Runic sold to arcgames?

[TOKEN]

I went to the Runic website to try to recover my old Runic account. After submiting a ticket, I receive email stating that arcgames.com is providing support for Runic titles now.

Arc runs several MMOs, "Perfect World International," is one familure to myself.

I'm wondering when Runic closed, since HOB was just recently released under the Runic name.
Anybody know when this happened?

[potterman28wxcv]

It happened a couple of weeks after Hob release. Hob had not been successful enough so Perfect World International (the publisher of Runic) decided to close the studio.

[Legislatore]

..... my god

[CyberRat]

You guys didn't ever hear about this? It's the reason why we're not gonna get a Torchlight 3 unless the studio bands together and buys the IP or something.

[steffire3]

Originally posted by TOKEN:

I'm wondering when Runic closed, since HOB was just recently released under the Runic name.
Anybody know when this happened?

https://steamcommunity.com/app/200710/discussions/0/1479857071257812188/

This Steam Linked Discussion has most of the reactions, information and web links involving this event.

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New entry below: Reserved space with info for a Steam Guide on the history of "Torchlight: From Mythos to the Frontier".

https://steamcommunity.com/app/200710/discussions/0/1745594817438192580/

[TOKEN]

Originally posted by steffire3:

Originally posted by TOKEN:

I'm wondering when Runic closed, since HOB was just recently released under the Runic name.
Anybody know when this happened?

Originally posted by Legislatore:

..... my god

https://steamcommunity.com/app/200710/discussions/0/1479857071257812188/

This Steam Linked Discussion has most of the reactions, infomation and web links involving this event.

Ah thanks steffire3, I just learned of this situation myself. A bit more googleing turned up an article dated Nov 3rd 2017. I was trying to fire up some multiplayer T2 with a friend, but ran into trouble logging into Runic. So yeah, sorry to see them go, if that means support for multiplayer is crumbling.

[potterman28wxcv]

Originally posted by TOKEN:

Originally posted by steffire3:

https://steamcommunity.com/app/200710/discussions/0/1479857071257812188/

This Steam Linked Discussion has most of the reactions, infomation and web links involving this event.

Ah thanks steffire3, I just learned of this situation myself. A bit more googleing turned up an article dated Nov 3rd 2017. I was trying to fire up some multiplayer T2 with a friend, but ran into trouble logging into Runic. So yeah, sorry to see them go, if that means support for multiplayer is crumbling.

Multiplayer still works, but I give no guarantee that the support at Perfect World is going to be as responsive and helpful than the Runic support. I'd be curious to hear your feedback about it though. Maybe Perfect World is going to have a helpful support for TL2

[christopherstach23]

so i assume there has been no word yet when tier 2 will begin? if it even gets started at all...

[cswheele]

the company is providing support that is all. and from my understanding multiplayer wasnt working a couple days ago because of a an issue on their side with the servers.

[steffire3]

Originally posted by christopherstach23:

so i assume there has been no word yet when tier 2 will begin? if it even gets started at all...

I assume this is refering to Salan from Synergies which contains tiers?

Last I read he basically burned out on Torchlight modding then suddenly released an update few months ago then went quiet again followed by the Synergies website being removed sadly.

[potterman28wxcv]

Originally posted by steffire3:

Originally posted by christopherstach23:

so i assume there has been no word yet when tier 2 will begin? if it even gets started at all...

I assume this is refering to Salan from Synergies which contains tiers?

Last I read he basically burned out on Torchlight modding then suddenly released an update few months ago then went quiet again followed by the Synergies website being removed sadly.

Yeah tiers are Salan's work, nothing to do with the devs

[Alcator]

Originally posted by Budapest Crackerdong (hhedge):

You guys didn't ever hear about this? It's the reason why we're not gonna get a Torchlight 3 unless the studio bands together and buys the IP or something.

Sadly, this is the other side of the coin: We may criticize EA or Activision or Blizzard for "monetizing" everything (like selling 1 extra character for Diablo III for 40 dollars), but it provides them with so much money that they can they work on whatever they want. By comparison, Runic have given us not only all the characters in the base game, but also modding tools, which means they don't have an easy way how to milk the franchise more.

[steffire3]

Originally posted by Alcator:

Originally posted by Budapest Crackerdong (hhedge):

You guys didn't ever hear about this? It's the reason why we're not gonna get a Torchlight 3 unless the studio bands together and buys the IP or something.

Sadly, this is the other side of the coin: We may criticize EA or Activision or Blizzard for "monetizing" everything (like selling 1 extra character for Diablo III for 40 dollars), but it provides them with so much money that they can they work on whatever they want. By comparison, Runic have given us not only all the characters in the base game, but also modding tools, which means they don't have an easy way how to milk the franchise more.

Yet EA, Activision and Blizzard have something to lose... their size requires constant feeding of income and therefore will always favor playing it safe on designs.

