Company News Tim Cain joins MCA over at Obsidian Entertainment

[Ion Flux]

Now they have three gays, Josh, Chris and Tim

Just wait until David Gaider hears about that, he'll pack his shit and join Obsidian too

I see what you did there.

 

[Radisshu]

But nevertheless, I would have preferred a wider range of instruments as timbre and tone colour can add a lot to the atmosphere. Just my opinion.

This. The string quartet was unique and I'm not saying get rid of it, but hearing that same quartet over and over again during fifty hours of gameplay gets a bit old. In fact I believe it went a long way towards causing that feeling of monotony that I felt throughout most of the game. They could have added other instrument families, even a full orchestra, to use throughout in order to add some variety to the music while still keeping the string quartet as the primary music generator. For a modern analogy look at the soundtrack of Bioshock 2. The violin features heavily in that, having many solos (and one gorgeously haunting violin/cello duet) and just in general being the most prominent instrument in that soundtrack. But he still manages to use the entire orchestra, and he uses it well. So he gets the best of both worlds. In Arcanum it could have been no different.

Mind you, I'm not blaming the composer here, because it sounds like writing for just string quartet was a design decision passed down by Troika. I'm thinking that maybe Tim and co should have stayed out of that and just let the composer do his job. Then again, the decision could have been more practical; they might not have been able to afford a whole orchestra. Having to choose between a small number of instruments that you can record versus a large number that has to be midi...well that's not an easy choice. But they still could have added electronica stuff (i.e. Fallout, PST).

Fuck you, and everyone who thinks like you. The soundtrack was perfect and contributed greatly to the game's unique atmosphere. Go suck some Jeremy Soule orchestral cock, faggot.

Fuck you. The idea behind Arcanum's music was nice. The execution was really sloppy and dreary - Arcanum's soundtrack is dull, the music isn't interesting. I don't even think more instruments would have been needed, just some fucking variation. Yes, the idea with silent movie music was a nice idea, but it doesn't work when the game itself doesn't have much in common with silent movies apart from drawing some inspiration from that era. And how many tracks were there, anyway?

And that a person would prefer a soundtrack that's a little less dull doesn't mean that person would love a shitty Jeremy Soule soundtrack.

 

[Jaesun]

The idea behind Arcanum's music was nice. The execution was really sloppy and dreary - Arcanum's soundtrack is dull, the music isn't interesting. I don't even think more instruments would have been needed, just some fucking variation. Yes, the idea with silent movie music was a nice idea, but it doesn't work when the game itself doesn't have much in common with silent movies apart from drawing some inspiration from that era.

Agreed. What they did with TOEE would have been better.

 

[Asdraguuhl]

I tend to react positively if a gameworld has a lot of atmosphere and ambience. Naturally, music is a very powerful tool to create great atmosphere and many of my favourite games (e.g. FO, PS:T, VTM:B, Gothic, Witcher) have excellent ambience where the sound/music plays an important role. (Particularly Kai Rosenkranz's score for the Gothic games are brilliiant in my opinion).

In Arcanum, I cannot help but feel that the music acts as a separate layer that is put on top of the gameworld rather than being an intrinsic part of the distinct gameworld locations making it difficult for me to be drawn in "emotionally". I think that in many ways, the appeal of Arcanum lies in its "rational" qualities.

I also agree that the score can get quite dull and monotonous at times.

 

[visions]

However, I always felt that choosing a string quartet for its soundtrack was a big design error. Arcanum is about magic vs technology and a full orchestra (perhaps in combination with some "industrial" sounds) is able to create a large variety of soundscapes, which is best suited to represent the different areas of Arcanum.

I always saw Arcanum as not merely being about technology vs magic, but also about the decline of the magical, old and fantastic. Magic is on the decline and not very well regarded socially, giants are extinct (except... well yeah), dragons are extinct, once great Cumbria/Dernholm is rotting, the world is moving forward. Even the short opening video of the guy with the pistol shooting the guy with the sword seemed to represent this. So I have always regarded the melancholic quality of the soundtrack as fitting to the overall themes and atmosphere.

 

[Asdraguuhl]

However, I always felt that choosing a string quartet for its soundtrack was a big design error. Arcanum is about magic vs technology and a full orchestra (perhaps in combination with some "industrial" sounds) is able to create a large variety of soundscapes, which is best suited to represent the different areas of Arcanum.

I always saw Arcanum as not merely being about technology vs magic, but also about the decline of the magical, old and fantastic. Magic is on the decline and not very well regarded socially, giants are extinct (except... well yeah), dragons are extinct, once great Cumbria/Dernholm is rotting, the world is moving forward. Even the short opening video of the guy with the pistol shooting the guy with the sword seemed to represent this. So I have always regarded the melancholic quality of the soundtrack as fitting to the overall themes and atmosphere.

I do not necessarily disagree with your viewpoint as I consider it to be a valid point. But as you imply yourself, the score sets a certain tone, which is basically present during your entire playthrough. My main complaint is that I would have liked it much better if the soundtrack would have been tailored to the different gameworld elements.

