Okay not sure what to say. Should each letter be unique?
Wow. You weren't kidding when you said it was a long shot.
Welp you can count on letters from at least me and my eleven year old.
I'd honestly rather see Disney own it and trust them more than any other company I can think of, but I worry with the Marvel MMO coming out, they might feel like this base is covered. I can see pitching to them how interesting City of Heroes movies could be, though, and there could be tons of merchandising to be had in addition to the Marvel stuff. This is a very different sort of MMO as well.
I'd honestly rather see Disney own it and trust them more than any other company I can think of, but I worry with the Marvel MMO coming out, they might feel like this base is covered.
We covered the Marvel games (there are two) in the pitch package. Marvel Heroes is based on the Diablo engine and is geared more towards solo and PvP. Marvel Arena features players pitting signature Marvel heroes against each other, Arcade style. Neither covers the family-friendly, community-building game the way City does. Neither will offer the rich character generator, nor the base builder.
31 pages. I really think we thought of every single objection and gave good arguments against them.
It would be just another universe that they own, kind of like how DC, Vertigo, Impact, WildStorm, and a bunch of other companies are all part of the same conglomerate, though they span a bunch of vastly different universes.
We are asking you to put "SaveCoH" in the address, because we want the mail clerks to be able to sort out our letters quickly. We want them to see the ever-increasing pile, but in a way that helps the clerks do their jobs too.
Gawd, I should've mass-produced SaveCoH envelope stickers.
It would be just another universe that they own, kind of like how DC, Vertigo, Impact, WildStorm, and a bunch of other companies are all part of the same conglomerate, though they span a bunch of vastly different universes.
Can you say Back Ally Brawler teaming up with Sora and Riku?
... I am such a nerd. Ok ok getting to work
I like Kingdom Hearts but I don't want KH in my CoH :<
Awesome as it would be to have heartless Arachnos running about
^This.
I'm a big fan of uniformity in cases like this, and if the big enchiladas at Disney see the same envelope design over and over, it'll stand out more.
I don't really want Jedi in my CoH
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-KpyOB2AnYig/UF4bk2BzZII/AAAAAAAACCk/BVj8fT-yQl8/SaveCOH_Blue_leaderboard.jpg)
Anyone know who made this? I kinda like it, just needs to be a higher dpi.
If not, I'll try and whip up something tomorrow. Can't believe with all the other logos that got done there was never really one made for the movement itself. *facepalm*
What about the one on the patches?
I found some of the logos, but they are tiny. However, I'm pretty sure I can live trace them in Illustrator and increase the resolution.
Generally, hand-written letters have a more personal feel to them than typewritten ones. If you've got legible handwriting, it's likely the better way to go.
i dont know how i feel about disney taking it over, yes i agree they are more family friendly/kid focused, but idk
i think it would break coh for me if i started seeing disney or star wars characters in coh (well star wars characters semi invaded when they gave us the mecha armor, with the weapons which looked like 85% lightsaber lol)
the way i could see this being good is there would be a LOT less restrictions on copyright stuff, since many things people were copying in the first place are also now owned by disney (ie star wars like above, and DC comic characters) as well as having an actual marketing potential
really mixed feelings on it, as i could see both the good and bad outcomes, although the ultimate thing is i would rather see the game stay alive, even if it must be owned by disney
It belongs to EspionageDB7 and it was only authorized for the patches. And I haven't been able to get ahold of Esp recently. :(
~EspionageDB7 Sep 16, 2012 Hobbyist General Artist
Well I personally am not selling it into shirts or patches and stuff. But I made this for the CoH community. So you have 100% permission from me to do with this as you please. Do whatever you want - you can use Cafepress to make shirt designs of it if you'd like or there's this website: [link] that you can use to make it into a patch if you'd like.
Post it, use it, edit it, whatever - you got my permission to do as you please. :)
How does this fix the problem of being unable to pitch something we don't own?
How does this fix the problem of being unable to pitch something we don't own?Because we are not selling the game.
IF they did anything with cross-marketing, I would expect weekly updates of the theater marquees and billboards in game, and MAYBE Portal mishes across universes, or something like an SSA. Those you could take or leave, and they'd have no particular relevance to the CoH lore.
And this has already occurred in games in general; it's something I could live with if it meant CoH stayed alive. If I had to rampage one of my red-siders through Cap Au and see a Star Wars billboard on a theater sign in lights, I could live with that. It might even be kind of cool.
I will write my letters in the morning when my brain is fully functional again, and my kiddo will get started on hers after school tomorrow (she's actually a very good writer for her age). Would it be helpful for her to include copies of stories she's written about her character (This is how she's dealt with the shutdown. She figures if she can't play her character anymore, she can still write about her.)?
And really, the only thing you have to lose is the price of a couple stamps, and a few bits of paper. So..hell, why not?
I'm not sure what I think about Disney running it either but its way better than losing the city.
I am also sure going to support any and every effort you guys (team wildcard, Titan team, Victoria V) are making. And thanks for trying and working so hard :)
Did the pitch mention the possibility of using the COH characters in things OTHER than the game?
Imagine a Pixar-style version of City of Heroes movie ... or a television series set in the past with Lil Liberty and her Grampa Statesman taking on evil
Uncle Recluse with Lil Liberty trying to make him see the light.
"Aw, Unca Stefan ... you really DON'T wanna blow up Terra Volta, do you?" *Big OL' Puppy eyes.*
:)
But seriously, I do hope the potential of the characters in other venues was listed as part of the pitch...
BUT, and I am sure this is something that you're taking into account, this has to go beyond just the Save CoH and Official Boards. Its late in the game, and a lot of people have given up. You're going to have to pitch this everywhere you can, to anyone who might have strayed and to anyone who might have a sympathetic ear.
I don't really want Jedi in my CoH, but I will deal with it if it lets us keep the game, and provides the posibility of CoH2.
Conspiracy Theory:
Black Pebble has been manipulating us from the shadows in order to bring this about all along.
(https://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y38/eabrace/titan/th_ParagonHalloween.jpg) (http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y38/eabrace/titan/ParagonHalloween.jpg)
Soo.... this is what Stage Two is? Not impressed tbh... already hundreds if not thousands of letters, posts and e-mails have been sent everywhere since 1st September, with no reaction at all... what makes you think there might be something different this time? I do really hope so, I'll spread word in my FB groups and global friends anyway.
Yup. Went there.
(https://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h196/Liliana_Warsaw/disneycoh.jpg)
I'm disappointed it took this long. :roll:
First- Atlantic makes sending letters a bit harder for me poor european, can I target any emails?
Second- I am afraid that Star Wars investition might have taken a toll on disney willingness for futher investtitions at the moment, after all, they have put really big money on the table... and I know Valve responded to fact we have sent quite a lot of emails to them. Is there an update concerning hipotethical price at the second selling?
Third- Marvel probably won't be interested, as there is collosal amount of backstory in CoX colliding with Marvelverse. But Deadpool tf is something my brains deems dream come true.
Fourth- I am tad worried, there may be a lot of editing in Villain arcs, and overall on redside. Quite a bit of content there is something I would consider rough. I am more than willing to support effort now though, worries may be resolved later.
Do we have a deadline for this? I work phenomenally with a deadline, without I procrastinate, I start up CoH and lose track of time and then go 'Well, tomorrow I'll do it...'
Also I recently put to rest my printer and dread the thought of actually writing a letter.
Okay, few words from me here.
First- Atlantic makes sending letters a bit harder for me poor european, can I target any emails
I live in Los Angeles which means anything I mail will get to Burbank in a day. I because burbank is in the Los Angeles County area. So if any folks outside the US want me to print out their letters and mail them in their behalf feel free to send me a PM here or email me at Altoholic DOT Monkey AT gmail.com
I'm on Facebook as Alty Mo and Twitter as well.
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-KpyOB2AnYig/UF4bk2BzZII/AAAAAAAACCk/BVj8fT-yQl8/SaveCOH_Blue_leaderboard.jpg)
Anyone know who made this? I kinda like it, just needs to be a higher dpi.
