Post by Ms Liberty Too on Oct 27, 2013 19:48:52 GMT -4
Missing Worlds Media - The Phoenix Project
The Phoenix Project
Status Update: June 10, 2013
By: Segev
For the last several weeks, we've been talking about the Kickstarter, and all we've been doing towards it. As we've come closer and closer to the mark, we've had more time to take stock of where we are. As the full set of materials for the Kickstarter site and its accompanying PR assets are all but wrapped and tied with a bow, our business team is evaluating it and making sure all our numbers add up. We're putting together the business strategy for all the things we will be releasing through the campaign to reward and keep your - our audience's - interest piqued for the duration.
An evaluation of our goals as a project, a business, and most importantly a community, has revealed that several of our technical and creative thrusts can be developed more fully much more swiftly than we realized. We only get one shot at the Kickstarter, and we want to really prove to you that we're going to deliver with your support. After careful consideration, we have determined that we can make it something spectacular with a slight delay. Our materials are all but ready, and before long we will be able to launch at the drop of a mask, but we can do better. To show it, and to give people time to save up cash for when the big day arrives, we are officially announcing the Kickstarter for the end of the Summer.
That's right: On September 8, 2013, the Phoenix Project kickstarter will begin!
It will run until October 11.
This will give us a little time to work on a few additional spit, polish, and technical and creative developments that make it more likely that we'll succeed. We know it's important to the future of the project that we hit the target. Not only does it prove the strength of our community and the viability of our market, but in so doing it opens up the possibility of outside funding. It demonstrates how serious we are. So, while we have enough to make a strong KS, we want to make it iron-clad.
But still, we recognize and are thrilled that there are those of you who are burning to do something now. It may interest you to know that we're now officially the biggest COH community on FB, which is awesome. We've done our sums and have worked out that if everyone who 'likes' us on FB donated to the KS, they'd still have to each donate a sizeable amount to help us reach our goal. But times are hard, and while we want to give you the chance to put a bit aside, we also don't want to ask too much from you financially. It wouldn't feel right. So, in the time between now and September 8th, we're calling on you to help expand our community! Help spread the word, rustle up your old SGs - please help us in a real recruitment drive between now and the kickstarter 'live' launch - we need to find as many of the COH community as we can, we need to create a real buzz. We need people hyped up. The more people we have, the less we need from an average donation and the further the generous donors' large sums will go. Moreover, the more we prove what our community can do when it wants to support its goals.
Our new web site, with a smoother sign-up system, will be up within the next few weeks. In the meantime, signing up on the forums is not the only place to be a part of this. Get your friends to friend us here on Facebook so they can more readily see our weekly updates. Ask your tweeter friends to follow us on Twitter @mworldsmedia for news and links to new materials as we get them ready. Email us at contact@missingworldsmedia.com to be added to a mailing list (using the subject line "Sign Me Up to Find Missing Worlds!") that will be used for special announcements and to help us integrate it with our new web site.
We're so excited by your support, and we now want to turn you loose to really grow our base, so that on September 8th, we can blow everybody's - even our own - minds!
Re: The Phoenix Project FAQ
by Rae » Sun Apr 28, 2013 12:15 pm
1. What is The Phoenix Project (TPP)?
The
Phoenix Project is the working title of a spiritual successor to the
MMO City of Heroes, being put together by a group of volunteer
developers left homeless by the closure of the game. We are a virtual
studio of volunteers who have come together to create a new MMO full of
heroes, vigilantes and villains, taking the principles of what made City
of Heroes so special, and expanding and improving upon them to create a
brand new world for you to play in.
2. When are you going into Beta, and how can I be a Beta tester?
Not
for aaaaages yet. All of our volunteers are assembling on our forums so
express an interest here and we'll see about adding you to our list.
3. Shut up and take my money!
Believe us, when we're ready to take your money, we'll be sure to let you know.
4. When is the game coming out?
We're
aiming for a 2015 release, but we're hoping to be able to release the
character creator and base builder some time before the game goes live.
There may also be some smaller releases as we go along.
5. Will you be coming out on Mac?
That's certainly the plan.
6. Can I use my Sentinel+ saved characters in your game?
We've
been working closely with the Titan Network to ensure you'll be able to
use your saved characters in TPP. Legal implications mean that you
won't have exact copies of your avatars, but you should be able to
convert them into TPP avatars for use in the game.
7. How do I get involved?
It's
not just coders, programmers, writers and artists we need. We're trying
to set up as a studio and we need people who can help us with
everything from organisation to finances, to legal advice, to
spreadsheets, to cartographers and designers. We need people to join our
web team, people to make sure we're not breaching data laws, people who
can advise us about getting a business of the ground.
We need
people to keep an eye on us, and make sure we're making a game that YOU
want to play, and to be a part of. Because without you, we're nothing.
