Oddworld: SoulStorm

[Nate]

Why?

NnT has DLC, so it makes sense that Soulstorm would also have DLC.

Sligstorm was originally meant to be a bonus game that came out in a box set with AO and AE. It makes sense that it would come as DLC after both of those games were remade.

Also, the titles Soulstorm and Sligstorm go well together.

[Vlam]

Nate, Lanning had more than one chance to release the game. What we know of the DLC so far (if it's like Alf's Escape): Abe is a playable character and it must be connected to the main plot. Which means SoulStorm's DLC could be set during AE or between AE and MO. To my knowledge, Sligstorm is a side story and the Slig isn't one of the heroes of the Quintology.

[Connell]

Nate, Lanning had more than one chance to release the game.

When? Apart from the initial release window (that had to be abandoned) when was there ever a feasible time in OWI to release a game that was inteneded to mirror the 2D gameplay of the first 2 games, and was even intended to be built on the same engine? Now seems like the only time that it's been right and feasible to release the game, albeit upgraded from the original design. DLC didn't really exist at the time, and I think it fits Lorne's idea for Sligstorm perfectly; an extra smaller game to compliment the main 2 in the game series.

What we know of the DLC so far (if it's like Alf's Escape): Abe is a playable character and it must be connected to the main plot. Which means SoulStorm's DLC could be set during AE or between AE and MO. To my knowledge, Sligstorm is a side story and the Slig isn't one of the heroes of the Quintology.

We know nothing of the DLC, so far. It could be absolutely anything, or nothing. But if I had to bet on something that would be considered likely to be DLC, I'd feel fairly safe putting my money on Sligstorm.

[Vlam]

Connell, two things:

1. According to the Oddworld Encyclopedia, the idea of Sligstorm was pitched by Paul O'Connor. My point: Lanning wants to make other games (like Fangus) instead of Sligstorm (which could have been the DLC of NnT).

2. I mean, based on the first and only DLC so far (Alf's Escape). You ignored the fact that Abe is the playable character (and connected to the main plot). I agree with you: it could be anything. According to this idea, it could be something different than Sligstorm.

[Connell]

Connell, two things:

1. According to the Oddworld Encyclopedia, the idea of Sligstorm was pitched by Paul O'Connor. My point: Lanning wants to make other games (like Fangus) instead of Sligstorm (which could have been the DLC of NnT).

I don't know where you're getting this fact that "Lanning wants to make other games" from. Sligstorm is an entirely different type of project that Fangus (as you used in your example); Sligstorm is an add-on, not a full length game like Fangus would be. And I'm fairly sure the last word on Sligstorm was that they would like to revisit it in the future.

2. I mean, based on the first and only DLC so far (Alf's Escape). You ignored the fact that Abe is the playable character (and connected to the main plot). I agree with you: it could be anything. According to this idea, it could be something different than Sligstorm.

You're right; it is the only DLC ever. That's like seeing one film and assuming every single one is going to follow a similar narrative. You can't judge all DLC after only seeing one. I know that DLC feature Abe is likely, but my point is I don't think you can base any assumptions about future DLC on it, which is what you were doing. I know you agree it could be anything, but your original point was we should base our expectations on Alf's Escape, which I don't think holds up for reasons I just said.

According to this idea, it could be something different than Sligstorm.

You are correct, however Sligstorm is a known project that they have previously worked on in some small way, that fits onto the end of Exoddus, and is a mini game very similar to a DLC package. For those reasons, I'd say it's likely

[Nepsotic]

Lanning doesn't want to make Fangus anymore. Pretty sure it became Stranger and that satisfied his western thirst.

[kjjcarpenter]

Lanning doesn't want to make Fangus anymore. Pretty sure it became Stranger and that satisfied his western thirst.

Isn't Fangus supposed to be Eastern-European?

I agree with what vlam is saying, though. Lorne seems more interested with auxiliary stories than the main Quintology.

[Holy Sock]

Lanning doesn't want to make Fangus anymore. Pretty sure it became Stranger and that satisfied his western thirst.