If not, I'll try and whip up something tomorrow. Can't believe with all the other logos that got done there was never really one made for the movement itself. *facepalm*
We'll burn that bridge when we cross it - not to mention Praetoria is much worse, but we also covered that bit in the pitch. Keep in mind that not everything Disney owns is necessarily "childified" - for example, did you know that Kill Bill was made while Disney owned Miramax?It's also worth pointing out that both Treasure Planet and Atlantis got fairly dark in places. Family-friendly, but still fairly dark -- Lt. Archer falling into a black hole, that really creepy spider-like bosun, more than a few on-screen-if-not-quite-center-screen deaths.... Many of the arcs redside would fit right in with only a modicum of editing. Honestly, the things off the top of my head that would be frowned on by the Mouse would be Silver Mantis ('nuff said,) the Dark Astoria arcs, and a couple of the redside arcs. Some of the Praetorian arcs may be a bit too greyside/ambiguous (which is kind of the point) so I'm not sure which direction Disney would go with that; though.
Disney does dark sometimes. Bambi's Mom, Hell lets look at Scar he Killed his own brother ran the land into the ground and framed his nephew (not to mention had a very Nazi style scene). Tried to kill Simba more then once.
Yeah Disney does Dark. Hell can you Imagine Ghost Widow and Maleficent! I don't know if I should shiver with dread or awl.
Keep in mind that the SW purchase was a massive investment, while CoH is a much smaller and safer business move. Buying CoH might therefore help them show confidence that they can take something as huge as Star Wars in stride and keep moving like it's business as usual. As for how much NCsoft would ask for the game once it's shut down, we don't know - hell, we don't even know if they still want to sell - but if Disney decides it's worth their time, we could liken the situation to a showdown between a schoolyard bully and a PO'd Bruce Banner.
I too am unsure if this has already been addressed or not, but something popped to mind as I was sifting the thread thus far: One positive point to mention in the letters would be about using the IP outside of the MMO. Any company that purchases the CoH IP has a decade of story and in-game history to work with. If they own the IP, all of that would be available for flash games, cartoons, comic books, action figures, board games, novelization, and countless other avenues of merchandising.
Purchasing the IP would provide a ready-made universe (like they got by purchasing Lucasfilms), and any cross-promotion done via other media would likely A) net them money and B) serve to drive a larger population to the MMO. With the success of the Marvel & DC superhero films, this seems like it would be an easy sell, even given an original mythos/universe.
But if anyone has the funds to relaunch CoH it's Disney.
First- Atlantic makes sending letters a bit harder for me poor european, can I target any emails?You can, but don't make the mistake of thinking it is the same.
Anything more beside letters normal user can do?Oh, yes, there certainly is. We are very much hoping that this story is going to be covered by various media. We are obviously counting on the gamer sites being interested, but the sheer audacity and chutzpah of a passionate group of players walking up to the giant Mouse is possibly of wider interest too.
That scene in Pirates of the Caribbean 3? When they're hanging like..a billion pirates, including a little kid, in about 30 seconds? I think more people die in that scene than they do in about a dozen horror flicks.
But does this mean Ghost Widow could be a Disney's First Villain Princess? O.o
Wouldn't that be the first undead Disney Princess? ;)
I'll get going on a letter.
Wouldn't that be the first undead Disney Princess? ;)
I'll get going on a letter.
Wouldn't that be the first undead Disney Princess? ;)
I'll get going on a letter.
That scene in Pirates of the Caribbean 3? When they're hanging like..a billion pirates, including a little kid, in about 30 seconds? I think more people die in that scene than they do in about a dozen horror flicks.
I have the snail mail addy's and am starting to compose letters for that... but any chance we can get email contacts? I think that would be faster and encourage more ppl to get involved for convenience sake... Also , should we make these multi-page affairs or just what would fit on your avg post card???Its convenience and ease we are trying to avoid. The entire point is to show we are prepared to go out of our way, that we are committing our hopes to paper, putting it in an envelope, affixing a stamp we paid for, and posting it.
And, is there an outline for the proposal with the important key-points? Something we can show to the general gaming populous as a FAQ, so we can denounce a lot of the things they're worried about? They're going to eat each other alive on the official forums soon.
Here's one I haven't seen asked, yet:
Should we be sending your agent or Jim Baen rolls of Tums? :)
Well Jim is dead, so you'd have to dissolve the Tums and pour them over his grave.
Actually, neither. At the moment, what I am doing is not conflicting with anything; writing that damn pitch package used a whole different set of mental muscles than writing creatively. I'm also learning some extremely useful skills from Ammon, Rae, and Brian.
And I think everyone understands how important CoH was to keeping me sane. Keep author sane, so author writes good books....
Keep author sane, so author writes good books....Sounds like the literary version of "Happy wife, happy life."
Sounds like the literary version of "Happy wife, happy life."
Well Jim is dead, so you'd have to dissolve the Tums and pour them over his grave.
How much is postage and how cheap could it be? (Depending on area/connections/currency etc)Well, from the UK, the cost for all four was under half the price of one month's subscription that you can't pay to CoH anymore, so redirect that money to good use.
What I really wonder though is this: If supposedly NCSoft's selling price is going to drop quite a bit after CoH closes down, then why can't Brian Clayton and his original backers, or the original titan folks who made offers, or even Valve if they truly did offer to buy CoH originally, go back and make a second offer after CoH closes?
Why does someone totally new have to go in and make a pitch to buy it?
What I really wonder though is this: If supposedly NCSoft's selling price is going to drop quite a bit after CoH closes down, then why can't Brian Clayton and his original backers, or the original titan folks who made offers, or even Valve if they truly did offer to buy CoH originally, go back and make a second offer after CoH closes?
Why does someone totally new have to go in and make a pitch to buy it?
I like Kingdom Hearts but I don't want KH in my CoH :<
Awesome as it would be to have heartless Arachnos running about
... advise us as to what we should/should not put in our letters. We don't want to muck up our chances by accidentally writing the wrong thing.Don't worry. Anything you know is likely to either be public record or comon knowledge, and safe to say.
I believe that pitch has already been made and the answer was "no," but my information could be wrong.
One thing Disney is good at is...
Milking an IP for all it's worth! Think about it they still advertise some of the old movies "Out of the Disney Vault" not to mention the toys and direct to DVD sequels.
That sounded like a cute idea...
(https://images.weserv.nl/?url=wentworthsonline.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F11%2Fstatesmickey.png)
But I don't know if they're ready to see a mashup of CoH with the beloved ears yet.
You know, Disney originally struck me as an odd choice for the game.
Then I remembered that I first picked up a copy of CoH after watching "The Incredibles."
I loved the feel of the movie; it reminded me of the slightly goofy, old-style cheesy and tongue-in-cheek comic book characters of the past. The game let me live that out, and I've made many characters over the years modeled after that style. After realizing this, Disney seems the perfect fit.
Even if Disney feels the need to put their own stamp on the game, and Mr. Incredible gets a statue in Atlas Park, while Frozone becomes a mission contact, I think I could live with that. ;)
Now, that is awesome!!!! Great Job. I hope they can see the potential.Done and Done. I had six greeting cards made and will ship them out one at a time every few days. Each envelope has a number of screenshots included along with a hand written note. Each one in a metallic gold on white velum with each piece of velum in a different shade or texture of white.
I have a friend who's a lead animator at Pixar; he actually consulted with my team on our now-defunct horror MMO project. I don't think he's anywhere near high enough on the totem pole to get any movement on this though.Can't hurt to try.
Even if Disney feels the need to put their own stamp on the game, and Mr. Incredible gets a statue in Atlas Park, while Frozone becomes a mission contact, I think I could live with that. ;)Put Frozone in Icon, shouting "WHERE IS MY SUPER-SUIT?!" at tailor contact Edna Mode. (Although Edna might not let you add a cape.)
Honestly the Marvel MMO is NOT City of Heroes. It isn't even in the same ballpark. I foresee Marvel's MMO coming out big but struggling like mad within 6 months in. It's a game you will play to play as your favorite characters but once that is done, you will have very little reason to keep going. Also, to point out to those who may have simply forgotten that Champions Online WAS supposed to be Marvel's MMO until it got nixed because of what microsoft called "an inability to compete" with the current MMO marketplace. Hence the rename to Champions Online.
Our game did not only compete in that marketplace, it was on top of the G*d damn food chain for EIGHT YEARS.
2018 - Disney opens Paragon City in Walt Disney World Orlando. A new theme park focused on super powered family fun! :P
Unless the Disney CEO's are utterly heartless bastards, I just can't see someone there not being touched by all this. Touched enough to actually act on it? Time will tell.
