Google - new business proposal idea - sent

[Warfdalic]

[Omega Mark V]

Can't wait to see Google's reply!

It would be awesome if they did something, as big of a company as they are. You never know what can happen.

And welcome to the Titan community, Warfdalic!

[corvus1970]

A very interesting approach, and I commend you for it

[Warfdalic]

[Warfdalic]

corvus1970 - Thank you 8-)

[Victoria Victrix]

OK folks, do me a big, big favor on this and hold your horses.

Larry has a VERY high level friend at Google who he has not yet approached, because we would like to wait to see if Disney is even remotely interested yet.  Google was our second target after we had Larry talk to his friend, who is, in fact, one of THE big guys at Google business.  If Darren thinks they might be interested, we can bypass the whole queue.  If Darren says "not a chance" he STILL knows a LOT of venture capitalists who might be.

I know that two weeks without CoH is driving you all crazy, and sending this single email isn't going to hurt, but let's take the semi-official things one at a time, OK?

[Mistress Urd]

Yeah I agree VV, I'd love for CoH to be back up and running tomorrow but these things take place at the speed of corporate business. The good news is, I don't see another MMO that interests me enough to play it.

[corvus1970]

OK folks, do me a big, big favor on this and hold your horses.

Larry has a VERY high level friend at Google who he has not yet approached, because we would like to wait to see if Disney is even remotely interested yet.  Google was our second target after we had Larry talk to his friend, who is, in fact, one of THE big guys at Google business.  If Darren thinks they might be interested, we can bypass the whole queue.  If Darren says "not a chance" he STILL knows a LOT of venture capitalists who might be.

I know that two weeks without CoH is driving you all crazy, and sending this single email isn't going to hurt, but let's take the semi-official things one at a time, OK?

Ahhhhh, makes sense!

[johnrobey]

OK folks, do me a big, big favor on this and hold your horses.

Larry has a VERY high level friend at Google who he has not yet approached, because we would like to wait to see if Disney is even remotely interested yet.  Google was our second target after we had Larry talk to his friend, who is, in fact, one of THE big guys at Google business.  If Darren thinks they might be interested, we can bypass the whole queue.  If Darren says "not a chance" he STILL knows a LOT of venture capitalists who might be.

I know that two weeks without CoH is driving you all crazy, and sending this single email isn't going to hurt, but let's take the semi-official things one at a time, OK?

OK and thanks again to you and Team Wildcard for leading and coordinating efforts.   

[ukaserex]

I am sad. I have no horses to hold and I'm quite certain that I won't be getting a pony for Christmas either.

[Triplash]

I am sad. I have no horses to hold and I'm quite certain that I won't be getting a pony for Christmas either.

I'm not that into ponies myself. I'm more of a robot guy.



But I shall gladly halt their advancement until a new target is painted!

[Jordan_Lee]

[Victoria Victrix]

Well we are planning on proposing that Google Games attempt to run CoX in the cloud.  This, like Disney, is a HUGE long shot.  They would probably have to do some serious customizing on the driver.  They would have to hire on a core group of the old PS for the game itself.  And at the moment, Google Games is ONLY interested in 2D FacePlace-like games.  But Darren is properly in the right position to just make a couple phone calls and find out, Google has a history of just doing things because they are cool for people* so we figured that Google as target two would probably make more sense than trying a second movie studio (right now we are still pondering which movie studio).  So we will let you know when Target Two is open for salvos.


*When Google was planning on putting in a server farm the next town over from me, they did a HUGE amount of infrastructure improvement, including putting in fiber freaking EVERYWHERE.  When they decided to cancel the project, they deeded all of the improvements, free, to the town.

[Triplash]

*When Google was planning on putting in a server farm the next town over from me, they did a HUGE amount of infrastructure improvement, including putting in fiber freaking EVERYWHERE.  When they decided to cancel the project, they deeded all of the improvements, free, to the town.

DAAANG. That would instill a seriously good public image of them in my eyes, I tell you what.

[NecrotechMaster]

google is a good company, while i know they have been bashed about things, overall they still do more than most poeple think

i think google would prolly be a good 2nd choice after disney

[dwturducken]

Google's unofficial motto has always been, "Don't be evil."

I'm interested in what this "Darren" has to say. Do we know which Dick he is?

