GDC Follow-Up -

***Wil*** · #31 03-29-2004, 06:35 AM

Well, it's working, isn't it?

I was online just 43 minutes after the first of those stories was posted, before the next two to follow, but I was using the school network, and couldn't get the story to load because it's on a known gaming site, lol. I searched for one of those websites that allows you to visit blocked sites because all the information goes through a different server, but I couldn't find one. I suspected Anna (One, Two Middlesboogie) would have a link to one on her site, but Navarro discovered a forbidden word and wouldn't load her 'egress' section. Damned school network.

***Alcar*** · #32 03-30-2004, 01:15 AM

I saw the first of them appear last night, but they are really just sad iterations of the first article I reported on Oddworld Universe.

Alcar...

***Xavier*** · #33 03-30-2004, 05:02 AM

it is true, but some of them are adding some new things

but this one apparently not:
http://microsoft.gamerfeed.com/gf/news/5949/

oddguy · #34 03-30-2004, 05:44 AM

I got another flavor of our same old news right here!

http://gamesdomain.yahoo.com/article/15048

***Xavier*** · #35 03-30-2004, 05:47 AM

oddguy, it's exactly the same article

that site is reporting what GamerFeed tells

paramiteabe · #36 03-30-2004, 05:49 AM

Well at least we know its still X-Box exclusive which leads me to wounder since they are changeing publishers are they going to switch to another consol for any future games after Stranger? I am surprised nobody has commented on that. If so what consol X-Box 2 or something we haven't heard of yet? I need to know this so that I can dish out some cash and once again bye the damm thing! Tell you the truth though I am glad OWI is no longer working with Microsoft because they are greedy corpret scoundrals who took the very spirit of Oddworld from Munch and I think Lorne had it with that and all power to him!

Paramiteabe...

oddguy · #37 03-30-2004, 05:54 AM

:

oddguy, it's exactly the same article

that site is reporting what GamerFeed tells

Oh, I know. It was supposed to be funny. I made you laugh, didn't I?

-oddguy

***Wil*** · #38 03-30-2004, 06:12 AM

PA, after Stranger, OWI are still bound by contract to produce two Xbox exclusive titles. I doubt any break down of publishing relationship will nullify that deal, but since you bring it up, the first two sites I posted links to above did indeed connect this news with that of the Xbox exclusive deal.

And why are we all jumping on the Let's Hate Microsoft bandwagon again? I didn't realise Sony was a non-profit organisation. There are many reasons to dislike MS, I agree, such as reducing the freedom of choice and selling faulty products, but lay easy on things. The semi failure of Munch wasn't entirely due to Microsoft. It's also our fault for expecting too much. The media sites did the same thing and gave MO unfair scores.

oddguy · #39 03-30-2004, 06:15 AM

We do know one thing...OWI isn't affraid of pissing off huge corporate giants. Except, we're asuming that the seperation was unfriendly. What if it wasn't? Hmmmmm, ponder this children.

-oddguy *pondering*

Al the Vykker · #40 03-30-2004, 06:21 AM

This probably has to do with Ed Fries being gone, and maybe whoever took over for him isnt let OWI have their freedom with this game. I'm glad its Spring Break, I'll be able to get on here a lot more this week. :-D

***Nate*** · #41 03-30-2004, 02:10 PM

[QUOTE=Max the Mug]OWI are still bound by contract to produce two Xbox exclusive titles. I doubt any break down of publishing relationship will nullify that deal, QUOTE]

As it says in the Lorne and Sherry Q&A
http://www.oddworld.com/oddworld/com...ants4_bio.html

"We can say we have committed to developing the next 4 titles in the Oddworld franchise with MS"

Which I interpret as meaning that they were contracted to publish 4 games with Microsoft. And if Microsoft are publishing it means it will be Xbox exclusive.

Now that they are no longer bound by contract to Microsoft they would not have to be Xbox exclusive. But I think they will be anyway as they have said repeately that they love programming for the Xbox. Maybe they would do a PC port (as the Xbox is similar to a PC) but I get the impression that after Stranger is finished they just want to make more games as quickly as they can rather that fiddle with converting old games over

Al the Vykker · #42 03-30-2004, 04:48 PM

I hope they dont switch consoles. If they were to make some more OW games on PC I wouldnt mind, but I definately think they will stick with Xbox.

***Alcar*** · #43 03-31-2004, 02:26 AM

http://www.totalvideogames.com/pages...rticle_id=5512
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content...e=dev&aid=3223

So, Psychonauts has also been taken off the Microsoft publisher list. This might confirm the rumour spreading through all new mirrors that Oddworld was kicked off, and did not choose to leave to Microsoft as a publisher.

Alcar...

***Wil*** · #44 03-31-2004, 03:25 AM

Speedy discovery, Alcar. OddBlog has already been updated. So, we finally discover that Microsoft is responcible for this action, and that they have a reason behind it. It seems that Ed Fries's departure was less of a factor than some people imagined. I wonder, though, will Oddworld Inhabitants now have to have their own booth at E3, or will Microsoft still shelter them?