/bind g em clapDone and Done. I had six greeting cards made and will ship them out one at a time every few days. Each envelope has a number of screenshots included along with a hand written note. Each one in a metallic gold on white velum with each piece of velum in a different shade or texture of white.
Ms. Lackey, I am nearly in tears over this. This is truly a "Hail Mary", but it fills me with hope. I will, indeed, write letters. I will tell them about the friends I made because of this game, and the other friends I stayed in touch with through this game. I will tell them about how playing CoH was instrumental in getting me to write my novel (as yet unfinished, but over 65,000 words currently). I will tell them about the back-stories, the grueling costume design decisions, and the the brain-wracking struggle to come up with cool but unique superhero names, so that my characters were mine, and no one else's. And I'll tell them about the time I was "saved" from "certain death" by Jesus Almighty. ;-)
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
--@Archimagos
aka Eben Brooks
creator of the CoH filk songs "Beat Up the Scum", "Personal Archvillain", "Don't Wanna Be Defeated", and "Regeneration"
Corporate, but far from heartless
If you are a member of any other fangroup that has brought its property back from the brink (or from death) please contact them and plea for their help. Browncoats. Trekkies. Galacticans. Anyone who might see us as a reflection of them. Please.
Put Frozone in Icon, shouting "WHERE IS MY SUPER-SUIT?!" at tailor contact Edna Mode. (Although Edna might not let you add a cape.)
(I have to credit Szybko for that.)
I think there is a number that will clinch this.
100k letters.
It is a truism in business, an accepted business practice and statistic, that for every person who physically writes to a business, either to complain, to request, or to praise, there are 100 more who did not.
To Disney that would mean if we manage to muster 100k letters, there are a million people who would potentially be interested in the game. And that is not only enough for the game to break even, it is probably enough to pay off the whole investment in a year or less.
Can we do that? I don't know. I think we should damn well try.
If you are a member of any other fangroup that has brought its property back from the brink (or from death) please contact them and plea for their help. Browncoats. Trekkies. Galacticans. Anyone who might see us as a reflection of them. Please.
I think there is a number that will clinch this.
100k letters.
It is a truism in business, an accepted business practice and statistic, that for every person who physically writes to a business, either to complain, to request, or to praise, there are 100 more who did not.
To Disney that would mean if we manage to muster 100k letters, there are a million people who would potentially be interested in the game. And that is not only enough for the game to break even, it is probably enough to pay off the whole investment in a year or less.
Can we do that? I don't know. I think we should damn well try.
If you are a member of any other fangroup that has brought its property back from the brink (or from death) please contact them and plea for their help. Browncoats. Trekkies. Galacticans. Anyone who might see us as a reflection of them. Please.
Will it be cool to play Wolverine or Magneto? Hell yeah it will...initially. I agree with no customizing of characters, the burnout time on this one is going to very short indeed. Ultimately, I would have no attachment to those characters. Every character I played on CoH had a purpose and backstory, even if they a homage character I gave them an origin that fit them into Paragon, sometimes with humor. I am a very concept-driven player, but I know I'm mainly preaching to the choir here, as there are Role Play Congress members in this thread. I can see Marvel appealing to the 5-15 year-old crowd, but not the mature gamers that VV was making the case on.
Well, we CAN'T sign up new accounts. So that won't work. But getting people interested can't hurt.
Well, in all fairness to what Marvel is doing - it's Not an MMO, and they probably know that. That was never the reason for doing Marvel Heroes. Marvel Heroes is based on the concept of selling the Marvel brand, so customization isn't a top priority for them and even dilutes the brand. But CoH is an excellent feeder for it, because it extends the life of the genre constantly. It's a good way to keep not the brand of Marvel, but the genre for which Marvel relies on it's business hot.
Every person who creates a superhero in CoH is a customer at some level. The more you keep those customers focused on super heroes and comics in general - the less likely you are to lose the market entirely when everyone suddenly decides the real 'cool' is in other types of genres. CoH allows people to embrace those genres (horror, steam punk, sci-fi, warrior, fantasy, soldier) in a way that keeps the over all genre of comics and heroes hot and accessible.
Do they provide competition for Marvel? Uh, to some extent, in the lesser picture of game vs. game. But to Marvel, or Disney no, not at all, in fact they act as a defense to Champions, DCUO or anyone else who walks into the gaming arena by deadening the blow, and they act offensively as a proactive way of drawing the 'agro' as it were, from these competitors. CoH also plays the more important passvie role of keeping the genre hot at the same time.
Logically this would make a very wise financial move for them really.
BUT the whole Luthor-steals-exobytes-from-the-future thing was a solid way to introduce all those characters we want, and not take away from DC's core.
It's interesting, given what you said regarding Marvel, especially since DCUO did just fine pushing the DC brand...BUT the whole Luthor-steals-exobytes-from-the-future thing was a solid way to introduce all those characters we want, and not take away from DC's core. All in all, I think DCUO did very well on it- the problem lies in the fact that DCUO still feels like a MMO half-finished. As a long-time SOE gamer, I really want to like it more, but it needs work.
You know, Disney originally struck me as an odd choice for the game.
Then I remembered that I first picked up a copy of CoH after watching "The Incredibles."
<snip>
I love it!You know, now that I think about it, I do remember someone creating a Mr. Incredible character in CoH and standing on the steps to City Hall in Atlas the day before the film debuted telling everyone to go see The Incredibles. It would be funny to see that come full circle.
I think there is a number that will clinch this.
100k letters.
It is a truism in business, an accepted business practice and statistic, that for every person who physically writes to a business, either to complain, to request, or to praise, there are 100 more who did not.
To Disney that would mean if we manage to muster 100k letters, there are a million people who would potentially be interested in the game. And that is not only enough for the game to break even, it is probably enough to pay off the whole investment in a year or less.
Can we do that? I don't know. I think we should damn well try.
If you are a member of any other fangroup that has brought its property back from the brink (or from death) please contact them and plea for their help. Browncoats. Trekkies. Galacticans. Anyone who might see us as a reflection of them. Please.
I didn't want to imply copyright infringement in trying to convince them why the IP was a good buy. :)There's a guy on the Union server who has made lots of characters based on the Disney Princesses, and had them for a long time before the closure notice. Like you, he's safe really because there's no intention to gain or profit.
The flexibility is because the game stepped outside the boundries (in my mind, not necessarily yours) of "Superheroes" (Although yes, there were super heroes who work chainmail/used hammers/great swords etc.. Thor springs to mind, some of the more "fantasy" settings of Spawn), and into the more open "Comic book" setting, where sub-genre is *not* an issue. Does this mean that everyone was an antihero, superhero, villain?
No, but there is *no* singular correct answer.
I do remember seeing in the early days of the game on EU servers Optimus Prime, Yumi and Numinor (Ulysses 31) characters and numerous other "clones" from non super hero genres. Strangely enough, I never saw a smurf... although I did see them when I went over to Aion.
A note about Mr. Pepper - he's not with Disney anymore, at least not in a very high capacity.
Our primary targets are Iger, Disney's CEO, and Pleasants, co-president of Disney Interctive. If you have resources to send packages to others as well, go for it, but these two are the ones we need to convince, so focus there.
Strangely enough, I never saw a smurf... although I did see them when I went over to Aion.Poor twisted Lord Borealis (http://union.virtueverse.net/wiki/Lord_Borealis) was nicknamed 'Papa Smurf' by the legendary Big Game (http://union.virtueverse.net/wiki/Big_Game), so I know of at least one 'smurf' on the Union server. ;) Thankfully he had no clue of the reference.
I mention this because I think it might even highlight just how amazing in flexible CoH is that it can recreate almost any character of any heroic genre. I think Disney would be struck by how players of the game could pay homage to their favourite Disney characters (among other heroes).For some reason that gave me a mental image of a "Key" sword costume piece on market =P
Should we let them know how much we absolutely loved this game...Wow, I had completely forgotten about that one! O.O
(https://images.weserv.nl/?url=www.tomheroes.com%2Fimages%2Fducktales_nes.jpg)
And played it during the very early years of gaming supporting the Disney brand? :D
My dad works at Disneyland, and when I saw that blue image with the merge of the CoH and Walt Disney logos I was wondering if I should try to talk him into using it as the wallpaper on the tablet he takes to work with him. I will also do my best to get a couple letters written up in my atrocious hand writing and send them off.
