SOE acquires Vanguard dev Sigil Games
by Ross Miller 
{ May 16th 2007 at 2:24PM }
Sony Online Entertainment has announced that it is acquiring Sigil Games Online, makers of Vanguard: Saga of Heroes. The acquisition had been referenced by Sigil CEO Brad McQuaid earlier this month, citing less-than-desirable results with the MMO.According to SOE president John Smedly, approximately 50 people from Sigil will be brought over to keep working on Vanguard. McQuaid will serve as consultant to SOE and creative advisor for the title. Sigil VP David Gilbertson will be "directly responsible for the day-to-day management" of Vanguard as well as the Sigil Carlsbad office.
Citing the lambasted New Game Enhancement controversy with Star Wars Galaxies, Smedley said that any major changes will come from the team themselves and not SOE. Smedley also mentioned that they will be listening to the players for idea on improvement, and said they will soon be opening up forums for the game. Smedley did say that they plan on "spending a lot of time cleaning up legacy issues" and improving performance.
Smedley said that the plan is to support Vanguard "for many years to come," and to expect content upgrades as part of the subscription service as well as future expansion packs. "But right now," he said, "the focus is on making sure Vanguard is running the way it should be."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
maverick_saturn_626 @ May 16th 2007 2:28PM
YAY! Im going to go crack open the champagne...what? Sigil games? Who the....? Okay, thought it was something exciting, my bad :)
kingofwale @ May 16th 2007 2:37PM
first console MMO? ;)
Sony still has money to go and buy other company??? *sighs*, I'd much rather they just go and get Take2 or Enix
Dolla Dolla @ May 16th 2007 2:51PM
Sony as a complete entity makes money, even though their Gaming division posted a huge loss.
And, I doubt SquareEnix would be willing to be exclusive with all the FF love they've been showing the DS lately.
Trekkervger @ May 16th 2007 2:56PM
My sincere sympathies go out to the players of Vanguard. As a two year veteran of Star Wars Galaxies, I know firsthand how devious and underhanded SOE really is.
Vilhelm @ May 16th 2007 2:56PM
#2: Erm, ever played Final Fantasy XI? EverQuest Online Adventures? Heard about Age of Conan? I don't know what that "first console MMO" ramble it is you're excercising, but I'm afraid that one has long before been realized.
Anyways, I heard McQuaid has pretty much abandoned Sigil Games. Sure, he's the CEO, but he hasn't been in his office for the last half a year or so. Supposedly, he's visited the office a few times since then, but he doesn't really work there anymore.
http://grouchygamer.blogspot.com/2007/05/brad-mcquaid-abandoned-vanguard-sigil.html
kingofwale @ May 16th 2007 2:56PM
Hence I said.. Sony should just go and buy Enix.
Will S @ May 16th 2007 2:58PM
Funny, I had thought NGE was the New Game Experience. I could be wrong, of course; in my house, it's known as The Reason I Quit SWG.
Dolla Dolla @ May 16th 2007 3:11PM
Sony can't just go and buy Enix. If they could, they would've, don't you think?
Buckshot @ May 16th 2007 3:12PM
As a SWG vet and a current VG player, I am prepared to $ony to destroy this great game. I refused to play another game by $ony after the NGE, but friends lured me in since $ony was the publisher and it ws Sigils game. The one bright spot is a real forum to complain on.
JJ @ May 16th 2007 3:45PM
You guys DO realize the fault of the NGE belongs entirely on Lucas arts right? Sony just did the developing as behest of Lucasarts, LA handled everything that went into the game and greenlighted everything that happened.
So most of the blame squarely falls on LA, as of right now though Most of the MMOs SOE has done have been very good. For the most part.
Buckshot @ May 16th 2007 4:04PM
John Smedley was in charge of the NGE, and at last check he is President of SOE. It had little to do with Lucasarts, and more to do with losing subscription numbers and $ony's profit margin.
Yes EQII was an ok game, but PvP weak.
JJ @ May 16th 2007 6:01PM
Yes he was buck, BUT everything that happened in the game or ideas that went into the game either came from LA or had to be approved by them (it is afterall their IP).
So place all the blame squarely on Smed or SOE, is faulty, its like blaming Epic because Microsoft demanded they change something in the game and no one likes the change.
SOE may have developed SWG and progammed all that went into it, but the last word was LAs
RogueJedi86 @ May 16th 2007 7:04PM
It's like blaming an actor when the show's writer changes the actor's character's dialogue.
Pyronite @ May 16th 2007 9:46PM
I doubt LucasArts told them they had to develop the NGE as they did. Stating it (and laying the blame) as such is far too speculative.
JJ @ May 16th 2007 10:42PM
Pyronite it may be speculative, but LA had FULL control of that game, Sony couldnt change one blessed thing in it without going through LA first.
So if you DO blame SOE, you have to lay as much blame on LA for allowing it in the first place.
Rogue Jedi had the perfect analogy for it
Mako @ May 20th 2007 10:49PM
I am so sorry for Vanguard players. It looked like a decent game. Now that SOE completely owns it, its only a matter of time until it is run into the ground.