New Changes @ OWI -

ConkerTribe · #31 03-30-2005, 09:29 PM

Actually, I never actually played any of the old games, but I've played Stranger, and that was enough for me to fall into the Oddworld universe. It was just awesome, but now that they're scrapping the games that would have been the best there ever was, shooter-wise, what's the point? I mean, I have Stranger, and there's going to be basically no more Oddworld games. I dunno what to do anymore. You have to understand it from my viewpoint. I was in it for the gameplay, not really the story. After they perfected the gameplay with Stranger, it's only fitting that they would close shop right after that, crushing any dreams I might have had about seqeuls or future follow ups with the same gameplay (Fangus).

Please, tell me what to do, because to be honest, I really am just lost and confused and angry and sad.

MojoMan220 · #32 03-30-2005, 09:32 PM

"Oddworld has ceased game production operations"

"Today marks the end of Oddworld."

Am I the only one that finds these quotes unsettling?

ConkerTribe · #33 03-30-2005, 09:35 PM

Um, ok. I don't exactly know what that means for Stranger or Fangus, but I'll bet that the Oddworld games will never be the same. This kind of reminds me of the Crash and Spyro games before they turned to shit. Do you know why they turned to shit? Because other companies developed the games after they gave up the projects, that's why. This is going to suck.

Angalok · #34 03-30-2005, 09:36 PM

Let's look at the Lorne Lanning interview on Gamespy, shall we? And I quote:

"Lanning will keep a relatively small team of core creators in Berkeley, while collaborating with and outsourcing to external talents. His partners will not be restricted to the gaming industry; he'll be looking to team up with people from traditional animation, television, and film. This doesn't mean that he will not be working with traditional game companies; he was quick to point out his positive experiences with Majesco."

So, Oddworld games still on the horizon, but will be created through a collaboration of Lorne's idea-men and programmers from other places, outside the Oddworld Inhabitants studio. So, in other words, instead of Oddworld making the games 100% alone, they'll be using group effort to get the games done more efficiently and with less budget restriction, etc.

Can we calm down now?

Joe the Glukkon · #35 03-30-2005, 09:36 PM

:

Am I the only one that finds these quotes unsettling?

I find them really unsettling.

***Alcar*** · #36 03-30-2005, 09:36 PM

:

"Today marks the end of Oddworld."

I think that one was over-emphasised. As stated by Lorne in the GameSpy article, Oddworld Inhabitants still exists, just not the original games department.

Alcar...

ConkerTribe · #37 03-30-2005, 09:36 PM

Yeah, a part of me died when I heard that. The makers of one of the best games I've ever played has given up on the whole thing and closed up shop. Not the most comforting news I can tell you.

Angalok · #38 03-30-2005, 09:39 PM

You might also bear in mind that those quotes Alcar gave are from people that Lorne Lanning just fired, and they're likely to be rather pissed off at him.

MojoMan220 · #39 03-30-2005, 09:40 PM

:

You join a forum to get some news before official sites update, and you end up having to wade through vast seas of twelve-year-olds and flat-out retards. ODDWORLD IS NOT SHUTTING DOWN. They're still going to be developing video games, but they're outsourcing the programming to other companies instead of developing the game from top to bottom in-house. It's like how they make The Simpsons; the writers and voice actors in America set up the script and plot, and then Korean slave laborers actually flesh out the animation. The staff of Oddworld that was let go are the programmers and coders that won't be needed in the new system. There will still be Oddworld video games, plus it looks like some movies as well. Change your underpants, quit jumping to conclusions, and start actually reading articles before you start entire misinformed threads about them. Jeez, I'm the most rabid Oddworld fan in the universe if anyone is, and you people freak out about every whisper of something going awry.

Hey jackass, did you even read the quotes from Alcar?

MojoMan220 · #40 03-30-2005, 09:50 PM

Angalok, if you had read MY original post, you would know I was not sure if this was anything to get worked up about. I created it to gain information and start a disscussion on the matter. Game production has ceased, therefore Fangus has been canned, many employees have been layed off. Those are not characteristics of a game company that is doing alright. They sound like they are giving up on games all together. Can I not bring up a disscussion? Just to make things more clear, I am basing these thoughts on the quotes with the Gamespy article in mind. It looks apparent that the quintology will never be finished, let alone another game at all. They have gone in a totally new direction, and it doesn't seem like they will be looking back. I was stating that Oddworld as a game developer is dead if the information turns out to be serious. I don't know how reliable these quotes are, but they warrant a discussion. I don't claim to have all the facts, I'm just stating what has been said.

