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John Smedley takes to Reddit to answer SOE layoff questions [Updated]
In response to the question about how the recent SOE layoffs will affect PlanetSide 2, CEO John Smedley took to Reddit with a few answers. He specifically stated that layoffs will not impact the development of the MMOFPS and that there is still a large team working on it, even though some from that team were let go. "It won't impact the game because we have other people who are going to take the load over. Simple as that... We carefully planned and are distributing tasks appropriately to other people on the team." Smedley also dismissed the idea that devs were let go because of the integration of Player Studio as absurd. What about the other games in SOE's portfolio? Smedley announced that a full status report on all games is planned for next week. [Update: Polygon has posted excerpts from an SOE email, quoting Smedley calling the layoffs a "horrible, sickening experience" and explaining that personnel shifts were a result of budgetary necessity not poor game sales. In fact, he hopes to rehire laid-off employees. He also promises that work on EQ Next will not slow down: "In fact you can fully expect it to ramp up and a lot of people will end up helping to make the most amazing thing we've ever done as a company."]
SOE suffers a 'reduction in workforce' [Updated]
SOE has just announced layoffs to an undetermined number of presumably MMO-related staff. Head of community management Brasse confirmed earlier rumors on the EverQuest II official forums: Today we announced a reduction in our workforce at SOE. As a company, our goal is to focus on our core expertise of MMO games and as part of these efforts, we had to make the difficult decision to eliminate positions to help reduce costs, streamline our employee base and strategically align resources towards our current portfolio of games and upcoming slate of MMOs, including EverQuest Next Landmark and EverQuest Next. We deeply value our employees and are grateful for all they've contributed to our company and games. They will be missed by colleagues and friends, and we wish them well in the future. We have contacted SOE for clarification on which MMOs are impacted by these layoffs and will update when we know more. [Thanks to Jeremy for the tip.] [Update: While SOE has declined to officially comment further, an unnamed Gamasutra source claims "the layoffs affect both its San Diego and Austin offices." SOE president John Smedley tweeted his condolences, posting, "Sorry to say that we did have layoffs. We're still moving forward with all our current games and games in development including EverQuest Next and other unannounced titles. The people who got laid off are very good people. Very sorry this happened. Layoffs suck. These are really, really good people who don't deserve this."]
SOE Live 2013 recapped in just two minutes
SOE Live 2013 was a blur of tournaments, panels, announcements, and keynotes. It brought news for games like PlanetSide 2, Vanguard, Free Realms, Dragon's Prophet, and DC Universe Online, along with the industry-shaking reveal of EverQuest Next. In other words, it was kind of a big deal. And you can see what it was like to be there in person by watching the two-minute recap video just released by SOE. Check it out after the break, and feel free to browse back through our coverage for in-depth looks at everything that was on display.
SOE Live 2013: PlanetSide 2 highlights Hossin and more
This year's SOE Live event saw the largest showing of PlanetSide 2 fans to date, and those fans were treated to a heaping helping of fun and facts over the weekend. With plenty of panels, a tournament (with impressive cash prizes), and even their own keynote address, the convention had more things dedicated to the game they love. And between all those avenues, a good amount of information was disseminated about current projects, future updates, and more. Add to all that our chance to speak personally with Senior Art Director Tramell Isaac and Creative Director Matt Higby! We've learned about (and seen, in what has to be the funnest presentation ever) the new zone of Hossin and the battle island Nexus, heard about upcoming player-generated missions and base ownership, and even got an update on the newly implemented Player Studio.
PlanetSide 2 inches toward character transfers but can't make cross-platform play happen
It's time for another exciting episode of Good News, Bad News with your host, Mr. Matt Higby! PlanetSide 2's creative director had a few things to say at SOE Live about the challenges of running the game across multiple platforms. The good news is that SOE is looking into character transfers that will allow players to jump between PC and PlayStation 4 versions. The bad news is that, at least for now, cross-platform play isn't possible. "Because of the update cadence, and the additional steps you have to go through to be able to release an update on the PlayStation network, we're not going to be able to keep our servers in sync, so you won't be able to just play with the same people," said Higby. "But we're also talking about having character portability, so a PC character could transfer to PlayStation 4 and then back. The character format's the same on both; it's just purely a matter of the server updates."
