And the mask comes off.

[Surelle]

You're missing my base point... not that what they're doing (or failing to do) is morally wrong, or that we deserve more, or that there is a problem with the NDA, or with how it's being observed. I understand that none of those speak to any reason why anyone should announce any information.

My point is that there is a loss of attention, and in entertainment, you almost never want to lose attention (and never when you have a good product). And loss of attention seems like it would hurt both sides. So I do understand how negotiations could continue at a slow rate, and how the NDA can't really decide what "discussion materials" to limit. I just don't understand WHY they decided to go with negotiations that are not only private but, in effect, secret. This isn't a merger, and it's not a negotiation that will affect stock prices. Burying an entertainment product for 2-3 years while selling it is also harming it while selling it.

You are acting like this is an active property that NCSoft took the initiative to sell.  Wrong!  It was a property they thought so worthless that they closed it down forever, and slammed the doors right in the faces of multiple parties (including Paragon Studios) who tried to buy/transfer it.

What CoX *really* isn't to NCSoft is something they actively want to prevent harm from coming to, and something that they care about selling or leasing by any certain time frame.

They were approached many times before this, and now again a year and a half ago by Nate & Crew.  Nate did say even in his very first post in this thread that NCSoft may be doing nothing more than stringing them along, hoping they eventually give up and go away so there won't be another negative P.R. event.  Bringing this deal to the table had NOTHING to do with anyone on NCSoft's end wanting it, period.

Personally, although I'd love a miracle, that's exactly what it would take for this deal to go through.  Hey, miracles happen every day (just ask E.M.T.s!). but I'm not holding my breath for one considering who we're dealing with, nor am I sitting around making demands of the team trying for that miracle. 

By rights, we shouldn't even know anything about this deal-- it was some demanding jerk who caused this thread to even have to happen.  All other people becoming more like that in this or any other thread is doing is proving that the whole thing should be kept quiet no matter what this time.  After all, if no one privy to the beginnings of the deal had leaked info to Mr. Demanding over at Facebook, none of this would have happened either.

[Abraxus]

You are right.  I would rather not have known, because knowledge of it leads to questions, and there no answers to the questions we have.  At least none that bring anyone any satisfaction.

[HEATSTROKE]

When the news leaked, and Nate made his announcement, we were all given the impression that it was "imminent".  If it really was known to be a long long ways off yet at that time, then that should have been communicated so folks didn't their hopes up so soon.

A simple "It could be a year or more away yet." would have sufficed.

In reality I wasnt expecting to hear anything before March 2016 at the earliest..

[downix]

I was under the impression that the negotiations were effectively on hold while the Nexon/NCSoft dance was going on, so right now, literally nothing is happening.

Not nothing, but definitely chilled things while they're pulled around the prom.

And thank you everyone for the birthday wishes.

[Sinistar]

I keep having the recurring dream of winning it big in either the lottery or the casinos, usually the lottery.

Then after I take care of things at the top of the "What to do if I win the Lottery list"  I approach NCSoft with a team of techs, and make them an offer they'd be dumb to refuse.

[Stealth Dart]

Happy Birthday Nate 

[rebel 1812]

You are not a prospective customer until a product or service is made available for consumption.

Complaining about not hearing what is happening with your non-existent product or service is crazy-talk.

Its a bit like pulling on the leprechaun's beard so it is length you think it should be. It doesn't make the gold any shinier.

Not really.  Studios been marketing for movies well before launch.  Same thing with video games. In fact according to you a pre-order is crazy talk.  How could you buy a product that is not released yet. 

[Felderburg]

There's a difference between publicizing negotiations, and publicizing an upcoming product that is the result of those negotiations. Sony and Marvel kept things quiet until they were ready to announce that they'd worked out a Spider-Man deal, for example.

[Zombie Hustler]

Schrodinger's Negotiations.

[Remaugen]

Yay! A Nate sighting!

[Arcana]

Not really.  Studios been marketing for movies well before launch.  Same thing with video games. In fact according to you a pre-order is crazy talk.  How could you buy a product that is not released yet.

Actually, that might not be the best example, because many believe that the way the current marketing machine works for video games combined with the preorder system that is standard practice these days combines to make game development a nightmarish generator of poor quality, burned out developers, and failed studios.

