Saga ~ Our Online Roleplaying Family

SagaFamily Commons => OOC/OT => Topic started by: Jasyn on February 02, 2015, 08:44:47 PM

Title: SOE Sold Off by Sony, Becomes Daybreak
Post by: Jasyn on February 02, 2015, 08:44:47 PM
I remember a corpse run in EQ that kept me awake until daybreak...

Here's some interesting news in case you haven't heard yet.

Polygon article (http://www.polygon.com/2015/2/2/7963995/sony-online-entertainment-sold-off-by-sony-renamed-daybreak-game)

Official announcement (https://forums.station.sony.com/soe/index.php?threads/sony-online-entertainment-becomes-daybreak-game-company.11500068269/)

QuoteDear Players, Partners and Friends,

Today, we are pleased to announce that we have been acquired by Columbus Nova, an investment management firm well known for its success with its existing portfolio of technology, media and entertainment focused companies. This means that effective immediately SOE will operate as an independent game development studio where we will continue to focus on creating exceptional online games for players around the world, and now as a multi-platform gaming company. Yes, that means PlayStation and Xbox, mobile and more!

As part of this transition, SOE will now become Daybreak Game Company. This name embodies who we are as an organization, and is a nod to the passion and dedication of our employees and players. It is also representative of our vision to approach each new day as an opportunity to move gaming forward.

So what exactly does this mean for you? It will be business as usual and all SOE games will continue on their current path of development and operation. In fact, we expect to have even more resources available to us as a result of this acquisition. It also means new exciting developments for our existing IP and games as we can now fully embrace the multi-platform world we are living in.

Our games and players are the heart and soul of our organization, and we are committed to maintaining our portfolio of online games and pushing the limits of where we can take online gaming together.

Thank you for your continued support. See you in game!

The Team at Daybreak
Title: Re: SOE Sold Off by Sony, Becomes Daybreak
Post by: Talon on February 02, 2015, 09:06:39 PM
Does that mean we have to rename Qeynos?
Title: Re: SOE Sold Off by Sony, Becomes Daybreak
Post by: Askari on February 02, 2015, 09:39:07 PM
Quote from: Talon on February 02, 2015, 09:06:39 PM
Does that mean we have to rename Qeynos?

Kaerbyad has a decent ring to it...
Title: Re: SOE Sold Off by Sony, Becomes Daybreak
Post by: Pedekele on February 03, 2015, 09:47:10 AM
Kaerbyad!
oh you guys make my day  ;D
Title: Re: SOE Sold Off by Sony, Becomes Daybreak
Post by: Jasyn on February 03, 2015, 04:53:27 PM
I'da preferred a nod to the Verant Interactive days.

*dreams of a sprawling frontier settlement called Interactive Tavern*  :brfm  :brfm  :brfm
Title: Re: SOE Sold Off by Sony, Becomes Daybreak
Post by: Talon on February 03, 2015, 05:17:58 PM
Whenever I think of SOE, I think of SOEmote. That Fae character dislocating his face in EQ2 was just hilarious.

I wonder if that'll come across. I imagine so. But I guess they'll have to call it something else too.

As long as they keep EQN to using keyboards and a mouse, as I'm sure they will, I'll be happy. I've played many a game that was multi-platform and the PC version suffered horribly from needing to accommodate controls accessible by gamepad.

As for the "Interactive Tavern", you perhaps shall have to build that in Landmark, Jasyn.
Title: Re: SOE Sold Off by Sony, Becomes Daybreak
Post by: Jasyn on February 03, 2015, 07:43:47 PM
They can call it DaybreakFace--very close to truth in advertising. *insert "live" studio audience laugh track here*

Hopefully, by the time EQN is ready to see daylight (or just let me give in to the urge to say daybreak again), the controls will be improved over those in Landmark because, honestly, if they aren't, I'd rather wear a Power Glove while shoving a Wii stick through my screen.

I have no intention of rebuilding Qeynos.  I just thought the city of Interactive Tavern was as a more fun anagram name than Evitcaretni Tnarev, which sounds vaguely dark elvish.  One name evokes the promise of a pleasurable beverage for the tongue.  The other evokes the promise of spraining the tongue... not that an old school dark elf couldn't find a way to make something of that...

