Skyforge MMORPG, co-developed by Obsidian

[Infinitron]

Avellone said on twitter that they do not get money for sales of kotor 2, Alpha Protocol, or New Vegas. They do get royalties from Neverwinter Nights 2.

So basically it all depends on contract they sign and not Evil Publisher just coming and extorting all the jewgolds like Infinitron suggests? News at 11

Is there something unclear about Anthony Davis' post? Keep in mind that he is, if anything, biased in favor of the publishers.

 

[Roguey]

If this news is true it is just sad, it's a new low and I think everyone would prefer yet another D&D or Star Wars or even South Park RPG than this crap. (Although we had basically same kind of rumours about Wheel of Time and it seems that never started.)

What makes you think it isn't true?
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articl...and-mail-ru-games-partner-up-for-skyforge-mmo

"Skyforge is very interesting and promising project. I am glad that Obsidian Entertainment is involved in working on this game," said Obsidian CEO Feargus Urquhart. "I am confident that the cooperation with the Allods Team will be a great experience for all of us."

It'd be pretty brazen of them to make that up.

 

[MetalCraze]

Is there something unclear about Anthony Davis' post? Keep in mind that he is, if anything, biased in favor of the publishers.

Biased in favor of publishers? You mean because he isn't being hysterical about publishers fucking poor devs?

And yeah he's pretty clear that devs do get extra jewgolds.

Another thing that is very clear from his post is that if Obsidian had come up with its own IP instead of cloning/sequeling Bioware games to no end - they would've seen a lot more royalties.

 

[Tigranes]

If this news is true it is just sad, it's a new low and I think everyone would prefer yet another D&D or Star Wars or even South Park RPG than this crap. (Although we had basically same kind of rumours about Wheel of Time and it seems that never started.)

What makes you think it isn't true?
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articl...and-mail-ru-games-partner-up-for-skyforge-mmo

"Skyforge is very interesting and promising project. I am glad that Obsidian Entertainment is involved in working on this game," said Obsidian CEO Feargus Urquhart. "I am confident that the cooperation with the Allods Team will be a great experience for all of us."

It'd be pretty brazen of them to make that up.

I had the impression the first breaking news was google translation of some Russian thing, so I was holding things in abeyance. Sounds pretty confirmed.

 

[Duraframe300]

If this news is true it is just sad, it's a new low and I think everyone would prefer yet another D&D or Star Wars or even South Park RPG than this crap. (Although we had basically same kind of rumours about Wheel of Time and it seems that never started.)

What makes you think it isn't true?
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articl...and-mail-ru-games-partner-up-for-skyforge-mmo

"Skyforge is very interesting and promising project. I am glad that Obsidian Entertainment is involved in working on this game," said Obsidian CEO Feargus Urquhart. "I am confident that the cooperation with the Allods Team will be a great experience for all of us."

It'd be pretty brazen of them to make that up.

I had the impression the first breaking news was google translation of some Russian thing, so I was holding things in abeyance. Sounds pretty confirmed.

They also hired a russian associate producer recently, who's also working at an russian localization firm.

So, yes. Couldn't be more confirmed.

 

[Infinitron]

Well, now we know how Obsidian will fund 3-6 extra months of work on Project Eternity.

 

[Duraframe300]

Are the Obsidian devs asking you now on how to write for an MMO.

Surprisingly, no. They haven't said much to me about the new game - I don't really know any more than the fans do. It is a mystery.

 

[HobGoblin42]

This deal is purely money-driven. I am sure nobody at Obsidian has a special interest in joining this MMO as junior partner. But companies at this size (100 + employees) simply can't choose projects on the basis of creative criterias only.

 

[MetalCraze]

But companies at this size (100 + employees) simply can't choose projects on the basis of creative criterias only.

I am sure nobody at Obsidian has a special interest in joining this MMO as junior partner.

Yes. That's why they joined this MMO as a junior partner.

 

[deuxhero]

Uh... interesting.

 

[Metro]

Always said Obsidian needs to downsize for their own good.

 

[IDtenT]

Always said Obsidian needs to downsize for their own good.

Weren't they downsized once already?