We
need people talk about us, to help us track down former members of the
COH community. We need writers to interview us, bloggers to blog about
us, people to re-tweet us, and podcasters to chat with us. We need you
to help us track down the 21,000 people who signed the #SaveCOH
petition. We need you to help get our community back together again and
point them in the direction of their new home, or just to throw ideas at
us and see which ones stick.
It's hard to think of a skillset we can't use, so sign up to be a part of the dawn.
8. What tech are you using?
Initially
we'd hoped to use the CryEngine, but licensing issues mean that we will
now be building our world with the Unreal 3 engine.
9. Is this the same thing as Heroes and Villains?
Shortly
after plans to close City of Heroes were announced, a group of players
who had been a part of the #SaveCOH campaign organised on the Titan
Network forums began plotting out a future for our community if efforts
to save the game failed.
They worked on the premise that if NC
Soft could not be convinced to change their mind on the closure, or to
sell the game IP, the community would need a new game to call home. They
set about working on creating a new /villain-themed MMO.
By
the time City of Heroes closed it's doors, differences in creative
visions meant the teams split into two different ones at the beginning
of December 2012. Although both projects started in the same place and
are working to create a spiritual successor to City of Heroes, they are
completely separate endeavors.
10. Are you linked to The Titan Network?
Like
many other COH players, the people behind TPP headed to the Titan
Network forum to play their part in the #SaveCOH campaign. This was the
place where the TPP was born and we still have close links to the
community there. We have been liaising closely with them to make sure
our game will be able to support Sentinel+ -saved characters. We still
spend time on the forums there, keeping people informed of what we're
doing, although we are a separate entity from the Titans. Bit like the
X-Men and Avengers.
We're all on the same side, but wearing slightly different tights.
11. Are you former COH developers?
No,
we're former /players/. Although we all have a wealth of experience in
our respective fields, we were never involved in the creation or
maintenance of COH. We simply played it. A lot.
12. How can I tell you my awesome idea for something that should be in the game?
Share it on our FB wall, or tell us all about it here.
13. How can I contact you?
Email us at contact@missingworldsmedia.com
14. I'm a journalist/blogger/podcaster - can I interview you? How about some art assets?
We love journalists, bloggers and podcasters. Send us an email at press@missingworldsmedia.com and we'll bend over backwards to accommodate you.
15. My question wasn't answered in this list
That's not a question. But email it to contact@missingworldsmedia.com and we'll answer. If it comes up often enough, we'll add it here!
Rae
Public Relations Lead
missingworldsmedia.com/forums/
The Phoenix Project
Status Update: June 10, 2013
By: Segev
For the last several weeks, we've been talking about the Kickstarter, and all we've been doing towards it. As we've come closer and closer to the mark, we've had more time to take stock of where we are. As the full set of materials for the Kickstarter site and its accompanying PR assets are all but wrapped and tied with a bow, our business team is evaluating it and making sure all our numbers add up. We're putting together the business strategy for all the things we will be releasing through the campaign to reward and keep your - our audience's - interest piqued for the duration.
An evaluation of our goals as a project, a business, and most importantly a community, has revealed that several of our technical and creative thrusts can be developed more fully much more swiftly than we realized. We only get one shot at the Kickstarter, and we want to really prove to you that we're going to deliver with your support. After careful consideration, we have determined that we can make it something spectacular with a slight delay. Our materials are all but ready, and before long we will be able to launch at the drop of a mask, but we can do better. To show it, and to give people time to save up cash for when the big day arrives, we are officially announcing the Kickstarter for the end of the Summer.
That's right: On September 8, 2013, the Phoenix Project kickstarter will begin!
It will run until October 11.
This will give us a little time to work on a few additional spit, polish, and technical and creative developments that make it more likely that we'll succeed. We know it's important to the future of the project that we hit the target. Not only does it prove the strength of our community and the viability of our market, but in so doing it opens up the possibility of outside funding. It demonstrates how serious we are. So, while we have enough to make a strong KS, we want to make it iron-clad.
But still, we recognize and are thrilled that there are those of you who are burning to do something now. It may interest you to know that we're now officially the biggest COH community on FB, which is awesome. We've done our sums and have worked out that if everyone who 'likes' us on FB donated to the KS, they'd still have to each donate a sizeable amount to help us reach our goal. But times are hard, and while we want to give you the chance to put a bit aside, we also don't want to ask too much from you financially. It wouldn't feel right. So, in the time between now and September 8th, we're calling on you to help expand our community! Help spread the word, rustle up your old SGs - please help us in a real recruitment drive between now and the kickstarter 'live' launch - we need to find as many of the COH community as we can, we need to create a real buzz. We need people hyped up. The more people we have, the less we need from an average donation and the further the generous donors' large sums will go. Moreover, the more we prove what our community can do when it wants to support its goals.
