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| 15 NOV 2002 at 5:10pm |
Randy-JAJourneyman
Posts : 1351
Joined: 11 OCT 2002
Location: US
Status : Offline | I have been speaking with Sierra quite a lot lately and I can honestly state that they do not have a clue as to what the public wants. I've known about the Space Quest debacle for a few months but did not want to say anything until it was official.
They are not interested in making another adventure game, but they ARE interested in turning all of their franchises - ALL OF THEM - into action games. Read the above again - it is not a joke nor is it my opinion. It is based on a converastion I had with a Sierra insider.
Though they will not admit this next part - I think that because of the success of the Police Quest series crossing over from adventure to action, that they think any of their franchises can do the same.
Mike Ryder, head of Sierra, agreed to do an interview with JA 3 months ago. He has yet to return the questions and in all likelihood has backed out of his agreement to do the review. I am sure it is because almost all of the questions are adventure related. I will keep plugging away at him though.
The only way to support Sierra's effort to turn their adventure franchises into pure action is to not support it. o not purchase the product. o not read the press releases or the marketing program - every time you read a Space Quest press release on the internet it will show up as a hit and Sierra will mistakenly mistake that for interest in the game. Sierra needs to receive literally thousands of emails to drive the point home that people do want adventure games.
Post your displeasure on the Sierra Forums, on JA Forum or at your favorite forum and I will guarantee that I will send links to all the complaints to the proper people at Sierra.
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| 15 NOV 2002 at 5:49pm |
Agustín CordesGuild Master
Posts : 5696
Joined: 23 OCT 2002
Location: AR, Buenos Aires
Status : Offline | They are not interested in making another adventure game, but they ARE interested in turning all of their franchises - ALL OF THEM - into action games. Read the above again - it is not a joke nor is it my opinion. It is based on a converastion I had with a Sierra insider.
That's outrageous. So what now? They will turn Gabriel Knight into a shooter? Larry into a platformer (now that's something I'd like to see)?
You have no idea how that piece of information has depressed me.. I was happier knowing that there weren't going to be new games of their adventure series.
The best thing that can happen now is Sierra going out of business and fan based games continuing the series.
Though they will not admit this next part - I think that because of the success of the Police Quest series crossing over from adventure to action, that they think any of their franchises can do the same.
Maybe because Police Quest was the least succesful of the Quest series...
Post your displeasure on the Sierra Forums, on JA Forum or at your favorite forum and I will guarantee that I will send links to all the complaints to the proper people at Sierra.
Got it. You're absolutely right. This should be the beginning of a campaign to save some of the most beloved adventures ever.
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| 15 NOV 2002 at 5:56pm |
| Deleted User | If this is true, then the hope is surely lost. If they are stupid enough to bring back the great characters of old and turn them into what the only people that actually still remembers them into the exact opposite than what they want, then they've surely hit rock bottom. How can it be that a huge gaming company like Sierra today are so inept at making market research that they figure they can bring home such a deal? Even more sad is the fact that if SQ7 and any other games are slain by the audience, it might do the most damage to the independent development teams who put their souls into the effort of making this game a reality. How could it come to this?
There are parallells to the movie industry today that are very interesting. It is only a matter of time before it will backfire on the huge conglomerates that makes the decisions today. It doesn't really matter how big they are, when people sooner or later will realize that they're only producing crap. The independent movie industry flourishes today. So is the fangame communities on the Internet. Maybe this is where to look for the stuff of tomorrow.
If you think about it, the media industry is very scary today. Pick up any movie, record or computer game that first meets your eyes in your local shopping centre, and the odds are over 50% that it will be a product from either Vivendi Universal, Sony or AOL/Time Warner!!! Imagine the power that the people in charge of those three companies have in their hands!
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| 15 NOV 2002 at 6:29pm |
Erwin_BrPrivate Detective
Posts : 455
Joined: 7 NOV 2002
Status : Offline | Sierra can learn something from LucasArts. They have PR people constantly lurking around on fansites, forums, etc.
