Poll: Calling all Keepers

[Dragunai]

Dungeon Keeper 3 is the massively disappointing legend that never was, Those of us who still play the older games like Diablo 1 & 2 (including relitive addons) as well as the original DK 1 & 2 can 1st of all say hand on heart we're not the pretenious fools who say we're gamers and then go on about graphics insteads of gameplay quality...

That Dig aside I think we all at one point or another have played DK2 and after slaughtering the good guys with some glee completed the game and felt abit empty at the end of the carnage and slaughter so we started clicking around trying to find hidden extras and LOW AND BEHOLD!!! Dungeon Keeper 3 is being waved in our faces, personally I never found out what happened to it so I went on google and started looking for it online.

"High-level conceptual designs began around November 1999 and the project was announced in early February 2000[2]. No programmers or artists were ever involved in the project, however, and it was cancelled in March 2000"

So effectively Bullfrog decided that one of the most well thought out and original (A word that causes parties whenever it's heard because like Christmas it's usually about once a year) wasn't worth shelling out over to hire dev's for it.

"A third episode of the Dungeon Keeper saga was underway, but opportunities to develop new intellectual properties on new platforms such as PlayStation 2 have meant that DK3 has been put on hold. There are currently no plans for another Dungeon Keeper game, however it remains an important franchise and there may be opportunities for us to pursue that direction in the future."

So they said that because new platforms where avilable they couldn't make the game... so better engines for both graphics and game mechanics were starting to surface and they turn it down... /sigh.

"Improvements in the economy and multiplayer aspects of the game were planned, and a new race was conceptualised. In addition, the new race, as well as the goodly heroes, were designed to be playable. The innovative nature of the Dungeon Keeper series proved to be its downfall, as the project showed to be a higher risk than other titles that could be developed."

Ok so what it really comes down to know is this, the game has been gathering dust on the shelves for 8 years, ALOT has changed in computers in this time and I think it's time to discuss DK3 and what you think about it.

Personally I only put EA in there as a token gesture (I couldn't think of many RTS developers at time of writing) seeing as they suck at looking after their games, anyone who has ever tried to patch and play their games online knows what im talking about but thats beside the point.

Lionhead has been mentioned in a video I saw where horny was talking about the game so thats why they got mentioned, but I'd love to hear why who you guys wanna see take it forward and why.

No this isn't a petition nor is it a campaign, I'm Just interested to see who likes this game series and what your thoughts are about DK3 in the modern age ^^

Enjoy malious ones

(above info is from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dungeon_Keeper_3)
(other info http://pcgtw.retro-net.de/index.php?id=games:keeper3)

 

[GloatingSwine]

Other: Tarn and Zach Adams (AKA Toady One and Threetoe). Makers of Dwarf Fortress.

Because Dungeon Keeper had nothing on Dwarf Fortress, it is literally the underground buildy fighty game, with absolutely staggering scope and depth of simulation at pretty much every level from "seven dwarves in a hole in the ground" to "we make Moria look provincial and crap".

 

[GothmogII]

They made Dungeon Keeper 3. And lo' it was thus called Overlord. And it was mediocre. Okay, but not great.

As for an actual third DK, I'd say no, they'd probably mess it up somehow. I'm quite content to stick with the genius that were the first two. However, I'd put my money on Lionhead, seeing as EA scaled back Bullfrog to basically nothing when they took it over.

 

[Crunchy English]

Dungeon Keeper should be picked up by a first party. The series could really benefit from the endless funding and polish that Sony or Microsoft game studios could do for that series. I don't like the idea of Microsoft making it "Vista: Specific" or a rough and shaky transfer to consoles, but maybe it's the price you pay.

 

[Dragunai]

Hmm, I'll investigate dwarf fortress, I think I'v come across it before but probably not, its one of those names ^^

I wouldn't call Overlord the 3rd DK, they are 2 totally different games, one is RPG ish and you have minions the other is an RTS where you have a varity of creatures not just a few.
I wouldn't let Microsoft near it personally, they would find someway of corrupting it and as it's a game about evil I think that'd be an impressive feat, lol.

