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Matrix Online Sold To SOE?

Posted by Zonk on from the unplugging-the-tanks dept.

SirBruce writes "Corpnews is reporting that two separate sources have told them The Matrix Online has been sold to Sony Online Entertainment. Monolith is getting out of the MMO business altogether. SOE has also acquired the rights from Monolith for another MMO that was in development but recently cancelled a DC Comics MMOG. (ed: Remember the DC vs. NCSoft squabble?) Most of Monlith's MMO employees are being laid off with SOE taking over." Commentary at Plaguelands. Obviously at this point still just a rumour, so have some salt with this news.

63 comments

  1. Thanks by AtariAmarok · · Score: 4, Funny

    Thanks. I was wondering why Morpheus was back in the game, but was now trying to sell everyone PSP's: "Free your mind by looking at this cool color screen!"

    --
    Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
    1. Re:Thanks by wgaryhas · · Score: 1

      Nah, that was just Murpheus trying to trick a bunch of zionists into getting themselves killed.

      --
      "For every complex problem, there is a solution that is simple, neat, and wrong." - H.L. Mencken
  2. Correction by twl1973 · · Score: 2, Informative

    It is Marvel vs. NCSOFT.

    And it's still ongoing.

    1. Re:Correction by Babbster · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Makes it that much more hilarious that the link provided SAYS "Marvel/NCSoft Litigation Update" right at the top of the page. It keeps getting better, too, in that Zonk "edited" both this post AND the earlier one. Seriously, editors, you could AT LEAST visit and skim the provided links before putting up the story...

    2. Re:Correction by Babbster · · Score: 1

      I must be blind - that link was actually INSERTED by Zonk himself. Dude, seriously......

    3. Re:Correction by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Zonk is again promoting a site that promotes piracy. Obviously Zonk is pro-piracy.

    4. Re:Correction by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No wonder it's still going on. NCSoft is still keep copying other characters in
      their nothing-original game. It's matter of time other companies start suing
      this company. Someone has to stop this Korean company doing so shamelessly.

  3. SOE by EddieBurkett · · Score: 2, Interesting

    As someone who plays Star Wars Galaxies, all I have to say is HAHA!!!!!

    Yet another IP for Sony to acquire and then squander away the potential while they focus on EQ.

    --
    The only thing I hate more than hypocrites are people who hate hypocrites.
    1. Re:SOE by portwojc · · Score: 1

      You're right about that.

      I was thinking about giving the Matrix a chance but not now.

    2. Re:SOE by Meest · · Score: 1

      Its a good thing I play EQ!!

      but realy. it seems thats the way SOE works...

    3. Re:SOE by TheDarkRogue · · Score: 1

      I was thinking I could try it out, but after the mess SOE made of SWG After the Curb Job, i'm staying the hell away

      --
      (Score:0, Interesting)
  4. Low expectations by alvinrod · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    After the last movie in the Matrix Trilogy and the horrible Enter the Matrix game, if they manage to get two blobs that look mildly like Neo and an Agent, I'll be fairly impressed.

    1. Re:Low expectations by superpulpsicle · · Score: 1

      The matrix franchise is OVER. They had something going in the first movie. The sequels were absolutely butchered. So is every video game.

      Some people said the original was only good because the plot was a copy of Neon Genesis. When the original was over, the W Brothers proved they had zero screenwriting talent.

    2. Re:Low expectations by araczynski · · Score: 0

      i consider any movie that entertains/wows me for 2 hours to be a good movie. i think anyone that's looking for life-altering movies needs to get a clue/life, movies are a quick 'fun' thing, they're not some pinnacle of human expression, they never have been, and they never will be. as for talent, where's anyone else's matrix like movies? where's everyone else's 'talent'? somehow i think W brothers have more talent then any of the wannabe lards out there who couldn't even produce a jerk off documentary.

      --
      sigs suck
    3. Re:Low expectations by KDR_11k · · Score: 1

      They were blatantly copied from the scripts some female writer thought up (who apparently also wrote the Terminator script). She sued WB and the courts agreed. Apparently the sequels were no longer stolen from her work, making it clear how "skilled" the Wachowskis are at making movies.

      http://www.popandpolitics.com/articles_detail.cfm? articleID=1494

      Might be complete bullshit though.

      --
      Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
    4. Re:Low expectations by Trepalium · · Score: 1
      The absurdity of the claim is that her one script is the basis for BOTH The Terminator and The Matrix. I suppose we should believe that she was the first to think of the idea of war between humans and machines. To make things even more absurd, they offer up the phrase "I'll be back" as proof that The Terminator was a copy, when the writers of that movie have already said that they didn't quite understand why people latched onto that phrase when it was considered by them to just be part of the normal dialogue. It's like saying the Matrix was copied because Keanu Reeves said "Whoa" in it.

