Tencent has Invested in Grinding Gear Games

A few thoughts about how this announcement was worded:
"We will remain an independent company and there won't be any big changes to how we operate." "..will not affect the development and operations of Path of Exile.."

So no big changes from your point of view, but a whole bunch of small changes as possible implications?
And I find it rather intriguing that you specify development and operations as core parts of GGG, without mentioning who does the important part, the shot-calling.
Just by that alone it seems that the shot-calling has been transferred to Tencent.

"..has a strong reputation for respecting the design decisions of developers and studios they invest in, allowing a high level of autonomy in continuing to operate and develop their games."

Just earlier you proclaimed that development and operations are not affected, and just one paragraph later you state that the studios they invest in are allowed a high level of autonomy?
Either this investment won't affect development and operations, or it will affect it, but grants GGG a high level of autonomy. Both statements don't fit together logically.

"..we will have financial reporting obligations to Tencent but this will have minimal impact on our philosophy and operations"

If you claim to still be an independent studio, how come the reporting of financials stats have any impact whatsoever?

..Tencent has never tried to interfere with game design or operations outside of China. We retain full control of Path of Exile..

Considering Tencent is one of the big players in China as far as video games are concerned: how come you claim full control over PoE when you state that Tencent doesn't interfere with design or operations outside China when Tencent's main area of operation is China and thus by your wording will interfere with the design and operations in China?

"..But sometimes, Tencent will request features that they want to try in the Chinese version that we don't plan to roll into the international version.."

So much for the claim of staying an independent studio when Tencent can force you to implement features, even if it's only for the Chinese version.

"No. Nothing is changing with the way you access Path of Exile on the international servers."

The more interesting question: is there a division between Chinese and the other players as far as where my account/personal information goes - or is the new default that every information will be shared with Tencent?

Yeah, that's what blizzard said when they partnered with Activision and just look at the kiddie junk Diablo3 and everything thereafter was, compared to their older releases.
At the very least, this definitely means i'm never putting another dime into this game.
These promises have been made over and over and over again and every single time, the customer has come out cheated. It's just a matter of time. I've been expecting this to roll around with your growth of the recent years and i'm OUT as a paying customer.

"

M0rf0g3n3sis wrote:

It's good that tencent has invested in GGG, so we can weed out some of you immature idiots from this game.

Who is this "we" you use?

And calling other people immature when your post contains no arguments whatsoever is rather ironic.

"

Will Grinding Gear Games prioritise the Chinese version of Path of Exile?

Will the Chinese version get some features ahead of the international one?

hahahahahahahaha reeallyy?

https://www.reddit.com/r/pathofexile/comments/7pb4xm/expanded_player_inventory_spotted_in_chinese_poe/

4 Months ago, it's already happening.

I would say a characteristic of immaturity is blind faith or believing in the term free. I would go further to say that it is worse than immature to not question your surroundings or how you choose to spend your money.

Sometimes I forget this is an all ages game. Kids it's okay you don't really have to worry about this just play your game. Adults with real world knowledge are discussing things that may be beyond you.

"

opeth wrote:

At the end of the day all I see are a bunch of kiddies who know absolutely jack about investing, Tencent, or how the process works in regards to Tencent's ownership based on other multinational games. But can you blame them? Most of the people here haven't invested in anything outside of food. Let the kids cry.

These are the top four ways to sound like a jackass, just for reference:

1.) Name calling of those who hold opposing views.

2.) Make assumptions about those with opposing views.

3.) Belittle those with opposing views.

4.) Pretend you know more about a topic of debate than others.

And on a personal note, I have a life: married, no kids, own and maintain a house, and PoE isn't the most important thing in my life.

"

cipher_nemo wrote:

"

opeth wrote:

At the end of the day all I see are a bunch of kiddies who know absolutely jack about investing, Tencent, or how the process works in regards to Tencent's ownership based on other multinational games. But can you blame them? Most of the people here haven't invested in anything outside of food. Let the kids cry.

These are the top four ways to sound like a jackass, just for reference:

1.) Name calling of those who hold opposing views.

2.) Make assumptions about those with opposing views.

3.) Belittle those with opposing views.

4.) Pretend you know more about a topic of debate than others.

And on a personal note, I have a life: married, no kids, own and maintain a house, and PoE isn't the most important thing in my life.

You aren't wrong but stupidity and general small mindedness gets grating borderline infuriating after years of life.

I too own a home, have a family, have had multiple careers and enjoy many passions outside of gaming. Since we are being open.

I only have issues with GGG in how this was handled, how it was hidden until the last moment... almost as if they knew there would be backlash while still begging for support.

My main concern is Tencent, and past data on what happens more often than not in these cases. Though they will almost certainly handle it better than activision would. It's the darker tencent topics that bother me the most.

-

I will be honest. I really don't care that a chinese compary bought (80% is not just an investment) GGG, because in the end...all investors invest to make more money.

But I have to say, I am disappointed. What was the urge to sell your shares...to whomever? You had a highly acclaimed game and a very good revenue. So what reason, besides WE LOVE MONEY was there to sell the majority of your shares?

I, like many others before me, always understood the monetarisation of PoE as Donation to an indie dev, where you get something showable in return. I mean...there are armor skins for $30 out there - no one in the right mind, would ever come to the conclusion that he will get something equal for his money.

But now, all this is gone. I will most propably still play PoE and have a lot of fun with it. But there is almost no chance I will ever spend any money on this game.

"

cipher_nemo wrote:

"

opeth wrote:

At the end of the day all I see are a bunch of kiddies who know absolutely jack about investing, Tencent, or how the process works in regards to Tencent's ownership based on other multinational games. But can you blame them? Most of the people here haven't invested in anything outside of food. Let the kids cry.

These are the top four ways to sound like a jackass, just for reference:

1.) Name calling of those who hold opposing views.

2.) Make assumptions about those with opposing views.

3.) Belittle those with opposing views.

4.) Pretend you know more about a topic of debate than others.

And on a personal note, I have a life: married, no kids, own and maintain a house, and PoE isn't the most important thing in my life.

Haha I saw that guys post and he almost bated me into a reply. But he got you cipher! :)

This is not about celebrating some investment into GGG. This is about understanding (or in this guys case, not understanding) what happens in an acquisition. The founders just made a killing in this deal, no doubt, but I feel bad for the 100-some-odd employees who will now need to re-prioritize what they are working on. This sort of stuff takes time and it won't be an immediate change, but about 6 months to a year from now, a good number of devs will hate their life and probably go elsewhere.