hards with unwavering opinions."
I really hope it is released here not to long after it does in Korea.I have been watching the yogcasts of it today and would love to play an MMO like this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vo05ANVoGvg
I really hope it is released here not to long after it does in Korea.I have been watching the yogcasts of it today and would love to play an MMO like this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vo05ANVoGvg
Haha, that video... I did what the top upvoted comment suggested as well, and, god, it had me in stitches...
1. The Brighton NCsoft address is (still) valid and indeed the correct address of (former) NCsoft Europe which for some time now is just a part of NCsoft West. Over the last few years staff had been layed off in Brighton on several occasions and NCsoft games have recently been sub-licensed to other European MMO operators such as Gameforge (AION) or Innova (L2) instead of having them handled by NCsoft's Brighton branch itself.
2. Registration and last update date back to 2010. In the meantime other publishers have been looking at and evaluating ArcheAge, also in 2011. This wouldn't make much sense if a contract between NCsoft and Xl Games had already been signed.
Personally I don't think NCsoft would be a good choice to publish ArcheAge in Europe, at least not since its European branch has been downsized so drastically.
Comments
Very interesting and unexpected information.. Thank you for that find..
(My 2 cents now): NCsoft nailed it with Aion... The westernezation was awful.. Anyway, I think it might be succesful only if NCsoft doesn't change ArcheAge in order to publish it here..
Ryzom, Haven and Hearth, Xsyon, The Repopulation, UO private shards, Mortal Online, Darkfall 1 remakes (New Dawn or Rise of Agon), RPG MO, Project Gorgon, EQ: Sanctuary (custom server)
That is awesome and I hope it's true
BOYCOTTING EA / ORIGIN going forward.
AD 1. You know it would not be first time that two competing companies would cooperate as well.
Just see Samsung and Apple.
Apple is suing Samsung over patents used by Samsung smartphones & tablets. Samsung recently retailiated same. They are locked in a fierce battle between iPhone & iPad and Samsung Galaxy & Galaxy Tab & other.
IN SAME TIME - Samsung is manufacturing for & selling DIRECTLY to Apple HUGE amount of chips and screens for iPod & iPhones. Direct competitor for one of most important Samsung businesses
If you would take iPhone apart you would see parts with Made by Samsung.
hehe business is business. Big coporations are not persons and don't act like people based on emotions. They act on what is making money to shareholders & managment.
AD 2.I actually that this is possible it will happen (if XlGames won't find 'external' publisher).
In order to do so ,they would need first to gather some money from releasing / publishing it in Asia first though as XlGames is not some huge corporation and AA is their only title.
That would mean AA in west be a year later after Korean release at least.
Still I doubt anyone would release it earlier in west anyway so...
That would be similar to TERA actually , while Frogster in EU is diffrent company , EnMasse TERA publisher in USA is rumored to be company created by same investors that finance BlueHole studios. (BlueHole is Korean company but backed by Japanese investors)
there are a plethora of publishers in the west, the question is would they pick it up.
I am still hoping for trion to pick it up but we will see if it happens (doubtfull tbh)
Clicky for Rift trial
Why is the address in bigger and darker font? I hope not, but it sure looks like it's photoshopped in...
NEW IDEAS that can refresh the STALE state of MMORPGs
http://www.eurid.eu/en/content/whois-result
Check it by your self, if you are not believe me
Perhaps this will convince you.
I have a friend that lives in a place called worthing,it's three miles along the coast from brighton.I had a disscussion with someone and they said perhaps NCSoft don't have the whole of the fifth floor of that building and other company are on the same floor.
I then rang my friend and asked him to go have a look at the building,well he then replied: you can do one better and just ring the number,wow good thinking bat man.
So guess what,i rang the number and actually spoke to a lady from NCSoft.I asked her if they were the only buisness on that floor and she said yes.She then asked me why i would need to know if they were the only buisness,i told her about AA and the reply went like this:
"yes i know the game but all info is being handled by an oversea office, WTF, has she just put her foot in it and gave me information without thinking,sure seems like it"
This is a true story and i ask anyone who thinks not,ring the number on that image.
Interesting find, well done.
Though it only tells us that XL games used the NCSoft office address in the UK to register a european domain name at some time before February 2010, i.e. more than 2 years ago.
Might have been a formal collaboration, might have been a publishing contract, but could also just have been helping a former colleague to secure a domain name.
