Abe’s Origins Book

[Littleleeroy]

Ooooeeeee! Look what I just got in the mail!



Anyone else funded this? What do you think of the book?

Edit: Getting some great replies here

I found the book overall to be bloody amazing. I love seeing the process to creating art and this book (obviously) is all about it. They talk about the inspiration for creatures and areas and show different iterations for many aspects of the games. I particularly loved the level sketches and logo designs.

I had done some work on creating a snow biome for a new level (photoshop mockups) but I discovered from this book that OWI had also done some art for it, so now I feel like I can't continue to work on it because I'd be copying their idea / subconsciously influenced by their concepts.

One of the most interesting aspects was the many many pages of interview with Lorne. I learnt a fair few new things about him that I'd never heard before, so I appreciated that. I also loved learning about how the characters designs completely embody their traits, personality and beliefs.

My only criticism would be that there was no unreleased Soulstorm art and they didn't delve into any artwork for Fleeches or Greeters.

Overall, very happy and thanks to the people who worked on it!

⠀

[Littleleeroy]

It's bloody noisy in this forum of everyone talking over each other, hey!

[Littleleeroy]

All this noise is making me tired...

[Varrok]

We should really do something about your schizophrenia, Littleleeroy. We're all worried about you.

[Littleleeroy]

That's not what the voices are saying...

[SlashClaw]

i got my book a few days ago still haven't had a chance to give it a good read though

[Nate]

I flipped through it, opening at random pages, keeping going until I spotted a picture I'd never seen before. That took me through about 75% of the pages.

But I am looking forwards to perusing it more thoroughly soon.

[Nemin]

I am pretty sure the book was made with heart, but the descriptions are lame and the images as mentioned above are more or less 80% stuff we've already seen before.

No wonder there isn't much discussion about the book. This is hardly comparable to The First Ten Years.

[Littleleeroy]

Yes, a lot of the imagery is similar and the descriptions of said imagery is nothing spectacular but there are some things many fans wouldn't have seen before.

Like I mentioned above, the snow biome, the iterations of the logo, the level designs and the interview with Lorne were all new to me. And overall, I think it's a really interesting compilation of the art of Oddworld.

I have the First Ten Years book but I wish I'd bought two copies ahah. Came across one in a second hand bookstore when I visited Tokyo but couldn't buy it as I would've had to carry it in my backpack for 4 months aha.
I love my Folio edition, but I couldn't bare parting with it, even for lots of money! Need another copy to get read lots XD

I feel like we've seen most of the art that Oddworld Inc. still has access to? I'd love to look around the 3D environments they created for the backgrounds, for example, but I think they've been lost over time...

[Nate]

(Reviving for Connell)

[Connell]

So Origins has been out for a while now, and sadly the most use I've had out of my copy is a makeshift Laptop booster-seat whilst working from home.

Just wondered if anyone had any further thoughts on the book now it's been out for some time?

[Alf Shall Rise]

what a way to continue this thread after 5 months


so, i don't have the book and i probably won't get it. is it really mostly just artwork we've seen before in the first artbook and on TOGG? like, it must at least have more SW and NnT art in there, right?

[Nemin]

I used my book as a laptop stand too Honestly it's kind of a shame, it's so confusing how they can say so little with so many words.

so, i don't have the book and i probably won't get it. is it really mostly just artwork we've seen before in the first artbook and on TOGG? like, it must at least have more SW and NnT art in there, right?

There is previously not seen art from all games as far as I remember, but frankly nothing "must-see." A lot of "huh neat"-s and "oh that's interesting"-s, but unlike the old book this one provides far less insight into the world.

[STM]

I didn't buy the book with any expectations, and while it's a pretty solid book with decent production value and formatting, I don't know if I would buy it now knowing the sort of content that's gone into the book. I scoured OTFTY for every shred of info when I got a copy; I don't think I've looked at this book more than twice, by comparison. I would have liked to see some more lore revealed, maybe some 'this is what might have been' stories that we don't already know. As it stands, I don't think you'll see anything in here that you don't already know.

[Phoetux]

As an artist I'd get an artbook with no issues, they're good for references. Even though this is basically the book of the Lost Archives, it'd be nice to have the arts of Farzad, Steven Olds etc on paper.
But yeah most of this stuff can now be found easily on the net, informations and artworks included, and its now not really worth 43 euro. Well, at least there aren't a limited number of copies so people can buy them whenever they want.
...right OWI? No surprises?

So Origins has been out for a while now, and sadly the most use I've had out of my copy is a makeshift Laptop booster-seat whilst working from home.

well that's just sad to see

[kjjcarpenter]

If anyone should like a copy of the book, and they are willing to front the shipping cost, I'm happy to arrange for my copy to be sent to them. I've yet to have it shipped, for I have little remaining interest in the series.

I hope everyone is taking care of themselves in these times, and remember to use your toilet paper sparingly.

[Silver angel]

Is this book very different from the previous artbook? Is there anything new in terms of lore and art?