that does not sound good..because why SONY as parent company of soe ,,sold the soe to this new company columbus nova.. if the soe was profitable enough why would big sony sell it?? considering sony is not doing well in general..then why they sold the profitable part of it??
unless they basically get rid of it because it was not good for them anymore.
Same reason blizzards parent company let them buy themselves out. They needed capital. Sony as a company is losing billions the electronics division is killing the company.
So now SOE is owned by a venture capitalist company.
I expect allot of layoffs in the coming weeks and more intrusive microtransactions.
Won't be remotely surprised if you're correct! It's the crony-capitalist way.
Not always as it depends what they want out of SOE. Do they want to strip as much out of the company as they can over 6-12 months and than abandoned the shell or do they want to add online gaming to their clients investment profiles? The latter could mean new investment capital and new games although it could also mean heavily monitized ones at that as well but that wouldn't really be any different than the SOE of old.
Why is this being called Indie? It's far and away not what I would consider a Indie company. It's moving from one big corporate owner to another.
Indy means not corp owned, they are independent. Not sure if I would call an investment group Indy unless its just a few guys with to much money lol. I really cant wait to see how this impacts things. BioWare feel and flavor changed when EA bought them. Any company owned by someone new changes the feel of it. As they do end up getting some say or full control. Being a huge fan of SoE because of how they run things. Like All Access for 15 bucks a month. I hope things like that dont change. I hope like EA they dont make DBG rush to put out games before they are done as finished games. So much is in the air you cant even guess whats in store. Things like NCsoft shutting down CoH comes to mind.
Originally posted by Gravarg I wonder if this includes the PS4 or at least the PS network. Sony has been bleeding money for awhile now, nobody wants/has wanted their overpriced TVs and PCs since the 90s.
SOE has nothing to do with Sony's PlayStation.
SOE provided all of the infrastructure for the PSN... they were the backbone of the network.
I suspected this was happening as SOE was sorta sandbagging Sony for the last couple years. I thought they were intentionally making the investment look unattractive so the employees could buy out majority shares. Then, when people here were saying SOE would fold, I knew their i.p.s had intrinsic value and rather than dumpster it all, they'd sell it.
I agree also what people are saying here, now it's likely in the hands of investors even more into chasing profit, if that's possible. Unless the primary shareholders of Columbus Nova have some heart of gold or a really rare interest in developing entertainment "for the sake of the game", yeh, I think we'll see more of a primarily monetized formula than one aimed at fun for the customer. Very likely chance, I'd say.
It says something else, though. It says tech investors think EQN is worth investment, not a bunch of hollow promises to the public. I'll still likely be getting on board if there's offered a $15ish/month sub. I still really think the concept is innovative and they're trying hard to bring something different.
Hm I wonder for what this new company is known for? Sony at least was a gaming company, so one would expect a certain understanding for gaming. But an invesment company doesn't really sound comforting for the needs and wishes of gamers. Hmmm. Very weird. Despite it all, I gonna miss the old SOE brand.
No seriously.
People don't ask questions to get answers - they ask questions to show how smart they are. - Dogbert
Columbus Nova Technology Partners' portfolio includes digital music service Rhapsody, video chat service Rabbit, online service marketplace Fiverr and more.
I'm a little confused. How is SOE "indie" now? They are owned by an investment company, they are no owned by themselves. They still have a parent they need to please, sure they may be able to expand into more platforms potentially now. I do not see them as "indie."
Yes, I think Smedley's done, too. He'll take a 2 or 3 mil severance and they'll replace him with a better "pr face".
I have been though a few of these and the CEO of the division was the one who spearheaded the process usually to keep the parent company from just folding the division. If he was smart he took great pains to foster that relationship with the new company. I have seen really bad CEO's (like criminal fraud bad) end up in charge of more people in the new company after these kinds of buyouts than before as the investment company consolidates a bunch of small companies together under the newly bought company.
