E3 '07: NCsoft teams with Sony
South Korea-based MMOG publisher bringing "several" exclusive, unannounced games to PS3, PSP.
SANTA MONICA, Calif.--Game announcements were served up du jour at Sony's press conference earlier today at the E3 Media and Business Summit. However, Sony also served up a heaping helping of its online plan, including several new looks at the revamped Home service.
Home wasn't the only online integration on Sony's plate, however. During the conference, the megapublisher also announced an exclusive partnership with South Korea-based massively multiplayer online aficionados NCsoft to create several online games for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable.
Sony also has its in-house studio Sony Online Entertainment developing games for the PlayStation Network. In June, SOE announced its latest game for Sony's online network, titled The Agency. SOE has also brought several classic games to the PlayStation 3, including Q*bert, Rampart, and Mortal Kombat II.
Aside from the announcement itself, Sony did not announce any games that NCsoft had in the works for either platform.
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59 Comments
The Marvel Universe Online (MMO) is cancelled lol.
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I think it would be awesome if they made a new type of city of heroes game to the ps3. I even thought city of heroes was better than WOW. It would also be awesome because you would actually be able to talk to people to let them know your not perverted or something like that. I also think it would be easier to organize things on the ps3. But thats just my opinion
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Thanks for the info...
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I want Guild Wars 2
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This sounds like a good deal for PS3 and PSP owners. Can't wait to see what they bring to the platforms.
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Sonovius-- That made me chuckle. Comedic truth without a hint of irony.
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NCsoft has so very interesting titles scheduled for release for the PS3 and PSP
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The names on any Marvel MMO are going to be so bad. Worse than FF11. I wonder how many variations of xXxWolvarinez44xXx there will be?
Will I play it? Good heavens yes.
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Microsoft Game Studios already announced a partnership with Cryptic Studios and Marvel to publish the Marvel MMO to 360 and Vista. Cryptic developed the City of Heros games and is not owned by NCsoft. Since "ArenaNet" is a subsidiary of NCsoft, there could easily be Guild War games made for PS3. This news isn't that great because NCsoft as a developer only created Lineage, and if you played those games know why I'm not enthusiastic. I'll wait and see before I applaud Sony for this move.
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I've never really been a fan of MMO-style games on consoles, for fairly obvious reasons, but it seems to me that NCsoft-ish games might do well, their control schemes and game design seems to lend itself to gamepad control fairly well. We'll see how it pans out, but this is potentially good news for Sony.
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Y'all are excited about Korean MMOs? Have you played any? They are the WORST.
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adidaspj --Yes, it will no doubt be a new IP, but CoH and GW being total dross isn't what makes me so cynical about this partnership.
The problem is NCSoft make the most woefully mundane games swallowed first and foremost by a market (Korea) that revels in mediocrity. NCSoft have let me down so many times in the past with their games I don't think I can trust them to ever make a truly worthwhile game. I sincerely hope Sony know what they're doing with this.
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All I have to say is......GUILD WARS PS3. Come on, we all can dream lol. Tabula Rasa may have a chance though...
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Finally my PS3 is getting the limelight it should
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Auto Assault for PS3, Woo!
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this is one of the best things i've heard from sony in a long time.
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I found this announcement to be one of the highlights of the Sony press conference. I'm definitely intrigued, and I can't wait to see what comes out of this partnership.
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NCSoft = No fee MMOos PS3 = No fee Online play...
maybe SOny will learn how to handle things being free and everything from them 
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:-)
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Whats happening with the Marvel MMO then? or are Cryptic studios going it alone with Microsoft?
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im not a mmo fan myself but i know they can mean big money. exclusive mmos is good news for sony.
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Guild wars PSP
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Would of been nice to know what games they were planning on doing.
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Partnership? Damn it NCSoft.
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I'm not keeping my hopes up on this one though
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smartest idea that could happen if done correctly. an MMO for the PSP, given it must be a superb game not some halfbaked corspe of a traditional MMO. But that would work ... and its got memsticks for updates as long as the updates arent 500megs a piece
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this could be interesting
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Keep a hold of those exclusives Sony!
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gah they say NCsoft will make online games for PS3 and PSP
and people immediately say "GW SUCKS, COH SUCKS"
maybe it will be (god forbid) a new IP?
wooooow i just blew your mind didn't i?
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They should put GW 2 on the machine. It'll be using a next-gen engine (as opposed to the wide range spec-friendly GW engine) and have a big shared open world. Would be a great showcase.
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Very exciting news. Can't wait to see what they have in store for PS3. Too many good games for the PS3 though, need more money!
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please dont make a crappy game *crosses fingers*
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SulaMoon - Against Nintendo? Maybe. Against Blizzard? Yeah, I'm with you. The idea that anything NCSoft makes will ever put a dent into WoW is laughable.
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finally sony is starting to make good moves, good luck sony!
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I debated with myself for a little while before posting this, you're all probably thinking I'm just a cynical MS/Ninty fanboy for saying this (actually not in the slightest bit true), but here goes:
NCSoft haven't made a single game that has occupied me for more than an hour or 2 at best. I bought CoH and a 2 month game time card and 1 month and 29 days went to waste. I would say exactly the same thing about Guild Wars except that was free, but it pales in comparison to any true MMO, it wasn't in the slightest bit cohesive - to such an extent that it isn't really an MMO at all. Auto Assault was utter garbage as well.
I'll stop myself listing all their games now before I somehow start some silly flaming war. Just one more thing to say:
It's great Sony are going to get some exclusives (at long last as I'm sure most of you would agree) I just can't help but think that Korean-style MMOs (seriously people, they' have very little going for them) are the right choice. Heck if NCSoft go completely crazy and make a game that's actually worth the investment I'll eat my words along with a huge slice of humble pie. I wish Sony the best of luck in this endeavour / gamble.
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hehe
A big force against blizzard/nintendo?
This could either be a big waste of time or a the birth of a big parternship...
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Why the lack of announcements Sony and NCsoft?
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--axia_777 --
As far a GW goes it's a good game...for a while, but it gets old fast...and it's free so at least you can come back to it months later but saying it rocks it a bit overboard.
As for MMO's in general I think the problem becomes the better ones are more complet and will not translate well to consoles. And the moment someone says you can use a keyboad / mouse with a console then I'd rather play on PC. Keyboad / mouse on a couch sucks.
Somethings are better on specific platforms.
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Good news for the PS3 and Sony.
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PS3 Port of Auto Assault, you heard it here first!

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Hmm, I wonder if its going to be a form of Guild Wars, cause that would be really cool
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pfft Guild Wars sucks, City of Heros/Villians rocks
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Yah know, if NCSoft had teamed up with Microsoft and the 360, every single 360 X-Bot fanboy would be cheering it like it was the best thing ever. But since it is NCSoft and Sony obviously it will suck, yah right. Get a life fools. Guild Wars rocks. Millions play it every day. NCSoft can make good games and they will make good games for PS3. I just hope it is not GW and it ALL NEW. An all new MMO just for PS3. That is what I think Sony and NCSoft are gunning for. WOOT!!!!
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People say Live is better than PSN, so why is PSN better for online games? Does the whole open-source whatever make a difference? Is Microsoft really strict when it comes to online stuff?
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NCsoft hasnt shown that great of products. With one permanantly shutting down and two that are practically identical. For Sony's sake, they better not ask for a CoH/CoV PS3 style
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this will be exciting...in a couple 3 years
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Is it too late for Sony to play catching up?
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1 more notch in sonys belt !
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Well, it must be one hellova prison for all of these titles to want to jump ship or develop for 360 right off the bat.
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