After wading through way too many questions and comments about hair and pancakes in the Tim Schafer IAmA on Reddit today (no one asked about him about being robbed in the Hottest Man in Games), I finally discovered some interesting pieces of information about video games, mostly involving his studio, Double Fine. - PSLS
It looks like a third entry isn't happening soon.
Psychonauts 2 has been the studios most profitable release, despite being on Gamepass, and a third title is already open and on the table when the time comes.
They wanted to do a big, new IP release coming into the acquisition being they would have funding they wouldn't have otherwise. That was obviously greenlit.
He was always gonna make a new ip once MS bought them.
The correct dicision imo, comebk to P3 at a later date.
Over 30-year industry veteran and Double Fine CEO Tim Schafer talks to IGN about Xbox and Game Pass, making weirder games, his inspirations, the Psychonauts 2 documentary, improving work culture, his future plans, and the deep importance of making games with and for other human beings.
Come now, MS PR efforts with these personalities is on a whole different level. At least historically.
I dont know this dude, but they got some really feisty characters talking their points. when its too risky for a higher up to be saying it, they let the grunts do the talking points.
These PR characters are not idiots, they are cogs in a machine that is Microsoft PR.
@S2
Tim Schafer is not some "PR character". He's one of the most well-known and respected pioneers in the industry.
Sony has its own blog, podcast, and video series to promote PlayStation. Arguably Sony PR is just better than Microsoft PR.
Great interview and really down to earth guy. I’m interested in watching the documentary they made on the making of Psychonauts 2 .
Just how do studios cope with the pressure to "produce a worthy sequel"?
I'm about 9 episodes into this and it's great. They've been recording it for long, long time, pre Kickstarter and Rhombus.
I'm happy he was able to get the rights for Brutal Legend away from EA
Lucky for them, Jack Black just gets paid in doughnuts.
I never would have guessed Brutal Legend was their top seller.
Good for them.
Larian Studio's made a little game called "Divine Divinity" nearly a decade ago. You may remember hearing that name somewhere. Odds are, it's from one of countless "Best games of all time," or "Best RPGs of all time" lists.
It was reviewed very well and sold very well.
And Larian?
They didn't get a single red cent in royalties.
....
But thanks to that, you can read some of the best explanations of why the publishing model sucks donkey ass on Swen Vincke's blog.
And THQ still owes them money.