      I can accept that The Matrix may have been copied or at least inspired by her writings, but The Terminator doesn't fit that mould as well (especially since it was followed up by sequels which were all fairly well written for the type of movie it is).

      --
      I used up all my sick days, so I'm calling in dead.
    5. Re:Low expectations by Pluvius · · Score: 1

      i consider any movie that entertains/wows me for 2 hours to be a good movie.

      Yeah, that's why the first Matrix movie was good and the other two sucked.

      Rob

    6. Re:Low expectations by KDR_11k · · Score: 1

      Well, there ARE common traits between Matrix and Terminator (one hero destined to fight the machines tht want to wipe out humanity...) but you're right, they're so loose you could sue half of Hollywood with them. But then it might be interesting to see what Hollywood would do if they couldn't use the same three stories over and over again...

      --
      Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
    7. Re:Low expectations by Golias · · Score: 1

      The thing about the Matrix is, you can point at so many obvious influences which a crazy old lady in Salt Lake City is unlikely to be at all familiar with.

      1. Gnosticism and Gnostic Christianity

      2. "Wire Fu" movies

      3. Japanese anime ("Ghost in the Shell, in particular")

      4. Comic books.

      5. Older "alternate reality" sci-fi. (For example... There was an episode of Doctor Who in the 1970s in which The Doctor battled The Master in a virtual computer-generated world, also known as "The Matrix", in which laws of physics could be slightly broken.)

      Now, you gotta ask, who is more likely to craft a movie around these ultra-geeky elements? A Hollywood weirdo and his transgendered brother, or a lone woman in Utah?

      By the way: The Matrix sequels sucked, but the Amimatrix was pretty good, and "Bound" was the bomb, yo!

      --

      Information wants to be anthropomorphized.

    8. Re:Low expectations by balthan · · Score: 1

      Ok, for a supposed 2.5 billion dollar judgement, it's made very little news. No hits for "Sophia Stewart" on any major news sites.

      It's a hoax.

    9. Re:Low expectations by Khuffie · · Score: 1

      Ever read Neuromancer? Because half of The Matrix is ripped off from that book. Heck, they even had a cyberspace called "the matrix" in it. Also from The City and the Stars by Arthur c Clarke, Ghost in the Shell and many, many more. They basically threw all these ideas together, and called them their own. Now they're not even bothering. They're talking an already established comic book, making a movie out of it, and calling it their on.

    10. Re:Low expectations by Bigthecat · · Score: 1

      You're right about that. About all that was genuinly left interested in the Matrix were the 'philosophical' idiots that thought that there was still some great meaning and master plan behind the two terrible, terrible sequels.

    11. Re:Low expectations by KDR_11k · · Score: 1

      I've read an article that was written by Stewart herself or at least contained a whole load of quotes, she claimed it wasn't in the news "because the media cartels don't want you to know". Yeah, right, don't forget your tinfoil hat, they might steal your script ideas with their mind readers.

      Would be nice if Snopes did some research on that, it has no entry unfortunately.

      --
      Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
    12. Re:Low expectations by MajorYoshi · · Score: 1

      rather judgemental aren't we?

      Perhaps I could qualify as a "crazy old man" in SLC that does actually have extensive knowledge in the things you mentioned as well as:

      1. Eastern Philosophy with its ties to our perceptions being what creates the realities we each live in. This ties further with being able to do 'impossible' things.

      2. The 'Matrix' in many other 'forms'. Neruomancer? Strange Days? Shadowrun? Many other books with similar concepts, even if they aren't of a technical nature like the Matrix?

      3. Other religions outside of Gnosticism that have some form of 'mysticality' (Astral Projection, Kundalini, Energy Manipilation, etc).

      So, is it entirely far-fetched to think she could have done it?

      Not saying she did because I don't know one way or the other. There's only a few people that really DO know what happened. I don't think you're one of them.

      So let's not judge others, neh? Especially when basing it on limited first-hand knowledge.

      MajorYoshi

    13. Re:Low expectations by Dunbal · · Score: 1

      I don't get it: you offer basically an extension of the same argument and yet somehow this proves the opposite point to what the original poster tried to make? Maybe I should have taken the blue pill...

      --
      Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
    14. Re:Low expectations by KDR_11k · · Score: 1

      They're talking an already established comic book, making a movie out of it, and calling it their on.

