moegooner882375d ago

TLOTR The Return of the King is probably my fav coop game of all time. Gutted to hear this

The 10th Rider2375d ago

Honestly one of the best movie tie in games I've played. It wasn't exactly an incredible game, but it sure was a blast to play.

NordicRainy2375d ago

The Lord of the Rings tie-in games were all pretty awesome imo. I played Two Towers not too long ago and it's still quite fun.

Eonjay2375d ago

And the wording is the worst and leaves little imagination about what they want. Truly saddening.

Eonjay2375d ago

Apparently, Amy is no longer the lead. Basically, this was an announcement that her game was cancelled and they are replacing it with a model more suited to their end goals.

Vegamyster2375d ago

Same, that game was amazing for it's time. Also loved James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing on PS2.

mafiahajeri2375d ago

My god man they were good days I loved the two towers. The helms deep misson was so damn good, I still remember protecting that damn door from the uruk hai was so hard. The music was legit because it was from the movie, they captured everything perfectly.

What makes it so special to me is that I love lotr, and these games were a dream come true, people dont appreciate that the series of games were basically a exact copy of the movies and it was damn good, very rare. Battle for middle earth the RTS was amazing too. Lotr probably has the best liscensed games ever.

Thanks for reminding me bro 😁

DarkOcelet2375d ago (Edited 2375d ago )

"while Visceral Games closes down."

Another great studio destroyed by EA. What a sad day for gaming. Dead Space 1 and 2 were phenomenal.

"And instead of making that linear, story-based game, the title will be reshaped"

I bet they will find a way to put Microtransactions in this Star Wars as well . F*** EA

-Foxtrot2375d ago

This has become so relevant...I've updated it but still

https://i.imgur.com/qVqzGNB...

Such a shame

UCForce2375d ago

Amy Henning won't be please about this change.

bloop2375d ago (Edited 2375d ago )

I just can't understand how as publishers, EA can be so clueless. All they have to do is just look at the Dead Space sales. The one game of that franchise that they interfered with performed the worst sales wise. It's just mind boggling that they see these studios with so much talent, let them do what they want, see great success, and then go in and fuck it all up by telling them what they think they should be doing!! From a business stand point, it's just completely moronic!! DS 1 & 2 were up there with my favourite games last gen and I always, always hoped we might get another one, true to what the first 2 games were. Screw you EA!!

Ceaser98573612375d ago

"Amy Henning won't be please about this change."

Amy needs to get hired back at Naughty Dog , giving her a separate team and working on a new IP ...

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AspiringProGenji2375d ago

Publishers getting in the way of developers’ vision for a game is not good sign. Amy wants to direct a linear SP game and EA wants something else, and Viceral Games gets closed down for that decision... this is terrible

-Foxtrot2375d ago

Wonder how she feels now. I mean she probably joined EA straight after the ND fiasco because she was offered to lead a Star Wars game where she could mold it into I'm guessing the "Uncharted Star Wars". Now that it won't be an action adventure game what's going to happen, I doubt she'd be pleased with the change.

Moving studios is one thing, shutting down the studio is another, changing your vision of a game you were promised to lead is something to get p***** off at.

Nyxus2375d ago

She should just go to another studio. Her talents are wasted there.

2600Thunder2375d ago (Edited 2375d ago )

Most talented creatives/STEM pros dont stay in the gaming industry unless highly compelled to do so unfortunately. These are people with advanced careers and/or degrees so once they get beat up by the EAs, Ubisofts, Activisions, MSs, and other a-hole companies it is difficult to justify staying when there are tons of non-gaming companies ready and willing to treat employees like gold.

This industry is so full of viciousness when it comes to treating people with respect it's insane. Why would anyone choose to stay unless they had an intense love for making games, and if that is taken from them then there is no reason. The industry grows weaker in professionals by the day, yet they are abundantly available if properly compensated and given autonomy to do what they love.

iNcRiMiNaTi2375d ago

Amy hennig should just leave EA. Hopefully she finds her way back to crystal dynamics and we'll finally have a proper legacy of kain sequel

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Mikelarry2375d ago (Edited 2375d ago )

Oh you bet your sweet penny, they arent even trying to hide it and i qoute

" It has become clear that to deliver an experience that players will want to come back to and enjoy for a long time to come, we needed to pivot the design"

Basically turning this into a GaaS and milking suckers dry, but still some will say " it doesn't bother me or it doesn't affect the game"

with each day that goes by it becomes clearer that my back log and indies are they way forward for me, AAA games just arent exciting me anymore

Nyxus2375d ago

From story-based, linear adventure game to GAAS. Ugh...

DarkOcelet2375d ago

Its a shame really because it was the only Star Wars title I was looking forward to. People really need to stop buying games with GaaaS model. It's destroying gaming as a whole.

UltraNova2375d ago

Damn EA... you're so disgusting in so many ways.

