EGX presentation impressions

[Havoc]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm sure I remember reading about an original story concept that the Monsaic Lines get firebombed by the cartel after RF is shut down.

That would honestly be a really awesome intro to the story.

[Michael]

Is it from a fanfiction?

Can't say I've ever read any, so I don't think so! Could be wrong though. Maybe someone mentioned it in passing ages ago

That would honestly be a really awesome intro to the story.

I agree, though I've just thought, Lorne spoke at EGX about how Molluck is generally not believed when he says Abe took out RF. The Cartel think Molluck burnt it down for the insurance money. If they don't believe Abe was responsible, surely they wouldn't bomb the Monsaic Lines in revenge? Unless Molluck could do it, but he'd be out of action for some time surely.

[Silver angel]

I think no one even know Monsaic Lines exist. Molluck too.

[SkullFire58]

I agree, though I've just thought, Lorne spoke at EGX about how Molluck is generally not believed when he says Abe took out RF. The Cartel think Molluck burnt it down for the insurance money. If they don't believe Abe was responsible, surely they wouldn't bomb the Monsaic Lines in revenge? Unless Molluck could do it, but he'd be out of action for some time surely.

Hmm, then maybe instead of an intro, that would be the ending, or maybe the bad ending. Once all or most of the Glukkons believe Molluck after everyone else is getting hit, this Mudokon revolution turns into an all-out war.

[Nepsotic]

I think that'd actually be an effective intro for whatever game comes after Soulstorm

[Oddio]

i could see bigface dying for the bad ending. dark af.

[HOMINIX]

I think no one even know Monsaic Lines exist. Molluck too.

[Vlam]

According to the Oddworld Library:

Even today, the Lines remain virtually untouched by industrial forces, only the occasional Slig finding itself lost.

http://oddworldlibrary.net/toe/Monsaic_Lines

[Auriel]

I think that'd actually be an effective intro for whatever game comes after Soulstorm

So the Munch's Oddysee reboot?

[Yokai]

So the Munch's Oddysee reboot?

I would HOPE so.

[Silver angel]

Ok, I forgot. But Sligs may never been too deep in caves to see mudokons there, or at least they never knew here is their sacred place. In other case caves would not exist for too long.
Though this tragedy could be interesting part of story.

[leocrow]

There are no new assets. It's basically Munch's Oddysee, but with less Munch. Sorry.

Does that mean that Munch will be somewhat involved in this? Lorne called it the second game in the (rebooted) quintology in the presentation, while exoddus was originally just a bonus game. Is this a mix between exoddus and munch's oddysee or will there be another secondary character (an allied slig) involved in this? I'm both excited and a bit scared of this game. I can't wait to buy it.

[OWI_Alex]

Does that mean that Munch will be somewhat involved in this?

No, Munch isn't involved, as far as I know.

Is this a mix between exoddus and munch's oddysee

No, it's a brand new game.

or will there be another secondary character (an allied slig) involved in this?

An allied what? No.

[Auriel]

Does that mean that Munch will be somewhat involved in this? Lorne called it the second game in the (rebooted) quintology in the presentation, while exoddus was originally just a bonus game.

wait what
i thought SS was meant to portray the original vision of AE without ps1-era constraints
does this mean the original plan to have one new hero per quintology release is scrapped

[Nepsotic]

Don't quote me on this but from what Lorne has said, and the fact that Soulstorm is a proper sequel to NnT and not a bonus game, I've gathered that the quintology has either been placed on the backburner or it's completely different from what we were originally going to get, I'd even say that there's a high probability that Munch and the other quintology characters could be doneaway with completely in favor of a more interesting dynamic. I'm pretty sure Lorne outright confirmed Abe being the main character of the series now.

My point is, don't make your assumptions based on what we think the quintology was going to be.

[Auriel]

I'm pretty sure Lorne outright confirmed Abe being the main character of the series now.

Wasn't that essentially the case with the original quintology to begin with? I mean Munch's role in MO doesn't exactly scream "main character". (yes I'm aware of how much content was cut, but it's still telling how much emphasis was put on Abe in the final product)
Either way, I'd personally be disappointed if Munch (and Squeek, etc) were to be scrapped, simply because of how much layers they could add to the story and gameplay.

[Nepsotic]

I'm not saying I think they'll be scrapped, I'm saying that this is now Abe's story as opposed to sharing it equally with 4 other characters, his arc is clearly the focus now. From that, I'm inferring that a lot of shit will be drastically different to what was original proposed as the Quintology.
Lorne hasn't even referred to this remake series as being part of a quintology, so I'd go so far as to guess that he's not interested in formatting the series in that way anymore.

I'd personally be disappointed if Munch (and Squeek, etc) were to be scrapped, simply because of how much layers they could add to the story and gameplay.

That doesn't make any sense because you don't know these characters or how they were going to work mechanically in the game (besides Munch, but it's pretty obvious to me that it's been retconned). What we get in the end may be vastly better or worse than what we would've gotten, but since there's no way to know there's no point crying over unmilked milk.

