I guess abused spouses do tend to go back to their abuser

[Wiz]

http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release_html_b1?release_id=127515

Vanguard: Saga of Heroes Finds a New Home
Sigil Games Online and Sony Online Entertainment in Talks to Co-Publish Sigil's Ground-Breaking New Game
CARLSBAD, CA and SAN DIEGO, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 05/05/2006 -- Sigil Games Online and Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE), a global leader in the online games industry, today announced that Sigil is working with Microsoft Game Studios on an arrangement to acquire the rights to its highly anticipated massively multiplayer online (MMO) game, Vanguard: Saga of Heroes. These efforts have resulted in a tentative agreement for Vanguard to be co-published by both Sigil Games Online and SOE. All three companies will be showing the game at the upcoming Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) as they work closely together for a successful transition. Vanguard: Saga of Heroes is scheduled to launch this winter.

"As the development process is ongoing and constantly shifting, it became clear that MGS and Sigil had varying visions and direction for the title's development," said Brad McQuaid, CEO of Sigil Games Online. "In the best interest of Vanguard, it was decided that we would buy back the publishing rights from Microsoft."

As co-publisher of Vanguard: Saga of Heroes, Sigil assumes greater control of marketing and PR, while maintaining responsibility for game development, community relations, media relations, customer support, and quality assurance. Under the terms of the agreement, SOE will provide distribution, marketing, hosting and back-end support -- including billing and technical support -- for the game. Additionally, SOE is tentatively planning on adding Vanguard, upon its release, to SOE's Station Access™ subscription plan. Station Access allows players to enjoy all of SOE's MMO titles for one low monthly price.


"We are very excited to be working with so many old friends at Sigil," said John Smedley, president, Sony Online Entertainment. "Vanguard looks beautiful and has an incredibly rich game world. It's the type of game that will appeal directly to SOE's hundreds of thousands of players and should fit in perfectly with the current line-up of games available in Station Access."

"This decision was made mutually by Sigil and Microsoft, in the best interest of the long-term goals for the title," said Phil Spencer, General Manager at Microsoft Game Studios. "As a key Windows development partner, we will continue to work with Sigil to ensure Vanguard's ongoing success."

Vanguard: Saga of Heroes is the next generation of massively multiplayer online games. The journey takes place in the fantasy setting of Telon, a vast and ancient world of magic, intrigue and adventure. Facing the challenges of a war torn world, the diverse people here struggle to rebuild their once great civilizations. A fragile alliance has been struck, with the lands set upon by invading forces, the races must band together to survive.

Vanguard: Saga of Heroes is currently in a closed beta phase. The game will remain available via Fileplanet for existing beta testers during the transition to SOE. New information will be sent out to testers as the changeover occurs.

For more information about Vanguard: Saga of Heroes please visit www.vanguardsoh.com.

About Sigil Games Online

Based in Carlsbad, California, Sigil Games Online is a studio dedicated to creating massively multiplayer online (MMO) games. Founded in 2002 by Brad McQuaid and Jeff Butler, key figures in the development of award-winning EverQuest, the company plans to be a driving force in the continued evolution of this unique genre. Sigil Games Online is comprised of an all-star team of experienced developers with an impressive pedigree of commercially successful and critically acclaimed online games. For more information, visit www.sigilgames.com.

About Sony Online Entertainment

Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) is a recognized worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online games, with hundreds of thousands of subscribers around the globe. SOE creates, develops and provides compelling entertainment for the personal computer, online, game console and wireless markets. Known for its blockbuster franchises and hit titles including EverQuest®, EverQuest® II, Champions of Norrath®, Untold Legends™, and PlanetSide®, as well as for developing Star Wars Galaxies™, SOE continues to redefine the business of online gaming and the creation of active player communities while introducing new genres on various entertainment platforms. Headquartered in San Diego, CA, with additional development studios in Austin, TX, Seattle, WA, and Taiwan, SOE has an array of cutting-edge games in development. SOE is owned by Sony Pictures Digital and Sony Computer Entertainment America.

