Funcom is being sold to the highest bidder: Who will get it?

gamesrfun

Funcom is being bought out. 

Funcom initiates review of strategic alternatives

Published on (10-22-2012)

Following completion and launch of the modern-day, 
massively multiplayer online game, 'The Secret 
World', Funcom N.V. has retained ABG Sundal Collier 
and GP Bullhound to undertake a broad review of the 
strategic options available to the company. Funcom 
will update shareholders and other stakeholders about 
the outcome of the review and potential other 
developments in due course.

 

Bye bye Funcom, hello EA/Activision Funcom lite.  It will be interesting to see how much value the company is given.  Can't be any less than it is now I'd suspect.

nethervoid

It's funny how a game like UO can be so friggin awesome and published by a pretty small company and budget, but new MMOs can't seem to grasp what made that game a blast. It's only been 15 years guys. You figured it out yet?

ShakyMo

EA

They already have a bunch of ex ea execs on the board.

Think Nokia and Microsoft

snapfusion

Originally posted by nethervoid
It's funny how a game like UO can be so friggin awesome and published by a pretty small company and budget, but new MMOs can't seem to grasp what made that game a blast. It's only been 15 years guys. You figured it out yet?

lol, it is funny to think about.

KenFisher

They have to find a buyer first.  That might not be so easy considering the western world economic conditions.

Ambros123

Originally posted by nethervoid
It's funny how a game like UO can be so friggin awesome and published by a pretty small company and budget, but new MMOs can't seem to grasp what made that game a blast. It's only been 15 years guys. You figured it out yet?

Maybe because of the incredibely fast pace of technology is ever changing and the massive change in the demographics of the MMO consumers?  UO eventually was left in the dust.  If it was soooo good then why is it not still kicking?  UO was the pioneer of MMOs and would be incredibely lacklust to modern MMOs.  MMOs nowadays have plenty of incredibely satisfied consumers that far exceed UO's peak sub numbers.

KenFisher

Originally posted by nethervoid
It's funny how a game like UO can be so friggin awesome and published by a pretty small company and budget, but new MMOs can't seem to grasp what made that game a blast. It's only been 15 years guys. You figured it out yet?

No they haven't.  Welcome to the era of online single player games.

moguy2

Some one , any one, buy them and fix up Anarchy Online please!

NBlitz

Isn't EA going to swallow it whole? 

(EA in a nutshell)

At around 4:18, I imagine Funcom amongst the rest. Sigh.

erictlewis

Just waiting for the axe to drop at this point,  so far they been able to keep themselves above water, but I think that tsw is not doing well, and aoc never did well,  you can't keep bleeding money without something happening. 

MMOExposed

if Activtision Blizzard get hold of this, maybe Blizzard's talent can rub this the right way.

Goatgod76

Originally posted by Ambros123

Originally posted by nethervoid
It's funny how a game like UO can be so friggin awesome and published by a pretty small company and budget, but new MMOs can't seem to grasp what made that game a blast. It's only been 15 years guys. You figured it out yet?

Maybe because of the incredibely fast pace of technology is ever changing and the massive change in the demographics of the MMO consumers?  UO eventually was left in the dust.  If it was soooo good then why is it not still kicking?  UO was the pioneer of MMOs and would be incredibely lacklust to modern MMOs.  MMOs nowadays have plenty of incredibely satisfied consumers that far exceed UO's peak sub numbers.

Last I knew...UO is still going, just as EQ is. Sub numbers don't equal success btw. Longetivity does more so.

ShakyMo

Ambros: there's more customers now. How many people had a dial up in the late 90s, how many people have broadband today.

Rasputin

Originally posted by Goatgod76

Originally posted by Ambros123

Originally posted by nethervoid
It's funny how a game like UO can be so friggin awesome and published by a pretty small company and budget, but new MMOs can't seem to grasp what made that game a blast. It's only been 15 years guys. You figured it out yet?