Just take a look at their site, it's all about customer interaction what you will see there.
I think Sierra is too big. They can't react fast to what we gamers want. Not only that, I don't think Sierra has the intention to reach it's audience which I think is very silly and downright dumb.
--Erwin
[url=http://justadventure.com/IndependentDevs/BadTiming/index.html][img]http://erbserv.emptyhouse.net/public/images/bt-forumbanner.gif[/img][/url]
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| 15 NOV 2002 at 6:42pm |
Steve IncePrivate Detective
Posts : 571
Joined: 7 NOV 2002
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Randy-JA (15 NOV 2002 5:09pm)
They are not interested in making another adventure game, but they ARE interested in turning all of their franchises - ALL OF THEM - into action games.
Kind of puts the Broken Sword arguments into a different perspective.
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| 15 NOV 2002 at 7:13pm |
sennebecGuild Master
Posts : 3334
Joined: 15 NOV 2004
Location: US, maine
Status : Offline | *sennebec throws a hissy fit*
holy cow...
this is sooo not right...!!!
i just zipped over to sierra's forum page and guess what... ?
they are down for maintenance...! >
I SMELL A RAT ! > > >
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| 15 NOV 2002 at 8:59pm |
SunshineSlayerIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 10
Joined: 15 NOV 2002
Status : Online | This is very upsetting news. Fortunatly I've already had a while to let it all settle in as AG has known about this for months as well. Like Randy though we didn't want to post anything until we had confirmation. I'm not sure what changed, but Marek must have gotten some kind of confirmation from Sierra.
I can only reiterate what Randy posted and say that everyone should e-mail Sierra or post on the forums; maybe get a petition going or something. :sigh:
There has also been rumblings about a new Gabriel Knight. Lets hope Sierra doesn't massacre that series as well.
~Christina Gmiterko
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| 16 NOV 2002 at 12:48am |
InieJourneyman
Posts : 856
Joined: 27 OCT 2002
Status : Online | Another reason to divert your attention to LucasArts!
On a more serious note, I agree with all of you that it is quite upsetting. I guess I really would be angry if I hadn't realised just now that the last Sierra game I bought is ..... well that's just the problem. I can't remember (it couldn't be GK3, could it?! 1999!!!). I think Sierra has let us down for quite a while now. I hope I missed something but I really don't think so.
I feel sorry for you guys who had their hopes set on a new SQ-AG. They were fun games.
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| 16 NOV 2002 at 1:25am |
MichalNGrand Inquisitor
Posts : 7058
Joined: 14 SEP 2003
Status : Online | Originally Posted By Inie (16 NOV 2002 12:48am)
Another reason to divert your attention to LucasArts!
I thought LucasArts was doing pretty much the same thing with Full Throttle 2 and maybe even Sam & Max 2?
I forgot my sig.
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| 16 NOV 2002 at 1:37am |
AyaGrand Inquisitor
Posts : 7277
Joined: 16 OCT 2002
Status : Offline | just like Michael said... i won't comment on Sierra's (my once upon a time favorite company) and Lucasarts actions because my post will be deleted and i'll probably get banned due to the language i'll use > > > i'll just say my hopes now rely on other companies.... SHAME on both of them >
You have gotten the attention of the mysterious lady. She turns to face you. Her face is devoid of any flesh. You are frozen with horror as she begins ripping your body into a bloody mess.
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| 16 NOV 2002 at 1:42am |
dabomb765Space Cadet
Posts : 122
Joined: 13 OCT 2002
Status : Online | Originally Posted By MichalN (16 NOV 2002 1:25am)
I thought LucasArts was doing pretty much the same thing with Full Throttle 2 and maybe even Sam & Max 2?
In my opinion I think that Full Throttle 2 should have more action elements than adventure simply because that is what the whole story is about. Action.
On the other hand Im not really surprised that Sierra has gone all out action. Ever since Kq8 I just gave up on them.
