SOE demos at CES 2008: The Agency and Free Realms for PS3

[VG Aficionado]

SOE demos in CES 2008: The Agency, Free Realms, PotBS (http://mmorpg.qj.net/SOE-demos-in-CES-2008-The-Agency-Free-Realms-PotBS/pg/49/aid/110198)
Posted Dec 22, 2007 at 10:34 AM by Isaac C.

http://img.qj.net/uploads/articles_module/110198/sony-agency-ps3.jpg
The Agency from Sony Online Entertainment

Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) is going to the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) with demos in tow. (As many of you know, the International Consumer Electronics Show is an electronics trade show held each January in Las Vegas, Nevada.) SOE's bringing The Agency for the PlayStation 3 and two of its upcoming MMORPGs: Free Realms and Pirates of the Burning Sea.

Often hailed as "the PS3's first MMO," The Agency is an MMO shooter being developed for Windows and PS3. Free Realms, an online RPG, is also being developed for Windows and PS3. Pirates of the Burning Sea rounds up SOE's new online offerings.

The demos are only available for the press though, but at least you know we'll be able to give you more info on the games in the future.

Aside from their upcoming games, SOE will also be bringing along some old favorites: Legends of Norrath, EverQuest, and EverQuest 2.

[GTAce]

I bet we will see a lot of interesting stuff at the GDC and CES 2008.
Really looking forward to both events.

[VG Aficionado]

I'd like them to show the PlayTV DVR addon again to see how it's progressing and maybe an announcement, but since it's an American event, I guess they still won't show it again.

[Leedogg]

^^especially since we are not going completely digital intil 09.

[Segitz]

^^especially since we are not going completely digital intil 09.

Lol :D

In Germany, there's digital tv now virtually everywhere (there's some white spots still), but the choice of channels is so bad (and the quality via DVB-T is atrocious! I already complain about some DVB-S programs and DVB-T nearly always has less than a quarter of the BW!), it just doesn't matter (and the choice won't grow anytime soon)

I really hope, Sony gives us a DVB-S2 (PAL HDTV via Sat) USB adapter. That would REALLY rock!

[Coded-Dude]

:rant: WHERE THE FUCK IS THE AGENCY INTERVIEW PSI DID THIS YEAR AND NEVER PUBLISHED!

[Raitei]

^^especially since we are not going completely digital intil 09.

Thing is, the UK doesnt start the Digital switchover til 09 and doesnt finish til 2012.
Ah well, im not complaining

[Leedogg]

:rant: WHERE THE FUCK IS THE AGENCY INTERVIEW PSI DID THIS YEAR AND NEVER PUBLISHED!

the same place where the E3 dvds are lol

[VG Aficionado]

:lol:

[masteratt]

Lol at coded-dude and Leedogg and "yes! great!" at the first post's news.

Glorious thread.

[VG Aficionado]

:cowboy:

[masteratt]

Take the hat off you copy and paster.

Anywhooooooooooooo, The Agency is the one they promised no monthly charges in, yes?

[VG Aficionado]

I at least made a proper thread title instead of just copypasting mindlessly (*coughcliffbocough*).

I don't remember what The Agency was going to be like in terms of subscription. It's been too long without any news, and it was pre-E3, so most of the attention from the public was focused on Killzone 2 and all that.

[LaLiLuLeLo]

:rant: WHERE THE FUCK IS THE AGENCY INTERVIEW PSI DID THIS YEAR AND NEVER PUBLISHED!



>_>

<_<

*Hides*

[Coded-Dude]

^lol

I just really wanted to see it(since frosty mentioned it was video) and have since lost all hope.

[satriales]

Thing is, the UK doesnt start the Digital switchover til 09 and doesnt finish til 2012.
Ah well, im not complaining
The digital switchover has started already in some places in the UK and 85% of homes have gone digital.

[cliffbo]

Zapak set to buy out Sony Online for $300 mn
23 Dec, 2007, 0600 hrs IST,Dheeraj Tiwari, TNN



NEW DELHI: Zapak Digital entertainment, the online gaming company promoted by Anil Ambani-led ADAG group, is all set to buy out Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) for around $300 million (Rs 1,200 crore).

According to sources close to the development, the deal will be finalised within the next few days. Sony Online was on the block for the past two weeks and Zapak, which has been looking for acquiring international studios, is finally said to have reached a consensus over the valuation of Sony Online.

“The deal is almost through. It is in the final stages of negotiations and by next week, Zapak will have a full right to all content, owned and published by Sony Online,” sources told SundayET.

Sony Online Entertainment is the game development and game publishing unit of Sony and posts revenue of around $ 150 million (the company doesn’t reveal the exact details for the division). It has in the past come out with popular games such as Everquest, PlanetSide, Star War Galaxies and Vanguard. SOE’s headquartered at San Diego, California, with additional game development studios located in Austin, Texas, Denver, Colorado and Seattle.

This acquisition is in line with the future plans of Zapak Digital, which is planning to enter the gaming space in China by early next year. “This makes perfect sense for us, as around 80% of content in the gaming industry is manufactured internationally. Buying out Sony, will not only give us access but also expand our reach in the global market,” said a senior Zapak Official.

The major expenses in the gaming industry is on content and marketing, and Zapak aims to reduce the cost of publishing a game by buying out those studios and relocating them to India. “This will reduce the cost drastically from $30 mn to $10mn, which will give us the advantage to channelise our funds towards marketing and other activities,” the official said.

In the recent past, Sony has aligned with Virgin Comics, a Bangalore-based collaboration of famed, self-help guru Deepak Chopra, filmmaker Shekhar Kapur and Richard Branson of Virgin Group. After the proposed acquisition, Zapak plans to retain control over all the deals, which has been signed by Sony Online.

According to the latest IMRB report, there are about 2.8 million online gamers in India and the online gaming industry is worth Rs 21 crore. Zapak is one of the top players in the Indian gaming space.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Zapak_set_to_buy_out_Sony_Online_for_300_mn/articleshow/2643807.cms


edit:LOL

SOE NOT being sold to Indian company
Category: Industry, Posted: 12/23/2007 at 12:39AM CST by Brendon Lindsey, Editor-in-Chief

On the Internet when a story breaks, everyone jumps on it. The same was the case not too long ago, when Indian site The Economic Times (and subsequently several major news sites) reported that SOE was being bought by Zapak Digital Entertainment for the sum of $300 million, with further details to arrive next week.

Guess what? It's not true. When reached for comment, Sony Online Entertainment President and CEO John Smedley quickly refuted the article. "No idea who made this up. We are in discussions with various companies in India about bringing our games to this growing market but that's it. We aren't for sale," he said. "It's completely and utterly false."

As for what's really going on? "The real scoop is we're just working on a game distribution deal in India with Zapak. It's as simple as that. They're a good company."

Well there you have it. Seems the Internet may have jumped its collective gun a little too early on this story. SOE lovers and players of SOE games don't worry; false alarm. In the meantime, SOE's looking into what caused the miscommunication and trying to get all the false reports taken down.

http://gamernode.com/news/5464-soe-not-being-sold-to-indian-company/index.html

[Epix]

That reminds me, I need to make a CES request thread like I did last year.

[yoshaw]

A tag price of 300million seemed too low for a company that generates 150million for revenue(was it annually?). Sounded like too good to be true for 'any' buyer!