Found this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRsj2DtLCQs), but I can't find the video that shows each instance of AP in sequence.
You really should find a way to send that video to the Disney folks with an explanation that each of those characters was a player and they all showed up to rally in support of City when they heard it was closing AND they would come back too if they had the chance.
pictures
... twenty seven eight-by-ten colour glossy photographs with circles
and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one explaining what each
one was to be used as evidence against us...
Sorry, that was my very first thought here.
... twenty seven eight-by-ten colour glossy photographs with circles
and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one explaining what each
one was to be used as evidence against us...
Sorry, that was my very first thought here.
I just watched "The Incredibles" again recently, and I couldn't help noticing how much Municiberg (from the opening scene) and Metroville (from the climactic battle) look like Paragon City... or should I say, the way it would have looked in CoH2, if NCsoft had had the sense to back that project. Or maybe they just look similar because they're all computer-generated and I'm just imagining the resemblance. (I'm not suggesting there was any influence either way; "The Incredibles" came out around the time of CoH's launch and Paragon City's look was long since set.) At any rate it's very cool to see how Paragon City could look in digital "real life".
And a note to future devs, whether at Disney (or elsewhere) for a hypothetical CoH2, my cohorts at Plan Z, or a yet-to-be-imagined superhero MMO project: The scene where they crash-land the Winnebago on the elevated freeway and have to make their exit at 120 mph? That's what Skyway City is supposed to look like. The final battle where they defeat the Omnidroid? That's what Steel Canyon is supposed to look like.
And, as far as this entire project goes, the following comes to mind....
Fred Gailey (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0668361/): Your Honor, every one of these letters is addressed to Santa Claus. The Post Office has delivered them. Therefore the Post Office Department, a branch of the Federal Governent, recognizes this man Kris Kringle to be the one and only Santa Claus.
Judge Henry X. Harper (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0516876/): Uh, since the United States Government declares this man to be Santa Claus, this court will not dispute it. Case dismissed.
I've been selling as hard as I can on the teams I've played with on Champion, tonight. Every little bit helps, right? People are already aware of this, but they think it's just another rumor.
Hail Hydr--er, Mary!Lol. You know Viper is in the next Wolverine movie...I smell awesome crossover-ness.
*ducks and runs*
I have found it hard to sell this idea. While Team Wildcard's pitch to Disney IS being discussed on various server chat channels, what's said is often not supportive or more precisely met with mixed reactions. Additionally, none of my non gamer friends will write, nor will many of the players I'm still in contact with who would (i think) return to CoH - many of them did the whole range, everything from e-petitions to physical letters, capes and masks to NCSoft, CNN iReport, Twitter, etc. They're feeling defeated and emotionally cutting their losses. They're also still stinging from having the rug pulled out from under them, with a few vowing never to do MMO gaming again.
I'm hopeful that Wildcard's presentation package was sufficiently strong on it's merits alone that Disney will consider it, even without an avalanche of mail. Perhaps each letter actually sent represents more like 50, rather than the usual 1:10 or 1:20 ratio. Sorry for the bad news. Hoping others have met with more success than I.
P.S. Thanks again, Team Wildcard! Whether it works or not, you done great!! I'll keep doing my individual best. I probably won't check forums again until after the shut down. Maybe i'll see you in-game.
Have been promoting in global chat channels. Single most common objection is "Disney owns Marvel". Can't really refute that in a few chat comments. At least some people have said they'd come here and look.
I remember when I was younger collecting Marvel comics, Marvel bought and took over a really small comic company. I don't remember the name of it but their main character was Prime. Some of their characters were kind of neat. Anyways, I don't see how acquiring a few new heroes would do Marvel any harm. They would have a lot to gain from it actually. I'd buy Freedom Phalanx #1.
NCSoft could care less about western markets. Their money is right there in their own part of the world. They don't need us. And don't want us. Google Korean business practices. Sorry, I want COH to stay as much as the next person, but not going to happen.
Self preservation of what, exactly?
Isn't this all dependent on NCSoft being willing to sell? Good luck with that. Even the mouse has a budget limit.
Self preservation of what, exactly? NCSoft could care less about western markets. Their money is right there in their own part of the world. They don't need us. And don't want us. Google Korean business practices. Sorry, I want COH to stay as much as the next person, but not going to happen.
I remember when I was younger collecting Marvel comics, Marvel bought and took over a really small comic company. I don't remember the name of it but their main character was Prime. Some of their characters were kind of neat. Anyways, I don't see how acquiring a few new heroes would do Marvel any harm. They would have a lot to gain from it actually. I'd buy Freedom Phalanx #1.
Anyhow, if memory serves Marvel and DC published a number of cross-universe "specials" featuring characters from the other "rival" company. The signature City of Heroes characters would work easily as a stand alone, cross over, or fully integrated into Marvel or for that matter DC. I feel we got to play Issues 1-4 of Freedom Phalanx I with the second Signature Story arc. I also feel that Praetorian/Primal Earth stories CoH delivered enough content and maturity to make an engaging comic even without the MMO. (Man, I came to love Ghost Widow, especially as Belladonna Vetrano and her showdown with Praetor Sinclair .)
So I'm posting this here so that it gets a bit more noticed.
http://fav.me/d5mr4h2 (http://fav.me/d5mr4h2)
It was suggested on the other thread that I send these to Disney instead of my original plan of NCSoft because of the time that they were completed. And I agree, seeing as Disney is the better choice at this time and I feel that they will be more appreciative of this package. (When you wish upon a star...) So what I need to know now is;
1: Where and who to send them to
2: What to include in the note along with it
Ah, the official forums close, and as if by magic, my little pony with a horn start to appear.
First post in this thread should give you the answer to both questions.
Right! :roll: Not sure why I didnt think to check that.
Although I was also wondering what to write refering to the "make 1000 paper cranes, get a wish" bit connecting with Disney magic. (what I'm asking makes more sense in my head)
I've been countering the Marvel argument with the difference in style of games. Seems to at least change their objection, most times.
All right, here's a question for you folks.
We know how many MMORPGs have been closed (15).
But how many either STILL stay open even with a handful of players, and how many were REVIVED after shutdown? That could be a very useful set of numbers for Team Wildcard.
NCSoft have already proven themselves intransigent regards the CoH IP. What makes anyone thing they will sell the IP for less than something exhorbitant that will render it worthless to a potential buyer in terms of ROI?
Also I'm a little bit concerned - writing to endorse a pitch I've not actually seen. I've known people get burned with similar activities before. Is there anywhere here we can read this 31 page document? Would be really useful when it comes to crafting a follow up letter.
One thing nobody's mentioned (in the threads I read) was the CoH comics. With Disney owning Marvel it could create a standalone line of comicbooks that feature Paragon and the Rogue Isles - a different universe.Everyone has mentioned cross-marketing. No need to be specific as telling Marvel they could make comics is just like telling Disney they could make movies. Grandmothers, eggs, and sucking lessons.
NCSoft have already proven themselves intransigent regards the CoH IP. What makes anyone thing they will sell the IP for less than something exhorbitant that will render it worthless to a potential buyer in terms of ROI?The fact that the legal issues NCsoft feared evaporate with the closure of the game. Two inside sources have told us that NCsoft will be quite willing to sell, and even quite cheaply (relative term) now the game and studios are gone as a business entity.
Also I'm a little bit concerned - writing to endorse a pitch I've not actually seen. I've known people get burned with similar activities before. Is there anywhere here we can read this 31 page document? Would be really useful when it comes to crafting a follow up letter.Noone is asking you to support the pitch written, or anything in it, other than the basic idea that Disney could do very well to take up this game, and continue to develop it. Write your own reasons. Make your own case. State your beliefs about the value. The plea that others made need have nothing to do with the plea that you make.
All right, here's a question for you folks.
We know how many MMORPGs have been closed (15).
But how many either STILL stay open even with a handful of players, and how many were REVIVED after shutdown? That could be a very useful set of numbers for Team Wildcard.
But how many either STILL stay open even with a handful of players, and how many were REVIVED after shutdown?
Darkfall Online *could* possibly fit into this category, although it is an interesting case.
