The Outer Worlds: Spacer's Choice Edition - Obsidian's first-person sci-fi RPG set in a corporate space colony

[The Dutch Ghost]

Sawyer and Gonzalez did a much better job. Sadly the first has burned out and the second left after New Vegas. This game will never achieve that status.

Well everything has a lifespan, living beings, ideas, companies. It was eventually bound to happen that Obsidian would "decline in health".
They will probably continue to make more games but I doubt that they will make anything again that will really be popular on these forums.

I also don't think The Outer Worlds is really deserving of a sequel. I know it left an opening for one but that is standard these days.
Content wise itself I don't think the universe isn't that captivating to be explored more. It's inhabited by morons and activists.

 

[potatojohn]

It's been rumored here that Cain has moved to Seattle with his husband and has settle into a part time WFH situation. Further rumors elaborate he's just settling into retiring completely. No idea if that's true or not. I think Roguey has more info. It's been posted in this thread before I think.

I've done some digging and Tim's current address is still near Obsidian. Robert has definitely moved to Seattle though. Seems likely they're divorced or have the weirdest long distance marriage.

Edit: On second thought, maybe not. The house that's listed as his current residence was sold just a few months ago and Robert was the previous owner.

What the fuck are you doing?

 

[Major_Blackhart]

Roguey is our information broker.

 

[TheDiceMustRoll]

That is what I expected when I heard that the two were working on the Outer Worlds. That this was some kind of passion project of theirs that they wanted to do for a while.
From what you all are telling me it sounds more like the two basically just put their name on this project just as Obsidian put "From the makers of Fallout New Vegas" on the advertisement blurb.
What did Cain and Boyarsky actually do on the project? Just leading others? No creative involvement whatsoever beyond perhaps an idea or a concept?

Doesn't feel like there was a passion behind it. I literally haven't heard anything good about it aside perhaps visuals.

And there was no creative force behind the game aside from those two that could possible make it better.

Sawyer and Gonzalez did a much better job. Sadly the first has burned out and the second left after New Vegas. This game will never achieve that status.

Sawyer and Gonzalez did a much better job. Sadly the first has burned out and the second left after New Vegas. This game will never achieve that status.

Well everything has a lifespan, living beings, ideas, companies. It was eventually bound to happen that Obsidian would "decline in health".
They will probably continue to make more games but I doubt that they will make anything again that will really be popular on these forums.

I also don't think The Outer Worlds is really deserving of a sequel. I know it left an opening for one but that is standard these days.
Content wise itself I don't think the universe isn't that captivating to be explored more. It's inhabited by morons and activists.

I kind of want to know what's going on with earth. Not enough to buy and play through another one of these. It's more "meh ill look it up on wiki" or whatever.

 

[Flying Dutchman]

I've done some digging and Tim's current address is still near Obsidian. Robert has definitely moved to Seattle though. Seems likely they're divorced or have the weirdest long distance marriage.

Edit: On second thought, maybe not. The house that's listed as his current residence was sold just a few months ago and Robert was the previous owner.

All the (un-confirmed) reports I'd heard was that Cain and his husband are still together, and Cain either retired/left completely or moved to contracting up in Seattle, likely before completely transitioning into retirement (also, a half-time position would likely make it easier to avoid any official public announcement of him leaving the studio, which would likely be a good thing for Obsidian if they were able to hide it/downplay it).

The only thing I can confirm is that Cain apparently said that he was retiring last year, and he said to other developers within the studio, and his plans were to move to Seattle to live with his husband at some point.

No word on Leonard, this was all Cain. To my knowledge, it looks like Leonard is still there?

Wish some company lurkers like Sailor Woedica would say something, that would be nice.

 

[Wunderbar]

Wish some company lurkers like Sailor Woedica would say something, that would be nice.

or i have a huge nick

 

[Roguey]

Wish some company lurkers like Sailor Woedica would say something, that would be nice.

Woedica's European. Dedicated to the persona, but not an employee.

