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NCsoft 'actively developing' for consoles - but not Xbox 360

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Wollan

Member
http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=61648


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Korea-based online gaming giant NCsoft is preparing to launch titles on next-generation consoles, according to chief executive Tack Jin Kim, who confirmed to GamesIndustry.biz that development work is already underway.

The company, which is behind the world's largest massively multiplayer game series, Lineage, as well as titles including City of Heroes and Guild Wars, has until now focused exclusively on the PC platform.

However, Kim - who is founder and president as well as CEO of the firm - openly confirmed that the company is now "actively developing" for next-generation consoles, which he considers key to building the firm up in markets outside Korea.
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NCsoft is already the largest gaming company in its native country, and its titles are proving a major draw at this week's G* games expo at the Kintex exhibition centre near the capital city, Seoul.

Kim did not discuss specifics of the company's development work on next-generation consoles, nor did he reveal which platforms the firm is working on - but sources close to NCsoft's European division revealed that Xbox 360 is not part of the company's plans at the moment, suggesting that the PS3 is the target platform for NCsoft's first console titles.

Speaking today at NCsoft's head offices in Seoul, Kim also confirmed to GamesIndustry.biz that a European development location is part of the firm's plan for the future, joining the company's other development studios - NC HQ Studios in Seoul, Guild Wars creators Arena.Net in California and Richard Garrtt's NC Austin Studio.
 
Sorry if I get it wrong; but if they're actively developing for next-generation consoles, and not the Xbox 360; that means they have to develop for at least 2 other next-generation platforms. And as I'm not counting the Phantom (:')), that must mean PS3 and Revo. City of Heroes and City of Villains rock, btw.

I'm now ready to be humiliated.
 
Wollan said:
The company, which is behind the world's largest massively multiplayer game series, Lineage
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Obviously they think that World of Warcraft never existed :lol Plus the fact that Lineage and Lineage II suck complete arse.
 
NCSoft is already on X360 publishers list, it would be dumb for a MMORPG publisher to not develop on X360. Eurogamer as usual.
 
speedpop said:
Obviously they think that World of Warcraft never existed :lol Plus the fact that Lineage and Lineage II suck complete arse.
Click to expand...

It may suck to you but say that to the 2.5 Million people in Korea alone that play Lineage II. The numbers for just that one country is staggering.

The company, which is behind the world's largest massively multiplayer game series, Lineage, as well as titles including City of Heroes and Guild Wars, has until now focused exclusively on the PC platform.
Click to expand...

Also this is pretty big in itself because you've got a company that is responsible for 3 big MMOs (Guild Wars, City of Heroes and Lineage). Also, Consoles is plural (as Thomper stated) and if X360 is out of the picture, than the Rev is the only other console besides the PS3. It will be cool to see this type of lovin given to the Revolution.
 
Thomper said:
Sorry if I get it wrong; but if they're actively developing for next-generation consoles, and not the Xbox 360; that means they have to develop for at least 2 other next-generation platforms. And as I'm not counting the Phantom (:')), that must mean PS3 and Revo. City of Heroes and City of Villains rock, btw.
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Ahh I see now, its Eurogamer being tools. A developer on Revolution? :lol

Yeah, so my guess is X360 and PS3.
Out of curiousity, what MMORPG games did we get this gen on LIVE? Any?
 
Striek said:
Ahh I see now, its Eurogamer being tools. A developer on Revolution? :lol

Yeah, so my guess is X360 and PS3.
Out of curiousity, what MMORPG games did we get this gen on LIVE? Any?
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If you count Phantasy Star Online? :lol

But, seriously

FFXI was the only MMORPG on consoles in the US this generation.
 
Suikoguy said:
If you count Phantasy Star Online? :lol

But, seriously

FFXI was the only MMORPG on consoles in the US this generation.
Click to expand...

Don't forget about Everquest Adventures!

Maybe he means PS3 and PSP?
 
NC HQ Studios in Seoul, Guild Wars creators Arena.Net in California and Richard Garrtt's NC Austin Studio.
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This article has zero credibility after this line. Arena.net is in Kirkland, WA.
 
http://www.computerandvideogames.com/news/news_story.php?id=129212

Although the official line from NCsoft is that the company "cannot specify explicitly what their console plans are", Geoff Heath, CEO of NCsoft Europe told MCV last Friday, "I don't want to spoil the party but our feeling is there's a definite lack of commitment at Microsoft to online gaming with 360. It's forcing us to consider what we should be doing. For a start it's not got a [guaranteed] hard drive, but generally the commitment is not there. It's a real shame."
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what
 
Maybe they think the Xbox Live system is too strict?
Whatever, it will be interesting to hear further explination by NCsoft.
 
krypt0nian said:
Nice to see this thread get bumped when its false. :lol
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Both CVG and Eurogamer have reported this now.
But im interested though. WHat have you heard?

PS! +1 with standard HD for the PS3. ;)
 
Kind of odd statements. Maybe they're playing chess with MS over something.

I mean none of the other systems have standard HDs, at least as far as we know.

Maybe the broad/cheap removeable memory support in PS3 has placated them as far as it's concerned (although we don't quite have confirmation about any work from them for it).
 
Wollan said:
Both CVG and Eurogamer have reported this now.
But im interested though. WHat have you heard?