***Alcar*** · #41 03-30-2005, 09:56 PM

Another article on the matter: http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/new...php?story=5215

Alcar...

MojoMan220 · #42 03-30-2005, 10:02 PM

I'm still hopeful Oddworld won't give up on the games, but it seems unlikely that they will go back after branching into other directions.

***Alcar*** · #43 03-30-2005, 10:37 PM

Robert Brown has updated his post about it. It properly shows that it is the Oddworld SLO studio closing, thus Oddworld does indeed live on. Clarification for those non-believers, you!

:

Today marks the end of Oddworld as I have known it. The San Luis Obispo studio will soon close its doors and a great team of people will quickly be spreading their talents throughout the industry. I think I am more somber today than I was when I made the decision to part ways a couple of months ago. My very best wishes go out to the RT team(s) and friends that broke their backs over the years to get the "Odd-Vision" into tangible form. OW SLO was a truly unique place. I will miss the friends and the camaraderie dearly. It is going to be very interesting to see how the IP evolves under Lorne and Sherry's new direction.

Alcar...

MojoMan220 · #44 03-30-2005, 10:45 PM

Okay, I thought he meant it in the literal sense. I thought perhaps, he was being brutally honest. I'm glad it's not over, but I'm still upset it is going to be a long time until the next game (if there is one).

AWWW · #45 03-30-2005, 10:51 PM

I never saw this coming as I thought after Stranger Wrath the company was going to back on track after Munch's Oddysee.

I sticking with Oddworld no matter what happens, while I'm quite unhappy of the fact that a new Oddworld is a very long way off and that something else would be out before it.

This may be bad now, buts its going to be alot easier on Oddworld to expand and to try more "new" things and then come back into games or both at the same time.

stingbee · #46 03-31-2005, 12:31 AM

:

I know this has already been posted in other threads, but I think this deserves a full topic, because let's see... oh yes, ODDWORLD IS NO MORE! Considering this is an Oddworld forum, this may just be the most important thing ever to come up. It's practically dead according to the information Alcar has discovered (employees out of work expressing their anger). It seems a lot are scattered and looking for new work. This means no more Fangus or quintology, all game development at OWI has been shut down. I guess they are moving on to movies or something. I don't know if this means they will never be made, but it looks like this could mean the end. I thought we should have a proper place to discuss this tragedy (if it is one). Just to be clear, I really have no idea what is going on, so please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong in an area (all areas). I'm an idiot, so mistakes are bound to happen... Alcar should really post his information here, because I don't know what I'm doing.

I think the game's are boring so I thing a movie would be great

stranger has won the xbox game of the year award why would oddworld want to give up now

Jacob · #47 03-31-2005, 01:20 AM

Hmmm...i wonder if it may be an April fools thing.

I'm probably wrong, but meh, i'm still quite drunk, and thus it is feasbile in my mind.

Yes. It. Is.

Do you think that they'll release all the information about where the Quint was going to go? And other undisclosed info? Or not bother?

Hmmm...

mudling · #48 03-31-2005, 01:24 AM

i'm shocked and scared, i want to pretend i've never read this! ok, it will be a change, struggle and challenge, but i am sure oddworld will get through this. this small company has experienced so much, a movie, a not completly satisfactory video game, a change of publishers, a change of game stlye, a book, a few games and also this. i think oddworld can survive this change, i feel sorry for everyone at the moment. i'm sure lorne is just trying to keep oddworld alive.

***Alcar*** · #49 03-31-2005, 01:34 AM

I doubt it. Lorne Lanning has featured on two fairly prominent gaming websites, not too mention a few of the (ex) Inhabitants have posted their opinions / thoughts about it.

Alcar...

***Wil*** · #50 03-31-2005, 04:38 AM

Stop over-reacting and scare-mongering, and look at the facts. We know OWI has downsized, but specifically, we only know of two Inhabitants who have been let go, and they're both from the same department, so claiming there has been a “massive cull” is a massive assumption.

