Quote:
Originally Posted by Eomer  Oh I agree that they'd have some influence. But the point is, SGO owns the rights to VG and it's development, and SOE is simply a publisher. They don't swing nearly as big of a hammer as they would in a more typical developer/publisher relationship. Basically, SOE can't issue an ultimatum to SGO about a design decision and expect them to follow through automatically, because SGO could just pick up their ball and leave. |
I don't think SOE is simply a publisher, with regards to Vanguard or with regards to any game they are involved in, to believe otherwise is kind of silly. I firmly believe that SOE can and does issue ultimatums, not only to SGO, but to any and all games that are currently in their "stable". I would say those umtimatums are probably more "general" in aspect, rather then "specific" with an example being more like this :
"Hey Sigil, your shit is tedious and not fun, lets get on the ball here"
rather then
"We noticed that the warriors were mitigating damage from the rear arc at levels that are unacceptable to us, please alter this calculation and get back to us".
You mention SGO will take their game and go elsewhere, and I submit to you, with all sincerity that the SGO + SOE partnership was really more like SGO washing up on the SOE as savior shore.
I really, REALLY doubt when SGO announced that the MS partnership was ending, that all or even any of the game publishing houses were kicking down Brad's door wanting to throw money at him- think about it, if Microsoft (who has just about the deepest pockets in existance) says "fuck this noise, I am out" what kind of message does that send to other publishers ?
I don't think there is anywhere else they can go, they are backed into the corner here, or we wouldnt be seeing all these major sweeping style changes so late in the game.
