CoH3 or CoH:Online Trailer TBA?

News by OUR great ex-staff COBRA (Hail COBRA!!!! )

Unannounced CoH Project:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ecaponi/

https://i.redd.it/u5bvyjnu0bz11.jpg

One important news update to my previous post about new CoH game director:
https://www.reddit.com/r/CompanyOfHeroes/comments/9ltjgt/new_coh_game_director_unannounced_game

So it looks like The Sequence Group in collaboration with Relic is gearing up to release the CoH3/CoHnline/CoH:X? announcement trailer.

The Sequence Group created a new URL directory called “relicentertainment2018”;
http://www.thesequencegroup.com/relicentertainment2018/
Quote:
“Hello Relic Entertainment!
Eager to pass along some of our new material in hopes we can collaborate again.”

The Sequence Group have previously made these Relic trailers;
The British Forces (IMO very good trailers):
http://www.thesequencegroup.com/company-of-heroes-2-the-british-forces/
Ardennes Assault:
http://www.thesequencegroup.com/company-of-heroes-2-ardennes-assault/
Last Stand Necron Overlord - DoW II: Retribution:
http://www.thesequencegroup.com/necron-overlord/

For the unannounced CoH project, Relic hired one concept artist from The Sequence Group (former Halo artist):
https://www.linkedin.com/in/graememccormck
http://www.wizardsandunicorns.com/portfolio/item/halo-4/

The Relic mystery box reveals the "secret sponsor" behind the 20K $ tournament prize pool?:
Who will market this new CoH game?

https://i.redd.it/h758384f1bz11.jpg



SOURCE: https://www.reddit.com/r/CompanyOfHeroes/comments/9yhqu6/coh3_or_cohonline_trailer_tba/

More speculation from COBRA:

In hindsight, this sounds more like a third gen "CoH Online" coming to PC+console before CoH3. Connect the dots. But "maybe" they will announce CoH3 early just like AoE4.

A few points/dots:


1) I know this is not what fans like to hear, but the CoH2/CoH3 team got torn apart in 2015/2016 to favor AoE4+DoW3 development.
This can be confirmed easily just by looking at Linkedin.
For the art department alone, 3 CoH "art directors" left along with the DoW3 art director.
Bleeding essential talents like that is brutal and can't easily be replaced.
https://www.resetera.com/threads/relic-will-drop-dawn-of-war-iii-focusing-on-age-of-empires-iv-and-a-new-title.21916/page-4

Quote resetera (former Neograf):
Negative (because I don't feel that Relic can replace those people without drop in quality or productivity):
Principal Artist Ian Cumming - Left in this january- 15 yrs at relic
Lead Environment Artist Ian Guise - Left in this January - 13 yrs at relic
Lead Concept Artist David T. Cheong - Left this January - 20+ yrs at relic
Lead AI and Gameplay Engineer Anthony Bergelt - left studio in october 2017, about 9 yrs at relic
Important Generalist Programmer that make many thing for Essence - Michel Schmidt - left studio in october 2017 - 13 yrs at relic
Senior Core Gamepaly Designer - Damon Gauthier - left studio in August 2017 - 13 yrs at relic.
What is more, Essence engine must retain core programmers and tech artists, otherwise new employees will be overwhelmed and inexperienced with the unique and highly custom engine.

Realistic speaking with Relic busy working with AoE4/Microsoft it'll take years, not months to rebuild the CoH3 team so IMO lower your expectations.
Without the MS money to keep the studio afloat, Relic would be in big trouble. Fortunately, there is no good triple-A studio's left except Blizzard that can make AoE4 which won't happen. Maybe CA could make AoE4 but they are busy with other projects.