 

[GothmogII]

Hmm, I'll investigate dwarf fortress, I think I'v come across it before but probably not, its one of those names ^^

I wouldn't call Overlord the 3rd DK, they are 2 totally different games, one is RPG ish and you have minions the other is an RTS where you have a varity of creatures not just a few.
I wouldn't let Microsoft near it personally, they would find someway of corrupting it and as it's a game about evil I think that'd be an impressive feat, lol.

True about Overlord, I'm only really going on that based on the brief DK3 trailer showing Horny stepping out into the sunlight heh. More likely they'd have kept in to the RTS/management sim format they'd used before.

Although...because it was entirely underground, that was easy, and different, but, wouldn't it just turn into another standard type RTS if it were above ground? Sounds kinda boring, but, maybe if they had some kind of 'Dungeon Entrance' that allowed you to send forth your troops during nighttime or during bad weather, but that get significantly weakened in the sunlight.

 

[corporate_gamer]

Isn't dwarf fortress GUI just different coloured blobs? I remember playing it on a friends computer and not being able to understand it.

But yes dungeon keepers was brilliant and should be redone with amazing graphics and even more innocents to crush. Possibly done by microsoft game studios.

 

[Dragunai]

I've looked at Dwarven Fortress and honestly It looks like Excel with alot of colours, personal observation. True DK would become another topside RTS UNLESS they put in gold mines (similar to WC3) and then let you build a dark and evil fortress above ground, so you could like taint the ground when you claim it and build lairs and hatcheries on it and link them together to create an above ground dungeon.. of sorts...

Of yeh the idea of having gateways so you could build up your underground lair then claim ground in the outworld using imps so you can still place traps or drop minions on it, sort of the reserve of hero gates, makes me wonder what they would do with it now that you mention it, seeing as it was never like the original RTS format, you had to build lairs to give your minions beds and then feed them with chickens and then hope your Temple attracted in at least 1 Dark Angel before your portals shut down lol. you didnt click on a barrack and order up 3 new goblins, still I guess I would play an RTS version of DK3 if it kept the same black humour ^^

 

[Eyclonus]

Other: Tarn and Zach Adams (AKA Toady One and Threetoe). Makers of Dwarf Fortress.

Because Dungeon Keeper had nothing on Dwarf Fortress, it is literally the underground buildy fighty game, with absolutely staggering scope and depth of simulation at pretty much every level from "seven dwarves in a hole in the ground" to "we make Moria look provincial and crap".

THQ those guys know how to make a good game.

Oh why should we put it in the hands of the guys who made Dwarf Fortress? As in boring, hard as fuck, indecipherable, prone to crashing, resource inefficient to the point of shamming the USSR Dwarf Fortress?

 

[Dragunai]

Other: Tarn and Zach Adams (AKA Toady One and Threetoe). Makers of Dwarf Fortress.

Because Dungeon Keeper had nothing on Dwarf Fortress, it is literally the underground buildy fighty game, with absolutely staggering scope and depth of simulation at pretty much every level from "seven dwarves in a hole in the ground" to "we make Moria look provincial and crap".

THQ those guys know how to make a good game.

Oh why should we put it in the hands of the guys who made Dwarf Fortress? As in boring, hard as fuck, indecipherable, prone to crashing, resource inefficient to the point of shamming the USSR Dwarf Fortress?

hahaha someone had a bad experince with Dwarf Fortress, and yeh THQ rock at making games even if CoH and DoW used the EXACT same resource system (as in capture pot holes put up a flag then build a box on it to be bale to summon stuff) and the same engines for their armies (Space Marines / Orks = America, Dark Eldar / IG = Axis) but they did it so well you can't fault them for using a good engine on 2 different games ^^
if it ain't broke don't fix it Still it'd be interesting to see what they would do with it =P

 

[Eyclonus]

Other: Tarn and Zach Adams (AKA Toady One and Threetoe). Makers of Dwarf Fortress.

