That's convolutedly illogical.
Yes, as Leonard Nimoy used to say, illogical. However, it is consistent with NCSoft's prior behavior, which can be described as seemingly convoluted and illogical.
After the game shut down, Matt Miller related that Paragon Studios had been in discussions with NCSoft about allowing the studio to go independent and keep the game running... he indicated negotiations were ongoing almost to the very end... only one more signature was needed... things looked like they would work out... right up until they didn't.
Why did NCSoft do that? Why wouldn't they instead say, "No. The decision has been made, and it stands."
We've discussed the reasons over the ensuing years, including:
- The Korean cultural concept of kibun, which seems somewhat related to the multi-cultural concept of saving face. Negotiating with Paragon Studios--and later Nate Downes' group--was a way for NCSoft to show respect for the other party without committing to (or necessarily having any real intention of) agreement.
- NCSoft is a huge corporation with many different parts. People in different parts of the corporation don't necessarily know what's going on throughout NCSoft, they're just handling their immediate responsibilities.
Hence, when Nate approached NCSoft "like another Korean company" with a proper introduction, the contact person referred Nate to a part of the corporation that handles such requests. There, Nate's group was entered into a program, and their request is being processed ... and that's where they've been for many months (as far as we know).
It doesn't mean the key decision-makers at NCSoft intend to approve (or are even aware of) the deal. The longer the "negotiations" go on, the more it looks like NCSoft is just stringing along the request as a way to maintain business relations and avoid embarrassing either party.