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Matrix Online Sold To SOE?
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.
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.
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...
... 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
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.
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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.
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 ?
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