Sony Q1 results see declining PlayStation sales offset by weak yen
Sony profitable fiscal 2012 continued into the first quarter of 2013, the company posting a net profit of ¥3.5 billion, which converts to $35 million, for the three months ending in June. The company's modest Q1 profit came on the back of a 13 percent year-on-year rise in revenue, attributed largely to currency exchange gains due to the depreciating yen; on a "constant currency basis," as Sony noted, Q1 revenue saw a year-on-year dip of 3 percent. Despite the gains on the yen's value, Sony's PlayStation division saw almost zero change in its year-on-year revenue in the first quarter, this due to declining PlayStation hardware sales. The company shipped 1.1 million PS3 units and 0.6 million Vita and PSP units in the three months of Q1, compared to 3.5 million PS3 and PS2 units and 1.6 million portable units for the corresponding period of fiscal 2012. Sony still forecasts it'll ship 10 million PS3 units across the fiscal year ending in March 2014, and 5 million Vita and PSP units. Research & development on Sony's upcoming console was primarily responsible for a marked increase in the PlayStation division's operating losses, rising to ¥14.8 billion in Q1, or $149 million. The company again declined to post projections for the PlayStation 4, due to launch sometime this holiday.
SOE Live prepares for record attendance, debut of EverQuest Next
Sony Online Entertainment's SOE Live event is promising to be bigger than ever this year, as the company is reporting that advance passes are sold out and that walk-up tickets are expected to do the same, and quickly. SOE Live 2013, which takes place August 1st through 4th at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, is surrounded by hype thanks largely to the long-awaited debut of EverQuest Next. SOE will also host five tournaments, a silent auction, a pool party, and talent and costume contests. Fans of DC Universe Online, PlanetSide 2, and EverQuest may want to check out the official event lineup for details as to when their games will be featured. We have two Massively staffers on deck in Vegas: MJ Guthrie and Karen Bryan will be covering news as it happens, and Karen is set to host a player panel dedicated to helping guild leaders find better ways to run their guilds at 7:00 p.m. EDT (4:00 p.m. PDT). Stay tuned: SOE Live starts tomorrow Thursday with a keynote address at 10 p.m. EDT (7 p.m. PDT). You can watch it live on SOE's EQ Next and main Twitch channels. [Source: SOE press release]
PlanetSide 2's Player Studio functionality now live
We told you last week about PlanetSide 2's foray into the player-generated content realm courtesy of SOE's Player Studio initiative. Today we're happy to tell you that the update is live! US-based players may "download sample geometry, learn how virtual items are constructed, and try designing items." SOE says that players can even pen an item name, description, and rationale for fitting their creations into the lore of the neverending war on Auraxis. Approved items will be placed in the PS2 marketplace alongside SOE-created items. A portion of the proceeds will be shared with the player content author.
Some Assembly Required: Tramell Isaac talks Player Studio for PlanetSide 2
Ya'll might remember a little reveal last year at SOE Live -- the one about Player Studio. It basically took player-created content up a notch, giving players the chance to put items they design into the games they love and actually make money off of their creativity. Initially, that ability to create content for cash only applied to EverQuest and EverQuest II, but Free Realms was added soon after. Though also slated to join in the Player Studio party, Vanguard, and PlanetSide 2 have remained noticeably absent. Cue PS2's big entrance. That's right folks: The MMOFPS is finally getting in on the fun. On Monday, July 29th, PlanetSide 2 will officially launch into the realm of Player Studio. Keen-eyed players may even notice that the groundwork has already been laid; the necessary information has been soft-launched on the official website for potential creators to peruse. So what does this all mean for a game that is decidedly different from the fantasy settings of its SOE siblings? I sat down with Senior Art Director Tramell Isaac to discuss how this new tool fits into the war effort.
