I don't think they need to sell the source code. They just need to sell the software and the tools so that people can run and modify the game. You would think if people can reverse engineer servers and get them running for free it would be possible to get the server software in a sellable state at minimal cost.
I was thinking since a few games are shuttering soon, Gigantic and Paragon, etc.
But let's say a game like Wildstar shutters up and shuts down. Could another company say, "we'll buy the source code for Wildstar, change a few things around, rebrand it under a different name, and see if we can make it work?"
It seems like it may be a cheaper way to get an MMO to your liking. Instead of starting from scratch, you start with something, spend a year, changing the shit out of it, have good marketing, make it innovative, or add some lootbox shit in there if you want, and see if you can make a profit out of it.
I know it is difficult, and some companies have tried that with Secret World Legends and darkfall was taken by two different companies and then re-released with differences.
But I wonder how much the source code would cost for wildstar per se? I think, and I could be wrong, that it may be easier to rebrand an MMO then make one from scratch, the problem you face, is that if a game shuttered, it already has made a bad impression, but it is cheaper
Cryomatrix
disclaimer: I'm nowhere near the software field, so i'm just trying to learn things.
Yes, in fact, in some cases, the whole game can be sold to another publisher and development studio.
This happens a lot more then you would think to be honest, for example, Daybreak (publisher of Everquest) has bought several MMO's when their publishes were considering closing them down.
One example that I know of off the top of my head, is when Turbine Inc moved out of the MMO market and as opposed to shutting down their MMO's (Which Include such titles as: Lord of the Rings Online, Dungeons and dragons Online, and Ashron's Call) they sold them off to Daybreak. Daybreak then made a subsidiary studio called Standing Stone Games, hired the now "downsized" developers from Turbine and just kept the game going, as it always had, with no problems, not even a single day of play was lost in the transition.
This is not what OP is talking about
OP - buying/selling source code for a game
Your example of Daybreak hosting Standing Stone (ex-Turbine) games is entirely different - they didn't buy the source code - they are simply hosting Turbine's games on their platform and servers
Also they were never "sold ff" to Daybreak - this didn't happen, Daybreak is simply a publisher - Standing Stone studios is it's own entity - not owned by Daybreak.
Your info is way off
Edit - I see Grunty already covered this - saw it too late
Standing Stone is not affiliated to Turbine or Warner Brothers, not sure why you would even think that Standing Stone is somehow "ex-Turbine", when Turbine Games is still around and making games, as it just released Game of Thrones: Conquest
In fact look at the Bottom of Game of Thrones: Conquest, you will see Turbine, and WB as the Game Developers/Publishers.
Now if you look at then bottom of Dungeons and Dragons Online. You will see Daybreak, and Standing Stone (but WB is missing, because they are not affiliated to Standing Stone, or the MMO directly anymore) and WotC is listed as use of Copyrighted materals.
Now, perhaps you simply want to split hairs that it was Standing Stone that bought the games as opposed to Daybreak, I suppose you could make some petty point about who exactly bought what, but that does not change the fact that the games were sold off to another Developer and Publisher, in their entirety.
Which is what the OP is asking about.
Egotism is the anesthetic that dullens the pain of stupidity, this is why when I try to beat my head against the stupidity of other people, I only hurt myself.
Selling rights to super-innovative buggy whip design, guaranteed to revolutionize the industry. Animal rights lovers adore this model, because as the name says, it whips the buggy, not the horses pulling it. Price: one un-shared mega-lottery jackpot. Will negotiate.
There's a reason why games close down. A failed game can be brought back to life, but that doesn't usually address the problems of why the game closed in the first place. Fixing problems can be more costly that just living with the errors.
Logic, my dear, merely enables one to be wrong with great authority.
I was thinking since a few games are shuttering soon, Gigantic and Paragon, etc.
But let's say a game like Wildstar shutters up and shuts down. Could another company say, "we'll buy the source code for Wildstar, change a few things around, rebrand it under a different name, and see if we can make it work?"
It seems like it may be a cheaper way to get an MMO to your liking. Instead of starting from scratch, you start with something, spend a year, changing the shit out of it, have good marketing, make it innovative, or add some lootbox shit in there if you want, and see if you can make a profit out of it.
I know it is difficult, and some companies have tried that with Secret World Legends and darkfall was taken by two different companies and then re-released with differences.
But I wonder how much the source code would cost for wildstar per se? I think, and I could be wrong, that it may be easier to rebrand an MMO then make one from scratch, the problem you face, is that if a game shuttered, it already has made a bad impression, but it is cheaper
Cryomatrix
disclaimer: I'm nowhere near the software field, so i'm just trying to learn things.
