Given the wretched in-game SoBe product-placements, the blatant disregard for Oddworld's mission statement: "For Oddworld Inhabitants to live in every home" by agreeing to Micro$oft's "Exclusive on Xbox" nonsense, the new glossy and tamed (read: mass-market appeal) look of Oddworld, and the recent fire-fest of top-notch talent (from a gamers' perspective, read:
http://www.penny-arcade.com/view.php3?date=2001-10-08), it seems Lorne has completed his money-fueled transformation into Glukkonhood. The creativity and conscience of the original Oddworld games have been replaced by crass advertising and corporate hacks. Seems to me this spells the end of any possibility of enjoyable Oddworld games to be released in the future.
This quote from Oddworld's own site seems to sum up their new corporate philosophy quite well:
Oddworld's Industrial cultures are at war with the land, with each other, and with themselves. To them, Moolah is all that matters, whether stripped from the earth, torn from the flanks of living creatures, or stockpiled with mechanical efficiency behind the imposing facades of their smoke-belching Franchises. They are short-sighted, greedy, and pushy.
Congratulations go to Lorne and his cronies for reaping the wealth off the backs of dedicated gamers and game developers while killing off a world that was once a fun place to visit.
R.I.P. Oddworld Inhabitants 10/08/01