      What are they working on?

      --
      Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
    15. Re:Low expectations by MajorYoshi · · Score: 1

      Original poster says this sort of thing couldn't come from anyone from someone from Salt Lake. They're apparently not edumacated like the west coasters are! Me in Salt Lake saying he's incorrect. better?

  5. Re:Hear That? by mwvdlee · · Score: 1

    7 people getting laid off because their bosses wanted quick money? I care.

    --
    Slashdot social media options: AIM, ICQ, Yahoo, Jabber and Mobile Text. Why no MySpace?
  6. Never thought I'd hear myself say this by Winterblink · · Score: 4, Interesting

    ... but this might be a good thing for MxO. I've played several Sony MMOs, and MxO, and I have to say that MxO is just terrible. People may bash Sony for their games, but that's nothing like what's been done by Monolith.

    Sony might actually be able to look at what's been there and revamp the game so it actually includes things like fun gameplay and content. There's a LOT of potential in what's already there in MxO, but I think it needs a more experienced hand to guide it to being something great.

    --
    "I'm a leaf on the wind. Watch how I soar."
    -Hoban Washburn
    1. Re:Never thought I'd hear myself say this by 1019 · · Score: 1

      Blinky! -waves from EVE-

      I personally think that any MMO SOE touches slowly becomes devoid of fun and logic, all for the purpose of making a dollar. MxO was pretty bad and can only get worse from SOE's money grabbing tactics.

      I just feel bad for the staff that will be let go and the players who invested time and money into it. It had a lot of potential.

      --
      shame on us / for all we have done / and all we ever were / just zeroes and ones
    2. Re:Never thought I'd hear myself say this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How can making a game devoid of fun be a money making strategy? Wouldn't people presumably stop playing and paying?

  7. Station Access - GREAT! by jasonmicron · · Score: 2

    Now all SOE has to do is add it to the Station Access payment plan and my $21.95 / month goes even further!

    1. Re:Station Access - GREAT! by blueZhift · · Score: 1

      Now all SOE has to do is add it to the Station Access payment plan and my $21.95 / month goes even further!

      Hmmm, if they play this right, SOE may have the answer for churn in MMO games. If they keep enough interesting games in their stable and offer them all via Station Access, then players can just cycle from one to the other as they feel like it. This of course only works if the games are interesting and SOE doesn't piss people off with bad service.

      --
      To the making of books there is no end, so let's get started
    2. Re:Station Access - GREAT! by fleurbrawl · · Score: 1

      Yeah. Free code download would be nice too :)

    3. Re:Station Access - GREAT! by Milner99 · · Score: 1

      works for me also! haha

  8. WB & Monolith.... by BloodAngel_Au · · Score: 1

    I thought about a year or so ago, Jason Hall (CEO of Monolith) came on in charge of WBE and then WB promptly purchased Monolith. I can only assume this was a pre-arranged deal to do with MxO as it was under development for several years, so Monolith was expecting something for the work.

    I don't belive WB would just spit Monolith & the Matrix name out to there arch rival so soon after launch, I'm almost sure they'd rather it die before doing this.

    I sure do hope anyways, cause god I hate SOE.

    1. Re:WB & Monolith.... by BloodAngel_Au · · Score: 2, Informative

      The official word people:

      The companies also disclosed that Sony Online had acquired Warner's "The Matrix Online" game. All 25 staff members currently operating the subscription-based massively multiplayer online game have been offered their existing position under the new ownership.

      Sega of America will continue to manage distribution of "The Matrix Online," while Warner will oversee content development and relinquish operational involvement. Ubisoft withdrew from its involvement with the property in early 2004.

      What exactly this means for Live Events, I don't know. I would imagine they'll still exist, but with SOE's attitude, I dunno how good they'll be.

      Full article found Here: http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/200506 17/en_nm/media_superheroes_dc

      5:30am, Friday the 17th, a sad, sad day for MxO players everywhere.

  9. A new twist... by OverDrive33 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I'll bet SOE will turn poor SWG (I'm a player) into even more of a Star Wars blasphmey by having it turn out that SWG is ACTUALLY another Matrix, and for only $69.99 + $10 a month you can get "out" of the Matrix into the 'real world' which actually turns out to be EQ2.

    MMORPGs need something fresh, and by a singular company starting to own a lot of the larger ones... I don't see that happening.

    --
    Find Escorts, Strippers, Massage Parlours, Swingers
  10. Wow by Phil+the+Canuck · · Score: 5, Interesting

    If they put MxO on Station Access, I'll play it again. I guess the other good news is that within a year or so, everyone will be able to have their very own "The One" character.

