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SOE confirms studio closures, cancels The Agency
Following earlier reports of studio closures and mass layoffs, Sony Online Entertainment has issued an official statement regarding its "strategic decision to reduce costs and streamline its global workforce." The company confirmed the closings of its Denver, Seattle and Tucson studios and the elimination of 205 jobs. Additionally, SOE announced the cancellation of The Agency, the long-delayed, cross-platform spy MMO under development at SOE Seattle. The company said it's discontinuing production of the title to "focus development resources on delivering two new MMOs based on its renowned PlanetSide and EverQuest properties, while also maintaining its current portfolio of online games." SOE added that the Denver and Tucson studios' projects would be transitioned over to its San Diego headquarters. The company's full statement is posted after the break.
Report: Three SOE studios close, layoffs abound
Following a series of tweets from George Broussard, co-owner of 3D Realms, which indicated that Sony Online Entertainment would be undergoing layoffs and possible studio closures around its five locations today, Kotaku reports that a source "familiar with the matter" has confirmed the closures of SOE's Denver, Seattle and Tucson studios. Additionally, half of the Austin staff has been reportedly laid off, along with a "sizeable" number of workers at SOE's San Diego headquarters. In all, the layoffs are said to affect nearly one-third of SOE's total workforce. Notably, SOE Seattle has been the lead development studio of The Agency, which had been slated to launch in the second half of the year (after a long delay). Neither SOE Denver nor Tucson has been working on anything as high profile as The Agency, though both have continued to operate a number of SOE titles, including Denver's Legends Of Norrath and other digital card games, and Tucson's PoxNora strategy game.U Update: SOE has issued an official statement confirming the report and providing further details.
Magic: The Gathering - Tactics summoned to PC January 18
Sony has announced that Magic: The Gathering - Tactics will arrive on PC later this month on January 18 (the PS3 version is slated for later this year). The free-to-play game offers up a new take on the classic card game, allowing direct control over summoned creatures and simplified deck building options. Naturally, players will be able to purchase new cards for their decks or trade them with other players. Check out our E3 preview for a detailed look at the game. And find new screens below and a developer diary after the break. %Gallery-113278%
The Free Realms trading card game arrives this week
We've known for a while now that the Sony Online Entertainment studio in Denver has been hard at work developing a collectible card game to coincide with the launch of Free Realms. SOE and Topps have partnered to create and distribute the Free Realms Trading Card Game which will hit store shelves this week. The Free Realms Trading Card Game bridges the gap between a physical card game and the MMO with virtual rewards like pets, clothing, and 'special character effects'. There will be over 180 game cards, with 50 virtual reward cards that can be redeemed for in-game items. In fact, each pack sold will have a virtual reward card. In addition, there will be 16 cards with codes that unlock their corresponding card in the game. Free Realms players interested in checking out the trading card game can pick up the 'Passport to Free Realms Starter Pack', at $10, which includes a 40 card deck with virtual benefits in the MMO: a card that unlocks a Black Lab, a t-shirt for your character, three jumbo health potions, a virtual 'Cardie Racer', and one month of full (subscriber) access to Free Realms. Booster packs will also be available at $4 each. Booster packs will include 10 game cards, one virtual reward card, and 50 Station Cash.%Gallery-37937%
Massively catches up with SOE Tucson director Dan Kopycienski
Sony Online Entertainment surprised us recently with the announcement that they'd acquired Octopi -- creators of the collectible strategy game PoxNora -- and that the studio would now be known as SOE Tucson. We had some questions about what this acquisition might mean for SOE moving into the future, as well as what changes are on the horizon for PoxNora.Massively caught up with the former president of Octopi, Dan Kopycienski, who is now Director of Development at SOE Tucson. Although SOE Tucson is still very much a studio in transition, he was kind enough to speak with us about where PoxNora is today, and what it may become with the newfound backing of Sony Online Entertainment.
E308: SOE President John Smedley talks Free Realms, possible sequels
Yesterday at Sony Online Entertainment's E3 headquarters, the Massively team got to see and hear the latest details on SOE's trifecta of new titles: The Agency, DC Universe Online, and Free Realms. There will be in-depth coverage of these games across the site during the rest of the day. To kick off, and to give you some perspective on what these games mean for the company, we sat down to talk with SOE's CEO John Smedley.Mr. Smedley was extremely forthcoming about the role of these new titles for the Sony subsidiary. While the company's bread and butter - EverQuest, its sequel, and a stable of other traditional MMOs - will always remain, these games are a chance to offer something substantially new to the company's playerbase. Join us as we talk with Mr. Smedley about the possibility of sequels to Free Realms, what it's like to run up a wall in DC Universe Online, and some tantalizing hints about the role of collectible games in the company's titles. Want to trade for a new secret identity? Read on.%Gallery-27753%
Interview with Chuck Kallenbach, Game Designer on Legends of Norrath
What's this gab we're hearing about Legends of Norrath, it isn't all about the loot cards? Heresy! We're still buying up those virtual packs in hopes to score a rare loot card. Nevertheless, over on IGN's EQ2 Vault we came across this interview with Chuck Kallenbach, Game Designer on Legends of Norrath. Much is discussed gameplay wise about the insight behind the new Monk class, one that doesn't use weapons. One other topic covered includes the conundrum on scaling the game's complexity with new gameplay mechanics with the importance to not veer away from the game's intuitiveness and accessibility.The Oathbreaker set is the latest expansion introduced last week from Sony Online Entertainment. It brings 250 new cards, fresh gameplay mechanics, a new challenging raid scenario, and the following classes: Monk, Coercer, Templar and Beastlord. Many classes from EverQuest and EverQuest II are now represented in the game. If you are interested learning how to play Legends of Norrath but don't want to dump a bunch of cash you can download the client and play through the tutorials and it won't cost a you a dime.
Exclusive interview with the developers of Legends of Norrath
The next set of Legends of Norrath cards is slated to release just next week. Oathbreaker will be the final set in the 'first block' or 'year one' of the SOE-Denver production. To get some information on Oathbreaker, new raids, and future plans, we sat down to talk with Kyle Heuer, Associate Producer for the game, and Tom Lischke, Producer at the Sony Online Entertainment studio in Denver. Join us as we talk about raid play, tournaments, some exciting plans for integrating Legends of Norrath with EverQuest and EverQuest 2, and a few hopeful words about the future of loot mounts for EQ2 players. Also make sure to head over to our exclusive gallery of Oathbreaker loot cards!%Gallery-23223%
Card players prep for a $100,000 Legends of Norrath tourney
The yearly gaming convention Gen Con is a fantasy world unto itself. A 'home away from home' for tabletop RPG players, board gamers, and miniatures fanatics, the Indianapolis-based event attracts thousands of nerdfolk from across the country. It's also a mecca for card gamers, and has traditionally been one of the crowning moments in the yearly tour circuits. The World of Warcraft TCG has its National Championship slated for that weekend, and Magic the Gathering traditionally offers huge winnings to Gen Con attendees.Sony Online Enterainment continues its serious support for the Legends of Norrath online TCG by announcing a $100,000 prize purse for the winners of their own Gen Con event. Championship qualifiers have been held regularly for the last few months, and there are still three chances to make it into the big show. Even if you don't make it in via the online events, players at the show will still be able to qualify by participating in duels on the Thursday and Friday of convention week. The top individual prize to the first place winner is $25,000. Attendees will also get the chance to play against the new Ralkor Bloodmoon raid deck. Groups that win against their evil opponent are promised 'phat lewt'. Make sure to give him one for us if you make it out there.
