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CCP brings in $66M in revenues. Contemplates IPO
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Nova Fox
Novafox Shipyards
#61 - 2012-02-22 15:53:39 UTC
66$ Million is peanuts in the entertainmnet business you have video games now who's budgets rival movies. MW3 although I cant seem to find the source now was about 50$ million in prodcution o-O, and 150m more in advertising.

Dust 514's CPM 1 Iron Wolf Saber Eve mail me about Dust 514 issues.
Darrow Hill
Vodka and Vice
#62 - 2012-02-22 15:54:46 UTC
Florestan Bronstein wrote:
4 of 6 BoD seats are already in the hand of investors and a VC, that ratio would probably not change substantially post-IPO.


The VC's will likely exit.

VC's are very rarely in the game for the long term. The private equity groups I have worked with in the past have all had 5 year return horizons (get in, grow, get out).

The reality is, once you bring in VC / Private Equity, you have fairly limited options for their exit.


  • Shop for a new VC / PEquity partner
  • Leveraged buyout by management
  • IPO



Tikktokk Tokkzikk
V0LTA
WE FORM V0LTA
#63 - 2012-02-22 15:58:01 UTC
The Gonif wrote:
... excited to embrace new models and fire 20% of the staff, in addition to the traditional subscriptions offered by EVE. ...

Fixed that for ya!

And yes, I am mad!

I wish they would make vanity items craftable and link aurum to the EVE store. Aurum would go from being the worst thing ever to a giftcard!
Ptraci
3 R Corporation
#64 - 2012-02-22 17:23:32 UTC
I wouldn't be too worried about it anyway - I'd like CCP to show me growth. Where is the growth? Yeah ok there's a dedicated subscriber base. OK, people who are subbed more than 6 months stay subbed forever. Gotcha. Now where is the growth? Ah, no growth? So how exactly am I going to make money on that stock? And how many million subscri - what do you mean thousands? Oh yeah ok thank you no thanks.
rodyas
Tie Fighters Inc
#65 - 2012-02-22 17:40:17 UTC
Growth is hard, I wouldn't know when to expect it. But CCP is hoping for growth. Hilmar and new CFO I think did an interview for ten ton hammer, and said they hoped to tap into the playstation network with DUST. Then from that lots of new pilots would join EVE. That was the growth they were going for.

Signature removed for inappropriate language - CCP Eterne
Doc Severide
Doomheim
#66 - 2012-02-22 20:04:02 UTC
Professor Alphane wrote:
Doc Severide wrote:
W1rlW1nd wrote:
Gantz Tleilax wrote:
The Gonif wrote:


This might seem like an illustration that traditional CCP has already been experimenting with free-to-play in EVE, by allowing rich subscribers to essentially pay for others to play, in exchange for virtual currency — something that has been used by 40,000 people, the company says.


Can someone explain what this means? Rich subscribers paying others to play?



"Rich" player pays real money for own subscription, and plex. "Rich" player puts Plex on game market.
"Other" player buys Plex in game with fake money, and uses the Plex to extend subscription.

Thus, "Rich" player has paid real money for someone else to play, in exchange for fake money to throw around in-game.



Yep for all the people I helped to play for free, you are very welcome. Bought $4K in GTC's over the last 3 years.... I get Grind Free ISK, others who can't otherwise afford to play, get to play. Everyone wins...
Oh and for those who say "You could have spent that on other things", well I certainly did that too...



I don't really understand how 3rd party GTC transactions work, I know there are sites that sell them, but how do they aquire them and whats in it for them?

I buy my GTC's only from the CCP website. I know some others sell them though, can't imagine what's in it for them.
Liang Nuren
No Salvation
Divine Damnation
#67 - 2012-02-22 21:17:44 UTC  |  Edited by: Liang Nuren
Darrow Hill wrote:
Ursula LeGuinn wrote:
As for the why of it, an IPO would probably mean more capital for CCP to work with. At the same time, it means less control over who owns shares in the company, and a greater number of shareholders wanting to see their investments grow.


Lets make this as blunt as possible.


66 million in revenue is peanuts.

It really is.

