Obsidian's doing a Kickstarter, what are your thoughts?

[Paradoxrifts]

I've spent twenty dollars on stupider things than this.

 

[lumenadducere]

I backed it at the $35 tier for the digital download of the stuff - soundtrack, artbook, etc. Obsidian has some of the best writing in the industry and to see an old-school isometric RPG backed with the names of some of those devs...well, I'd really, really like to see that happen.

And I'm greatly hoping that they actually are able to get decent QA or post-release support without publisher shenanigans. Given their history I'm worried but I figure the $35 amount is worth the risk because of how much I've enjoyed their previous work despite the bugs.

 

[Amaror]

What am i thinking. Well i am currently thinking:
"Suck it, BiowEAre i don't need your Dragon Age 3, which i am pretty positive will suck!"

 

[Denamic]

My god, one day and they've already met the goal.
Well almost, 4.9k short, but that'll fill up in minutes.

What am i thinking. Well i am currently thinking:
"Suck it, BiowEAre i don't need your Dragon Age 3, which i am pretty positive will suck!"

What does BioWare and Dragon Age 3 have to do with this?

 

[Mycroft Holmes]

Hmm. Avernum: Dark Descent was a very good "hark back" to isometric RPGs, made by indies.

Google says that this isn't a thing. Are you mixing it up with Amnesia(which quite a few people bought but is not isometric at all?)

Barely nobody played it. Now, because it's Obsidian, we should suddenly care.

I have only tentatively heard about Spiderweb Software and their games. The trailer for the latest Avernum game does not look that good.

Conversely almost everyone knows of Obsidian games. They have a most of the same people as BIS and Troika. Have worked on a lot of peoples favorite games. Are well known for their excellent writing, story and dialogue.

So yes, people care a lot more because it makes waaay waaaay more sense to care about this.

While I like that they're doing this, they are at the same time highlighting one of the biggest problems in gaming.

What problem is that? That people only buy or invest in name brands? I'm going to go ahead and point out that, that isn't true at all. I mean look at CD Projekt Red. A Polish dev that no one had really heard of. Making a game based off a Polish book that outside of Poland no one had really heard of. And now they are one of the more well known companies in gaming, making games as highly polished(pun sooooo intended) and publicized as any other big name studio.

Rocksteady Studios came out of essentially nowhere, is not US/Japan based. And now creates the highly revered Batman Arkham games.

If that's not your point, then I don't know what is. And if it is your point, then its wrong. With digital distribution there's plenty of ways for no name companies to make names for themselves. And people are plenty willing to give games chances and tell their friends to buy if they are worthwhile products. If you think your Avernum game is worth a buy, then sell me on it. Because I can come up with reasons to buy each Obsidian game, each Troika game, each BIS game.

Edit: Their choice of distribution method will be the biggest contibutor to my decision of pitching in or not. DRM is an automatic no-go for me, distributing it on GOG.com is the maximum support they'll get from me, and anything in between ranges from "maybe" to "have some money".

They have it on steam, most likely with just steams basic activate through us and be online or set offline mode for a month setup.

 

[DoPo]

Ladies and gentlemen

It is done. Project Eternity is funded with another 31 days to spare. It took about a day and a half. Well done!

 

[spartandude]

on the kickstarter page it says

"This project will only be funded if at least $1,100,000 is pledged by Tuesday Oct 16, 9:00pm EDT"
as of posting this they have 31 days to go and have made $1,099,422

i think they set they're target too high /sarcasm



well done Obsidian

 

[DoPo]

on the kickstarter page it says

"This project will only be funded if at least $1,100,000 is pledged by Tuesday Oct 16, 9:00pm EDT"
as of posting this they have 31 days to go and have made $1,099,422

i think they set they're target too high /sarcasm



well done Obsidian

Too late, it's already done. Ironically, you posted that immediately after I said it was funded XD

 

[Twilight_guy]

My thoughts: Obsidian really is in a bad state if they have to use a kickstarter to fund their project. Oh and also, their programers suck so hah ha to the mindless drones who think they can do no wrong.

 

[spartandude]

Hmm. Avernum: Dark Descent was a very good "hark back" to isometric RPGs, made by indies. Barely nobody played it. Now, because it's Obsidian, we should suddenly care. While I like that they're doing this, they are at the same time highlighting one of the biggest problems in gaming. I don't think I'll back it until I see more, but I'm positive to the idea.

