[Jump]

As you all may well know by now, Netdevil has given us another "10 months ago" announcement. The first one was the shocker that they had been secretly working on Jumpgate Evolution back in June of 2007. Now it's the fact that they are no longer the indie group we have stuck with over these long and empty years. And haven't been for some time now it seems. Now they are part of an investment portfolio for these guys -Gazillions investment group. So while it may be true that there are now more resources to get the game to market. You can no longer rest your hopes on Scott Brown and companies passion to remake their first love. Which of course is Jumpgate, the game that started it all for them.

From now on, or ten months ago it seems, Jumpgate Evolution is no different than "Linen's and Things", "Circuit City, AGEIA,or any other investment holding out there today. If things don't go according to plan for Jumpgate Evolution, the investors will cut their losses and that will be the end of that. That's how it works in this investment world of ours. You pay up or you are swept clean and auctioned off. We're such a generation of fine young cannibals.

I'm sure the spin doctors will be working overtime. But in truth there is only one formula which of course is "investment for return profit". Everything on top of that is just spin. Plain and simple.

Do I blame Scott and company? Heck no, you have to take what you can get in this dog eat dog world. Am I disappointed? You bet I am. They are now bound to the formula that will return a profit to the investment group. Which does not bode well for those of us that are passionate about the old time feel of Jumpgate.

It will be interesting to see what they put to market when Jumpgate Evolution is released. Hopefully they get it right the first time. I don't hold out hope for too many second chances as the investors will be putting the pressure on. Spin baby spin.

Here is the original press release for those that haven't read it.

NetDevil Joins the Gazillion Family

GAZILLION IN AGREEMENT WITH MARVEL ENTERTAINMENT TO BRING ICONIC SUPER HEROES TO MASSIVELY MULTIPLAYER GAMES AUDIENCE, UNVEILS NEW COMPANY AND STUDIOS
Games in Development with Marvel Entertainment in Addition to Original IP for All Ages
SAN MATEO, Calif. – March 17, 2009 – Gazillion Entertainment today unveiled a key partnership to develop massively multiplayer online (MMO) games based on one of the world’s most revered entertainment brands, Marvel Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: MVL), as part of Gazillion’s plan to bring high quality MMO entertainment to wide audiences. While operating in stealth mode as NR2B Research, the company assembled four development studios and has forged long-term partnerships with select entertainment brands worldwide.
“Despite the tough economy, the video game industry continues to grow, and MMO games for mass audiences represent the next big opportunity for the upcoming decade,” said Rob Hutter, President and CEO of Gazillion. “This is particularly the case for established global entertainment brands like Marvel, which possess hundreds of millions of touch points with fans worldwide. The next step is exceptionally high quality MMO entertainment, and that’s our mission at Gazillion.”
With team members from Apple, Blizzard Entertainment, Microsoft Game Studios, Pixar Animation Studios and many other leading companies, Gazillion has assembled talent from across the landscape of MMOs, console video games, animated feature films and technology to address the mission of building breakthrough MMOs capable of resonating with wide audiences. Privately held and backed by leading venture capitalists, Gazillion is comprised of four wholly-owned production studios as well as publishing, operations and an innovative online payments group.

MMOs Extend Franchises, Offer New Market Opportunity
"The global online PC game market is expected to reach $19 billion in 2013, and Casual and AAA MMOs are expected to reach $11.8 billion in 2013, representing a growing shift beyond the core to audiences of all types and ages,” said David Cole, founder and president of DFC Intelligence. “The keys to success will be the ability to release products for a range of audiences and a focus on making games a quality ongoing service. As the market grows, large entertainment brands will play an important role in expanding the audience. Marvel has taken the lead in going after this emerging opportunity and it speaks volumes that they chose Gazillion as their partner in this space.”
Gazillion today announced a worldwide licensing agreement with Marvel to develop and publish MMO games featuring Marvel’s iconic universe of more than 5,000 Super Heroes, including elements from its films and animated series. The first game in development is a casual MMO for younger audiences based on Marvel’s Super Hero Squad property. Super Hero Squad features an exciting, super-stylized look for the greatest Super Heroes, including Iron Man, Hulk, Wolverine, Thor, Fantastic Four, Captain America and many others.
In addition, Gazillion will be developing and publishing Marvel Universe, a highly anticipated MMO for PC and consoles. Further details on Marvel Universe will be released in the upcoming months.
“Marvel’s library features a large and world-renowned stable of characters, making it tailor made for massively multiplayer entertainment that will appeal to a wide audience eager for more opportunities to interact with these iconic character franchises,” said Simon Philips, President, Worldwide Consumer Products for Marvel Entertainment. “Gazillion’s excellence in casual and AAA MMOs makes this an ideal partnership to fully leverage this powerful entertainment arena, bringing fans an exciting, interactive experience with the Marvel brand.”

