Development Info Arcanum Underworld: Ultima Underworld-inspired pitch document for unmade Arcanum sequel

[SionIV]

The problem with bloodlines wasn't the gameplay, it was the rushed and lazy content from the assault on the hunter hideous onwards, was like a completely different game.

It didn't have bad gameplay, but wasn't anything to write home about in my opinion. When I remember Planescape:Torment I think about the story, Dark Souls is the Gameplay, Bloodlines the Atmosphere. And that sewer level, especially as a Ventrue.

 

[Roguey]

LOL

I'm the best worst person. The Ruskies are going to hate me again.

But it's worth it. I mean seriously, the guy's been hoarding this since 2011, what the fuck, it's not like this document is some state secret.

Circle of Eight hoarding the editor from the Polish version of ToEE was much worse because that wasn't even shared in semi-confidence.

The problem with bloodlines wasn't the gameplay,

Bloodlines's gameplay was awful. To quote Josh Sawyer, even Oblivion's was better.

 

[Jedi Exile]

I wish they would do a Kickstarter for this.

As much as I want to play this 'Arcanum Underworld', I am afraid this project is a bit too ambitious for Kickstarter.

 

[Volrath]

As much as I want to play this 'Arcanum Underworld', I am afraid this project is a bit too ambitious for Kickstarter.

How about a figstarter?

 

[Kem0sabe]

Circle of Eight hoarding the editor from the Polish version of ToEE was much worse because that wasn't even shared in semi-confidence.



Bloodlines's gameplay was awful. To quote Josh Sawyer, even Oblivion's was better.

 

[Vociferon]

He cannot use then name or setting, because unfortunately Activision owns the rights to Arcanum.

But that doesn't answer my question. Did he ever comment on his willingness to get back to Arcanum or do something in the similar vein? I know it's been 15 years but still...

Btw, though Activision holds the IP and I know that GOG had to make a deal with them just so they could publish it, it's not like they can make a fortune with Arcanum. I don't think the IP rights can cost all that much...how likely is that Tim buys them back? Or somebody else (Fargo)? Was there any interest expressed for that in the past few years?

On an unrelated note, does anyone know who holds the rights to Nox? EA?

 

[t]

Joined: Aug 28, 2015

Man, Jaesun never did that to me

 

[Roguey]

But that doesn't answer my question. Did he ever comment on his willingness to get back to Arcanum or do something in the similar vein? I know it's been 15 years but still...

Btw, though Activision holds the IP and I know that GOG had to make a deal with them just so they could publish it, it's not like they can make a fortune with Arcanum. I don't think the IP rights can cost all that much...how likely is that Tim buys them back? Or somebody else (Fargo)? Was there any interest expressed for that in the past few years?

On an unrelated note, does anyone know who holds the rights to Nox? EA?

Activision is a company of sharks, if they see any interest in something they own, they'll never sell it.

They would license it though. They wouldn't pay any money towards its development, but if someone wants to pay them to make a game in the Arcanum setting, I doubt they'd object.

 

[Irenaeus II]

This sounds very interesting. I wish it did get made.

 

[Irenaeus II]

Electricpunk

 

[Delterius]

There's also the fact there's no name for this specific 1890-1920 period

Béllepoquepunk. You heard it here first folks.

 

[Fairfax]

These sound better than Bioshock's Decopunk, if you ask me.

 

[Irenaeus II]

Gildedagepunk for Kwa settings

 

[Black]

I wish they would do a Kickstarter for this.

Somehow I have little (zero) faith that any team of modern devs could deliver.

 

[Irenaeus II]

Yeah, when I said I wish it did get made, I mean early 2000s. Modern fags devs are too much PC;faggots to deliver good writing;design nowadays. Maybe someone from eastern or southern europe.

Tzarpunk

 

[puppyonastik]

Whalepunk

Edit: The Whale oil was what powered everything instead of petrol in dishonored; as well as the whales themselves being heavily connected to the Outsider. Whale Bone runes. Etc.
http://dishonored.wikia.com/wiki/Whale_Oil

 

[Major_Blackhart]

I'd like to see them work on a turnbased steam punk game. But they won't.
I'd like to see a good steam punk RPG put into production, be it FPS or Turn Based or whatever.
But it won't.

 

[Hobo Elf]

Arcanum was the height of the whole steampunk genre. I loved the melancholy depiction of the industrial revolution in Arcanum as nature and magic begin to fade away. The setting was lovingly crafted by extremely intelligent people who put lots of thought into the world. I don't trust anyone else to make a steampunk game as it is an otherwise insufferable genre that attracts the worst kind of faggotry.

 

[vonAchdorf]

German "Gamestar" magazine picked up the story, including a link to the Codex.
http://www.gamestar.de/spiele/arcan...amworks_and_magick_obscura,37147,3239324.html

 

[Infinitron]

Destructoid mentioned it too: http://www.destructoid.com/design-d...rks-and-magick-obscura-uncovered-321093.phtml

 

[gaussgunner]

the size and power of those spells is basically limitless once we’ve moved into 3-D. A summoned Water Elemental could look just like flowing water, leaving behind puddles when it walks

3-D, mmmmkay. Still not easy in 2015. Burn half of your kickstarter $$$ on amazing 3D elementals, then pad out the rest of the game with recycled 15 year old bitmap sprites and mmo style rainbow-explosion spell effects. Finish 10% of the gameplay and, fuck it, release it as a f2p mmo.

Joined: Jul 21, 2015 ...I'll just put that in my .sig and save jaesun the trouble

 

[Irenaeus II]

Good post.

 

[Doctor Sbaitso]

I don't get Steampunk, I find it an overly forced setting any time I have seen it.

 

[Jedi Master Radek]

Destructoid mentioned it too: http://www.destructoid.com/design-d...rks-and-magick-obscura-uncovered-321093.phtml

Those comments under article make me smile Truly destructoid is becoming a place of incline

 

[Crescent Hawk]

This would have been a complete disaster, and like Bloodlines still talked about in 2015.