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How is Funcom funding "The Secret World"?

Syno23Syno23 Member UncommonPosts: 1,360

It really beats me. I mean if they released Age of Conan in 2008 and put all of their resources in it, why is it that they're still able to fund such a huge project as "The Secret World"? Secret World originally began development before Age of Conan, but still doesn't explain. Age of Conan failed and the subscriber base is used to pay back the investors for investing in Funcom. I'm really not sure why the company is still standing, yet able to fund yet another project such as, "The Secret World." 

And, they think I'll be a success? Doesn't everyone hate Funcom from Age of Conan?

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Comments

  • XasapisXasapis Member RarePosts: 6,337

    From various threads on the same matter on this site, it was stated that Funcom still has plenty of money to throw towards the development of this MMO. Funcom is a publicly traded company, so its finances results are visible.

    I played AoC for a month or two during launch. I didn't like it and moved on to other games. Hating the gaming company for a product I didn't like is absurd. Should I have hated NCsoft because I didn't like CoH?

  • alakramalakram Member UncommonPosts: 2,301
    Originally posted by Syno23


    It really beats me. I mean if they released Age of Conan in 2008 and put all of their resources in it, why is it that they're still able to fund such a huge project as "The Secret World"? Secret World originally began development before Age of Conan, but still doesn't explain. Age of Conan failed and the subscriber base is used to pay back the investors for investing in Funcom. I'm really not sure why the company is still standing, yet able to fund yet another project such as, "The Secret World." 
    And, they think I'll be a success? Doesn't everyone hate Funcom from Age of Conan?

     

    You are asuming they did put all their resources in AoC, they didnt.



  • AercusAercus Member UncommonPosts: 775
    Originally posted by Syno23


    It really beats me. I mean if they released Age of Conan in 2008 and put all of their resources in it, why is it that they're still able to fund such a huge project as "The Secret World"? Secret World originally began development before Age of Conan, but still doesn't explain. Age of Conan failed and the subscriber base is used to pay back the investors for investing in Funcom. I'm really not sure why the company is still standing, yet able to fund yet another project such as, "The Secret World." 
    And, they think I'll be a success? Doesn't everyone hate Funcom from Age of Conan?



     

    Short answer:

    With it's $35 million in cash.

    As for the second question, I think the product will stand or fall on it's own merit. The Funcom hatred is mostly from a very small and vocal part of the player base. The rest of us have been consumers for a few years and don't find the errors made OMFG-armed assault-QQ worthy. If you think Funcom's bad, just wait until you own and repair a car..

  • AmazingAveryAmazingAvery Age of Conan AdvocateMember UncommonPosts: 7,188
    Originally posted by Syno23


    Doesn't everyone hate Funcom from Age of Conan?



     

    What do you think mate? Crap like this is just basically pure false.

    $40 mill in the bank. TSW was being developed way before AoC was even released.



  • SnapcaseSnapcase Member Posts: 12

    People should read earnings reports before posting silly remarks...Though AoC even in my books flopped, things are lightening up for them....

     

    http://www.blogcatalog.com/search.frame.php?term=funcom+earnings&id=54c353dc674b4f125428508e20b834b3

  • ElsaboltsElsabolts Member RarePosts: 3,476

    Track record and the truth will in my opion give Funcom what it deserves. Reorganization, current senior exectives replaced public support gone.

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  • iZakaroNiZakaroN Member UncommonPosts: 719
    Originally posted by Syno23


    It really beats me. I mean if they released Age of Conan in 2008 and put all of their resources in it, why is it that they're still able to fund such a huge project as "The Secret World"? Secret World originally began development before Age of Conan, but still doesn't explain. Age of Conan failed and the subscriber base is used to pay back the investors for investing in Funcom. I'm really not sure why the company is still standing, yet able to fund yet another project such as, "The Secret World." 
    And, they think I'll be a success? Doesn't everyone hate Funcom from Age of Conan?

