KickStarter Pathologic 2 (AKA Pathologic remake)

[Parsimonious cook]

they deceived kickstarter backers

Well, as far as kickstarter deceptions go, this one is really not so bad.

They deceived themselves to begin with.
Also it was a retarded idea from the start, to remake the game that already is a cult classic! They were able to do 2-3 completely new amazing games (and their pitches were fascinating) in this 7-year span, instead they fucked up the studio and released only 1/3 of said remake. Now they are too exhausted to do any more original games. This project is disaster.

If anything, the original Pathologic deserved a remake of the English translation. While it was still somewhat in "so bad its kinda funny" area and (most likely inadvertently) contributed to the general atmosphere of weirdness, the remake version is much better (I would genuinely like to know how comes there were so many Russian/eastern European games released with such shitty translations, its not like there aren’t enough people that actually speak English in that part of the world).


I guess that they hoped the remake will bring in enough cash to stabilise the studio (I mean, surely it wasn’t easy to survive on profits from games like Knock Knock), though it was not to be...

 

[Verylittlefishes]

I would genuinely like to know how comes there were so many Russian/eastern European games released with such shitty translations, its not like there aren’t enough people that actually speak English in that part of the world

outsource freelancers who work for food

 

[Jaedar]

Also it was a retarded idea from the start, to remake the game that already is a cult classic! They were able to do 2-3 completely new amazing games (and their pitches were fascinating) in this 7-year span, instead they fucked up the studio and released only 1/3 of said remake. Now they are too exhausted to do any more original games. This project is disaster.

I think patho2 is great and am glad it got made.

 

[Verylittlefishes]

Also it was a retarded idea from the start, to remake the game that already is a cult classic! They were able to do 2-3 completely new amazing games (and their pitches were fascinating) in this 7-year span, instead they fucked up the studio and released only 1/3 of said remake. Now they are too exhausted to do any more original games. This project is disaster.

I think patho2 is great and am glad it got made.

It is great, indeed, but it killed the studio.

 

[Jaedar]

Also it was a retarded idea from the start, to remake the game that already is a cult classic! They were able to do 2-3 completely new amazing games (and their pitches were fascinating) in this 7-year span, instead they fucked up the studio and released only 1/3 of said remake. Now they are too exhausted to do any more original games. This project is disaster.

I think patho2 is great and am glad it got made.

It is great, indeed, but it killed the studio.

Maybe. But I didn't care much for cargo or knock knock, so if those sorts of games are the alternative, I am not sure I care about the studio's survival. A bit harsh, but so it goes.

 

[Jvegi]

You know how in Europe filmmakers, stage performers and artists can get financial support from the state, based (hopefully) on their project's cultural significance? The purpose is to ensure the existence and development of high culture despite its economic unsustainability.

They should make a fund for culturally significant video games. To ensure they're being made, even if normies want to pay for Fortnite. VG are expensive, but good ones are also few and far between. EU could make such a fund, easily. I'm sure Russian developers migrating to EU would be great for giving Putin more pain in his buttocks.

 

[Strange Fellow]

They should make a fund for culturally significant video games. To ensure they're being made, even if normies want to pay for Fortnite. VG are expensive, but good ones are also few and far between. EU could make such a fund, easily.

Already happens.

 

[Wunderbar]

And it is quite a common thing.

Sneaky polacks managed to get some money from polish government to fund Cyberpunk 2077 multiplayer of all things. Imagine being a multi-billion dollar studio and the biggest company in the country, and having the gall to ask your government for gibs.

 

[Jvegi]

Putin should donate some tiles from the roof of his palace to Pathologic 2 development. It would help in calming the colorful winds of revolutions.

But seriously. Those programs, as far as I know, are far from perfect, but they do provide a safety net for things that would otherwise be dead and gone. It's an issue for another topic I guess.

Was Pathologic 2 commercially successful?

 

[Verylittlefishes]

You know how in Europe filmmakers, stage performers and artists can get financial support from the state, based (hopefully) and their project's cultural significance? The purpose is to ensure the existence and development of high culture despite its economic unsustainability.

They should make a fund for culturally significant video games. To ensure they're being made, even if normies want to pay for Fortnite. VG are expensive, but good ones are also few and far between. EU could make such a fund, easily. I'm sure Russian developers migrating to EU would be great for giving Putin more pain in his buttocks.

I can't even imagine what indie monsters would win such grants.

 

[Nano]

Also the visuals are bad even for 2005.

Well, that's just part of the charm. Same goes for other old horror games.

 

[Ol' Willy]

Putin should donate some tiles from the roof of his palace to Pathologic 2 development. It would help in calming the colorful winds of revolutions.

But seriously. Those programs, as far as I know, are far from perfect, but they do provide a safety net for things that would otherwise be dead and gone. It's an issue for another topic I guess.

There's similar program for moviemakers in Russia. It's called Фонд Кино and its purpose - on paper - to help, including financial help, Russian moviemakers to produce and distribute their films. Because it's Russia the system is utterly corrupt, giving money to well established studios and directors with connections in the government circles instead of young directors or indie studios who receive diddly squat from the said program. More often than not Фонд Кино gives money without asking them back, how exactly these money were spent is not disclosed (but you can clearly see some awful CGI in the supported movie with multimillion budget) and it turns into a simple money laundering.

It doesn't take much to imagine similar program for games - and what studios will be supported. Not Ice-Pick Lodge, I guarantee that

 

[Verylittlefishes]

It doesn't take much to imagine similar program for games - and what studios will be supported. Not Ice-Pick Lodge, I guarantee that

This money will go to some poor indie Mail ru studio I suppose...