[Warfdalic]

OK folks, do me a big, big favor on this and hold your horses.

Larry has a VERY high level friend at Google who he has not yet approached, because we would like to wait to see if Disney is even remotely interested yet.  Google was our second target after we had Larry talk to his friend, who is, in fact, one of THE big guys at Google business.  If Darren thinks they might be interested, we can bypass the whole queue.  If Darren says "not a chance" he STILL knows a LOT of venture capitalists who might be.

I know that two weeks without CoH is driving you all crazy, and sending this single email isn't going to hurt, but let's take the semi-official things one at a time, OK?

VV, sorry if this was stepping on your toes, I did not know there was a plan to contact google, feel a bit sh*t now and guilty in case my contact attempts have ruined any future proposals.

Sorry 8-( 

[Warfdalic]

I know the brakes were sort of hit on this, but I just want to say I love this idea. A Google game engine. I mean, google has practically everything already anyway. And I'm totally in love with any and all ideas that promote CoH returning, but I particularly like this idea. Just a game retirement home of sorts. Though I don't want CoH to 'retire' I just want it back and to keep on going like always...

Anyhoo, thank you for your commitment and please let us know when you hear back.

Thanks Jordan, I love the idea of google starting a new business venture for running dead MMO's and keeping communities alive with their loved title/'s. I don't want to knock any proposals (all avenues are good and all should be explored) but if I'm totally honest I think Google would do a better job than Disney simple because Google would probably keep the game as it is in general, I think Disney will try and push their theme across the game, changing what we love so much slightly, might be great, but it might not be either.

I have even thought about the largest online community which Mark Zuckerberg created as another option, they have the resources, vision and finances to save our beloved title also.

[Victoria Victrix]

I have even thought about the largest online community which Mark Zuckerberg created as another option, they have the resources, vision and finances to save our beloved title also.

FacePlace will monetize it, sell your account information and stick ads everywhere.  In six months they will downsize it, and put a 2D "Marvel Heroes" style game in its place, citing expense.

Be careful what you wish for.

[Victoria Victrix]

VV, sorry if this was stepping on your toes, I did not know there was a plan to contact google, feel a bit sh*t now and guilty in case my contact attempts have ruined any future proposals.

Sorry 8-(

Last I saw you couldn't take the Psychic Power Pool in real life.  Don't feel bad.  You have not harmed anything.

[Warfdalic]

Last I saw you couldn't take the Psychic Power Poll in real life.  Don't feel bad.  You have not harmed anything.

8-) good and thanks.

[Victoria Victrix]

Here's our plan, quoted from over in the Hail Mary forum, and why we are doing things at the pace we are doing them.  I understand how impatient you are.  I am too.  I want answers NOW.  But we're dealing with gargantuan businesses here, and for them, "now" can mean "in a month."

OK let me here lay out in pixels what our basic marketing strategy.

We hit Disney with the pitch a week before the shutdown on the infinitesimally small chance they MIGHT have moved to delay the shutdown.

Knowing this probably would not happen, we used that timeframe anyway as a chance to get 3 weeks of activity in before Christmas news overwhelmed everything else, and to give the Disney Dragon a chance to open one eye and notice something before---

---everything stopped two weeks before Christmas.  If you have ever worked in a big business whose main function is not affected by Christmas, you know that two weeks before Christmas, as everyone takes vacation time, everything stops.   Same for one week after Christmas.   And if your business IS tied in with Christmas, it is worse.

So realistically we do not expect to hear ANYTHING until a week into the new year.

Brian knows some people in the upper echelons of Disney Interactive.  He is going to put a bug in their ears to (1) find out if they know anything and (2) let them know quietly this is not some crazy fan idea, this really is a viable opportunity and he backs it.

So, step one for me, remind Larry to contact Darren first to find out if we have ANY chance.  I do not want to waste your time on something he knows is going to get shut down at Google.  Once I know that, I know where we need to take it from there.

[Ammon]

As mentioned in sevral places over the past month or so, Team Wildcard have a 'hit-list' of which Disney was chosen first because (a) it would likely require the most letters to get them to look, (b) it would help make news to keep coverage up, (pitching Disney takes so much chutzpa that it got into news that pitching someone more obvious would not), (c) the timing was right.  However, they were merely the first on the list, and we have a lot of other potential targets, such as Google (where we have contacts who have contacts), but also including companies like Warner Bros, and lots more. 