But yes, Relic is rebuilding the CoH team and recently got back this CoH art director.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoff-coates-71abb532/

2)
First gen "CoH Online" was the beta that got canceled in 2011:
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-02-02-company-of-heroes-online-cancelled

The lead designer on that game died in a car crash.
To this day, they still have the Brian Wood Memorial Internship. Looks like new interns have been working on CoH2 modding tools.
https://commons.bcit.ca/computing/2018/08/10/relic-game-design-internship/
Relic Quote: "Familiarity with Relic’s COH2 modding tools"
A big mod update was hinted at in the last CoH2 roadmap:
https://community.companyofheroes.com/discussion/243407/coh2-the-road-ahead
Relic Quote: We hope that advances to COH2’s modding tools will also take place in the coming months, allowing additional forms of content to be created by the community as well - however this is still to be confirmed.
From CoH1;
Company of Heroes gets a massive modding update after 10 years
https://www.gamespace.com/all-articles/news/company-of-heroes-modding-update/

3) The second gen "CoH Online" was planned between 2012-2015 and I have documented this in previous posts.
But to quote myself:

Seems Relic’s Expanding Its Free-to-Play Plans
by Patrick Klepek on September 20, 2012
RTS studio looking for several employees to head up F2P projects.
https://www.giantbomb.com/articles/seems-relics-expanding-its-free-to-play-plans/1100-4381/

Screenshot - Relic website 2012;????
https://web.archive.org/web/20120920041859/http://relic.com/work-at-relic/

Full job description for CoH2 Executive Producer FTP:
https://web.archive.org/web/20120916213103/http://www.relic.com:80/work-at-relic/Executive-Producer-Free-to-Play/

So who was hired to help with this?
Jonathan Dowdeswell
Former Relic GM 2009-2011, EP 2006-2009, 2012-2013
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathandowdeswell/
CoH2 Credits;
http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/company-of-heroes-2/credits

link permanenteembedsalvarpaidenunciardar goldresponder


4) Relic/Sega updated the domain for www.coh-online.com on 2015-04-14 and 2017-06-16 (un-usual timed only few days after MS biggest E3 show in years). Post-E3 show, the AoE/CoH lead designer, Mitchell Lagran join new MS studio:
https://compulsiongames.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlagran/

5) The month before the MS E3 show, the top marketing/PR guys in Relic get laid off. In, early 2018 they probably were asked to "retire" with 3+ months pay.
The Relic CoH/AoE brand manager was involved as marketing coordination between studio & publisher:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexdelamaire/?authType=name&authToken=Wzna&trk=prof-sb-browse_map-photo
After leaving Relic, the marketing director reveal new investment into new CoH roadmap:https://www.reddit.com/r/CompanyOfHeroes/comments/9b6gun/new_coh3_funding_info/

6) Why did these top MS gaming leaders visit Vancouver on September 29th, 2018?: think critically
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattbooty/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-loftis-417b83/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/noah-musler-b85855/ (Contract negotiations & content acquisition. Former SEGA)
The creative director for AoE4, Adam Isgreen visited Vancouver/Relic on 4. Oct. 2018.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamisgreen/
MS work with 3 studios in Vancouver. The Coalition (which they own), Skybox Labs and Relic Entertainment.
Why so many former Relicans working for The Coalition?
Why is The Coalition expanding into PC strategy games with Gear Tactics?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JR5eedO5P-Q


7) Who is responsible for negotiations behind this 20K$ tournament price pool and new CoH roadmap?
Why has Sega not made one single tweet about this tournament (nor Relic in general) after September 29th?
Why the radio silence from Sega?
No, I did not suggest the tournament money did not come from Sega. But this:
Sweetening the Deal:
https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/sweetening+the+deal

8) Alex Garden, the founder of Relic is old friends with the guy involved with the new Relic office lease. Coincidence?
https://twitter.com/alexjgarden/status/1007485325676105728
Quote Alex Garden:
"About 20 years ago I was fortunate enough to start working with Colin Scarlett from Colliers International Thanks for coming to visit us today. Every time we compare notes I learn something."

