Company News Codex Scoop: Brian Fargo has acquired the trademark for Torment (but not Planescape)

[Infinitron]

In before Herve.

 

[Haba]

Planescape: Torment is one of the few games where the setting doesn't really matter that much, in fact detaching it from the icy grip of the Wizards would probably be a good thing. Just take the same building blocks and then go absolutely crazy with it. No need to shoehorn dwarves and elves into the story any more. Lady of Agony and a planar hub called Sigulle. You can readjust all the existing Torment storyline and characters into the "new" setting rather well.

Not that I'd necessarily want to see TNO's return, but having the actions he took acknowledged and seeing their consequences first hand could be fun.

But PST's "spiritual" or actual successor would both probably be economic failures for the same reasons PST is "only" a cult classic today...

 

[Infinitron]

Discussions on other websites

Gamebanshee: http://www.gamebanshee.com/news/110...-rights-spiritual-successor-in-the-works.html
NeoGAF: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?p=44981567
Obsidian Forums: http://forums.obsidian.net/topic/62852-a-new-planescape-torment/
No Mutants Allowed: http://www.nma-fallout.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=62775
VG24/7: http://www.vg247.com/2012/12/02/inxile-staffer-hints-at-planescape-torment-follow-up/
Bioware Social Network: http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/13/index/15140004/1
Reddit: http://www.reddit.com/r/Games/comments/145j5o/brian_fargo_has_acquired_the_rights_to_torment/
Rock, Paper, Shotgun: http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/12/03/pleasure-without-planescape-a-new-torment/
The Witcher Forums: http://en.thewitcher.com/forum/index.php?/topic/33219-torment-rights-acquired-by-brian-fargo/
GameSpy: http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/planescape-torment/1226806p1.html
Eurogamer: http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2...-blesses-inxiles-planescape-torment-successor
Ars Technica: http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2012/12/planescape-torment-sequel-finally-in-the-works/
GOG Forums: http://af.gog.com/forum/general/planescape_torment_designer_hints_at_follow_up/page1?as=1649904300
The Escapist: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/120909-Rumor-New-Torment-Game-in-the-Works
IGN: http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/12/04/planescape-torment-spiritial-successor-in-development
TV Tropes Forums: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=13545820870A55800100&page=1
Polygon: http://www.polygon.com/2012/12/3/37...ves-blessing-for-planescape-torment-successor
Tom's Hardware: http://www.tomshardware.com/news/Pl...s-Avellone-RPG-Colin-McComb-inXile,19515.html
Joystiq: http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/04/planescape-torment-writer-ponders-sequel-fargo-owns-torment-ip/
RPGWatch: http://www.rpgwatch.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18830
VentureBeat: http://venturebeat.com/2012/12/18/a-planescape-torment-followup-is-happening/

 

[Infinitron]

I commend the sleuthing abilities of the Codex. There are many other pieces to the pie on this project that I can't speak to yet which prevents me from much comment. I need to get the other elements in order so you can fully understand the detail, team, approach and reasoning first. There will lots of pleasant surprises but I had not planned on talking about it yet.

 

[Major_Blackhart]

Hey alright, we're legitimate!

 

[Don Peste]

I commend the sleuthing abilities of the Codex. There are many other pieces to the pie on this project that I can't speak to yet which prevents me from much comment. I need to get the other elements in order so you can fully understand the detail, team, approach and reasoning first. There will lots of pleasant surprises but I had not planned on talking about it yet.

I understand his project is linked to this, but he doesn't know how to explain it yet?

 

[ghostdog]

Wow that's interesting. But as it has already been stated, Torment was a great story in a great setting. The story had an end and frankly I can't fathom a new Torment game without the planescape setting.



UNLESS...



The Nameless One finds a portal that connects the Nine Hells, the Wasteland of Crust the Southwestern United States and Limbo the Aedyr Empire ! TNO must gather both the desert raiders and the paladins of Aedyr in order to stop an evil device threatening the existence of both worlds. A device of HIS OWN MAKING, or rather one of his former incarnations making. A device known as.... The Eternity machine.

He must traverse both realities and find out what his past --or is it future ?-- incarnations were up to. Was really one of them called... "The Master" ?

 

[Major_Blackhart]

Meh, that story sounds like a crappy James Cameron flick idea.

 

[Crooked Bee]

A further comment from Fargo (a follow-up to the email that Infinitron quoted above):

I will say that it has nothing to do with any of Interplay/Black Isle's efforts. I noticed some concern with that.

Not too surprising, isn't it?

 

[Moribund]

Perhaps Felicia Day knew something we didn't. If all else fails they can call it planetscape: torment.

 

[ghostdog]

Or maybe Farscape : Torment where instead of Portals you have wormholes.

 

[Moribund]

Stargate: Torment

Like stargate isn't already torment, amirite?

 

[Infinitron]

Portals, eh?

Gabescape: Engorgement

 

[Jasede]

Weird, I'm less excited about this than I ought to be.

Also, man, they're wearing out our god-emperor Avellone too much. I know, I know- his powers and his energy are without limit -of course!