Because Dungeon Keeper had nothing on Dwarf Fortress, it is literally the underground buildy fighty game, with absolutely staggering scope and depth of simulation at pretty much every level from "seven dwarves in a hole in the ground" to "we make Moria look provincial and crap".

THQ those guys know how to make a good game.

Oh why should we put it in the hands of the guys who made Dwarf Fortress? As in boring, hard as fuck, indecipherable, prone to crashing, resource inefficient to the point of shamming the USSR Dwarf Fortress?

hahaha someone had a bad experince with Dwarf Fortress, and yeh THQ rock at making games even if CoH and DoW used the EXACT same resource system (as in capture pot holes put up a flag then build a box on it to be bale to summon stuff) and the same engines for their armies (Space Marines / Orks = America, Dark Eldar / IG = Axis) but they did it so well you can't fault them for using a good engine on 2 different games ^^
if it ain't broke don't fix it Still it'd be interesting to see what they would do with it =P

Its not so much a bad experience as just seeing so many things that could've been done better and less alienating to first time users. Also the Rogue-like graphics are a clear sign the devs are morons who think what they're making is fine art.

 

[Dragunai]

Im both gutted and a little relieved that DK3 never came to fruition, since it was going to be overground it would have lost a lot of the charm the original had.
If they had however made it a two fold game, 1st half you build your underworld, followed by using your underground position to launch your overworld assult and assist the fortress construction then it would have been epic.

Agreed, It would be the perfect way to play it, like having a gateway your troops go through to launch the attacks on the villages....

That said...

WARNING: Dark idea's Ahead!!!

DK3, you launch your raid / attack on an emeny village and for once you can actually see the villagers running and screaming in fear as your Dark Angels and Black knights run around slaughtering them in beautiful high def graphics. Think about the fun you could have if this was done on an 18 certificate license :O

 

[gibboss28]

I would love to hear a disembodied voice say "Beware! The Lord of the Land approaches!" again.

I'd put it in the hands of THQ. They've done a good job on the Warhammer 40k series and i reckon they'd do a good job on that.

If you'll excuse me all this talk about Dungeon Keeper makes me want to go play Dungeon Keeper: Deeper Dungeons.

 

[Dragunai]

Deeper Dungeons? this intrigues me, is this an expansion for the original?
I started playing the original again the other day after I completed 2, it's one of those few circumstances where you sit thinking "Yes I know it got better in the sequel but this is so simple and entertaining I can't fault it". I chewed through several of the missions in about 2 hours and I'm still barely halfway in haha.

Still I prefered the AI in the 1st game as it was simpler and all your critters just did as they were told, 2 made them more intelligent but I think that kinda spoilt it abit, I mean they're ment to be minions not free thinking individuals lol.

Still if they remade 1 with 2's graphics as part of a Gold edition double deluxe thingy I'd buy it (and if they added in the ability to build whole rooms at once not click single damn tiles -.- 5x5 rooms take ages to build =/ ).

 

[GothmogII]

Deeper Dungeons? this intrigues me, is this an expansion for the original?
I started playing the original again the other day after I completed 2, it's one of those few circumstances where you sit thinking "Yes I know it got better in the sequel but this is so simple and entertaining I can't fault it". I chewed through several of the missions in about 2 hours and I'm still barely halfway in haha.

Still I prefered the AI in the 1st game as it was simpler and all your critters just did as they were told, 2 made them more intelligent but I think that kinda spoilt it abit, I mean they're ment to be minions not free thinking individuals lol.

Still if they remade 1 with 2's graphics as part of a Gold edition double deluxe thingy I'd buy it (and if they added in the ability to build whole rooms at once not click single damn tiles -.- 5x5 rooms take ages to build =/ ).

Well, The Deeper Dungeons -should- have come with the gold addition of the original DK. It's basically a bonus CD full of extra maps, many of which are puzzle maps. It's quite a bit more difficult, and there isn't any overmap or plot as such, but you can start with whatever map you want so you don't need to complete them in a certain order.