Publisher lined up for Double Fine's latest
By
Brendan Sinclair, Senior Editor
Studio founder Tim Schafer says post-Brutal Legend project should be revealed soon, offers harsh appraisal of Activision CEO Bobby Kotick.
Double Fine Productions has a history of trouble getting its games onto store shelves, but its next projects are off to a smooth start. In an interview with Eurogamer, studio founder Tim Schafer confirmed that Double Fine already has a publisher for the game the company is working on right now.
"They're going to announce the games pretty soon," Schafer said after declining to name the publisher.
Despite Schafer's pluralization, the developer said elsewhere in the interview that the studio "can only do one thing at a time." If Double Fine ever did expand to the point of being able to handle multiple projects, Schafer suggested it would be easier for the company to justify doing a sequel to one of its previous games, with the second game being an original project.
To date, Double Fine has released two games, both of which ran into serious publisher trouble. The studio's first title, Psychonauts, was dropped by Microsoft and spent months in limbo before being picked up by Majesco Entertainment. For an encore, Brutal Legend was originally set to be published by Vivendi Games label Sierra Entertainment but was dropped by the company upon its merger with Activision. EA Partners eventually picked it up, prompting Activision to sue Double Fine, claiming it still had rights to the project even if it didn't intend to publish it.
Moves like that have made Activision CEO Robert Kotick into a controversial figure in gaming, something Eurogamer asked the Double Fine developer about. When the interviewer suggested that Kotick was largely misunderstood, Schafer acknowledged that the executive's obligation is to his shareholders instead of gamers but still condemned his actions.
"Well, he doesn't have to be as much of a dick about it, does he?" Schafer asked, "I think there is a way he can do it without being a total prick. It seems like it would be possible. It's not something he's interested in."
By
Brendan Sinclair, Senior Editor
Brendan Sinclair has been a games journalist since 1999. His tastes are eclectic, though he has a definite affinity for games with arcade roots. He's Canadian, but has also been at home in Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, and San Francisco.
56 comments
Makes no sense, Double Fine released 2 excellent game. Psychonauts, and Brutal Legend. Both were a blast to play, why can't publishers like Activision see that?..... Oh yea, because they care about money more then actual game quality, almost forgot.
"Well, he doesn't have to be as much of a dick about it, does he?" Schafer asked, "I think there is a way he can do it without being a total prick It seems like it would be possible. It's not something he's interested in." I LOVE THAT GUY!!!!!!!!!! BEST ARTICLE ON G-SPOT EVER!!
How about some Brutal Legend dlc that isnt just a map pack? Great game, but Schafer did say that the dlc would be something awesome... we got 6 maps and some vehicle weapons for SP. Oh well. I understand if DF wants to do a new game instead, but I hope they haven't given up on Brutal Legend completely. Either way, I highly anticipate this upcoming game, and I hope it gets good reception.
@magnificent7 And let's not forget about Tim Langdell! He knows a thing or two about destroying the industry as well.
Bobby Kotick expresses his surprises with the most eloquent possible way I WANT A D*CK!! lol!!
How can you not like Tim Schafer? He makes hilarious games, they have all been good, and he is essentially the only guy in the industry that says what he wants about Bobby Ko-dick.
Full Throttle 2 NEEDS TO HAPPEN, PERIOD!!! Absolutely loved the first one, and would love it again if it were rereleased today.
Seems like Schafer is the only one in the actual gaming business who will say something about Kotick and his business practices. I've always liked Schafer's attitude, and now that he spoke his mind about Kotick made him go up quite a few notches in my book. Seriously, Bobby Kotick needs to be taken down a few pegs. The guy is the worst thing to happen to video games since Ray Kassar was put in charge of Atari back in the day (and we know how that turned out...)
Wow! I didn't know we were allowed to say Dick and prick on Gamespot! Awesome! I suddenly like Gamespot even more than I already did. :-)
Hadn't seen this. G'damn I love Schafer, and it's nice to see somebody calling out Kotick.
Nicely done sir. About time some people within the industry took that blowhard Kotick to task.
Personally i loved brutal legend, sure it had it's problems as every game does but schafer is great, why he pushed the limit, the boundry, instead of thinking, "how do we make something that makes money quick and easy, how about something fun and different" sure the RTS parts weren't that good but give him points for that, something different, something fun
"They're going to announce the games pretty soon," Schafer said after declining to name the publisher. Prediction: the publisher is not Activision
I think Schafer learned a lesson, don't let taunts during boss fights be part of the humor. I loved Psyconauts, it is one of my top 3 favorite games, and Brutal Legend was a lot of fun despite being short. I will be purchasing whatever the next game to come it is, and it is good to hear people in the gaming industry share the same opinion of Kodick as the community.
Brutal Legend was fun, and the story/acting was very amuzing. It had its problems, but over all a solid game with some nice vistas.
I loved the concept and theme of Brutal Legend, but not the fact that it turned out to be more of an RTS. Still, In Schafer We Trust.
How the heck is Robert Kotick controversial? Everyone including Schafer knows he's a prick Not controversy about it. Good news for Double Fine and Schafer though. I hope they continue to make great games.
I really liked Brutal Legend (partially because it was a great game, but also because I love metal) and really think there's a lot one can do with that franchise, so hopefully one day we'll see a sequel, but I'm looking forward to Tim's next project
Like many others, I was digging Brutal Legend up until it suddenly became an RTS. I've always liked Schafer, though. He plays around with the video game medium, trying new things. That said, I'd love to see a sequel to Full Throttle. *grin!*
"Well, he doesn't have to be as much of a dick about it, does he?" Schafer asked, "I think there is a way he can do it without being a total prick It seems like it would be possible. It's not something he's interested in." Awesome.
Indeed Grim Fandango is one of the best games ever made. Also Psychonauts was ridiculously underrated, even by this website. Can't wait for the new game and lol @ Schafer's comments about fuhrer kotick.
Tim Schafer is Luke Skywalker and Ol' Bobby Kotick is Darth Vader. DON'T use the dark side.
This version of what happened to Brutal legend is the really short version but Tim has a point, there are ways companies can please the shareholders and the customers and still make money. The heads of companies could also take a less vocal approach when it comes to touchy subjects, the standard "no comment" works wonders ya know......Activision though should lose all their rights to say a damn thing on any subject because they have no respect whatsoever.
Agree with you Packgator @ If there's gonna be a sequel to Brutal Legend, there be more of the same poison they used in the first game and of course a little bit of improvement on the gameplay could totally give it a solid 9.0!
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Brutal Legend
- Publisher(s): EA Games
- Developer(s): Double Fine Productions
- Genre: Action
- Release:
- PEGI: 18+
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