L.A. Noire Team Laid Off, Next Project On Hold

[AzrealMaximillion]

If there is no market for it, the kickstarter will fail. If there is it will succeed.

Not true, look at the Ouya. There was also that other Kickstarter console that I can't even name right now. The latter has been already panned critically and there was damn good reason for it too. If only I could remember the name.

Either way, people funding something on Kickstarter doesn't mean there's a market for it. People use Kickstarter as a pre-ordering system rather than an the investment model its supposed to be. If there weren't any pre-order goodies I can tell you that a lot less games and gadgets would be funded. Its not a marketing thing, it's an "I want it first" thing.

 

[1337mokro]

If there is no market for it, the kickstarter will fail. If there is it will succeed.

Not true, look at the Ouya. There was also that other Kickstarter console that I can't even name right now. The latter has been already panned critically and there was damn good reason for it too. If only I could remember the name.

Either way, people funding something on Kickstarter doesn't mean there's a market for it. People use Kickstarter as a pre-ordering system rather than an the investment model its supposed to be. If there weren't any pre-order goodies I can tell you that a lot less games and gadgets would be funded. Its not a marketing thing, it's an "I want it first" thing.

Yes but critics don't decide the market. Do I really need to point at Michael Bay?

The critics also decided to review what was essentially a promo-edition. Things that backers got as an extra reward. They reviewed a unfinished product that was basically a prototype. They have done some bad journalism.

Now is that Ouya thing good? Not really. But people wanted it. Are your seriously saying that pre-ordering is not the same as a market? The Ouya took money on advance used it to develop a product and is now selling it, any sales outside of that pre-order market are just bonus profits.

That is the market. Now kickstarter games can go and spread out beyond that market as well, but even if it is just the pre-orders, that's also a market. So what if people just kickstart things because they want the game first? Isn't that exactly what the industry has been doing with pre-orders, get this exclusive cocksword if you pre-order now? Here on the other hand the pre-order money get used directly to fund the game's development rather than make up for the cost after the fact. How has that ever been an investment? It's not the stock type investment where they share in the profit, it is literally buying a product that will be made using your money. Kickstarter has never really been an investment platform, it's always been a pre-order site.

Kickstarter is the equivalent to a custom chair or custom lamp or anything else custom made. You get in touch with the craftsmen, pay them money, get your custom shit made and receive it.

I really don't know how to tell you this but A: Telling people how they should spend their money is stupid. B: Saying pre-orders are not part of a market is also stupid because even if it was just pre-orders, that is still a market. C: The gaming industry has been doing what Kickstarter does AFTER they made their game for a decade now. D: Pretending like Kickstarter is something noble and not just another business is beyond stupid, that 5% cut is not there because it costs so much money to run a web page.

Put the game up on kickstarter, if NOBODY wants it, it won't get any funding. Then you get your wish of killing the game with the best title ever.

 

[Something Amyss]

Wasn't this the development team that didn't have their act together in the first place, and LA Noire was released only because of publisher intervention?

If so, I wouldn't be sad if they never worked again.

Look, I don't go around actively hoping for people to lose their jobs, but at a point where there are so many cutbacks in staff, to see a bunch of screw-ups potentially get work where solid talent could otherwise have employment is just wrong on all levels. And people who make bad products (or screw up good ones) should be at the bottom rung when it comes to investment.

 

[Something Amyss]

We are "Kickstarting" waaaaay too many things lately, and a large majority of the games/consoles kickstarted seem to come out in an extremely rushed state. (I'm looking at you Forge, though the game is worth playing now.) We are relying on Kickstarter too much a thing a need to dial it down a bit. Also, Team Bondi's reputation is horrible for publishers.

Maybe "Team Bondi" will be a sufficient enough disaster for people to actually learn better.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

No.
We are "Kickstarting" waaaaay too many things lately,

That's your opinion. I have not been disappointed with any Kick-started product I've gotten. All the projects that I've backed (and that have delivered so far) have been of high quality.

I wouldn't give money to a developer that can't get its shit together on that level.

Then don't pledge (for this entirely hypothetical Kickstarter).

That's the beauty of Kickstarter. If you don't trust Team Bondi, then don't give them money. If I do (or if I am willing to risk $20 on a long-shot gamble) then I can hand them my 20.

If they ask for 50 million, then no, they aren't going to KS that. Obviously they'd have to scale back. And if they can't, and they do ask for 50 million, and the fans don't deliver, then no one loses any money because the KS fails. I've been in two KSes that failed to raise the minimum funds and I lost nothing.

If they make a lower goal, set reasonable goals, and convince me that they are trustworthy - then sure, I'd give them a shot. And if they can't, I won't.

That is the beauty of Kickstarter, I say again - if you don't have faith in them, then YOU don't need to give them any money. If I do, I can. Simple.

But don't tell the rest of us not to. And don't tell us that "too many projects" are getting Kickstarted.

Edited to correct a typo.

 

[cjspyres]

Kickstart this game.

This.

I enjoyed LA Noir, but it was a little... well, that setting is not my favorite setting. It was a well realized setting, but a little too... not me. Still, I enjoyed the game. Having a similar game set somewhere with a bit more color, and having it be about a private eye (I assume) rather than a police officer. I think that would be an amazing game.

So yes, seriously: get a Kickstarer going, guys.

I really want another game like L.A. Noire. I REALLY want one. Honestly, it was one of a kind, and I love me a detective story. There aren't really any detective games out there on the market that are worth playing, and that disappoints me so much.

 

[mokes310]

Bummer, I hope this is picked up by someone. I really enjoyed LA Noire, and found the story spellbinding.