EvE, in itself, is profitable and self sustaining. However EvE is not CCP's only project. If you ever took a look at CCP's basic financials from 2010, it's plainly obvious that the only way CCP can continue to develop Dust 514 and WoD is by using external financing.

They need cash.


Yeah, its about right. The thing that worries me most is the possibility (likelihood?) of Dust 514 failing and the capitalized costs of WOD with all its devs layed off/repurposed. I really wish we'd heard about this in a dev blog first... they could spin it way better.

For now, I have fun in Eve. If it goes IPO and the investors kill my game... well I'll find a new one. Or maybe make one, who knows?

-Liang

Ed: I'm a programmer, not a market analyst/financial expert. I'm sure Eve and CCP are fine financially. Well, mostly sure.

I'm an idiot, don't mind me.
Austin Kincaid
Aliastra
Gallente Federation
#68 - 2012-02-22 21:28:14 UTC  |  Edited by: Austin Kincaid
Doc Severide wrote:



I buy my GTC's only from the CCP website. I know some others sell them though, can't imagine what's in it for them.


If you buy a GTC through another site such as Battleclinic, they get a referral fee so it helps them with their web hosting costs
Mara Rinn
Cosmic Goo Convertor
#69 - 2012-02-22 21:33:37 UTC  |  Edited by: Mara Rinn
Liang Nuren wrote:
Yeah, its about right. The thing that worries me most is the possibility (likelihood?) of Dust 514 failing and the capitalized costs of WOD with all its devs layed off/repurposed. I really wish we'd heard about this in a dev blog first... they could spin it way better.

For now, I have fun in Eve. If it goes IPO and the investors kill my game... well I'll find a new one. Or maybe make one, who knows?


The thing that disturbs me the most is that the people with the money to buy the shares (Bobby Kotik) aren't the people I want being responsible for the direction of this game. If the IPO was managed such that players were offered a first bite at the IPO cherry, it might be more reasonable. But then some players would want the shares to make profits, and sell them to the highest bidder (Kotik and co).

Most people I know who have share portfolios don't know jack about the industries they're investing in.

(if anyone from CCP is reading, I'd take part in a PLEX-for-Development effort, but not an IPO)

Day 0 Advice for New Players
Hauling Hal
The Scope
Gallente Federation
#70 - 2012-02-22 21:36:59 UTC  |  Edited by: Hauling Hal
mechtech wrote:
Vaal Erit wrote:


I don't think EA could do any worse than completely ignoring EVE development for at least 18 months, I wish we had EA service for those 18 months..


Oh, how wrong you are Twisted

EA would do more harm in 18 days than the 18 month development freeze caused.

I hope Eve doesn't go public in any form. I want Eve and CCP to be stable for decades, and if they're exposed to outside market influences this vision could be disturbed. CCP has proven they've been able to handily avoid outside events even as Iceland was practically collapsing around them during the financial crisis. Well credit tightening probably led to the recent layoffs, but that didn't really affect the core employees or IP (eve),


Agreed totally. If EA took control of CCP, you could bet that micro transactions would be in faster than you could say 'please use lube'.

RIP DAOC, courtesy of EA

/edit Actually, EA would close down the Iceland arm and move all of Eve's development to what's left of Bioware, their arm that now runs all the MMOs they've bought out.
HELIC0N ONE
Republic Military School
Minmatar Republic
#71 - 2012-02-22 22:20:44 UTC
Looking forward to 'Shares for PLEX'
Tavin Aikisen
Phoenix Naval Operations
Phoenix Naval Systems
#72 - 2012-02-22 23:41:19 UTC
Contemplating IPO?

CCP, I think you've already reached your quota for "stupid executive decisions" for this financial year... be serious.

"Remember this. Trust your eyes, you will kill each other. Trust your veins, you can all go home."

-Cold Wind
Headerman
Native Freshfood
Minmatar Republic
#73 - 2012-02-22 23:56:23 UTC
A guy i know makes that kinda money annually and all he does is supply water trucks to various mines so they can water the roads to keep the dust down.

Not as fun as EVE.