*fade to black*

Title: Re: SOE Sold Off by Sony, Becomes Daybreak
Post by: Mixxi on February 05, 2015, 04:25:52 PM
Hmmm. I'm not sure what all this means.

EQNext has to be one of the biggest titles on the MMORPG horizon. They'd be crazy to not cash in on all that hype.

But...all the press releases and articles smack of a platform gaming focus.

I'm not sure how it all shakes out.
Title: Re: SOE Sold Off by Sony, Becomes Daybreak
Post by: PinkRose on February 05, 2015, 09:23:52 PM
This does have me concerned.
New management means new goals.
It won't be the same game. But we don't know exactly what game we were getting so it's not all bad news.
Like Mixxi and Talon say, hopefully it stays PC, but I thought from the beginning with the limited attacks it was made for a control pad.
And Jasyn kudos to you for the Power Glove reference. Laughed out Loud over here. Thanks.
Hang in there everyone. Someday we'll all be back in a game together.
Title: Re: SOE Sold Off by Sony, Becomes Daybreak
Post by: Rumze on February 06, 2015, 12:02:19 PM
I always kind of expected it to go to consoles eventually like dc online and planetside 2. And ff14 and now eso on consoles it kinda made sense. Also ff14 on consoles is pretty much the same game to be honest.
Im not worries about consoles - they tend to keep servers separate to boot anyway for pc and consoles.

The big thing is that its still on track - who knows maybe they'll refocus the team and get them chugging along - we shall see.
Title: Re: SOE Sold Off by Sony, Becomes Daybreak
Post by: Askari on February 07, 2015, 11:45:41 AM
The problem I have with consoles is the affect it has on game design.

By the nature of console controllers, you have to keep the number of ability options in-check. There are only so many buttons on a controller, and menus get very cumbersome very fast.

That design restriction usually leads to games that create difficulty by demanding manual dexterity and quick reactions:  circle-strafing while aiming and using a small set of abilities.

That's fine and good. I understand why people dig it. However, it's not my favorite gameplay style for two reasons:

First, my manual dexterity was limited when I was young. After decades of gaming on everything from an Atari 2600 and arcade games up until now... my gimpy, old mouse wrist gets tired fast when I am doing a lot of circle-strafing/aiming.

Second, what keeps me interested in combat is being forced to have a quick mind and make lots of tactical decisions. The epitome of that was probably EQ2, where I might have sixty abilities hotkeyed... some with long cooldowns (so picking your moment was crucial), some were conditional (great against some foe types, not against others), some were combo-specific (great to use with other abilities or with other group members' abilities), some were reactionary (dispells, cures, parries, wake-ups)... et cetera.

I really miss that level of tactical complexity in more recent MMOs that cater towards controller-driven consoles.

One last thing I've noticed is that games targeted at consoles tend to skimp on chat. Since consoles don't necessarily have keyboards and most console-aficionados use headsets, some recent MMOs have used really primitive keyboard chat systems. I consider good keyboard chat systems to be pretty crucial for roleplaying, so that bums me out.
Title: Re: SOE Sold Off by Sony, Becomes Daybreak
Post by: Mixxi on February 07, 2015, 12:23:20 PM
I'm right with you there, Askari. I loved the huge number of skills/abilities I had hotkeyed in EQ2. Each fight could be truly unique.

I can put up with a VERY limited number of skills in a game like GW2 because of the movement requirements of combat. For someone who usually is not a PvP'er, I do love the more PvP-based active movement of GW2 PvE combat.

I'm hoping that the number of old-school types on the development team of EQNext will keep RP-friendly tools available in EQNext, even if they aren't part of the console versions of the games.

And I still have a hard time wrapping my head around why ANYONE would play an MMORPG on a console.
Title: Re: SOE Sold Off by Sony, Becomes Daybreak
Post by: PinkRose on February 07, 2015, 01:39:38 PM
I'm guessing the number is fairly small. But Consoles are a big market so that's where companies are headed, I guess.

