Green Monster Games (Curt Schilling)

[Traldan]

Originally Posted by Azrayne

Martin is an author you'll need to read at least the entirety of the first book to appreciate, imo. By the end of chapter two I was still thinking 'sigh here we go, another ride on the generic fantasy train.' By the end of book 1 I was hooked, and he easily had a place as one of the best writers in the genre, in my mind.

Indeed, I agree. It's not as quick and easy to get into, but his story is incredibly captivating. Although maddening at times, his willingness to kill off characters makes the overarching plot both more interesting and more plausible. Instead of the typical one person winning against all odds, the focus of the books constantly change - there are always several main characters, but it changes through the books.

I haven't read Salvatore at all, so I can't comment on his works, but Martin's works are quite engaging and well worth the read.

[Lonin]

Once you finish with Martin, try Erickson, probably the best "overlooked" author in the genre IMO.

On another note, I just looked at what it would cost to fly to SD and spend 3 nights there, $1100, yuck.

[Rythonn]

Originally Posted by Menion

YouTube - Curt Schilling's 38 Studios MMORPG Project

Animation looked good.

[Lonin]

Very cool vid, the animation did look good, and the orc (?) looked nice as well from what you could see. Instantly reminded me of the Vanguard orc model in general style (which I like). I know it's reading too much into it at this stage in development, but the art direction looked like a nice compromise between LoTRO and more realistic approaches.

What's the reaction like from the non-gaming press Curt? Do they kind of just nod their head and play it off as kids stuff, or do they seem genuinely interested, or maybe they think you're insane for putting so much money into a video game?

[Maxxius]

Originally Posted by Agraza

. . I'm sure Salvatore is a great guy, and he can write better than I can, but I like my novels to be more heavy hitting than he cares to deliver. That says almost nothing about his potential as a loremaster for your game, or whatever your team refers to him as. I don't respect his fantasy novels, but I respect that he has helped the genre along, so I suppose that I don't disrespect him as a person. I think that is the correct term. .

Agraza stfu already. Maybe Curt feels compelled not to call you a dumbfuck, but I sure as hell have no problem. Fine you don't like an author's novels for whatever personal reasons you might have. That's a personal choice ONLY, and publishing companies certainly disagree with your retarded assessment. But it is beyond contestation that Salvatore is a quality author, despite your anonymous, shallow critique. He is clearly one of the main draws to Studio 38's potential. Their eventual game products may suck for a variety of reasons (and I won't hesitate to critisize them if they do), but at least the IP is worth keeping an eye on BECAUSE of Salvatore being on board.

[Azrayne]

Quite frankly, I'm with Agraza in his assessment of Salvatore. I've never read anything of his that was much beyond the typical 'D&D novelization' standard. I've certainly never seen anything of his that would lead me to believe he's going to do something spectacular with the IP, to the contrary.

But perhaps he'll surprise us, stranger things have happened.

[The Hiram Key]

Originally Posted by Rythonn

Animation looked good.

The model looked good as well. Not too real, not too fantasy.

[Maxxius]

Originally Posted by Azrayne

Quite frankly, I'm with Agraza in his assessment of Salvatore. I've never read anything of his that was much beyond the typical 'D&D novelization' standard. I've certainly never seen anything of his that would lead me to believe he's going to do something spectacular with the IP, to the contrary.

But perhaps he'll surprise us, stranger things have happened.

Whether you liked his novels or not is personal. But I'd back him any day of the week over anonymous bloggers like you or Agraza. Time, of course, will tell. But Agraza throwing terms like "I don't respect" a person because he didn't like Salvatore's novels, is ignorant at best.

[Ngruk]

Originally Posted by The Hiram Key

The model looked good as well. Not too real, not too fantasy.

I can't help but laugh at the amount of coverage that 10 seconds of animation got.

It's amazing the interest people have in 'just seeing something'.

The animation you saw was more for animations sake than style.

BTW that animator is one of the more talented ones around, with a very lengthy award winning pedigree of titles under his belt, his names Aaron Carlson.