UCForce2375d ago

"Sigh" I can't believe this BS. EA is just destroying her career and her passion.

EatCrow2374d ago

AAA games stopped being very appealing late last gen. Only the first party ip of the different consoles seem to keep it going. Along with a few exceptional studios and publishers. But EA, Activ and Ubi are long gone from my list and they have been since beginning of last gen.

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2375d ago
PapaBop2375d ago (Edited 2375d ago )

By linear story based probably just means no wiggle room to shoehorn in MTs. In fact, if you read the first paragraph, it's essentially implying that, just replace "what our players want to play" to "what we want our players to play"

Hopefully this won't be the end of this and EA get put on blast and Battlefront 2 is a flop

UCForce2375d ago (Edited 2375d ago )

I hate EA so much. I can't stand with them. They are just screwing everyone in gaming business.

Good-Smurf2375d ago

Bioware is next,DICE is already in deep MT shit and need to wake up fast or the same will happen to DICE as well.
Yesterday I'm actually was thinking about Dead Space getting nostalgia about it and want to go back and play it and then the next only to hear the studio behind it is no more...have sixth sense really sucks.

RommyReigns2375d ago

Battlefield is one of EA's staple IP so I would be very surprised if DICE gets the boot.

Imalwaysright2375d ago

Oh I don't have any doubt that Bioware (if we can call it that) next game: Anthem will have them.

Yukes2375d ago

85 upvotes, no downvotes DarkOcelot speaks volumes about how the gaming community views this decision. You're spot on. This makes me really angry. EA saying they needed to "pivot the design" and "deliver an experience that players will want to come back to and enjoy for a long time to come" screams loot boxes, grinding, and weak side quests. This will inevitably destroy the game's strong narrative vision. What a waste. Feel for the Visceral employees.

RommyReigns2375d ago

Closed down because the Visceral project led by Amy Hennig was going to be a 'linear, story based game'... What did EA expect? Awesome linear, story based games are her forte. EA trying to win the 'Worst Company In America' award again?

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AspiringProGenji2375d ago

Noooo I wanted another Dead Space game. I just signed up to EA access this morning to play the series...

Thanks EA 😡

andrewsquall2375d ago

Wut? Its been nearly 7 years since Dead Space 2. So its been well known over half a decade that EA aren't going to let Visceral make any incredible original games anymore. Even this Star Wars game meant nothing so far without a single shred of actual gameplay.
I was already content a long time ago with the fact that Visceral where a studio that were never going to get back to that elite level of developer status.

2375d ago
Gasian2375d ago

"In its current form, it was shaping up to be a story-based, linear adventure game. Throughout the development process, we have been testing the game concept with players, listening to the feedback about what and how they want to play, and closely tracking fundamental shifts in the marketplace. It has become clear that to deliver an experience that players will want to come back to and enjoy for a long time to come, we needed to pivot the design."

He says it like it is a bad thing. Freaking EA shutting down projects to continue their BS lootbox/ microstransaction driven nonsense. Like I am not saying there weren't development issues happening but it seems like they wanted the chance to shut this down. So they could exploit the hell out of their new "reworked" game.

You know EA, Next on the list is Respawn I guess :(

crazychris41242375d ago (Edited 2375d ago )

Yea I bet when EA shuts down Respawn they will blame poor sales even though EA rushed the first Titanfall with little content for the holidays and released the sequel between two of the biggest first person shooter franchises.

OC_MurphysLaw2375d ago

EA doesn't own Respawn. They merely had a publishing deal for Titanfall 1 & 2.

Gasian2375d ago (Edited 2375d ago )

@dlacy13g I forgot about that but theoretically Respawn runs out of money cause EA are such terrible partners and keep killing their games. I would not be surprised if that happened then EA shuts down Bioware eventually. Because Bioware is already a husk of its formal self anyway.

Nyxus2375d ago

"It's not GaaS! Quickly, shut it down, close the studio!"

zcmilano2375d ago

It is a shame, but millions of people are buying and enjoying their "BS lootbox / microtransaction driven nonsense". Not that that is what they're referring to anyway, their talking about a shared world MMO RPG like Destiny. They can't ignore the numbers... all the people crying online in forums like n4g are the minority. Most people want multiplayer shared experiences. I'm not one of them, but it's a fact we have to accept.

ninsigma2375d ago

It sucks. A shared word star wars game would be incredible but why not have both?? Should have just kept it as is and made a separate game that's a shared world in the SW universe. I was really looking forward to a proper SP star wars game, but it's pretty obvious where they're going with this.

Seraphim2375d ago

that's exactly it. I thought it sounded great and quite frankly I don't give 2 F's about any Star Wars game. Though I do love Vicserals past work and think they were easily one of the best studios last gen. Huge mistake that EA has again made.

andrewsquall2375d ago

The most shocking thing about that quote is, what the hell does Amy Hennig have to say about this?

