Just ran across this GameTrailers.com interview with David Gilbertson on pending updates for Vanguard. Some great action clips tossed in here (typical GameTrailers style) but some interesting news as well.

It breaks down to…

… things to expect immediately:
More performance fixes
Fellowships (in test - release next patch?)
Better LFG functionality
More solo content
More small group content

…and things to expect in the near future (few months..?)
Raid content

…and things to come (an expansion - the next expansion..?)
Player cities

Judging by the recent spikes in Vanguard related prices at the secondary market sites (IE g0ld s3llers and p0wer l3veling etc) it appears that recent fixes to code removed some of the bugs and loopholes that had allowed the secondary markets to gorge their coffers with their dubiously obtained funds.

Now that fixes are in place, farmers are having to actually work to get their money and secondary ,arket prices are soaring.

This crack-down has prompted the (dirty, rotton, filthy, low down, good for nothing) /tell spammers to increase their efforts in order to keep traffic returning to the secondary market sites and buying the virtual goods.

While I’m getting sick and tired of Arghysx, Goifytfds and Sxcdfyudii sending me tells every five minutes I continue to patiently and trustingly /report Arghysx, /report Goifytfds and /report Sxcdfyudii.

…and Despite the frustration of rushing to the mailbox hoping the recently recieved mail is money pouring in from items posted at the Exchange Brokers only to discover that some (dirty, rotton, filthy, low down, good for nothing) mail spammer will “…do all the work for you…” - sitll, I faithfully and dutifully /petition the offender who is promptly (sorta) dealt with.

I encourage other players to do the same  - don’t just ignore these guys, take a few seconds and and /report & /petition them.

[RANT]
Why the heck would anyone want someone ELSE to PLAY for them…?! What is the point of playing a game that you pay someone else to play it for you…!? Oh..and DON’T buy g0ld, it hurts the player driven economy and it’s just plain weak - if you can’t enjoy the game with-out spending real $$ on virtual g0ld or having someone else play the game for you the you belong back at WoW. - Gah!!
[/ENDRANT]

 Feel free to discuss this in the forums >>

Vanguard SOH changes:

Well..if you live under a rock this may come as a surprise, but SOE has aquired Sigil Online Games - the development company led by Brad McQuaid that created Vanguard : SOH. If you’re already a fan of SOE games (such as EQ, EQII, SWG etc) then you’ll be glad to hear it. If you’re one of the many SOE detractors out there, I’m sure you have plenty to say about it. Either way join the SOE Buys Sigil/Vanguard discussion in the forum.

Vanguard Patches:
See the Latest Game Update & Patch Notes section of the forum for details, but we’ve seen several patches over the past few weeks. Lots of improvement to performance, albeit not to the level that many had hoped for. Individual classes continue to recieve adjustements to their abilities. Weapon/Armor/Items have had a bit of an overhaul including changes to the way accuracy/spell power etc is displayed - raw numbers rather than %’s as before - and more effective weapons at higher levels.

VanguardMMORPG.com changes:

Vanguard Class & Race Overviews:
Find a low level class overviews for Rogues, Shaman, Druids, Psionicists in the Class forums. Take few minutes and write your own - help newcomers to Vanguard understand each classes strengths, weaknesses, solo ability and group role.

Vanguard Combat Exploits & Weaknesses:
Vanguard designers have included a unique element with-in group combat where attacks by players of one class can ’set up’ the target for fellow group members to do more than their normal damage. Through creating and exploiting these weaknesses a group can dish out incementally more damage - making synergistic group combat possible for the first time in an MMORPG. Check out the post regarding Vanguard Combat Exploits & Weaknesses and then download the Vanguard Combat Exploits & Weaknesses Chart for quick reference!

Vanguard Fans - Stay informed!
Sign up for our free update service and reciee email notification whenever we post news - don’t miss a thing! (Subscribe to Vanguard MMORPG email updates)

We want to hear from you!
Drop us an email (admin–at–vanguardmmorpg.com) or post in the Vanguard SOH Fan Forums - your input is what makes VanguardMMORPG.com helpful to your fellow fans!

In a much anticipated and expected move, SOE has officially announced it’s aquisition of Sigil. While I’m certain there are SOE detractors who see this as the beginning of the end for Vanguard : Saga of Heroes, I am more hopeful.

I’m a big fan of many of the elements of gameplay with-in Vanguard and I’m looking forward to the result of getting the unique creative ideas of the Sigil team connected to the much needed resources - hoping that this will get the games development on track and allow VG to fulfill its massive potential.

The coming months will tell the tale. We will be watching closely to see if SOE will empower the Sigil team to continue developing the VG they had envisioned, or if SOE will try to heavily to put their own fingerprints on the game. SOE detractors complain that SOE makes significant and often disliked changes to games they become involved in.

Again, I choose to be hopeful.