While that's great for those consumers who want established designs it also means that mod tools will be discouraged and creativity absolutely controlled at the top.

By contrast we have Crate who developed Grim Dawn and released mod tools along with their own priced expansions.

Indies like Crate have a lot more stacked against their success yet I favor this path far more for the reasons given above.

EA's own recent SW Battlefront 2 was getting very micro price heavy recently until some major complaints were made to which they retracted some plans temporarily.

https://www.cinemablend.com/games/1731889/ea-is-taking-a-financial-beating-over-star-wars-battlefront-2

Originally posted by Ryan Winslett:

Fans caused enough of an uproar to get EA to temporarily cancel the microtransactions in Battlefront II, but the damage was already done. IP owner Disney/Lucasfilm got involved and, despite last-minute changes, the game's sales have not been as high as anticipated...

Despite all of that, EA explained during a recent earnings call with investors that the absence of microtransactions would not have an impact on projected earnings. Apparently many were unconvinced, as shareholders started to withdraw and EA's stock plummeted 8.5 percent this month to date, accounting for the $3 billion drop.

At this point, it's hard to believe that the use of microtransactions won't have to change moving forward. After all, EA utilizes basically identical systems in other games like FIFA 18, but this is the first time player outcry has been enough to have an actual impact. The saying "vote with your dollars" comes to mind, and that's exactly what has happened with Battlefront II.

Of course I agree that EA still in business looks far better (can still make or publish games) than Runic whom is now void yet it's important to remember Perfect World owned Runic and never shared their love to make games that pay once rather than micro pay constantly for fast progress.

Perhaps the nation of Belgium and the state of Hawaii are taking things too far by taking EA to court... perhaps- yet we have to admit that "milking" can get heavy and these companies wouldn't object to getting as much money as the bottom line allows... and they would rather make tons of funds without the need for rarely gifted visionary game designers... besides- who cares about story, balance, fairness, originality and big content anyway? Consumers... not all yet some care deeply about this.

https://www.geek.com/.../hawaii-investigating-ea-for-predatory-practices-in-games-lik...
Nov 22, 2017 - It appears the fight against loot boxes in video games is gaining serious momentum. First, Belgium officially declared loot boxes as a form of gambling. Now, the state of Hawaii is taking steps to fight the “predatory practices” of companies like EA.

https://www.gamespot.com/articles/battlefront-2-overwatch-being.../1100-6454989/
Dec 5, 2017 - Battlefront 2, Overwatch Being Investigated By Gambling Authority In Belgium

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https://ragingtidespwi.wordpress.com/the-money-making-mini-guide-perfect-world-international/

This is an excerpt from a guide based on Perfect World International written some time ago:

Yes, many of you are against it, you want to keep this game 100% FTP, but there are many players who want to reach their goals faster, who want access to the higher tier weapons and armors much faster than others, mainly people who do not have patience and consider that paying RL currency to get what they want, when they want in the Perfect World. This is the way that this game survives even after 4 years, this is the business model that is adopted by most FTP MMOs.

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The Torchlight MMO was a questionable vision at best although Runic will carefully pass over the fact that Perfect World had their own expectations too.

How much of the following plan was "Old Runic" and what was injected from Perfect World is hard to say:

http://torchlight.wikia.com/wiki/Torchlight_MMO

Excerpt from wikia link:

In interviews and forum discussions from several years ago, Runic developers stated that the Torchlight MMO was conceived as a free-to-play (F2P) game which would feature an in-game cash shop. This cash shop would sell items and maps which would not affect the balance of gameplay, therefore not giving those who decide to purchase items from the shop an advantage over those who don't.

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With respect these companies do make money and they may generate jobs...

And sometimes they make wonderful games and do a decent job with balance and fairness.

Runic felt the need to sell their IP to Perfect World and bowed out which I can respect.

Yet... I don't want to feed these big monoliths more than they already have... and they don't favor small companies or Open Source or indies unless they sign away their games to their control.

Nothing new, corporations have to operate this way to survive.

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To all you future creative types reading this:

Don't feed these beasts your soul.

Don't bow your precious ideas to these task masters.

Don't believe what they say until you have fact checked them and cross examined their statements with their past actions.

Do your homework and make a decision... serve them if you wish but know this- if you want to produce original fun games then don't sign away your license.

All they want is money and hey- who doesn't need the money? But don't make money your "Ultimatum"... it is the bane of creativity and fairness guaranteed.

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https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/ultimatum
Definition of ultimatum - a final demand or statement of terms, the rejection of which will result in retaliation or a breakdown in relations.

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I apologize for this oversized reply... there's just so much more to this than "Corporations need the money and if you're not like them then you are a failure" which is probably not your intended point however this is what some may feel while reading this.

I choose to not merely criticize corporate game publisher tactics... I strongly reject them.

However I respect your view point and thank you for pointing this out.