Really? Didn't he say he was seriously working on Fangus during or before NnT's production?

Also Fangus was supposed to be the next OWI game after Stranger. The art team was given a bit more autonomy and they took the designs away from Oddworld and made it more human. Lorne even said they would reutnr to the more original Oddworld design if production ever started again.

[Fatherbrain30]

Lanning doesn't want to make Fangus anymore. Pretty sure it became Stranger and that satisfied his western thirst.

He literally said he still wanted to do that just recently.

[Connell]

Can I just point out my main point was that Lorne would want to do Sligstorm for DlC because it's an auxillary story and not the main quintology

[JayDee]

I feel as though for us specifically - the depraved and malnourished Oddworld fanbase - arguing over the DLC for a game that's yet to get a launch date is a bit of a moot point.

If it's an Abe controlled add on like Alf's Escape then great it's a nice little extension that's a bit more challenging than the vanilla game, good shit. If it's playing a completely new character as expected in Sligstorm then great it's a nice little extension that's a bit different to the vanilla game, good shit.

Basically I'd throw my money at OWI regardless.

[Nate]

...Sligstorm (which could have been the DLC of NnT).

I agree with what Connell and others have responded, so I won't repeat their points. I'll just respond to this little parenthesis: Sligstorm couldn't have been the DLC of NnT. Alf's Escape was set in Rupturefarms. It used already built assets and AI. SligStorm is set in the Slig Barracks. They'd have to build entirely new art and systems to make it work. Makes much more sense to release SligStorm after most of that work had been done to produce Soulstorm.

[Nepsotic]

Plus it makes sense that Soulstorm would have DLC. If that's the case then it would make sense to assume it would be Sligstorm.

[Vlam]

SligStorm is set in the Slig Barracks.

What is the source of this information?

[Wil]

The story pitched by Paul O'Connor was set in a Slig Birthing Complex[1], not the Slig Barracks. I think the confusion is because Paul compared the size of the proposed game to the size of the Slig Barracks levels.

But consider that was one pitch 17 years ago. The premise of 'albino Slig fights persecution' has evolved a lot in that time. There's no reason to confine it to existing sets. The only thing that's been set in stone is that the poor chump is sitting there in Alf's bar.

[Nate]

The story pitched by Paul O'Connor was set in a Slig Birthing Complex[1], not the Slig Barracks. I think the confusion is because Paul compared the size of the proposed game to the size of the Slig Barracks levels.

Oh, okay. I'd assume that the birthing complex would reuse some assets from the barracks, though.

The only thing that's been set in stone is that the poor chump is sitting there in Alf's bar.

Which means that Sligstorm is set before NnT, if the albino Slig has managed to escape the birthing complex?

[Havoc]

The Slig sitting in Alf's bar is an albino? I didn't notice that, and looking at a screenshot it's still pretty hard to tell.

[Vlam]

The Slig sitting in Alf's bar is an albino? I didn't notice that, and looking at a screenshot it's still pretty hard to tell.

You didn't know?...

Apparently, some people don't see what is the problem with the slig as a playable character. I will explain why. In AO, AE and Nnt, here's what you can do:

1. Kill sligs.
2. Kill slogs.
3. Tell a slog to kill a slig.
4. Voice locks.

So basically you do the same thing all the time. It's fun because it doesn't last long. Imagine a DLC based on that. You might say: "what about a slig+?". In that case, they can't use the gameplay of SoulStorm which means more time and money (only for a DLC).

[ODDREN]

The Slig sitting in Alf's bar is an albino? I didn't notice that, and looking at a screenshot it's still pretty hard to tell.

Please, give a link to that screen!

[Vlam]

http://www.oddworldforums.net/showth...t=22141&page=2

[Nepsotic]

The backwards R is so dumb

Also I think it could totally be done. You could have him start out crawling, having to find pants, maybe have o find propellers for some puzzles in order to progress etc.

