Jul 31
SOE’s New Game
As you’ve probably already seen elsewhere, SOE is announcing a new game this Friday. Smed talks it up on the Station blog:
Later this week we have SOE’s Fan Faire 2007 in Las Vegas. I’m really excited because we’re going to be doing something very different at this year’s Fan Faire. For the first time we’re going to be using Fan Faire to introduce a new game we’ve had in the works for a long while now. I can’t wait for people to get their first look at it and actually be able to play the game at Fan Faire. We’ll be revealing it in the Community Address at 5:30pm on Friday August 3rd.
I couldn’t go this year because my month is so damned busy, which is a shame. I really wanted to attend this one. I’ll still be watching on Friday, though, thanks to their streaming newsfeed. I’ll do a running commentary here on the site, so you can see what I think of Smed’s haircut and such.
Now, assuming that this isn’t the ‘public’ announcement of The Agency or FreeRealms, I’m left a bit confused about what it might be. I have the full press release below, but here’s the bit that’s got me scratching my head:
Smed will also unveil an all-new, SOE online game, which is set to formally launch in late August. Fan Faire guests will have the first chance to demo this new title throughout Fan Faire weekend, August 3-5.
They’re announcing it for the first time in the first week of the month, and then releasing it at the end of the month? Jigga wha? Thankfully, just a few days before we find out what this is all about.
John Smedley to Unveil Brand-New Game to the Masses in Attendance, Event broadcast Live Online
WHAT – To kickoff the 2007 SOE Fan Faire, SOE President John (“Smedâ€) Smedley will provide opening remarks to the more than 1000 video game fans coming to the Rio All Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas for this year’s Fan Faire video game convention. This first-ever “Community Address†combines a live presentation with a streaming video broadcast online, where Smed will give both Fan Faire attendees and other gamers the kind of look at SOE products usually reserved for industry events such as E3. Both audiences will see the latest from upcoming titles like Pirates of the Burning Seaâ„¢ and Gods & Heroes: Rome Risingâ„¢. Fan Faire guests and online viewers will also get their first looks at Secrets of Faydwerâ„¢, the next expansion for EverQuest®, and Rise of Kunarkâ„¢, the upcoming expansion for EverQuest® II.
In another first for Fan Faire, Smed will also unveil an all-new, SOE online game, which is set to formally launch in late August. Fan Faire guests will have the first chance to demo this new title throughout Fan Faire weekend, August 3-5. The SOE Fan Faire is a unique social event in which players of SOE’s most popular titles congregate to meet their online, game-playing peers. This year’s event boasts a plethora of game-themed live events including tournaments, contests, live quests, a variety of panel discussions and tons of great gaming related contests.
WHEN – Friday, August 3rd at 5:30pm PST.
5 comments5 Comments so far
Holy moly!
If they’re going with something completely new, then they have pooched the traditional PR build-up route, so beloved by Blizzard, including not giving one of the major magazines a chance to do a exclusive cover feature.
And if this is just the “official” announcement for either “The Agency” or “FreeRealms” then Smed is going to get ganked.
I find this suspect. I am going to guess this is going to be nothing more than one of the “feeler” projects that SOE is getting into. If it is a major release, I will simply be floored that it was kept secret for so long. There has been enough loose lips in SOE to sink any big name project.
I feel sorry for Smed if it is a let down of an announcement, because the last thing he or SOE needs is another whipping in the blogosphere, forum fires, and Internet at large.
I was under the distinct impression that The Agency was not that far into development at this point, so I doubt they can be releasing that this August.
I have no idea where FreeRealms is, but they have ‘officially announced’ that game about 12 times now, so I doubt that very much…
The only think I can think of, is either a crazy new PR tactic of stealth developing a game and causing such a “WHA…!!!??” moment that we all buy it even if its total crap, or they are announcing the launch of Pirates of the Burning Sea, and moving up the date.
Cast my vote in for either the formal launch announcement of PotBS or some card game or free to play MMO. Hey… maybe they bought AA from NCsoft?
What ever happened to the DC Comics game SOE was working on ? Maybe there is a chance the announcement is for that.
I just hope what ever it is it will be fun. And yes I know SOE’s reputation, but you never know this time thing could be better.