SOE Strengthens Portfolio with State-of-the-Art Development Studio & its Marquee Game Vanguard: Saga of Heroes

Source: http://www.soepress.com/release.asp?i=111

May 15, 2007 San Diego, CA – Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE), a global leader in the online games industry, today announced that it has completed a transaction to purchase key assets of Sigil Games Online, Inc. Through the deal, SOE now owns Vanguard: Saga of Heroes, Sigil’s tentpole property, a highly-successful massively multiplayer online game. The Sigil acquisition also builds on SOE’s successful strategy of cultivating game development studios around the world to further boost the company’s capabilities. The announcement was made by John Smedley, President, Sony Online Entertainment.

As part of the acquisition, a majority of the Sigil team will join SOE, integrating into SOE’s worldwide group of studios which includes offices in San Diego, Seattle, Austin, Denver, Los Angeles and Taiwan. The acquisition will strengthen SOE’s position as a leader in the online gaming space by expanding the company’s portfolio of gaming offerings.

“With an unparalleled team and exceptional product, Sigil has been a creative force in the online games space. We look forward to continuing the vision for Vanguard and to continue to deliver some groundbreaking game play,” said Smedley.

In May 2006, SOE acquired the title’s rights and the two companies agreed to co-publish Vanguard. The MMO launched in late January of this year and has sold nearly 200,000 retail and digital units worldwide. Sigil CEO and Vanguard creator, Brad McQuaid will become a consultant with SOE as Vanguard Creative Advisor.

Vanguard: Saga of Heroes takes place in the fantasy setting of Telon, a vast and ancient world of magic, intrigue and adventure where thousands of players from around the world have formed a steadfast community exploring the grandeur of a world crafted by the seminal fantasy artist Keith Parkinson. The game introduced many groundbreaking new features and an art direction second to none.

Brad McQuaid dropped a few lines in the Sony VG Station forum to let all the diehard Vanguard fans in on the latest. Like most of Brad’s posts this one is quite verbose but can be summed up in a few sentances.

You can read his whole post here but it can be summed up (as can most of Brad’s verbose posts) in a few sentences.

• SOE may or may not buy out Sigil
• Sigil needs more time and more money to make the game work right
• Brad admits the game requires a top rate system (not just video upgrades), but by end of 2007 people should be buying new PCs anyways (huh…?)
• the game needs a “re-launch once its finished (a soft admittance that it is incomplete in its current state…still)
• Brad has lots of ideas about what could possibly one day, maybe eventually be in the game (definately take those with a grain of salt)
  (this next one is my favorite)
• “…both Sigil and SOE see the potential of a mind blowing game by the end of the year”
  [summary of http://forums.station.sony.com/vg/posts/list.m?topic_id=8569]

This comes as longtime fans are becoming more and more vocal about their concerns and dissappointments. From what I hear from friends and fellow fans it sounds like more and more VG players are starting to speak with their $$ by suspending or not renewing their subscriptions. Many of these players are diehard VG fans and aren’t necesarrily leaving the game for good - but I hear a lot of ‘I’m taking a break while they finish the game’. 

At any rate over the next 6 months expect…

• SOE to aquire Sigil and/or Vanguard
• patches and bug fixes to continue to trickle into the game, although perhaps more significant progress on performance & bug fixes
• to buy a new PC (or upgrade your current system…alot)
• a re-launch of the game [first launch of the completed game] (probably in time for the 2007 Holiday season - thats just a guess)

Latest Vanguard MMORPG Posts
Vanguard Updates (GameTrailers Interview)
Secondary markets feeling the heat in Vanguard?
Raiders Digest : Vol 1 Issue 2
SOE Buys Sigil Games Online
Brad McQuaid “a mind blowing game by the end of the year”
Vanguard Rogue Review : Watch your Back!
Vanguard Psionicist Review : Who ordered extra Crowd Control?
Vanguard Shaman Review : Front Line Healer & Swiss Army Knife
Vanguard Druid Review : Lightening in a Bottle (er…paper cup)
Brad McQuaid on the state of Vanguard and Unrealized Expectations
VG Combat : Creating & exploiting weaknesses
Raiders Digest : Vol 1 Issue 1
Raiders Digest : Announcement
Vanguard Founders Awards
Temple of Dailuk : Vanguard Dungeon Review
Vanguard Game Update #1
Sigil Rolls Out a Test Server
LOTRO Vs. Vanguard SOH
A Guide to the Vanguard Crafting Skill Grind
Stonesmashers Enclave : Vanguard Dungeon Review
Gulgrethor Fortress : Vanguard Dungeon Review
Gardens of Xia’Liu : Vanguard Dungeon Review
Karrus Fahrel : Vanguard Dungeon Review
Staying Alive! : Vanguard Kill on Sight Quick reference
Kill on Sight : The Vanguard Faction Low Down
Buy Vanguard Saga of Heroes
Vanguard Crafting Guide Released
Ksaravi Hollow : Vanguard Dungeon Review
Arcanium : Vanguard Dungeon Review
Vanguard Beta tweaks paying off - Looking GREAT!

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