Company News Piranha Bytes Interview and the Gothic rights

[Jaesun]

Tags: Piranha Bytes

<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Mike Hoge, one of the four co-founders of Piranha Bytes <a href="http://www.gothicz.net/serie-gothic/mike-hoge-talks-about-gothic/">had a chat with Gothicz.Net</a>:</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>Gothicz.net: At that time you and the other guys were working on the story. Could you shortly describe the origin of the story? What of its part comes from your head?</strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Mike: I designed the whole story of Gothic 1. We were of course several dialogue writers but all of the guilds, background, setting and most of the main characters came from me. It took 3 years to get that all together and I have applied major changes to the main plot even 4 months before the goldmaster.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Gothicz.net: When Gothic 1 was released, was the game completely according to your vision, or you could use some additional time to finish what you wanted?</strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Mike: It is never enough. Apart from that, I think Gothic 1 could have used more polishing in the camps dialogues during the last parts of the game. People were still talking the same crap as they were doing in the beginning of the game and the hero could pick choices like "Hi! I'm new here..." in the 6th chapter. That was crap.&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Oh, yes, and there were the 4 Frineds of the Hero, which were supposed to have a secret meeting later in the game which never occured becauce we had no more time. Other than that (an a coouple of bugs) I'm quite satisfied with our first work.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Gothicz.net: What RPG games were your inspiration during the development of Gothic? What RPGs had you played before Gothic?</strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Mike: Ultima 6, 7 Dungeon Master and the like. Practically everything I could lay my hands on. I do it today, in spite of having a family. Sometines I go to "Do Not Disturb Mode" to enjoy games like Fallout 3.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>I guess I can forgive Mike for the Fallout 3 mention, becuse he is a fellow Ultima BRO... But more interesting was this little bit of info:</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>Gothicz.net: Mike, last question. If you had a chance to win the rights for Gothic back, would you consider it? Is there a possibility, that you ever develop another Gothic?</strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Mike: We get the rights to Gothic back when we have finished Risen 2. Why? Because we did only sell them to our ex-publisher for a certain amount of time </p>
</blockquote>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Interesting. If you are a fan of the Gothic series, don't miss out on this rather good and informative interview at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gothicz.net/serie-gothic/mike-hoge-talks-about-gothic/">Gothicz.Net</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Spotted at: <a href="http://www.gothicz.net/serie-gothic/mike-hoge-talks-about-gothic/">Gothicz.Net</a></p>

 

[Volourn]

Hilarious considering allt he fanboys cried about how the rigths were 'stolen' from the creators when in reality it seems that the creators 'sold out'. I have no problemsm but the crying here was hysterical.

 

[Jaesun]

And I guess we know why ARCANIA - FALL OF SETARRIF: DELAY DUE TO LEGAL UNCERTAINTY happened.

 

[Morkar Left]

I would totally appreciate a Gothic 1 + 2 remake with the new engine (if climbing is in).

 

[ortucis]

Gothic name is now ruined thanks to Gothic 4 in the eyes of broader audience. They will most likely focus on new IP like Risen only instead of going back to Gothic anytime soon.

 

[Micmu]

It's way too late now, anyway. Gothic's corpse is raped beyond recognition...
It's done.
New IP.

 

[Morkar Left]

And I guess we know why ARCANIA - FALL OF SETARRIF: DELAY DUE TO LEGAL UNCERTAINTY happened.

I'm a bit confused here. Fall of Setarrif is already finished I thought. This doesn't match with "We get the rights to Gothic back when we have finished Risen 2. Why? Because we did only sell them to our ex-publisher for a certain amount of time". Maybe It's another legal thing because Jowood is going into insolvency.

 

[Jaesun]

Risen IS basically Gothic except for the name, even them getting the rights to Gothic again, what would they do with it?

And I guess we know why ARCANIA - FALL OF SETARRIF: DELAY DUE TO LEGAL UNCERTAINTY happened.

I'm a bit confused here. Fall of Setarrif is already finished I thought. This doesn't match with "We get the rights to Gothic back when we have finished Risen 2. Why? Because we did only sell them to our ex-publisher for a certain amount of time". Maybe It's another legal thing because Jowood is going into insolvency.

Yeah it is either because PB got the Gothic right's back, or JoWood is going into insolvency.. Maybe there is also some other legal crap as well with Arcania?

 

[Brother None]

Gothic name is now ruined thanks to Gothic 4 in the eyes of broader audience. They will most likely focus on new IP like Risen only instead of going back to Gothic anytime soon.

I dunno, man. Gothic 3 and Gothic 4 certainly dinted it but give it time and it might come back. Not to mention, they're taking Risen in a whole new direction with Risen 2. Risen was a lot more similar to Gothic than Risen 2 will be. If they want to make new Gothics, it makes a lot of sense to change the direction of the Risen franchise.

Yeah it is either because PB got the Gothic right's back, or JoWood is going into insolvency.. Maybe there is also some other legal crap as well with Arcania?

It's the insolvency. One of the debtors is holding them over the barrel in order to divvy up all assets. That's how it goes.

 

[Morkar Left]

Gothic name is now ruined thanks to Gothic 4 in the eyes of broader audience. They will most likely focus on new IP like Risen only instead of going back to Gothic anytime soon.

