SOE to own VG - Sigil fires employees

[woqqqa]

Originally Posted by Valderen

It's lack of capital in the sense that Brad wanted to make a game that required far more then 30 millions to make. It's becomes mismanagement when you still try to make a 70 millions game with only 30 millions.

Well to be honest, if he'd gone with a less detailed graphics engine, he likely could've done most of what he wanted (flying cities and all) for the amount of cash he had.

[Witoubo]

Yeah like I said, minor point and I wasn't trying to claim "WoW did it first". Just that WoW does have a flexible, two target system. It is flexible enough that you could get the same "click on a target, if it is friendly it becomes my focus" behavior you describe Tad. You do have to write macros add-ons but that actually appeals to me (just my style, I like more control of my UI)

I understand there is more built into the defensive target, abilities that affect both defensive and offensive etc. That does sound cool, none of the classes I tried in VG really used it much (rogue, ranger), guess I should have tried a Disc.

Edit:

Originally Posted by Valderen

Properly managed Sigil could have made Vanguard a bit less ambitious, but do it right...and then expand it to their full vision.

Make it small, make it fun, expand it till you run out of money. The Rob Pardo Theory.

[Qhue]

So a bit of a tell-all was posted and then retracted?

[Tabris]

What was the post that has been edited our everywhere now?

[Cascow]

Originally Posted by Twobit Whore

Always. Apparently this bit was editted out.

That seems to me like a good summary of the game as a whole.

There were aspects of the game that were truely fun to play, that made it a game worth playing and something that would (you'd hope) keep people coming back for more.

And then there was the rest...

[The Hiram Key]

Originally Posted by Twobit Whore

Always. Apparently this bit was editted out.

How does Butler escape the hatchet and go on to destroy yet another game ? How does that work ? If Brad was out to lunch for the last 6 months of production before retail, wouldnt that mean Butler was in charge ?

They should both be held accountable, not just Brad. If it's true and he is being picked up by SOE for the new game tba, then it's a sad day for online gaming indeed. Nothing personal Jeff, but the fucking buck has to stop somewhere.

[Brash]

As the article says, "The Axe finally Fell" - Page 26 - Silky Venom

Originally Posted by Originally Posted by DCPunk
This comes from someone operating another affiliate site. I unfortunately cannot reveal the name at this time:

[13:54] XXXX: Well I talked to a developer, he didnt want me to say his name, though.
[13:54] XXXX: But he basically said this was all true
[13:54] XXXX: Brad hasnt shown up to work in like 8 months
[13:55] XXXX: Jeff Butler apologized to them yesterday in the parking lot for the game not being as good as they hoped. he said he'd help them with references and what not for their resumes
[13:55] XXXX: Basically they fired over 60 people yesterday, about 30 will stay on and develop Vanguard at Sigil.
[13:56] XXXX: Since Brad has been gone this guy has been running the show: Our Team
[13:56] XXXX: And apparently the guy is a dumbass
[13:56] DCpunk: So, basically, as soon as SOE became co-publisher, he stopped going in to work
[13:57] XXXX: SOE become copublisher a year ago
[13:57] XXXX: But shortly after I guess, yeah
[13:58] XXXX: Nino and a few others are moving on to SOE to develop this new MMO that hasnt been announced yet
[13:58] XXXX: So is Butler, I'm pretty sure


So, basically, Brad is a quitter. He has, at this point, lost all clout in the gaming community. McQuaid, you should be ashamed of yourself. You don't know how to pull yourself up by the bootstraps when times get tough.

[Laerazi]

Post information, not links, please. Where is everyone getting this information that Nino and Jeff were picked up for SOEs next game?

... nevermind. ~

[BanquozGhost]

The only thing I didn't catch was who the dumbass that's been running the team is. Anyone have that link still?

[Flight]

Originally Posted by Brash

[13:58] XXXX: Nino and a few others are moving on to SOE to develop this new MMO that hasnt been announced yet

Score !

[Twobit Whore]

Originally Posted by BanquozGhost

The only thing I didn't catch was who the dumbass that's been running the team is. Anyone have that link still?

David Gilbert something. A former 3D modeler turned VP.

[Gieve]

Originally Posted by Mad Jacq

At least I no longer look back on EQ with rose colored glasses.

This was key for me, too. Vanguard helped me realize the glory days really wernt glory days. When the nostalgia faded, I guess I really didnt see much reason to keep going.

[Wombat]

Originally Posted by BanquozGhost

...then a greatly diminished role for himself may have been a condition of SOE's involvement.

Actually, I could see it as:
1) SOE still harbors some anger over his leaving and demands in the contract McQuaid have little to do with VG from that point on.
2) McQuaid says "I told you I am never dealing with them again" once the original SOE partnership was signed and essentially stops going into work.
3) Both.

[tad10]

Originally Posted by BanquozGhost

If the timing mentioned in that post is true (Mcquaid dropping out around the time SOE showing up), then a greatly diminished role for himself may have been a condition of SOE's involvement.

But that only makes sense if, at that time, SOE puts in their own guy as lead designer. Who makes a deal which has such a requirement and not at the same time put in your own man to replace them?

With respect to the two sides comment -- certainly at points it felt like Sigil's left hand didn't know what its right hand was doing. And I don't mean minor irritations like making Power Suits require energy for air brake (and monks haven't had energy since beta3) that's the kind of silly oversight that could happen to any game but big stuff like huge disparities in the quality of same-level zones and the aforementioned incredi-nerfs of disciples, monks and bards (and others) and the lack of raiding development despite upping quest xp and double xp weekends ensuring that a good portion of your playerbase is going to hit cap in April or (still one of my wtf moments?) keeping slow travel in Thestra for months but putting teleporters into Qalia early on (which is why my static group spent 90% of our time in Qalia when we leveled).

[Braen]

Nino + Marvel MMO = Awesomeness.