Also, I might just ask, did anyone play EverQuest Online Adventures on the PS2?
I did. It was not fun. Precisely because the chat system, it was at best a Single Person MMO.
Title: Re: SOE Sold Off by Sony, Becomes Daybreak
Post by: Mixxi on February 07, 2015, 05:26:51 PM
I don't buy the lure of consoles.

WoW isn't on consoles. League of Legends is not on consoles. Plenty of rumors about them coming to consoles (have been for years), but they seem to be the industry leaders without being on consoles.

I would hope that companies are smart enough to see that they don't have to cripple their games to be successful. They'd have to be blind to think they can't be successful without console presence. All they have to do is look at the most successful games around.
Title: Re: SOE Sold Off by Sony, Becomes Daybreak
Post by: ElektroViking on February 08, 2015, 07:08:46 AM
EQAdventures.
I alpha-ed, Beta-ed, and Launched.
Playstation2 and live for NINE Years.
It was EQ and it worked, well.
Just because its console doesn't 'automatically' mean that its going to require Twitch reflexes.
Personally, i prefer Twitch Combat on my Computer so i can turn up Mouse Sensitivity and 180 twist on a twitch.
My Only issue with Console EQ was the lack of control on the UI and mods were eventually released for that.
We also had fully Functional Chat. With programmable Macros for ease.
Consoles now have Keyboard attachments to your controller.

SOE was the first to put their Award Winning Game to Console.
(not the first Console MMO, but the first to transition their game TOO console. Phantasy Star and Final Fantasy XI were first)

I'll also point out that though game design may seem to be designed for Console. I believe the favor of using the Console Controller is the real consideration. Many folks plug a controller into their Box.  Also not one of my favorite progressions either.

Menu/SubMenu use has also come a long way to making Seemless combat. Witcher2 and Assassin Creeds as an example.
Title: Re: SOE Sold Off by Sony, Becomes Daybreak
Post by: PinkRose on February 08, 2015, 07:45:32 PM
Not surprisingly, ElektroViking and I disagree.
I also alpha and beta'd and subbed for a month (do you still have the cool CDs they sent with the updated versions? Before DLCs.) but I found it very lacking.
I even bought a USB keyboard for my PS2 just to chat but I was unsatisfied with it on a console.
Maybe I am just biased to EQ on the PC, but that's where I think MMORPGs should be.
Title: Re: SOE Sold Off by Sony, Becomes Daybreak
Post by: ElektroViking on February 09, 2015, 08:32:20 AM
with that horrible artwork? like someone stretched the Pic instead of increasing the whole pic.
And we don't 'disagree'. I thought it was crap compared to our PC experiences.

But what i can do is acknowledge its success and relevance in 'Today's' Online Gaming.
9 active years is enough time to fine tune the excellent mechanics they had/have.
Graphic Art was crap in EQA, but Today's console processors are better then the average Gaming Rig.

I've always been a Fan of Technology and Future potential for Development.  This isn't Game Lore.
EQ2 was better then EQ1, in almost every way mechanically.  I would expect to see the same on a Future Console Version. 
This is all based on 'normal' gaming and experiences. Not in regards to our RP and expectations of activity on a RP server.  I do type 70WPM and Console Keyboard about 15WPM

I'll admit my positive experience with EQA began with a negative Experience in EQ1.
When i got accepted into Testing, I was playing on Deity Alliance Server at the time and had just been Corpse Camped by an Opposing Guild. So i lost all my Higher level Monk Gear. I may of Rage Quit a bit to play EQA for a time.  I met Imeriel/Rhaethe & League of Shadows a little more then a year later.
Title: Re: SOE Sold Off by Sony, Becomes Daybreak
Post by: PinkRose on February 09, 2015, 11:33:06 PM
Sorry I misunderstood.
But yes, 9 years of runtime does give some great data.
Great point.
Title: Re: SOE Sold Off by Sony, Becomes Daybreak
Post by: Jhared on February 11, 2015, 01:06:08 PM
http://www.reddit.com/r/EQNext/comments/2vkcs6/david_georgeson_on_twitter_yeah_im_sorry_folks/

Maybe mildly related to this? Not sure what it's about, but people seem to think it's quite bad.
Title: Re: SOE Sold Off by Sony, Becomes Daybreak
Post by: Talon on February 11, 2015, 02:57:49 PM
Quote from: Official Press Release"As part of a strategic decision to rationalize the business, Daybreak Game Company announced today that it will eliminate positions in both its San Diego and Austin studios. This alignment of resources better positions the newly independent studio for future growth opportunities and developments, including delivering on its legacy of making top online games and establishing a solid foundation for future multi-platform success. These reductions will not affect the operation of current games and the company will continue on its mission to partner with its player community to drive the future and push the boundaries of online gaming."