Darkfall Online was originally released back in 2009, but in October 2012, Aveturine (their developer) announced that they were shuttering the game November 15th. This was however to make room for Darkfall Unholy Wars... and I believe that Unholy Wars is set in the same game world, but is essentially Darkfall 2.0, with gameplay changes, skill changes and so on and so forth. Characters from the original game *will not* transfer over to the 2nd, due to the changes that they have introduced (there are now classes, where originally it was freeform creation).
Hell, to be honest, the whole development of the game was very very interesting to follow, because it built up a lot of hype, and launched with a very very damp splodge...
All right, here's a question for you folks.
We know how many MMORPGs have been closed (15).
But how many either STILL stay open even with a handful of players, and how many were REVIVED after shutdown? That could be a very useful set of numbers for Team Wildcard.
All right, here's a question for you folks.
We know how many MMORPGs have been closed (15).
But how many either STILL stay open even with a handful of players, and how many were REVIVED after shutdown? That could be a very useful set of numbers for Team Wildcard.
Like I've mentioned in other posts, self-preservation. NCsoft is no longer operating from a position of strength like it had with other four MMOs it buried - it's lost money recently, the new releases aren't pulling in the kind of cash to warrant the expenses they made, their stock is taking a dive and the press is questioning them on their home ground. If word got out they refused a cash influx for a property they decided not to use, it would be the last nail in the coffin.
I understand your frustration, but no - there are some things in there that might end up biting people in the rear, if it became openly known they shared it. So yeah, as annoying as it may be, I'm afraid you have to trust us on this. We spent over two weeks polishing, researching and fact-checking, so if my word is worth anything, then believe me that it was nothing short of professional.
Here's a challenge: You want me to buy in to this - then post a redacted version of this 31 page document that excludes confidential information. Let me make an informed decision about how I proceed. If you don't, I call bullshit. Sorry but that's how I see it.I've been watching this debate for a couple days now and I am still boggled.
Ok the first point I can kind of agree to. The second, no chance. The "trust me, it's for your own good" thing is exactly a red line I won't cross. Believe me, I want to support this effort, and I do understand issues of confidentiality, but no, actually I don't trust you. No offence, but I don't know you from jack, and we have exactly one thing in common - we want to see CoH live again. But other than that I don't know anything about you, or the (non)team that put this effort together. Your take on this is not dissimilar to the Catholic Church's whole point about "don't let the peasants have a bible they can read, they might find us out" thing - and that's not to mention the whole Hail Mary bollocks! Why are we giving this some religious mumbo jumbo cloak? That in itself is entirely objectionable!
no, actually I don't trust you. No offence, but I don't know you from jack, and we have exactly one thing in common - we want to see CoH live again. But other than that I don't know anything about you, or the (non)team that put this effort together.
- and that's not to mention the whole Hail Mary bollocks! Why are we giving this some religious mumbo jumbo cloak? That in itself is entirely objectionable!
Here's a challenge: You want me to buy in to this - then post a redacted version of this 31 page document that excludes confidential information. Let me make an informed decision about how I proceed. If you don't, I call bullshit. Sorry but that's how I see it.
If you had been paying attention, I not only stated numerous times that I am author Mercedes Lackey, I actually PROVED it back when I first signed on to Save Paragon three months ago by quoting from one of my books not yet published (was published last month). Clearly you have not been paying attention.
I see, forgive me for assuming that a Brit might possibly have some understanding of an American football term. Oh, Wait, Ammon, Quinch and Rae are all Brits and they knew what I was talking about....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hail_Mary_pass (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hail_Mary_pass) "A Hail Mary pass or Hail Mary route in American football refers to any very long forward pass made in desperation with only a small chance of success, especially at or near the end of a half.
The expression goes back at least to the 1930s, being used publicly in that decade by two former members of Notre Dame's Four Horsemen, Elmer Layden and Jim Crowley. Originally meaning any sort of desperation play, a "Hail Mary" gradually came to denote a long, low-probability pass."
No.
For two reasons.
One, I am not willing to take the chance that somehow, NCSoft will manage to connect something we wrote to our sources and proceed to sue them. They don't deserve that.
Two, Disney is traditionally extremely secretive about all aspects of negotiation. Even though we have made it clear that we are only four players pitching the idea of buying the game, and not those with whom they can negotiate anything, nevertheless, I am not willing to risk getting the whole pitch on their wrong side by making it public.
Now what I don't understand is, if you are really, truly, interested in seeing the game find a new home, you are having enormous tantrum ragefits over all this. Are we asking you for money? No. Are we asking you to endorse the pitch itself? Actually, no, not really.
I'm sorry, but I call bullshit here. You could very easily have quietly not written letters instead of demanding things you have no right to and having tantrums because we said no.
I've been watching this debate for a couple days now and I am still boggled.
What part of "Dear Disney, I like City of Heroes and I think it would be a profitable venture for you" is life threatening?
They are asking for a letter, not a blood sacrifice. Your good name is not being attached to a plot to sell embryos to Chinese slavers. We're just asking for a letter or four stating you enjoyed playing a game and would enjoy playing it again.
The presentation document is not legally binding. It's an attempt to explain what in City of Heroes might be in Disney's interest to purchase. If the sale goes through, the legal stuff is all between NC Soft and Disney.
OMG, classic. This is the Best. Post. Ever.
If you had been paying attention, I not only stated numerous times that I am author Mercedes Lackey, I actually PROVED it back when I first signed on to Save Paragon three months ago by quoting from one of my books not yet published (was published last month). Clearly you have not been paying attention.
Ok the first point I can kind of agree to. The second, no chance. The "trust me, it's for your own good" thing is exactly a red line I won't cross. Believe me, I want to support this effort, and I do understand issues of confidentiality, but no, actually I don't trust you. No offence, but I don't know you from jack, and we have exactly one thing in common - we want to see CoH live again. But other than that I don't know anything about you, or the (non)team that put this effort together. Your take on this is not dissimilar to the Catholic Church's whole point about "don't let the peasants have a bible they can read, they might find us out" thing - and that's not to mention the whole Hail Mary bollocks! Why are we giving this some religious mumbo jumbo cloak? That in itself is entirely objectionable!
Here's a challenge: You want me to buy in to this - then post a redacted version of this 31 page document that excludes confidential information. Let me make an informed decision about how I proceed. If you don't, I call bullshit. Sorry but that's how I see it.
Hang on. We weren't supposed to write it in blood? *awkward*ROFL!!!!
I understand where you're coming from, even though I have a different opinion and do trust Victoria Victrix implicitly. I don't think it's fair to call them a (non)team, especially since they worked their tails off and took time away from game etc., got 2 senior devs to review their presentation, etc. I also didn't think "Hail Mary" had anything to do with Catholicism, but rather referred to the Hail Mary pass from U.S. football: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hail_Mary_pass
Also, to anyone who doubts Vicky's motives, I've played with her and her husband a few times, and they are the coolest "celebrities" I've ever encountered. I say celebrities in quotation marks not because I don't consider them famous, but because they never plugged their work or played themselves off as a big deal; they were just players who happened to have fans outside of the context of the game. (I think I remember her husband talking about doing some work on the set of the Peter Jackson Hobbit movie, since he's a falconer, but that was really him more geeking out about getting to do LOTR movie stuff.) Her only stake in this is that she loves this game and doesn't want to lose it forever. We're all in that boat, and if you don't believe that, then you are a cynical, petty person.
OMG, classic. This is the Best. Post. Ever.Blush
Frankly, my dear, I don't give a flying frick if you do that. It will still be one more "please buy the game, Mr. Pleasants" missive. And if it should happen that the game does get bought and you want to claim all the credit for it, with your superior pitch, be my guest. That and $5 will get you an overpriced latte at Starbucks.
tracking numbers for Pleasants
EO 924 452 225 US
EO 924 452 027 US
tracking number for Iger
EO 924 452 282 US
all three are USPS Express Mail
Thanks! I had no doubt Team Wildcard's presentation package was sent with delivery notification. Can you share with us if Disney sent any reply, even just a form letter saying they'd gotten it? While I know you can't share the content, I'm certain it's a beautiful presentation with everything a prospective buyer might want to know. Thank you again for Team Wildcard. :)
Write a letter to Disney in an attempt to
purchase 'City of Heroes'
and make NCSoft <-the S.O.B's who shut down the game]
a lot of money for the sale.