I think it is quite ironic to have such an ambitious game with so many different elements and complexities and then to choose a music ensemble with such a reduced scope. For some this may be a virtue whereas for others, like me, it is an "unfortunate" decision. (Although perhaps it is not the ensemble itself but its implementation).

 

[villain of the story]

Dear Codex, I've gone to the depths of hell to dig this most classified information out and have uncovered a glimpse of the truth.

Now, choose your pick:

Word Mark.............................ICEWIND DALE
Goods and Services.................IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S: Interactive entertainment software, namely, video game programs blah blah
FIRST USE IN COMMERCE:......20000620
Mark Drawing Code................(4) STANDARD CHARACTER MARK
Serial Number........................85043957
Filing Date...........................May 20, 2010
Current Filing Basis.................1A
Original Filing Basis.................1A
Published for Opposition.....October 5, 2010
Registration Number...............3893975
Registration Date...............December 21, 2010
Owner...................................(REGISTRANT) WIZARDS OF THE COAST LLC blah blah
Type of Mark..........................TRADEMARK
Register.................................PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator.................LIVE

Word Mark........................ARCANUM
Goods and Services.............IC 00blah blah blah skipping the gibberish details
Filing Date.......................August 7, 2011
Type of Mark......................TRADEMARK
Register.............................PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator.............LIVE

On one hand, we recently have heard word of OE wanting to do another IWD game, from Feargus himself no less, dropping hints here and there and now you see here before you the smoking gun! BUT, on the other hand, we have a LIVE Arcanum trademark that's been filed as recent as August 7, 2011. That's mere two! (2) fuckings months ago and Tim Cain has joined OE just days ago. Coincidence?

OR!... Maybe they are doing BOTH!

Note that the latter has not yet been "published for opposition" or actually "registered" but only "filed" but I wouldn't be surprised if it's just the bureaucratic process. Notice that there is 6 months of time between the filing and registration date of IWD. Also out of curiosity, I also checked the original trademark entry for Arcanum and guess what:

Filing Date.......................September 27, 1999
Published for Opposition....May 2, 2000
Registration Date..............July 9, 2002

And as we all know, the game was released in late August in 2001, nearly a year before the registration date.

SO, what do you think?

DISCUSS!!!11

 

[Micmu]

OR!... Maybe they are doing BOTH! What do you think?

Yes, they're making BOTH Dungeon Lords 2 AND Space Siege 2 for xbox at the same time.

 

[J_C]

Dear Codex, I've gone to the depths of hell to dig this most classified information out and have uncovered a glimpse of the truth.

Now, choose your pick:

Word Mark.............................ICEWIND DALE
Goods and Services.................IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S: Interactive entertainment software, namely, video game programs blah blah
FIRST USE IN COMMERCE:......20000620
Mark Drawing Code................(4) STANDARD CHARACTER MARK
Serial Number........................85043957
Filing Date...........................May 20, 2010
Current Filing Basis.................1A
Original Filing Basis.................1A
Published for Opposition.....October 5, 2010
Registration Number...............3893975
Registration Date...............December 21, 2010
Owner...................................(REGISTRANT) WIZARDS OF THE COAST LLC blah blah
Type of Mark..........................TRADEMARK
Register.................................PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator.................LIVE

Word Mark........................ARCANUM
Goods and Services.............IC 00blah blah blah skipping the gibberish details
Filing Date.......................August 7, 2011
Type of Mark......................TRADEMARK
Register.............................PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator.............LIVE

On one hand, we recently have heard word of OE wanting to do another IWD game, from Feargus himself no less, dropping hints here and there and now you see here before you the smoking gun! BUT, on the other hand, we have a LIVE Arcanum trademark that's been filed as recent as August 7, 2011. That's mere two! (2) fuckings months ago and Tim Cain has joined OE just days ago. Coincidence?

OR!... Maybe they are doing BOTH!

Note that the latter has not yet been "published for opposition" or actually "registered" but only "filed" but I wouldn't be surprised if it's just the bureaucratic process. Notice that there is 6 months of time between the filing and registration date of IWD. Also out of curiosity, I also checked the original trademark entry for Arcanum and guess what:

Filing Date.......................September 27, 1999
Published for Opposition....May 2, 2000
Registration Date..............July 9, 2002

And as we all know, the game was released in late August in 2001, nearly a year before the registration date.

SO, what do you think?

DISCUSS!!!11

It's official, villain is the Codex's master spy. :D Good job on digging up this info. But Obsidian should really announce them already, or at least one of them. I can't decide which one I'm more excited for. I liked Icewind Dale because it had great atmosphere, but the setting of Arcanum was very unique and interesting. I just hope they don't give them the DS3 treatment.

 

[circ]

If it's made in the Shit Onyx engine with its horrible camera, well I guess I just don't care. It will probably inherit the amazing controls from DS3, seeing as how no one at Obshitian understands QC.