It mentions only current games are safe from disruption. Nothing about games in development.

Polygon Article (http://www.polygon.com/2015/2/11/8020627/layoffs-soe-daybreak-game-company-everquest)

So far, confirmed layoffs include:

David Georgeson
Linda Carlson
Steve Danuser (Moorgard)

Understandably, with the direction head and lore head (I presume from reading) laid off, people are giving up hope for EQN.

I think they need to scrap Landmark and concentrate on EQN. The "everything in Landmark will be a foundation for EQN" stuff has worn thin and it's just taking up time, keeping Landmark functional and balanced each time they progress is slowing it down. What is in Landmark right now would make a really crappy EQN. I, personally, find Landmark far from enjoyable. It was a noble idea but I don't think it's really worked out. They are two completely different games and need to be severed from one another rather than having one relying entirely on the other's production.
Title: Re: SOE Sold Off by Sony, Becomes Daybreak
Post by: Mixxi on February 11, 2015, 03:38:52 PM
Well, damn.  Moorgard, too. And Brasse.

Here's the Reddit thread that's keeping a list of those departing. (Note, Domino will stay.)

http://www.reddit.com/r/EQNext/comments/2vkvji/ventinglayoffs_discussion_thread/ (http://www.reddit.com/r/EQNext/comments/2vkvji/ventinglayoffs_discussion_thread/)

Current list of those apparently leaving (from that Reddit thread):

[–]3lfk1ng 11 points an hour ago*
Let's say our goodbyes and thank these people for their contribution to almost 20 years worth of entertainment!
Dave "Smokejumper" Georgeson (Director of Development for the EverQuest brand, @DaveGeorgeson)
Linda "Brasse" Carlson (Community Manager, @Brasse)
Akil "Lyndro" Hooper (Everquest II developer, @akilh)
Aaron "Gnobrin" Bisnett (Weapon and Armor designer for 12 years, @Gnobrin)
Douglas "Endymion" VanDerveer (Everquest II game designer, @douglastweets)
Annah "Amnerys" Bianchi (Community Manager, @amnerys)
Aimee "Ashlanne" Rekoske (Community Relations Project Manager, @Ashlanne)
Eric "Felgon" Smith (Associate Producer for EverQuest Next and Landmark, @F4Felgon)
Steve "Moorgard" Danuser (Lead Content Designer and Head of Story, @Moorgard)
Tiffany Spence (Social Media, @JustTiffy)
Kyle "Hats" Manchester (Community Manager, @Hats)
Racheal "Afista" McKenny ( Everquest II community Manager, @Afista)
Noah Watkins (Graphic designer, @noahwatkins)
Kelduum Revaan (Programmer for H1Z1, @Kelduum)
Katharine Anderson (Build master for PlanetSide 2, @katharinelilly)
Xander Clauss (Base designer for PlanetSide 2, @XanderClauss)
Taylor Dowell (Systems designer for PlanetSide 2, @Tayradactyl)
Possibly all contracted employees - Not confirmed
Aimee "Ashlanne" Rekoske (Community Relations Project Manager, @Ashlanne)
(source1, source2, source3)
Confirmed safe:
Kander, TTobey, Gninja, Windstalker, Covic, Phatkins, Kaitheel and Domino.
I will update this as more news comes in.
Title: Re: SOE Sold Off by Sony, Becomes Daybreak
Post by: PinkRose on February 11, 2015, 07:27:48 PM
Yikes. It still looks like Core deveolpers of EQNext are still around and this is just removing those positions that Daybreak already has, but that's quite a big list.
This isn't looking promising. But EQN has been kind of lost so maybe this is a good thing.
Title: Re: SOE Sold Off by Sony, Becomes Daybreak
Post by: Mixxi on February 11, 2015, 08:30:28 PM
I think Moorgard is a pretty big deal. The World Lead/Loremaster seems like a pretty important component if this game is going to be as lore-rich as I'd like it to be. We've seen what a game can be like when the lore-masters depart (GW2 and the atrocious Living Story crap of the last year) and how that can turn around when they return (new Living Story developments).