Money they couldn't extort from other game companies that made pitches.
My computer 'hung' up processing this data. 0000011110001110010101010101
...but I will think about it...
I did write letters way back, from the very beginning to NCsoft and other companies,
so don't get me wrong. I care a lot.
I've been becoming enlightened from the Titan effort in creating
their own Hero game to fill in the void. It seems full of the same energy CoH had
before NCsoft.
Ok the first point I can kind of agree to. The second, no chance. The "trust me, it's for your own good" thing is exactly a red line I won't cross. Believe me, I want to support this effort, and I do understand issues of confidentiality, but no, actually I don't trust you. No offence, but I don't know you from jack, and we have exactly one thing in common - we want to see CoH live again. But other than that I don't know anything about you, or the (non)team that put this effort together. Your take on this is not dissimilar to the Catholic Church's whole point about "don't let the peasants have a bible they can read, they might find us out" thing - and that's not to mention the whole Hail Mary bollocks! Why are we giving this some religious mumbo jumbo cloak? That in itself is entirely objectionable!
Here's a challenge: You want me to buy in to this - then post a redacted version of this 31 page document that excludes confidential information. Let me make an informed decision about how I proceed. If you don't, I call bullshit. Sorry but that's how I see it.
If you had been paying attention, I not only stated numerous times that I am author Mercedes Lackey, I actually PROVED it back when I first signed on to Save Paragon three months ago by quoting from one of my books not yet published (was published last month). Clearly you have not been paying attention.
I see, forgive me for assuming that a Brit might possibly have some understanding of an American football term. Oh, Wait, Ammon, Quinch and Rae are all Brits and they knew what I was talking about....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hail_Mary_pass (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hail_Mary_pass) "A Hail Mary pass or Hail Mary route in American football refers to any very long forward pass made in desperation with only a small chance of success, especially at or near the end of a half.
The expression goes back at least to the 1930s, being used publicly in that decade by two former members of Notre Dame's Four Horsemen, Elmer Layden and Jim Crowley. Originally meaning any sort of desperation play, a "Hail Mary" gradually came to denote a long, low-probability pass."
No.
For two reasons.
One, I am not willing to take the chance that somehow, NCSoft will manage to connect something we wrote to our sources and proceed to sue them. They don't deserve that.
Two, Disney is traditionally extremely secretive about all aspects of negotiation. Even though we have made it clear that we are only four players pitching the idea of buying the game, and not those with whom they can negotiate anything, nevertheless, I am not willing to risk getting the whole pitch on their wrong side by making it public.
Now what I don't understand is, if you are really, truly, interested in seeing the game find a new home, why are you having enormous tantrum ragefits over all this? Are we asking you for money? No. Are we asking you to endorse the pitch itself? Actually, no, not really.
I'm sorry, but I call bullshit here. You could very easily have quietly not written letters instead of demanding things you have no right to and having tantrums because we said no.
I'll tell you what, Riff. Since you are such an expert on pitch packages and you don't trust our expertise in business practices, how about if you write your own and send it to Disney?
Oh, but you had better have the addresses, emails and phone numbers of senior Paragon Studios members to put in as your official contacts for actual negotiations. Because if someone DOES come knocking, you are going to look really stupid saying "gee....I don't know who you could go to."
And you had better make it crystalline clear that YOU are not in any way able to sell the game. Anything else is fraud.
Frankly, my dear, I don't give a flying frick if you do that. It will still be one more "please buy the game, Mr. Pleasants" missive. And if it should happen that the game does get bought and you want to claim all the credit for it, with your superior pitch, be my guest. That and $5 will get you an overpriced latte at Starbucks.
I guess it's still way to early to have expected to hear anything back from The Mouse? Is the fact that we HAVEN'T heard anything at least evidence that they are at least thinking about it?
I'm not having anything close to an enormous tantrum ragefit over all this as you so delicately put it.In which case, you have no excuse whatsoever for the line "I call bullshit". That might be excusable as harsh words in anger, but since you instead seem to suffer an inherent lack of tact, manners, or even the ability to see why calling other's efforts bullshit is both offensive and unwarranted, then it is probably best that you don't write to Disney.
All I've said is it's hard to endorse, support or promote it without knowing the content.What has been asked of us is that we write letters to Disney, at addresses provided in the opening post, saying why we love CoH, want to see it brought back online, and how we'd support Disney and their products relating to CoH if they were to buy it. We're not being asked to specifically endorse the pitch (though, as you noted, this is in support of it by providing volume of interest). We're not being asked to promote it (though we have been asked to spread word that a letter-writing campaign would be useful and well-timed and -targetted right now).
It is not a religious term, rather it is a sports metaphor drawn from American football in regards to an extremely long distance forward pass that has a very slim chance of succeeding initiated either at or very close to the end of a half. So it isn't even remotely objectionable if you understand that particular context. It is so called because it is the sort of move that, to borrow another metaphor, "doesn't have a prayer," so in the process of initiating the action, might as well throw a prayer at it too, just in case.
The simple matter is that there are legal considerations for those who have written the pitch document, as there is solidly confidential information that could end all efforts before they got rolling if they were leaked to a larger audience. The people who put together this pitch are largely experts in their fields, which to my knowledge specifically deal with the sort of information included in that particular communication.
If you don't feel you trust us, and that this isn't something you can support, you're not obliged to. We're not asking you to endorse the pitch or stake your reputation on it. All we're asking people to do is to write letters to show that we're not the only four people in the world who want to keep on playing City of Heroes, and think that Disney would make a decent custodian for the game.This is it. This is all that TFHM is asking. You are not being asked to make a legal committment of some kind. You are not being asked to invest any money beyond that of postage (and if you're outside of the United States, Altoholic Monkey has given you an alternative (http://www.cohtitan.com/forum/index.php/topic,6571.0.html)), and chances are you will not be interviewed. You are not agreeing to any sort of legal contract that will then deny you your rights, and chances are good you will never have to speak of this event in a court of law.
But other than that I don't know anything about you, or the (non)team that put this effort together. Your take on this is not dissimilar to the Catholic Church's whole point about "don't let the peasants have a bible they can read, they might find us out" thing - and that's not to mention the whole Hail Mary bollocks! Why are we giving this some religious mumbo jumbo cloak? That in itself is entirely objectionable!
I don't follow American football. Over here, we use our feet to kick the ball when we play football - the clue's in the name. If we're throwing it, it's called Rugby. Very similar to your version but without the padding. No, I didn't know the context but then Why would I? We have so many great sports in the UK I don't need to follow some faux pastiche. But I guess the whole Hail Mary thing is still, ultimately a religious thing but no matter. I am now informed.When people are talking about a "tantrum ragefit" it's this that they're talking about. In the space of just these two posts, you have insulted a national pasttime, compared Team Wildcard to the Dark Ages Catholic Church, and accused them of using religious symbolism inappropriately, due in large part to your later-admitted ignorance of sports terms.
I fully "trust" this team and appreciate the efforts that they have put forth to date and moving forward. I do not personally "know" any of you; however, I feel that the task at hand warrants our trust and support as a gaming community. We all have one goal in mind here. Please remember that. Hope to see you all soon.
If you suggest Kumbyah I will pearsonally reach through this computer and slap you silly.... :P
Facepalms with Lily: Guys (Girls): We have one common goal: save our beloved City! Fighting among ourselves won't help that goal.
Please stop it ....
Flag on the play! Illegal use of colons! Write one extra letter. :)
Shows what a writer I am ... NOT, but I will take you on. Extra letter to Disney going out!
I fully "trust" this team and appreciate the efforts that they have put forth to date and moving forward. I do not personally "know" any of you; however, I feel that the task at hand warrants our trust and support as a gaming community. We all have one goal in mind here. Please remember that. Hope to see you all soon.
Quick question for letter writing clarification.
It's been said (couldn't find the quote fast enough, so I'm just paraphrasing) that we need to keep up the pressure. What does this mean please?
I've written 4 letters with lots of heartfelt stuff in 'em. I waited a few days and sent postcards (homemade Avery 8386, with screenshots of my main toon in various places or zone splash screens) with basically just a handwritten "I love CoH. This is a screenshot of Blah-de-Blah. Wish I was still able to go there. Thanks for listening."
