VG 24/7 - It’s not a fucking HD remake

[MeechMunchie]

Well that's the point. It's an informal term. It doesn't have a specific, overriding definition. The words mean what the words mean, and "HD remake" means "a high-definition remake". That's what it's always meant, and a group of people deciding they couldn't be bothered to think of a more accurate term for games without new assets doesn't mean we should enshrine their mistake as part of a cliquish lexicon.

[JennyGenesis]

Is Lanning secretly sitting in his chair laughing at us right now?

[seriouslyoddfan]

This is absolutely futile.

I agree. That said, I think this is a marketing problem that should have already been resolved. It seems clear enough to me that Lorne was railing against the term "HD remake" as indeed it conjures up the wrong connotation -- in spite of the fact that it is indeed in "HD" and it is indeed a "remake."

As others have touched on, it is not an "HD remake" as such, because -- while the plot is identical -- the story is being re-told within an entirely different framework and not just re-hashed with gussied up graphics and audio. A new engine and new assets have been combined with the old assets we know and love to engage we consumers in a novel way. They are trying to court not only fans of the original OI games, but to grow the fanbase so that they may continue to evolve the brand and share a damn important story.

Come to think of it, OI and JAW should be forcefully correcting all who interview them, or otherwise communicating, that their product is "New 'n' Tasty", which uniquely and succinctly describes their efforts to rebuild AO into a HD 2.5D platformer. If/when AE gets the same treatment, it should also be known as the "New 'n' Tasty" version/edition.

Most importantly of all, there is a new business model in force. One that calls for a tighter bond between fan and creator. One that acknowledges a previously unknown degree of leverage. This new business model exists because of the democratizing power of the internet and content delivery platforms such as the almighty Valve's Steam (and later Sony's, Microsoft's, Nintendo's, and -- dare I mention -- EA's analog content delivery platforms). As Lorne explained (quite colorfully) in the Sixth Axis podcast, these technologies have changed the landscape of the video game industry. I find it quite ironic that some of you who spend so much time on these fora -- and so are presumably "super fans" -- are missing the relevance of the paradigm shift in the developer-publisher-distributor model. It is a real life metaphor for the story of Abe. Like Abe's escape from Rupture Farms, OI/JAW (not to mention countless small developers everywhere) no longer have to play by the rules of unfeeling soulless corporatists; they are free to tell the story of Oddworld on their own terms.

As for the kerfuffle over Lorne using the word "fucking", I understand that some board members are just trolling and sad attention seekers. However, for the sake of the naive, I'll share my interpretation. First off -- relax. The word "fucking" here has zero semantic content: it merely serves to emphasize his anger over the potential confusion a term like "HD remake" might engender. Again, this is a marketing problem. Moreover, a word is only profane if you agree to play by the rules of the establishment.



SOF

[Holy Sock]

Well that's the point. It's an informal term. It doesn't have a specific, overriding definition. The words mean what the words mean, and "HD remake" means "a high-definition remake". That's what it's always meant, and a group of people deciding they couldn't be bothered to think of a more accurate term for games without new assets doesn't mean we should enshrine their mistake as part of a cliquish lexicon.

Maybe you're right and I simply haven't had as much exposure to the remake/HD remaster scene and its terminology.

It's just that, in my experience, many people believe that a high-definition remake is a game with the visuals "remade" in high definition. They think of Shadow of the Colossus HD, not XCOM: Enemy Unknown. I would imagine the average consumer would be less interested in an "HD" title than "New n Tasty" and hearing the words "HD remake" would be interchangeable with "HD update", "HD remaster" or "HD version" etc.

I think they believe using the term HD in their marketing creates an erroneous, and possibly damaging, perception of the game. I don't think the word "remake" is actually important.

[Holy Sock]

Although it's kind of funny that the game was initially advertised as Abe HD.

[OANST]

Did anyone read more than the first four or five words of each paragraph of seriouslyoddfan's post? If so, please fly to America, and come over for dinner. After eating a lovely meal that I prepared for you, I will slap the shit out of you. Your life will be immeasurably better for having this lesson learned.

[Slog Bait]

Shit, now I'm tempted to read the entire thing just so I can get a free meal off of you

[OANST]

I don't believe that even the prospect of food could push you that far.

[Slog Bait]

You don't know me, you don't know my life story

[OANST]

I masturbated into the food.

[Slog Bait]

What a deal breaker ):

[Nate]

OANST, shut up.

Everyone else, also shut up.

This was an argument that was clarified and resolved 40 posts ago. So, basically, shut up.

[JennyGenesis]

[Xavier]

Nope JennyGenesis, that's one step too far.

[V_O_T]

At least we can all agree that this is how games should be treated when being slammed with the title "HD remake".

Honestly, I think what JAW and OI are doing should be the slap in the face that raises the bar for all the other devs who remaster or HD remake their titles.

I mean c'mon. Jak and Daxter was meant to be The Last of Us. I would kill to see a Jak 4 or any of the J&D games with the visuals of what Infamous Second Son has. OH GOD HOW I WANT TEAM BUDDIES REMASTERED LIKE NnT.

[pupbenny]

That's not what they are called. No one calls them that other than Lorne and company, and they can call a cat a cow all they want. Doesn't mean it isn't a cat.

Yes, but they didn't give birth to that cat/cow.

[Nepsotic]

Pupbenny, shut the fuck up now.

[Xavier]

Ok I think everyone got the point.

I'm closing this.