Our new web site, with a smoother sign-up system, will be up within the next few weeks. In the meantime, signing up on the forums is not the only place to be a part of this. Get your friends to friend us here on Facebook so they can more readily see our weekly updates. Ask your tweeter friends to follow us on Twitter @mworldsmedia for news and links to new materials as we get them ready. Email us at contact@missingworldsmedia.com to be added to a mailing list (using the subject line "Sign Me Up to Find Missing Worlds!") that will be used for special announcements and to help us integrate it with our new web site.
We're so excited by your support, and we now want to turn you loose to really grow our base, so that on September 8th, we can blow everybody's - even our own - minds!
Re: The Phoenix Project FAQ
by Rae » Sun Apr 28, 2013 12:15 pm
1. What is The Phoenix Project (TPP)?
The
Phoenix Project is the working title of a spiritual successor to the
MMO City of Heroes, being put together by a group of volunteer
developers left homeless by the closure of the game. We are a virtual
studio of volunteers who have come together to create a new MMO full of
heroes, vigilantes and villains, taking the principles of what made City
of Heroes so special, and expanding and improving upon them to create a
brand new world for you to play in.
2. When are you going into Beta, and how can I be a Beta tester?
Not
for aaaaages yet. All of our volunteers are assembling on our forums so
express an interest here and we'll see about adding you to our list.
3. Shut up and take my money!
Believe us, when we're ready to take your money, we'll be sure to let you know.
4. When is the game coming out?
We're
aiming for a 2015 release, but we're hoping to be able to release the
character creator and base builder some time before the game goes live.
There may also be some smaller releases as we go along.
5. Will you be coming out on Mac?
That's certainly the plan.
6. Can I use my Sentinel+ saved characters in your game?
We've
been working closely with the Titan Network to ensure you'll be able to
use your saved characters in TPP. Legal implications mean that you
won't have exact copies of your avatars, but you should be able to
convert them into TPP avatars for use in the game.
7. How do I get involved?
It's
not just coders, programmers, writers and artists we need. We're trying
to set up as a studio and we need people who can help us with
everything from organisation to finances, to legal advice, to
spreadsheets, to cartographers and designers. We need people to join our
web team, people to make sure we're not breaching data laws, people who
can advise us about getting a business of the ground.
We need
people to keep an eye on us, and make sure we're making a game that YOU
want to play, and to be a part of. Because without you, we're nothing.
We
need people talk about us, to help us track down former members of the
COH community. We need writers to interview us, bloggers to blog about
us, people to re-tweet us, and podcasters to chat with us. We need you
to help us track down the 21,000 people who signed the #SaveCOH
petition. We need you to help get our community back together again and
point them in the direction of their new home, or just to throw ideas at
us and see which ones stick.
It's hard to think of a skillset we can't use, so sign up to be a part of the dawn.
8. What tech are you using?
Initially
we'd hoped to use the CryEngine, but licensing issues mean that we will
now be building our world with the Unreal 3 engine.
9. Is this the same thing as Heroes and Villains?
Shortly
after plans to close City of Heroes were announced, a group of players
who had been a part of the #SaveCOH campaign organised on the Titan
Network forums began plotting out a future for our community if efforts
to save the game failed.
They worked on the premise that if NC
Soft could not be convinced to change their mind on the closure, or to
sell the game IP, the community would need a new game to call home. They
set about working on creating a new /villain-themed MMO.
By
the time City of Heroes closed it's doors, differences in creative
visions meant the teams split into two different ones at the beginning
of December 2012. Although both projects started in the same place and
are working to create a spiritual successor to City of Heroes, they are
completely separate endeavors.
10. Are you linked to The Titan Network?
Like
many other COH players, the people behind TPP headed to the Titan
Network forum to play their part in the #SaveCOH campaign. This was the
place where the TPP was born and we still have close links to the
community there. We have been liaising closely with them to make sure
our game will be able to support Sentinel+ -saved characters. We still
spend time on the forums there, keeping people informed of what we're
doing, although we are a separate entity from the Titans. Bit like the
X-Men and Avengers.
We're all on the same side, but wearing slightly different tights.
11. Are you former COH developers?
No,
we're former /players/. Although we all have a wealth of experience in
our respective fields, we were never involved in the creation or
maintenance of COH. We simply played it. A lot.
12. How can I tell you my awesome idea for something that should be in the game?
Share it on our FB wall, or tell us all about it here.
13. How can I contact you?
Email us at contact@missingworldsmedia.com
14. I'm a journalist/blogger/podcaster - can I interview you? How about some art assets?
We love journalists, bloggers and podcasters. Send us an email at press@missingworldsmedia.com and we'll bend over backwards to accommodate you.
15. My question wasn't answered in this list
That's not a question. But email it to contact@missingworldsmedia.com and we'll answer. If it comes up often enough, we'll add it here!
Rae
Public Relations Lead
missingworldsmedia.com/forums/