project eternity(planescape authors return!)

[Cyborg]

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/obsidian/project-eternity

"Project Eternity will take the central hero, memorable companions and the epic exploration of Baldur’s Gate, add in the fun, intense combat and dungeon diving of Icewind Dale, and tie it all together with the emotional writing and mature thematic exploration of Planescape: Torment."


I'm in. Over half $1 million in less than one day.

[chemical_art]

They took some cues from PA I see, and that is a good thing.

-Explaining the idea clearly
-Explain the team and why they are good to trust
-Explaining why they want to use kickstarter
-Picking an excellent price point

[keith.lamothe]

Yea, I was in the moment I saw it.  Just figured one of y'all would post about the project pretty quick

Very encouraging to see these well-known guys (first the guys at Uber who largely used to be at GPG and before that Cavedog, doing Planetary Annihilation; and now Obsidian) being able to use Kickstarter as a genuine alternative to publisher funding.

[KingIsaacLinksr]

Em, maybe if these guys had actually made games I liked, I'd be more interested. As it is, they've made ok games at best. I'm also a bit perplexed why a AAA developing company is going to Kickstarter for help.

[Cyborg]

Em, maybe if these guys had actually made games I liked, I'd be more interested. As it is, they've made ok games at best. I'm also a bit perplexed why a AAA developing company is going to Kickstarter for help.

Have you played planescape? It will change you. On the inside.

[chemical_art]

Em, maybe if these guys had actually made games I liked, I'd be more interested. As it is, they've made ok games at best. I'm also a bit perplexed why a AAA developing company is going to Kickstarter for help.

I will cite two things:

From the kickstarter:

We have wanted to go back to our roots and create an epic PC role-playing game adventure for years. But, it's been almost impossible to get funding through traditional methods for a game like this. The great thing about Kickstarter is that we can go directly to the people who love to play RPGs as much as we love to make them. Plus, we don’t have to make compromises with a publisher. We make the development decisions, we market the game, and we don't have to answer to anyone but you – our fans.

Our relationship with you can be even closer with Kickstarter. We can be more transparent with development and give you an inside look to what goes on day-to-day with the programmers, artists, and designers of Project Eternity. We want to give you a behind the scenes look at the game's development, and we have fun stuff planned like developer blogs, web broadcasts, dev chats, and much, much more.

Point 2:

I bring exhibt B here:

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-03-15-obsidian-fallout-new-vegas-deal-with-bethesda-meant-bonus-payment-only-with-85-metacritic

They have been burned by publishers bad, so if they make a game they want they want control over it.

[keith.lamothe]

Em, maybe if these guys had actually made games I liked, I'd be more interested. As it is, they've made ok games at best.

If Planescape: Torment was only "ok at best" for you, then yea, there's nothing for you to see here   But many of us feel rather differently.

I'm also a bit perplexed why a AAA developing company is going to Kickstarter for help.

From their project page:

Why are we asking for your help?

We have wanted to go back to our roots and create an epic PC role-playing game adventure for years. But, it's been almost impossible to get funding through traditional methods for a game like this. The great thing about Kickstarter is that we can go directly to the people who love to play RPGs as much as we love to make them. Plus, we don’t have to make compromises with a publisher. We make the development decisions, we market the game, and we don't have to answer to anyone but you – our fans.

Our relationship with you can be even closer with Kickstarter. We can be more transparent with development and give you an inside look to what goes on day-to-day with the programmers, artists, and designers of Project Eternity. We want to give you a behind the scenes look at the game's development, and we have fun stuff planned like developer blogs, web broadcasts, dev chats, and much, much more.

In other words: you know how you fuss about publishers?  Do you want studios who traditionally rely on publisher funding to have a serious alternative?  This approach seems to be working as one.

(edit: ninja'd, partly)

[KingIsaacLinksr]

Also, the sheer lack of details on this next game has warning sirens going off in my head. I mean yeah, its great that you put ideas down on paper. But no concept art, no...idk actual details other than a few vague things? Its is why I'm a bit annoyed that this game is already half way to its goal. They have literally shown nothing about the next game. They've merely flaunted that they made a bunch of AAA games and that's it. Believe us. I guess I just expected more details and information when you have such a huge goal.

[keith.lamothe]

They've merely flaunted that they made a bunch of AAA games and that's it. Believe us.

I do.  Obsidian isn't my absolute favorite studio, but I know what they're capable of and I don't need additional details on a particular proposed project to know that I want to see them do more.

[chemical_art]

Also, the sheer lack of details on this next game has warning sirens going off in my head. I mean yeah, its great that you put ideas down on paper. But no concept art, no...idk actual details other than a few vague things? Its is why I'm a bit annoyed that this game is already half way to its goal. They have literally shown nothing about the next game. They've merely flaunted that they made a bunch of AAA games and that's it. Believe us. I guess I just expected more details and information when you have such a huge goal.

Kickstarter is always blind faith, there is no binding contract. Screenshots can always be doctored, so if you are suspicious of this, you might as well be suspicious of everything on kickstarter. Even PA had the ideas on paper, and the quality of the pictures points to signs of Photoshop not of a game.

[KingIsaacLinksr]

@Chemical, oh right, yeah, I kind of raged about that story a while back. I do not have very nice feelings towards sites like Metacritic/Klout due to stories like that. So much so that its caused drama on Twitter....*sighs* people... So good point.

The reason I'm so suspicious of this, is that so many companies claim to have this great and awesome RPG experience and then it falls flat on their face. Again, I'm probably being bias against RPG makers here, but to have that come up right now on KS has me suspicious more than most games I've seen on KS. So yeah, that's why I'm not exactly overflowing with faith on this game.

I have never heard of Planescape: Torment. I was more referring to the Fallout, Alpha Protocol, and Neverwinter Nights games. Alpha Protocol was an especially bad game as I seem to recall so I'm kind of amazed that they are even advertising they made that game.

I guess I just automatically got suspicious at the amount of AAA titles I saw on the KS page. I forgot this was the same group of guys & gals that got screwed over by publishers a little while back. So my apologies there.

[keith.lamothe]

I have never heard of Planescape: Torment.

*gasp*

http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/planescape_torment

It's on sale right now ($7 instead of $10).

That's one of those "if you only play one game this year, this would be a good choice" games.

[KingIsaacLinksr]

I have never heard of Planescape: Torment.

*gasp*

http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/planescape_torment

It's on sale right now ($7 instead of $10).

That's one of those "if you only play one game this year, this would be a good choice" games.

Ok, I'm curious, is there any (couple) reasons why you suggest it? I mean, good story, graphics, what? I'm genuinely curious now that 3 people say I'm severely missing out.

[chemical_art]

Tell you what King, I'll start playing it tonight (I'm among the unenlightened too) and I'll tell you what I think from someone today who didn't be influenced by it before.

[KingIsaacLinksr]

Tell you what King, I'll start playing it tonight (I'm among the unenlightened too) and I'll tell you what I think from someone today who didn't be influenced by it before.

That would be great. I'm not exactly flowing on cash so game purchases are extremely limited now. I can't even buy FTL which I want so badly. I added Planescape: T to my GOG wishlist so I don't forget about it completely.