 

[Nano]

Shame he had to taint his legacy with this game before retiring.

 

[IHaveHugeNick]

Tim Cain joined DoubleBear Productions to work as lead programmer on Panic at Multiverse High 2 unannounced project.

 

[The Dutch Ghost]

Shame he had to taint his legacy with this game before retiring.

Sadly it is not uncommon these days.
We now live in a period of time in which most authors of beloved creations have gone into decline.
And there are not many people these days to succeed them because big publisher wants new creations designed by committee or rather milks out old IPs.

 

[Major_Blackhart]

I got annoyed with Cain when he was speaking at a conference and talked about coming out, and how he felt fans attacked him and such, with people writing negatively about it. The reason it bugged me was some of it sounded like it was lifted right from the Codex specifically, from like two guys, while everyone else in the thread was fine or didn't care that much but rather wanted to know what he was doing next in the industry.

In my mind listening to him, it was like he was reading the forum and focusing entirely on what a few people were loudly screaming about, and ignoring everyone else in the thread. Like in his mind, THAT was the Codex. I'm probably just being a sensitive cunt, but I like our community. It's the only one I'm active on, so I'm protective of it.

 

[Gordian Nutt]

Woedica's European. Dedicated to the persona, but not an employee.

My belief is Prinker, the two write the same based on her twitter

On topic: When is DLC2 supposed to come out?

 

[DalekFlay]

Wow, I don't think I have ever played a more mediocre game than this. Literally nothing about it stands out -- boring gunplay, dull world design, uninteresting loot, entirely one-note writing, uninspired and linear quest design. I usually force myself to push through to the end of most RPGs, but this one I just couldn't. Just the idea of opening it up again induced a feeling of dread in me. Definitely a new nadir for Obsidian.

Eh, I disagree with some of this. The game has serious problems which I've written about a lot in here, but I think the vast majority of them are depth issues related to budget and scope. I think the world is fine design wise, in fact I quite enjoy the look and tone they went for. Corporate evil in a sci-fi future certainly isn't a new idea, but the enthusiastic populace, focus on marketing slogans as a lifestyle and retro looking design appealed to me. It is "one-note" I suppose, and didn't have to be. The Iconoclasts should have been written much differently since they broke away, and also the smugglers maybe, but this idea everyone in the game world is brainwashed by corporations works alright for me. I also don't think the gunplay is any better or worse than other games of this type, really. It definitely suffers from lack of scope and reactivity, but to be fair they warned us ahead of time it was a smaller project than it seemed.

The thing I find zero excuse for and can't forgive is the shit balancing that removes all challenge and relevance for character skill. Even on hard the game is so easy you never have to put thought or effort into anything, and you get so many health items and lockpicks and shit you never have to worry about any of it. A re-balancing mod would help this game tremendously, were it possible to create one. Also yes, every male character being an idiot is annoying, I agree.

 

[The Dutch Ghost]

I got annoyed with Cain when he was speaking at a conference and talked about coming out, and how he felt fans attacked him and such, with people writing negatively about it. The reason it bugged me was some of it sounded like it was lifted right from the Codex specifically, from like two guys, while everyone else in the thread was fine or didn't care that much but rather wanted to know what he was doing next in the industry.

In my mind listening to him, it was like he was reading the forum and focusing entirely on what a few people were loudly screaming about, and ignoring everyone else in the thread. Like in his mind, THAT was the Codex. I'm probably just being a sensitive cunt, but I like our community. It's the only one I'm active on, so I'm protective of it.

Don Rosa, an artist well known for his Scrooge McDuck comics had the same about the Dutch.
He had some unpleasant conversation/correspondence with some Dutch Donald Duck/Disney fans who were critical about his work. And suddenly all the Dutch were like the people he talked to/got unpleasant messages from, even the ones who do like his comics.