New Relic Office - Lease of the Year:
https://www.coh2.org/topic/71104/new-relic-office-lease-of-the-year/page/1
Quote Colin Scarlett
Executive Vice President at Colliers International Canada (Personal Real Estate Corporation)
Excited to win both the Office Lease of the Year (client: Relic Entertainment) and Investment Deal of the Year (client: Fortinet)
*SNIP*

9) Third gen "CoH Online" TBA? Andy said/CoH CM ( 6 months ago); There’s a lot on the cards for 2018, and we’re going to be focused on communicating more clearly with our players, and working more closely with the community. I can’t say more just yet, but I’m super excited for what’s to come. https://community.companyofheroes.com/discussion/comment/277101#Comment_277101


https://www.reddit.com/r/CompanyOfHeroes/comments/9x1061/this_is_the_front_line_for_coh3_hype_what_game/

CoHO has long been abandoned, they're better off just making CoH 2 F2P instead, would be wayyy more beneficial in my opinion.

InB4 Microsoft buys Relic

I am very afraid of a CoH3 being F2P and filled with micro transactions. The siren song of easy money has led many companies who should know better to think only in the short term. CoH2 has been a massive success in spite of all the bugs in no small part thanks to the community. I see the Company of Heroes franchise in the same way I used to look at the Total War franchise in the early 2010s. Large dedicated fanbase of loyal consumers eager for the next title. As such, SEGA lost my trust. I don't pre-order SEGA games anymore and have returned every Total War game after Rome 2.

CoHO has long been abandoned, they're better off just making CoH 2 F2P instead, would be wayyy more beneficial in my opinion.

HF with all the chinese hackers then

CoH Immortal imminent.

HF with all the chinese hackers then

I never said it's what I want you assumption making ass, I said it's what's most probable.

Cobra is like a free intelligence officer with regards to video games that interest him.

InB4 Microsoft buys Relic

I guess that would imply good things about AoE4 if Microsoft would be up for that...

Apparently, being being bought out from Microsoft seemed so good to him that it caused the inXile Entertainment boss to cancel his retirement.

CoH Immortal imminent.

More demoralizing than a team of four spamming Fear Propaganda off of cooldown.

Looking forward to anything we might see

Just hope that they make/start using a new, very flexible engine first
Ive heard a "cant be changed- hardcoded in engine" far too many times

Looking forward to anything we might see

Just hope that they make/start using a new, very flexible engine first
Ive heard a "cant be changed- hardcoded in engine" far too many times

For AoE4 maybe, because they probably don't have access or the knowledge of the old AoM/AoE3/Halo Wars engine, and supports that is that a community modding team was hired to make a Chinese expansion for Age of Mythology and they kinda said that they had to find a lot of work arounds to get the new Civ and it's mythology abilities working.

As far as CoH3 or any future game goes I doubt we will see an entirely new engine built from the ground up, probably wouldn't warrant the quick cash grab they might try and pull off, especially after DoW3.

I mean this is logically speaking, I feel SEGA is breathing down their necks as well as M$ now but everything is possible really.

If anything I'd rather they tried to build CoH on the unreal engine, right now the Iron Harvest devs are building their game on the Unity one but it's very poorly optimized and I've seen lots of people with good rigs have performance issues with games based on it, but at least feature wise it seems to hold up quite nicely, if we're talking about graphics I find Iron Harvest being on par with CoH2 right now, was hoping for a more gritty type of WW1 CoH feeling or something portrayed in the artwork but I guess they could have day/night maps or somethin for that.

I am very afraid of a CoH3 being F2P and filled with micro transactions. The siren song of easy money has led many companies who should know better to think only in the short term. CoH2 has been a massive success in spite of all the bugs in no small part thanks to the community. I see the Company of Heroes franchise in the same way I used to look at the Total War franchise in the early 2010s. Large dedicated fanbase of loyal consumers eager for the next title. As such, SEGA lost my trust. I don't pre-order SEGA games anymore and have returned every Total War game after Rome 2.

I don't believe that would happen. Given the massive flop of DoWIII (Which IMO was their way of testing if they could exploit it later with micro transactions) I highly doubt it. The game mechanics are not fit for F2P model at all, and the active community and the 80-20 rule doesn't suit a CoH game well.

If Relic goes back to their roots, they will make a fantastic CoH game. With all of its flaws, CoH3 is an awesome game, specially if you consider the fact that they were developing it while THQ was going down the drain.

Just pray they pull of AoE4... expectations are so high. It's an AoE game after all.