🚀 go-pugleaf

ethesis@aol.comkosher (Stephen R. Marsh) wrote in
news:20040118094847.24672.00000171@mb-m13.aol.com: 

>> hi-res pics of a few 
>>ships, and a few designs sketches for a few ships, I've got some stuff
>>on my website at
>>http://home.earthlink.net/~taser8/workstuff/Workbase.htm 
> 
> Now that was worth the price of admission <g> -- I'm very glad you've
> dropped in and posted, just for that link.
> 
> I'd really appreciate it if you do find time to chat with the writers
> and update us.
> 
> Didn't know Prophecy was a burn-out project.  The plot and the
> interludes just dissappear in the middle of the game (well, the
> sub-plot, the mission plotting keeps up nicely and is kind of fun).
> 
> Then, the game universe is left with a cliff-hanger and then Origins
> axes the series ....
> 
> I did talk with one of the writers whose favorite plot line was that
> the entire incursion was to pick up Blair, Worldkiller, and his desire
> was to start the next game with a bar scene with Blair, back from his
> abduction. 
> 
> He admitted that there were other plot lines for continuing the series
> too, so that his approach was not only not "gospel" but wasn't even
> definative. 
> 
> He had kept a copy of the full Prophecy script, but had deleted the
> files by the time we talked, so I wasn't able to get one, but I've
> been interested ever since I realized that only about half of the
> script actually got shot. 
> 
> Thanks!
> 
>>I guess I'd have to say it's really more of an add-on;
> 
> Oh, and thanks for that comment too.  My prediction, but it was nice
> to see one more designer who agreed with it.
> 
> Hope things are going well for you.  I really felt bad that the Wing
> Commander series got canned and felt for the design people involved. 
> Swamp buggy racing and similar projects didn't strike me as a great
> sequel for careers. Especially with people whose skills really seemed
> sharp. 
> 
> Only other question I've got is whether or not the Freelancer game is
> dead now, or if there will be a sequel (if you know).  There is a
> robust fan community, but the original project and sales seem like
> they did not encourage corporate planners.
> 
Prophecy was indeed a rough one. We had a lot of really talented people 
involved, and everyone busted their asses to get it out the door, but it 
was a very ambitious project and went through several mid-course 
corrections that involved significant effort. I'd have to say that in my 
time in the industry (thirteen years) it was one of the roughest projects 
I've ever seen.

But in the end I think we all felt proud of the final product!

A lot of the demise of the WC franchise was corporate weirdness; we went 
through several producers, the team got shuffled around, Origin wasn't 
sure they wanted to continue to use the art tools we had used on the 
games (Alias 3d mostly), etc. And of course the company really got into 
the whole Ultima Online thing, which pretty much ate everything else.

As far as Freelancer goes, I couldn't offer much more than speculation 
informed by occasional contact with some friends who are at DA. I know 
the first one was a huge resource suck in time, money, and effort, and 
given that the sales results were lackluster (though I understand 
critical reviews were good) I wouldn't be surprised if it were put to 
bed. But then again, Microsoft is holding the purse strings so you never 
know - they have the cash to burn on big projects!

I'm in the midst of going through a bunch of old stuff in preparation for 
a move (thus the auctions), and if I come across anything else of 
interest to the group I'll certainly post it up here.

Sean