Thick as Thieves - multiplayer stealth game set in a low fantasy early 20th century metropolis from Warren Spector's OtherSide Entertainment

[Lady Error]

So Ravenloft is the "existing IP"? And it will be a top-down game?

Prediction: A vampire shooter with fireballs and gay romances.

 

[LESS T_T]

New job posting for level designer explicitly says they're working on a D&D game. https://www.dropbox.com/s/p9zlnlh7bv303p4/OtherSide_Level Designer_2021.pdf?dl=0

What We Need

The studio is looking for a Level Designer to join our team in working on a new game set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe. Level design will focus on using space to facilitate gameplay driven by players choices, and immersing players deeply into the fantasy world. The ideal candidate will have strong proficiency with UE4, as well as a solid understanding of how different approaches to level design can be used to achieve specific gameplay goals. Additionally, they should be highly organized, with excellent problem-solving and communication skills.

● Passion for making and playing games, with robust knowledge of comparable games. Games from the last five years that demonstrate an understanding and mastery of level design concepts we value: Control, Death of the Outsider, Dying Light, Prey, DOOM: Eternal, Alien: Isolation, Destiny 2, Far Cry 5, Titanfall 2.

Funny they wrote Death of the Outsider instead of just Dishonored 2.


Also new Senior Designer, Rick Ernst: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rick-ernst-48576a1/

He's been working at the industry since late 90s (including the final year of Looking Glass and Paul Neurath's other studio Floodgate).

 

[PaquoCastor]

I thought Atari was bad for dandy computer games. Nothing could have prepared me for Wizards reclaiming the license. And, at least, Atari gave us D&D Tactics.

 

[LESS T_T]

Freelance writer Sam Maggs: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sammaggs1/

Writer

Company Name OtherSide Entertainment (Freelance)
Dates Employed Apr 2021 – Present
Employment Duration 2 mos

She worked at BioWare for Anthem and Insomniac for Spider-Man DLC and the new Ratchet game. Since then she's been doing mostly contract writing for some big games and some comics. She also did contract work on that new Dark Alliance, I'd guess her role at this Otherside D&D game would be similar to that.

They also got a QA. This, the new writer, and the job posting for level designer possibly indicate that they're at the stage of making actual content.

 

[LESS T_T]

Well duh, yet another Forgotten Realms game. https://otherside-e.com/wp/jobs/

Putting together a team for a big job in the Forgotten Realms.

We’re in early days still on this new game; more will be revealed in due time… :

(It's kind of misleading they put this above the job postings for Austin studio, which explicitly is working on a "new" IP.)

This illustration is from 2018 5e adventure Waterdeep: Dragon Heist, depicting Xanathar. I guess they're making this book into a Thief-like?

 

[Infinitron]

Freelance writer Sam Maggs: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sammaggs1/

Heh.

Apr 2021 – Aug 2021

 

[LESS T_T]

Oh right, some hints from what I posted in UA thread:

Looks like she updated job description again. Sounds like she's practically narrative lead or something. https://www.linkedin.com/in/madeleine-shopoff/

Senior narrative designer and UX designer for an upcoming unannounced title from Otherside Entertainment. Heading up world building, character design, storyline, and working with the lead designer to create missions and gameplay. Creating engaging and intuitive UI and controls.

Also, mission-based?

 

[LESS T_T]

New job posting is Lead Producer role. https://www.dropbox.com/s/g12b04njtaw0d7z/Lead Producer Role - Fall 2021.docx?dl=0

It seems this is a company-wide role than studio- or project- specific.

 

[Contagium]

They didn't even ascend the underworld with their last game, and from what I understand they shipped out System Shock 3 to Tencent. How are they still in business?

 

[LESS T_T]

Boston studio is looking for Office Manager: https://www.dropbox.com/s/rggplyhrsuryidi/Office Manager Role Final - Fall 2021.docx.pdf?dl=0

Another posting for Gameplay Engineer: https://www.dropbox.com/s/pb99nhodhomfbv4/Game Engineer - Job Description - Sept 2021.docx.pdf?dl=0

Content is the same with the posting from February, "multiplayer gameplay systems" and all that. Co-op (or also competitive?) Thief set in Waterdeep, made by Otherside? I wonder they're looking at how Deathloop is going on at that part.

 

[LESS T_T]

Actually Chris Cocks (WotC head) hinted about this game in June. "In one game you might run a thieves guild and traverse the Thieves Highway of Waterdeep"

https://www.gamesindustry.biz/artic...re-core-to-the-future-of-dungeons-and-dragons

Relevant part, also teasing another unannounced game like a RPG/strategy hybrid set in Krynn:

Beyond that, expect us to continue to push the envelope on AAA role-playing, exciting co-op themes and even role-play/strategy hybrids

In one game you might run a thieves guild and traverse the Thieves Highway of Waterdeep, in another you might marshal dragon hosts in the war-torn world of Krynn. In still another, you might explore the very origins of the D&D universe in real-time combat. The brand's richness is an enabler of tons of amazing game experiences so rather than a challenge, we see it as an amazing opportunity.

(If Paradox was not its publisher I would have suspected if Digimancy is working on that Krynn game.)

 

[Wunderbar]

hehe Cocks

 

[LESS T_T]

Another senior engineer joined recently, Gabriel Martinez: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mystal/

Not specified if it's Boston studio (he's been worked at CA-based companies like Intel, Google, and Riot) but I assume so.

Senior Engineer

Company Name OtherSide Entertainment
Dates Employed Aug 2020 – Present
Employment Duration 3 mos

This guy has left.

His new job description has few more details on the game (it has inventory, bit more involved AI) and some extra things he has done.