Yes, in fact, in some cases, the whole game can be sold to another publisher and development studio.
This happens a lot more then you would think to be honest, for example, Daybreak (publisher of Everquest) has bought several MMO's when their publishes were considering closing them down.
One example that I know of off the top of my head, is when Turbine Inc moved out of the MMO market and as opposed to shutting down their MMO's (Which Include such titles as: Lord of the Rings Online, Dungeons and dragons Online, and Ashron's Call) they sold them off to Daybreak. Daybreak then made a subsidiary studio called Standing Stone Games, hired the now "downsized" developers from Turbine and just kept the game going, as it always had, with no problems, not even a single day of play was lost in the transition.
This is not what OP is talking about
OP - buying/selling source code for a game
Your example of Daybreak hosting Standing Stone (ex-Turbine) games is entirely different - they didn't buy the source code - they are simply hosting Turbine's games on their platform and servers
Also they were never "sold ff" to Daybreak - this didn't happen, Daybreak is simply a publisher - Standing Stone studios is it's own entity - not owned by Daybreak.
Your info is way off
Edit - I see Grunty already covered this - saw it too late
Standing Stone is not affiliated to Turbine or Warner Brothers, not sure why you would even think that Standing Stone is somehow "ex-Turbine", when Turbine Games is still around and making games, as it just released Game of Thrones: Conquest
In fact look at the Bottom of Game of Thrones: Conquest, you will see Turbine, and WB as the Game Developers/Publishers.
Now if you look at then bottom of Dungeons and Dragons Online. You will see Daybreak, and Standing Stone (but WB is missing, because they are not affiliated to Standing Stone, or the MMO directly anymore) and WotC is listed as use of Copyrighted materals.
Now, perhaps you simply want to split hairs that it was Standing Stone that bought the games as opposed to Daybreak, I suppose you could make some petty point about who exactly bought what, but that does not change the fact that the games were sold off to another Developer and Publisher, in their entirety.
Which is what the OP is asking about.
You are correct. @DMKano likes to try and sell himself off as some sort of game industry insider - he isn't. I read the articles you posted, not that I needed too as I know what you are saying is true, as I can also read. It states in black and white that Standing Stone acquired the rights to D&D online and LOTRO and is partnered with DB for various reasons.
A really good example of source code being purchased and used to turn a profit is Eve. Eve was originally written by an investment firm then sold to CCP games.
APB Reloaded (originally just APB) now owned and operated by Gamersfirst, was first owned by Realtime Worlds LTD. When it went under originally Gamersfirst stepped in and kept it alive.
Two examples, there are much more but my points stand.
It happens more than we realize and @DMKano knows nothing more than anyone else on these boards, sometimes less. Which normally isn't a big deal, but if you are going to pontificate on how you are better informed, then you should be able to back it up.
If you want a new idea, go read an old book.
In order to be insulted, I must first value your opinion.
Minor correction on my part.. Standing Stone was not able to get Ashron's Call, they were only able to obtain rights to Lord of the Rings Online and Dungeons and dragons Online
Egotism is the anesthetic that dullens the pain of stupidity, this is why when I try to beat my head against the stupidity of other people, I only hurt myself.
Comments
In fact look at the Bottom of Game of Thrones: Conquest, you will see Turbine, and WB as the Game Developers/Publishers.
Now if you look at then bottom of Dungeons and Dragons Online. You will see Daybreak, and Standing Stone (but WB is missing, because they are not affiliated to Standing Stone, or the MMO directly anymore) and WotC is listed as use of Copyrighted materals.
Now, perhaps you simply want to split hairs that it was Standing Stone that bought the games as opposed to Daybreak, I suppose you could make some petty point about who exactly bought what, but that does not change the fact that the games were sold off to another Developer and Publisher, in their entirety.
Which is what the OP is asking about.
There's a reason why games close down. A failed game can be brought back to life, but that doesn't usually address the problems of why the game closed in the first place. Fixing problems can be more costly that just living with the errors.
Logic, my dear, merely enables one to be wrong with great authority.
A really good example of source code being purchased and used to turn a profit is Eve. Eve was originally written by an investment firm then sold to CCP games.
APB Reloaded (originally just APB) now owned and operated by Gamersfirst, was first owned by Realtime Worlds LTD. When it went under originally Gamersfirst stepped in and kept it alive.
Two examples, there are much more but my points stand.
It happens more than we realize and @DMKano knows nothing more than anyone else on these boards, sometimes less. Which normally isn't a big deal, but if you are going to pontificate on how you are better informed, then you should be able to back it up.
If you want a new idea, go read an old book.
In order to be insulted, I must first value your opinion.