Nope, not a chance. Even Brad was denied purchase of the IP. Smed qoutes legal issues, but reality is the IP is valuable and could be used againstg SoE as compitition. SoE does not own the engine, it is unreal 2.0 which is leased, thus cost monthly royalties. So even IF you coudl buy it you would instantly be on the hook for those costs, and trust me, they are beyond trivial, and probably the number one reason VG is shutting down. It is an expensive game to run.
Well then, it's a good thing the decision to use the unreal engine wasn't entirely short sighted... smh.
Unreal Engine 2 Licensing Terms Representing years of development and powering numerous best-selling titles on multiple platforms, the Unreal Engine 2 technology is available for license on a per-platform basis. Three platforms are available: PC, Xbox, and PlayStation2. A PC platform license is only required if you intend to ship a retail PC game. If you are developing a console-only title, you may freely use the PC code for development, testing and for its back-end game-server components (for multiplayer games). Note that a PC license includes the right to ship your game on all personal computer operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and MacOS X; by paying once for the PC platform license you may ship on any or all of these operating systems at no additional cost. Royalty-Bearing License - For retail console & PC products A non-refundable, non-recoupable license fee is due on execution of the agreement. The cost is US $350,000 for one of the available Unreal Engine 2 platforms, plus US $50,000 for each additional platform. A royalty of 3% is due on all revenue from the game, calculated on the wholesale price of the product minus (for console SKUs) console manufacturer fees. In the case of massive-multiplayer online games, the royalty is also due on the additional forms of revenue including subscriptions and advertisements.
Actually the original plan was beyond the foresight of any game of the day. Brad's original concept by using unreal was to upgrade to each successive version as they could. So Unreal 2.0 to Unreal 3.0 and if all was still good now we would be seeing Unreal 4.0, This keeping the game up to current technology. Brilliant plan, but too far in advance of reality. Just one more example of just how far Sigil was looking, and in the end, one of the the reasons Vanguard failed. With Pantheon using Unity, they get thise built in, as Unity expands and evolves they will along with it. Unlike using Unreal though there is no royalty and also the evolution is slower, more measured, and probably alot easy to handle. I would love to see Vanguard IP sold, but the only way I can see that happening on upon SOE going near bankrupt and needed a fire sale to save Everquest franchise. Unlikely senario at best, and even then a pipe dream. I think it is time everyone just sits back and realizes its over. However that does mean it must end with hate and childish threats, let it end gracefully, unlike how Vanguard entered, let go in peace. I amy not log in now, but I will be there for the NT event, I was here when the lights turned on, and I will be here to see them turned off. No regrets, no hate, SoE gave us 7yrs in what is by all accounts a failed game, They have my thanks, even if we do not see eye in how the game was handled for most of those years. They had the cash to save it, I did not, so that is just the way it is.
Who is hating? I understand perfectly that the game has to shut down. I've been a part of many games that have shut down so this is nothing new to me at all. I'll be here until it closes its doors and i have no hatred towards SOE or anyone else for that matter. It's a shame it's closing because imo it's the best mmo on the market right now. I can't get into the modern mmo scene, tried... for years just can't do it. I've backed Pantheon, and even though it looks like it's not going to make it on KS i WILL back it again on the official website and i will continue to make videos on my channel to promote it. I'm fairly certain we will see a private server open up for Vanguard anyways.