Our group of animators is absolutely fantastic, even more so as a team.

[Ngruk]

Originally Posted by Lonin

Very cool vid, the animation did look good, and the orc (?) looked nice as well from what you could see. Instantly reminded me of the Vanguard orc model in general style (which I like). I know it's reading too much into it at this stage in development, but the art direction looked like a nice compromise between LoTRO and more realistic approaches.

What's the reaction like from the non-gaming press Curt? Do they kind of just nod their head and play it off as kids stuff, or do they seem genuinely interested, or maybe they think you're insane for putting so much money into a video game?

Honestly? I've done an incredible amount of press so far, on everything from the startup to why the hell I am doing this.

The amazing part for me is that many members of the media don't understand that at the end of the interview when they look across the table and basically state "Wow, you were so much smarter than I expected you to be", they offend me.

That won't change, many people come here for the circus factor they believe is present. When we don't allow them to video behind our entry way, or when we talk in depth about our roll out plan for the IP, project development, all of it, they look at me like I've got 5 eyes or something. They are all still expecting the dumb jock with two creative geniuses to be standing around shouting orders.

When they realize we aren't f'ing around and understand we are guarding what we believe to be a multi-billion dollar IP, they seem to be taken back and unsure of where to go after that.

[The Hiram Key]

Originally Posted by Ngruk

I can't help but laugh at the amount of coverage that 10 seconds of animation got.

It's amazing the interest people have in 'just seeing something'.

The animation you saw was more for animations sake than style.

BTW that animator is one of the more talented ones around, with a very lengthy award winning pedigree of titles under his belt, his names Aaron Carlson.

Our group of animators is absolutely fantastic, even more so as a team.

Not that I would presume to lecture you, but I think alot of developers and game companies take for granted, just how important our avatars are to us. It's important how they look, how they sound, how they move, how their armor fits, how their weapons get wielded and so on.

Skimp in any of these areas (looks at EQ2 over his glasses) and we WILL notice, and we will not be pleased at all.

[Ngruk]

Originally Posted by The Hiram Key

Not that I would presume to lecture you, but I think alot of developers and game companies take for granted, just how important our avatars are to us. It's important how they look, how they sound, how they move, how their armor fits, how their weapons get wielded and so on.

Skimp in any of these areas (looks at EQ2 over his glasses) and we WILL notice, and we will not be pleased at all.

Dude, you are talking to someone as passionate about gaming as anyone on this board. You don't need to tell me about the importance of my pixel rendered alter ego.

[Daezuel]

As long as my avatar can sport a bloody sock I'm all in!! jk

That video was an interesting little piece...I don't see how anyone cannot take serious a 60 million dollar investment into a billion+ industry. You've got all of our attentions and heck, its still probably 3 years away.

I, for one, cannot wait to see what mind bending stuff RA and Todd come up with and, even though I'm sick to death of the fantasy genre for MMO's, just the passion evident and the serious talent you've got behind you has me excited for this title even if it is still years out. Just thinking what a real fantasy author could do in this medium when he has created real, breathing worlds with just writing alone has got to be one hell of a boon.

Good luck and don't suck, as many around here have said, you're only going to get one chance to make a good impression!

[I'm Rich Bitch]

Originally Posted by The Hiram Key

Not that I would presume to lecture you, but I think alot of developers and game companies take for granted, just how important our avatars are to us. It's important how they look, how they sound, how they move, how their armor fits, how their weapons get wielded and so on.

Skimp in any of these areas (looks at EQ2 over his glasses) and we WILL notice, and we will not be pleased at all.

The problem the Developer has is determining what looks good. I really like the EQ2 Avatars, however someone else may not. I don't like the WoW Avatars, but obviously many people do.

Debating how good a character looks is the same as debating who looks better; Ginger or Mary Ann?

[The Hiram Key]

Originally Posted by Ngruk

Dude, you are talking to someone as passionate about gaming as anyone on this board. You don't need to tell me about the importance of my pixel rendered alter ego.

Never hurts to have it reinforced