EVE Online Dev CCP to Merge with White Wolf (UPDATED)

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CCP, developer and publisher of EVE Online, has just announced with pen and paper roleplaying game developer White Wolf Publishing that the two companies plan to merge, with White Wolf becoming a fully owned subsidiary of CCP. The two companies, which will both continue to operate under their existing names, will each produce content in their respective areas of competency using both CCP and White Wolf intellectual property. White Wolf will be taking EVE Online into pen and paper RPGs and game systems, novels, collectible card games, and strategy guides, while CCP will be taking White Wolf's universes into online ventures. Work has already begun on translating White Wolf's World of Darkness property into online gaming.

"White Wolf possesses the RPG industry's leading offline gaming talent and some of the most recognizable roleplaying properties in the world," said CCP CEO Hilmar Petursson. "Virtual worlds are a new form of entertainment, separate from traditional computer games. By combining forces, we will create a company unsurpassed in quality, innovation, and scope which will keep us at the forefront of this emerging trend." In addition to the planned cross-medium development, both sides of the company will continue to maintain their own existing product lines. Reykjavik-based CCP's EVE Online currently boasts a subscriber base of over 300,000.

Petursson will serve as CEO of the newly formed corporation. White Wolf president Mike Tinney will remain in his position as president of the White Wolf subsidiary. Financial terms of today's announced deal were not disclosed.

Update: Speaking to Shacknews, White Wolf marketing director Kelley Barnes-Herrmann touched on some of the factors behind the merger of two seemingly disparate companies.

CCP and White Wolf first came in contact during Gencon 2005 when CCP was looking for a publisher for its EVE collectible card game. "Because of our history in managing the award-winning V:TES CCG, White Wolf was able to make suggestions and provide some initial guidance to CCP in the first stages of the game launch and now we are looking forward to working on the first expansion set in 2007," said Barnes-Herrmann. At that point, the two companies began developing a close friendship and discussing multiple projects.

"We see the diversity in experience and product focus as a natural fit," explained Barnes-Herrmann, responding to questions regarding the compatibility of the two firms. "Each company brought assets into the merger that will fill a development need in the other company."

From The Chatty
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    November 11, 2006 7:01 AM

    So this is the reason Eve has been going downhill?

    Everyone is busy playing pen & Paper RPG's and working on a new game rather than fixing their current one :/

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      November 11, 2006 7:23 AM

      downhill? they just expanded their server cluster, and had a record number of people online recently. how is that downhill?

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      November 11, 2006 7:24 AM

      How is EVE going downhill? I'm still playing, and if anything having more fun now than I was 3 years ago. Not to mention the upcoming Kali update that's going to add a slew of new stuff including updated ship models and Vista/Dx10 shader and graphic upgrades.

      This merge actually has me really excited. I can't wait to see what the CCP team can do with a great P&P RPG.

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        November 11, 2006 1:00 PM

        the servers crash regularly, lag is well beyond acceptable and it inhibits gameplay

        how can anyone who plays EVE think it hasn't gone downhill?

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          November 11, 2006 4:42 PM

          they crash regularly? i dont think you've been playing the game recently, because the servers never crash

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            November 11, 2006 5:50 PM

            maybe they're referring to the 1hr downtime every night. The only thing I can think of. I recall one crash in the last month... lasted about 20 minutes

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      November 11, 2006 8:00 AM

      Eve Online is about the only MMOG besides WoW that is gaining new subs on a weekly basis as opposed to scrambling to try and keep their current subs from bailing.

      CCP deserves a LOT of credit for growing what everyone thought was going to be a strictly niche product (EVE).

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        November 11, 2006 9:49 AM

        indeed - I've been playing for 18 months and can't see myself stopping. Whereas I got bored of WoW in about 5 weeks...

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          November 11, 2006 11:05 AM

          same here, i will never quit eve simplt due to the fact of its complexity and shar amount of things to do. not to mention future plans of things they are going to add to the game

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        November 12, 2006 5:51 AM

        Yup. Plus it's one of the few genuinely innovative MMOs, both in the setting (no orcs and elves!) and many of the unique mechanics that mean I prefer it over the many, many Everquest ripoffs. I can't wait to see what they do with WoD.

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