Surprised fans vs expectant ones

souled out · #1 08-19-2003, 08:53 PM

OK so ive been thinking about this a lot. Do we really want secrecy about the upcoming games or do we just want to know whats coming next. here is my theory

We need at least one game to expect and see screenshots from. the only real way to surprise us about the next game would be to have a release of more than one title at the same time. one we know something about (i.e steef) and one we never knew to ask questions about, so there would be NOTHING but game.

dont even tell the game magazines about it, just release one of the two without warning. They HAVE to review it at some point anyway, and it would recieve publicity from the deicison not to consult them. (every game no matter how pathetic gets a review somewhere.)

they can keep us in the dark as long as possible about the next game, making every new peice of info seem important. its supposed to create hype, but what kind of hype would there be when the fans could get a game they know they were going to beat and then know they could immeditaley after, go buy the next one.

i beat mo in 2 days, the first weekend xbox came out. and knowing how long i had to wait to see the next game info, made me really wonder about waiting to buy the next one until the price drops, and i am sure there is something new to look foreward too when im done.

One game to hype, and one game to sweep beneath the radar. thats my ideal marketing strategy.

ok enough banter from me... any thoughts?

oddguy · #2 08-19-2003, 09:35 PM

Yes, it would be cool to have two OW games released simultaniously for my playing enjoyment, but I doubt OWI is doing that. Working on two games at the same time wouldn't make the games as focused as I'd like. I like how OWI is taking their time with Steef. I'd rather have one really good game, than two okay games.

***Xavier*** · #3 08-20-2003, 12:42 PM

the big surpise would be if they release Hand of Odd at the same time!

oddguy · #4 08-20-2003, 01:37 PM

That would be awesome! Wouldn't you think that they're still working on it? I mean, OWI talked about it, then all of the sudden they stop talking about it and they're like, "We're working on devolping games in the quintology." That makes me think that OWI is working hard on Hand of Odd, but still very far from finished. They're probably working on it little by little on the side, while doing their other games.

***Xavier*** · #5 08-20-2003, 03:42 PM

guys... simply don't expect to much, or else you will be disapointed....

tought of the day

oddguy · #6 08-20-2003, 08:13 PM

Good thought Xav!

I'll keep that in mind. I'm not expecting to much.........just Steef.

paramiteabe · #7 08-20-2003, 09:54 PM

Or wouldn't it be a surprise that ME comes out at the same time of Steef? I am not expecting anything eather it is rather intresting.

I am glad they are keeping us in the dark on this though because that is a promiseing thing. What ever it is there will be improvements guaranteed!

LuLu_Fund · #8 08-20-2003, 10:44 PM

I'd rather they'd release one game at a time, I just want to fully appreciate each piece of work that they do. Too much of it would be too overwhelming, I might get a heart attack!

***Alcar*** · #9 08-21-2003, 04:13 AM

I'm expecting the worse so I can be pleasantly surprised. I don't know what Oddworld will produce now, I hope it's good. But I can't be sure anymore.

The best thing about Oddworld is the artwork. The artwork is amazing, when I was a tad younger I'd bring Oddworld artwork with me on Holidays and draw to my hearts content of drawings similar to those in the artworks.

I don't know where they all are now. Which is a shame.

Alcar...

***Xavier*** · #10 08-21-2003, 08:14 AM

well I think you guys must don't expect too much (like I allready said), but hey Alcar are you realy expecting the worse?

***Alcar*** · #11 08-21-2003, 08:40 AM

:

Originally posted by Xavier
well I think you guys must don't expect too much (like I allready said), but hey Alcar are you realy expecting the worse?

Oh no

It's a saying: Expect the worse from everything, so that you can always be pleasantly surprised.

I'm expecting it to be better than Munch's Oddysee, though

Alcar...

***Xavier*** · #12 08-21-2003, 08:56 AM

okay, get it... that is also my philosophy

oddguy · #13 08-21-2003, 07:48 PM

And a good philosophy it is! Actually, OW has never dissapointed me. I liked MO. Yes, it wasn't all we hoped it to be, but it was a good first step into Oddworld's 3D realm. The next step will be a better one though!

DieselCat18 · #14 08-22-2003, 05:15 AM

I would think that OWI wouldn't even concider working on 2 games at once. Seems it just takes to much time, effort and money to design and complete one game, muchless two at one time.....It would be a great idea if it could be done without losing any quality in production and I think would really benifit those of us that buy the games because like you said the turn around time would be much shorter. But I have no prob with waiting for a game to come out...h*** it takes me a month or more just to finish one......

***Xavier*** · #15 08-22-2003, 06:56 AM

:

Originally posted by DieselCat18
I would think that OWI wouldn't even concider working on 2 games at once.

they tried it with Munch's Oddysee and Hand of Odd some years ago, but they finally concentrated more on Munch's Oddysee and Hand of Odd is a bit left on the side now...

***Nate*** · #16 08-25-2003, 12:31 AM

Problem: All the fans are getting impatient for info on the next game.

Solution: OWI should start promoting a game; telling us all about the 'story' and getting us excited. The twist is that the game doesn't really exist - all the info is just made up. Then they release a new game on April 1st which has nothing to do with what they are telling us so we all get pleasantly suprised.

best of both worlds

***Cloverfield*** · #17 08-25-2003, 09:18 AM

Technically they would be working on multiple games, but not in the way that is mentioned in Souled Out's post. All game companies do it. Why? Because the industry is a constant circle. While people might be working on CG, gameplay and programming for the next game, other people will be working on concept art for a future game. Because those concept artists have already done their work for the next game ... they need to think ahead.

Anyway, I'm kind of divided. Like everyone I'd love to see new stuff and read new information. But it's also good to have a surprise. And w/ MO, everyone saw all those PS2 screenshots and information, and then when it didn't happen a whole bunch of people complained and said "oh, but that's not in it", etc. That's one of the main reasons that OWI are keeping the next game mainly a secret. The first public information on Steef wasn't until the Discovery Channel special, and even then it's still unclear if he will be the next main character (although it is likely). You know I don't even recall seeing pictures of Steef when I was at the studios last year. They done a good job of putting most new stuff away. Sherry even told me they were keeping things quiet to Microsoft also. And that would have been dificult.

But like oddguy said, I've never been dissapointed by Oddworld either. Sure there may have been some things missing with Munch, but I still immensely enjoyed the game ... and it is one of my favorite games.

Abe Babe...

paramiteabe · #18 08-27-2003, 11:35 AM

I wouldn't have said it better myself Abe Babe.

Its good they are keeping this secret. As for the X-Factor thing, that was probabaly to make us know that OWI is working hard on the next game and to make us excited. Pretty much a reassurement. But That was definetly not the juicy stuff OWI has been hideing from us. There are probabaly things in Steef that will be so amazeing that will surprise all of us. We have only seen a few screenshots or just prototypes. If those were prototypes then think about what the finnished product will be. That is exciteing.

oddguy · #19 08-27-2003, 01:46 PM

Prototype blowed my mind and it wasn't even complete! Didn't you guys just love the water effects when Steef is in his boat?!
*drools*

-oddguy

***Xavier*** · #20 08-27-2003, 03:59 PM

true, those effects are awesome! it's true that some effects are very good