Senior Gameplay Engineer

Company Name OtherSide Entertainment
Dates Employed Aug 2020 – Oct 2021
Employment Duration 1 yr 3 mos

Unannounced Dungeons & Dragons IP Game

* Pushed for better representation of ethnicity and gender for our characters.
* Primary AI programmer. Designed AI system based on Dave Mark's Infinite Axis Utility System in Unreal 4. (Lots more details, feel free to reach out and I can talk your ear off!)
* Implemented our character inventory system.
* Mentored junior engineers and technical designers.
* Pushed for cultural changes: started a game club, encouraged conversation between people in different departments, encouraged discussion about diversity and representation in hiring and in our game.

 

[Yoomazir]

Another senior engineer joined recently, Gabriel Martinez: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mystal/

Not specified if it's Boston studio (he's been worked at CA-based companies like Intel, Google, and Riot) but I assume so.

Senior Engineer

Company Name OtherSide Entertainment
Dates Employed Aug 2020 – Present
Employment Duration 3 mos

This guy has left.

His new job description has few more details on the game (it has inventory, bit more involved AI) and some extra things he has done.

Senior Gameplay Engineer

Company Name OtherSide Entertainment
Dates Employed Aug 2020 – Oct 2021
Employment Duration 1 yr 3 mos

Unannounced Dungeons & Dragons IP Game

* Pushed for better representation of ethnicity and gender for our characters.
* Primary AI programmer. Designed AI system based on Dave Mark's Infinite Axis Utility System in Unreal 4. (Lots more details, feel free to reach out and I can talk your ear off!)
* Implemented our character inventory system.
* Mentored junior engineers and technical designers.
* Pushed for cultural changes: started a game club, encouraged conversation between people in different departments, encouraged discussion about diversity and representation in hiring and in our game.

-" Pushed for better representation of ethnicity and gender for our characters."
- "encouraged discussion about diversity and representation in hiring and in our game."

How do these people manage to get a job?

 

[Butter]

-" Pushed for better representation of ethnicity and gender for our characters."
- "encouraged discussion about diversity and representation in hiring and in our game."

How do these people manage to get a job?

The games industry is full of cucks.

 

[LESS T_T]

More job postings.

Engineer II, Gameplay https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Yq_vaR6qmdl70DNREPirTBWGmjo0pVfD/edit

HR Generalist https://docs.google.com/document/d/...ive_web&ouid=103120921092372674127&rtpof=true

Specifics about gameplay engineer "II" posting are almost the same with the past ones (multiplayer gameplay systems, "player-authored", Unreal, etc.) except it requires at least 4 years of experience instead of 2 years. Hiring HR personnel is probably more interesting as it suggests the expansion of the company.

Actually I've seen multiple 3D artists on Linkedin added Otherside to their profiles (mostly contract work, also mostly stylized, "cartoon-y" style), and also someone with almost 20 years of AAA experience (from F.E.A.R 2 to modern Tomb Raider games and Halo: Infinite) listed as "Lead Stealth Gameplay Architect". I guess they're ramping it up.

 

[Thonius]

Jesus, anyone who gets on this company is either desperate or lived in a dungeon without internet access. This employment is going to be a stain on any decent dev or artist. Well, maybe not on a junior or unpaid intern resume.

 

[Harthwain]

-" Pushed for better representation of ethnicity and gender for our characters."
- "encouraged discussion about diversity and representation in hiring and in our game."

How do these people manage to get a job?

I am guessing some studios are desperate for relatively cheap programmers. Especially studios such as Otherside, which do not have a stellar record.

 

[LESS T_T]

Otherside now has General Manager. Jeff Goodsill, a guy with almost 30 years of manager/executive career (Ensemble, Iron Lore, etc.) https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-goodsill/

I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as General Manager at OtherSide Entertainment! More news from OtherSide out shortly.

 

[agris]

Makes sense they’d attract the executive type, it takes a certain amount of removal from the day-to-day goings on of the industry to be both blind to the failings of this studio AND beguiled by Spector.

 

[JarlFrank]

Jesus, anyone who gets on this company is either desperate or lived in a dungeon without internet access. This employment is going to be a stain on any decent dev or artist. Well, maybe not on a junior or unpaid intern resume.

Depends on what you do I guess.

"I made the only decent part of Underworld Ascendant (the nice mosaic floor texture in that one room in the third level of the game)" won't look that bad on your resume.

 

[LESS T_T]

New job posting for UI/UX Designer refers this game as an "action game": https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jNABLOu6WHjEVvStnI0hxNUfuOlJVhzE/edit#heading=h.b95rdqmuokc7

The studio is looking for a UI/UX designer for an unannounced action game within the Dungeons & Dragons universe. You will be responsible for designing and crafting UI throughout our game, including the HUD as well as in-game and meta-game menus.

2+ years of experience in interface or user experience designer for games, with preference to multiplayer and first-person titles

Experience designing in-game and meta investment UI and monetization interfaces

Live service co-op stealth action game here we go.

 

[Comte_II]

Warren Spektor is a grifter

 

[LESS T_T]

To be fair Warren is making a rainbow cotton whale game, not this D&D game.

 

[LESS T_T]

What the hell. Looks like they sold the trademark "Otherside Entertainment" to Yuga Labs, the crypto company behind that stupid Bored Ape thing, in May.

https://assignments.uspto.gov/assignments/q?db=tm&reel=7718&frame=0504

This Yuga Labs supposedly launched a metaverse thing called Otherside in May.

I wonder if this trademark deal valued more than selling System Shock 3 (and 4) to Tencent.

Otherside (or whatever new name they will have), the company specialized in selling IP rights.

In other news, they removed the D&D image and D&D project-related job postings from website, leaving only a posting for Lead Artist on Warren's project. A pessimist in me initially thought, "did the D&D game cancelled?", but well, let's assume that they filled the positions they needed.