I think the issue here is that when most people who paid for the game did
so, they were expecting to get a classic side scroller, no random monsters
or items, no saving games, no nothing really, since classic side scrollers
didn't feature all that. Thomas posed approximately this same question in
January of 2008 and let's just say the response wasn't pretty. People kept
demanding exactly what they paid for and criticizing Thomas for trying to
exercise his own creativity to keep from burning out on the project, so much
in fact that Thomas seemed on the verge of cobbling together James North's
original code or as close to it as possible, releasing it and then ceasing
development altogether. But he felt he had to give people something, even if
it wasn't exactly what they were promised. I could of course be totally
wrong about all this but this is my interpretation from all that I've
observed.
Homer: Hey, uh, could you go across the street and get me a slice of pizza?
Vender: No pizza. Only Khlav Kalash.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Milos Przic" <milos.pr...@gmail.com>
To: "Gamers Discussion list" <gamers@audyssey.org>
Sent: Wednesday, October 28, 2009 4:09 PM
Subject: Re: [Audyssey] MOTA Side-Scroller vs FPS
Hi Tom. I am not a programmer, at least I don't know much about making
audio and video games. I say this because that can be a part of the answer
to my question. Still, there is a thing that I don't understand in this
situation. Why it would be the problem to make a game that is not a
classic side-scroller but still make it modern way? Why you don't want it?
What's the problem with it? Ok, you say requests, but you will always get
a lot of requests no matter how the game is constructed. So why wouldn't
you mix up things and make something original, something that is not
neither a classic true side-scroller nor the fps?
Regards,
Milos Przic
msn: milos.pr...@gmail.com
skype: Milosh-hs
----- Original Message -----
From: "Thomas Ward" <thomasward1...@gmail.com>
To: <gamers@audyssey.org>
Sent: Wednesday, October 28, 2009 11:03 PM
Subject: [Audyssey] MOTA Side-Scroller vs FPS
Hi everyone,
This has been something I've wanted to say for quite a while now, and I
think now is the time I need to say it. To get this out of the way as
your opinions, responses, etc will completely determine the future of the
game from here on out. This is extremely important, and I hope all of you
take this message very seriously. I hope you think about your responses
very carefully before responding as your input is very important to me
right now.
As most of you know James North was planning on releasing a remake of the
classic side-scroller "Montezuma's Revenge." He took several orders for
that game in December of 2004, but do to a variety of personal issues he
was unable to complete the game within the time specified. Eventually, I
took over development of the game in early 2006, and I decided to rewrite
the game in C# .NET. I was nearly finished with the game in January of
2008, had already taken orders for the game myself, when I was contacted
privately regarding the game's copyright infringement. As neither James
or I had legally applied for permission to make a modern remake of the
game I was officially ordered to cease and desist all development of the
game. Rather than fight the cease and desist order I complied, and began
my own side-scroller called Mysteries of the Ancients. It was initially
intended to be a classic side-scroller along the lines of Pitfall,
Montezuma's Revenge, Mario Brothers, and similar games.
The thing to keep in mind here is that those games lacked many of the
features modern FPS games have today. There was no such thing as
randomly placed items and monsters, you couldn't save your game and pick
up where you left off later, when you punched an enemy you didn't miss
unless you were too far away, etc. The main object of the game was to
beat the game and earn the highest score possible. For some of you
younger gamers it would be quite primitive compared to the Play Station
and XBox games you are use too. It was a completely different generation
of gaming.
I realized back then that many of you may not be happy with a 1980's type
of side-scroller. I asked many of you if you would be happy with a more
modern FPS game instead. The answer i got back was a resounding "no!" A
couple of you wrote me very passionate letters about how much you would
like to be able to play a classic side-scroller like those that were out
in the 1980's that you were never able to play. So I set out to do just
that.
However, what I had feared all along began to come true. Many of you
began making requests that were completely contrary to the type of game
that was being developed. You asked for random items and monsters. After
some debate I decided to add that feature, and removed the scoring
feature since it was no longer needed. Those of you who wanted the
feature were happy to get it, but those who didn't began asking me for a
way to turn it off. They wanted a classic side-scroller, and asked me to
stop adding features like that. Since it was too much work to have it
both ways I had to decide to leave the random items and monsters in since
most of the people liked it that way.
The thing is the suggestions and requests didn't stop there. Over the
passed year I've been consistently asked to add features like you would
typically find on more modern FPS type games. It isn't so much I am a
posed to adding these kinds of features, but it is inconsistent with an
80's type side-scroller. As the game currently is it is neither a classic
side-scroller, and it isn't a fully modern FPS game either. For that
reason some people, including myself, are unhappy with the way the game
is turning out. I would much prefer either a straight out classic
side-scroller or a modern FPS game. At this point the game is neither
one, and is a bit of a mix of both styles. That might not be bad, but
over the passed few months I've grown to completely hate the game because
it isn't the game I wanted to create. It is nothing like it.
So here is the question. Do you guys want me to go back and make this
game as a classic side-scroller, as was intended initially, without
randomized monsters and items, no save game features, no modern FPS
influences of any kind, or would you rather I just completely ditch the
entire classic side-scroller idea and create an actual modern FPS game
with all the requests, suggestions, and modern features you
want?Personally, as many of you consistently request more and more modern
features from mainstream games you play I think the majority of you would
be much happier with a straight out FPS type game. After all, that's what
the Genesis Engine was initially designed for and it wouldn't take too
long to convert the game over to an FPS type game. What do all of you
Mysteries of the Ancients players think?
Before I go let me just say this. I would like to get an actual decision,
a real answer, from this group regarding this question. I don't want any
of the messages that say "finish the side-scroller this year and then
let's do an FPS game next year." I also don't want the type of answer
that says, "how about adding an option to the settings menu to turn this
or that off." I'll say here and now my answer is an infatic "no!"
I hate to sound this way, but I am sick and tired of the stress and
frustration of having to deal with requests, suggestions, etc that drag
me in two completely different directions. If you guys want a totally
modern FPS game just say so, and I'll do it that way. If you guys want a
classic side-scroller I'll do that instead. What I will not continue to
do is make a game based on a classic side-scroller, and get request after
request for more FPS type features that improves/ruins the game depending
on your point of view. It is time you guys decide what exactly you want
this game to be, and stop telling me to write two completely different
types of games. Is it a side-scroller or an FPS game? Is it to be a
classic type of game or a modern type of game?
Sincerely frustrated:
Thomas Ward
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