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| 2 APR 2003 at 8:04pm |
MichalNGrand Inquisitor
Posts : 7058
Joined: 14 SEP 2003
Status : Online | Originally Posted By jujigatame (2 APR 2003 8:02pm)
In their 7 years of existence...
You just answered your own question. If they have managed to stay in business for 7 years so far, they can't suck too badly.
I forgot my sig.
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| 2 APR 2003 at 8:08pm |
jujigatameSchattenjger
Posts : 1976
Joined: 14 FEB 2003
Status : Online | The existence of a company and the quality of its games do not necessarily go hand in hand. I'm not saying they should be on level with LucasArts or EA, coming out with classics every year, but 1 in 7 years is pretty slim pickings, especially when many people even on this board dispute Syberia's greatness.
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| 2 APR 2003 at 8:11pm |
| Deleted User | Schizm was highly praised by various websites and some mags, and rightly so. Haegemonia is a highly playable space RTS with beautiful garphics that got good reviews across the board and sold well. Post Mortem, although in my view incredibly sucky, has had good reviews also and has sold well.
They also hold the rights to the popular Sherlock Holmes and Nancy Drew series' of games, which may not be recieved well by the press but sell in reasonable quantities.
Someone posted some figures which included Dreamcatcher games that sold very well. They've also got great customer service, providing me with a replacement Schizm DVD when I found the CD version unplayable.
The recent split into The Adventure company is just that - recent. It may well render some results just yet.
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| 2 APR 2003 at 8:14pm |
StammerGuild Master
Posts : 3894
Joined: 5 JAN 2003
Status : Online | I don't think that Dreamcatcher sucks. They have created some interesting games and the fact that they have good advertisement(s) gives them many points.
Resistance is not futile, we're gonna win this thing, humankind is too good, we're not a bunch of under-achievers! We're gonna stand up, and we're gonna be human beings. We're going to get fired up about the real things, the things that matter! Creativity, and the dynamic human spirit that refuses to submit.
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| 2 APR 2003 at 8:20pm |
| Deleted User | With all those Nancy Drews? No way. Every single Nancy Drew series got an award
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| 2 APR 2003 at 8:32pm |
jujigatameSchattenjger
Posts : 1976
Joined: 14 FEB 2003
Status : Online | Well my point is not sales. My point is quality games. Frankly it seems like they are going for quantity over quality.
Schizm got pretty average, B-level grade from everyone but JA.
Hegemonia is not an adventure, so I wasn't really counting it, but again, it got mostly B-level reviews.
Jury's still out on Omega Stone.
I mean, can you not see my point? 7 years of development, over 40 games in their library, 1 A-list game to speak of. It's not a great ratio at all.
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| 2 APR 2003 at 8:37pm |
| Deleted User | I've had Schizm in the past and have Haegemonia in my collection. They're decent titles.
If we ARE going for the quality note, then Juji, you're right. There are some true stinkers in their line up.
It's just that I'm pretty sure as time goes by we'll see some more good titles. Syberia and Post Mortem (yuck) are pretty well rated by forumites, S2 coming out in October and possibly other titles in development... there may be some hope yet.
It's just nice to know that at least SOMEONE is releasing AG's, or at least publishing them...
Roll on Runaway's April release date... ho-hum...
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| 2 APR 2003 at 8:40pm |
emmaPrivate Detective
Posts : 525
Joined: 12 OCT 2002
Status : Online | I'd say Faust - Seven games of the soul, is a pretty impressive title to distribute as well.
[URL=http://www.dvdprofiler.com/mycollection.asp?alias=emma]My DVDs[/URL] | [URL=http://www.adventuregamers.com/]AdventureGamers[/URL] | I haven't lost my mind, I've got a backup on a disc somewhere.
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| 2 APR 2003 at 8:46pm |
VectorIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 70
Joined: 28 MAR 2003
Status : Online | Correct me if I'm wrong, buy aren't some of these games being mentioned - Schism, Syberia, Post Mortem - Didnt Dreamcatcher (Adventure Company) just buy the distribution rights in North America for these games? I didn't think they developed them
We may have years, we may have hours, but sooner or later we push up flowers.
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| 2 APR 2003 at 8:55pm |
| Deleted User | Just what I was about to say- Dreamcatcher did not personally develop any of the games they publish. Syberia was developed by Microids. There are several different developers whose games are being sold by Dreamcatcher- surely you can't blame the publisher for the failures of 10 different developers.