P.s. Randy: I remember in one of the state of adventure articles you mentioned that you were going to do an interview with Tim Curry. Did Tim also decline or something.
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| 16 NOV 2002 at 2:17am |
The Terror of the Wolf part 3Schattenjger
Posts : 2391
Joined: 11 OCT 2002
Status : Online | Unfortunatly, this doesn't surprise me in the least. Kinda like 'Pokemon brand condoms' if you know what I mean. You manage to make something that's sucessful, and then desperatly try to cash in on it with anything you possibly can.
If it makes it any better, any SQ action games would no doubt be very, very lame.
[url=http://www.justadventure.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1136331866/0#0]GAMES FOR TRADE!![/url]
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| 16 NOV 2002 at 3:32am |
dimidimidimiSchattenjger
Posts : 1784
Joined: 10 OCT 2002
Status : Online | It's not only Sierra. It's also Lucasarts, Revolution, and soon maybe Funcom also. It is the strategy of the new millenium. Who compromises more than anybody else for buying a game of their favourite series even if it is crap? Adventure players.
Ok then we take a succesful adventure series, make it into action and so we take the 200,000 adventure gamers that would buy it cause they are going to buy it anyway and some more action players because they are going to be action games.
I think we should all consider how do we vote nowdays. Believe me, your vote is in your wallet.
There is only two companies I am counting on. Microids and Dreamcatcher. Especially Microids I think should be considered the last of the mohicans.
PDF adventure magazine - The Inventory&&http://www.justadventure.com/TheInventory/TheInventory.shtm&&&&What would you give to know the truth?&&http://www.brokensaints.com
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| 16 NOV 2002 at 4:59am |
| Deleted User | We could always give Sierra a chance here instead of declaring the situation a "debacle" before the project has even been officially announced.
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| 16 NOV 2002 at 5:09am |
Agustín CordesGuild Master
Posts : 5696
Joined: 23 OCT 2002
Location: AR, Buenos Aires
Status : Offline | We could always give Sierra a chance here instead of declaring the situation a "debacle" before the project has even been officially announced.
I don't know. Even when SQ7 was officialy announced four or so years ago they told it would have a "multiplayer element". I don't think they changed their minds now.
Sierra isn't Sierra anymore. The adventure genre is dead for them.
I only hope the fan based sequel comes out someday. It looks far more promising than anything SQ related from Sierra.
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| 16 NOV 2002 at 5:45am |
Randy-JAJourneyman
Posts : 1351
Joined: 11 OCT 2002
Location: US
Status : Offline | Dabomb
Tim has not declined, but this is one of those deals where you have to go through an agent, p.r. people, etc.
It may still happen, may not. All of the questions were based on his involvement with adventure games.
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| 16 NOV 2002 at 5:52am |
lamboIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 21
Joined: 21 OCT 2002
Status : Online | HALFLIFE, HOMEWORLD and the NOLF series of games to name just a few, are all published by Sierra. I know the company didn't really have alot to do with the development of these titles and I know they are not adventure games. I'm also quite upset with them choosing to abandon the genre of games that put them on the map in the first place, but the above mentioned titles are some of the best games around. Do you really want to see this company fold up as some people have suggested. Personally I hope they don't well not until after HALFLIFE2, HOMEWORLD2 and NOLF3 is released.
Lastly, I know this may be wishfull thinking but the increasing debate over excessively violent content in video and PC games may lead to the ressurgence in the adventure game market. You never know.
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| 16 NOV 2002 at 7:31am |
MichalNGrand Inquisitor
Posts : 7058
Joined: 14 SEP 2003
Status : Online | Originally Posted By lambo (16 NOV 2002 5:52am)
Lastly, I know this may be wishfull thinking but the increasing debate over excessively violent content in video and PC games may lead to the ressurgence in the adventure game market. You never know.
I doubt that will happen. When sex is forbidden (or at least seriously frowned upon), what else can the publishers use to attract the masses besides violence?
I forgot my sig.