What I saw in this was that, of the EQ people, those who were VERY EQ specific were let go and people who could be put to work on other projects stayed. I hope I'm wrong, but that's what it looks like to me.
Title: Re: SOE Sold Off by Sony, Becomes Daybreak
Post by: Jasyn on February 11, 2015, 09:23:37 PM
When Dave "Smokejumper" Georgeson originally joined EQ2 as the Lead Producer way back when, I understood what his role was.  Then, all of a sudden we had a Director of All Things Everquest.  At that point, I never fully understood what his new role was all about.  EQ & EQ2 coexisted fine under the guidance of their own Production Leads for many years.  While I hate to see anyone lose their job, I'm sorry to say his current role simply screamed redundancy.  I think Terry Michaels should be more than capable doing for EQN what Georgeson used to do for EQ2, plus he's still got Domino at his side (had things gone any other way here, Columbus Nova would be inciting riot).

I love having an engaged lore lead on any project.  It helps with cohesion and continuity.  Moorgard, for me, is to EQN what Vhalen was to EQ2.  I'm disappointed by the move to release him, and won't pretend to understand it, but even after Vhalen moved on from EQ2, Lore survived--it just didn't have as visible a public face anymore, though several devs, including Kaitheel and Domino did a fine job dropping lore nuggets for the community now and again.  Hopefully, someone will be able to step in and take charge, though, because without a Lead, even EQ2 left behind a giant, steaming pile of Lore poop behind in the post-Vhalen era in spite of other Lore successes in said era, so it can be very hit and miss.

The list is very heavy with Community folks who were cut loose.  They don't directly contribute to game development, so I can certainly see an argument for redundancies there (Conspiracy theory: I instantly recognize Moorgard and EQ2's Gnobrin as former Community Managers early in EQ2's lifetime.  Something from their CM pasts come back to haunt them, perhaps?).  However, in my opinion, SOE had one of the best community managers, which attempted to communicate more openly with its players than what I'd seen with other companies, which were downright terrible in certain circumstances, so I'd hate to see them start to suffer there... especially when we need communication now more than ever.  Trion's communication may have been a close second for me, but there were a lot of SOE transplants there, which may explain some similarities I saw with community relations.

We have some design staff being let go from multiple projects, but there seems to be a good number of solid devs still on board with the new company--and honestly, not a particularly huge dent made specifically to EQN's team: 1) I argue Georgeson's role with EQN is just strange since he's diluted across the entire franchise, 2) Moorgard Lead Designer and Lore Dev--I disagree with the decision to let him go, 3) Felgon, Associate Producer that I rarely see anything from, and if you already have Terry Michaels and Domino, what is the need for yet another Producer?

Reddit is incredibly doom and gloom about EQN's future.  I'm going to have to step back and disagree to an extent.  I don't quite hear the same death knell when put into some less histrionic context.  The crying from fandom is loud, but I only see a limited number of things to cry about.  People should have cried louder when Omeed left last year.  I can correlate a slowdown in hype and marketing for EQN after his departure over philosophical differences.

Last week, the thing that worried me most about EQN is the thing that continues to worry me in light of today's news: Timeline.  EQN has been in the works for a long, loong time and doesn't seem to be much closer to becoming reality than it did 2 years ago when the game officially became more than rumor if Landmark alone is to serve as a gauge on progress.  With this in mind, I worry about how much latitude they will continue to be given as an "independent" studio, how much things will become rushed, how many plans get delayed, re-tooled, or scrapped in that rush to an accelerated release.  Hopefully, this is the spark that tightens things up and gets us a quality product within a reasonable project horizon.