In any case all of this is subjective. I liked Schizm and several of the Cryo edutainment titles- and I've heard good things about the Atlantis series. Amerzone and Traitor's Gate are both good games as well- if a bit short in the case of Amerzone.
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| 2 APR 2003 at 8:58pm |
jujigatameSchattenjger
Posts : 1976
Joined: 14 FEB 2003
Status : Online | Yes, I know many of these games are just published by them, not developed. However, I don't see how this excuses them. They are paying money for the rights to market and distribute many subpar titles, and then foisting them upon us. I think they need a tighter selection process.
MB:
"It's just nice to know that at least SOMEONE is releasing AG's, or at least publishing them..."
I think this is precisely why people here love them so much despite their largely poor library. It IS nice to know a company is comitted to adventure, but it would be even nicer if they were committed to GOOD adventure.
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| 2 APR 2003 at 9:59pm |
| Deleted User | All right- let's see your list of good adventures that they should be publishing instead.
As I said before this is all a matter of opinion- I quite enjoyed many Dreamcatcher releases. Are you suggesting that games like Aztec and Schizm should never have been bought by Dreamcatcher? They may be "sub-par" but I enjoyed playing them. Not every game can be the next Grim Fandango.
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| 2 APR 2003 at 10:21pm |
mszvPrivate Detective
Posts : 751
Joined: 12 OCT 2002
Status : Online | Dreamcatcher games - no deep analysis here, just my reactions to some of the game:
* Syberia - loved it. Can't say enough good things about it.
* Post Mortem - another winner for me. Loved it.
* Amerzone - really enjoyed it.
* The Mystery of the Mummy - played the demo, enjoyed it. Haven't bought the game, but I'm going to.
* The Cameron Files Secret at Loch Ness. Have this, haven't played it yet. Was a bit put off by the timed sequence, but I think I'll give it go.
* Riddle of the Spinx. Bought this so I could play it before The Omega Stone came out. Still haven't played it but I will one day. It's loved by a number of adventure gamers (not all on this site I know) so I want to see what it's all about.
* Mysterious Journey Schizm. On my list of games to be played. Knowing my gaming style (and ability) I already have a walkthrough. I got the DVD version.
*Lightbringer (also called Cydonia). I have it, it's on my list of games to play. Waiting to see how it ranks in the upcoming Just Adventure article on science fiction games.
*The Omega Stone - on my list to get. I've got to be in the mood for this one.
*The Legend of the Prophet and The Assasin. An adventure gamer I know and respect likes these games. I might not have selected them myself, but I'm reconsidering.
* The Nancy Drew Games - never thought to play them, but many gamers I respect really like them. I'm reconsidering.
I have more Dreamcatcher published games, and am thinking of getting some others, not on this list.
So, my short answer is no, Dreamcatcher Games do not suck.
Regards, mszv
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| 2 APR 2003 at 10:34pm |
LagavulinPrivate Detective
Posts : 475
Joined: 21 OCT 2002
Status : Online | ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ???
jujigatame
Excuse me for asking but what is the matter ?
The last couple of days you have been acting as if you have PMS, or something like that.
???
FOR THE MOMENT I AM PLAYING ON MY Win 7&&&&Recently Played&& ark Fall Lost Souls,Outcry,SH vs A Lupin,Tales of Monkey Island,Still Life 2,Sinking Island,Pandora Directive (RP),The Lost Crown
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| 2 APR 2003 at 10:37pm |
jujigatameSchattenjger
Posts : 1976
Joined: 14 FEB 2003
Status : Online | I'm not saying they should just stop publishing 90% of their titles. I'm saying that they are taking advantage of adventure-starved people by publishing mediocrity (cheaply, I'm sure) and expecting us to jump all over it. Then they call themselves the #1 adventure game company, a title they win solely by default. If you wanna earn that title, then show me something fresh and exciting. In 7 years they have not produced much worthwhile, and now they claim the throne of adventure gaming. The only reason they have it because everyone else abdicated it. They rule over nothing.
Ok, maybe I'm getting a little too worked up over this. That glowing Omega Stone review just set off the argumentative reactionary in me.
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| 2 APR 2003 at 10:47pm |
| Deleted User | You still haven't answered my question. Where are the top-quality, unpublished adventure game gems that Dreamcatcher won't publish? Most of the new games now are already published by Dreamcatcher. I don't think that the non-Dreamcatcher games are that much better. If you're going to condemn them you'd better offer an alternative.
