Monday, February 11, 2013

Hasbro U Mad Bro?

Sorry guys, Ive been so busy with work and school lately. A couple weeks ago I found some time to start working on the Nightmare Moon boss, but a few days ago, I heard Hasbro nuked Fighting is Magic (a pony game which is waaayyy more refined than mine and that I was looking forward to their release).

I'm pretty disappointed because Hasbro really couldn't lose much by letting Mane6 release that game. They did not intend to make money off it so its basically free advertising and brings ponies to the fighting genre (as mine did to the bullet hell genre) and introduced ponies to gamers that would normally have thought of ponies as girly/gay. It is games like these that bring more people to be interested in ponies who normally wouldnt have given ponies a second glance. Seems like a bad move on Hasbro's part.

However, Equestria Corrupted is probably too tiny a blip to show up on Hasbro's radar and I was thinking of continuing my work on this game, but this may be a good opportunity to start up on a Zelda / Binding of Isaac type game that I have had in my head for the last couple years (similar to Binding of Isaac, but without the twisted morbid escapism metaphor and more sword/bow/staff kind of weapon system).

Any thoughts? On the Hasbro situation and/or starting a new game?

13 comments:

  1. Yeah, this last C&D was kind of the last straw for me and my interest in the future of the show. I didn't even bother watching the newest episode. I can't help but wonder if things would have turned out nicer if the show hadn't become so popular.
    They were so lax with copyright protection in the past. People were making so many interesting things. Now I can't help but feel that fan creativity is going to be severely stunted by Hasbro's recent behaviour. The situation makes me feel kind of sick.

    As for a new game, I loved what you did with your bullet hell game, so I would be very interested to see what you would do in a different genre. It would be nice if you made it on a cross-platform framework this time, though. I still haven't figured out a way to get your last game running on Linux. For some reason I can't get XNA to cooperate on my laptop.

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  2. Unfortunately I will probably stick with XNA due to how easy it is to code games with. I hate dealing with memory dynamic memory management in C++, Java graphics is incredibly gross, and Flash Actionscript is also difficult and has several limitations (despite Isaac being coded in AS).

    I don't know if you have heard of MonoXNA but I hear that might be a possibility for *nix/Mac users.

    the great thing about XNA is that it has instant XBox controller support (even though I never really got around to releasing a controller version). This is something I am interested in especially because movement and directional attacks coupled with dual wielding is pretty difficult to map out on a keyboard and fits really well with a dual thumbstick and triggers.

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  3. 1) I would like to see a Nightmare Moon final boss fight and then a new game... if that's okay with you.
    2) This isaac/zelda-like game will be pony related? Do you have a name for it yet? (Just curious, all that really matters is the fun of the game =])
    3) I don't think Hasbro's radar will cause you any trouble

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  4. I do plan to finish NMM at the very least, since I have already started some code for her.

    However, in regard to the new game, I don't see ponies fitting in my vision of the game. I know for sure I will make some heavy references/easter eggs to MLP that I know fans will get, but the game will not feature ponies directly. Hopefully that doesn't cause disinterest in the game.

    Whether or not Hasbro will act on this game, I feel like with their recent behavior, My interest in the series is dwindling. This has been festering in me slowly for a while now, but that was kind of the last straw. I'm feeling like although I really enjoyed MLP as it started, It is feeling more and more like a gimmick to get the attention of a niche audience, and while I am sure that my game would not have gotten as much attention if it were not about ponies, I don't want to use that gimmick as a crutch.

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    1. *What I meant to say* Glad to hear from you again. To be completely honest I've never heard of Binding of Issac or even played a single Zelda game yet. The C&D is probably just due to the disconnectedness of the legal department with the rest of Hasbro...still unfortunate. Do whatever you want even if you should decide to quit making the game (I am looking forward to it's completion however). On a more personal note It's unfortunate you feel that way about the show itself, I've always seen anything outside the show (the fandom's exsistance & their works) as just icing on the cake. In regards to your games, future & current, it's understandable if you want to steer away from including ponies in your works; It would be unfortunate indeed if you were to be perceived as a "pony game maker" instead of a "game maker who happens to make a pony game" if that wasn't your original goal. Best of Luck.

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    2. Thanks for your thoughts. I just finished up S3 of MLP and the finale has me a bit scared of where the story is going, but only time will tell. I'm thinking I want to include a final ability based on this event, but that would have to happen after Celestia. Hmmmm...

      In regards to Binding of Isaac, it isn't quite an old school RPG. It as roots in some old school styles but is very modernized. The art style is not for the squeamish though. If you ever played Super Meat Boy, its made by the same guy.

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  6. Oh...There's still a Celestia now? *off to side* "yes!" Ahem... I thought it was only Nightmare moon then move on; Or did I catch you accidently announcing the game will be completed? since I recall Celestia or rather "Trollestia" being a TLB.

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    1. What I want and what I have time for are unfortunately 2 different things :( we shall see how things go. Starting to get into final project time in school so its super hectic right now. But hopefully soon.

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  7. I'm guessing the project is dead? If so, it's a shame, and it's been fun playing it. If not, I really hope life gives you an opportunity to continue this game, if life has been bogging you down and if you still have aspirations for it.

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    1. Thanks for your continued support of the project.
      Unfortunately, between work, going back to school for advanced degrees, and life in general, I haven't had the motivation to get back into this project. On top of that, Microsoft is no longer going to support the XNA framework, so I have had interest in a new game that would not have copyright conflicts. I havent had any time to do more than have the whole game designed in my brain.

      The MLP series progresses a lot faster than I can and a lot of characters and story elements in my game are no longer relevant (Twilight is a princess now). I don't want to lead anyone on with a promise of more content for this game, but I might consider at least the Luna and Celestia bosses I had planned.

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  8. Well, I suppose this project is dead, but I want to now if you continue creating games or someting like that

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