City of Heros MMO is shutting down

[AmbrosiaWriter]

Might want to read this to get a better idea of what is actually going on with this game:

http://unsubject.wordpress.com/2012/...e-world-event/

Side Note: It can be argued that f2p was the final blow to the game, because it took a lot of resources and investment to turn the game into an F2P model - an investment that was not returned.

[Gravekeeper]

NCSoft is terrible really. Especially when it comes to a F2P model. They'll keep an MMO on sub for as long as its obscenely profitable, then turn it around to a cash grab F2P model when it isn't. Then let it slowly die off.

I'm surprised they claimed they couldn't sell off the IP. CoH's IP is definately worth something and its a game that could easily be revived and modernized with a modestly sized dev team. I assume they wanted an obscene amount of money for it and wouldn't settle for less.

NCSoft can't get a good return on F2P because they're awful at providing anything worth buying. Typically aiming for pay to win items. Guild Wars 2 is going down in flames because of their bullshit.

[AmbrosiaWriter]

Typically aiming for pay to win items. Guild Wars 2 is going down in flames because of their bullshit.

Uhm. There are no "buy-to-win" items in the GW2 item shop. Not one. There are some experience/karma/magic find boosters, but those really aren't "Buy-to-win" items. Especially since you can get experience and magic find boosts through in game items as well, cooking/items have +magic find.

Also, since you can trade in game currency for the gems to buy from the cash shop, it's entirely possible to not spend a single dime on that game past the initial purchase price. (I got my bank slot expansions through trading gold for gems.) They still make money off this though, because someone had to buy the gems in the first place in order for them to sell them.

[Arcus]

I'm surprised they claimed they couldn't sell off the IP. CoH's IP is definately worth something and its a game that could easily be revived and modernized with a modestly sized dev team. I assume they wanted an obscene amount of money for it and wouldn't settle for less.

The funny thing is that the head of the studio that was running the game (and was fired by NCSoft the day the announced the shutdown) had investors lined up to buy the game. They failed. Other companies that were interested in buying were flat out ignored. Due to NDAs, we don't know why the first group failed, but there were hints that NCSoft wouldn't take any offer.

As for the game not making money, if that were the case, why would the people who know most about it, and how much it was bringing in try to buy it? If it was dead, they would be happy to run away

[lordlundar]

What they did see was new fluff type things in the store that had no real use other than to be fun.

At first you are right, then they implemented purple enhancements that could be purchased int he store, then started to put in boosters and enhances that went above anything that could be attained in game in the store. Add to that mess a number of the new powersets being put out were not balanced right and were more powerful than otherwise accessible ones.

They did start off well enough, but over time went pay-to-win which is something you NEVER want to do.

As for the profit levels, at best they were holding steady, not increasing in profits like expected. This was because while current subscribers and premium players were essentially paying more per person (a lot of the stuff being released could only be purchased regardless of what payment tier you were in which was another issue) they were losing a lot of players over their changing business model which was offsetting the gains they were making.

I'm not absolving NCSoft of their involvement in this mess as they outright lied in their claims that no one wanted the property, but I'm not claiming Paragon was innocent either. They made a lot of changes, not a lot of them beneficial from a sustainable business standpoint and unless they changed direction rapidly, this was the only outcome.

[Gravekeeper]

Uhm. There are no "buy-to-win" items in the GW2 item shop. Not one. There are some experience/karma/magic find boosters, but those really aren't "Buy-to-win" items. Especially since you can get experience and magic find boosts through in game items as well, cooking/items have +magic find.

I did say "Typically". -.- It was more a problem in games like Aion.

Though GW2's bullshit isn't much better. Pay for more exp, better chance at finding loot, more karma, etc etc. Then you have the gambling aspect with the Black Lion chests. The Halloween event was a despicable cash grab in that respect. Then they did a 180 on their design philosophy and added a gear grind. Seems to be a lot of internal conflict at Arena Net now, stemming from the NCSoft overlords and their "monetization producer". Which is her actual job title. >.>

I asked for a refund after the Lost Shores fiasco. They gave me one same day, on a Sunday, within 5 hours. On a game I had bought 3 months prior. They know they're in trouble. The awful communication and weasel speak with the community isn't helping either.