The chances are that if its a company with any kind of connection to gaming, or superheroes, then its probably somewhere on the list.

Of course, if any of you know venture capitalists, angel investors, etc with $10-$20 million to invest, they aren't likely to be on the list yet.  Feel free to pitch them, or to let Team Wildcard or TonyV know.

[Sarge Morris]

Out of curiousity, why does it matter who we as individuals pitch the game to?  So a group of us are pitching to Disney, some are going to Google, who cares? Its not like we own anything.  The best thing I can see happening right now is shotgunning the pitch EVERYWHERE and seeing who acts on it first.  We're not selling the IP, we're not buying the IP.  We're just willing customers looking for someone to give our money to.

[Surelle]

FacePlace will monetize it, sell your account information and stick ads everywhere.  In six months they will downsize it, and put a 2D "Marvel Heroes" style game in its place, citing expense.

Be careful what you wish for.

I heartily concur!  Facebook and Zuckerburg prey upon the hapless youngins who have no idea how many identities are stolen every year.  Even putting in fake personal info does you no good; they track you by your IP address too.  Zuckerburg would sell his Mother (and his Grandma, Grandpa and cousins) for a buck.  And sometimes Facebook offers all your info behind your back to clients who don't even really want it.  Google passing through?  Here you go!  It's crazy. 

You know it has to be bad when the U.S. Senate was getting involved.  And they build a better mousetrap and Facebook builds a better mouse.  I'll definitely pass on that one.

[Little Green Frog]

Out of curiousity, why does it matter who we as individuals pitch the game to?  So a group of us are pitching to Disney, some are going to Google, who cares? Its not like we own anything.  The best thing I can see happening right now is shotgunning the pitch EVERYWHERE and seeing who acts on it first.  We're not selling the IP, we're not buying the IP.  We're just willing customers looking for someone to give our money to.

It doesn't matter who we pitch the game to as individuals, but chances are that unless you have a good plan and some business experience under your belt, you will simply end up receiving a canned response, like the OP did. The guys behind the Hail Mary initiative seem to be doing it much more effectively. They also claim that they know important people, which gives their pitches even bigger chance of success.

But I don't see any harm in trying to get someone interested in purchasing IP on your own, if you have the opportunity.

[Rae]

The best thing I can see happening right now is shotgunning the pitch EVERYWHERE and seeing who acts on it first.  We're not selling the IP, we're not buying the IP.  We're just willing customers looking for someone to give our money to.

A couple of reasons, off the top of my head:

1) Because we need to focus our efforts. If we're asking one company to consider buying COH, we can ask everyone here to support the pitch with letters, emails, postcards etc. By aiming at multiple locations at once, we dilute our efforts. A company won't necessarily take notice of say, 20 letters asking them to buy, but hundreds are harder to ignore. And if people have already approached one company, and they've received one or two letters of support, it's more likely that if we send them the pitch, they might just go 'pft, those guys again?' and ignore it.

2) If just complicates and confuses matters if our efforts and energy is split.  People don't know which people have been 'officially' approached and who they should be throwing their weight/support/letters behind. It's kinda like everyone screaming into the dark, but in different directions. At least with Disney, all the shouting is aimed in one particular direction.

3) We run the risk of accidentally starting a bidding war if three or four or more companies sit up and take notice at once.

4) We gave 'first refusal' to Disney. Disney's a big, slow beast of a company. It's a bit rude to give them first refusal to someone, not give them the time to respond, and then start asking another company to buy it. Or just running up to guys in the street, grabbing them by the lapels and going "BUY OUR GAME!"

We're open to ideas one who we could be sending the document to, or focusing our efforts on, but we just want to have everyone on the same page at once, to give us a greater chance of success

[Andy]

I missed that post in the Hail Mary forum, VV. Thank you for re-posting the head's up about the current strategy. Anyway we can sticky that quote, turn it into a very loud and very obvious announcement? Sometimes knowing there's a plan helps soothe nerves!

Thank you again to Team Wildcard, by the way!

