Vapourware System Shock 3 by OtherSide Entertainment - taken over by Tencent!

[Morgoth]

So whatever happened to Shock 3? Is he officially not working on it anymore?

 

[anvi]

System Schlock

 

[Fenix]

Ultima Underwater

Ultima Underwear

 

[kangaxx]

So whatever happened to Shock 3? Is he officially not working on it anymore?

The discord is as dead as the dodo but they all seem convinced that it's still being worked on. No evidence has been provided, however.

 

[Eli_Havelock]

Thick Ass Thieves
(Put the hyphen wherever you'd like and call it an innovation for emergent gameplay.)

A USPTO search shows that a year ago (almost to the date) the first filing for "THICK AS THIEVES" was finally put to an end after a history since July 2018 of looking like Underworld Ascendant's design.
Hopefully, their new filing for the same - made in December of 2021 - can be the a company first to do something completely and competently before they try to cash out on it.

 

[LESS T_T]

their new filing for the same - made in December of 2021

I find it interesting, because Boston team's stealth game supposed to be a D&D game, it will definitely be owned by WotC, the rights holder and (probably) a publisher of the game. Maybe they have other plans for Thick as Thieves?

 

[Eli_Havelock]

The first TAT (lol) application was a prolonged mess with timing of filing that suggested that OSE were planning on going right from throwing in the towel on UA and running right into Thick as Thieves, and they tried to keep it going for as long as possible that yes Thick as Thieves was an actual product being worked on from 2018 to 2021 for the USPTO.

That same timing would also suggest Rich Gallup's initial purpose for hiring was as Producer for Thick as Thieves and he got landed with being put on pulling UA into a more acceptable state along with finishing the contractually-obligated console ports for 505 Games.

The dead OSE trademark is for: (ABANDONED) IC 025. US 022 039. G & S: Clothing, namely, shirts, sweatshirts, shorts, pants and hats
The second "Underworld Ascendant" is for: IC 028. US 022 023 038 050. G & S: Toys, games and playthings, namely, action figures. FIRST USE: 20150228. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20150228
Kinda funny considering the actual trademark for the game: IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S: Computer game programs; Downloadable computer game programs. FIRST USE: 20160429. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20160429

Rich has been his usual exuberant self and recently offered up some names of coworkers, so obviously we must hunt them down and make them pay for the sins of the studio, as goes the legend.

 

[Morgoth]

Warren Spector's OtherSide studio hasn't worked on System Shock 3 since 2019

"There's not much clarification I can give you."

News by Vikki Blake, Contributor
Updated on 13 March 2022

System Shock 3's creative adviser, Warren Spector, has confirmed "there's not much more to say at this point" about the beleaguered project.

Talking to GamesBeat, Spector said it was up to Tencent "to say what they want to say" about the game, and revealed his team had not worked on the project since 2019.

"We released a statement last year. There's not much more to say at this point," Spector said. "Tencent is taking the franchise forward. It'll be up to them to say what they want to say. There's not much clarification I can give you.

"We worked on it in 2018 and 2019. That was it."

Spector did, however, reflect upon the industry more generally, and was less than complimentary about developers and publishers pushing NFTs.

"Here's where I'm going to get in trouble. I'm literally going to have people giving me hell about what I'm about to say, but I really don't think I care. NFTs are ridiculous. I do not understand why anybody would want to climb on that bandwagon.

"Ownership of virtual goods that can be instantly reproduced in unlimited quantities. Who thinks that's a good idea? So NFTs, I have no interest."

Last week we learned that Deus Ex and Epic Mickey creator Warren Spector was now working on "a completely new intellectual property" at his development studio OtherSide Entertainment. There was no mention of the long-awaited System Shock 3.

As Tom summarised for us a few days back, System Shock 3 was originally announced in 2015 , when Spector was revealed as its creative adviser. The project fell off the rails in 2018, however, after publisher Starbreeze found itself in financial difficulties.

Spector's studio OtherSide split ways with Starbreeze and said it would continue working on the project on its own, but reports of development troubles and staff departures emerged in 2020. Shortly after, OtherSide announced that Chinese conglomerate Tencent would be "taking the System Shock franchise forward", though it was believed at the time that the developer was still involved in some capacity. And that's pretty much all we know right now.

It's not all bad news for System Shock fans, though. There's still the long-awaited System Shock remake, which was delayed in December and is now due sometime in 2022 and a System Shock TV adaptation is also on the cards, written by Mortal Kombat scribe Greg Russo.

 

[Eli_Havelock]

I can't imagine Tencent wanting OSE involved after Underworld Ascendant.

 

[vortex]

I wouldn't be surprised if Remedy would be making SS3.
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/t...control-alan-wake-studio-remedy/1100-6491939/

 

[Zboj Lamignat]

It's not all bad news for System Shock fans, though. There's still the long-awaited System Shock remake, which was delayed in December and is now due sometime in 2022 and a System Shock TV adaptation is also on the cards, written by Mortal Kombat scribe Greg Russo.

So, what's the good news then?

 

[toro]

SpermWhaleShock

 

[Cat Dude]

MTX and multiplayer mode confirmed!!

 

[Eli_Havelock]

MTX

Even Richard Garriott's cult followers are now calling for P2W in single-player games because he won't spend anything on them. I guess it's okay now then.

multiplayer mode confirmed!!

Co-Op looter shooter with SHODAN vs Hackers Mode a la Prey: Typhon Hunter, Fable: Legacy, or Evolve!
I can't wait for the fan/patch sites to go about pretending that doesn't exist like they now do with UA - but there's still a chance that Razorfist will still cuck himself on it.