     

    Age of Conan bring enough profit to Funcom. Its far from a fail. I personally never have a hope in such type of MMO as Age of Connan, and see it as great success from aside.

    PS: Why anyone expect a game to get over 10m subs to name it success?



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  • Syno23Syno23 Member UncommonPosts: 1,360
    Originally posted by iZakaroN

    Originally posted by Syno23


    It really beats me. I mean if they released Age of Conan in 2008 and put all of their resources in it, why is it that they're still able to fund such a huge project as "The Secret World"? Secret World originally began development before Age of Conan, but still doesn't explain. Age of Conan failed and the subscriber base is used to pay back the investors for investing in Funcom. I'm really not sure why the company is still standing, yet able to fund yet another project such as, "The Secret World." 
    And, they think I'll be a success? Doesn't everyone hate Funcom from Age of Conan?

     

    Age of Conan bring enough profit to Funcom. Its far from a fail. I personally never have a hope in such type of MMO as Age of Connan, and see it as great success from aside.

    PS: Why anyone expect a game to get over 10m subs to name it success?

     

    Actually, 1 million subscribers is a success. Anything lower is simply the game is doing great, it is making profit, it is holding its own, and a failure is under 150k subs which Age of Conan currently has.

  • EduardoASGEduardoASG Member Posts: 832

    too many oil rigs in Norway heheh.. too much cash to burn i guess :p

    Aion, AoC, AC, AO, DDO, Eve, Eq2, GW, MW3, L1&2, RF, RIFT, SWG, SWTOR, TR, UO, WOW, WAR
  • SabradinSabradin Member Posts: 772

    Its possible that Age of Conan was a pile of poop BECAUSE they didn't (couldn't because of socialism?) spend that much money investing into Age of Conan.   They took like a 30 milliion dollar investment from other people with big promises.

    Its possible that they saw all this coming and pulled a fast one.

    Definitely thinking short-term.

    Just when you think you have all the answers, I change the questions.

  • madeuxmadeux Member Posts: 1,786

    So many assumptions going on here.

    They made one bad game, so no other game they ever make could be possible?

    They can only be making one game at a time?

    Investors can't choose a particular game to invest in?

    They never learn from past mistakes?

    Shall I go on?

  • SabradinSabradin Member Posts: 772
    Originally posted by madeux


    So many assumptions going on here.
    They made one bad game, so no other game they ever make could be possible?
    They can only be making one game at a time?
    Investors can't choose a particular game to invest in?
    They never learn from past mistakes?
    Shall I go on?



     

    yeah, but when you know what you're doing is wrong you don't just turn on a dime

    those aren't mistakes.

    Just when you think you have all the answers, I change the questions.

  • FrobnerFrobner Member Posts: 649

    The job of the real gamers now is to remind everyone what Funcom is all about.  In terms of both AO and AOC they released totally unfinished products.  As long as everyone knows this and realise how much of PR is going on (the truth doesn't matter for Funcom - as long as it sells them one extra copy in preorder).  

    Everyone should know by now that you do NOT buy a Funcom product based on anything that the company is saying.  And since NDA is not lifted on their products - you do NOT buy or preoder their games before they go on free trial.  Its this simple.  

    Just remember it and stay as far away as possible until you have solid facts.  That should be out about 6 months after the game releases. 

  • AercusAercus Member UncommonPosts: 775
    Originally posted by Frobner


    The job of the real gamers now is to remind everyone what Funcom is all about.  In terms of both AO and AOC they released totally unfinished products.  As long as everyone knows this and realise how much of PR is going on (the truth doesn't matter for Funcom - as long as it sells them one extra copy in preorder).  
    Everyone should know by now that you do NOT buy a Funcom product based on anything that the company is saying.  And since NDA is not lifted on their products - you do NOT buy or preoder their games before they go on free trial.  Its this simple.  
    Just remember it and stay as far away as possible until you have solid facts.  That should be out about 6 months after the game releases. 