Movie-making is a far more deterministic process, and while accidents and catastrophes do happen, most movies that are green lit are eventually made and released, and the overwhelming majority of movies that actually start production generate a completed product.  Movies have production schedules that are followed at least approximately, and for big releases they generate a steady source of distributable information.  Even then what marketing leaks to generate interest often causes collateral damage to the production and isn't always lacking in controversy.

And while marketing movies is something that is moderately risky, and advance marketing and sales of video games is actually arguably destructive, the history of contract negotiations is dozens of times longer, and public transparency has never been a component of the process.

[Power Gamer]

Not really.  Studios been marketing for movies well before launch.  Same thing with video games. In fact according to you a pre-order is crazy talk.  How could you buy a product that is not released yet.

Show me where I can pre-order CoX.

[MM3squints]

Actually, that might not be the best example, because many believe that the way the current marketing machine works for video games combined with the preorder system that is standard practice these days combines to make game development a nightmarish generator of poor quality, burned out developers, and failed studios.

The best evidence of this happening is probably with EA, especially with the now defunct Maxis branch. However, some developers do pre-orders well like these good people:



This is if you buy Fallout 4 Pipboy Edition (currently sold out) you get a model pipboy you can stick your phone in and act like a second screen. Even when revealing this at E3, Todd Howard states, "yes it's a second screen experience and usually they are stupid gimmicks, but as far as stupid gimmicks go, this is the best F#@$ one I ever seen." I agree with Todd and I gave him my money.

[Arcana]

The best evidence of this happening is probably with EA, especially with the now defunct Maxis branch. However, some developers do pre-orders well like these good people:

Well, you'll know the pre-order system didn't do noticeable damage if Fallout 4 itself releases in time without horrible bugs or gameplay issues.

I mean Aliens: Colonial Marines was released in a horrible state, but if the preorders came with functioning pulse rifles I would have just thrown the game up in the air, shot it with my pulse rifle, and called it even.

[downix]

I worked in cinema for 7 years. Even worked under one of the greats (you may know him from his work on MASH, Nashville, Popeye and other such hits, *not* the father, but Robert Reed Altman, the directors youngest son, great guy). And you know what? I *WISH* these negotiations were as easy as one for movies, and cinema negotiations you go in expecting to be rakes over the coals.

[Remaugen]

Ouch!

[MM3squints]

Well, you'll know the pre-order system didn't do noticeable damage if Fallout 4 itself releases in time without horrible bugs or gameplay issues.

It's a Bethesda game it will come with day one bugs xD. Lucky (or smart) Bethesda usually gives out the SDK (Skyrim called it the Creation Kit, Fallout calls it GECK) and the modding community will resolve most bugs (usually they come in the form of a memory leak like Fallout NV and Skyrim had within hours of the game being released.) Heck last time Skyrim came out it took someone less than 48 hours to create a 1024x1024 texture pack, new UI, and removing blocky faces. I do anticipate bugs from the get go, but I'm not too worried about it thanks to the modding community.

^Note: This may sound like Bethesda is lazy with their QA, but usually for some reason the memory leaks only happened with Radeon cards. I think Bethesda has learned over the 7 or so years of development to check that, but I'm not worried myself, Bethesda games works fine with Nvidia cards

[Power Gamer]

I worked in cinema for 7 years. Even worked under one of the greats (you may know him from his work on MASH, Nashville, Popeye and other such hits, *not* the father, but Robert Reed Altman, the directors youngest son, great guy). And you know what? I *WISH* these negotiations were as easy as one for movies, and cinema negotiations you go in expecting to be rakes over the coals.

Thanks for clarifying the level of difficulty you are experiencing for those who might not be familiar with the rigors.

[CrimsonCapacitor]

Well, you'll know the pre-order system didn't do noticeable damage if Fallout 4 itself releases in time without horrible bugs or gameplay issues.

I mean Aliens: Colonial Marines was released in a horrible state, but if the preorders came with functioning pulse rifles I would have just thrown the game up in the air, shot it with my pulse rifle, and called it even.

Two Words:

Arkham Knight

[downix]

Two Words:

Arkham Knight

I'll see your Arkham Knight and raise you an Assassins Creed Unity