[Rae]

A couple of reasons, off the top of my head:

1) Because we need to focus our efforts. If we're asking one company to consider buying COH, we can ask everyone here to support the pitch with letters, emails, postcards etc. By aiming at multiple locations at once, we dilute our efforts. A company won't necessarily take notice of say, 20 letters asking them to buy, but hundreds are harder to ignore. And if people have already approached one company, and they've received one or two letters of support, it's more likely that if we send them the pitch, they might just go 'pft, those guys again?' and ignore it.

2) If just complicates and confuses matters if our efforts and energy is split.  People don't know which people have been 'officially' approached and who they should be throwing their weight/support/letters behind. It's kinda like everyone screaming into the dark, but in different directions. At least with Disney, all the shouting is aimed in one particular direction.

3) We run the risk of accidentally starting a bidding war if three or four or more companies sit up and take notice at once.

4) We gave 'first refusal' to Disney. Disney's a big, slow beast of a company. It's a bit rude to give them first refusal to someone, not give them the time to respond, and then start asking another company to buy it. Or just running up to guys in the street, grabbing them by the lapels and going "BUY THE GAME!"

We're open to ideas one who we could be sending the document to, or focusing our efforts on, but we just want to have everyone on the same page at once, to give us a greater chance of success

[Omega Mark V]

Good things take time to happen.

[Rae]

How on earth did I quote myself?   

[Little Green Frog]

Probably hit Quote instead of Modify while trying to alter your post.

[Kistulot]

3) We run the risk of accidentally starting a bidding war if three or four or more companies sit up and take notice at once.

I don't see how this could possibly hurt us.

[AlienOne]

Wait... What's the problem with having several companies bid for the game at once?

On one hand, I can see it potentially scaring away a company or two.

On the other hand, I can also see it "telling" the other companies that this is a "highly sought after" piece of property, and thus making it more desirable...

*shrug*

[Sarge Morris]

Wait... What's the problem with having several companies bid for the game at once?

On one hand, I can see it potentially scaring away a company or two.

On the other hand, I can also see it "telling" the other companies that this is a "highly sought after" piece of property, and thus making it more desirable...

*shrug*

Exactly my thoughts.

also, rock on, Warfdalic, good move, man.

[Victoria Victrix]

Wait... What's the problem with having several companies bid for the game at once?

On one hand, I can see it potentially scaring away a company or two.

On the other hand, I can also see it "telling" the other companies that this is a "highly sought after" piece of property, and thus making it more desirable...

*shrug*

The BIGGEST danger is to allow NCSoft the pretext to put an absurd valuation on CoH so they have a "reason" to cybersquat on it forever, meanwhile foisting a ridiculous value off to their stockholders as an "asset."

We seriously, seriously do not want that to happen. 

Right now we are managing to build a lot of pressure on them to get them to move off their historical "we will not sell at any price" stance.  But "we will not sell at any price" is where they want to be.  Don't play their game for them, please.

[Tanklet]

>.>

I ended up writing a good ol fashioned letter to Google a couple weeks ago. Sry, didn't realize there were things in the works. But the whole idea just kinda hit me in the shower one day, and I was inspired.

Not that it really did anything though ... I haven't heard anything.

[Triplash]

The BIGGEST danger is to allow NCSoft the pretext to put an absurd valuation on CoH so they have a "reason" to cybersquat on it forever, meanwhile foisting a ridiculous value off to their stockholders as an "asset."

I also can't help thinking that if a bidding war were to take place, the price might rise to a point where a new owner would have no choice but to interfere heavily with the game's content and/or operations just to ensure a return on investment. Ideally we want the changeover to be as "plug and play" as possible, right? The more changes they feel the need to make, the longer it will take to get back out to us, and the more drastic a difference we would see when it gets here. We don't want to MAKE it a pay-to-win franchise because that's the only way to recover the purchase price.

[Victoria Victrix]

I also can't help thinking that if a bidding war were to take place, the price might rise to a point where a new owner would have no choice but to interfere heavily with the game's content and/or operations just to ensure a return on investment. Ideally we want the changeover to be as "plug and play" as possible, right? The more changes they feel the need to make, the longer it will take to get back out to us, and the more drastic a difference we would see when it gets here. We don't want to MAKE it a pay-to-win franchise because that's the only way to recover the purchase price.

Another very good point.

Would you rather a potential buyer had money to spare to run ads before Iron Man 3 in theaters?  Or had to recoup so much that everything new was real-cash-only?

[eabrace]

I know that two weeks without CoH is driving you all crazy

And that drive is a very short trip. 