Australian Fanfest Event https://forums.eveonline.com/default.aspx?g=posts&find=unread&t=90062
Finde learth
Republic Military School
Minmatar Republic
#74 - 2012-02-22 23:59:47 UTC
IF ccp IPO, i think i won't subs any more.
Finde learth
Republic Military School
Minmatar Republic
#75 - 2012-02-23 01:40:35 UTC
Chribba wrote:
I want to know more about the Asian expansion...

Also <3 CCP keep up the awesome work! So proud to have been with you since the early days \o/

/c


http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/lIOwGGvl6e8/?resourceId=0_06_02_99?fr=1
Vaerah Vahrokha
Vahrokh Consulting
#76 - 2012-02-23 01:51:46 UTC
Vaal Erit wrote:
Nova Fox wrote:
CCP please maintain majory stock...

Companies like EA would destroy this company and game if given the chance.


Lol, I don't think you understand how finances work. If CCP kept all the CCP stock then they would raise no cash. I don't think EA could do any worse than completely ignoring EVE development for at least 18 months, I wish we had EA service for those 18 months.


I have extensive experience with EA.

Everything they do is atrocious, nasty and "pry that last dollar from their dead hands" oriented.

Their support is an huge farce, their software maintenance a joke, their facilities a puke.

I WILL unsub the microsecond EA even thinks to put their filthy hands on CCP.

EvE Online portal | EvE markets tutorials
Herzog Wolfhammer
Sigma Special Tactics Group
#77 - 2012-02-23 01:55:22 UTC
Doc Fury wrote:
That's a lot of Hookers, Blow and Lutefisk.

But, going public brings with it great responsibility and CCP in my opinion is not ready yet to answer to real shareholders.




Shareholders will kill CCP.

Once you let that gaggle in, and their marketers, lawyers, and other assorted yuppies start having a say, it's over.

Some people might like the idea of seeing the people running CCP getting fired perhaps. But there are WORSE. And I can imagine that same pool of "talent" to run CCP being drawn from the same video game greats who took other MMOs and destroyed them outright by making them suitable for American MMO players .The marketers will act like only Americans play MMOs and being money-grubbing rent-seeking Pieces of Sh!t, they will target a specific audience. Get a few of those empty heads in there thinking "well, (snark snark snivel), single moms play MMOs and they should all be playable semi-AFK because their kids might distract them. A successful MMO is " (here is what makes me want to go postal around marketers when they say this) "that's where the money is".


Yes, I hate marketers.Shareholders put trust in them. If CCP goes public, I won't be buying any stock but will instead being expecting this to finally become "WOW in Spaaaace".





Bring back DEEEEP Space!
Endeavour Starfleet
#78 - 2012-02-23 02:10:51 UTC
Guys CCP is not going with an IPO. That is crazy.

If they need money that badly they will spin off the Atlanta office as a new company and IPO that for WoD. But I highly doubt they are in THAT need of money to lose control of their IP.

They know DAMN well that people wont invest time into EVE when the likes of the Investors for say EA can yank atleast some control of the IP. It also puts CCP which has traditionally been a stable buisness into the hands of the stock market.

You want CCP to have to fire employees because the stock is down due to oil price panic selling? New content based on good stock numbers and oil prices?
Obsidian Hawk
RONA Midgard Academy
#79 - 2012-02-23 04:21:38 UTC
IPO? ummmmm.

No, other game companies woudl go out and buy it all then destroy ccp and auction it off just to kill any competition.

CCP NEVER EVER go public. keep it privately owned.

personally, if you needed extra funds and could explain what you wanted to do in detail. I would go for a 2 dollar subscription increase.

Why Can't I have a picture signature.

Also please support graphical immersion, bring back the art that brought people to EvE online originaly.
Ai Shun
#80 - 2012-02-23 04:37:22 UTC
Endeavour Starfleet wrote:
It's been shown in the past that some VERY rich people play EVE. And were shoveling money into GTC sales that shifted balance of power so much that for a time it looked like one alliance might have been able to "win" EVE.


Wouldn't it be beautiful if The Mittani and the Goons managed to purchase most of the stock? I could only imagine what would happen on the forums then. Oh go on guys, you know you want to cause an avalanche of shiptoasting! Go on!

Glad to see that CCP isn't dying and that EVE is still very much alive though. <3 CCP