 

[Ol' Willy]

This money will go to some poor indie Mail ru studio I suppose...

To produce pay-to-win MMO garbage

 

[prengle]

they deceived kickstarter backers

They deceived themselves to begin with.
Also it was a retarded idea from the start, to remake the game that already is a cult classic! They were able to do 2-3 completely new amazing games (and their pitches were fascinating) in this 7-year span, instead they fucked up the studio and released only 1/3 of said remake. Now they are too exhausted to do any more original games. This project is disaster.

the original pathologic was so gargantuan in scope that there is simply no way ice-pick should've been able to create it with the (lack of) budget and experience they had in the early 2000s, it defied practically everyone's rational expectations, the game itself is a polyhedron of its own. the fact that they managed to replicate it a second time is a miracle in itself

 

[Wunderbar]

What if it's a coordinated smear campaign, planned specifically to ruin Icepick's possible deal with a western publisher?

What if it's a publicity stunt to promote their next game, an ultra-interactive adventure that lets you experience the thrill of getting canceled IRL through a combination of hyper-advanced AI and procedurally generated evidence?

ah, the same game Avellone played in early access.

 

[Zed Duke of Banville]

ah i see the woke part of the fandom finally found out that nikolay is a horny motherfucker. have they never played tension before???

 

[Ol' Willy]

Based on what, somebody's rants on Twitter about something allegedly happened years ago? It's not USA, boy.

In majority of such cases evidence is based solely on victim's and witnesses' testimonies. If anyone comes forward, the guy may have some real legal problems. But, I reckon, some money will solve the problem rather quickly

 

[Verylittlefishes]

Based on what, somebody's rants on Twitter about something allegedly happened years ago? It's not USA, boy.

In majority of such cases evidence is based solely on victim's and witnesses' testimonies. If anyone comes forward, the guy may have some real legal problems. But, I reckon, some money will solve the problem rather quickly

Well, I personally think you are wrong, but the degree of absurdity these days is unpredictable.

What if it's a coordinated smear campaign, planned specifically to ruin Icepick's possible deal with a western publisher?

It actually looks like a hater's campaign, I probably even know the puppeteers. Anyway if this "15yo sex" situation is real, his career can be fucked (with the astonishing level of PR "professionalism" IPL demonstrated along the way, I'm pretty sure they cannot into damage control).

 

[Cpt. Dallas]

I'm enjoying this but I've never played a game where the devs tried so hard to keep you from enjoying their (in this case well written) content.

I started in 'intended' difficulty, and got a point in Day 3 with no money, no food, low health, and exhausted and infected. Ever the glutton for punishment, I died 20 times in a row desperately trying to get somewhere, anywhere, to be mocked and punished by the theater director. I'm fairly sure the nerf to stats even carry back to older saves.
Every time you turn around is a chance for the game to say 'no, fuck YOU'. The rat warren map to quest markers across town that are always just far enough away from a fast travel point (or start from an infected zone). A brutal economy. Barter. Sleep. Hunger. Thirst. Infection. Item wear. The inventory. Shop inventories. Crafting.

Russians are weird. It's like Victor Frankl made an RPG while having a case of dysentery.

Oh welp. Turned it down to 'easy' and it's still a challenge and actually fun.

In B4 'do you even lift, bro?'.

 

[Ol' Willy]

I'm enjoying this but I've never played a game where the devs tried so hard to keep you from enjoying their (in this case well written) content.

It's the intention of the game: you should suffer. It wouldn't be this fun if you just waltz through the game like an ubermensch.

Being overpowered is boring; I noticed that in many games. But when you just barely pull through purely by luck, skill or your persistence, it is rewarding.

 

[Verylittlefishes]

70 days since IPL last time posted anything

 

[Cpt. Dallas]

wouldn't be this fun if you just waltz through the game like an ubermensch.
Being overpowered is boring; I noticed that in many games. But when you just barely pull through purely by luck, skill or your persistence, it is rewarding.

I agree, but this game is too far on the other end of that spectrum. They may as well have the PC wear a gimp suit and switch to third person . Hell, for all I know they do that as punishment after 30 deaths.

 

[RoSoDude]

I'm enjoying this but I've never played a game where the devs tried so hard to keep you from enjoying their (in this case well written) content.

I started in 'intended' difficulty, and got a point in Day 3 with no money, no food, low health, and exhausted and infected. Ever the glutton for punishment, I died 20 times in a row desperately trying to get somewhere, anywhere, to be mocked and punished by the theater director. I'm fairly sure the nerf to stats even carry back to older saves.
Every time you turn around is a chance for the game to say 'no, fuck YOU'. The rat warren map to quest markers across town that are always just far enough away from a fast travel point (or start from an infected zone). A brutal economy. Barter. Sleep. Hunger. Thirst. Infection. Item wear. The inventory. Shop inventories. Crafting.

Russians are weird. It's like Victor Frankl made an RPG while having a case of dysentery.

Oh welp. Turned it down to 'easy' and it's still a challenge and actually fun.

In B4 'do you even lift, bro?'.

The hardcore survival gameplay is the point, it's not just a pointless obstacle to prevent you from enjoying some novella about a steppe town overtaken by plague. You're supposed to struggle to find time to meet with key NPCs due to your own survival needs. The narrative of Pathologic 2 is meant to be partially glimpsed, incompletely encountered as a result of your personal decisions. If you tried to overexert yourself and end up starved with no money, that's on you. Make better decisions, or live with the ones you've made. Did you think saving the town all by yourself was going to be easy?

 

[HoboForEternity]

is it dead?