In what will come as disappointing news for Lionhead fans, the ambitious sounding (and cool-looking)Xbox prehistoric adventure, BC, has been put on hold indefinitely. In development with Intrepid Computer Entertainment, BC had originally been pitched as a unique free-roaming adventure, with RPG elements, that saw the player trying to lead a tribe of cave people in an effort to evolve into the bestest monkeys; battling rival cave people and dinosaurs in the process. Since then, the concept was taken down a peg or two: reducing gameplay to more straightforward, generic action.
Lionhead hasn’t provided an official explanation for the sidelining of what had initially sounded like a great thing. Perhaps the gaming community’s disappointed response to Fable had dissuaded the company to unleash a game like this: which may have been reduced to a shadow of its former self. But that said, Fable has become the biggest selling Xbox game yet: suggesting that there’s plenty of money to be made from slightly disappointing products. More reassuringly, Lionhead has stated that “We hope to revive the project at a later date.”
Seeing as Lionhead managed to secure multi-million pound investment from venture capitalists only three days prior to this announcement, it would seem to have been a quality rather than financial issue. But the world of games still needs more caveman related stuff. We sincerely hope that BC isn’t completely extinct quite yet.
Lionhead hasn’t provided an official explanation for the sidelining of what had initially sounded like a great thing. Perhaps the gaming community’s disappointed response to Fable had dissuaded the company to unleash a game like this: which may have been reduced to a shadow of its former self. But that said, Fable has become the biggest selling Xbox game yet: suggesting that there’s plenty of money to be made from slightly disappointing products. More reassuringly, Lionhead has stated that “We hope to revive the project at a later date.”
Seeing as Lionhead managed to secure multi-million pound investment from venture capitalists only three days prior to this announcement, it would seem to have been a quality rather than financial issue. But the world of games still needs more caveman related stuff. We sincerely hope that BC isn’t completely extinct quite yet.
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Comments
Brown Force 22 Oct 2004 16:33
1/6
This sucks big time. I was looking forward to this game as well. Weren't they already making a sequel to this as well? Perhaps they are going to shift it onto Xbox 2. Hopefully anyway. Its a real shame to keep seeing great games (specially Xbox games) getting 'postponed' like True Fantasy Live did. Lets just hope it isn't canned for good.
As for Fable...what the hell you on about disapointing? The game sold loads because it was a great game, one of the best adventure games made IMO. And not even slightly disapointing (and I was hyped up as ever for it) Just because a few of Molyneux's promises didn't make the final version, doesn't mean its any less great. Alot of what he was trying to do did make it through and work extremely well. And the fact that Molyneux apologised for getting carried away and owned up before the release that somethings would be missing (instead of staying quiet in order to get more sales which alot of other companies do) and he even apologised. Which in my eyes he deserves alot of respect for.
As for Fable...what the hell you on about disapointing? The game sold loads because it was a great game, one of the best adventure games made IMO. And not even slightly disapointing (and I was hyped up as ever for it) Just because a few of Molyneux's promises didn't make the final version, doesn't mean its any less great. Alot of what he was trying to do did make it through and work extremely well. And the fact that Molyneux apologised for getting carried away and owned up before the release that somethings would be missing (instead of staying quiet in order to get more sales which alot of other companies do) and he even apologised. Which in my eyes he deserves alot of respect for.
Mecha Ghandi 22 Oct 2004 16:47
2/6
Brown Force wrote:
This sucks big time. I was looking forward to this game as well. Weren't they already making a sequel to this as well? Perhaps they are going to shift it onto Xbox 2.
That's what I'm hoping for... if Lionhead had to scale it down to make it possible and then got that cash injection afterwards - maybe they are now in a position to create what was originally intended, just a bit further down the line? *crosses fingers*
As for Fable...what the hell you on about disapointing? The game sold loads because it was a great game, one of the best adventure games made IMO.
I agree that it's a great game, but it just seemed to end a bit prematurely. I was expecting at least 40 hours of game, and got about half that... But Fable is an entirely subjective thing, cos you only get out what you put in. I know alot of people who have complained about it just being too short. It sounds like you're getting your money's worth though... so good on you.
It would defnitely be interesting to see your comments on the Fable editorial bit...
And the fact that Molyneux apologised for getting carried away and owned up before the release that somethings would be missing (instead of staying quiet in order to get more sales which alot of other companies do) and he even apologised. Which in my eyes he deserves alot of respect for.