[Little Green Frog]

The BIGGEST danger is to allow NCSoft the pretext to put an absurd valuation on CoH so they have a "reason" to cybersquat on it forever, meanwhile foisting a ridiculous value off to their stockholders as an "asset."

We seriously, seriously do not want that to happen. 

Right now we are managing to build a lot of pressure on them to get them to move off their historical "we will not sell at any price" stance.  But "we will not sell at any price" is where they want to be.  Don't play their game for them, please.

If NCsoft has a reason not to sell, they won't anyway and a potential bidding war will neither hurt nor help. But public companies rarely base their business decisions on pure spite and they need to answer to their shareholders. A bidding war may drive the price high enough for NCsoft to not be able to ignore attempts to buy the IP any longer.

[Victoria Victrix]

If NCsoft has a reason not to sell, they won't anyway and a potential bidding war will neither hurt nor help. But public companies rarely base their business decisions on pure spite and they need to answer to their shareholders. A bidding war may drive the price high enough for NCsoft to not be able to ignore attempts to buy the IP any longer.

I still believe it is a bad idea to attempt to start a bidding war.  It is likely to leave BETTER buyers, people we would RATHER have the IP, in the dust, and it is inclined to make people who are only interested in a cash cow think that is all CoH can or should be.

There are only so many of us, only so much time to write letters and mail them, only so much postage money.  You suggest it would be better to scatter that effort.  I suggest it is much, much wiser to focus it like a laser at one target at a time.  I think scattering that effort would be sabotaging what we are trying to do.

[Little Green Frog]

I still believe it is a bad idea to attempt to start a bidding war.  It is likely to leave BETTER buyers, people we would RATHER have the IP, in the dust, and it is inclined to make people who are only interested in a cash cow think that is all CoH can or should be.

There are only so many of us, only so much time to write letters and mail them, only so much postage money.  You suggest it would be better to scatter that effort.  I suggest it is much, much wiser to focus it like a laser at one target at a time.  I think scattering that effort would be sabotaging what we are trying to do.

No, no. I think concentrated effort is really the best course of action. Thank you for orchestarting it. I just think that we have too little knowledge of what is going on behind the scenes to predict any sort of outcome. But again - concentrated effort is the way to go.

[Victoria Victrix]

No, no. I think concentrated effort is really the best course of action. Thank you for orchestarting it. I just think that we have too little knowledge of what is going on behind the scenes to predict any sort of outcome. But again - concentrated effort is the way to go.

Looks for Real Life Psychic Power Pool.

Fails to find it.

Believe me, right now, if the heavens opened and I could get one single superpower, it would be to be able to read the minds of the higher ups in NCSoft.  But as Marion Zimmer Bradley once famously said, "I am not a medium, I am an extra-large."

[DrakeGrimm]

Looks for Real Life Psychic Power Pool.

Fails to find it.

Believe me, right now, if the heavens opened and I could get one single superpower, it would be to be able to read the minds of the higher ups in NCSoft.  But as Marion Zimmer Bradley once famously said, "I am not a medium, I am an extra-large."

...no one wants to give me super powers right now. You don't want to know what I'd do with them.

* DrakeGrimm thinks he is, mayhaps, not the most level-headed and even-tempered person in existence.

[Little Green Frog]

Looks for Real Life Psychic Power Pool.

Fails to find it.

Be watchful what you wish for.


from the excellent http://thedoghousediaries.com/

[Rae]

Could try:

http://www.superherosupplies.com

[Segev]

I know what I'd do with superpowers!

Well, depending what they were. "Spot-on-the-wall" wouldn't be all that useful.

(Of course, real life has what some heroes have commented is the greatest superpower ever, and I am slowly working towards having it.)

[corvus1970]

That site is hilarious

[Mister Bison]

Could try:

http://www.superherosupplies.com

Oh, totally forgot that one, priceless

I love the galon of Omnipotence.

[Warfdalic]

Maybe coss im tired, 14 hour day and a 200 mile drive over 5 hours through shitty roads and some god awefull sights but I will say this and it might be harsh .....

I really did not want to step on toes, attempt to quash any future proposals, start a bidding wars.

Having more than one company interested in a product or title is not a bad thing, nor does it have to end up in a bidding war, all though just one more time, this was never my intention.