SOE, the SOE logo, EverQuest and PlanetSide are registered trademarks of Sony Online Entertainment LLC. Untold Legends is a trademark of Sony Online Entertainment LLC. Vanguard: Saga of Heroes and Sigil Games Online are trademarks of Sigil Games Online, Inc. (registration pending). All other trademarks and trade names are properties of their respective owners.

 

[Mythryn]

Another gem, from John Smedly (SoE Pres)

We're not planning on changing the gameplay. It's their game. We did this deal because we're excited about their vision. I think we probably are more aligned with Sigil's vision and that's why this deal works for all of us.
Smed
__________________
John Smedley
President, Sony Online Entertainment

I'll step up on this one Ut. On the business side I can assure you Microsoft had (and still has) confidence in Vanguard. I've spoken to them myself, and that certainly isn't the issue. I've been in this business a long time and I've seen (and I've been a part of) plenty of games that move elsewhere at the last second. I would only point out that Microsoft is about to get locked into a severely protracted battle with my compadres that make the PlayStation 3... and even though they are Microsoft, they have budgets. If the right deal comes along and they can get a return on a smart investment... well everything has a price.. that's the way I'd put it. I happen to respect the MS guys a lot. I play a lot of their games (most notably the Age series) and I know they are committed to making great games.

The same applies to us getting into the deal to co-publish it. I have to say I'm incredibly impressed with Vanguard. The game is awesome, and I think from our perspective it's going to be something we're very proud to be associated with. As to your other points, you have made them before and only time and hard work will prove you'll be happy with the quality of Vanguard and the other stuff we're releasing (can't wait for people to see our PS3 title at E3... I was just playing it and it's damn awesome!).

and from McQuaid(sigil CEO)

SOE is NOT funding the game -- we are. We are getting funding and buying the publishing rights from Microsoft. SOE is a co-publisher/distributor, with Sigil as the publisher as well. They can focus on what they do well (mentioned above -- someone quoted one of my posts from the official boards) and we can now focus with even more authority on making Vanguard into the game we want it to be and believe our audience is looking for.

 

[Minqe]

feh

Is it bad of me that I may consider not playing that game now? I mean, I understand why this stuff happens. From a business standpoint, Sigil is doing what they need to do to succeed. I just remember how the game was, initially, and how it changed (change can be good) - but felt (and still feel) that customer service was never the same. It's easy to lose sight of any vision when the money starts rolling in. Ah well.

 

[skirbthemac]

Experience Pays

First off, I'm totally ecstatic that there are others interested in Vanguard.

I read about this whole transition a few days ago and basically this is what I stand by:

Microsoft is deeply seeded in the computer industry I mean everyone knows that. But when it comes to the Online Gaming aspect of computer I think we have to give SOE their props seeing as how they bought VI right before VI put out a great game and it was a smart investment; EQ has to be the single reason that the major companies which SOE is a branch of are now very comfortable thanks to the profits of EQ. Over those years SOE developed the know how.

I think Brad is smart in this union - He lead VI back in the day and look at the legacy he built. Now that he's at the helm for Sigil and everyone's seen Vanguard and all they have to say about it is the same as the promising hype of EQ - I think Sigil has a very very excellent game comming out and sining SOE into the deal will offer Sigil with stable server provision for a game that's gonna need it.

I'm all for it; I think Sigil knows what's going on having past experience with SOE and now *allowing* them to help as SOE knows they've got a great game comming out with Sigil behind it.

 

[Mythryn]

I'm also pretty excited for it, as long as SoE really stays out of the development side of things.

 

[Wiz]

So, did everyone miss that this is exactly how it was with EQ in the start?

SOE just being the publishers and staying out of the development side which they "left to Verant".

 

[Mythryn]

I realize that, and it's very possible you're right, that Brad will just decide to give SoE more and more power, and they will ruin another (possibly) good game. But here's to hoping that doesn't happen.