PS! +1 with standard HD for the PS3. ;)
Click to expand...


Actually I haven't heard anything. But being listed on the 360 developer list and their odd comment about MS not supporting online play is a good starting point to have serious doubt.

Hell no standard HDD has been known for ages. Even before the interview with them stating that they had concerns.
 
But being listed on the 360 developer list
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They are on there cause they have a dev kit. Im sure they have messed with it, just dont know if they want to actually do a game.

Live = 70 a year. Guildwars free to play.

If I was NCsoft, I wouldnt let MS make money from MY game that I designed to be free to play. MS's gonna have to pony up a special deal to entice them Im sure. Hmmm, How about Guildwars playable on Silver Account? That ought to do it, there just is no commitment on from MS on how MMO games will be played and billed, thats what I take away.
 
Helznicht said:
They are on there cause they have a dev kit. Im sure they have messed with it, just dont know if they want to actually do a game.

Live = 70 a year. Guildwars free to play.

If I was NCsoft, I wouldnt let MS make money from MY game that I designed to be free to play. MS's gonna have to pony up a special deal to entice them Im sure. Hmmm, How about Guildwars playable on Silver Account? That ought to do it, there just is no commitment on from MS on how MMO games will be played and billed, thats what I take away.
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MMO's are playable on Silver accounts.
 
krypt0nian said:
MMO's are playable on Silver accounts.
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What about free MMOs? That could get very sketchy... most anyone could slap "MMO" on their game, have no monthly payment and end up playable on Xbox Live Silver plan.
 
Razoric said:
What about free MMOs? That could get very sketchy... most anyone could slap "MMO" on their game, have no monthly payment and end up playable on Xbox Live Silver plan.
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I think it all depends on how this is technically handled. If it's a connection to an external server handling the MMO, I can't see why MS would force Live Gold.
 
Razoric said:
What about free MMOs? That could get very sketchy... most anyone could slap "MMO" on their game, have no monthly payment and end up playable on Xbox Live Silver plan.
Click to expand...

As long as they hosted the servers themselves and allowed Live to interact with them I'm sure Microsoft wouldn't complain.
 
Razoric said:
What about free MMOs? That could get very sketchy... most anyone could slap "MMO" on their game, have no monthly payment and end up playable on Xbox Live Silver plan.
Click to expand...

Well if it is an MMO then there is no issue. They can't claim its an MMO if its not.

"OK, new deer hunting game...check. Live play...check. LIVE GOLD needed."
"um...its an MMO"
"Oh why didn't you say that! SILVER is fine!"
 
Helznicht said:
Live = 70 a year. Guildwars free to play.
Click to expand...


Isn't Guildwars meant to make money with the extensions, so there are no monthly fees? How would that work on any console?
 
But cost $$$ per month. MS is getting a pinch im sure. FPS's are free to play on PC, but cost you a Gold account on Live. Guildwars is a game that falls between both these scenarios.

Trust me, there will be no free online play on Xbox360, you know this.


Question is, how do you treat Guildwars?

If playable through Live Gold, NC will be looking for thier share as they run the group/trade servers, and Im sure they wont just hand over that code to MS to include in their Live Service.

If NC gets it through Silver, every other multiplayer game developer will want to follow suit.


They sound frustrated that MS isnt negotiating with them on the matter. And honestly is a tough nut to crack.
 
krypt0nian said:
Well if it is an MMO then there is no issue. They can't claim its an MMO if its not.

"OK, new deer hunting game...check. Live play...check. LIVE GOLD needed."
"um...its an MMO"
"Oh why didn't you say that! SILVER is fine!"
Click to expand...

Any game that has a lot of players in it and uses it's own server could easily be called an MMO. "First person MMO" "Stratagy MMO"

All I'm saying is if you can play Guild Wars on XBL Silver for free that is going to open the doors for others to attempt the same.
 
Rhindle said:
Gamesindustry.biz is the source of the article. :mega-rolleyes:

Nuff said.
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Well CvG is reporting seperately. And whilst they've had their share of dodgy stories, making up a direct quote from a named NCSoft exec wouldn't seem like the brightest of ideas.
 
Razoric said:
Any game that has a lot of players in it and uses it's own server could easily be called an MMO. "First person MMO" "Stratagy MMO"

All I'm saying is if you can play Guild Wars on XBL Silver for free that is going to open the doors for others to attempt the same.
Click to expand...

Not really. Developers don't have to worry with setting up servers to maintain an online game. Guild Wars partially behaves like a MMO in that they need servers to maintain gameplay, which is why I'd think they'd only require the silver plan. I doubt developers would maintain a server infrastructure for their games to bypass the gold service. It just doesn't make sense as they'd have to spend more.
 
speedpop said:
Obviously they think that World of Warcraft never existed :lol Plus the fact that Lineage and Lineage II suck complete arse.
Click to expand...

Lineage I and II are actually bigger then WoW worldwide.
 
Razoric said:
Any game that has a lot of players in it and uses it's own server could easily be called an MMO. "First person MMO" "Stratagy MMO"

All I'm saying is if you can play Guild Wars on XBL Silver for free that is going to open the doors for others to attempt the same.
Click to expand...

I don't see it. MMO's are a known quantity, and one that MS can define and police.
 
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