Maybe because of the incredibely fast pace of technology is ever changing and the massive change in the demographics of the MMO consumers?  UO eventually was left in the dust.  If it was soooo good then why is it not still kicking?  UO was the pioneer of MMOs and would be incredibely lacklust to modern MMOs.  MMOs nowadays have plenty of incredibely satisfied consumers that far exceed UO's peak sub numbers.

Last I knew...UO is still going, just as EQ is. Sub numbers don't equal success btw. Longetivity does more so.

And not to forget: UO was changed into an EQ-clone with Age of Shadows, leaving almost nothing of the old gameplay intact.

So in a way original UO does not exist anymore.

Calerxes

The big guns are after IP's and Funcom's IP's are not that great and the license of Conan must be up for review soon, so I don't think the big guns would be interested unless it was a givaway price. I'd look to Eastern F2P comapnies that want a foot in the western markets, thats why Perfect World bought Cryptic a ready built studio in the west with the sweetner of the Star Trek and D&D licenses, Funcom is not really in the same league. Its going to be a hard sell for me.

leojreimroc

Originally posted by moguy2
Some one , any one, buy them and fix up Anarchy Online please!

Funcom usually kept their games online forever.  Actually, this might mean the end to AO?  That is if whoever buys them figure that it's not worth their time to keep up?

grimgryphon

Originally posted by Rasputin

Originally posted by Goatgod76

Originally posted by Ambros123

Originally posted by nethervoid
It's funny how a game like UO can be so friggin awesome and published by a pretty small company and budget, but new MMOs can't seem to grasp what made that game a blast. It's only been 15 years guys. You figured it out yet?

Maybe because of the incredibely fast pace of technology is ever changing and the massive change in the demographics of the MMO consumers?  UO eventually was left in the dust.  If it was soooo good then why is it not still kicking?  UO was the pioneer of MMOs and would be incredibely lacklust to modern MMOs.  MMOs nowadays have plenty of incredibely satisfied consumers that far exceed UO's peak sub numbers.

Last I knew...UO is still going, just as EQ is. Sub numbers don't equal success btw. Longetivity does more so.

And not to forget: UO was changed into an EQ-clone with Age of Shadows, leaving almost nothing of the old gameplay intact.

So in a way original UO does not exist anymore.

It was over for UO when they released Renaissance, the second expansion. Trammel killed UO.

niceguy3978

Originally posted by nethervoid
It's funny how a game like UO can be so friggin awesome and published by a pretty small company and budget, but new MMOs can't seem to grasp what made that game a blast. It's only been 15 years guys. You figured it out yet?

Wha?  EA owned Origin through the entire development of UO.  It was made and published by EA.  They haven't been a small company with a small budget in a lot longer than 15 years.

mikecackle

Originally posted by leojreimroc

Originally posted by moguy2
Some one , any one, buy them and fix up Anarchy Online please!

Funcom usually kept their games online forever.  Actually, this might mean the end to AO?  That is if whoever buys them figure that it's not worth their time to keep up?

No, that would be destroying and IP's future which would make it worth less and a bad idea... that is if its stable or profiting..

But as a dreamer here, pretending I am in this line of business,  I have very little interest in anything this company has to offer at a premium price. I would be moreso looking at what I could take out of it for use elsewhere... patents, assets such as the backend server stuff, engine / animation / model assets, which would make new projects more affordable., i don't see flipping anything really into cash, turning it f2p wont work.. already done... tapped out and losing probably... no quick turn around, no hype...

Also, When you buy out this sort of thing, you gain a whole bunch of baggage to come wiht it.. you must retain a lot of the employee's etc to keep things rolling, to learn.. the costs alone of acquiring and learning and training would be massive costs...

 

 

niceguy3978

Originally posted by Goatgod76

Originally posted by Ambros123

Originally posted by nethervoid
It's funny how a game like UO can be so friggin awesome and published by a pretty small company and budget, but new MMOs can't seem to grasp what made that game a blast. It's only been 15 years guys. You figured it out yet?