There's also no evidence whatsoever that Fangus won't be developed. It seems OWI's programming department has been dispersed, but it's the same core creative force that came up with the idea. It could in all reality simply be realised by a different, external team. This frightens me, because I've come to trust OWI as a consistently talented technical team, despite all the technical problems Lorne keeps talking about.

ConkerTribe · #51 03-31-2005, 04:49 AM

Crash and Spyro anyone?

Yeah, let's think about this for just a second, shall we? Yes, the lovely Oddworld beauty will be back. Yes, the great Oddworld characters will be back. Yes, the same Oddworld themes will be back. But guess what?? Since the games are no longer really developed by OWI, you can expect that the games won't have anywhere near the quality or depth that Oddworld sews into every game they make.

I just want to know why then, WHY, if this is true, are they stopping production of Fangus??? I mean, if they're still making the visuals for the game and just letting other companies make their games, what is stopping them from making the game? Don't tell me we have to wait until Xenon or something. My god this news is unbarable.

***Wil*** · #52 03-31-2005, 05:22 AM

1. They're not necessarily stopping production of Fangus. Two programmers have been fired at the least, so it's only safe to assume they themselves are not making the game.

2. Lorne explains why. After so many things he wanted to include in games were proven not possible due to technical limitations, he's seeking teams and talent that hopefully will be able to bypass these problems.

ConkerTribe · #53 03-31-2005, 05:24 AM

So wait... Oddworld ISN'T dead? Would someone give me all the damn facts here? I'm getting all confuzzled and pissed off for nothing? That can't be right. I heard that Lorne is only doing concepts and ideas for games and then giving it to other companies to develop. That's not exactly seeking teams, that's giving up and letting someone else do all the work.

atusiya@ · #54 03-31-2005, 05:33 AM

My head is swinging, I am feeling like vomiting....*sight*

Pzak · #55 03-31-2005, 06:44 AM

It's not just a couple of people that are being let go, it's a small team of people that are staying and moving to the new location. It is a very sad time for many of the OW employee's, and I, for one, would like to thank them for the work they did. Good luck to you all on you next endeavors.

Pzak · #56 03-31-2005, 06:46 AM

Sorry for the double post, server gave me an error.

Elodie · #57 03-31-2005, 07:05 AM

Personally i believe it's April Fools. I mean what better way than to pull it off with Oddworld Inhabitants expressing there own opinions on it. Either that or facts are just vague and getting mixed up. I can't see how any game company would pack up shop and close without giving their employee's warning. Plus with the desires, ambitions and dreams that Both Lorne Lanning and Sherry McKenna have for the Oddworld concept, i find it hard to believe they would abuse there own creation so much. I mean at most i would suspect the worst that could have happened is, that in order to get the games done they are outsourcing it, or maybe even concentrating on their other projects. Especially with all this news of them moving, it's a perftect plot for an april fools.

Kimon · #58 03-31-2005, 07:13 AM

I can't say anything except I'm very scared and confused, I don't know how this will affect everything, but I'm really worried.

Angalok · #59 03-31-2005, 07:25 AM

Vindication feels nice, thank you Alcar.

oddguy · #60 03-31-2005, 07:30 AM

I'm not worried about OWI in the slightest. The video games industry is constantly changing, and you have to take risks and change the way you do business in order to keep up. Just think of where we'd be if nobody in the game industry took risks. I gurantee you it wouldn't be what we have today. And the fact is games still have a long way to go...

Lorne cares about Oddworld more than we do...he's the man who created it for crying out loud, so I don't imagine he'd drastically change the way his company runs without looking all the possibilities from every angle.

Oh...and did we forget this?

:

We love the games. We're proud of them. We're glad you've enjoyed them. We want to bring you more in the way we believe it can be done. We don't want to compromise on the quality and intensity. There's more to come.

Right...that's Lorne's message to the fans from that Gamespy article. Doesn't sound like Oddworld is haulting their games to me. Sounds like they want to bring us better quality games, as well as this "new media" we keep hearing about. That could be movies, tv...books even! We don't know. But I think we can expect more from Oddworld in the coming years...and that is a great thing.

-oddguy