Coming soon to a console near you: MMOs
Remember E3 2013? That huge video games conference thing from earlier in the summer? Weeks have passed since Microsoft and Sony squared off in the Los Angeles convention center (while Nintendo posted up at Best Buy and Ouya sulked in the parking lot), but the news made there continues to reverberate through the games industry. One curious trend seems to have been missed amid the clashing of proverbial titans: There sure are a lot of MMOs and online-focused games due on consoles this generation. And since MMOs are the business of Massively, we thought it might be fun to compile a quick list of all the ones we can find that are either already available on our current consoles or set for launch on the next batch. The list, as it turns out, is pretty extensive.
PlanetSide 2 update brings lattice system to Esamir
PlanetSide 2's Game Update 13 is now live, and with it comes a major overhaul to the way battles play out on the icy continent of Esamir. The lattice system, added in Update 9 to help direct the flow of battles and make it easier for players to strategize where and when to attack or defend, is now active on the continent's snowy tundras. Esamir's facilities have been enhanced and modified accordingly. Sony Online Entertainment's latest PS2 update also includes new premium weapons, Vanu weapon audio changes, a respawn screen chatbox and additions to the game's tutorial. Full patch notes from creative director Matt Higby cover the details. Implants, once planned for GU13, didn't make the cut. [Source: SOE press release]
SOE reveals new Recruit Rewards program
SOE has taken the wraps off its new Recruit Rewards program which currently covers EverQuest, EverQuest II, DC Universe Online, and PlanetSide 2. The firm has created an achievement system of sorts, with reward tiers starting at two recruits and going all the way up to 25. Each tier offers titles, in-game items, and in-game achievement points. Recruits receive a free welcome kit upon logging in initially, and once they make a qualifying purchase, both the recruit and the recruiter get to choose from a selection of rewards. SOE has put together a lengthy FAQ on the subject, which you'll find at the company's official website. [Thanks Kinya!]
SOE sends PlanetSide 2 implants 'back to the drawing board'
If you were getting excited about all of the possibilities that implants might bring with PlanetSide 2's GU13, it's time to put a lid on that enthusiasm and shove it back into the fridge so that it won't go bad. SOE President John Smedley said that the team is revisiting the feature due to feedback from the community. "After reading through your comments we have decided to go back to the drawing board on implants," Smedley said on Twitter. "They will not be coming with GU13." Implants were cheap consumables designed to offer specific abilities or bonuses over a short span of time.
PlanetSide 2 gets sexy implants with GU13
PlanetSide 2 is gearing up for game update 13, which is tentatively scheduled for a July 24th release. Creative Director Matt Higby marched onto the forums to give players an advance warning as to what to expect when it arrives. Among the new surprises? Implants. Sexy, sexy implants. Implants are cheap consumables that offer interesting abilities but only last for a few hours on a single load-out. One implant might protect you from fall damage while another increases the range that you can spot enemy names and health bars. Other changes coming with GU13 include a revamp of the Esamir area, four new weapons, platoon enhancements, and a ton of bug fixes. The team plans to have the update on the test server next week.
Age of Conan composer joins PlanetSide 2 and Starcraft II nominees for music award
Say what you will about the rest of the game, there's little argument that Age of Conan has impressive music. And now, soundtrack composer Knut Avenstroup Haugen joins the list of nominees for the Best Score in a Video Game at the 2013 Hollywood Music in Media Awards. His nomination comes for his work heard in AoC's latest content update, Dragon's Spine, which can be heard in the trailer. Other nominees include Jeff Broadbent (Planetside 2) and Russel Bower, Derek Duke, Glenn Stafford, and Neal Acree (Starcraft II: Heart of the Swarm), nominated in January and March, respectively. The winner for best score will be selected at the HMMA ceremony at Hollywood's Fonda Theatre November 21st. Interested in listening to these impressive soundtracks for yourself? You'll find selections for both AoC and PS2 (and many more) in our own Jukebox Heroes feature.