  11. Hmm.... by sesshomaru · · Score: 0, Redundant

    The link that says DC vs. NCSoft actually links to an article about Marvel vs. NCSoft.

    --
    "MIT betrayed all of its basic principles."
  12. Re:Hear That? by KDR_11k · · Score: 2, Funny

    No, that's the sound of all fifteen Matrix Online subscribers screaming out in agony as the Empire approaces. And then... Silence.

    --
    Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
  13. Change of business plan? by Alarash · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Hi there,

    I'm wondering something, and maybe some of you who took marketing/business courses might help.

    Is SOE changing its business plan? I remember SOE developping and keeping alive one (EQ) and then two (SWG) MMORPG at the same time. Then EQ2 came out, and they had 3. Then they created a company along with Turbine (Asheron's Call I & II, with Lord of the Rings Online and Dungeons and Dragons Online currently in development), so they can publish their games (and possibly use the "All access pass" options for both SOE and Turbine games) easily.

    But if I remember correctly, the first developper/publisher that rolled out new MMO at a very fast pace was NCSoft. For the last 2 or 3 years, these guys just keep on releasing more and more games (Lineage, Lineage II, City of Heroes, Guild Wars, with at least two games in developpement - Auto Assault and Tabula Rasa, and possibly a third, heroic fantasy one developped by former Blizzard employees).

    So my question is : Are SOE and Turbine trying to "eat" NCSoft's market share, beat them at their own game if you will, even if they have to merge and buy crappy games (like MxO, no offense to the ones who like it) so the other doesn't buy it ?

    1. Re:Change of business plan? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Turbine is not owned by SOE. The company created by Sony is stricly a Sony deal, which Turbine contracted with for distributes. The extent of Sony's partnership with Turbine is that Sony distributes the Asheron's Call 1 and Asheron's Call 2 boxes to retailers. That's it. Turbine maintains its own independent billing system and customer base for AC1 and AC2.

      Dungeons and Dragons Online is being published (not distributed) by Atari. There is no SOE connection at all there.

      Lord of the Rings Online has no official publisher since Turbine ought the rights from VUG and Tolkien Enterprises.

      So please stop spreading rumors.

    2. Re:Change of business plan? by Alarash · · Score: 1
      Hi,

      Maybe my post wasn't too clear. Sorry for that. I also should have posted a source. The name of the company created by SOE is Station Publishing. Let me quote the home page for you:

      " Station Publishing(TM) offers developers and publishers the opportunity to capitalize on Sony Online Entertainment's experienced and robust marketing, PR, sales and distribution services. Station Publishing meets the needs of a growing number of companies who may not have the capability or inclination to undertake this 'last mile' themselves. The scope of services offered under Station Publishing are matched to the needs of the distribution arrangement.

      Our first titles to be released under Station Publishing will be Turbine Entertainment Software's Asheron's Call: Throne of Destiny and Asheron's Call 2: Legions. We are reviewing a number of other titles, and are open to discussions with developers and publishers for games on most platforms. For interested parties, please email us."

      So yes, they only distribute. I never said say didn't, and I certainely never said SOE owns Turbine - just like NCSoft doesn't own all the companies they publis or distribute. I merely suggested that they could possibly include Turbine's games in the "All Access Pass". And that's not really the point anyway. Since they distribute their games under one banner, they are the second largest MMO distributor after NCSoft, according to the MMOG Chart.

      Also, your statement about Lord of the Rings Online oughting the rights to VUG is wrong. In late march, they bought back the exclusive rights from VUG (press release). That leaves them free to use Station Publishing, doesn't it ?

      And as for Dungeons and Dragons online, I guess that's the exception. But there's a logic to it. Atari has got a deal with Wizards of the Coast to publish most (if not all) of the games using their licenses (see Neverwinter Nights - Forgotten Realms -, for instnce).

      So my post wasn't spreading rumors, I think. I was asking valid questions, making hypostesis, and I never said I was 100% sure or that I had "inside sources".

      Kthx.

    3. Re:Change of business plan? by Bigthecat · · Score: 2, Informative

      Sony also have Planetside in their lineup, which I believe that they bought the parent developers of during development, however I'm not certain on this.

    4. Re:Change of business plan? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I merely suggested that they could possibly include Turbine's games in the "All Access Pass".

