[News] AEG to spin off Sypcraft

[JoeGKushner]

Come on, man, why the ?

The game couldn't be in better hands than Patrick's.

Perhaps he wishes AEG was doing more RPGs as opposed to handing it off, regardless of how good Patrick will take care of it? That's how I read it, not as a bad thing that Patrick's getting it but that AEG's not doing more RPGs.

For example, have they said anything about World's Largest City or Warlords of the Accordlands?

 

[Henry]

Seeing as how his name is blazoned across the cover of the first Spycraft, I'll say I'm not concerned about the outcome (unless poor Patrick;s company just plain goes broke). He's a good person, good designer, and can do some good stuff with it, I think.

 

[AscentStudios]

Thanks for the well-wishes, all. We're definately excited about the prospects of taking up Spycraft's reigns in an official capacity - our fan base is stronger and more enthusiastic than ever before, we've got a rock-solid product to work from, and a whole host of exciting new products under development based on what we as designers and you as fans have asked for!

Patrick ain't the only one involved with this, by the way - it's a partnership. He's our frontman at this point, but Scott Gearin and myself are equal partners in this venture as well. For you as players and fans, that means you can expect the same quality of content, mechanics and support you have come to expect from the Spycraft Design Team over the years. The best is definately yet to come!

 

[AscentStudios]

'Spin off' isn't the right turn of phrase here - this is a hand off. It sounds as though the rumors I've heard of AEG getting out of RPGs might be true, as they've just handed production of their second most popular RPG off to another company.

Hand-off is correct, but no worries, my friend. The new entity is run by the same core of people who have been handling Spycraft all along. We're all just as committed to bringing the same quality of product to market as ever before - I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Yea, as a writer with some ideas for products I'd like to release for SC2, I think that would be nice.

You sound like a person who's looking for the Powered by Spycraft license. Look for more news on that once the official announcements about Spycraft's future is released to the public.

It is too bad that Spycraft is the largest d20 system property without an OGL.

I assume you mean an SRD (System Reference Document)? Currently, there is no plan to release such a document. However, the aforementioned PbS agreement has been free of charge in the past, and will very likely continue to be in the future. As the final Spycraft agreement has not been concluded, we can only confirm one way or the other after the official announcement.

 

[jdrakeh]

..."second most popular"? What's the first?

Carl

Legend of the 5 Rings. According to trade magazines, it's been very successful. That said, trade magazines only track retail sales - and to be fair, most sales doesn't always mean 'most popular' (usually it does, but not always).

 

[jdrakeh]

Hand-off is correct, but no worries, my friend. The new entity is run by the same core of people who have been handling Spycraft all along. We're all just as committed to bringing the same quality of product to market as ever before - I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Oh, I'm not worried about Spycraft - I have no doubt that it will flourish in Patrick's hands. What I worry about is AEG and whether or not it will withdraw from the RPG market completely (I've heard some rumors to that effect being bounced around by people who are possibly in a position to know).

 

[Denaes]

You sound like a person who's looking for the Powered by Spycraft license. Look for more news on that once the official announcements about Spycraft's future is released to the public.

I assume you mean an SRD (System Reference Document)? Currently, there is no plan to release such a document. However, the aforementioned PbS agreement has been free of charge in the past, and will very likely continue to be in the future. As the final Spycraft agreement has not been concluded, we can only confirm one way or the other after the official announcement.

The part I worry about here is how you guys say you have multiple projects in the works - pretty much all unannounced. Not exactly the environment to promote freelancers to start taking on PBS projects.

I think people might be a little skittish to invest in a book for spycraft only to find the same thing being covered by you guys as an official book.

Its a thought a friend and I are having.

 

[AscentStudios]

The part I worry about here is how you guys say you have multiple projects in the works - pretty much all unannounced. Not exactly the environment to promote freelancers to start taking on PBS projects.

I think people might be a little skittish to invest in a book for spycraft only to find the same thing being covered by you guys as an official book.

This is why something like PbS exists - to create awareness between publishers so people don't compete internally. In this way, we ensure people's "niche" while promoting the brand's overall growth - it's good for everybody.

 

[jdrakeh]

Perhaps he wishes AEG was doing more RPGs as opposed to handing it off, regardless of how good Patrick will take care of it?

Exactly right - I'm not concerned with the fate of Spycraft (I'm certain that it will be fine in Patrick's hands), but with the fate of AEG. Between the fairly large employee layoff in the RPG devision and the handing off of IP, things look pretty grim from an outsider's perspective at the moment.

For example, have they said anything about World's Largest City or Warlords of the Accordlands?

I have it on good authority that the three Warlords core books are in the final stages of layout and will see publication, but that the line will likely go no further than that.

 

[Denaes]

This is why something like PbS exists - to create awareness between publishers so people don't compete internally. In this way, we ensure people's "niche" while promoting the brand's overall growth - it's good for everybody.

Oh, is this something were developers come to you (in general the PBS controller) and say "I have an idea... and you tell them if it's being developed already? Or someone asks you what is "under development"?

I'm not meaning to cause a panic or confusion... I've not been able to find anything about this liscense yet, so I have no clue how it's supposed to work. I only know what concerns I have as a potential developer.

It seems all "outside" (Scott and you excluded) potential PBS developers are out in the rain waiting until they can find out how things work and get in on the SC2.0 development goodness.

I understand that can't be helped becuase you don't know what the end result will be. You can't say one thing about the liscense when it's not decided yet and have it not be true when the liscense comes out.

As always, best of luck on this new turn of events. You're the "trio" best capable of handling this RPG line and you have my confidence. Just today WoF went to "looks neat" to "must have"