 

[J_C]

I got annoyed with Cain when he was speaking at a conference and talked about coming out, and how he felt fans attacked him and such, with people writing negatively about it. The reason it bugged me was some of it sounded like it was lifted right from the Codex specifically, from like two guys, while everyone else in the thread was fine or didn't care that much but rather wanted to know what he was doing next in the industry.

In my mind listening to him, it was like he was reading the forum and focusing entirely on what a few people were loudly screaming about, and ignoring everyone else in the thread. Like in his mind, THAT was the Codex. I'm probably just being a sensitive cunt, but I like our community. It's the only one I'm active on, so I'm protective of it.

This happens a lot in this day and age, when homosexuals try to score some pitypoints. They tell stories about being harassed online, while the truth is, most people doesn't give a fuck about their orientation.

 

[LudensCogitet]

I got annoyed with Cain when he was speaking at a conference and talked about coming out, and how he felt fans attacked him and such, with people writing negatively about it. The reason it bugged me was some of it sounded like it was lifted right from the Codex specifically, from like two guys, while everyone else in the thread was fine or didn't care that much but rather wanted to know what he was doing next in the industry.

In my mind listening to him, it was like he was reading the forum and focusing entirely on what a few people were loudly screaming about, and ignoring everyone else in the thread. Like in his mind, THAT was the Codex. I'm probably just being a sensitive cunt, but I like our community. It's the only one I'm active on, so I'm protective of it.

Cherry picking to find offence like that would be super gay.

 

[Flying Dutchman]

Cherry picking to find offence like that would be super gay.

Well-played.

 

[Major_Blackhart]

This happens a lot in this day and age, when homosexuals try to score some pitypoints. They tell stories about being harassed online, while the truth is, most people doesn't give a fuck about their orientation.

What legit bugged me was I think he almost quoted exactly what one guy on our forum said about him, and generalized it about everyone here. Like, the guy was fucking trolling. It was really... kinda... pissy. Like, suddenly I knew more about someone who made great games in the past, and now I'm thinking that maybe his work on them was more like flukes or something. Like, he struck gold once or twice, and managed to keep the right people around him.


Edit: it happens to me with porn stars, actors, writers, directors, etc. The more I learn about people the less I like them, and the less I enjoy their work.

 

[IHaveHugeNick]

Eh, I disagree with some of this. The game has serious problems which I've written about a lot in here, but I think the vast majority of them are depth issues related to budget and scope. I think the world is fine design wise, in fact I quite enjoy the look and tone they went for. Corporate evil in a sci-fi future certainly isn't a new idea, but the enthusiastic populace, focus on marketing slogans as a lifestyle and retro looking design appealed to me. It is "one-note" I suppose, and didn't have to be. The Iconoclasts should have been written much differently since they broke away, and also the smugglers maybe, but this idea everyone in the game world is brainwashed by corporations works alright for me. I also don't think the gunplay is any better or worse than other games of this type, really. It definitely suffers from lack of scope and reactivity, but to be fair they warned us ahead of time it was a smaller project than it seemed.

The thing I find zero excuse for and can't forgive is the shit balancing that removes all challenge and relevance for character skill. Even on hard the game is so easy you never have to put thought or effort into anything, and you get so many health items and lockpicks and shit you never have to worry about any of it. A re-balancing mod would help this game tremendously, were it possible to create one. Also yes, every male character being an idiot is annoying, I agree.

Sums up my thoughts on it as well. Where TOW truly fails is how it doesn't play to its strengths. Enormous amount of work went to make it highly replayable and all the components are there but difficulty is so laughable it's just not replayable at all.

 

[Spectacle]

I got annoyed with Cain when he was speaking at a conference and talked about coming out, and how he felt fans attacked him and such, with people writing negatively about it. The reason it bugged me was some of it sounded like it was lifted right from the Codex specifically, from like two guys, while everyone else in the thread was fine or didn't care that much but rather wanted to know what he was doing next in the industry.

In my mind listening to him, it was like he was reading the forum and focusing entirely on what a few people were loudly screaming about, and ignoring everyone else in the thread. Like in his mind, THAT was the Codex. I'm probably just being a sensitive cunt, but I like our community. It's the only one I'm active on, so I'm protective of it.