Studios and Services
Gazillion has assembled a world-class roster of online game development professionals within four wholly-owned but individually operated studios, in addition to its publishing and operations centers in San Mateo, CA. Details currently being shared include:
- Amazing Society (Issaquah, WA), which is developing the Marvel Super Hero Squad Casual MMO;
- Gargantuan (San Mateo, CA), which is developing the Marvel Universe PC and console MMO;
- NetDevil (Louisville, CO), which is developing the LEGO Universe and Jumpgate Evolution MMOs;
- Slipgate Ironworks (San Mateo, CA), which is developing an original MMO property; and
- SmartyCard (San Mateo, CA), the award-winning payment service for kids and leading online games.

Additional titles under development have not yet been announced.


About Gazillion, Inc.
Gazillion Entertainment, Inc. is a leading developer, publisher and operator of massively multiplayer online (MMO) games for wide audiences. Gazillion has assembled talent from across the landscape of MMOs, videogames, animated feature films and technology to address the mission of building breakthrough massively multiplayer experiences featuring world class brands and original franchises, superior production quality and unmatched gameplay. Headquartered in San Mateo, California, Gazillion has four independent but wholly owned MMO development studios located in California, Colorado, and Washington currently in production on Casual and AAA MMO properties. The company also owns the award-winning SmartyCard payment service for younger audiences which works with leading online games and more. For more information on Gazillion, its products and services please visit www.gazillion.com.

About Marvel
Marvel Entertainment, Inc. is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of over 5,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in licensing, entertainment (via Marvel Studios and Marvel Animation) and publishing (via Marvel Comics). Marvel's strategy is to leverage its franchises in a growing array of opportunities around the world, including feature films, consumer products, toys, video games, animated television, direct-to-DVD and online. For more information visit www.marvel.com.

[Telepath]

Gazillion Entertainment, Inc. is a leading developer, publisher and operator of massively multiplayer online (MMO) games for wide audiences.



We're screwed

[Jump]

Yes those are ripe words. But ultimately those words are just icing from the spin doctors. The bitter cake underneath is the "investment group." Yes that's how things run in our world today but they are still soulless entities that sweep away anything that stands between them and a profitable return.

[Ratneck]

Thing that worries me the most can be found on this page:
https://www.smartycard.com/tp/about/company.html

The CEO of Gazillion, Robert Hunter, has a nice little piece in his bio:

Currently, Robert is on the Board of Directors of SmartDrive Systems, Quantcast, and InGameAd Limited. Robert is a graduate of Harvard University.

See bold in the above quote......Hooray! In-game Ads!

[Telepath]

I don't really want to be flying past space billboards displaying Coca Cola or McDonald's... uuuuugh. This facts don't bode well.

[Jump]

Yeah, me neither. We'll see how it goes. Keep in mind that "in game adds" are themselves an investment of the investors and will not last long if they are not profitable. The chopping block spares no one and nothing.

[Telepath]

Oh I'm sure it'll be profitable for a few months, maybe even a year. I doubt they're looking at having Jumpgate Evolution last longer than a year, and if it does, good news for them. I think a lot of the most recent MMOs have been using a shotgun technique to get players, and none last very long. What needs to happen is a wider variety of more specific MMOs, like what happened with single player video games. They started out arcade-like, then became story-based RPGs, then we got racing games and real-time strategy and puzzle games, etc. Now there are some games that bridge the gaps between these genres... puzzle-based RPG's kind of like Myst and then we have arcade racing games and then RPG shooting games like Grand Theft Auto. We need specialized MMOs, not this "please everyone and no one" shot gun strategy.