     

    Please, let's remind gamers of a couple of Funcom games:

    http://pc.ign.com/articles/160/160848p1.html

    http://pc.ign.com/articles/702/702002p1.html

    As for staying away for the six months to wait out the worst.. duh.. that goes for all MMO's.  A smooth launch is the exception for MMO's, not the rule. When you have played them long enough you'll figure that out and learn to accept the first months is ALWAYS turbulent.

  • ShojuShoju Member UncommonPosts: 776
    Originally posted by Syno23
    Actually, 1 million subscribers is a success. Anything lower is simply the game is doing great, it is making profit, it is holding its own, and a failure is under 150k subs which Age of Conan currently has.

    Yay!  Another armchair economist who has some sort of super power that allows him to determine what defines success or failure for a company or the MMORPG industry as a whole.

    Game development companies better listen up!   We don't care if your financial division predetermines that you can make timely returns on your pre-launch investments and still turn a profit with 150k+ subscribers, or be rolling in fat cash with 500k+.  You will be considered pure and absolute utter apocalyptic failures within the MMO industry because you didn't reach 1 million subscribers.  You know why?  Because Syno23 said so.

  • CrashloopCrashloop Member Posts: 885
    Originally posted by EduardoASG


    too many oil rigs in Norway heheh.. too much cash to burn i guess :p

    the sad part is those oil money is put into a bank and saved....

    The good part is that we are filthy rich due to it :P But ofcourse those greedy politicans's don't bother giving us the money directly to spend :(

    Playing: Battlefield - Bad company (Xbox360) Arma2, DFO (PC)
    On my radar: TSW, MO
    MMO's played: SWG (pre cu/cu), WoW, AoC, WAR, DFO, Planetside
    MMO's that I have tested: Lotro, L2, Aion, Ryzom

  • crunchyblackcrunchyblack Member Posts: 1,362

    Has everyone forgotten (despite your opinions on the game) that AoC sold how many copies at launch, at what price?  Love it or hate it, AoC made bank for funcom.

    The money is out there for a company with a proven track record, the problem arises when your a no name company looking to get funded. 

     

     

  • SovrathSovrath Member LegendaryPosts: 31,937

    Well, my thought is that Fucom was running itself like a company.

    It put a certain amount of resources and funds toward one project and likewise put funds toward other projects.

    Most companies that run well don't put all their eggs in one basket. If one of their products goes down then the other projects are there to keep the company afloat.

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  • ray12kray12k Member UncommonPosts: 487
    Originally posted by Syno23

    Originally posted by iZakaroN

    Originally posted by Syno23


    It really beats me. I mean if they released Age of Conan in 2008 and put all of their resources in it, why is it that they're still able to fund such a huge project as "The Secret World"? Secret World originally began development before Age of Conan, but still doesn't explain. Age of Conan failed and the subscriber base is used to pay back the investors for investing in Funcom. I'm really not sure why the company is still standing, yet able to fund yet another project such as, "The Secret World." 
    And, they think I'll be a success? Doesn't everyone hate Funcom from Age of Conan?

     

    Age of Conan bring enough profit to Funcom. Its far from a fail. I personally never have a hope in such type of MMO as Age of Connan, and see it as great success from aside.

    PS: Why anyone expect a game to get over 10m subs to name it success?

     

    Actually, 1 million subscribers is a success. Anything lower is simply the game is doing great, it is making profit, it is holding its own, and a failure is under 150k subs which Age of Conan currently has.



     

    lol, your a idiot!!!!

    I am indiffrent to funcom and AOC. But come one use common sence... If the company makes even a dollar over cost(which means maintance/marketing ect... its a success)

    if the server are running and making money its a success.

    Funcom is just like every other DEV. out there, most there prducts are crap, when TSW goest open/closed beta im sure it will eather be crap or great.