 

[funksobeefy]

hmm western cops tryin to keep the peace in an eastern city? why not Asian cops?

 

[MysticSlayer]

Not really that surprised. They just didn't seem like a team that was ready to be constantly pushing out games like L.A. Noire. Still, I enjoyed L.A. Noire a lot and am sad to see that we likely won't be getting its spiritual successor for a while, provided we ever do get one.

 

[mduncan50]

I'm all for the Kickstarter idea, but please not with Team Bondi involved.

 

[LiquidGrape]

Here's an idea to increase the chances of geting a publisher for the game: don't call your game Whore of the Orient.

You're welcome, Brendan "squalid working conditions" McNamara.

 

[Micalas]

Team bondi still exists?

My thoughts exactly. I could've sworn the entire company dissolved quite some time ago.

 

[RicoADF]

Wow, that's quite a load of horseshit.

Did you not see that Dreamfall kickstarter [http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/redthread/dreamfall-chapters-the-longest-journey?ref=live] which raised 1,538,425$ about a month ago? Where in america was the studio based again?

Oh right, Oslo, Norway.

Hell, some projects even get funded in pounds sterling:

Looks like you haven't read through the topic, someone has already corrected me on that. Also learn not to assume everythings bullshit, it's called being misinformed as I have never tried it myself. It could also be a case of them changing their policy after the fact.

 

[AzrealMaximillion]

No.
We are "Kickstarting" waaaaay too many things lately,

That's your opinion. I have not been disappointed with any Kick-started product I've gotten. All the projects that I've backed (and that have delivered so far) have been of high quality.

I wouldn't give money to a developer that can't get its shit together on that level.

Then don't pledge (for this entirely hypothetical Kickstarter).

That's the beauty of Kickstarter. If you don't trust Team Bondi, then don't give them money. If I do (or if I am willing to risk $20 on a long-shot gamble) then I can hand them my 20.

If they ask for 50 million, then no, they aren't going to KS that. Obviously they'd have to scale back. And if they can't, and they do ask for 50 million, and the fans don't deliver, then no one loses any money because the KS fails. I've been in two KSes that failed to raise the minimum funds and I lost nothing.

If they make a lower goal, set reasonable goals, and convince me that they are trustworthy - then sure, I'd give them a shot. And if they can't, I won't.

That is the beauty of Kickstarter, I say again - if you don't have faith in them, then YOU don't need to give them any money. If I do, I can. Simple.

But don't tell the rest of us not to. And don't tell us that "too many projects" are getting Kickstarted.

Edited to correct a typo.

That's all fine and dandy, but I'm still going to tell people that a Kickstarter for a Team Bondi is a bad idea. Why? They're bad at business. I know that I can choose to not back this idea. The beauty of having an opinion on the matter is that I can tell people all I want why they shouldn't do it. The attitude that "if you don't like it, you should sit in the corner and not discuss the matter" is frankly stupid.

Its simple for me to not back a Kickstarter. Its also simple for to to accept the fact that I'm going to voice that opinion. I can tell you not to back Team Bondi due to their incompetence. YOU don't have to listen. This isn't the 40s USSR and my name isn't Stalin. You don't have to agree with me, but saying thing like, "But don't tell the rest of us not to. And don't tell us that "too many projects" are getting Kickstarted." is akin to saying, "You're opinion, I don't like it. Don't say it again."

I'll have my opinion and you'll have to make like Adam Orth and deal with it. And my opinion of that people should not back Team Bondi as they stand today, and the amount of games on Kickstarter is too damn high as Jimmy McMullin would say. Especially considering that we're now seeing SOME games start up a second Kickstarter for a completed game to add more feature. Its getting silly and I don't like it.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

Its simple for me to not back a Kickstarter. Its also simple for to to accept the fact that I'm going to voice that opinion. I can tell you not to back Team Bondi due to their incompetence. YOU don't have to listen. This isn't the 40s USSR and my name isn't Stalin. You don't have to agree with me, but saying thing like, "But don't tell the rest of us not to. And don't tell us that "too many projects" are getting Kickstarted." is akin to saying, "You're opinion, I don't like it. Don't say it again."

I'll have my opinion and you'll have to make like Adam Orth and deal with it. And my opinion of that people should not back Team Bondi as they stand today, and the amount of games on Kickstarter is too damn high as Jimmy McMullin would say. Especially considering that we're now seeing SOME games start up a second Kickstarter for a completed game to add more feature. Its getting silly and I don't like it.

Actually, my issue was with you saying that there shouldn't be a Kickstarter for it at all.

If you want to warn people that it's a bad investment, that is your right. I have no problem with that. However, you said that such a KS shouldn't exist. That was the opinion I objected to.

As to you not liking Kickstarter... too bad. Are there people that abuse the system? Yeah. Does that make it a bad system, or mean there are too many people using it? No. It just means some people are jerks (big newsflash there).

What I object to is the "I don't like it so it shouldn't exist" attitude that you (and others) have been demonstrating. If you don't like it, fine, don't use it. Don't attack what has proven to be a good system for funding games (and other projects) outside of standard backer methods. You can advice people that an individual investment is bad, but don't go around yelling that Kickstarter is bad. If you do, then you're just as bad as the "I don't like your opinion so don't say it again" people.

I wrote a little about my willingness to take risks for artistic games, but then I deleted it because that really isn't the issue. You accused me of telling you to stop saying opinions I don't like, but you doing the same thing is what started this conversation. You didn't like the idea of a KS, so you said it shouldn't exist. You started out by doing what you have since accused me of doing, when I was calling you out on what you're trying to call me out on.

If you don't like "stop saying opinions that I don't like" then I'd advise you to stop being a massive hypocrite and to not to that yourself.