-
Posts
6,886 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
190
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Calendar
Everything posted by Hot Heart
-
The idea with Kickstarter is to find out what the demand is straight from the consumer. Whether it's a company or individuals, they will pitch an idea, say it needs x amount of $ to happen, and then gauge whether it's not going to work or whether they can expand on that vision. It's why Zach Braff can see if anyone wants to fund his (crappy-sounding) film; it's up to people to decide if it's worth backing, just like a publisher will say yes or no. The entertainment industry doesn't just run off its own profits, it seeks other revenues of funding. All the big game devs work with publishers because they're funding these things. If they have one big runaway success, they don't go independent and forget about seeking funding altogether. Take something like the Veronica Mars film. That never would've happened through the normal channels. By going straight to fans, they can get an idea of how achievable the vision is and whether there is enough demand. In the same way, Double Fine wanted to see if there was a desire for their style of adventure game. Then loads of people backed it and they saw that they could improve upon the initial idea and offer more. I can see why folks aren't up in arms about Subset Games. Firstly, they weren't already a company. So that extra money (and we're not talking millions either) would be going towards these startup costs and software licensing, etc. Hooray, indie success story that you helped make. And these guys can go onto make bigger and better games in the future. They actually started making FTL before pitching it to fans, and needed they money to make it what it was (no licences, unpaid sound guy, and no QA without fans). Part of their success is down to Double Fine putting Kickstarter on the map in the first place. If Double Fine had plonked out a $400k game and just pocketed the $2.9m, it would be a completely different story. And there's an example of the ripples I'm talking about. For every line of dialogue, they're translating it into four more languages and that then requires the voicework at least in English (not sure if they expanded on that since the KS page). They're producing books, t-shirts and disc versions of the game. Yes, that's in the stretch goals, but even as those amounts go up to really high numbers, the costs increase beyond the original scope. Which is why, like others have since, they should've limited numbers for all of the physical stuff; again, live and learn. Ports aren't mega-expensive, but they aren't free either; just more little things that add up. Double Fine started with the intention of being open about the development, and that's what they've done. People were backing a game and a documentary; both are being made. I've not had to pay any extra money, and Double Fine found the most agreeable and undisruptive avenue for further money along with a suitable compromise. It's a helpful experience for gamers, because they get to see behind the curtain. If people are more wary in future, then that's a good thing, but it also makes them appreciative of what goes into games and the roles of media producers. And here, have a useful analogy.
-
But...the enemy diversity, the bit with the tank, hijacking ghosts and planting grenades on wraiths, playing as the Covenant. Come on! The biggest problem was boss battles (and leaving the player in Arbiter's boots. It was always going to be a cliffhanger ending), but I assume that was always part of the design; and the cuts weren't just in the singleplayer either. But anyway, yeah, I trust you still thought it was a good game.
-
Certainly looks interesting. And I believe Kotaku reported that you can also bring your multiplayer character as part of the heist crew. Also, that skyscraper bit reminded me of this (skip to 2:50, if you're impatient)
-
Dean, where do you think all that money's going? Do you think this small team just got a load of bonuses? Things have quite clearly changed since the original Kickstarter page. Either way, Double Fine has salaried staff. Artists, animators, programmers, etc. A change here and there creates ripples throughout the project. It's a more complex and involved game (to create) than FTL. Also, why are you under the impression that the spirit of Kickstarter is for 'starting companies', one and done? It's not Dragon's Den. It's for projects, it's on the About page. Anyone can submit and it's up to people to gauge whether it's worth it. So far, I'm not too bothered. To use the analogy, I'm not hungry at the moment, and I'm happy to let the chef cook up the best thing they can. And even if things do get pared down, I know Halo 2 suffered the same fate and that was possibly my favourite Halo game (and many people's favourite multiplayer game for a long time), and Mass Effect 3 was a big load of cut corners, yet that was still a good game
-
You really can't see the difference between a two-man dev team already 3/4 through the production of their game, presumably eager to get it out the door, and a full development studio, with all the staff that entails, at the very beginning of production of their game, a larger, more complex beast? From what I can gather, Schafer saw how much funding it got and figured that now he has a chance to really expand on his original vision and 'give back' something by putting more into the game. It was outside of the normal remit, but I can see there being good intentions. That he managed to go completely and stupidly overboard (or at least, wound up in the same mindset as when making the bigger-style Lucasarts games) is, understandably, a problem. However, I'm confident that either they'll get the money or that the game can be pared down to still offer a decent, complete experience.
-
Oh, yeah? Well...