"We needed to pivot the design." That sounds EXACTLY like an interfering publisher that is going to ruin relationships with an elite creative designer working on their current game.

gamerpop2375d ago

You do realize EA own that studio, right? They aren't perverts coming in and touching their game illegally. They can do whatever the hell they want. Visceral is dead without EA. Oh, I didn't need to say that...

Ceaser98573612375d ago (Edited 2375d ago )

correct me if i am wrong.. Respawn parted away from EA , isn't it??? they are Indie now. EA publishes their games isn't it ?

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60°

WayForward Director Says Nintendo Changed The Way He Looks At Making Video Games

Veteran game designer James Montagna is directing this new project and apparently has a new outlook on game design after teaming up with Nintendo

Read Full Story >>
nintendolife.com
130°

Pocketpair Studio Boss Calls Out Tencent For Developing A Palworld Clone

The game in question appears to be dubbed Auroria on Steam, which shares a plethora of similarities with Palworld.

Inverno19h ago

No offense but Palworld isn't that original either, with that said… ew Tencent no thank you. I love the survival genre but all these half baked early access games have ruined the genre for me.

exputers4h ago

>Palworld isn't that original either

Can't disagree with that, but it did spin the Pokemon dynamic in a unique way, you gotta give Pocketpair that. Now by doing so, prepare for a ton of Palworld clones, both on PC and mobile.

150°

With Larian Out Of The Picture, Will The Baldur's Gate IP Be In Safe Hands?

Huzaifah from eXputer: "With Larian Studios washing their hands of the IP, what is the ultimate fate of the legendary Baldur's Gate series?"

RaidenBlack22h ago

If anybody's gonna mention BioWare, then look at Archetype Entertainment, they're the new BioWare
or else
Obsidian is still a good choice but not independent anymore.

anast22h ago(Edited 22h ago)

No, WoTC is pivoting to mobile. They can use Larian's work to justify DnD Go and everyone will accept it.

RiseNShine21h ago

Short answer, nope. Long answer, f*ck nope.

robtion4h ago

Correct answer. Most people don't realise that the companies that are still making good games using common sense and a customer focus are generally not American. They are from Poland, Belgium, Japan, or other countries that have not yet become completely corrupted by 'extreme capitalism'.

Before you down vote me into oblivion I am not anti-american. I just don't like greed and corruption which unfortunately seems to correlate with power.

I would guess the next Baldurs gate will probably be filled with GaaS.

Christopher21h ago

Honestly, we're talking completely new engine and none of Larian's built-in stuff with regard to environments and the like that they had from their past divinity game. No one is going to have that just ready to go. So, they need to shop for a dev studio that has a past game that shows what they want.

Obsidian doesn't have that, maybe the closest being Dungeon Siege 3 or Pillars of Eternity, but those are very basic, not as open, very little environment related and altering capabilities. So, we're talking a step way back on what Larian delivered. Zero scene experience to line up with what was done in BG3. Okay conversation tree designs, but still needs more complexity.

inXile has Wasteland 3 as a base model engine, and I think that's better than Pillars of Eternity from Obsidian. But, still needs to be more open world, more environmental effects, and a much heavier rules set adaptation. But, not a bad overall engine as a base, but still a ton of work. Zero scene experience to line up with what was done in BG3. Needs a ton of work on that entirely.

Tactical Adventure did the Solasta game. Really good and more accurate as far as 5e rules than BG3. But, again, if the expectation is similar to what made BG3 a big hit, engine isn't designed for moving the camera, is a bit outdated in graphics, doesn't have in-game scene elements, and needs much better writers/voice actors.

Owlcat of pathfinder games is another choice, even though they've recently moved on to WH40k licensed games. Again, though, the engine is the biggest issue here to match up, but it's a much better option overall than Tactical Adventure. Another question is writers/story telling, as much of their overall story telling bits are very limited with a lot of random worldbuilding elements that are just +\- of some attributes.

TBH, no matter who takes over, it's just not going to be like BG3 much like how BG3 isn't at all like BG1/2. And BG3 was so successful because of how much Larian was able to put in with their engine and how focused they were on players having ridiculous control over the story being told. I just don't see the next BG being the same and depending on what it is, it might be good but I'm not as big of a reach as BG3. It's way more likely players are going to go into BG4 (or its spiritual successor if it moves away from Baldur's Gate and into Neverwinter or something like Plansescape) expecting much of what is in BG3 with more options, new and older characters, and the same level of control over what they're doing. If it doesn't have that, regardless of who makes it, it won't be as successful, IMHO.

exputers4h ago

Yes, I completely concur.

As good and talented as inXile and Obsidian are in their own specific way of making their particular games, none of them have Larian's attention to detail, dynamic worlds, and reactivity, so even if they end up making a new Baldur's Gate, it's going to be a significant step-down in terms of gameplay if not narrative.

CrimsonWing6920h ago

Probably not, but maybe… just maybe…

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