Shall I wait a few more days and send another set of postcards? Should I send another round of letters? I have gotten a few people to send in postcards that say "my friend played CoH and loved it...." Is this what I should be doing - asking more friends to send cards?
Just asking for a little guidance. I don't want to sour the milk by sending too much myself, but I want to do all that I can possibly do to help.
thanks
Here's the short answer:
The guys in the mail room won't know you have sent stuff before. Keep sending.
You know, for a good answer on what generally is in the pitch package (and who we are), all a non-lazy person would have to do would be to look for the press release.
Hopefully this doesn't put a damper on the efforts.If we convince them to want the IP, they'll buy the IP. A court ruling against a separate division isn't going to stop their business ventures elsewhere, or every single hiccup would weigh down the whole company.
http://news.yahoo.com/disney-loses-appeal-319-million-wants-millionaire-case-014552575.html (http://news.yahoo.com/disney-loses-appeal-319-million-wants-millionaire-case-014552575.html)
Probably not the best story to do a first post with but I just hope everything succeeds since by what has been mentioned the cost to get the IP and everything else would be a fraction of this.
Thank you very much, Triplash. The idea hit me while driving home from work today. I'll probably make a card for any of my heroes and villains and put them in my movie prop showcase in the living room ;D
Are you using a trading-card-making program or just doing this via GIMP or Photoshop? And the text below the pic - is that the character's in-game bio? Inquiring minds want to know. Yes, I said minds...my cat Oreo is laying on my left arm while I type this...so she wants to know too. 8)
Heloooooo Oreo! ;D
Finally found the time to find my letters. Each one got a custom made envelope, the letters are handwritten on paper on which I printed (very faintly) scenes from the game. Also, each letter contains two "trading cards" (redside and blueside) with one of my characters and their (possibly" last words before the world ended.
Here's an image of two of them:
(https://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m6/sanguinius_2006/CoX/Letters-Online.jpg)
I used Photoshop and a template (which I bought, so I can't share it - sorry) to create those cards.
Anyone have a link to the numbers about how much of NC Soft's Profit was due to City of Heroes? And a link to the source?http://global.ncsoft.com/global/ir/quarterly.aspx is as source-y a source as you can get. We originally extrapolated a lot of data from the Q2 earnings that was discussed in detail. NCsoft's entire Western (US and Euro) earnings were only 5% of the total, and CoH itself was less than half of that 5% (around 2%). That still meant that CoH was providing around $3 million in profit per year, despite a large amount of its resources being reinvested in several R&D projects. Near as we can tell, without all those development costs, Paragon Studios was earning around $10 million USD per annum.
http://global.ncsoft.com/global/ir/quarterly.aspx is as source-y a source as you can get. We originally extrapolated a lot of data from the Q2 earnings that was discussed in detail. NCsoft's entire Western (US and Euro) earnings were only 5% of the total, and CoH itself was less than half of that 5% (around 2%). That still meant that CoH was providing around $3 million in profit per year, despite a large amount of its resources being reinvested in several R&D projects. Near as we can tell, without all those development costs, Paragon Studios was earning around $10 million USD per annum.
OK something just struck me right in the face. DESPITE GW, GW2, Lineage and Aion all having MUCH higher numbers of players than CoH individually, never mind collectively, CoH all by it's itty-bitty self was responsible for HALF THE US INCOME.
/em boggle.
I bought a few CoH TCG packs about a year ago. If I, say, scanned them into the computer and created a template with photoshop, would that be ok to share? Because it's technically not buying a template. :roll:
Just want to clear this with someone who knows more about it than I do first. ;D
Where can I find the numbers on that so I can see them?In the post you quoted as a link, plus in both posts before yours...
OK something just struck me right in the face. DESPITE GW, GW2, Lineage and Aion all having MUCH higher numbers of players than CoH individually, never mind collectively, CoH all by it's itty-bitty self was responsible for HALF THE US INCOME.
/em boggle.
OK something just struck me right in the face. DESPITE GW, GW2, Lineage and Aion all having MUCH higher numbers of players than CoH individually, never mind collectively, CoH all by it's itty-bitty self was responsible for HALF THE US INCOME.
/em boggle.
So does anyone know or Looked in to Toon Town Player numbers its a year older then CoH & Disney still has that going. And I do remember seeing some Saturday morning commericals for it a year ago.
I took this image of a screenshot
OK something just struck me right in the face. DESPITE GW, GW2, Lineage and Aion all having MUCH higher numbers of players than CoH individually, never mind collectively, CoH all by it's itty-bitty self was responsible for HALF THE US INCOME.
Okay, I just sent out some postcards to the four Disney addresses by going to AmazingMail.com. I took this image of a screenshot that I grabbed on the last day:
(https://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a97/afgncaap5/City%20of%20Heroes/screenshot_121130-19-46-26.jpg)
...and sent it with the message
"Save Our City
Buy our Game
Help Us Build A Whole New World With You
#SaveCoH"
Really pretty! Beautifully done. Thank you!
along with a lengthier message on the back. I received a warning that I hadn't made the screenshot at the optimal dpi and that it might appear fuzzy or pixelated, but it seemed okay when I viewed the preview.
I also sent another such bit of mail with the same image to our friend Mr. Kim in Korea, thanking him for all he's done for us (words that felt wrong to type) and asking him to sell the game. I sent a copy of that one to myself, so ideally I'll see how the image will look to the recipients.
This was posted over in the NCSoft Stockwatch thread, but it got me thinking...
I want to preface this thought by saying that we want in no way to make this annoying nor rude, just attention-getting and perhaps touching. How much freedom to customize your character does Toon Town give? Maybe we should consider signing up for accounts en masse and making as heroic-looking avatars as we can to do a Disney World-style parade to promote the idea that Disney should seek to buy CoH. "We're all players who signed into Toon Town just to tell you we'd pay you money to play CoH again."
The role-players amongst us might even make it a role-playing challenge. Write up, depending on the customizability of the avatars, a backstory for your character explaining he escaped a dying world of heroes and is a bit confused by the cartoony nature of his new home, but is seeking help to restore his old one. Or something like that.
Hm. Maybe just get a uniform t-shirt or something (a t-shirt in red with a star on the chest?) to do the parade in, then.
I dunno. Brainstorming; may not be a good idea.
Following up on my earlier comment about the CoH TCG template. Im just about done with making one but I don't have/can't find any decent quality AT logos, so the only only one I have is the scrapper logo (The original card was Ms. Liberty). So if someone could direct me to some good pictured of those logos, I would appreciate it.
Following up on my earlier comment about the CoH TCG template. Im just about done with making one but I don't have/can't find any decent quality AT logos, so the only only one I have is the scrapper logo (The original card was Ms. Liberty). So if someone could direct me to some good pictured of those logos, I would appreciate it.There's also a whole category called "Graphics" on the Paragon Wiki: http://wiki.cohtitan.com/wiki/Category:Graphics (http://wiki.cohtitan.com/wiki/Category:Graphics)
HEEEEEEEELLLLLLLP!
(https://images.weserv.nl/?url=www.bookchums.com%2FEditorImages%2Fwriters-block-1.jpg)
Well, maybe not exactly this...
My English is good enough for forums or in-game, but writing a letter?
Umm, well :-[
Well that is the television division, not Interactive.
I was thinking that when I read the Massively article on your interview. Yeah, only 3% of all GLOBAL income, but what did it signify of their Western income?
Now I know!
But let's not imagine that NCSoft was just on some kind of drunken flop here shutting it down.
If they had this kind of information (and if anyone would, wouldn't it be them?) and they didn't express it by now, this only further shows their poor decision making process in the past. They still have a chance to turn this around, but I think it would show a poor choice of judgement.
I just sent an email to a lady I used to work with who grew up in Florida and spent several years at Disney and asked if there was any chance she still knew anybody there with string pulling abilities. I highly doubt she does or I would have probably already heard about it but I'll check my email later and see what she says.
Alright guys I got some pretty good news this morning. I ran into this person earlier and she brought up the email. She said that she forwarded the email to her dad who is retired but used to be the head of food and beverage at Disney. She said that he said last week he attended an "Eyes and Ears" meeting that all of the current and many retired Disney executives regularly attend and he mentioned this to someone he knows who still works in marketing. She said she would check her email and if he sends anything she would forward it to me. So, good news guys, take away that this was mentioned at an "Eyes and Ears" meeting with current and former Disney executives.