But even the most just and good god deserves a moment of reset to enjoy the laurels of his tireless efforts, and here we are, with news on the horizon that he will be drafted once more into working magic with those oh-so-very masculine hands of his, gliding over the keyboard with a grace unbeknownst to man.

 

[Harg Harfardarssen]

Planescape: Torment is one of the few games where the setting doesn't really matter that much, in fact detaching it from the icy grip of the Wizards would probably be a good thing. Just take the same building blocks and then go absolutely crazy with it. No need to shoehorn dwarves and elves into the story any more. Lady of Agony and a planar hub called Sigulle. You can readjust all the existing Torment storyline and characters into the "new" setting rather well.

Yeah, I think what made PS:T great is not particularly reliant on DnD specific materials. It would benefit greatly from deviating from the alignment system in particular (especially the 4E linear one). And its really not clear how much flexibility WotC would give a licensee today. IIRC, when they were making the original PS:T, they had some concerns that they would be stretching things past where WotC was willing to go, but were pleasantly surprised by the reaction they got from the guys in charge of the PS setting.

However, PS:T was made before WotC was acquired by Hasbro. Since WotC seems to still be in a somewhat precarious relationship with their Hasbrotian overlords in terms of revenue and has shifted towards directly exploiting the electronic/online games market themselves, it seems like relying on WotC granting the same level of flexibility would be risky. Of course this could cut both ways; maybe since its a setting they aren't actively developing, they would let them go crazy.

Not that Planescape isn't a terrific setting. And I would argue it benefits from the connection to DnD conventions. While you could create an alternate inter-dimensional nexus type of setting, I think Planescape benefits greatly from being part of the AD&D universe, where the generic fantasy of the base game acts as a nice counterpoint to the philosophical weirdness of the setting.

 

[Infinitron]

Hmmm...

Brother None CMcC

Any hints as to when this project is planned for?

 

[evdk]

So, do you think that the odds of there actually being an incline in cRPG production are worse or better than an extinction event meteor strike?

 

[Brother None]

Any hints as to when this project is planned for?

That would be telling.

IIRC, when they were making the original PS:T, they had some concerns that they would be stretching things past where WotC was willing to go, but were pleasantly surprised by the reaction they got from the guys in charge of the PS setting.

Not exactly. Colin McComb and Monte Cook were in charge of the Planescape setting. McComb went to Interplay exactly to ensure they got things, initially working on his own title (which got cancelled) and then on Torment. That was pretty unique.

 

[Excidium]

So, do you think that the odds of there actually being an incline in cRPG production are worse or better than an extinction event meteor strike?

I don't know, but with a kickstarter cashing in on PST the trinity will finally be complete.

 

[Zed]

A further comment from Fargo (a follow-up to the email that Infinitron quoted above):

I will say that it has nothing to do with any of Interplay/Black Isle's efforts. I noticed some concern with that.

Not too surprising, isn't it?

I think it's safe to consider the Black Isle revival a dead fetus.

 

[Moribund]

So, do you think that the odds of there actually being an incline in cRPG production are worse or better than an extinction event meteor strike?

It's rock bottom, so incline is easy and WL 2 and PE will both be better than what's being made now. As in they will actually be RPGs. Will they be classic ones? For WL 2 maybe. For PE I am doubtful. But that's just my personal speculation.

I'd rather they just make new cool stuff than drudge up every IP but the thorvalla kickstarter is a harsh lesson that you need to take marketing seriously. Regardless I hope they are not counting on getting 3-4 million in KS funds for each game as it won't last forever.

 

[Excidium]

Yeah, but there are dumbfucks out there that still expect something good from the Black Isle zombie so it's good that he clarifies.

Will they be classic ones? For WL 2 maybe. For PE I am doubtful. But that's just my personal speculation.

And what makes you say that? You know something about W2 that we don't?

 

[Sitra Achara]

Makes sense, keeping the writing pipeline active.

I hope they also focus on the strange, otherworldly quality Torment had going as well. In fact, since PS:T wasn't particularly reknowned for its combat mechanics, I'd imagine that's the sort of thing the hype-up stage would be spun around.

Also, beware KS fatigue - we just had PE, Elite, and Star Citizen in the last couple of months. Gotta let the wallet regen.

 

[Haba]

The Nameless One finds a portal that connects the Nine Hells, the Wasteland of Crust the Southwestern United States and Limbo the Aedyr Empire ! TNO must gather both the desert raiders and the paladins of Aedyr in order to stop an evil device threatening the existence of both worlds. A device of HIS OWN MAKING, or rather one of his former incarnations making. A device known as.... The Eternity machine.

He must traverse both realities and find out what his past --or is it future ?-- incarnations were up to. Was really one of them called... "The Master" ?

Meanwhile at inXile mansion.

"What, someone on the Codex just posted the entire plot synapse of 'Torment 2: Eternity Fallout'!

"Fuck, we have a mole again!"

"It must be that None guy!"

"I knew that we should not have trusted someone who went through the effort to explain that he was no-one's brother..."

"Safety protocol 2 section 5 is now in effect. Seize mr. None immediately and close the compound. No-one gets in or out!"

 

[Major_Blackhart]

So, what about a bit of the production begin and end dates?
Just a lil Alpha and Omega man, that's all.