This double stuffed episode makes up for last week’s week off, even without Paul in the podcast.
The news covers the following items:
They then covered the top stories of the year, which leads to the Question of the Week, “What was the biggest news item in 2012?”
Electronic Arts is planning to lay off 1,000 employees, approximately 10% of their employees. In this layoff their also consolidating EA Black Box back into EA Canada. EA Black Box was spun off as a studio outside of EA Canada to work on such titles as Need for Speed but, with the layoffs arriving, they’re going to be merging the remainder of EA Black Box into EA Canada by June 2009. The remaining EA Black Box employees will continue working on Skate 2.
The pink slips should be issued by March 31, 2009 and we’re hoping the folks that have lost their jobs will find new jobs as soon as possible. An Electronic Arts representative said:
“This does not mean that the Black Box studio is closing. The studio is moving to our Burnaby campus to share the facility with EAC and other EA teams that operate out of our state-of-the-art facility. We will operate two distinct studios, each with their own distinct culture and teams, out of our Burnaby facility.” (gamespot)
EA hasn’t mentioned any specific franchise cancellation but we’re going to assume something is going to slip, it’s hard to imagine a company can lose 1,000 employees without impacting business operations. If EA was able to layoff 1,000 people without impacting day-to-day business, then they’re definitely hurting in the management department because that would be a ton of waste.
Big companies may cut costs during hard times but they said they’re, “implementing a plan to narrow its product portfolio to focus on hit games with higher margin opportunities. The company remains committed to taking creative risks, investing in new games, leading the industry in the growing mobile and online businesses, and delivering high-quality games to consumers.”
We’re curious just how much EA is willing to risk on “creative” endevours considering publishers are already hesitant to break new ground. The next few years should yield great opportunities for smaller developers to put on their creative hat and open new doors and opportunities for themselves.
This article was published on January 19th, 2009 by me, about an MMO that never came to be.
With Ultima Online heading into its 12th year, and Richard Garriott declaring he wants to make a new fantasy MMORPG, its time to examine the MMO that never was: Ultima X: Odyssey.
Before any discussion of Ultima X can be made, one must examine Ultima IX: Ascension, a 1999 disaster that basically doomed the Ultima franchise, and ultimately, Origin Systems, Garriott’s development company that was purchased by Electronic Arts in 1992. Ultima IX was an ambitious, completely 3D game that promised to be revolutionary. For instance, when you shot an enemy with an arrow, the arrow would persistantly remain in the enemy; it didn’t help that enemies could withstand a ton of damage, so they often resembled chia pets with dozens of arrows sticking out of them. The attempt came at a price, however. The graphics engine was so demanding, large cities were villages. There were numerous bugs and glitches. Worse yet, the game was so divorced from the previous Ultima titles in terms of story and characterization that devoted fans were annoyed and turned off from it.
Ultima Online was released in 1997, and when it began to be overshadowed by graphically superior games that utilized 3D engines like Everquest, they began develop of a 3D Ultima MMO called Ultima Worlds Online: Origin. Aside from the new engine, UWOO promised to have parties of 20-30, presaging the online raids that World of Warcraft would perfect. However, the sequel to Ultima Online was doomed by its predecessor – Electronic Arts feared UWOO would steal subscribers from the still profitable UO and canned the development group, sending Garriott packing. Sony, on the other hand, had no such qualms about a sequel and released Everquest 2 in 2004, which was successful in eventually transitioning fans from the first to the second game.
By the time 2003 rolled around, an host of new 3D MMOs had been released, including Dark Age of Camelot in 2001, and Ultima Online‘s subscribership was dwindling quickly. It was clear Ultima Online was now a dinosaur in the MMO world, and it needed to be updated. At E3 2003, Electronic Arts announced their second attempt at an MMO, Ultima X: Odyssey. The reaction to it was immediately positive, as you can tell from the above video.
One of the deliberate challenges by the designers of the announced MMO was the name itself. Unlike Ultima Online and the aborted Ultima Online Worlds: Origin, Ultima X was putting itself in the canon of the series as a numbered Ultima; when rumors of Ultima X began, people initially thought it was to be the first of a new trilogy. The use of the “X” was seen as a bold declaration in another way: it was following the disastrous Ultima IX, putting the game in the same position that Star Trek VI did, having to follow the footsteps of a franchise-killer. Furthermore, this was being done without Garriott, the lifeblood of the Ultima franchise, for the first time.
