Originally posted by Leon1e And what about the Playstation :O Wasn't it a part of SoE's portfolio :O The whole PSN network and whatnot. Or its a brand on its own?
They aren't the same. Playstation Network accounts (now official called Sony Entertainment Network accounts, although the old name is still used), are used on Playstation consoles that support the Playstation Network (PS3, PSP, PS Vita), this web site, and devices that support access to Sony Entertainment Network services such as Music Unlimited and Video Unlimited.
These services are all managed by Sony Network Entertainment.
Sony Station accounts are for online games that are run by Sony Online Entertainment (SOE), which is a different division of Sony.
This must have happened real fast cause I can't seem to find Daybreak Game Company website.
And the SOE logo is still on the their home page.
I could just see in the next few months we are going to be getting messages like this from DayBreak GAme Co.
Dear Online Players,
It is with sadness that I share the unfortunate news that we have mutually agreed with our partners to sunset all of our Online MMOs on July 31, 2015. The opportunity to bring a new hardcore fantasy MMORPG based on the franchises to players across North America and Europe was a great honor, and we’ve had some fantastic battles and experiences together.
We will provide details on upcoming sunset activities soon, but wanted to alert you of the sunset now so you could maximize your experiences during the remaining time left in the games.
For current Online members, we will be not refunding you. So F#^$ Off!
This kind of helps explain an interesting email that I recieved on Jan 22 of this year titled PSN, Qriocity, and SOE customers - Eligibility for settlement benefits . Interesting indeed.
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.
I think they're more interested in H1Z1 and Planetside 2 honestly.
=-) H1Z1 and PS2 share a lot of tech with EQN. But EQN also has Storybricks and Voxel Farms Tech that could change how we game. Even if they dont care about EQN I am sure they want that tech. EQN could change how we game. I really hope their new owners keep their word and leave Daybreak as independent. If they really become Indy, this could really blow the roof off this place.
EQN isnt going to change anything. Voxel farm is hardly even a player in the voxel scene anymore as more and more games are making their own engine ( being passed by IMO ). And Storybricks is just an easier way for devs to link multiple scripts and outcomes to an object / NPC or whatever you want. It doesnt makes AI think for themselves.
Landmark IMO will be cancelled.
H1Z1 will get even more absurd cash shop items.
EQN will go into early access around July / August and also have and absurd cash shop right off the bat.
PS2 will release on PS4 and then be ported for XOne at some point.
An investment company is basically going to try to milk everything they can and if they dont get enough they will start cutting people and games.
Wow! I didn't see this coming. Looks like Sony wants out of the game business. I wonder what happens to Naughty Dog? I guess I shouldn't be surprised, Sony has been focused on a post-PC world as of late (phones and crap), selling their PC business as well as breaking off their TV division.
Divesting themselves of SOE would make sense in that sense, as the MMO space just isn't what it was. They ruled the roost during Everquest's heyday but that was years ago and SOE hasn't exactly been hitting it out of the park as of late.
I hope Daybreak does OK. I'm looking forward to EQ Next but if history is to believed, it will be a leaner more profit-focused team that delivers that game. Columbus Nova is going to want their cash back.
A company doesn't sell an asset if the leadership of that company is wildly optimistic about the massive returns that asset is going to deliver to the bottom line in the short term. With that said, Sony is clearly trimming its portfolio and refining their focus so who really knows. If the Sony masters have lost faith, change might be very good for the studio.
Columbus Nova doesn't have an expertise in games. The company manages about $15 billion in assets spread across, venture capital/growth, corporate credit, real estate and private equity. That could go either way with them staying out of the day to day management of Daybreak or with them pushing hard for returns. It remains to be seen.
Gaming is my hobby and I want game companies to be successful so they will continue to produce games. Let's hope this is the great thing to ever happen for Daybreak and EQ Next becomes the next best thing..
Sadly I had written off EQN already due to EQL having the worst combat I've ever seen for a psuedo mmo even. The starship reticle taking up the middle of the screen is just not something I want unless I'm actually in a , starfighter.
Anyway my guess is they push freemium , cash shop driven pseudo mmo's , with expansions into the luctrative mobile market.
$$$ in other words the venture firms knows where they are.
For pc gamers ? Likely a net loss overall as I think it will be SOE's lesser focus in the years to come.
Originally posted by mbojan75 Sooo...Vanguard is coming back?
HAD TO DO IT, HAD TO!