Maybe because of the incredibely fast pace of technology is ever changing and the massive change in the demographics of the MMO consumers?  UO eventually was left in the dust.  If it was soooo good then why is it not still kicking?  UO was the pioneer of MMOs and would be incredibely lacklust to modern MMOs.  MMOs nowadays have plenty of incredibely satisfied consumers that far exceed UO's peak sub numbers.

Last I knew...UO is still going, just as EQ is. Sub numbers don't equal success btw. Longetivity does more so.

And both of those games were created by two of the most hated companies in the genre (Verant was created by Sony for the purpose of developing EQ and headed by the dreaded Smedley).

wormed

Originally posted by Ambros123

Originally posted by nethervoid
It's funny how a game like UO can be so friggin awesome and published by a pretty small company and budget, but new MMOs can't seem to grasp what made that game a blast. It's only been 15 years guys. You figured it out yet?

Maybe because of the incredibely fast pace of technology is ever changing and the massive change in the demographics of the MMO consumers?  UO eventually was left in the dust.  If it was soooo good then why is it not still kicking?  UO was the pioneer of MMOs and would be incredibely lacklust to modern MMOs.  MMOs nowadays have plenty of incredibely satisfied consumers that far exceed UO's peak sub numbers.

The horrible 'counter-argument' of "...then why isn't <insert old great game> still popular!?!?!" Buddy, you even said it in your first line. With the ever changing pace of technology, no matter how great a game is, people will always look to, and WANT, something new. Does that change the FACT that UO was an amazing testament to gaming at the time? Of course not. It still will be hailed as one of the first revolutionary steps in MMO gaming.

Then bringing in subscription numbers as another worthwhile argument. *facepalm* Comparing internet availability of the 90s and of today is like comparing apples to... uhhh.. air. It's so incomparable that it is a totally moot argument.

What's funny is that the problem with MMORPG's today is that everyone wants the easy route. Developers need to appeal to the hardcore gamer, the casual fan, the super casual fan, the entitled brat, etc to infinity different types of 'players.' Thus, each game becomes a jumbled mediocre example of what NOT to do - NOBODY ends up satisfied. Example: players hate grinding... waaaah, so developers make it super easy. Players get to end game content in 3 days and the developers just don't have the time to create new content by the time these ultra players rip through their current content. Whining ensues, and the cycle continues.

I personally never played Darkfall as I heard horror stories of how awful it was, however, I am excited to try Unholy Wars. They're going after a niche market, and trying to do it well, while still trying to cater to the 'casual' fan. Whether or not it pans out, I don't know, but at least they have a firm grasp on WHO they're trying to appeal to. AAA MMO's try to appeal to EVERYONE and their mother and end up sucking.

Anyways, yea, rant off.

Rydeson

Originally posted by nethervoid
It's funny how a game like UO can be so friggin awesome and published by a pretty small company and budget, but new MMOs can't seem to grasp what made that game a blast. It's only been 15 years guys. You figured it out yet?

agree.... Seems like devs have forgot how to create fun gameplay and are more intent to focus on graphics and eye candy..  Sure the DeLorean looks great.. but once behind the wheel it's a joke.. LOL

Myrdynn

question

Is my lifetime sub to Funcom? or is it to TSW?

could a new company buy them out and not honor the lifetimes?

 

tinywulf

Theres bunches of people that have no idea what Secret World even is still, that it even exists.

Seems to be their biggest problem is marketing, because the story in that game is pretty damn good.

grimgryphon

Originally posted by tinywulf

Theres bunches of people that have no idea what Secret World even is still, that it even exists.

Seems to be their biggest problem is marketing, because the story in that game is pretty damn good.

Yeah, it's like they wanted the game to die. Strange.

Doesn't stop me from playing. :-)

aRtFuLThinG

Originally posted by gamesrfun

Funcom is being sold to the highest bidder: Who will get it?

I think it will be hilarious if StarVault's Mortal Online donation drive was to try to get money to buy Funcom out, lol