This is depressing news, yes.  Is my gut reaction geared to kick into full Chicken Little mode and shout about the falling sky?  Yes.  That's what the Voices in my head are doing at this very moment.  However, if I attempt to look at the situation rationally, I just can't see the new Evil Overlords completely doing away with a potentially huge title that people are prepared to throw money at, but they are perfectly capable at irreparably damaging it.  Since we gamers are fickle, if production is not permitted to proceed with wisdom and measure, we'll be just as quick to take our money away.  The bar is set high, and EQN has a lot of expectations to live up to.  I guess we'll see what more is to come in the days ahead...
Title: Re: SOE Sold Off by Sony, Becomes Daybreak
Post by: PinkRose on February 11, 2015, 09:48:40 PM
I didn't even know Omeed left already.
Here's hoping for the best for all parties involved.
Title: Re: SOE Sold Off by Sony, Becomes Daybreak
Post by: Jasyn on February 11, 2015, 11:20:04 PM
In my blind nerd rage, I just thought of something and will add it to end my thoughts on a more upbeat tick.

As much as I may disagree with Moorgard being laid off, there's a name I still haven't seen, who--if he's still part of the team (and I do hope so)--will leave me some bit of comfort with respect to the lore development of EQN: Bill Trost, co-creator and original lore master of EQ.
Title: Re: SOE Sold Off by Sony, Becomes Daybreak
Post by: Rumze on February 12, 2015, 07:37:16 AM
http://www.reddit.com/r/Planetside/comments/2vm5nl/dont_hate_on_columbus_novadaybreak/

Message from one of the planet side 2 ppl laid off - someone highly regarded.
It seems the company was open with its employees and made sure they were taken care off if they were let go.
Gives me some confidence again
Title: Re: SOE Sold Off by Sony, Becomes Daybreak
Post by: Pedekele on February 12, 2015, 10:29:04 AM
you know people siad stuff like: now that SOE is Daybreak they get more resources, why dont we get any news from them actually hiring people, they didnt even mention that they're looking for people to hire... so fishy...

Also now i wont ever be able to joke about their names... George "Jumpsmoker" Davidson, Dan "Gardmoor" Steveuser... this is my last chance...
Title: Re: SOE Sold Off by Sony, Becomes Daybreak
Post by: Talon on February 12, 2015, 04:43:55 PM
The post Rumze linked, I think, echoes a lot of our own thoughts.

A little bit of re-evaluation and shake-up to get things rolling the right direction. And, hopefully, make some realistic and tangible progress that can be shared with the community and seen so we don't feel we're in limbo any longer.

Crossing fingers. I hear people do that.
Title: Re: SOE Sold Off by Sony, Becomes Daybreak
Post by: Jasyn on February 12, 2015, 10:26:05 PM
Quote from: Pedekele on February 12, 2015, 10:29:04 AM
you know people siad stuff like: now that SOE is Daybreak they get more resources, why dont we get any news from them actually hiring people, they didnt even mention that they're looking for people to hire... so fishy...

That came from the official press release; plenty of public relations spin included at no extra cost (see, we're already conserving resources).  For example, they've since downsized, thus freeing up more monetary resources so Smedley can get a bigger bonus for whatever it is he does (never mind the reduction in manpower resources necessary to produce a game and content for said game).  It's press release magic!  The truth has still not been violated!  Viola!

I still would have expected to see some expansion to fill roles more familiar with development on console platforms, given how eagerly they (Smed in particular) latched onto this aspect.  I guess that could still happen, but it's still too soon.  After all, the second press release, which announced the "realignment of resources" (realigned straight to the unemployment line) touted the action as a way "to better position [their] newly independent studio for future growth" (in order to grow, we are going to do the opposite of that).

Though, I'm not remotely familiar with the Planetside franchise or Dave Carey or the things he's done, I appreciate the honest and thoughtful comments he left in the reddit thread Rumze linked.  I also appreciate the person who posted that "downsizing [does not equal] stopping".  I've been seeing a lot of hyperbolic absolutes being tossed into a reality of greys.  This event doesn't mean the future no longer exists, but it does mean it's time to step back and reassess what that future might look like when we get there.
Title: Re: SOE Sold Off by Sony, Becomes Daybreak
Post by: Jasyn on February 14, 2015, 01:18:10 PM
Quote from: Jasyn on February 11, 2015, 11:20:04 PM
In my blind nerd rage, I just thought of something and will add it to end my thoughts on a more upbeat tick.