 

[Jaesun]

The Icewind Dale was probably filed because of the settlement between Atari and WotC/Hasbro with the D&D ownership rights.

The recent filing of Arcanum is........... very interesting.

 

[Elwro]

Word Mark.............................ULTIMA UNDERWORLD
Goods and Services.................IC 010. US 022 025 036 038. G & S: Interactive entertainment software, namely, video game programs, animated sequences and pop ups on fan sites
FIRST USE IN COMMERCE:......19920201
Mark Drawing Code................(4) STANDARD CHARACTER MARK
Serial Number........................54688792
Filing Date...........................April 27, 2010
Current Filing Basis.................1A
Original Filing Basis.................1A
Published for Opposition.....October 15, 2010
Registration Number...............3864277
Registration Date...............December 19, 2010
Owner...................................ELECTRONIC ARTS
Type of Mark..........................TRADEMARK
Register.................................PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator.................LIVE

 

[Jaesun]

you were wrong:

Word Mark ARCANUM
Goods and Services IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S: COMPUTER GAME SOFTWARE [ AND INSTRUCTION MANUALS SOLD THEREWITH ]. FIRST USE: 19991004. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19991004
Mark Drawing Code (1) TYPED DRAWING
Serial Number 75809503
Filing Date September 27, 1999
Current Filing Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1B
Published for Opposition May 2, 2000
Registration Number 2592227
Registration Date July 9, 2002
Owner (REGISTRANT) Sierra On-Line, Inc. CORPORATION DELAWARE 6060 Center Drive, 5th floor Los Angeles CALIFORNIA 90045
(LAST LISTED OWNER) ACTIVISION PUBLISHING, INC. CORPORATION DELAWARE 3100 OCEAN PARK BOULEVARD SANTA MONICA CALIFORNIA 90405

Assignment Recorded ASSIGNMENT RECORDED
Attorney of Record Rod A. Rigole
Type of Mark TRADEMARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Affidavit Text SECT 15. SECT 8 (6-YR).
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE

 

[Elwro]

That's what I meant.

 

[Jaesun]

Well you confused me by showing results for Ultima Underworld, not Arcanum.

 

[Elwro]

I only meant to show that anyone can quickly create such a fake set of 'data'. Did I make you believe EA registered Ultima Underworld again? :D

edit: still, thanks for digging up the actual info, of course!

 

[Jaesun]

I only meant to show that anyone can quickly create such a fake set of 'data'. Did I make you believe EA registered Ultima Underworld again? :D

edit: still, thanks for digging up the actual info, of course!

OMG! EA is doing an Ultima Underworld remake! OMG OMG!

Interestingly there is no current (LIVE) status of the ownership of Planescape....

Though I don't know shit about copyright law though..

 

[Forest Dweller]

Fair enough. Mind you, if somebody out there likes string quartets and is sick to death of orchestral tracks, then they have about as big a point as you do. You just switch a few of the key words around, and you have a valid argument in the reverse.

Not really, because what I'm just talking about is the ensemble itself. If someone says that they are tired of the standard orchestral tracks in games, what they really mean is the way that the orchestra is used. The possibilies for orchestra are endless, and they're no denying that they have greater timbral variety and sonic capabilities than a string quartet. That's all I'm talking about.

I always saw Arcanum as not merely being about technology vs magic, but also about the decline of the magical, old and fantastic. Magic is on the decline and not very well regarded socially, giants are extinct (except... well yeah), dragons are extinct, once great Cumbria/Dernholm is rotting, the world is moving forward. Even the short opening video of the guy with the pistol shooting the guy with the sword seemed to represent this. So I have always regarded the melancholic quality of the soundtrack as fitting to the overall themes and atmosphere.

Melancholy =/= string quartet.

 

[Micmu]

Maybe they're just filing them up so they can sell them again, like via GOG, etc.
Or they need some existing titles for making an xbox popamole #47844+1 with "brand name" like X-COM, Syndicate... ??
Those are the only two reasons I see right now.

 

[Jaesun]

of interest:

InExile do now own the rights to Wasteland.

An insurance company own the rights to System Shock: http://www.meadowbrookinsgrp.com/
Seriously, these people own System Shock.

I still cannot find anything that Obsidian has recently filed though....

 

[Monkeyfinger]

New Vegas was p. cool, fuck the haters. Shame Obsidian got jewed out of the success of its sales.

Jewed how?

 

[deuxhero]

Because Obsidian doesn't own its IPs.

 

[Micmu]

New Vegas was p. cool, fuck the haters. Shame Obsidian got jewed out of the success of its sales.

Jewed how?

Basically, they just did this one-time project for betshitsda and got paid for it by betshitsda. All the profits from sales go to betshitsda.

 

[Forest Dweller]

That's the nature of a slam dunk though. And do we know how much Bethesda paid them?

 

[Micmu]

Does it really matter?
They blew it already. :/