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| 16 NOV 2002 at 12:13pm |
sennebecGuild Master
Posts : 3334
Joined: 15 NOV 2004
Location: US, maine
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Decaffeinated_Jedi (16 NOV 2002 4:59am)
We could always give Sierra a chance here instead of declaring the situation a "debacle" before the project has even been officially announced.
unfortunately, we are not talking about one project...
randy states clearly, and in capital letters, "They are not interested in making another adventure game, but they ARE interested in turning all of their franchises - ALL OF THEM - into action games " >
so...come on, mike ryder, it's time to step out of the closet and make a statement !!
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| 16 NOV 2002 at 2:17pm |
RavensbreedSpace Cadet
Posts : 156
Joined: 10 OCT 2002
Status : Online | Somethings are just plain wrong and never should be done. This includes Madonna's cover version of American Pie and turning Space Quest into an action game. Usually I take a fairly laid back approach to these sorts of thing. I had no problems with Broken Sword 3, and I enjoyed Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine. But even I draw the line somewhere. I do not like or support the idea of the Space Quest series being ruined by creating an action game. Space Quest 1 was the first Sierra game I ever played, back in my old Amiga days. I Remember getting Space Quest 3 for my birthday and secretly staying up all night to play it despite having school the next day. It was a terrific series. I will not buy any Space Quest action game.
As a side note, am I the only one curious about a Leisure Suit Larry action game? My mind literally boggles at the possibilities. I might have bought that one.
Some people are like a slinky. They might not be good for anything, but its fun to watch them tumble down stairs. &&
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| 16 NOV 2002 at 6:06pm |
| Deleted User | Originally Posted By Ravensbreed (16 NOV 2002 2:17pm)
Somethings are just plain wrong and never should be done. This includes Madonna's cover version of American Pie
Hehe, and you can add her new Bond title track to that list. The worst one in the entire 40 years of the series!
Originally Posted By Ravensbreed (16 NOV 2002 2:17pm)
As a side note, am I the only one curious about a Leisure Suit Larry action game? My mind literally boggles at the possibilities. I might have bought that one.
That has been discussed before and it might just be a cool game. However, I don't think Al Lowe would like that. He's always said that the LSL games were designed in a way that made him like to play them. It would be sad if Sierra used his character (that they own) and turn it into something he'd really dislike. If you ask me, they at least owe it to him to listen to his opinion, concerning what he has meant to the company's success.
Come to think about it, with the numerous name changes Sierra has made over the years, wouldn't it be time for a new one; this time to ScumSoft? It's scary when you think about it, they've turned into the guys at the end of the SQ3 promotional video!!! Just the fact that they've uploaded that video that stands against everything about their current business policy today is kind of revolting! I wonder if they got the Two Guys tied up in the basement too...
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| 16 NOV 2002 at 7:49pm |
szcaxJourneyman
Posts : 935
Joined: 12 OCT 2002
Status : Online | I wonder how the general gaming community would react if it was announced that quake 4 would be an adventure game. Or the next final fantasy a fly fishing simulator. Then theyd know what it's like to be an adventure gamer in these days :-/
Black holes are where God divided by zero
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| 16 NOV 2002 at 9:01pm |
Erwin_BrPrivate Detective
Posts : 455
Joined: 7 NOV 2002
Status : Offline | Excuse me, but Sam and Max 2 is going to be a 100% adventure game according to PR-boss Tom Sarris of LucasArts.
And Full Throttle is going to have action elements, but it's not going to be a Tomb-Raider style run/shoot/pull-a-lever kind of thing. Did you know that they wanted more action to the original Full Throttle as well? SCUMM was too limited at the time.
--Erwin
[url=http://justadventure.com/IndependentDevs/BadTiming/index.html][img]http://erbserv.emptyhouse.net/public/images/bt-forumbanner.gif[/img][/url]
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| 16 NOV 2002 at 9:26pm |
| Deleted User | I am shocked of this whole bad bad news! I am dissapointed
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