***Xavier*** · #45 03-31-2004, 03:53 AM

I realy hope Stranger will be on Xbox!
I don't want to buy a new console and my pc isn't adapted to play games

Mac the Janitor · #46 03-31-2004, 04:01 AM

I doubt they'll change consoles again...remember all the bad rap they got for saying they were developing for PS2 and then switching to Xbox?

oddguy · #47 03-31-2004, 05:43 AM

:

So, Psychonauts has also been taken off the Microsoft publisher list. This might confirm the rumour spreading through all new mirrors that Oddworld was kicked off, and did not choose to leave to Microsoft as a publisher.

Alcar...

Yeah, I saw that in google this morning.

I kinda like the idea that Microsoft kicked them out, instead of the other way around. It doesn't make OWI look like they're intentionaly trying to piss off major companies.

I hope OW4 is still on Xbox. *prays*

-oddguy

***Xavier*** · #48 03-31-2004, 05:55 AM

I wonder if they will turn back to Atari to be published...
I hope they will not have the "Malice-problem" ad not being published during 3years

***Nate*** · #49 03-31-2004, 11:50 AM

Damn. I was looking forward to Psychonauts.

Are Microsoft stupid? It's always the games that are slightly weird that have the biggest success. Not guaranteed perhaps but when the do well, they kick arse.

Anyway, I doubt that O4 will change from the Xbox after a year and a half in production. What I was trying to say in my previous post is that they may make a PC port as well, but it's unlikely. It is even more doubtful that they would make it for another console as OWI hated working for the PS2 and the gamecube doesn't have the graphical power that Oddworld needs.

ps I hate living on the other side of the world. It's the 1st of April already but I won't see any updates on Oddworld.com until the month rolls over to California

oddguy · #50 03-31-2004, 04:55 PM

:

I wonder if they will turn back to Atari to be published...

If I were in the position OWI is in, I'd want to start fresh with a publisher I hadn't worked with before.

-oddguy

***Xavier*** · #51 03-31-2004, 06:04 PM

Don't know Oddguy
GTinteractive was fine and even made a merchandising store for oddworld back in the old days

***Alcar*** · #52 03-31-2004, 09:46 PM

Concerning the console that Stranger will appear on. Personally, I believe they will remain on the Xbox. They still have a contract with Microsoft to develop games for the Xbox, however, whether or not that was tied to the publishing contract, we don't know.

We do know, however, that when Oddworld Inhabitants develop a game, they only create two thirds of it (using very minimal specs), and then decide which console to develop it for. This way, they can easily make it for any console, even after creating so much of it. Seeing as I've seen speculation that the game will be released later this year than sooner, maybe they are keeping their options open for consoles.

But that is mere speculation. I'd expect Oddworld will continue with the Xbox.

Other than that, I have found on a website a picture of the Oddworld booth at the Game Developers Conference. It's only one, but it's all we got so far, so behave!

Alcar...

Mac the Janitor · #53 04-01-2004, 03:56 AM

w00t, nice find Alcar. Looks like the same scene w/ the Grub guy pointing his gun.

***Wil*** · #54 04-01-2004, 05:25 AM

The Grub Hunter is Blisterz Booty, according to the cards they handed out at the event. Nice find, Alcar. Off I head to OddBlog.

***Nate*** · #55 04-01-2004, 11:34 AM

:

We do know, however, that when Oddworld Inhabitants develop a game, they only create two thirds of it (using very minimal specs), and then decide which console to develop it for.

When did they say that?

Volsung · #56 04-01-2004, 12:27 PM

:

The Grub Hunter is Blisterz Booty, according to the cards they handed out at the event.

Speaking of those cards, does anyone have any? Or do we just have the information from them. Sorry if this has already been resolved and I missed it.

***Wil*** · #57 04-02-2004, 08:11 AM

I know someone who was at GDC, and she says she'll "take pictures" of them. I don't expect it'll be too long before they appear on the Net as it is, so I kinda feel like I'm in a race, to be honest.

And, although I haven't read the site update thread yet, a description of D. Caste Raider was provided in the Inhabitants interview.

EDIT: I keep forgetting stuff recently. Nate, that info comes from Paul O'Connor, talking about the possibility that OWI may develop for the Xbox long before all the controversy surrounding their supposed jumping the bandwagon. Silly Joe Public. If only they'd pay attention and see that OWI themselves never said that MO would be an exclusive PS2 release title. Stuff like that upsets me, but I guess since it was only a small mailing list he said it in, I can forgive them.

I'm not an ogre, honest.

oddguy · #58 04-02-2004, 08:24 AM

Ooooh, I can't wait to see these cards!

Sekto Springs · #59 04-02-2004, 02:40 PM

:

And, although I haven't read the site update thread yet, a description of D. Caste Raider was provided in the Inhabitants interview.

"D. Caste Raider. I've always been good at animating large characters, and he is large and a bit dumb. He is a bit crude, so I get to animate him picking various orifices and other unrefined things. He isnÕt as clever as characters like Stranger, who guard their emotions, so he has broad emotional reactions that are fun to do."

Well, we know of only three "big" characters besides Blisterz Booty and they include the guy on the Polygon cover, that Odd-father guy with the cigar, and that big horn-head guy. So we can sum it up from there...which do you think looks most like a D. Caste Raider?

oddguy · #60 04-02-2004, 02:49 PM

D. Caste Raider may not be a character we have seen. But if we're speculating on what we have seen, then this guy fits the description best in my opinion.

He best fits the large and dumb description.

-oddguy