 

[villain of the story]

Not just once.

 

[Infinitron]

That is not what Metro means by "downsizing". He envisions an inXile-sized indie Obsidian.

 

[Hirato]

Obsidian should work on some Aeria games instead.

If Scarlet Blade is anything to go by, those games can't really be improved from a writing/narrative standpoint without a massive overhaul in quest design.

 

[Rake]

Aren't they hiring new people all the time depending on the projects they have? When they layoff their stuff they were in a bad financial situation with no contracts. Now they have P:E,South Park,"mystery next generation" AAA game, and that MMORPG they co develop. Can they do all these games without hiring additional people?

 

[IDtenT]

That is not what Metro means by "downsizing". He envisions an inXile-sized indie Obsidian.

It was a joke.

 

[MetalCraze]

Always said Obsidian needs to downsize for their own good.

Weren't they downsized once already?

Yes but they forgot to fire Urquhart, Avellone, Sawyer and whatever other retards jumping on 1 year long dev contracts to get fast cash while making a sequel to some Bioware game.

No other explanation why even their hipstarter wasn't about turnbased RPG of their dreams that Obsidian will 100% make one day. Just you wait.

 

[Morgoth]

Yet again we observe MetalCraze's complete lack of comprehension how hard it actually is for an independent developer to sign a deal in this broken business environment.

Yes but they forgot to fire Urquhart, Avellone, Sawyer and whatever other retards jumping on 1 year long dev contracts to get fast cash while making a sequel to some Bioware game.

If those were the only deals they were offered, then you better jump on it, especially if you're a start-up. The party that pays calls the shots, Feargus & Co. didn't have much of latitude there in forging a contract that would benefit Obsidian in any way. You climb the ladder up slowly. If LA wants you to have the game shipped in 12 months versus no contract at all, you just sign it and bite through it. Even a seasoned developer like BioWare eventually had to throw in the towel and let themselves get acquired lest getting stuck with subpar deals. Already just "Subpar" for a well known behemoth like BioWare, mind you.

MetalCraze, however, does not understand anything about the real world. He prefers to be angry on the internet and pays money upfront for Alpha versions of shitty games (ARMA III).

 

[Duraframe300]

This deal is purely money-driven. I am sure nobody at Obsidian has a special interest in joining this MMO as junior partner. But companies at this size (100 + employees) simply can't choose projects on the basis of creative criterias only.

Nope

As someone who has worked with these guys full time at Obsidian in the past, though. Should we be worried? Also did you guys discuss MMO's too, even if just in a *what if* scenario?

No one at Obsidian ever discussed MMOs with me, even as a “what if” exercise. However, I think they considered online multiplayer projects in the past, so this is not an entirely unprecedented move.

Obsidian has a surprising number of developers who are hard-core MMO and multiplayer gamers, and as far as I know, those guys are the ones who are working on the MMO game. The Obsidian founders try to assign people to games that they are excited about, and I suspect that most members of the MMO team love that genre and are excited to be working on the project. Also, Feargus wouldn’t have signed the project if he didn’t feel confident that Obsidian could execute it well.

 

[HobGoblin42]

What nope? I don't see any evidence that this deal is not money-driven. Every game studio on this planet has MMO gamers employed, so what kind of argument is that?

 

[fizzelopeguss]

a feargus SLAMDUNK!

 

[Metro]

That is not what Metro means by "downsizing". He envisions an inXile-sized indie Obsidian.

This is correct. The plus side is they get to employ more people, the minus side is you have to take on a bunch of projects you otherwise wouldn't be happy developing. In the end, is it worth it? I suppose to the people on the margins who would be fired, it is... but one day you might end up like Gas Powered Games.

 

[Tytus]

I hope for a day when entire MMO genre will die. But that's probably the same day when humanity goes exctinct or something.

 

[deuxhero]

Says who? WoW and EVE MMO are pretty much the only successful MMOs during the last 5 years, with WoW quickly dying.

 

[Morgoth]

I hope for a day when entire MMO genre will die. But that's probably the same day when humanity goes exctinct or something.

It will be the day when Blizzard goes down....which means never.