[Auriel]

That doesn't make any sense because you don't know these characters or how they were going to work mechanically in the game (besides Munch, but it's pretty obvious to me that it's been retconned). What we get in the end may be vastly better or worse than what we would've gotten, but since there's no way to know there's no point crying over unmilked milk.

Well we know IIRC that Squeek had that whole robotic symbiote thing going :P
And I'm sure either way the remaining two heroes are equally imaginative.
But regardless of what we get, I hope that vision will someday come to fruition :S

[HansuOddie]

I wonder if they'll keep the moons the same. Like, is there still a Gabbit moon, or will there just be the mudokon moon? What about the three unconfirmed moons? Tho there are a lot of moons in oddworld..

[Michael]

I'm not saying I think they'll be scrapped, I'm saying that this is now Abe's story as opposed to sharing it equally with 4 other characters, his arc is clearly the focus now.

This is probably the best move for the series going forward, at least until the fanbase grows. To many people, Oddworld is Abe. I've lost count of the amount of friends who I've spoken to about the series, where mention of Oddworld draws blank faces. But as soon as you say 'you know, Abe!' Their faces light up followed by some crap impression they know them not by Oddworld, but 'the Abe games'.

The core fans would no doubt be excited by new characters, and interested to see how things go. But to a lot of people, if it ain't Abe, it's not what they want.

[Havoc]

If I'm not mistaken the '5 heroes' idea was always kind of a 'sidekick of the week' kind of thing. All installments would feature Abe, but like in MO, he'd have a different friend in each chapter to help out or something.

I'm personally more interested in seeing a direct conflict with the Magog Cartel rather than these isolated stories and rescue cases.

[Blair187]

For me I hope the stories that are the ones lorne and sherry wrote originally. Do i love Abe? yes. Do i love stories with soul, friendship, enviromental issues, oppresion and economics or consumer culture more? Yes I think thats what i want stories with heard. Really not even that fussed about what type of game it is just want to hear the stories. If soulstorm sells, i think we will hear them. If it doesnt we need to create a very large kickstarter as games dont come cheap

[Auriel]

If I'm not mistaken the '5 heroes' idea was always kind of a 'sidekick of the week' kind of thing. All installments would feature Abe, but like in MO, he'd have a different friend in each chapter to help out or something.

I'm personally more interested in seeing a direct conflict with the Magog Cartel rather than these isolated stories and rescue cases.

Hm? I can recall reading somewhere that the character cast would be building up in complexity up until you'd have to juggle five heroes at once in the final Quintology game.

Not that there's anything wrong with exploring the Magog Cartel side of things more in depth, but I feel like the story would lose its "ecosystem" feel and become a pretty linear good guy vs bad guys tale if it didn't expand outward to incorporate new heroes and conflicts.

[Silver angel]

For me will be fine if Abe just meet many species on his way, and different characters will help him from time to time - including Munch, Squeek, etc. Five characters are too many, especially in one game. Also Abe is our main Chosen One, so maximum screen time should be given to him - this is fair.

[Auriel]

Five characters are too many, especially in one game.

tell that to the 301 mudokons you'll apparently be controlling in soulstorm

no but jokes aside 5 characters is totally workable, it's not like they all -have- to be in the same level or area simultaneously

[Nepsotic]

I wasn't complaining, I'm very excited by the new direction since it seems to have a much larger focus on world building, and I was never particularly interested in the original idea for the quintology. I'm more interested in the universe and gameplay itself rather than the characters.

For me I hope the stories that are the ones lorne and shirly wrote originally. Do i love Abe? yes. Do i love stories with soul, friendship, enviromental issues, oppresion and economics or consumer culture more? Yes I think thats what i want stories with heard. Really not even that fussed about what type of game it is just want to hear the stories. If soulstorm sells, i think we will hear them. If it doesnt we need to create a very large kickstarter as games dont come cheap

your make a very large kickstarter and ill work on making lorne patreorn

[OWI_Alex]

Don't quote me on this but from what Lorne has said, and the fact that Soulstorm is a proper sequel to NnT and not a bonus game, I've gathered that the quintology has either been placed on the backburner or it's completely different from what we were originally going to get, I'd even say that there's a high probability that Munch and the other quintology characters could be doneaway with completely in favor of a more interesting dynamic. I'm pretty sure Lorne outright confirmed Abe being the main character of the series now.

Lorne said as much during EGX, I think. This IS a new series for Abe.

[Auriel]

So um
are there any long-term plans at all for Munch, Squeek etc

[kjjcarpenter]

So um
are there any long-term plans at all for Munch, Squeek etc

No.

[Silver angel]

tell that to the 301 mudokons you'll apparently be controlling in soulstorm

no but jokes aside 5 characters is totally workable, it's not like they all -have- to be in the same level or area simultaneously

They are not so important for story as main characters. 301 Mudokons may be just tool for puzzle solving, though I do not really like them in the role of simple decoration.

I mean, it is quite difficult to write down all five characters in the story quite well and to give them enough screen time. As for the gameplay, it seems to me, to control them all in one game will be possible only if you divide it into several chapters, in each of which will be one or two characters.