Elara wrote:That's not a point I think I ever argued against...but I did say that Interplay doesn't particularly care about that. Sure, it would be nice if more game companies followed that rubric. But there are too many gaming companies out there, and you have to nearly fucking bribe your way into the market to get any sales.
With the notable exceptions of games published by the likes of
Matrix Games, or perhaps
Shrapnel Games, or
Garage Games. Even independents like
Spider Web Software and
Malfador make money. Oh, and let's not forget
Ambrosia Software who mainly make Mac titles, but are branching out to Windows PCs with
Escape Velocity Nova.
Some of these independents actually wind up with publishing contracts, like
MindRover and
TreadMarks. Sure, they didn't rack up sales like Diablo or Doom or even Deer Hunter, but they were crafted games, labors of love, and a lot of them are quite good.
Interplay is looking for the most cash, and they seem to think the most cash is in consoles, not PC games. I don't think they have what it takes to do either in some cases, but I don't see what real alternatives they have to trying this method. Note I said real alternatives. Everyone seems to think that FO3 would solve IP's problems but I don't think they're in any sort of shape to MAKE FO3....nor do I think that it would sell well.
Imagine how much money Interplay wasted licensing Exalted recently. How much money they lost trading NWN for the BG and IWD licenses, plus a little pocket change. Of course, they skipped out on making one of those payments for the BG for the PC license, so the initial deal is wasted venture capital, isn't it? Losing that BG for the PC license also seriously disrupted the process of making Jefferson, so they'll most likely take some losses on that development as well, either cancelling it or retooling it to fit something they do have a license to make, like IWD3. Of course, they lost a lot of sales on IWD2 as well by totally botching the release of that game. Right now, they're losing a lot of money developing Galleon. They lost a shitload spending four years on Run Like Hell.
If Interplay wasn't such a leaky bucket, they'd be well equiped to make Fallout 3, don't you think? The only reason they're not well equiped is because they have absolute morons for execs. It's not that they can't raise the money either, after all they extended the BG for the console license to 2008 while at the same time not paying for the BG for the PC license. Like I said, piss poor management.
The problem is that people want quality and consistancy from a company that is moving into a new market -- whether that's a good idea or not. And the company is merely looking for cash in the short term so they can hopefully return to quality and consistancy. Whether they do or merely go broke remains to be seen.
So far, it looks like they're dying to go broke. Interplay lost a bundle back in 2001 converting to consoles, and now that they've made that transistion, they're still losing money by the fistful. They're going to continue this trend because they're run by the guys who are currently in heaps of debt at Titus as well.
After all, Titus follows the
license, exploit, dump model of business as well. It hasn't worked for them, despite having some big licenses like Superman, Hercules and Xena, and so on. Why? Because they take those licenses and make utter crap with them. Crap that people don't buy because they look like crap.
Hey, that's great. Wonderful. You missed my point entirely, I think. What you see as good and great may not be seen as others as good and great. We live in a world where money talks louder than quality, and I'm sorry but that's reality. No game company survives long concentrating on quality more than sales. A lot of game companies that made GOOD games are out of the market while the trash programmers are still around just for that reason. If you think that what EvoG is doing is a good game, then support THAT. Don't waste your time on a company or a game that isn't what you want, because IP isn't listening to you.
Money talks louder than quality, yet here we are.. Nearly six years later.. On a Fallout fan site which is quite active. Discussing a game being made with the Fallout license. Fallout didn't sell very well, what with all the warezing of it, but the name means quality. That's why Interplay slapped that name on this mediocre product called Fallout Enforcer. People think it means quality, not because it sold outrageous volumes. Quality.
I think that some people are going to buy it because they like shooters,
Those people probably won't like the whole auto-aim stuff. Why buy Fallout Enforcer when you can play Halo 2? Or any number of other quality products from people who still have respectable names?
some will buy it for the trashy sex appeal,
Which worked great for BMX XXX.
some will buy it because it has the Fallout name on it ,
Which is Interplay's big hope.
some will buy it because they think it will help out IP
Of course, people are going to care less and less about that once Interplay torpedoes their forum for them.
The reason you don't like it is just fine...but again, that's not the real point behind all the flaming on the boards. The real gripe is that you're sick of NOT seeing Fallout 3, and Interplay doesn't seem to be making it.
Wrongo. I actually don't want to see Fallout 3. I'd rather see them make a new CRPG, with a new system and a new setting. I want a sci-fi planet hopper, truth be known.
There are people who bought BG:DA. It made money for the company. If Interplay thinks that this game will bring in more than another venture, and keep them afloat, would it be BETTER to then make something that WOULDN'T keep them from going bankrupt?
BG: DA made money, sure.. But the question is, why? BG is an action CRPG. As such, it translates much better to a console action title. BG: DA also had a good chunk of the fan base behind it. BG: DA also had that D&D sticker on it to drive sales.
If they think BG: DA sold just because it's a console action game based on a CRPG license they owned, then this trend doesn't translate well towards doing the same thing with Fallout. Interplay's Caesar's Palace game sold fantastic, but I seriously doubt
Planescape Torment SlotMachine Royale would foster much wealth.
As for your 'remember' posts, FOT taught me something. It taught me that going head-up against these people isn't going to do a single bit of good in terms of what actually comes about. I can't say what I like or dislike about this game, because anytime I do that people jump on the fact that I dislike PART of what's being done to say that I'm talking out my ass. Appearantly, people see things in shades of black and white.
That's only because we didn't know Fallout Tactics was going to be as bad as it was. Fallout Enforcer has
this game sucks rocks written all over it with bright, zany colors and big neon arrows with sequentially strobing markers directing you to read the caption. For the blind people, there's even a screaming air horn followed by a billowing, 100dB
this game sucks rocks with three part harmony and a brass band.
FO2 screwed up weaposn. FOT screwed up weapons. Fuck, am I really supposed to expect F:BOS to get them all right? NO, I don't agree with everything in F:BOS...but hey, I don't like everything in FALLOUT 1 either. Do I have to bash the game senseless for that?
Yes. Actually, that's the point of feedback. "Hey, look, this isn't right. Refer to [insert Fallout information here] for more information." I thought that's what you've supposedly been doing, Elara. Making sure Fallout Enforcer stays canon and all. Didn't you tell us they're going to change the game to make it canon and that's why we should get behind it and love us some Chuck?
I dislike it. I disagree with it. I've been told the trailer is 4 months old and they were told to put it up anyway. I've been told the content is not indicative of the game. Unfortunately, the fact remains that sex sells to some people. It's unpleasant and ugly. There's no way around it and there's enough else that I've seen that I might play the game anyway.
The trailer is four months old, but the web site and recent screenshots blatantly spell out that what we see in the trailer is still in the game. Check the FAQ section of it, the part about thongs.
Also, for someone that doesn't like it, you're doing a bang up job at making it look like you don't mind it.
As to the posts issue, I'll say it again: there's nothing anyone was saying on that board that hadn't already been said, and it's IP's board. Banning people because they bad-mouthed the game is certainly extreme....but so was alot of the crap on the board. It works both ways, Rosh...the posts are gone, so you can say they were all 'relevant'. They locked shit and then finally shut the board because it was hurting the company more than helping.
What's they're doing is riding a powder keg and lighting firecrackers. Everything they're doing on the forum is escalating tensions for them, and the only loser out of that will be them.