Actually I hope to see that happen too, but I'm after as long as smedley the asshole is around, we wont.
I think this is where all SoE fans stand. What games if any will die and will any be brought back. Sony may have impacted Vanguard being shut down for all we know.
I would love if they put up another Vanguard server. Even as is, its a really good game IMO. A brand new server where everyone has a fresh start would be great!
This does not sound like good news. One can't help but think that an "investment company" will be putting pressure on the revenue streams, and that raises the spectre of a heavy Cash Shop focus.
My first thoughts were that SOE must not be doing well for Sony to let them go. But at the same time I don't think an investment group like this would buy it unless there was something there.
Nothing will change if they do not cut ties with Smedly. He is the one who has destroyed everything. Lies and completely ignores the community. Can't be profitable if you continuously ignore the ones with the money. He is an idiot.
Viacom has sold the Rock Band creator to an investment firm called Columbus Nova, it said Thursday. The New York-based Columbus Nova manages over $10 billion in assets worldwide, using what it calls “a value-oriented, long-term view to investing.” Harmonix will now be owned by Harmonix-SBE Holdings LLC, an affiliate company.
Some more information found on Wikipedia then:
"This sale returned Harmonix to its origins as an independent developer. The resulting sale did not affect present or future support plans for Harmonix' games; Harmonix retained the intellectual property rights for Rock Band and Dance Central in the sale', allowing Harmonix Music Systems to continue to develop these series. Good
[...]
Following the purchase, Harmonix underwent a restructuring in February 2011, laying off about 12-15% of the 240-person staff.
Shortly after this, Activision announced it was shuttering its Guitar Hero division and cancelling planned games for 2011, which many journalists considered to mark the end of the rhythm game genre; Harmonix's Director of Communications, John Drake, in response to this closure, called the news "discouraging", but affirmed that Harmonix will continue to invest itself in further Rock Band and Dance Central developments for the foreseeable future. bad"
Approximately 6 to 9 months after its sale from Viacom, Harmonix started to grow again, boosted by sales of Dance Central which led to the development of its sequel Dance Central 2 in late 2011.[39] By mid-2011, the company began developing new IP in both the mobile and social game markets, and began rehiring to aid in the development of these games.[39] Continued support of the Rock Band franchise has remained a "meaningful source of profitability" to Harmonix through 2011, according to Rigopulos.[39]Bloomberg then projected that Harmonix would post $100 million in profit in 2011, based on sales of Dance Central and continued downloadable content for the game.[40]
At the onset of the 2013 E3 conference, Harmonix announced that its next title would be the Kinect-enabled Fantasia: Music Evolved produced in association with Disney Interactive. The game is based around the animated film Fantasia, and puts the player in control of music in a manner similar to Harmonix' previous rhythm games, affecting the virtual environment and interactive objects within it. The game is based on licensed contemporary rock music such as Queen and Bruno Mars.[41]
In February 2014, Harmonix announced a new title, Chroma, co developed with Hidden Path Entertainment, which combines their music genre experience with first-person shooters. The player's actions are timed to the music in the game, influencing their effect with certain actions like gunfire, grenade explosions, and team healing. Chroma is planned for release in late 2014 on Microsoft Windows systems via Steam.[42]
In May 2014, along with about 37 layoffs, Alex Rigopolous stepped aside from CEO to become the company's chief creative officer, while Steve Janiak would take over as CEO.[43]
They have actually done very well with Harmonix, and have given them a lot of freedom to succeed. If they do the same for SOE/Daybreak this will be very good. SOE is development/service company. They products that they make/operate can only be fully utilized if they are spread across multiple platforms, and across multiple regions/languages. I suspect this is what Smedley was able to use to sell the new owners on the company (i.e. our products can make more money with little effort if we are allowed to publish on other platforms). There will likely be some small (10%) restructuring immediately, but they may actually start hiring fairly quickly, and may grow aggressively in the next year.
The cynical in me thinks (and agrees) that while SOE embraced Free to Play, SONY didnt want it plaguing their business. However, this is also bad news because now EQN's future looks uglier with an investment (non-gaming) company making the top decisions.
Originally posted by nilden Has nobody asked what seems to be the most relevant question here? How much did Sony sell SOE for? What was the price?
That actually matters a lot. If they sold it for $1 plus assumption of current contracts, there might be shenanigans that could make that profitable for the buyer to do that and destroy the company. If they paid $300 million for SOE, immediately running it into the ground isn't going to be profitable for the buyer and you absolutely have to have a longer term plan to make a lot of money.