In being the “next Ultima RPG”, the developers stressed that it would be more like Ultima than Ultima Online was. Lead designer Jonathan Hanna explained in an interview at E3:
UXO is also more heavily based on the previous Ultima single-player games than UO is or Origin (UWOO) was going to be. The Ultima RPG series is considered by many to be one of the best RPG series ever. Ultima 4: Quest of the Avatar™ and Ultima 7: The Black Gate™ are often listed in best games of all time lists in gaming polls. It is no accident that the franchise has continued for over 20 years now. UXO will hearken back to the legendary world first brought to life in those classic games as well as creating new twists that will appeal to both old time fans and those who have never played an Ultima game. (GameZone)
Even more appealing was the way characters would develop. The player would pick from six races – elf, orc, pixie, phoda, gargoyle and human – and use one of four Paths, each of which would allow players to buy skills from four different subclasses – a system later adopted by Tabula Rasa.
For example, the Path of the Blade includes Fighters, Knights, and Barbarians. Players who choose the Path of the Blade can select abilities (skills) from any of these Disciplines. In most class-based games you have to choose either a Fighter (a primary class) or a Barbarian (a hybrid class). UXO’s character advancement allows you to either focus on one Discipline or create your own hybrid class.
Player characters would further be affected by the eight Virtues that were found in every Ultima game since IV. Every mission would increase a player’s rating in one of eight Virtue, and gaining in Virtues would allow you to buy Virtue-specific equipment. Even more off the beaten path, a player would create additional characters, and if each of their PCs achieved the maximum in a Virtue, the original PC would become an Avatar.
Another interesting aspect in trying to create a more player-centric experience was that rather than players seeking out missions, the missions would come to the player.
The people of Alucinor will need your help and they aren’t shy about asking for it. Once you accept a quest, you’ll have the opportunity to make choices that will change the direction of the quest, the reactions of the NPCs and monsters, and the reward you get. So you don’t have to follow a predetermined story in order to succeed; you can actually role-play the various situations and create your own unique adventure. The choices you get to make are based on the Ultima Virtues, so there are no wrong choices. Just decide how your character would react.
So, the gamers who tried it out at E3 2003 loved it, and the developers had unique MMO experiences prepared, and a proven MMO license backing it. What went wrong?
On June 30, 2004, the following message appeared on the UXO website:
This isn’t an easy decision, but it’s the right move for the future of all things Ultima, including the community and the team. We look forward to sharing our plans for the future of Ultima Online very soon.
I would like to thank all of the Ultima X: Odyssey supporters who have been with us from the beginning. I hope you will continue to support the Ultima franchise and the development team as they transition to new projects.
Once again, Electronic Arts balked at starting a new Ultima MMO and chose to support the aged Ultima Online with new expansions. But why?
The chief reason was the sheer glut of MMOs being developed and released at the time – Ultima X: Odyssey would have to compete against fellow E3 2003 showcases World of Warcraft, Everquest II and City of Heroes. At the time, EA balked at losing their older property with a chancy new product that had different gameplay from its predecessor. An odd decision, as mentioned earlier, since Sony had no compunctions about replacing Everquest with a sequel – with more demanding graphics.
One must wonder what the MMO landscape might have been had UXO been released to compete with World of Warcraft and the other MMOs. What do you think?
If you thought you’d be getting a release of Starcraft 2 for the holiday of 2008 you’ll be upset at the news. The heavily awaited RTS title Starcraft 2 will be arriving sometime in 2009. The original title arrived in 1998 but we’re not going to see the first sequel until sometime next year, amazing people even remember the game after eleven years, right?
Activision Blizzard hardly makes a game we’d forget. The reason we all have fond memories of Starcraft, Warcraft and Diablo is due to the craftsmanship that goes into the game titles (and a bit of the marketing). The developers take their time to hand craft and test a solid product, which is reason alone to see a release next year rather than in this one.
“Next year’s offerings from Activision Blizzard should include highly anticipated PC strategy title StarCraft II, the sequel to one of the world’s most enduringly popular games.” (starcraftwire.com)
It won’t make the 2008 holiday schedule, making us wonder if it’s a 2009 holiday schedule. Although Activision Blizzard doesn’t need to time their games for the biggest sales seasons it doesn’t hurt to push the title out when gamers are actively looking for new blockbusters.