Im probably going to mirror alot of people when i say I've never heard of Acernum Dark Descent. the thing is because Obsidian has been around for a while, got a large following and alot of money they can advertise (thats not saying this situation is ok, just why this is more heard of than this indi game) so as a result nobody even hears of Avernum but will know of Projecy Eternity

 

[Genocidicles]

My thoughts: Obsidian really is in a bad state if they have to use a kickstarter to fund their project.

They need funding for it because what Publisher would fund an isometric RPG in this day and age?

 

[Tropicaz]

Well, i'm going to put in money tomorrow as soon as i'm back home. Though tbh they'll have probably reached their target by then (if they havent already, a few hours ago they were 1.05/1.1M done). New Vegas was one of my favourite Xbox games, and the stick of truth is one of my most anticipated games of next year. So i want to get in early on this one.

 

[Twilight_guy]

My thoughts: Obsidian really is in a bad state if they have to use a kickstarter to fund their project.

They need funding for it because what Publisher would fund an isometric RPG in this day and age?

Um... there are studios that don't have publishers that get games out just fine. Mostly because they have money from the last game and can pay to devlop the next game. Obsidian is kind of down on its luck and doesn't have any funds. If they were doing well they could get this game made without a kickstarter but this situation indicates a lack of funds and start-up money and there bad state.

Twilight_guy is in the Twilight Zone. It's called making the type of game THEY want to make, not the one the publishers want them to make.

You do realize games get made without publishers right? Also, I feel like you insulted my favorite show for a cheap stupid insult.

 

[DustyDrB]

It has now passed its goal. Great job, internet!

 

[Something Amyss]

-Original IP in an industry bereft of them

Made by Obsidian, known primarily for sequels and licensed games.

-Supposedly a combination of Icewind Dale, Baldur's Gate, and Planescape Torment

SOUNDS ORIGINAL TO ME!!!!!

-It's made by Obsidian

Known for sequels and licensed games, and shit-tons of bugs.

-Seriously, these guys made KoTOR II, Torment, and Mask of the Betrayer. How can this not interest you?

Most of those being sequels or licenses. Funny, for knocking the industry, these guys don't seem much different from the norm. Except in quality control issues only rivaled by Bethesda.

So, what do you think?

Screw a large developer for begging for money?

Well, you did ask.

 

[Something Amyss]

Twilight_guy is in the Twilight Zone. It's called making the type of game THEY want to make, (and the fans want) not the one the publishers want them to make.

Weren't they just talking about having shopped this project around to publishers with positive responses?

That sure sounds like the kind of game publishers want to make to me!

 

[endtherapture]

-Original IP in an industry bereft of them

Made by Obsidian, known primarily for sequels and licensed games.0

Because they're an independent contractor in a world where most studios are joined up with publishers. They take what they can get to pay the bills.

-Supposedly a combination of Icewind Dale, Baldur's Gate, and Planescape Torment

SOUNDS ORIGINAL TO ME!!!!!

Dungeons of IWD, exploration of BG, story of PS:T. They're taking gameplay elements, not ripping off direct stories.

-It's made by Obsidian

Known for sequels and licensed games, and shit-tons of bugs.

Known for their amazing writing.

-Seriously, these guys made KoTOR II, Torment, and Mask of the Betrayer. How can this not interest you?

Most of those being sequels or licenses. Funny, for knocking the industry, these guys don't seem much different from the norm. Except in quality control issues only rivaled by Bethesda.

Okay they make sequels we get it. Now they're making an original game, surely it's interesting where this will go?

So, what do you think?

Screw a large developer for begging for money?

Well, you did ask.

At least they're begging the fans for money and cutting out a shit publisher who will rush the game and probably ruin it.

I'm stoked. This could be Dragon Age but done right.

 

[More Fun To Compute]

Josh Sawyer is already delivering on project goals, in that apparently he promised to do this.

 

[trophykiller]

What are my thoughts? What do I think about an Obsidian RPG headed by Sawyer, Cain, and Avallone?

That.

I approve of your heavy use of Archer.

 

[Fishyash]

I'm cautiously optimistic.

What I mean is...

what is the setting of this game?

I'll wait for that to come up before I support this game, because it could be really interesting, or it could be generic and boring. Hearing "Did you like the nostalgia of 90s CRPGs? It will be just like old tiemz again!" will not really convince me.

So I will be saving my excitement for what the hell this game actually is.