"Sony partially credited its increase in sales to the launch of the PlayStation 4 last November. However, its game division still lost $78 million, in part due to the cost of launching the new console hardware, but mainly as a result of a $60 million write-off from poor sales of Sony Online Entertainment software.
How does Smedley keep his job?
"Sean (Murray) saying MP will be in the game is not remotely close to evidence that at the point of purchase people thought there was MP in the game." - SEANMCAD
I don't know to feel about this. I only hope this Columbus Nova firm holds at least the same values and ideals that Sony did.
The game industry can be a very unstable, volatile market. New interests / leadership can drastically alter the course of a game. One minute a game company can be on top, the next minute it can sink faster than the titanic.
Comments
brand of its own
explained in a post from 2 years ago
http://community.us.playstation.com/t5/PlayStation-Network-Support/Sony-Station-account-vs-Sony-Playstation-Network-account/td-p/39509417
They aren't the same. Playstation Network accounts (now official called Sony Entertainment Network accounts, although the old name is still used), are used on Playstation consoles that support the Playstation Network (PS3, PSP, PS Vita), this web site, and devices that support access to Sony Entertainment Network services such as Music Unlimited and Video Unlimited.
These services are all managed by Sony Network Entertainment.
Sony Station accounts are for online games that are run by Sony Online Entertainment (SOE), which is a different division of Sony.
EQ2 fan sites
They didnt fire Smed? Call in the Bobs !!!!
This must have happened real fast cause I can't seem to find Daybreak Game Company website.
And the SOE logo is still on the their home page.
I could just see in the next few months we are going to be getting messages like this from DayBreak GAme Co.
Dear Online Players,
It is with sadness that I share the unfortunate news that we have mutually agreed with our partners to sunset all of our Online MMOs on July 31, 2015. The opportunity to bring a new hardcore fantasy MMORPG based on the franchises to players across North America and Europe was a great honor, and we’ve had some fantastic battles and experiences together.
We will provide details on upcoming sunset activities soon, but wanted to alert you of the sunset now so you could maximize your experiences during the remaining time left in the games.
For current Online members, we will be not refunding you. So F#^$ Off!
For more information, visit the FAQ
Thank you again,
Daybreak Game Co.
This kind of helps explain an interesting email that I recieved on Jan 22 of this year titled PSN, Qriocity, and SOE customers - Eligibility for settlement benefits . Interesting indeed.
EQN isnt going to change anything. Voxel farm is hardly even a player in the voxel scene anymore as more and more games are making their own engine ( being passed by IMO ). And Storybricks is just an easier way for devs to link multiple scripts and outcomes to an object / NPC or whatever you want. It doesnt makes AI think for themselves.
Landmark IMO will be cancelled.
H1Z1 will get even more absurd cash shop items.
EQN will go into early access around July / August and also have and absurd cash shop right off the bat.
PS2 will release on PS4 and then be ported for XOne at some point.
An investment company is basically going to try to milk everything they can and if they dont get enough they will start cutting people and games.
Wow! I didn't see this coming. Looks like Sony wants out of the game business. I wonder what happens to Naughty Dog? I guess I shouldn't be surprised, Sony has been focused on a post-PC world as of late (phones and crap), selling their PC business as well as breaking off their TV division.
Divesting themselves of SOE would make sense in that sense, as the MMO space just isn't what it was. They ruled the roost during Everquest's heyday but that was years ago and SOE hasn't exactly been hitting it out of the park as of late.
I hope Daybreak does OK. I'm looking forward to EQ Next but if history is to believed, it will be a leaner more profit-focused team that delivers that game. Columbus Nova is going to want their cash back.
A company doesn't sell an asset if the leadership of that company is wildly optimistic about the massive returns that asset is going to deliver to the bottom line in the short term. With that said, Sony is clearly trimming its portfolio and refining their focus so who really knows. If the Sony masters have lost faith, change might be very good for the studio.
Columbus Nova doesn't have an expertise in games. The company manages about $15 billion in assets spread across, venture capital/growth, corporate credit, real estate and private equity. That could go either way with them staying out of the day to day management of Daybreak or with them pushing hard for returns. It remains to be seen.
Gaming is my hobby and I want game companies to be successful so they will continue to produce games. Let's hope this is the great thing to ever happen for Daybreak and EQ Next becomes the next best thing..