  • xenoracexenorace Member UncommonPosts: 205

    I guess some see AoC as a failure and a hit to Funcom's pocket, but the game is doing quite well. I just left it right after it's big 1.05 patch and the player base could not be happier <for the most part> I think FC has bounced back from the first 6 month slump they were in and even though not bring in WoW type $, still make more then enough money to not only support AoC and future production on that game but also other projects as well.

     

    P.S. only left AoC to take a break from the game. Got a little addicted for a moment there ;)

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  • GestankfaustGestankfaust Member UncommonPosts: 1,989

    Funcom hating, Sony hating, Walmart hating...it's all the same. Never will understand hating a game developer. Guess it's just too easy to hate these days....

    "This may hurt a little, but it's something you'll get used to. Relax....."

  • Kaelaan21Kaelaan21 Member UncommonPosts: 349
    Originally posted by Syno23


    It really beats me. I mean if they released Age of Conan in 2008 and put all of their resources in it, why is it that they're still able to fund such a huge project as "The Secret World"? Secret World originally began development before Age of Conan, but still doesn't explain. Age of Conan failed and the subscriber base is used to pay back the investors for investing in Funcom. I'm really not sure why the company is still standing, yet able to fund yet another project such as, "The Secret World." 
    And, they think I'll be a success? Doesn't everyone hate Funcom from Age of Conan?



     

    You're assuming that FunCom only makes MMOs. Dreamfall was only released 3 years ago and was sold on both PC and Xbox/Xbox360. It had a much wider audience that the MMO market in general.

  • VormirVormir Member UncommonPosts: 135

    And people are not taking into account one BIG factor.

    The team working on TSW is not the same team that worked/ is working on AoC. I even think the offices for the secret world are in Asia.

    So dont jump into conclusions before you actual see the game. But if the launch date decision is up to the same guy, then God help us all.

  • saleensaleen Member UncommonPosts: 44

    Funcom is just developing not doing the story line, management etc.. like they did with AoC, right? Soo, can't say since AoC sucked for a year(now it's doing better than all past months)that TSW will be the same.  The game look's interesting, hopefully few months we see some gameplay or closed beta!!  



    There's a lot of competition in 2010 for MMO's, need to play it right and grab people who are getting tired of the out dated World of Warcraft, like me :) 

  • SporeDotSporeDot Member Posts: 66
    Originally posted by Vormir


    And people are not taking into account one BIG factor.
    The team working on TSW is not the same team that worked/ is working on AoC. I even think the offices for the secret world are in Asia.
    So dont jump into conclusions before you actual see the game. But if the launch date decision is up to the same guy, then God help us all.

     

    It has some of the same people. But it's also being led by the teamas who made the Longest Journey series, and some of the ones who worked on AO.

    My complaint against funcom isnt their quality of development, but the fact that they always rush releases out the door. They always have freaking amazing ideas that could work out great, but rush them out the door and ruin what could be amazing.

    The quality of what they do is pretty high - such as AoC's graphics - problem is it's buggy because of the rushed release. I also find that (aside from AoC's expansion) most of their expansions involve some pretty unique ideas to add mechanics and varied gameplay to the game - example: Alien Invasion added to AO offering city building, attacks, new alien xp progression system. Etc.

    Once they actually release the game, it's too late. Because some things are such a key mechanic of the game that, if they were still in testing, they would be able to completely revamp it - but in a released game, complete revamps are often murder to the game (like SWG).

    TSW could be one of the greatest MMO's in the future, and definately has the most intriguing setting/lore that that I've EVER seen in an MMO. Plus some of the mechanics announced are awesome - no levels, non linear, clothes only for your actual look, decent sounding PvP system, and rumors abound of FPS-style combat.

    I'm going to be extremely mad at Funcom if it is rushed out the door and all the potential is ruined. In both of Funcoms MMO releases, they could have really struck some gold if they took the time to develop and polish it properly - AO was a pretty big MMO release for the day but the horrid release crippled it, and AoC was another huge release and actually broke MMO records, at the time, but a month in things changed....

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