-
Will it project onto the floor and make my cat go all crazy around my feet?! This is potentially dangerous. I NEED ANSWERS.
-
Yes, but the FTL guys were in a far easier position to gauge what was needed than a complete dev studio embarking on a whole new game. As has been said by others in the industry, this sort of thing happens in all professional game developers; you're just seeing everything in the open. Not to mention there's the old 'woo, underdogs!' angle to an indie and a new IP which makes people more forgiving anyway. So, yes, it's silly that Schafer went and designed 'too much game' which does leave me more than a little miffed, but I can see why it probably happened. I very much doubt that the game would've been compromised so much it became a 'lesser' game than originally envisioned. So, as a backer, I see no reason to be pissed, because I know they will still deliver on the game. Personally, I am only concerned about this indulgent-sounding extra design. Again, though, there's a good chance major design issues have happened on games before, games I've liked, and it's just that this time I'm seeing it played out. Schafer's been at it a long time, so creatively he might know exactly what he's doing; it's just the nature of its funding that complicates things a little. If it were with a publisher, I can see a very high chance that all you'd see is the compromised version (and months earlier too).
-
Hmm, I guess yours doesn't show it numbered as this.
-
Don't watch the show myself (maybe I will sometime), but I figured you may appreciate my friends' costumes they wore for London Comicon I can tell Magic Man guy put a bit of work into his, and Gunther dude made the hat pretty much from scratch. There's a pretty funny photo of Magic Man and Lemongrab with Lena Headey. I do have to wonder if she had any idea who they were meant to be.
-
Heh, well, yeah. It's because of this (note the leet post number), which was highly recommended, that I've got a bunch of film noirs. I do have other films to watch, but then I see that most are around two and half hours long and think, "Ehh, maybe another night..." Whereas I look at this collection and see most are around an hour and a half. So, expect another 4 to follow at some point.
-
I don't even get your point, T-Next.. They would still deliver the game without the extra funds, it would just be reduced back from the 'ultimate' vision yet still beyond the $400,000 original idea. There is no issue of there not being a game at all. And I'm not saying that I'd be pissed if they didn't add all this 'extra' stuff, but rather I could see general gamers expecting more. I even stated my own view, which is almost the opposite, in the very same post.
-
Crossfire. Decent noir with some cool lighting and direction, if a little blunt and long-winded, being that it has a side bit that is almost completely irrelevant. The box says it is 'the movie that supposedly set Washington on to liberal Hollywood, ending with the anti-communist McCarthy witchhunt', which is kinda sad since there's nothing suspicious about not being an ignorant, racist jerk. Though, like I said, the film is rather blunt with its message, even if it does feature a mighty fine speech about immigration and racism and what it means to be American.
-
Really nice to see the creators addressing the criticisms and such here. KOTAKU WARNING: http://kotaku.com/zombies-women-citizen-kane-the-last-of-us-makers-de-679053634 Some of the feminist critique raised interesting points but really missed some glaringly obvious stuff. The 'women in the refrigerator' thing isn't about a revenge tale, plus if Ellie's character is female then Sarah has to be as well.
-
Yeah, I recall someone posting about it a while back (could've been me?). Something to do with that, and that it used to be part of the alphabet as 'and per se'.
-
Yeah, it'll never catch on. Not to mention the fact that the ampersand has a long history going right back to when Romans were writing latin.
-
Wow, I'm really sorry to hear that about Parker. I can't imagine how that feels. Here's hoping Booker makes a full recovery.
-
-
SPOILERS: http://www.clickonline.com/games/uncut-interview--ricky-cambier-(the-last-of-us)/18520/
-
FTL's a bad example because the game was by a much smaller team and already 3/4 done. That's most likely why they didn't change their design and instead just beefed up the production values while having a beta. I am concerned that Schafer's extra design might just be bloat though, then again if they didn't do something extra with all that money then I can see people being mighty pissed about that. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
-
The Grey On the surface it seems like a bit of a simple survival horror film, albeit anchored by a great Liam Neeson performance (the whole cast is pretty good really) and some neat directorial touches. As things progress, however, it's clear that the story goes a little deeper than you might expect. Well, even early on there's a moment where a guy's bleeding out and asks what's happening, to which Neeson's character simply replies, "You're dying" before trying to ease him into it.
-
-
No, you'll still get the full game. I'm just concerned it'll be a bloated hell of a thing, and I'm bad enough with finishing adventure games as it is.
-
Oh, the one who glitched and turned invisible all throughout the boss fight for me. Forgot how buggy the first one was.
