I did yes. Thanks for posting it again.

It doesn't exactly have that oddworld feeling to it, but i agree it's way to early to judge.

Now the next pic we need is one of an "in game" level so we can compare the graphics.

Looks good though : )

Hm... I'm not going to judge since this is effectively concept art.

I am.

I don't think they look bad, per say, just... not Oddworld, as others have stated.

I like the pre-production screens, however they could change a dozen times before we ever see the game so its moot.
But wasn't this always gonna happen:
*Beloved franchise is cancelled
*Hardcore fans are sad
*Years pass as a few pockets of hardcore fans converse, reminise and hope
*Against all odds the franchise plans a return
*Hardcore fans rejoice and speculate
*Franchise can never meet everybodys expectations
*Hardcore fans get angry and hate the franchise

EDIT: Oh okay I just realised something.

These shots are interesting and I wonder where they're going with them - Perhaps they could be just an experiment done by them to see how directly re-creating a concept image in Maya would work. If that's the case, it's hugely successful on their part.

For a brief minute I did think that this is what they're working on as a final level for Abe HD until I read some more and thought better of it. But that's made me think a little.

What if the final product may not be what I or anyone else expected at all? Maybe instead of a facelift of the original game, perhaps we should be expecting a decent game that's actually quite different from the original. It's as the developers of the Half-Life remake said once: If you want the feel and atmosphere of an original game, the only guaranteed way to experience them is to play the original game. It's a bonus if you get the same feeling in a remake - Especially when that remake is done by different people.

Can any of you give examples of a game remakes that really preserve or expand upon the feel and atmosphere of their original games? I can't think of any myself. Any remakes I've seen (But okay, I haven't seen/played many) have been improvements on the originals, but at the same time, totally different from them.

I know, because nobody has the guts to actually tell Lorne.

PRE-PRODUCTION, folks. Go look at some Munch pre-production.

The Munch pre-production was awesome though.

I EXPECTED YOU TO CONTRADICT ME.

That's all very well and good, but what's the point of promoting a game with something you're aware is subpar?

I retain my criticism of these images but reserve my judgement for the final product.


EDIT: Also, I hope that those paths in the distance really are the paths that you get to traverse later on. That would be awesome.

yeah you cant really judge this until the final product is out

also does anyone know when they will finish (or estimate when they will finish)

Resident Evil remake on the game cube was a vast improvment on the original while keeping the original story intact but also expanding on it, adding the originaly cut substory of lisa trevor. plus it kept its creepy feel that the sequels lacked.

metalgear solid: twin snakes was prety much theoriginal game with the metalgear solid 2 graphics/engine ontop of it.

These are earily stuff however still doesn't rule out the fact that they are so far ugly.

Let's face it, most of the Oddworld games themselves haven't managed to recreate the atmosphere of Abe's Oddysee.

Agreed. not even Exoddus does it.

no but exoddus still had that oddworld feel

Yeh agreed, but a platformer is easier to engineer than an enormous 3D world, it's like Fallout, everyone hated F3 and FNV who liked F1 and F2 because it wasn't Fallout enough, now I'm sorry, while I prefer 1 and 2 to 3 and FNV, how can you re-create the feel when these days people want massive worlds and great graphics, there's a trade off.

Actually, you missed Nate's point. We can't judge the final product because we haven't seen that. We can, however, comment on those released pre-production pictures.

i think its still possible, a little difficult but possible

i havnt reay played fallout 1 & 2 but i think bethesda did a superb job with fallout 3

Considering what we know (it's a direct remake of some early concept art; it's pre-production and therefore unfinished; it's rendered directly from Maya and lacks shaders etc.) I'd say it's definitely not sub-par.

Plenty of game devs use unfinished pre-production work to promote their stuff, and I personally don't think there's a problem with that - it gives us some insight into the development process.

It's not what we were all expecting, but judging pre-production work by comparing it to final work is like judging a half-blank canvas to a finished painting.

Sometime 2012.

I didn't say it wasn't half-finished and pre-production, or that it wouldn't necessarily improve. I was just pointing out that the images themselves were subpar. And they're aware of it. And yet they still chose to release them. Seems strange.

Plenty of game devs use unfinished pre-production work to promote their stuff, but they generally choose their promotional material with a bit more care. Back in the old days, OWI would reveal production sketches and the occassional concept video, but never anything from unfinished gameplay and certainly nothing as half-baked as this.

Hello everyone. Personally, I really like the direction in which the company seeks. When we add some shaders etc. I guarantee you that AO:HD will look great. Oddworld HD will be something (I think) a better and closer to art-works. It is for me nothing but good news.

I cease to believe that this game will be a perfect reflection of Abe's Oddysee that we know. But I believe that it will have many references to art-works and this really made me happy. Remember that the "original" Abe's Oddysee was not 100% of what Lorne Lanning wanted to achieve. Let him create Abe's Oddysee that what was supposed to be. I look forward to more information.

P.S.

This game is not Abe's Oddysee HD, but HD REMAKE so the case should be clear to many of us. I cannot wait.

Greetings

First came in mind: What the f? Laser cannon lookin stuff Second stuff came in mind: Well its like alpha or pretty early ugly? maybe but what it WOULD look like when its done (when ever its done)

Also even its pretty early where there heck is background like its painted on the wall? Duh... well its bit ugly i admit it but hey at least they let us know they are doin something. (And if this is made by fan i aint laughing

You can't say all of that is always going to happen. If you go in with that attitude then yes those thoughts you have probably will be your own. You can't just instantly write off a remaking of a franchise and say die hard fans are going to hate it. Your just basing your points on cherry picking specific examples. Yet there have been many franchises which have been refinanced or remade and done brillant or done just as well e.g. Futurama and Family Guy. Yes sometimes they are worse and sometimes they are a whole lot better. Its the whole risk and buzz of re-doing the product. But if we all thought like you do then franchises would never be re-born.

I wasn't that serious about those points. It was more a tounge in cheek rundown of what has happened to so many other franchises. But, EVERY returning franchise has some kind of hardcore fan backlash, its inevitable. Personally I think Oddworld will be great with JAW at the helm. Others wont.

If this is just concept art then I think they've done quite an alright job. They've replicated quite a cartoony image to a good standard. So if they can do this with the more detailed, atmospheric stuff then I believe we may be in for quite a good remake. I think lots of us (myself included) may have over reacted just a smidge. ;)

I seriously can't wait to see the character models now though!!

Honestly, I would love the whole new remake to be in 2D (From 3D images of course).
Not only would the backgrounds be in superb quality, but it would
give that old Oddworld style.

Oh, and if they don't add that sweep effect every time you go to another screen, I will be very disappointed.

Needs some more polishing but I'd say it's a good start... I do agree it doesn't have the feel we all love yet, but it's definitely not awefull.