Seaspite
Playing ESO on my X-Box
Sadly I had written off EQN already due to EQL having the worst combat I've ever seen for a psuedo mmo even. The starship reticle taking up the middle of the screen is just not something I want unless I'm actually in a , starfighter.
Anyway my guess is they push freemium , cash shop driven pseudo mmo's , with expansions into the luctrative mobile market.
$$$ in other words the venture firms knows where they are.
For pc gamers ? Likely a net loss overall as I think it will be SOE's lesser focus in the years to come.
I would love if they put up another Vanguard server. Even as is, its a really good game IMO. A brand new server where everyone has a fresh start would be great!
This does not sound like good news. One can't help but think that an "investment company" will be putting pressure on the revenue streams, and that raises the spectre of a heavy Cash Shop focus.
Time will tell...
Another player moves from MMORPGs.
AAA production and mainstream ambition in this genre are really dead men walking.
Thank god.
I hope Landmark gets canceled. What a waste of game....
Proud MMORPG.com member since March 2004! Make PvE GREAT Again!
Nah, but SWG pre-NGE will.
"classification of games into MMOs is not by rational reasoning" - nariusseldon
Love Minecraft. And check out my Youtube channel OhCanadaGamer
Try a MUD today at http://www.mudconnect.com/Perfect new name for games tied to Sony.
Daybreak Games, cause SOE..."Dey Break" Games.
This indeed.
You left out some very pertinent parts:
As an independent developer[edit]
Approximately 6 to 9 months after its sale from Viacom, Harmonix started to grow again, boosted by sales of Dance Central which led to the development of its sequel Dance Central 2 in late 2011.[39] By mid-2011, the company began developing new IP in both the mobile and social game markets, and began rehiring to aid in the development of these games.[39] Continued support of the Rock Band franchise has remained a "meaningful source of profitability" to Harmonix through 2011, according to Rigopulos.[39] Bloomberg then projected that Harmonix would post $100 million in profit in 2011, based on sales of Dance Central and continued downloadable content for the game.[40]
At the onset of the 2013 E3 conference, Harmonix announced that its next title would be the Kinect-enabled Fantasia: Music Evolved produced in association with Disney Interactive. The game is based around the animated film Fantasia, and puts the player in control of music in a manner similar to Harmonix' previous rhythm games, affecting the virtual environment and interactive objects within it. The game is based on licensed contemporary rock music such as Queen and Bruno Mars.[41]
In February 2014, Harmonix announced a new title, Chroma, co developed with Hidden Path Entertainment, which combines their music genre experience with first-person shooters. The player's actions are timed to the music in the game, influencing their effect with certain actions like gunfire, grenade explosions, and team healing. Chroma is planned for release in late 2014 on Microsoft Windows systems via Steam.[42]
In May 2014, along with about 37 layoffs, Alex Rigopolous stepped aside from CEO to become the company's chief creative officer, while Steve Janiak would take over as CEO.[43]
They have actually done very well with Harmonix, and have given them a lot of freedom to succeed. If they do the same for SOE/Daybreak this will be very good. SOE is development/service company. They products that they make/operate can only be fully utilized if they are spread across multiple platforms, and across multiple regions/languages. I suspect this is what Smedley was able to use to sell the new owners on the company (i.e. our products can make more money with little effort if we are allowed to publish on other platforms). There will likely be some small (10%) restructuring immediately, but they may actually start hiring fairly quickly, and may grow aggressively in the next year.
and there goes EQN, like a fart in the wind....
The cynical in me thinks (and agrees) that while SOE embraced Free to Play, SONY didnt want it plaguing their business. However, this is also bad news because now EQN's future looks uglier with an investment (non-gaming) company making the top decisions.
Good luck to the EQN team.
That actually matters a lot. If they sold it for $1 plus assumption of current contracts, there might be shenanigans that could make that profitable for the buyer to do that and destroy the company. If they paid $300 million for SOE, immediately running it into the ground isn't going to be profitable for the buyer and you absolutely have to have a longer term plan to make a lot of money.
How does Smedley keep his job?
I don't know to feel about this. I only hope this Columbus Nova firm holds at least the same values and ideals that Sony did.
The game industry can be a very unstable, volatile market. New interests / leadership can drastically alter the course of a game. One minute a game company can be on top, the next minute it can sink faster than the titanic.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Defunct_video_game_companies