Don Rosa, an artist well known for his Scrooge McDuck comics had the same about the Dutch.
He had some unpleasant conversation/correspondence with some Dutch Donald Duck/Disney fans who were critical about his work. And suddenly all the Dutch were like the people he talked to/got unpleasant messages from, even the ones who do like his comics.

Don Rosa is a hack who can't draw. It's not surprise that he gets butturt over dutch fans calling him out.

 

[Roguey]

On topic: When is DLC2 supposed to come out?

Early 2021.

 

[undecaf]

So, how much better game is this than Ciderspunk 2077?

 

[MadMaxHellfire]

Where TOW truly fails is how it exists

ftfy.

So, how much better game is this than Ciderspunk 2077?

more stable? of course. but even a cripple on the brink of madness balancing on the top of the sinking titanic is more stable than cp77.
better game? holy crap no still by a long shot.

Kingdom obvious shill is obvious.

 

[TheDiceMustRoll]

I got annoyed with Cain when he was speaking at a conference and talked about coming out, and how he felt fans attacked him and such, with people writing negatively about it. The reason it bugged me was some of it sounded like it was lifted right from the Codex specifically, from like two guys, while everyone else in the thread was fine or didn't care that much but rather wanted to know what he was doing next in the industry.

In my mind listening to him, it was like he was reading the forum and focusing entirely on what a few people were loudly screaming about, and ignoring everyone else in the thread. Like in his mind, THAT was the Codex. I'm probably just being a sensitive cunt, but I like our community. It's the only one I'm active on, so I'm protective of it.

It'd be fine if some of them took their meds and didnt shit up the forums writing long diatribes about how "estrogen" was destroying the industry or whatever.

This happens a lot in this day and age, when homosexuals try to score some pitypoints. They tell stories about being harassed online, while the truth is, most people doesn't give a fuck about their orientation.

What legit bugged me was I think he almost quoted exactly what one guy on our forum said about him, and generalized it about everyone here. Like, the guy was fucking trolling. It was really... kinda... pissy. Like, suddenly I knew more about someone who made great games in the past, and now I'm thinking that maybe his work on them was more like flukes or something. Like, he struck gold once or twice, and managed to keep the right people around him.

Eh, I disagree with some of this. The game has serious problems which I've written about a lot in here, but I think the vast majority of them are depth issues related to budget and scope. I think the world is fine design wise, in fact I quite enjoy the look and tone they went for. Corporate evil in a sci-fi future certainly isn't a new idea, but the enthusiastic populace, focus on marketing slogans as a lifestyle and retro looking design appealed to me. It is "one-note" I suppose, and didn't have to be. The Iconoclasts should have been written much differently since they broke away, and also the smugglers maybe, but this idea everyone in the game world is brainwashed by corporations works alright for me. I also don't think the gunplay is any better or worse than other games of this type, really. It definitely suffers from lack of scope and reactivity, but to be fair they warned us ahead of time it was a smaller project than it seemed.

The thing I find zero excuse for and can't forgive is the shit balancing that removes all challenge and relevance for character skill. Even on hard the game is so easy you never have to put thought or effort into anything, and you get so many health items and lockpicks and shit you never have to worry about any of it. A re-balancing mod would help this game tremendously, were it possible to create one. Also yes, every male character being an idiot is annoying, I agree.

Sums up my thoughts on it as well. Where TOW truly fails is how it doesn't play to its strengths. Enormous amount of work went to make it highly replayable and all the components are there but difficulty is so laughable it's just not replayable at all.

Yeah, and there's no need. Noah Gervais summed it up in saying that he beat New Vegas five times for all the endings and variations and he beat TOW once and said "meh" and that was that.

 

[Don Peste]

Name one old developer that managed to make a comeback and deliver a great game instead of sorrow and pity. There might be one... I just can't remember.