I sent emails to all ncsoft when requested, so did my son. Ok mine was more about trying to get ncsoft to open up communications to this community my sons was emotional, he is 11, i did try to get him to curn it but to be honest, i little bit of emotion is not a bad thing and it helped him to get it down on paper and out of his system.

and im still trying to ask ncsoft via the email address supplied after the first flood to get them to at least talk to this community.

I have spent hours making a hero themed christmas card, poster and my son made a little things for Disney and it cost a fortune to send them to the states to disney, all the things being asked are being done.

Im not a hero, once villain came out I never once visited the blue side again, This is what villain do, sure we have a mission, following it as required for the greater good, but ................. villains have their own plans sometimes and if villains can see an opportunity, we will jump in.

I am a villain, this is what villains do.

[Victoria Victrix]

You are FINE, Warfdalic.  It's ok.  No blood, no foul.  Rest easy.

[Bludgeon]

VV, sorry if this was stepping on your toes, I did not know there was a plan to contact google, feel a bit sh*t now and guilty in case my contact attempts have ruined any future proposals.

Sorry 8-(

My apologies for not monitoring the forums closer.  I work with the gang at Google Ventures on a daily basis.  Granted it is in the area of biotech, but the group is not really that large. They are spooky young and smart.  With that said, their interests are really in the area of BIG IDEAS. They focus on disruptive business models that change paradigms and shift industries.  I never thought about broaching the topic of COH, but I would be willing to take a pulse check. 

I don't want to come off as the Grinch at this time of year, but I feel it is a long shot; given my knowledge of the team.  There are other groups as well, but they are all going to be concerned about business models, management experience in the field, competitive analysis, etc.

If vv or one of the organizers can let me know whether to move forward or stand down it would be appreciated.

Blu

[Victoria Victrix]

Blu, a pulse-taking would be extremely useful at this point.  PMing you.

[Quinch]

I don't want to come off as the Grinch at this time of year, but I feel it is a long shot; given my knowledge of the team.

Everything we've all done so far and most likely everything we'll do in the future until we succeed has been a long shot, so don't worry about the odds. The fact that we keep trying to succeed doesn't mean we're not braced for failure.

[dwturducken]

Persistence has a way of drawing attention, too.

[Segev]

I am now picturing a 5-year-old Statesman poking a grumpy old Nanny NCSoft who's trying to pretend he doesn't exist. Repeatedly. And each time saying, "Is this bothering you? Is this bothering you? Is this bothering you?"

[Nafaustu]

Maybe coss im tired, 14 hour day and a 200 mile drive over 5 hours through pancakey roads and some god awefull sights but I will say this and it might be harsh .....

<snip>

You, sir, did nothing wrong and no one thinks you did.   But you do need hugs.
*hugs*

I'm a crazy empath sometimes, and this is what I do.

...what, villains need hugs too!   Probably more then most of us.   And possibly a good cry.  But no crying for you, sir!

**fills thread with warmth and light**

[Warfdalic]

You, sir, did nothing wrong and no one thinks you did.   But you do need hugs.
*hugs*

I'm a crazy empath sometimes, and this is what I do.

...what, villains need hugs too!   Probably more then most of us.   And possibly a good cry.  But no crying for you, sir!

**fills thread with warmth and light**

Hugz never hurt anyone and thanks for the kind words.

Just finished a night shift, sorry for the late response, going to stay up for a bit and chill out if i can....... id normally try and do an ITF after a night shift, roll a respec trial or two but as of yet, no chance of that happening........ (sorry but im going to say it) ... damn you ncsoft ! damn you!

[Victoria Victrix]

Hugz never hurt anyone and thanks for the kind words.

Just finished a night shift, sorry for the late response, going to stay up for a bit and chill out if i can....... id normally try and do an ITF after a night shift, roll a respec trial or two but as of yet, no chance of that happening........ (sorry but im going to say it) ... damn you ncsoft ! damn you!

*Lavender-scented old lady hug*

Here, have some cookies and brandy-spiked milk.

[healix]

I am now picturing a 5-year-old Statesman poking a grumpy old Nanny NCSoft who's trying to pretend he doesn't exist. Repeatedly. And each time saying, "Is this bothering you? Is this bothering you? Is this bothering you?"

[NecrotechMaster]

hehe, thats a good pic