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| 2 APR 2003 at 10:58pm |
jujigatameSchattenjger
Posts : 1976
Joined: 14 FEB 2003
Status : Online | Well, people seem to like Dark Fall. Regardless, you really think they have no influence on developers? Perhaps if they told developers to get better material before they bought stuff up, or if they gave developers more money, or ideally a combination fo these two actions, a better product would result. If you're gonna buy up subpar stuff, that's what people are gonna sell you. Let's give the developers some incentive to put out something special!
P.S. Does Dreamcatcher do any of their own development?
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| 2 APR 2003 at 11:30pm |
Friday the 14thSchattenjger
Posts : 2908
Joined: 5 NOV 2002
Status : Online | Can anybody tell me the relationship between Dreamcather and Cryo? It seems like DC is the american equivalence of what cryo were in europe?
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| 2 APR 2003 at 11:32pm |
GayleSchattenjger
Posts : 2544
Joined: 12 OCT 2002
Status : Online | They are just a distributor. If you don't like a game, blame the developers.
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| 2 APR 2003 at 11:38pm |
jujigatameSchattenjger
Posts : 1976
Joined: 14 FEB 2003
Status : Online | I will blame the distributors AND the developer. The developer is the one who makes the game but the distributor is the one who funds the developer and profits from sales. If an employee of a company does subpar work which leads to angry customers, the entire company suffers and is to blame in the consumer's eyes. Whether it is a problem of developer motivation, or not enough money, or whatever, it is equally Dreamcatcher's responsibility to put out a quality line of products.
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| 2 APR 2003 at 11:47pm |
BelindaSchattenjger
Posts : 2093
Joined: 21 OCT 2002
Status : Online | Well.......I sure am glad for DreamCatcher. Few years back, it seemed like they were the only company around selling adventure games, and not at a bad price either. I enjoyed alot of their games they sold.
Very opinionated topic here.
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| 2 APR 2003 at 11:57pm |
glimpseIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 16
Joined: 10 OCT 2002
Status : Online | God Bless Dreamcatcher and The Adventure Company! At least they have had the guts to "hang in" and buck the trend. They do mostly adventures and I commend them for it! Yes, They published SYBERIA and POST MORTEM (both Microids developed games) which are stellar, but they are definitely getting better at their own production! OMEGA (Riddle II) is really a giant step forward for them.
Hey - email them and ask if they could "hire" Jane Jensen or Al Lowe. Talk about a win-win!
Thanks DC and TAC!! Please keep publishing, developing and improving. I'll keep purchasing!
The person who started this subject should go back to his or her blood and guts games - what an infantile jerk!
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| 2 APR 2003 at 11:58pm |
JessJourneyman
Posts : 1359
Joined: 21 MAR 2003
Status : Online | Originally Posted By Gayle (2 APR 2003 11:32pm)
They are just a distributor. If you don't like a game, blame the developers.
True....although people would blame Dreamcatcher for distributing such dislikable games because they should know the good from the bad. (hopefully they know if they are selling a $$-worth game before they actually put it out there)
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| 3 APR 2003 at 12:02am |
gatorlawSorcerer Apprentice
Posts : 377
Joined: 10 OCT 2002
Status : Offline | but the distributor is the one who funds the developer and profits from sales.
Not to burst anyone's bubble - but most "publishers" don't fund developers at all. For the most part they pick up finished games and provide them with retail outlets that the developer wouldn't have otherwise. They also may pay for packaging and marketing materials. The vast majority of games being "published" right now in NA and elsewhere were already paid for solely by the developer.
At best you can really only blame publishers for signing the title not the finished product. As for the developer - it's difficult to create something paid for out of your own pocket and have it developed with a tight enough time curve to at least appear updated and new graphically. Why do you think it took Riddle of The Sphinx 4 years to get to market? I am sure that many developers and creative people out there would love to have someone fund their work, but it just doesn't happen that way very often any more. Microids funds games in house - but then they only have about 2 or 3 coming out a year.
I don't like everything about Dreamcatcher - but without them we would be seeing about 3 to 4 games published a year. I don't know about the rest of you - but I go through games a bit faster than that.
As for DC - if you think they suck - don't buy their games, better yet - also send on your opinions as to why they specifically suck and what they might do to improve their image to an unsucky one with yourself and others. Might make a difference. Just out of curiosity - which companies, publishers or developers do you think don't suck and why?
Laura
http://www.culpainnata.com&&&&Perfect world, or perfect nightmare?
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