As much as I may disagree with Moorgard being laid off, there's a name I still haven't seen, who--if he's still part of the team (and I do hope so)--will leave me some bit of comfort with respect to the lore development of EQN: Bill Trost, co-creator and original lore master of EQ.


Meh.  Nevermind.  I did some research, and it looks like Trost may have quietly departed to go do something else in August of 2014.

#haironfire
#skyisfalling
#loreisdead
#eqnisdead
#goingbacktopinball

Title: Re: SOE Sold Off by Sony, Becomes Daybreak
Post by: Mixxi on February 14, 2015, 03:48:32 PM
You know, even if none of this happened, EQN would still be up in the air. The whole industry hasn't really taken shape in the last decade or so. My son, whose goal three years into college is still game development, and I talk about this a lot. It's brutal out there for game companies. Players have the attention span of a gnat. But then, you also get tremendously successful things like League of Legends and Minecraft, and both of them have atypical trajectories for development.

EQN is being developed pretty much along the old model. I don't even know if developing a game like that even works anymore. LoL essentially started as a battlefield mod for Warcraft III. Minecraft is an indie. I almost wish, instead of trying to develop a new game, they'd approach the project as modding EQ1. I think something like that, while grittier, could have tremendous potential. Both League and Minecraft have shown that staying power goes to the game that is the most fun to play, regardless of graphics beauty and bells and whistles.
Title: Re: SOE Sold Off by Sony, Becomes Daybreak
Post by: PinkRose on February 14, 2015, 03:56:56 PM
Jasyn, There's a cool RPG Pinball game I found a few months back on Steam called 'Rollers of the Realm'.

Title: Re: SOE Sold Off by Sony, Becomes Daybreak
Post by: Jasyn on February 14, 2015, 04:13:51 PM
Quote from: PinkRose on February 14, 2015, 03:56:56 PM
Jasyn, There's a cool RPG Pinball game I found a few months back on Steam called 'Rollers of the Realm'.

I don't care what the other dwarves say about you.  I absolutely heart you for this response, Pinkie.  (But that's between you, me, anyone who reads this thread, and all of the web crawlers out there).
Title: Re: SOE Sold Off by Sony, Becomes Daybreak
Post by: Jasyn on February 14, 2015, 09:58:36 PM
Quick Update from Senior Producer Terry "Fairan" Michaels  (https://forums.station.sony.com/everquestnext/index.php?threads/quick-update-from-senior-producer-terry-fairan-michaels.1166/)

This is from an EQN & Landmark point of view, which is probably a good thing for us to see considering that Saga has been following developments in these arenas.  The thread goes on to revisit the post from the Planetside 2 producer and also includes comments from Smedley as a follow up to an article written by EQ2Wire's Feldon, which reveals that, in addition to Columbus Nova, Perfect World (Star Trek Online, Neverwinter) also extended a buyout offer.
Title: Re: SOE Sold Off by Sony, Becomes Daybreak
Post by: Mixxi on February 15, 2015, 09:09:06 AM
Quote from: Jasyn on February 14, 2015, 09:58:36 PM
which reveals that, in addition to Columbus Nova, Perfect World (Star Trek Online, Neverwinter) also extended a buyout offer.

Well, that explains a mysterious comment from the Planetside guy. He said that Columbus Nova was a white knight. That puzzled me, because I'd never heard that anyone else was trying to buy SOE, and you can't really have a white knight unless you are being saved from being bought by someone you don't want to buy you.

Title: Re: SOE Sold Off by Sony, Becomes Daybreak
Post by: Jasyn on April 27, 2015, 07:40:49 PM
Daybreak Game Company (official shorthand, DGC) officially has a face... erm... or a really menacing eye with a cog wedged in it... I'm inclined to suspect that Smedley posed for this eyeball portrait.  Poke it with a cursor to judge for yourself.