Personally, we’d love to see a Spring/Summer release time frame to give us something to fill the void, but we’re sure Activision’s marketing team has plans revolving around money than a few gamers personal preferences. Regardless to the launch time we’re at least privvy to the knowledge that it’s coming next year.
That one guy saying ps2 had “no good games” is an idiot, i never played shadow of the Colossus or ICO but i now own them on PS3 and know they are regarded as great, I like Killzone on PS2 for that system for it’s specs. however metal gear solid 2 killed it in its day and MGS 3 was considered great. Ratchet and clank and Jak and daxter games started on PS2 as well as Killzone. Red Faction got it’s start on PS2. I thought Twisted metal black was a solid game. Game cube and Xbox offered unique gameplay ie resident evil remake and prequel and mario and friends for Gamecube and poopy fps games for Xbox other than halo and fable being it’s little too late good game, also jade empire and KOTOR were overlooked by some. But i think when you consider Gamecubes weak start, and Xbox’s weak start and lack of solid games, they will think fondly of when PS2 was there main system for even just a little while, and smile with a fond memory.
Their** main system
Also the devil may cry series, it had a co op resident evil game i always wanted to play but never did (4 player zombie co op ahead of it’s time) it had wipeout i believe but i never played till psp. It’s a good racing game. It had some crash bandicoot games thatr were decent platformers, and some good 3rd party support (that should be a joke it had huge 3rd party support but def some crap games in there). But def some “gems” too, like the onimusha series which i wish they would remake in hd, cuz i only played the first one(was a broke kid)
@PS2 stops shipping
It is far from the end of the PS2. When I was leaving Russia in 2004, the top consoles there were PS1 and Sega MegaDrive. PS2 was priced above anyones budget and it was impossible to find one in stores. On the other hand, UK had Xbox, PS2 and Gamecube. Therefore, I expect that PS2 will stop officially selling in 1st world places, but move on to BRICKs. China still stamps out Sega MegaDrives for sale in the ex-soviet states.
@WWE
I stopped caring for WW games. They were so cool in the PS1 days of Smackdown. But eventually evolved into FIFA style year-on updates. It’s just not the same anymore.
@QOTW
To be honest, none of stories look that big to me. Nintendo made a disappointing launch of the new generation. Racism and Sexism in a gaming industry where 90% of leading characters are white men. Some people I never heard of left. Some companies I never cared for shut down. If I am to choose one, I will go for PS2 breathing it’s Japanese last. A golden era of gaming is coming to a close. A time when games were unique and innovative. It will be missed.
@PS2 stopped shipping in Japan:
RIP ps2, you had an awesome run!
@QOTW:
i think that 2012 was not that big for gaming industries, with the recovery from the recession and stuff, it was relatively a slow year. new halo, new cod, the only 2 things that got my attention was borderlands 2 and battlefield 4 announced.
and of course, the THQ’s bankurrupcy (please correct)
… and I’m back from my almost internet-less vacation.
@Sony stops shipping PlayStation 2 in Japan and @Arthur V
I think it is the last breath for the console. Sure, current owners will still play their games, heck Cry is doing a let’s play for Haunting Grounds, so PS2 gaming will continue. But not for long. The death spiral starts when people stop developing for it, and I think this started earlier.
As for letting go of old hardware, dunno. Nostalgia does play a part, at least for consumers; I mean there are no other costs for owning an old console, so unless you want to raise some money or free some space, why ditch it?
@WWE may not get $45M owed by THQ for license
Meh, not a fan of those games. But THQ bankrupt? Man, I guess I have been living under a rock. Just went through the news, apparently the judge denied the bankruptcy plan.
In the light of that then yeah, I guess what Dan said is right, the Humble Bundle was a desperate ate attempt to get some money.
As for games published by a bankrupt THQ and with support of crowd funding, I would love to see how THAT would pan out in case the judge rules on denying the bankruptcy and auctioning the assets of the company …
Oh, apparently the assets will be sold title by title after all …
@QOTW: the bankruptcy of GSC Games, Ukraine.
The first game I played from them was Codename: Outbreak, and I was impressed by it despite its minor flaws. The STALKER games were also dear to me, and were proof that Outbreak was not a fluke.
I was excited by the announcements of STALKER 2, and in my eyes the company was golden.
Then they announced they went bankrupt.
Anyway, I think I know what will be the biggest news in 2013-2014: PS Vita and WiiU sales fail to meet expectations. Oh wait, this already happened … silly me …