Capcom vs. SNK 2 headed to PSN next week
The PlayStation 2 version of Capcom vs. SNK 2: Mark of the Millenium 2001 will land on PSN as a PS2 Classic next week, the Official PlayStation Blogcast has announced. No specific pricing information was given, but we feel safe in assuming that it'll probably cost around $10, like most other PS2 Classics on the service. Known as Capcom vs. SNK 2: Millionaire Fighting 2001 in Japan, the game originally hit arcades in (you guessed it) 2001, and was ported to Dreamcast, PlayStation 2, GameCube and Xbox thereafter. The game includes 48 characters from Capcom and SNK franchises such as Street Fighter, King of Fighters, Rival Schools, Fatal Fury, Darkstalkers and others.
Jukebox Heroes: PlanetSide 2's soundtrack
PlanetSide 2 has a strange soundtrack, no doubt about it. For starters, the game is more about conflict and fragging than it is about lore and story. That's fine if that's its goal, but since so much about MMO scoring is driven by the story and places, it forced Composer Jeff Broadbent to focus on the factions instead. He then fractured the score into three parts, with each part sounding radically different than the others in an effort to underline a faction with a musical style. Thus, Terran Republic tracks are all about orchestra and choir, New Conglomerate tracks use blues rock, and Vanu Sovereignty rely mostly on synth. The styles are so different from each other that I can't see anyone loving this entire soundtrack, but I bet anyone could find at least one part to enjoy. Let's chew on these notes and spit out our favorites like the rough, tough music fans we are!
Free for All: You got your e-sport in my PlanetSide 2
I promised myself that I would not spend half of this column making silly jokes about e-sports. The simple truth is that I find e-sports about as exciting as collecting stamps. That might sound harsh, but remember how fanatical (and oblivious to my opinions) some people are for stamps. And that's just fine. What bothers me about e-sports is how the genre takes something that comes from a wonderfully chaotic place -- play time -- and wraps it in a set of rules and expectations. I used to say that humans could make a sport out of anything, and it turns out I was right. I joked that holding your arm into the air could be a game if they made rules concerning the activity. While it's not quite a spectator sport, I recently discovered that there are people in this world who literally hold an arm in the air -- sometimes for years -- to prove their dedication. All we need now is a bit of commentary and we'd have a sport. And now here we are with news that one of my favorite games, PlanetSide 2, is about to introduce major league gaming-styled instanced Battle Islands into a world that is unique because of its massive, open scale. This week I have heard the words "instanced" and "MOBA" and references to Team Fortress 2 enough to scare my pants off.
SOE drop-pods two new battleground videos into the PlanetSide 2 fray
The primary conflict in PlanetSide 2 centers on three factions fighting for control of three enormous continents. And while Esamir, Indar, and Amerish offer players hundreds of square miles on which to drive, shoot, and die, there's nothing quite like the thrill of a balanced team fight in a tight, controlled environment. At least, that's what Sony Online Entertainment is banking on with its next round of updates. The company recently announced the addition of Battle Islands, small continents designed for combat between platoons. While details are still limited, Battle Island matches will be set up based on some sort of ranking/certification system, will feature teams of 48 players, and are intended for those looking for more competitive engagements. The first such Battle Island due for release is Nexus, which boasts rocky terrain, icy caves, and forest-y hills. You can get a closer look at it via two new videos, both of which are after the break.
PlanetSide 2 is letting players make the missions
The world of PlanetSide 2 is a battlefield, one that is constantly evolving and changing. Sometimes you need a commander who can come up with some off-the-wall strategies, a desperate flank, an ambush for a pursuing force, something like that. So the developers at Sony Online Entertainment are giving players a tool to make that happen via player generated missions. Anyone with the required command certifications can start creating missions at the relevant location visible to the entire faction. The missions are meant to be short-term bursts of activity, with major experience bonuses for a limited series of objectives. So someone on the ground might put out a call for an air strike, offering big bonuses to flyers who divert and take out hardened ground targets. It's a fascinating idea that can offer mechanical bonuses for improved leadership and placement, something that players will have more reason to practice once the system gets rolled out later this summer.
