It's not all about graphics but the game needs fairly significant (coding) work done on it and it's unclear whether that work will be done by anyone, SF-based or otherwise. Upcoming games are (obviously) not out yet and thus haven't flopped and thus still have a chance of doing well. A new game launching will be a lot more interesting to people than a game that flopped getting a facelift.

Not sure where you're getting the idea that HGL still has life in Asia though. SEA got boned, it sunk like a rock on the sales charts elsewhere, etc.
If an Asian development studio takes over perhaps it will find new life under them, but that would basically kill it for those of us on US/EU servers. They'd either not bother with our servers, patches would be delayed or the "new features" will be geared to Asian sensibilities and thus uninteresting to most everyone else...

It might still have life in Asia but I'm more hopeful for games like Sacred 2 and Warhammer Online than any future for HGL.
You never know though, maybe someone will pull things together and it'll be given the time and resources it needs to be finished properly. Stranger things have happened!

Well, the game is not all about graphics. Yes, there are other games coming, like Diablo 3, but this game still has life, especially in Asia.

We'd still end up having to wait a long time for any new content/updates to the game. Who knows if it'd even be worth saving by then--more and more games are getting up to/surpassing the graphics level of HGL and a wave of hack n' slashers are on the way.

Well, we'll see what happens =)

Lanthanide has a good point there about reason for location. Hope he's right, too

Course, were I one of those developers, not sure I'd be too eager about rejoining... it sounds to me like a dead end job where they'll just be working moreso than before to milk profits from the game.

I think it's obvious that by setting up a company in SF they are trying to get at least some of the original development team back to work on the game, otherwise they wouldn't bother with setting up shop in the US.

I think it's obvious that by setting up a company in SF they are trying to get at least some of the original development team back to work on the game, otherwise they wouldn't bother with setting up shop in the US.

I don't really see this as good news. I see it as potentially being good for the game, but we'll see.

As for whether Roper and Co would still have a role? It's hard to see how it could be a "new chapter of history" with the same old faces in charge.
In any event it's likely to still be a while before we see any progress, even if they got the team hired today. They'll have to familiarise themselves with the game and the code before they can start making the necessary changes...

Just when I'd given up we get a bit of good news!