      No, they can't. Distribution has nothing to do with the per month billing cycle. That's a whole other business deal. By your reasoning, I could suggest that Vivendi could possibly include Ultima Online in their per-month subscriptions. Sure, it's possible, but it would require two companies getting together and discussing it.

      Also, your statement about Lord of the Rings Online oughting the rights to VUG is wrong. In late march, they bought back the exclusive rights from VUG (press release). That leaves them free to use Station Publishing, doesn't it ?

      It was a typo - it was supposed to read "bought". Once again, that leaves them free to use anyone (yes, including Station Publishing, or any other publisher out there). Turbine is not committed to anyone right now, though.

  14. Here it comes! Lookout! by freaksta · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    ITS THE NERF BAT!!!!

    --


    Hrrm... I usually just sign my name.
    1. Re:Here it comes! Lookout! by freaksta · · Score: 2, Funny

      Its not offtopic, you apparently have no idea how SOE operates its MMORPGs. Play a SOE game before you mod me down, you uninformed clod.

      --


      Hrrm... I usually just sign my name.
  15. Money? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I thought Sony was in financial trouble, where do they keep getting all this money from to pay for exclusive games?

  16. Re:Hear That? by mellon · · Score: 1

    Not to pick nits or anything, but I'm pretty sure I've seen fifteen real players in a pitched battle near a hardline all at the same time, so there must be at least twenty subscribers. Possibly more, if you assume that they don't all get on at the same time.

    In any case, I'm really not happy with the way the game plays now - you pretty much can't get experience points without shooting someone, which isn't my idea of a good time - so I wouldn't mind some fresh thinking. Of course, it's not clear that there will be any fresh thinking, but anything's possible.

  17. Size matters? by Rhys · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Does size really matter that much? Almost every game out there (with few exceptions like Eve) splits players up into servers that cap out at what, 1-3k per server during peak times.

    So as long as there are enough subscribers for a small handful of servers, what do you get from the other 30 you don't play? More development funds I suppose, but then with 30 servers there's probably RP servers and PK servers and hardcore servers and all sorts of other crap that means more dev time is spent balancing for them, or doing fixes for them, or doing more customer support for them, etc.

    If you're looking for fresh or different and are a SWG or former EQ player, you should check out CoH if you get a chance. (Loot? What loot?) Or try Turbine's AC:TD open preview (not sure if it's for current subscribers only, or generally open. My impression is the latter) -- graphics won't be as hot as some of the more modern games, but the loot system in AC is the most intricate (and frustrating at times) I've seen.

    --
    Slashdot Patriotism: We Support our Dupes!
    1. Re:Size matters? by espressojim · · Score: 1

      If CoH is the best of what's out there, then I'd just stop playing MMRPGs entirely.

      Actually, I did (after playing CoH), and now only play some occasional games of guild wars.

  18. Story Confirmed by SirBruce · · Score: 4, Informative

    Div Devlin at http://www.gamerifts.com/ also has the story confirmed. Unless the same source leaked it to him, Corpnews, and me, I'm pretty sure this isn't just a rumor. As I was the only one who got the DC Comics tip, that would seem to indicate there are different sources involved here. All the job openings previously listed on Monolith's web page have also disappeared.

    Bruce

  19. SOE by king-manic · · Score: 1

    With SOE taking over, Matrix online is gradually evolve in World of Warcraft just like EverQuest did.

    --
    "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy."
  20. I know kung fu .... by Cqwense · · Score: 2, Funny

    Now all we have to do is wait for sony to incorporate their new nueral interface technology, and we can all finally be "the one".

    --
    One sig to rule them all, one sig to find them one sig to bring them all, and in ./ bind them.
  21. err... false bozos :P by theseeria · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Read the bottom of the page, it says everything is false.... legal disclaimer says its a parody site..

    1. Re:err... false bozos :P by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Read the bottom of the page, it says everything is false

      Since it turned out to be true, I guess the disclaimer really was false, just like it stated...

    2. Re:err... false bozos :P by KDR_11k · · Score: 1

      And this is why you don't make jokes about buyouts, you're giving them ideas!

      --
      Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
  22. Official Announcements by SirBruce · · Score: 1

    Offcial announcements:

    http://www.sonyonline.com/corp/press_releases/0617 05_warnerbros.html
    http://www.timewarner.com/corp/newsroom/pr/0,20812 ,1073757,00.html
    http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/050617/sony_time_warner.ht ml?.v=1

    Interestingly, the DC Comics MMO is scheduled for Q4 2007.

    Bruce

  23. Re:Hear That? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Don't think that the developers who were laid off aren't being examined and interviewed by other MMORPG companies.