[Kalshion]

Yet this will make many people move away from games, if memory serves me right, Tabula Rasa tried this tactic and it failed horribly (IE: Ingame Ads) and infact caused a ripple effect in their player base that resulted in them losing nearly half of what base they had. Still wish the game hadn't of gone under, but thats how this world is.

Sadly though this really doesn't bode well for Jumpgate Evolution; 'wide audiances' means games generated for all ages and are not complex. Granted, Jumpgate wasn't complex, but you are talking about kids here as well. Though I've never even HEARD of Gazillion (perhaps its because of the stupid name..)

Either way, we can only pray that Jumpgate Evolution doesn't get chopped up to peices by these companies, we all know how the economy is doing right now and it isn't doing very well. So this game has better deliver, or it'll be gone in less than six months... *sigh*

[Jump]

Every generation watches with awe as suddenly they are no longer the focus of marketing. Me thinks todays investors in gaming are looking at the emerging generation that was raised on Neopets and the like. They were groomed to see games as simple time sinks with eye candy. They are used to ads in their face. And they are just now begining to find disposable money in their pockets.

Let's face it. The star wars generation is done as far as marketing goes. Skill takes too much work for these young rascals. I know, I have three of them. Well, one is pretty damn good at shooters. But the other two just want to click on things.

[Ratneck]

Originally Posted by Kalshion

Yet this will make many people move away from games, if memory serves me right, Tabula Rasa tried this tactic and it failed horribly (IE: Ingame Ads)

Just to note, they haven't said there will be in-game ads. I just found it interesting that the CEO of the company that is now in charge is also on the board of directors of an in-game ad company.

[Red Zebra]

Come on.......just imagine it.

Cargo Insurance brought to you by GEICO !!!!
Morning Stars from Lockheed-Martin,
and the Boeing logo on my tow...........

The words Co------Ca-----Cola flashing at the entrance of Sol Core.

F-ing shoot me...................(please).

[Kalshion]

Ahh! Sorry about that Ratneck, I thought ya said there were.. my mistake!

But yea, todays generation has been raised to be a bunch of lemmings (no disrespect to your kids Jump) and only know how to play a game simply without requiring the use of skill or tactics. Its one reason why I enjoy complex games such as the BC series (3000AD ) because they are complex and, even though somewhat buggy, they give me what I crave that most games do not.

Either way though; it'll get to a point where those of us who desire skill and tactical work in a game will no longer have that medium to go for. I mean, its sad that I'm now noticing that FREE TO PLAY games are starting to have this type of medium (a recent Korean game that Im keeping my eye on, allows you to use 'anything' in the game as a weapon, a barrel, a cart you may find in town, 'anything') so yet why is it that using your terrain to your advantage (such as blowing up an asteriod when being chased by pirates) hasn't yet been instituted into a game?

The reason, at least in my opinion, comes from how complex it would be. You'd need skill to determine 'when' to set it off, and timing as well. You'd also have to watch your enemy, judge them based on their actions and then bait them to the rigged roid.

But, this all requires skill.. which is something that most people in this day and age do not desire. All they want is to be able to get things done 'right now' with little risk and do not desire to actual work for it.

Sorry about the rant there, just felt I had to put more clarity into what I was saying

Come on.......just imagine it.

Cargo Insurance brought to you by GEICO !!!!
Morning Stars from Lockheed-Martin,
and the Boeing logo on my tow...........

The words Co------Ca-----Cola flashing at the entrance of Sol Core.

F-ing shoot me...................(please).

Lol!

[Comatosed]

Well i guess there is only one thing to say........

"So long and thanks for all the fish.......................... ..."

[Lordopic]

Just wish they would stop with all the bullshit and just tell us straight. The new CM for ND is the queen of spin, not totally sure how I feel about her, but then once the game go’s live I’m stuck with Codemasters any way and their CM is a waste of space.

As for the game I will try it and make my mind up about it then. I do feel kind of sad that ND is no longer ND but now just part of some money men’s dream to beat WOW.

[SoulReaver]

This is a dissappointment hell i bought the new new t 16000 m for this game. Guess ill wait for Dark Prophecy