Well the crapper has been flushed and Everquest is certainly swirling the drain. I would be nervous if I were a fan of any of the older games that aren't bringing in great numbers. Investment firms are known for being cut throat and years of gaming history and community will mean nothing to them. I hope I am wrong, but I dont see this buyout by a bunch of boardroom bandits as a good thing for anyone in the former SOE community.
“Sony Online Entertainment, newly rebranded as Daybreak, is a great addition to our existing portfolio of technology, media and entertainment focused companies. We see tremendous opportunities for growth with the expansion of the company’s game portfolio through multi-platform offerings as well as an exciting portfolio of new quality games,” said Jason Epstein, Senior Partner of Columbus Nova, in a press release. “The recent Early Access launch success of H1Z1 is just one testament to the talent and dedication of the studio’s developers to create great online gaming experiences.”
SOE president John Smedley will remain president at Daybreak.
“We are excited to join Columbus Nova’s impressive roster of companies. They have a proven track record in similar and related industries and we are eager to move forward to see how we can push the boundaries of online gaming,” Smedley said in a statement. “We will continue to focus on delivering exceptional games to players around the world, as well as bringing our portfolio to new platforms, fully embracing the multi-platform world in which we all live.”
I doubt that a venture capital group would take a flyer on soe IF it weren't at least somewhat profitable?
RIP Ribbitribbitt you are missed, kid.
Currently Playing EVE, ESO
Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and not clothed.
I dunno. Maybe they're taking on Daybreak as a "pet project". He he. We can only dream.
You don't acquire an IP to dump it, though. Not vaporware.
And its not link buying a car factory where you can sell it for parts and gut it to make money. The quote I posted above seems to me they are in expanding mode. Unless they lying lol.
The only thing I care about is to see some of the SOE titles that on the PS3/4 to be pushed to XBOX... hopefully an XboxOne DC Universe Online port would happen... I'd play it.
Sony cutting their losses? Time will tell if it was the right move. Wonder if any of the new games in development will get cut.
They will be looking to make it as profitable as possible, which will inevitably mean that some games will either be 'sold off' or shut down, until a 'core' of profitable games remain, something that SOE might not have been able to do all that easily themselves, but now becomes possible since the company has now changed hands. That there is likely to be a certain amount of internal 'restructuring' is also inevitable, no doubt more than a few people have already dusted off their C.V's in readiness.
But yes, it looks increasingly like SOE was a division of Sony that was incurring losses, that Sony has been shedding such divisions recently of which SOE seems to be just the more recent one, probably attests to the severity of the situation, not sure this will affect SCEA in any way though
Comments
Any mmo worth its salt should be like a good prostitute when it comes to its game world- One hell of a faker, and a damn good shaker!
Same reason blizzards parent company let them buy themselves out. They needed capital. Sony as a company is losing billions the electronics division is killing the company.
Indy means not corp owned, they are independent. Not sure if I would call an investment group Indy unless its just a few guys with to much money lol. I really cant wait to see how this impacts things. BioWare feel and flavor changed when EA bought them. Any company owned by someone new changes the feel of it. As they do end up getting some say or full control. Being a huge fan of SoE because of how they run things. Like All Access for 15 bucks a month. I hope things like that dont change. I hope like EA they dont make DBG rush to put out games before they are done as finished games. So much is in the air you cant even guess whats in store. Things like NCsoft shutting down CoH comes to mind.
I don't think so.
I suspected this was happening as SOE was sorta sandbagging Sony for the last couple years. I thought they were intentionally making the investment look unattractive so the employees could buy out majority shares. Then, when people here were saying SOE would fold, I knew their i.p.s had intrinsic value and rather than dumpster it all, they'd sell it.
I agree also what people are saying here, now it's likely in the hands of investors even more into chasing profit, if that's possible. Unless the primary shareholders of Columbus Nova have some heart of gold or a really rare interest in developing entertainment "for the sake of the game", yeh, I think we'll see more of a primarily monetized formula than one aimed at fun for the customer. Very likely chance, I'd say.