I sort of agree with that, but I wouldn't necessarily say that warrants your respect. Personally, i think honesty's not particularly praiseworthy if it's only in response to people catching you out for lying... but at least he did admit it and, like you say, the timing of the announcement was particularly poignant.
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Joji 22 Oct 2004 17:25
3/6
You know what? I think something should be set up in the games industry where you can sell off your void projects to other developers. Think about it for a sec.
You can't complete or be bothered with a project, so you sell the concept to another interested developer at a price, and code etc is exchanged for cash. Then we'd surely see less of these promising kind of games being binned all the time. Put online surveys up on a website to generate interest and hear public opinions. If all goes well proceed with the project and reap the return. Just an idea.
Why wait til a developer goes under to pick up potentially good IP (apart from things being cheaper)?
I agree this game was looking good and it's a shame to see it go.
You can't complete or be bothered with a project, so you sell the concept to another interested developer at a price, and code etc is exchanged for cash. Then we'd surely see less of these promising kind of games being binned all the time. Put online surveys up on a website to generate interest and hear public opinions. If all goes well proceed with the project and reap the return. Just an idea.
Why wait til a developer goes under to pick up potentially good IP (apart from things being cheaper)?
I agree this game was looking good and it's a shame to see it go.
DoctorDee 22 Oct 2004 17:58
4/6
Joji wrote:
Why wait til a developer goes under to pick up potentially good IP (apart from things being cheaper)?
I agree this game was looking good and it's a shame to see it go.
I agree this game was looking good and it's a shame to see it go.
That is a really nice idea.
But there's generally only one reason why a game is canned - loss of publisher confidence. And with there being so few publishers these days, your chances of getting it passed ands out through another publisher are remote.
This is part of the problem with the super-corporatisation of the games indusrty - less risk taking. It used to be that small profitable companies would take a risk. But now companies are all public listed companies, they are pretty much forbidden from doing anything that will hit profits... And that means they can't take risks.
Joji 23 Oct 2004 10:23
5/6
I agree your diagnosis Doc, and to be honest if things don't change this will be the death of creativity and the industry. It's no wonder small euro start ups and the japanese are kcking our asses in the ideas arena.
If we don't be careful this will become like the dot com industry and the bubble will burst. Perhaps the effect has already started with so many U.K devcos shutting all over the place. then there's the japanese now looking to make more money outside of japan who we have to compete with.
Now how the hell can we compete with them without so much publisher pressure and lack of taking chances? Perhaps we need some bubble bursting to make us realise that you are only as good as your last game. It's only then the suits will think twice, stop flogging dead horses and help breed new, better and faster stallions instead.
What's also interesting is how once wealthy companies like Eidos end up in so much damn trouble in so short a time? What have they been doing with all that money? Must have been the TR development rushing and flogging perhaps.
Perhaps it's time to go back to our roots when gaming matters, and stick it to the man once more. It's happnening in the music industry so perhaps it's about time gaming also had it's revolution of change.
If we don't be careful this will become like the dot com industry and the bubble will burst. Perhaps the effect has already started with so many U.K devcos shutting all over the place. then there's the japanese now looking to make more money outside of japan who we have to compete with.
Now how the hell can we compete with them without so much publisher pressure and lack of taking chances? Perhaps we need some bubble bursting to make us realise that you are only as good as your last game. It's only then the suits will think twice, stop flogging dead horses and help breed new, better and faster stallions instead.
What's also interesting is how once wealthy companies like Eidos end up in so much damn trouble in so short a time? What have they been doing with all that money? Must have been the TR development rushing and flogging perhaps.
Perhaps it's time to go back to our roots when gaming matters, and stick it to the man once more. It's happnening in the music industry so perhaps it's about time gaming also had it's revolution of change.
DoctorDee 23 Oct 2004 12:35
6/6
Joji wrote:
It's happnening in the music industry so perhaps it's about time gaming also had it's revolution of change.
Is it really happeneing in the Music industry? I mean, it might be, but I don't know about it. I keep hearing that 95% of all recorded music is controlled by five corporations.
It certainly SHOULD be happening in the Music industry. It's possible to record a song in your bedroom with a Mac and a copy of GarageBand or SoundTrack. And you can distribute it in MP3 format - and write and host your own website, using ProtX to sell you r tracks. There SHOULD be a revolution going on.
But in gaming it's a bit harder. Even if you have a coder, artist and musician - you still can't distribute code that will run on the major consoles - so you're pretty much stuck to the PC.
It's a shame the Amiga, ST and Archimedes are dead. Closed platforms suck (unless you are a corporate shareholder).