Also, rereading this I realized I never posted what I included in the first email I sent to her. I pretty much just mentioned the pitch to Disney to buy CoH from NCSoft and told her to tell whoever she might know that we're (Titan Network) good people and they should have a look. I didn't realize that she'd be sending it to her dad, so even better.
Just an FYI. I received my letter back today that I sent to Jean-Marcel Nicolai. "Return to Sender - Unable to Locate" was stamped on the envelope. And it had the yellow label "Return to sender - Atempted - Not Known, Unable to Forward".
Anyone else have their letters returned?
Just an FYI. I received my letter back today that I sent to Jean-Marcel Nicolai. "Return to Sender - Unable to Locate" was stamped on the envelope. And it had the yellow label "Return to sender - Atempted - Not Known, Unable to Forward".Mine to him came back with the address blacked out. I think the stamp said that I needed to include both a first and a last name; I copied and pasted it from the top of this thread and printed the address label rather than writing out the address, so I didn't get anything wrong. /em shrugs
Anyone else have their letters returned?
Anyone else have their letters returned?
As Ncsoft falls, heroes will rise
They made the ashes, we sought the skies
Under mouse ears or our own phoenix wings
Our spirit wil not die, it is just learning to sing
We are heroes, and this is what we do.
The general consensus is that the NCSoft Western Reorganization is of interest only to us in that it won't make buying the IP harder and might make it easier.
Other than that, we are waiting on Disney to open one ponderous eye and notice us.
The general consensus is that the NCSoft Western Reorganization is of interest only to us in that it won't make buying the IP harder and might make it easier.
Other than that, we are waiting on Disney to open one ponderous eye and notice us.
Following up on my earlier comment about the CoH TCG template. Im just about done with making one but I don't have/can't find any decent quality AT logos, so the only only one I have is the scrapper logo (The original card was Ms. Liberty). So if someone could direct me to some good pictured of those logos, I would appreciate it.
I still find it strange. Don't they already have offices in the US? What exactly is there plan?
Re-build this Western office under the guise of a new company with new management and it will magically solve their problems?
The only way I see this being positive for them is if they staff it with American workers who understand American (and European) culture, and allow them complete control of their "division" provided they are making profits.
This is what they should have always have had done to begin with, instead of what appears to have been a strict Korean management team here or overseas constantly micromanaging the decisions. This is hinted at in those glassglow reviews of NCSoft to some degree I think.
I hope if such a process works out for them, that any new games managed by this new company don't suffer the same fate as CoH did many years from now.
At least, to some degree, it seems they at least understand there is a serious disconnect between the Western markets and Korean markets, and that if they have any hope whatsoever of doing business here in the future, they quit trying to impose what works in Korea to what works here (which it doesnt).
But how, VV, do you think this would help us? I don't imagine that NCSoft would hand over control of the dead IP to this new subsidiary purely on the basis it is a "Western market IP". I find it hard to think even if they did, that they would allow it to be sold. Or would that be just the thing they would do? It makes business sense to me, but given that this is NCSoft we're talking about.. and everything thats going on, well, NCSoft is still a bright colored of stupid in my book.
my friend told me about this site and after looking through this i decided to jump in here. I juust posted this in another thread:
http://www.cohtitan.com/forum/index.php/topic,7444.0.html
________________________
Jean-Marcel hasnt worked there in almost 2-3 years? He "left" as part of a major re-org. Hence the return.
Also, while it is admirable to try and get a hold of John Pleasants, he is only the CO-President of Disney Interacftive Media Group. He runs the Video Games/Mobile side of the business known as Disney Interactive. The head of Production is Bill Roper, he reports to Pleasants. If you want a shot at them, you should try Roper first.
BUT, who the correct person to contact is Jimmy Pitaro, he is the other CO-President, runs the Online business, including Online Games,which are web based and facebook based games.
Pitaro and PLeasants are both based in Palo Alto, but you have to use the main corporate mail address (which you have) to get through them.
PS,
I know this because I worked at Disney Interactive until a couple of months ago. Good Luck.
___________________
Also, keep in mind that it is VERY hard to get Disney to open unsolicited mail. Most fo the time its their admins who open them. If its unsolicited stuff, they tend to throw them away. I dont mean to rain on any parade. I wish you guys a lot fo luck. I want my game back!
No.
No temper tantrums, no name calling, no assumption of privilege because you have the title "Project Coordinator" under your name is going to get what you want.
No threatening to withhold your letter is going to get what you want.
No.
What part of that are you having trouble comprehending?
We are dealing with a multi BILLION dollar company. So far all we know about YOU, Riff, is that you have a title under your name on the Titan Boards. I don't know how you got that title. I don't know what you do. I don't know if you are trustworthy. I don't know if you are going to go straight to someone else with the pitch and use it there while we are, at the same time, trying to interest Disney. Trust goes both ways, and so far, you have shown yourself to be monumentally untrustworthy.
So.
No.
This is the first salvo in what I am HOPING will not be a long campaign, but in what we are planning to be a campaign that takes as long as it takes.
I should get more information from Larry's high-level contact at Google Ventures about whether or not Google Play might be interested, and who to contact. He didn't immediately shoot the idea down, so that's a plus. He's going to get back to us about the second week in January.
Does this mean Disney isn't interested or you haven't heard anything yet? Also, did you manage to overnight the pitch as mentioned earlier?
Good catch, guys!
Can you link TimEnchanter's Christmas Wish vid too?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3S-3LObdyM (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3S-3LObdyM)
It's perfect and hits right in the feels.
Please correct me if I'm wrong, VV, but Disney won't give us (even Team Wildcard) an answer at all, will they? If they are interested, isn't the only person they might contact (other than NCsoft) Brian Clayton? And he might tell you, but you'd have to keep it confidential anyway, correct?
I'm just thinking most of us really need to be patient here and not expect to hear anything for some time, even if Disney has decided they want to be our saviour. I'd expect the first most of us will hear anything will be when an interested party gets a definitive answer one way or another from NCsoft. Maybe some of the folks on Team Wildcard may hear something via sources, but they won't be able to tell us without risking the very thing on which we have so many hopes pinned.
So, be patient everyone. Even if that star is responding to our collective wish, it's still gonna be some time before we know. Don't lose hope!
I just spotted this.
Disney looks to cut costs (http://www.cnbc.com/id/100358164)
Please correct me if I'm wrong, VV, but Disney won't give us (even Team Wildcard) an answer at all, will they? If they are interested, isn't the only person they might contact (other than NCsoft) Brian Clayton? And he might tell you, but you'd have to keep it confidential anyway, correct?
I'm just thinking most of us really need to be patient here and not expect to hear anything for some time, even if Disney has decided they want to be our saviour. I'd expect the first most of us will hear anything will be when an interested party gets a definitive answer one way or another from NCsoft. Maybe some of the folks on Team Wildcard may hear something via sources, but they won't be able to tell us without risking the very thing on which we have so many hopes pinned.
So, be patient everyone. Even if that star is responding to our collective wish, it's still gonna be some time before we know. Don't lose hope!
QFT, as the kids say.
What the heck does that mean, anyway. I always see it and have no idea.QFT - Quoted For Truth.
QFT - Quoted For Truth.
Never would have guessed that. It somehow doesn't sound right. Now I feel old.
I just spotted this.
Disney looks to cut costs (http://www.cnbc.com/id/100358164)
Absolutely true. Our "please contact these people" on the pitch package, as you might recall, are Brian Clayton and Matt Miller. I can tell you however that as of yet I have heard nothing.
Disney is GLACIAL. It's like getting the attention of an Ent. And once you get the eye to open, there has to be an Entmoot where it takes 3 days for everyone to say hello. This is the situation with most big corporations.
And never, ever forget that this is just our FIRST target. We're waiting to hear from my contact at Google. I'm pondering the next possible target and will open that to discussion after/if Google gives us something to pursue.
Word up, my homey, as it were?
*casts vote for JR to with the "Fabulous Award" in all catagories**blink* *deep blush* *re-affirms super-hero Oath to make best efforts to be "Fabulous" in all areas possible - while trying not to faint or fall over*
I like Toon Town! Throwing a pie in someone's face is a fair stress relief :)