It says something else, though. It says tech investors think EQN is worth investment, not a bunch of hollow promises to the public. I'll still likely be getting on board if there's offered a $15ish/month sub. I still really think the concept is innovative and they're trying hard to bring something different.
Yes, I think Smedley's done, too. He'll take a 2 or 3 mil severance and they'll replace him with a better "pr face".
Hm I wonder for what this new company is known for? Sony at least was a gaming company, so one would expect a certain understanding for gaming. But an invesment company doesn't really sound comforting for the needs and wishes of gamers. Hmmm. Very weird. Despite it all, I gonna miss the old SOE brand.
No seriously.
People don't ask questions to get answers - they ask questions to show how smart they are. - Dogbert
http://www.polygon.com/2015/2/2/7963995/sony-online-entertainment-sold-off-by-sony-renamed-daybreak-game
Columbus Nova Technology Partners' portfolio includes digital music service Rhapsody, video chat service Rabbit, online service marketplace Fiverr and more.
EQ2 fan sites
Right, this investment company really looks "Indie" lol
http://www.cntp.com/
I have been though a few of these and the CEO of the division was the one who spearheaded the process usually to keep the parent company from just folding the division. If he was smart he took great pains to foster that relationship with the new company. I have seen really bad CEO's (like criminal fraud bad) end up in charge of more people in the new company after these kinds of buyouts than before as the investment company consolidates a bunch of small companies together under the newly bought company.
I wouldn't write him off just yet.
on his twitter - he's president of the new company
https://twitter.com/j_smedley
EQ2 fan sites
http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2015/02/02/sony-online-entertainment-sold-to-investment-firm-now-daybreak-game-company/
QUOTE PLS READ
“Sony Online Entertainment, newly rebranded as Daybreak, is a great addition to our existing portfolio of technology, media and entertainment focused companies. We see tremendous opportunities for growth with the expansion of the company’s game portfolio through multi-platform offerings as well as an exciting portfolio of new quality games,” said Jason Epstein, Senior Partner of Columbus Nova, in a press release. “The recent Early Access launch success of H1Z1 is just one testament to the talent and dedication of the studio’s developers to create great online gaming experiences.”
SOE president John Smedley will remain president at Daybreak.
“We are excited to join Columbus Nova’s impressive roster of companies. They have a proven track record in similar and related industries and we are eager to move forward to see how we can push the boundaries of online gaming,” Smedley said in a statement. “We will continue to focus on delivering exceptional games to players around the world, as well as bringing our portfolio to new platforms, fully embracing the multi-platform world in which we all live.”
RIP Ribbitribbitt you are missed, kid.
Currently Playing EVE, ESO
Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and not clothed.
Dwight D Eisenhower
My optimism wears heavy boots and is loud.
Henry Rollins
Cntp is also the primary holder of COMCOR, Russia's telecommunications company.
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20040830005693/en/Moscow-CableCom-Corp.-Signs-Definitive-Agreements-Columbus#.VM_KPy6RyCg
Almost all mobile-based companies
RIP EQ Next
Never - Never
Forever vaporware
15 billion in assets but Indy stands for independent. Are they?
Sony cutting their losses? Time will tell if it was the right move. Wonder if any of the new games in development will get cut.
I dunno. Maybe they're taking on Daybreak as a "pet project". He he. We can only dream.
You don't acquire an IP to dump it, though. Not vaporware.
And its not link buying a car factory where you can sell it for parts and gut it to make money. The quote I posted above seems to me they are in expanding mode. Unless they lying lol.
They will be looking to make it as profitable as possible, which will inevitably mean that some games will either be 'sold off' or shut down, until a 'core' of profitable games remain, something that SOE might not have been able to do all that easily themselves, but now becomes possible since the company has now changed hands. That there is likely to be a certain amount of internal 'restructuring' is also inevitable, no doubt more than a few people have already dusted off their C.V's in readiness.
But yes, it looks increasingly like SOE was a division of Sony that was incurring losses, that Sony has been shedding such divisions recently of which SOE seems to be just the more recent one, probably attests to the severity of the situation, not sure this will affect SCEA in any way though