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[Vark]

The latest News post from http://www.doublefine.com:

Sweet, merciful heavens, what were they thinking? Microsoft has APPROVED the EXCELLENT GAME PSYCHONAUTS for the XBOX!



That's right! We have passed certification! I would like to say something brilliant right now but I'm speechless. Oh, and did I mention that the PC version went gold on Wednesday? Soon the PS2 version will be done and no one will be safe! Oh, and also, Official Xbox Magazine gave us a 9.5 in their review this month!



Is this actually happening? Can it be real? Did I choke on a potsticker during one of our crunch mode meals and I'm in a coma in a hospital bed and I'm dreaming all this right now? Or has there been some rift in the space/time continuum that has suspended logic and probability, and allowed our long-suffering game to finally end happily? I don't get how this could be happening. Did the universe just give up on it's efforts to ruin our lives? Did the gods just find some other game to pick on? I mean, who slipped up and let us get through? I'm sure one of Satan's lackey's is going to get fired over this.



My personal apologies go out to all those aligned with the forces of mediocrity and small-mindedness who tried to shut us down over and over again for the last five years. I'm sorry things didn't work out for you this time. I will say that although I am not bitter, I remember all of your names. Also, I'm going to send consolation cards to your mothers and fathers, because they must be disappointed most of all by your failure.



Cheers to our hard-working team!

Thank you to our friends and allies!

And hooray for Razputin, who gets to go out now into the world.

You brave little disco angel.

Can't freaking wait.

 

[Musashi Wins!]

haha, they have the best messages. CANNOT WAIT!

 

[Drinky Crow]

I predict BOMBA.

 

[TekunoRobby]

I predict BOMBA.

That's like predicting the PS2 will be the best selling console of this gen. Hopefully the aggressive magazine advertising campaign will pay off.

ANYWAYS, I'm looking forward to this game. Looks fun to play and creatively wicked.

 

[monchi-kun]

My personal apologies go out to all those aligned with the forces of mediocrity and small-mindedness who tried to shut us down over and over again for the last five years. I'm sorry things didn't work out for you this time. I will say that although I am not bitter, I remember all of your names. Also, I'm going to send consolation cards to your mothers and fathers, because they must be disappointed most of all by your failure.

My best wishes to TIM and the crew but i hope he's ready to send more cards out, 90% of the gaming population are aligned with the forces of medeocrity and small-mindedness

 

[Drinky Crow]

I'm betting on 50K sales across PS2/Xbox.

 

[Mrbob]

Yeah it'll probably bomba but I'm still getting the PC version!

Well, maybe not. From what I've read Majesco is supporting this game with a multi million dollar tv ad campaign. We'll see if it works. Put that GBA video money to good use!

Poor MS. Maybe they can get Blinx 3 out the door while they let a highly rated platform game out of their grasp.

 

[ToyMachine228]

After playing the Xbox demo, I'm definitely picking it up...The "BOMBA" comments are likely why Microsoft dropped the game. Sure, it's awesome...But it's appeal is very limited, and sales will likely be minimal.

 

[Mrbob]

Right. But MS could have a piece of shit like Blinx 2 bomba (Ohhh lets get Japan support no matter what even if they suck!) or they could get a critically acclaimed game not sell so great. Maybe do ICO type sales where it sells decent both nothing extraordinary. Would have been a nice game to put in the MS portfolio. But that is over with now. Maybe Psychonauts becomes a huge hit and the sequel becomes a PS3 exclusive!

 

[Drinky Crow]

Blinx took, what, nine months and a small budget to finish? Psychonauts took five years and a massive influx of cash they certainly aren't going to break even on.

 

[Deku Tree]

I'm going to buy this game for xbox when it hit's the $20 price range.

 

[Bristow]

I'm going to buy this game for xbox when it hit's the $20 price range.

Which will be really soon.

 

[teiresias]

My personal apologies go out to all those aligned with the forces of mediocrity and small-mindedness who tried to shut us down over and over again for the last five years. I'm sorry things didn't work out for you this time. I will say that although I am not bitter, I remember all of your names. Also, I'm going to send consolation cards to your mothers and fathers, because they must be disappointed most of all by your failure.

The man is going to look like a moron if it sells only like 10k copies.

 

[Hitler Stole My Potato]

Who fucking cares about sales.

Give me! Give me! Give me!

2 more weeks to go.

 

[MassiveAttack]

The man is going to look like a moron if it sells only like 10k copies.

I don't think Tim Schafer will ever be perceived as a moron and I agree wholeheartedly with his sentiments. If you've ever tried pitching anything even remotely esoteric to the publishing community, chances are excellent that you will experience the same maddening frustrations and flashes of anger that Tim has experienced. Ultimately, though, it is the public that dictates publishers' tastes and in that regard, it is a spectacularly depressing world. Roll on Wanda...

