Obsidian General Discussion Thread

[Duraframe300]

 

[Duraframe300]

Alvin Nelson talks about his first industry experiences at Crave and Obsidian

http://iamspiffer.blogspot.ch/2014/02/moving-loss-of-computer-and-reminiscing.html

I'm pretty sure I wore slacks, a long sleeve shirt, took a notepad, and got on the bus and made it there 45 minutes early. The receptionist had me wait in the lobby for awhile while the Producer and Lead Tester came back from lunch. They introduced themselves and took me to the Producer's office, where they asked me about my resume, how it was working at Crave, and what kind of games I played. My interview at Crave (or lack thereof) was different, but this had to have been the strangest one I've ever been in. I'm never been so comfortable in an interview, just essentially shooting the shit, talking about games.

Our first task? Build our own chairs. The QA team was so new that we didn't even have chairs made. It was pretty darn strange, but kind of a nice, family-type feel. I knew this was going to be different.

The coffee was in main lounge, so I went to get some, but I couldn't figure out how the newfangled machine worked. A man came out of his office right in the lounge and offered to help. He introduced himself as Feargus Urquhart, the CEO of the company. He already knew my name, and mentioned to me that I was currently the youngest person at the company. I was blown away. I still don't think I know who the owners of Crave were, and yet here I was on my first day at Obsidian and I meet the CEO and he knows about me? It was then that I decided that I wanted to be at this place for awhile, and that I would do what I can to work hard for these folks to ensure their games were as Quality Assured as I could make it. I thanked Feargus and headed back to my office. I went up to my lead later that day and told him that I planned on staying here. He gave me a strange look, but I didn't care. I wanted him to know that I was going to work hard to stay here.

 

[Duraframe300]

So, Obsidian seems to have opened up a whole new department called marketing & pr. It's lead by Shane Defreest.

 

[Duraframe300]

Shane DeFreestMarking, PR, Community Development, Social Media, Events etc. Lots of hats. Its a very similar role to what I was doing at CCP for World of Darkness.

 

[Zed]

steps towards self-publishing?
by the way, it isn't long until GDC now. we are expecting a new project announcement, right?

 

[Xor]

I'd say it's more likely they're starting a PR department to market their kickstarter projects, since those games won't have a publisher to take care of that.

The timing is right for some kind of announcement. Maybe another kickstarter (although I'd prefer if they held off until PoE is out, that way they'd have an existing kickstarter game to showcase), or maybe the super-secret AAA project that's been in development for, what, 2 years?

 

[Duraframe300]

I'd say it's more likely they're starting a PR department to market their kickstarter projects, since those games won't have a publisher to take care of that.

The timing is right for some kind of announcement. Maybe another kickstarter (although I'd prefer if they held off until PoE is out, that way they'd have an existing kickstarter game to showcase), or maybe the super-secret AAA project that's been in development for, what, 2 years?

Well, both apparently. Shane visited South Park Studios to close off his first week.

Zed yes around gdc.

 

[Duraframe300]

I think both projects will get announced in the near future.

(AND south Park dlc)

 

[Athelas]

I don't think going for another Kickstarter before PoE is released would be very wise, especially if it's a non-nostalgia-fueled game.

 

[mikaelis]

JES - Joshua Eric Sawyer. I guess you could try to interpret the E as something else, though it probably wouldn't work as well.

Why not going all out and call him JESUS (Joshua Eric Sawyer... Uhm... Splendid!!!)

 

[Xeon]

If they announce another kickstarter, I kinda hope they don't use Unity.

In the AMA a couple of weeks ago I think one of the devs said they will try and provide mod tools and help modders as much as they can but they can't do much because of licensing issues with Unity or something.

But man, Since they already made the tools for PoE it will probably take less time to make the second game in Unity using the same tools or something.

 

[tuluse]

I'd say it's more likely they're starting a PR department to market their kickstarter projects, since those games won't have a publisher to take care of that.

The timing is right for some kind of announcement. Maybe another kickstarter (although I'd prefer if they held off until PoE is out, that way they'd have an existing kickstarter game to showcase), or maybe the super-secret AAA project that's been in development for, what, 2 years?

You seem to set this up as if you're contradicting Zed, but you aren't. Kickstarter projects are self-publishing.

 

[Roguey]

I don't think going for another Kickstarter before PoE is released would be very wise, especially if it's a non-nostalgia-fueled game.

Worked for Double Fine and inXile.

They really need to show a more in-depth video of PoE before it happens and it's not there yet. Assuming they've stayed on schedule, they should be entering alpha maybe next month, meaning another video, but it's still not going to look finished until they release the beta video much later from now.

 

[Infinitron]

I don't think going for another Kickstarter before PoE is released would be very wise, especially if it's a non-nostalgia-fueled game.

Worked for Double Fine and inXile.

They really need to show a more in-depth video of PoE before it happens and it's not there yet. Assuming they've stayed on schedule, they should be entering alpha maybe next month, meaning another video, but it's still not going to look finished until they release the beta video much later from now.

I disagree. An alpha gameplay video, carefully played to avoid unfinished bits, could look good enough.

Aren't you the one saying WL2 is still in alpha? Well that Ag Center video from over a year ago looked decent enough.

 

[Athelas]

Worked for Double Fine and inXile.

Define 'worked for them'. Massive Chalice got just a little over 1 mill and T:Ton's success was very much nostalgia-fueled. So it's not guaranteed they will raise a decent amount (and the more they raise, the better obviously).

 

[deuxhero]

Didn't one intern's resume leak there would be a new game announced at GDC?

The atendees list seems to lack most of the obvious publishers (or any except Nintendo, Epic and Ubisoft from a quick skim).

The fact that Obsidian is listed as separate makes me thing this will either be a self published game, or something a non-video game company hired them to make like South Park started as (Wheel of Time?).

edit: Valve, MS and SCE are listed as "partners", but not exhibitors.

 

[Xor]

The leak was from a university web page talking about an alumni. It could have been a legitimate leak (they asked her and she said something she shouldn't have), or it could be they were just talking out of their ass. Either way the page got taken down when it was noticed. They also aren't making the WoT game, they're just doing some contract work (tools, assets, or whatever). If that WoT game is even still in development, which I kind of doubt.

 

[Infinitron]

GDC begins today. Guess we'll find out soon.

 

[Zed]

I'm thinking that they won't say anything until the expo starts on Wednesday but maybe I'm being a pessimist.

 

[Duraframe300]

It's entirly possible the news arrives with a new PE update tomorrow as well.

 

[Xor]

Turns out PoE is actually the secret AAA project and Obsidian has just been trolling us for months.

 

[Duraframe300]

https://twitter.com/ChrisAvellone/status/445702367929856000

 

[Xor]

 

[undecaf]

Bracing for a let down in the form of something completely uninteresting like DS3....

 

[WhiteGuts]

Is the "Mass Effect killer" still a valid theory ?