Straight from Smed: Letter to the Community (https://www.daybreakgames.com/news/straight-from-smed-john-smedley-community-letter-april-2015)



Quote from: Smeyelie Smedley
Hello Players, Partners & Friends,

This year has already kicked off to be quite an incredible year for our company – we successfully launched H1Z1 to Steam Early Access, introduced beta testing for the upcoming launch of PlanetSide 2 on the PlayStation 4, and most importantly, became a fully independent game studio (and that was just in the first quarter alone!).

Since we first announced we would become Daybreak Games this past February, we have been burning the midnight oil to quickly and seamlessly transition our game services and sites to reflect our new company name and identity. With that said, we are excited to debut the first chapter of our new story as Daybreak Games by unveiling our new logo as an independent game studio...drum roll, please:


(https://www.daybreakgames.com/web-platform/includes/framework/web-platform/global-brand-bar/images/daybreak-games-logo.jpg?v=3803765457) (https://www.daybreakgames.com/home)

We are so proud of our new company branding as it truly reflects who we are as an organization and captures our vision of approaching each new day as an opportunity to move gaming forward. We are also pleased to announce that we launched our new corporate website today, www.DaybreakGames.com.

To kick off this momentous occasion and help celebrate internally at Daybreak, we are hosting a Celebration Week this week which will include a variety of virtual and IRL activities, daily livestreams, giveaways and more! We encourage everyone to get involved and participate so visit here for more details (https://www.daybreakgames.com/news/daybreak-week-activities-and-events-2015).

Looking ahead, we are happy to announce we will be moving our San Diego headquarters into a new office space this fall so stay tuned for more news on this front! As for our games – it's business as usual, but better than usual – as we have many new exciting developments for our existing IP and games, and other concepts in the pipeline.

Sixteen years ago we introduced the world to the modern MMO with EverQuest, and we can't wait to see what successes the future holds and what we will accomplish together to move gaming and this industry forward.

Thank you for your continued support. Here's to each of you and a game well-played!

Title: Re: SOE Sold Off by Sony, Becomes Daybreak
Post by: PinkRose on April 27, 2015, 08:57:38 PM
I'm beginning to think that Daybreak refers to the Day I Break down and cry because EQN isn't really gonna happen.
Not one word about the flagship product.
Title: Re: SOE Sold Off by Sony, Becomes Daybreak
Post by: Mixxi on April 27, 2015, 09:11:07 PM
Yeah. I noticed that.  :'(
Title: Re: SOE Sold Off by Sony, Becomes Daybreak
Post by: Corsair on April 27, 2015, 10:43:13 PM
/sigh    ???
Title: Re: SOE Sold Off by Sony, Becomes Daybreak
Post by: Jasyn on April 28, 2015, 03:50:20 PM
Quote from: Something not really said by SmedleyDoubt me too loudly, and I will shoot my Daybreak Eyebeams of Death at you! (Coming to you soon for the low, low cost of Daybreak Cash!)"

(https://assets-cdn.soe.com/uploads/dcsclient/000/000/086/86401/23121.jpg?v=1.0)
Title: Re: SOE Sold Off by Sony, Becomes Daybreak
Post by: Jasyn on April 28, 2015, 04:04:20 PM
Quote from: Jasyn on April 28, 2015, 03:50:20 PM
Quote from: Something not really said by SmedleyDoubt me too loudly, and I will shoot my Daybreak Eyebeams of Death at you! (Coming to you soon for the low, low cost of Daybreak Cash!)"

(https://assets-cdn.soe.com/uploads/dcsclient/000/000/086/86401/23121.jpg?v=1.0)



Wait a minute... I think I figured out what happened to Wiffle's stolen cloning experiment.  Obviously, the ears were the greatest challenge.

(http://sagafamily.org/gallery/18_03_03_13_11_07_44.jpeg)
Title: Re: SOE Sold Off by Sony, Becomes Daybreak
Post by: PinkRose on April 28, 2015, 09:29:28 PM
CHatted a bit with Catadidadestebud today.
She seems happy and hopeful at DayBreak.
So, that's good for something at least.
Title: Re: SOE Sold Off by Sony, Becomes Daybreak
Post by: Jasyn on April 29, 2015, 07:34:34 PM
Catadidadestebud will make it all happen!  :smitten: