Oddworld without Lorne Lanning?

[Vlam]

MOD EDIT: This thread was split off from 'Exoddus Still A Go Go" after this post.

By the way, do you guys would like to see a Oddworld game without Lorne Lanning ? Or do you think that Oddworld dies with him ?

[Nate]

If it's not by Lorne Lanning, it's not an Oddworld game.

[Xavier]

That's my opinion as well

[Alf Shall Rise]

Yeah. That just wouldn't be right.

[Varrok]

I don't even know whether *with* Lanning the new games still can be called "Oddworld"

[Crashpunk]

I wouldn't mind it if it was a spin off. But I'd still want Lorne's blessing.

[Varrok]

You gonna marry his daughter or what

[FrustratedAssassin]

No, he's going to marry his spin-off, can't you read?

[Varrok]

I thought he had a spin off with her or something

[STM]

I mean...they did Star Wars without Lucas.

But really I'm playing Devil's Advocate, I think Oddworld is so unique, you just can't do it without the creator.

[Varrok]

I mean...they did Star Wars without Lucas.

And it wasn't amazing. I think it just proves the point.

Lorne Lanning is George Lucas of gaming.

[Holy Sock]

Really? I mean their last original IP was Stranger's Wrath which brought Oddworld back tin line with Oddysee and Exoddus in terms of atmosphere and style. New n Tasty is a bit goofier than Oddysee (in game chatter probably doing this the most) and the sci-fi Rupture Farms feels different than the original but otherwise it's pretty much the same as far as that quality is concerned. it doesn't even touch MO it terms of cartoonishness.

Comparing his treatment of the franchise (in terms of wuality - abonding Oddworld is another conversation) seems a bit dramatic.

Unless that wasn't at all what you were getting at....

[Crashpunk]

And it wasn't amazing. I think it just proves the point.

That's debatable. A lot of people, including myself think Lucas selling Star Wars was the best thing to happen to the franchise in a very long time.

But yeah. I've heard of that comparison a lot and it's very sound. They're both alike in many ways. However Lorne hasn't done something to Oddworld which makes people want someone else to have a go at the series. Obviously I doubt he will and hope he doesn't.

Also I've always put the lack of new Oddworld IP down to very unlucky circumstances for Lorne and the company. If all the shit didn't happen to OWI, we might be already well into the Quintology.

[Varrok]

Munch's Oddysee

[Crashpunk]

That game was rushed out due to Microsoft being arse twats. It wasn't entirely Lorne's fault.

[Manco]

The comparison to Lucas really doesn’t hold any water, I’m surprised there’s even discussion about this.

[Holy Sock]

Munch's Oddysee

Right, but he left off with SW which kept true to the spirit of the series.

That game was rushed out due to Microsoft being arse twats. It wasn't entirely Lorne's fault.

I don't think you can blame Microsoft for the tone and atmosphere of the game. I mean Lorne also blames himself for being over ambitious and having unrealistic expectations of what they could achieve,

[Varrok]

I never thought about SW as of an Oddworld game. It didn't feel too oddworldy for me.

It was okay, still.

[Auriel]

By the way, do you guys would like to see a Oddworld game without Lorne Lanning ? Or do you think that Oddworld dies with him ?

Personally I wouldn't mind seeing an expanded universe of sorts, as long as Lorne still acts as its creative center.

[Holy Sock]

I mean it was Lorne trying to capitalise on the success of first person shooters wasn't it? Because he was sick of Abe and Munch after how shitty MO was?

Anyway, it's allegorical, has trademark odd creatures (except, I guess, chickens...), has a dark story with some humour to tide it through. It's got a different tone than Oddysee and Exoddus because they're about different things - the protagonist is empowered rather than weak. I thought it fitted nicely. I only played it for the first time in 2012 and was surprised I liked it so much.

[Phylum]

That game was rushed out due to Microsoft being arse twats. It wasn't entirely Lorne's fault.

It's already been said but that game was way too ambitious. I mean fuck, if you pitched that idea today people would still shit bricks at how complex it is. I really think MO was doomed to fail from the start.

Also, the interesting thing about George Lucas is that he never thought much of Star Wars. They were his fun space adventure kiddie movies that doubled as an effects playground. Knowing that made Eps 6, 1, and 2 make so much more sense.but still leaves the mind boggling over 3 which I still hate >:(

So I really don't think comparing Lucas and Lanning is right, just because of their intentions.

[FrustratedAssassin]

Knowing that made Eps 6, 1, and 2 make so much more sense.but still leaves the mind boggling over 3 which I still hate >

Isn't III considered the most okay of the prequels and I the worst?

[Varrok]

3 was awesome!

[Nate]

The main difference between Lucas and Lanning is that Lucas made a self-contained series that Disney is now building off. If someone else took over Oddworld, they'd presumably try to finish the Quintology, and I wouldn't want that to happen without Lorne to shepherd it.


Also, this isn't a Star Wars thread or a "I thought this game was good/shit" thread. Please only mention these topics in reference to the core topic.

[Vlam]

To be the devil's advocate : 1. Many series have been able to continue without their original creator (for example, Metal Gear will continue without Kojima). 2. Lanning isn't the only one behind Oddworld. 3. It is possible for a creator to feel a bit "rusty".

[Jordan]

There is Sherry, but something tells me she wouldn't do it without Lorne.

[Job McYossie]

I don't know if I really am in favor of more Lorne. Exoddus wasn't really as memorable a game for me at all, and before we make this yet another AO v AE argument, I mean specifically the world and the tone. MO also wasn't memorable (fantastic cutscenes aside). SW though was VERY memorable.

[STM]

You have to remember though, this a world created from Lorne's own mind. Plus he is the only person barring Sherry and some of OWI who is privvy to all the info on the Oddworld mythos.

[moxco]

I think Star Wars' major difference to Oddworld is that the original trilogy and the prequels were large universe defining stories. Third parties could create content around this established history.

Apart from "Abe blew up some factories and teamed up with a frog to steal a can of caviar" no Oddworld canon has really been established, except for Lorne's ramblings which I have no doubt he would retcon if he had to.

[kjjcarpenter]

No Oddworld canon has really been established, except for Lorne's ramblings which I have no doubt he would retcon if he had to.

It's hardly a retcon if it hasn't been officially established yet.

Didn't JAW have access to the archives, which told around 2000 years of Oddworld's history? It sounds to me like Lorne has much of the story already outlined, so providing a third party had access to these archives, it wouldn't be all too hard to tell the actual story.

Of course, this is merely conjecture. Those archives might be nothing more than some purdy pictures, and the story to come might only exist within Lorne's head. I doubt it though.

It really sucks. It's been 19 years now, and we've only had four instalments—five if you count New 'n' Tasty—in what was supposed to be a huge, sprawling, grand adventure. And Wheel of Time fans thought they had it rough having to wait 23 years to get the entire story ...

Let's be realistic, because I'm sure this has all crossed our minds: If we are going to get the entire story, it will most probably not be told by Lorne directly. Even if everything goes to plan from here—which I highly doubt—it will most likely be another twenty years before we reach Oddworld's conclusion. That will make Lorne 72, and while that's not particularly worrying, I don't see a senior citizen working over forty hours a week to bring these 'revolutionary' video games to our consoles.

All I hope is that we don't end up like Dune, but at least Lorne doesn't have an overly-ambitious twerp of a son who wants to milk his father's creation until those teats are squirting dust. If worst comes to worst, I'd just like to see those archives, then I can envision the ending myself.