[STM]

I agree with Nepsotic, plus you get the chance to learn something about slig culture, or rather, what industrial slig culture has become. I'm sure I've read that sligs are naturally a nurturing species. We could find out about Skillya a little bit and you know, there's really scope to draw parallels to real life genetic ethical debates, as well as persecution, racism and ethnic/ social cleansing (see: rights of albinos in some Sub-Saharan countries).

I've always wanted to see Sligstorm come to fruition because I want to see how puzzles will revolve around a slig's limited mobility; although the flying harness alleviated some of that. Vlam you need to engage your imagination and see that it does not have to follow the boundaries of the previous games, it can build on existing canon without altering it.

Yes yes I know I said I'd be gone for a while but I'm at work and this is a pretty interesting thread.

[Vlam]

STM, you're describing a fangame. I will tell you why:

We could find out about Skillya a little bit and you know,

1. It doesn't make sense from a storytelling perspective. Queens were supposed to appear in MO, not before. No, they won't show Skillya in this little DLC. It's like knowing who are the investors in AE: can't happen.

there's really scope to draw parallels to real life genetic ethical debates, as well as persecution, racism and ethnic/ social cleansing (see: rights of albinos in some Sub-Saharan countries).

2. I understand. Except that the Albino Slig seems normal in Alf's Escape...

Vlam you need to engage your imagination and see that it does not have to follow the boundaries of the previous games,

I'm talking (since the beginning) about what can realistically be done by OWI. Money doesn't grow on trees.

[Nepsotic]

How could you tell he seemed normal in Alf's Escape? The poor bastard would probably love a drink after being through hell. He doesn't "seem" anything because we know nothing about him.

[Vlam]

How could you tell he seemed normal in Alf's Escape? The poor bastard would probably love a drink after being through hell. He doesn't "seem" anything because we know nothing about him.

There's 3 sligs lying on the floor.

[kjjcarpenter]

I always assumed that slig in Alf's Bar was normal, just in an awkward lighting position. Is the albino slig Wildum then?

[Vlam]

I always assumed that slig in Alf's Bar was normal, just in an awkward lighting position. Is the albino slig Wildum then?

No, isn't he supposed to be dead?

[Nepsotic]

I don't understand why you would think that?

[STM]

STM, you're describing a fangame. I will tell you why:


1. It doesn't make sense from a storytelling perspective. Queens were supposed to appear in MO, not before. No, they won't show Skillya in this little DLC. It's like knowing who are the investors in AE: can't happen.


2. I understand. Except that the Albino Slig seems normal in Alf's Escape...


I'm talking (since the beginning) about what can realistically be done by OWI. Money doesn't grow on trees.

1.) What is, and what was meant to be, are two different things. Yes, we were supposed to learn of Sam and Maggie in MO, but in reality, we received something far more watered down, with no mention of Sam. I don't recall ever hearing that Skillya was supposed to be unveiled within the MO storyline either. Just because something was meant to happen, does not mean it has to. Your looking at this inflexibly.

2.) We don't know the timing of Sligstorm, it could have happened long before or after Alf's Escape; the appearance of the albino in Alf's Escape was an Easter egg right? Why then must it belong to the canon of the game, as opposed to a wink and nudge to those in the know about the relevance of an albino slig? Besides, one single sighting of an albino in the game does not set the precedent for the entire subgroup, he had nothing to react to, so how can you know whether he's persecuted?

3.) Why can OWI not recycle existing assets and create Sligstorm as a DLC, just as they did for Alf's Escape? That does not breach the boundaries of reality.

[kjjcarpenter]

I think the crux of vlam's arguement is that unless Sligstorm is going to add something new, in terms of story—which is unlikely, especially if it follows the same trend as Alf's Escape, with little Easter Eggs scattered throughout—or some significant gameplay tweaks, there's not a huge incentive to go ahead with it.

I don't necessarily agree, however, I was somewhat underwhelmed with Alf's Escape; a challenging adventure it might have been, but I would have preferred some stronger, Quintology-related mythology, perhaps digging deeper into the RuptureFarms ethos, uncovering some larger-world information, etc. I think I'm in a minority on that though.