That's why I think a remake of gothic would make sense. Getting trust back and a new audience. Plus they can merge the two settings together again. Like Jaesun wrote before me; it's basically the same setting without specific references. Easy to bring both together again.

 

[kofeur]

They could still reboot the Gothic series and take it from there...

 

[Jaesun]

They could still reboot the Gothic series and take it from there...

Agreed. A NEW Gothic setting/reboot AND the Risen series == WIN WIN. I'd totally be playing both.

 

[Merkwürdigliebe]

So does this mean that we might see actual Gothic games again in the future? :D

 

[Mastermind]

Gothic name is now ruined thanks to Gothic 4 in the eyes of broader audience. They will most likely focus on new IP like Risen only instead of going back to Gothic anytime soon.

I dunno, man. Gothic 3 and Gothic 4 certainly dinted it but give it time and it might come back.

The "broad audience" never played any of them. The idea that anything can ruin the "good name" of a piece of shit series only a handful of people play is laughable.

 

[Reptilian Shapeshifter]

It's the insolvency. One of the debtors is holding them over the barrel in order to divvy up all assets. That's how it goes.

A moment of silence for JoWood.

Nah. Good riddance.

 

[Metro]

A new 'true' Gothic game by Piranha Bytes folks would do well (for a true CRPG). The target audience is savvy enough to know that Gothic 4 is an aberration. And while Fallout 3 isn't ideal, he probably likes it because it does a pretty good job of 'open world' exploration.

I would totally appreciate a Gothic 1 + 2 remake with the new engine (if climbing is in).

I wouldn't want them to spend their time on that. Certainly not a Gothic 2 port/renewal. Maybe Gothic 1 if they went back and redid a few things and add some of the content they left out and sell it for ~$20 as a digital download to garner interest/publicity for future projects but a straight up renewal? I wouldn't be that interested.

laughable

 

[Jaesun]

Yeah it is either because PB got the Gothic right's back, or JoWood is going into insolvency.. Maybe there is also some other legal crap as well with Arcania?

It's the insolvency. One of the debtors is holding them over the barrel in order to divvy up all assets. That's how it goes.

Ahh thanks BN.

 

[commie]

Risen IS basically Gothic except for the name, even them getting the rights to Gothic again, what would they do with it?

Have you seen the original storyboards for Risen? It actually has Nameless and Xardas entering the Risen world through a portal!

And I guess we know why ARCANIA - FALL OF SETARRIF: DELAY DUE TO LEGAL UNCERTAINTY happened.

I'm a bit confused here. Fall of Setarrif is already finished I thought. This doesn't match with "We get the rights to Gothic back when we have finished Risen 2. Why? Because we did only sell them to our ex-publisher for a certain amount of time". Maybe It's another legal thing because Jowood is going into insolvency.

Yeah it is either because PB got the Gothic right's back, or JoWood is going into insolvency.. Maybe there is also some other legal crap as well with Arcania?

[/quote]

Well maybe the 'length of time' was meant to be TWO games as I've heard mentioned in the past. The confusion over Setariff could be due to Jewood considering an expansion as not being a separate game whereas it is actually the third non-PB Gothic product released. The insolvency thing wouldn't help either but I think that might be a separate issue with the same effect.

 

[Metro]

In any event it isn't as if JoWood is in a position to develop/publish much of anything at this point. Push comes to shove the creditors would probably just force them to part with the IP for any cash considerations they could get if it hasn't/doesn't revert to PB.

 

[Jim Cojones]

Nice interview. I loved reading his thoughts on design of the first Gothic, f.e.:

Every camp should have had their way of supporting themselves with food, the old camp would exchange ore with the outside world, the sect camp would trade their drugs for food with the other camps (those guys didin't eat much anyway, because they were high all the time) and the new camp would grow their own food. I tried to find different ways to do things for each camp.

Then I thought about what food the new camp should grow, and I thought that rice terraces would be the best approach beacause the plants were not so difficult to display like e.g. a wheat field would have been and you could have a massive dam for the water supply. I addition, the dam made the otherwise kind of small new camp look bigger.

A game designer who wants to create worlds that make a bit of sense instead of throwing all the random stuff he believes to be cool?

 

[villain of the story]

Maybe now they will move onto Baroque.

 

[Stalin]

Risen IS basically Gothic except for the name, even them getting the rights to Gothic again, what would they do with it?

sell them to EA

 

[Roguey]

That part about Gothic not breaking even until 2 and not making a profit until Night of the Raven was depressing. Oh well. I hope their new non-fantasy series is interesting, I agree with him about their needing a break from that after Risen 2. Let time heal the wounds of Arcania.

 

[Brother None]

Risen IS basically Gothic except for the name, even them getting the rights to Gothic again, what would they do with it?

sell them to EA

That would be unwise. EA would turn right around and sue Piranha Bytes for copyright infringement because Risen is too similar to Gothic.

 

[Elwro]

Gothicz.net: In the german version of G1 there is this In Extremo show. Who came with this idea? Is there a possibility, that you use this feature in any your future game again? Because let's admit that it was a great idea.

Mike: The idea was Tom Putzki's. He was responsible for our whole internal PR and marketing and he knew the guys from a concert he went to. The idea was indeed great. With modern technology, you regrettably would have to put a much bigger effort (more money (lots and lots of it) to it than "back in the day...")

What's this "In Extremo" thing?