 

[kangaxx]

The Discord is in shambles following this announcement. At least 10 lines of people expressing disappointment (plus some cope about Tencent working on it instead), thus trebling the activity from the past 3 years.

 

[whydoibother]

Spector did, however, reflect upon the industry more generally, and was less than complimentary about developers and publishers pushing NFTs.

"Here's where I'm going to get in trouble. I'm literally going to have people giving me hell about what I'm about to say, but I really don't think I care. NFTs are ridiculous. I do not understand why anybody would want to climb on that bandwagon.

"Ownership of virtual goods that can be instantly reproduced in unlimited quantities. Who thinks that's a good idea? So NFTs, I have no interest."

Oh no no no no, *shock fans about to get shocked by hacker ape Twitter avatars prices!

Co-Op looter shooter with SHODAN vs Hackers Mode a la Prey: Typhon Hunter, Fable: Legacy, or Evolve!

I want some kind of FFA race towards a goal in the level, with SHODAN playing the role of both a commentator as a voice, and of a Rimworld style storyteller, throwing random shit at the rats in the maze.

 

[thesheeep]

Well, as long as this is in this kind of non-state, I'd say everything is fine.

 

[Luka-boy]

Thick As Thieves

Thick Ass Thieves?

Garrett: "Basso, I'm trying to sneak in but my ass cheeks are dummy thick and their clapping is alerting the guards".

Spoiler

Welp. Time to check the new version of The Dark Mod I guess.

 

[Junmarko]

"Here's where I'm going to get in trouble"

I'll get in trouble with the NFT community if I say anything against NFTs!...What about System Shock 3, who cares?

 

[LESS T_T]

A Malaysian art studio posted some concept art seemingly (their description is little bit vague) made for System Shock 3: https://www.artstation.com/artwork/14OmkL

Cancelled System Shock inspired game

mid 2019, we were part of the design team aimed at recreating the IP: System Shock with modern, next gen visuals and aesthethics.
Unfortunately the game never solidified and was eventually cancelled.

Concept Artists:
Jarold sng
Jia Yi

More at the link.

 

[kangaxx]

Any news on the whale-focused immersive sim that Spector is "working on"?

 

[Nano]

Damn, that art is cool.

 

[Katana1000S]

I thought SS3 was cancellated years ago already? No loss as far as I'm concerned, would not want to see another classic franchise ruined the way it was with UA.

The graphical remake of original SS looked interesting though and should have been released by now according to last official statement back in 2021, probably dropped now too or more updates would have been given I'd have thought?

Would have bought that for a long overdue play through again, especially if the glitzy in your face look could be toned down a little bit in settings.

 

[Wesp5]

I thought SS3 was cancellated years ago already?

No, they released it under the name "Prey", which got fans of the old shooter angry, so it flopped hard !

 

[LESS T_T]

Well, I guess my speculation was right. Tencent also has rights to make System Shock 4... and possibly even more. https://www.videogameschronicle.com...ys-its-now-up-to-tencent-if-sequels-get-made/

System Shock’s owner says it’s now up to Tencent if sequels get made​

NIGHTDIVE CLARIFIES THE STATUS OF SYSTEM SHOCK 3, STATING THAT THE RIGHTS WERE SOLD

Nightdive Studios, the owner of the System Shock IP, has clarified the status of the long-missing-in-action System Shock 3, claiming that it’s now up to Tencent if the sequel gets made.

System Shock 3 had spent several years in development at Austin, Texas-based Otherside Entertainment – the studio helmed by original SS developers Paul Neurath and Warren Spector – before disappearing from the public arena completely in 2020.

Eventually, a statement was published on Otherside’s website claiming that Tencent would be “taking the System Shock franchise forward”.

However, there has been no clarification in the two years since on what exactly this means for the future of Otherside’s game, despite an analysis of LinkedIn suggesting that virtually all of System Shock’s development team has long since left.

Speaking to VGC at Gamescom, Nightdive CEO Stephen Kick claimed that the rights to the third game, which it had originally granted to Otherside, had subsequently been sold on to the Chinese conglomerate.

It’s now up to Tencent whether a third game gets made, he told VGC.

“When we originally acquired the rights to the franchise, we licensed the rights for the third game to Warren and Paul [Neurath] at Otherside. They then subsequently sold their rights to Tencent,” he explained.

“So Tencent currently has the rights to the third game, and we have the rights to do the remake of the first game and potentially a remake of the second game. That’s pretty much where it stands right now.”

Kick clarified that it’s currently down to Tencent if the third game gets made at all, and claimed he did not know if either Spector or Neurath were involved in such a project. “I honestly don’t know. I know Paul and Warren are still making games, but that’s as much as I know right now.”

Tencent could also make additional System Shock sequels in the future if were to develop the third game and decide to continue, he said. “I think they technically could do 4 and 5 as well, but they’d have to do 3 first. So, we’ll see.”

Nightdive is currently developing it’s long-coming System Shock remake, which has been in development since 2016 and still has no release date. The game was, however, playable at Gamescom this week.

According to CEO and game director Kick, both Warren Spector and Paul Neurath have been providing regular feedback on the remake, so both men are involved in the franchise in that capacity.

“They’ve been wonderful,” he said. “We’ve been providing builds to them periodically and getting their feedback, and they’ve been giving us a lot. This was their baby, and it’s been entrusted to us. We’re just lucky to have them as a sounding board to let us know when maybe we’ve gone too far or maybe not far enough. We’ve definitely been applying that feedback.”

Despite uncertainly around Tencent’s ownership of the sequel rights, Kick said there are “definitely” plans for more System Shock from Nightdive, “whether that be a remake of the second game or some cross-media stuff” such as a planned live-action series from streaming platform Binge.