People News Torment Kickstarter Update #49: Kevin Saunders leaves inXile, replaced by Chris Keenan

[LeStryfe79]

I'm a filthy antipaladin at heart.

 

[Jim the Dinosaur]

This paragraph makes me hmmm a little. It sounds like he thinks he might have recently made some sort of mistake.

Where do you get recently out of that? He's referring to the last group of backers who wanted Torment be "something great" and historic and would therefor have liked to see funds matching those ambitions. Sounds more like the mistake he's admitting to is presenting the hope of something truly groundbreaking to those backers without the funds to back it up. Though that might just be me reading my own thoughts into it

 

[roshan]

Given with what's happened with Wasteland 2 Director's Cut being consolized, I wonder if ksaun's departure could have been due to management (Fargo) deciding to cut features or content from the game, or perhaps revamp some aspects of design to make way for a more console friendly release later on - this would make sense with the Wasteland 2 director being brought on to lead Tides of Numenera. Also given his blog post, if not the consolization, it could be some of the changes or cuts to the game would result in the subpar implementation of some of the stretch goals or promises made during the kickstarter.

 

[Athelas]

An unexpected journey, huh? It seems like his departure from Torment was already decided upon back on October 6.

It being decided only a few weeks ago hardly makes it any less unexpected. Though I imagine setting up a blog like this takes some time, so it may have been decided well in advance of that.

Time to analyze the previous Torment updates for subtle clues suggesting his imminent departure!

 

[Infinitron]

It being decided only a few weeks ago hardly makes it any less unexpected. Though I imagine setting up a blog like this takes some time, so it may have been decided well in advance of that.

Time to analyze the previous Torment updates for subtle clues suggesting his imminent departure!

The last Kickstarter update written by Kevin was in August: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/inxile/torment-tides-of-numenera/posts/1323225

 

[Jaedar]

Well shit.

I'm kinda starting to regret backing this.

 

[Athelas]

The last Kickstarter update written by Kevin was in August: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/inxile/torment-tides-of-numenera/posts/1323225

Well, the fact that his last one was in August could in itself be a clue. Also, he didn't attend the classic RPG's panel.

 

[dukeofwhales]

ksaun seems cool, hope he's doing good and lines up something bigger and better

 

[Kz3r0]

Things seems quite clear to me, the project took too much time, read money, and is far from completion, Fargo probably wanted to put in charge a guy that would speed things up, read: the 'bad' guy that cuts content and puts pressure on the team, basically what Guido Henkel was for the original Torment, such accomodation would have meant for Saunders to become project lead only on paper at that point, so probably he refused such accomodation or clashed with the new project manager because he didn't want to cut content or some other design decision, at that point stepping down was the only option.
In short, expect a cut down to size Torment with a lot of underdeveloped content.

 

[Athelas]

In short, expect a cut down to size Torment with a lot of underdeveloped content.

So...just like the original Torment that became a beloved classic then?

 

[Darkzone]

The Torment curse or blessing. Guido has also left Planescape Torment half way through.

 

[FeelTheRads]

In other words, the circle of misery continues uninterrupted.

Also, maybe Fargo wanted to ship him to New Orleans but he'd rather not get killed?

 

[DosBuster]

Everyone calm the fuck down, most of the game's design documentation is done. Colin, Chris Avellone, and Adam Heine are still playing huge roles as well.

Don't raise pitchforks until you hear the full story.

 

[commie]

All KS games backed by the Codex end up shit. News at 11.












According to Codexers of course.....

 

[Ismaul]

We'll never hear the full story.

Therefore there's only one thing left to do:

 

[Infinitron]

Adam Heine

 

[Daedalos]

Lol, I love how people go apeshit about these kinds of news. Doesn't tell you anything. ANYTHING about how TTON will be come release.

Fuckin' armchair theories, man. They're the best.

 

[commie]

Look at my join date. That should indicate just about how much I have experience with these names.

Well said good Sir. Finally a newfag that doesn't pretend he was playing all dem old skool ARPEEGEE gaemz back in the day, you know the Amber Box gaems like Pools of the Beholder and Fallout Creed!

 

[Kz3r0]

In other words, the circle of misery continues uninterrupted.

 

[Adam Heine]

Adam Heine

The full story is not mine to give, but the game is still in good hands with a team that groks the vision, design leads who will not let that vision die, and leadership that knows what we release must be as polished as we can reasonably make it in the given time.

Kevin is missed. His departure is sad. But Torment will be finished and it will be as good as what you've seen in the alpha, if not better (as long as Colin, George, and I have anything to say about it!).

 

[you know what time it is]

Fargo's cutting corners to keep up his expensive cocaine habit?

 

[prodigydancer]

Torment will be finished and it will be as good as what you've seen in the alpha, if not better (as long as Colin, George, and I have anything to say about it!).

 

[Zakhad]

as polished as we can reasonably make it in the given time.

This would be the key phrase, I think. A fraught choice of words, "reasonably", and "the given time"...

 

[Adam Heine]

This would be the key phrase, I think. A fraught choice of words, "reasonably", and "the given time"...

I *did* choose those words deliberately, but that's also game development. Ask anyone .

 

[Infinitron]

Awkward, self-deprecating choice of words is also part of the Saunders legacy.