I maintain this List of Sandbox MMORPGs. Please post or send PM for corrections and suggestions.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not a huge NCsoft fan but I will take what I can get if it means AA releases in NA.
Palm -------------------> Face
Sennheiser
Assist
Thage
NC Soft are not inherently evil- maybe a bit expensive in the cash shop area but nothing that would shock the majority of today's players (leaving my own views aside) and their infrastructure is sound (and they advertise well). They are a far better choice then some crappy dedicated F2P provider like Gameforge or whoever... you only have to see the difference between how the two Western regions of Aion are being handled to see that.
It does seem that they seem to have all the MMORPGs that I am interested in right now... GW2, Wildstar, B&S, and now this...
NCSoft West can blow me. I'll go post it on there own forum if I were not already banned. They treated me and every other player in Aion like dog shit for 14 straight months and made almost constant empty promises. If Archage is run by NCSoft, then it is a failure on launch.
This is not NCSOft KR. It is NCSoft West and they are worse then EA in my book.
heh yeah, I actually agree with your views on cash shops, I have spent literally years agruing against them here.
Trion? Yeah, I get that, but they haven't shown any interest in publishing anything not built with their own technology. I don't see that chaning tbh, and that's maybe for the best.
I agree also that every publisher can be faulted, and that's kinda where I am coming from. NC Soft actually seem best placed to manage this in any kind of realistic way.
omg noooooooo
if thats true then its gonna be ncwest as costumer support and they are the worst in the industry
wow thats just sad rumours, I really hope a different company will handel the game
http://boards.lineage2.com/showthread.php?t=204080&page=97
hmmm I was contemplating if 2K games will actually be the publisher of ArcheAge, since 2K contracted XLgames to developed a MMO title for them based on one of their major IP
http://www.mmorpg-center.com/archeage-devs-xlgames-to-create-2k-mmo
but hey, you got an address, I don't :P
PS: could they be just next door neighbours? lol given Jake Song's past dealings with NCsoft, this isn't too far a stretch.
How much WoW could a WoWhater hate, if a WoWhater could hate WoW?
As much WoW as a WoWhater would, if a WoWhater could hate WoW.
why would they have the same address in the United Kingdom? I am pretty sure XL games is in korea.
Waiting for:EQ-Next, ArcheAge (not so much anymore)
Now Playing: N/A
Worst MMO: FFXIV
Favorite MMO: FFXI
They're really not. I had trouble with my Aion account recently, head of the admin team called me up to sort it out it was amazing support.
As long as NCSOFT aren't making the game it'll be cool to have a publisher with money behind them.
LMAO! Oh, I'd love it if it were true that the same people publishing GW2 will end up publishing AA. The irony is delicious. Personally, I've never had a problem with NCSoft. In all except one case they responded promptly, and that one case was a credit card issue involving theft, so it took some time to be investigated. That doesn't necessarily mean others haven't had their problems, but for me personally, they're one of the better publishers.
But, damn...GW2, Arche Age, Blade & Soul and Wild*STAR...that's a hell of a portfolio, not including the games they already own the rights to.
"Forums aren't for intelligent discussion; they're for blow-hards with unwavering opinions."
Haha, that video... I did what the top upvoted comment suggested as well, and, god, it had me in stitches...
The following domains are now redirected:
http://www.archeage.eu => http://www.archeage.com/en?locale=en
http://www.archeage.jp => http://www.archeage.com/en?locale=en
http://www.archeage.cn => http://www.archeage.com/en?locale=en
http://www.archeage.tw => http://www.archeage.com/en?locale=en
http://www.archeage.hk => http://www.archeage.com/en?locale=en
I hope the locale variables will change soon ^^
ATM you can type in everything like
http://www.archeage....le=strawberries xD
It still works!
Some things to keep in mind:
1. The Brighton NCsoft address is (still) valid and indeed the correct address of (former) NCsoft Europe which for some time now is just a part of NCsoft West. Over the last few years staff had been layed off in Brighton on several occasions and NCsoft games have recently been sub-licensed to other European MMO operators such as Gameforge (AION) or Innova (L2) instead of having them handled by NCsoft's Brighton branch itself.
2. Registration and last update date back to 2010. In the meantime other publishers have been looking at and evaluating ArcheAge, also in 2011. This wouldn't make much sense if a contract between NCsoft and Xl Games had already been signed.
Personally I don't think NCsoft would be a good choice to publish ArcheAge in Europe, at least not since its European branch has been downsized so drastically.