 

[CrimsonSkies]

So do you guys want creative games or ones that will make publishers massive profits? It's like you can jump on the other side of the fence depending on what you're a fanboy of on this forum.

 

[Mrbob]

Blinx took, what, nine months and a small budget to finish? Psychonauts took five years and a massive influx of cash they certainly aren't going to break even on.

How big is double fine? Psychonauts had a big budget??

 

[Vark]

The man is going to look like a moron if it sells only like 10k copies.

Not really. His comment was directed more to the fact that the game is actually done and coming out. After MS pulled the rug out from under them they were really close to shutting down.

The fact that the game exists is a win simply because its a labor of love for the guy.

Sure, when it fails to rake in the cash its going to stunt that a bit, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy the idea for a few weeks.

 

[ecliptic]

The fact of what the damn game is about will guarantee its downfall.

 

[Vark]

How big is double fine? Psychonauts had a big budget??

Not a big budget so much as MS dumped money into them at the get go to start the company, hook them up with office space in downtown San Francisco (not cheap) and fund them for 4 years. It was a rather lofty investment.

 

[Azih]

Hey props to Tim, he pulled it off. And by all accounts created a great game. The only thing missing now is financial success .

 

[FoneBone]

Has there been any word on the quality of the PC version? I need to know if it's a decent port... and if it's finally time to shell out the money for a gamepad. (Probably.) Hopefully, there'll be a demo soon.

 

[Mrbob]

Not a big budget so much as MS dumped money into them at the get go to start the company, hook them up with office space in downtown San Francisco (not cheap) and fund them for 4 years. It was a rather lofty investment.

So Majescjo landed a AAA game with little investment? Sounds like a good deal for them.

 

[h4xor]

Why does this game remind me of Chameleon Twist?

I think its the way they look. Im not quite sure.

I'll wait for this one to hit the bargin bin

 

[LittleTokyo]

It's a good game, but I think deeming it 'AAA' is a bit much.

 

[Sereniel]

Tim Schafer has a great sense of humour and adventure games have been taking a beating in the last 5 years.
That alone pretty much sold the game to me.

 

[rastex]

People here cry that the industry is creatively bankrupt, and will go on and buy the next Madden or GTA for $50, and to save a few bucks won't give their full support to a completely fresh idea. You're part of the f'n problem people.

 

[Ninja Scooter]

People here cry that the industry is creatively bankrupt, and will go on and buy the next Madden or GTA for $50, and to save a few bucks won't give their full support to a completely fresh idea. You're part of the f'n problem people.

true. Its sort of a twisted mindset, but even i have to admit to doing it, mainly because games like Madden and GTA you KNOW are going to sell, usually will stay at full price for a long time, while smaller niche games that might bomb will fall in price fairly quick. I'd love to support every great idea, but goddamn games are expensive, and im not made of money.

 

[rastex]

I don't know about you personally, but if you're acknowledging your actions then I hope you at least keep your mouth quiet when it comes to creativity in the industry.

That's one of the tough things on GAF is that it's not monolithic and you get a lot of varying opinion and there are a lot of very vocal people about every topic, so it seems pretty schizophrenic at times. I mean, it's possible that there's not a single person here that has contradicted themselves, but I'm just commenting on the general sentiment that I hear, and trying to influence that a bit.

 

[Speevy]

I'm definitely getting this, but I had to choose between this and Jade Empire, so IGN's 9.9 pretty much sealed the deal.

 

[StoOgE]

Im getting it for PC the day it comes out, assuming the PC version doesnt completely suck. That 30 dollar price tag is too tempting. Plus, my Xbox locks up at the drop of a hat nowadays to the point that I try to avoid playing games on it.

 

[IJoel]

Not a big budget so much as MS dumped money into them at the get go to start the company, hook them up with office space in downtown San Francisco (not cheap) and fund them for 4 years. It was a rather lofty investment.

You know, call MS evil all you like (not a comment directed at Vark,) but Double Fine can't complain if they couldn't get a good game out in 4 years. It's ridiculous to be short sighted and not see MS' point of view. They were bleeding and not getting anything back, just the promise of a game that wasn't intended for a wide audience from the very start.

Now, on not publishing Phantom Dust, an incredible game, on the states, BURN THEM!

 

[Alex]

Haha, MS funded the company upstart and they're turning around and porting it to the PS2? That's rather fucked up, but I suspose it was a Majesco thing.

"It's a good game, but I think deeming it 'AAA' is a bit much."

Er, why not? Shouldn't we wait and give 'er a go first? I'm sure to a lot of folks it will be if things stack up how they're seeming. Quality platformers are a rare breed this generation, and Grim Fandango was an excellent game with excellent humor and art direction.

...Unless of course you take Game Rankings stupidity and marketing hype as gospel, of course.