I agree with Alcar. I say OWI should take all the time they need. Here's the thing though...in X-Factor Lorne said that they have to appease their publisher to get the game out on time. Now we know that Microsoft isn't publishing OW4, so we might have to wait a little longer with the publisher move. Since Microsoft isn't publishing, then that might mean Microsoft haulted the money flow for game development. I'm speculating...but I think we might have to wait a little longer.

-oddguy

Hmm...Maybe the big news Lorne promised us is that Stranger won't come out till next year. Be still my freakin-out heart!

I don't really know the deal. But assuredly we will be informed of publisher status (not publishing date) on the Auspicious day. OWI can, should and probably will take all the time they want on this. After how upset they were over MO I don't think the company would risk another game not meeting their own standards. (Though I thought MO was wonderful--since I didn't have a clue how great it could have been) We'll get what we get when we get it.

EDIT: would microsoft really STOP the money flow? Slow it down maybe, but to stop it completely? Well, Bill Gates is evil. So I guess it works.

Remember...I was just speculating. I don't have a clue whether or not Microsoft stopped OWI's moolah flow. We shall find out. I was under the impression when OWI said they had news...that it would be good news. Ah...patience is a virtue.

-oddguy

It has to be real close to being finnished and I will tell you why. They are starting to design the illustrations for their advirtiseing campaign. The Polygon magazine Spectrum etc etc thats all advirtisement. Swanland said so himself he was now thinking about the illustraitions he needs to do for the production of their advirtiseing and maketing campaign. Usually in comercial art that means the main product is close to being finnished if not finnished already. And now they have to start the production of the advirtiseing and the post production of the finnished product which will take at least a year.

They are close to being finnished it took them at least three years to design it. Infact I bet they started designing the game before Munch's release during the time of the post production of Munch. Maybe not full fledge designing but Lanning started writeing this well before we knew about it then there was probabally some minor story boarding I bet.

This is how it works.
You start off with a script even in games there has to be writeing to describe the story and whats going on. In film they also at this point start casting.

Then there is the conceptual Story Boarding stage which is called pre production where now they are turning the words into 2D art such as Conceptual designs and story boards and 3D art such as moveing anamatics which are story boards and creating character models or mockets to describe the look and feel of everything.

Then in the third stage its production where all that stuff in the second stage is finalised and put together eather in the actual principal photography or in 3D software such as Miya or Lightwave. This is where all the second stage stuff comes to life and creates a movie or in this case a video game

Then the last stage post production the stage that OWI is in right now. This involves touching up scenes, editing, sound effects, music and designing for advirtisement and mass produceing their product with the publisher.


Four major steps when it comes to makeing a game or a movie. Most projects like this take three years to do. Now with Munch it took a little longer because in post pruduction they decided to change platforms so it took them a little bit longer to rebuild their product because it had to meet the standards of the X-Box not to mention X-Box wasn't even out yet. When they made the switch they made it a launch title. So they couldn't release the game on their original deadline because it was for PS2 launch not X-Box. X-Box wasn't out and it would be another year.

Generally speaking usually in a professional setting such as OWI the pre production and production and even at times post production and pretty much all the stages generally over lap each other to meet certain deadlines. In other words they will start conceptualiseing it while its still being written and when the art is approved they would jump right into production while at the same time pre production is going on. After that piece is produce they would go into some editing with music and sound effect which is part of post production. This cuts time and cost in half and helps the over all timeline of the project. Its 4 steps and roughly three years for a project like this. Think of it like a very complex assembly line in a creative factory. where pieces and parts are in verious stages production.

So you think the release is that imminent? When do you think it will drop, earlier than December, maybe? Could it be even later if they are just starting to advertise? When will the first television commercials come out?

No I think the release will be in Novemeber of this year. They said that they are looking at a late 2004 release. So it is safe to assume that the possible release date of this game will be at the end of this year sometime just in time for Christmas. Thats what I am saying. The television comercials would normally come out around release. You got to look at this as being like all kinds of things are being made at once.

The advirtiseing is a totally different and much much smaller project than the game. I think since OWI is not turning up the notch of hype, their advirtiseing is small. The publisher needs to mass produce the one game and make a billion copies of that finnished game to be sold in stores all over the world. It would take a year to do. I honestly believe they are in post production now. But if I am wrong then it will be another year. But I doubt that a lot. But ya know its only my own prediction. So nothing here is official.

I guess OWI keeping this game so secretive is for the better. To be honest, If they gave us all this awesome info right off the bat, and there was a problem with the game that called for cutbacks, then it would end up like MO-with our hopes high and our delivery low. Lorne and crew learned from their mistakes, if they give us all the info now (like MO) then there would be very little surprises in the actual finished game. What I just said was quite obvious, but I think it was in order. ;)