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Composer says Wii's 'Sadness' was cancelled, releases soundtrack
Finally, resolution to a story we've been following for several years -- though it's a bit disappointing. Nibris's Wii horror title Sadness (what did you think we were talking about?) has been canceled, after years of disappearing websites, slipping release dates, nonexistent demos and a generally game-free history. The news comes from a Polish-language blog post from April, announcing the release of composer Arkadiusz Reikowski's soundtrack for the game. The post notes that, according to Reikowski, the game was cancelled before work on the music was complete. So that soundtrack is basically the closest part of the game to "finished" -- and it's still in a preliminary state itself. [Via Original Sound Version; thanks, Aquacharger!]
Prepare for Sadness: Nibris showing something at E3
Sadness "developer" Nibris sent out a message to its YouTube channel's subscribers, indicating that something related to the developer will be shown at E3 this year. Note that the message doesn't specify the vaporous Sadness game, or that a game will be shown at all -- merely an "update." Which means that even in the unlikely event that Nibris shows up and displays something, it could still be disappointing.Nibris is still holding to a Fall 2009 date for Sadness, so it's quite likely that this "update" is intended to be related to the mythical horror game. We hope Sadness actually does show up -- we'd love to add the day the game becomes real to our timeline (which we posted in 2007).
Rub your eyes: Sadness 'footage' emerges, disappears again [Update 1]
Go Nintendo's RawMeatCowboy recently received an email from an anonymous, shadowy figure calling themselves "rabbits can't be sad." That's pretty weird, but stranger still, the email contained something we almost never expected to see: footage of Nibris' "vaporware" title, Sadness. Despite the unconventional method of its delivery, it definitely looked like the real deal.We say "looked" because now it's gone, pulled down by RawMeatCowboy, who (we're guessing) was asked to remove the footage. In his amended post, RMC simply writes: "Sorry for the inconvenience, but I unfortunately have to remove this post. That is all I can say at this time."So after being relentlessly mocked (not least by us), has Nibris actually been making a game all along? Really, really slowly?[Update 1: Some enterprising soul grabbed the footage before it was pulled, and added it to YouTube -- thanks, DaisukeKiriyama!]%Gallery-12425%[Via Go Nintendo] Previously, we've had plenty of reasons to believe that Sadness is about as likely to exist as Bigfoot: just take a look at our timeline of the game to see what we mean.
Nibris Web site promises Sadness for Fall 2009
Previously on The Young and the Sadness.*A mysterious stranger, Nibris, enters the scene*Nibris: Come away with me, and I'll make all your mature-themed, Wii horror gaming dreams come true.Joystiq: Can it be? Is it true?Nibris: It is true! Just listen to my story and you'll know in your heart that it is so.Joystiq: I'm just not sure I can believe in you.Nibris: Look, I bring you concept art to prove my fidelity.Joystiq: Lies! I heard you're already planning to run out on me.Nibris: Would I release these official screenshots if I was planning to halt development?Joystiq: I just don't know what to think! *Sobs*And now, today's episode:Nibris: Look at my new Web site. I promise you, Sadness will be out by Fall of 2009. Meet me at the Leipzig Games Convention if you still have faith in me. In us.Joystiq: Sorry, dear, I've moved on. Give me a ring when you're ready to show me a playable demo.[Via NintendoWiiFanboy]
Sadness website does nothing to dispel vaporware rumors
Hold on, what's all this? A Sadness rumor that actually came true? This can't be right -- and it sort of isn't. The website is there, and it's got stuff on it, but the stuff is old and it's a pretty amateur attempt at a website. It's just, you would think that the creators of the most talked-about Wii game pretty much ever would make the effort to put together a good show, but it looks somewhat awful.The screens are old and tiny, the text is formatted all wrong (and translated poorly), and there is no trailer, although it will be "Coming soon (this vacation maybe)." Maybe? Maybe? Whatever.To top it off, the release is scheduled for Fall 2009. That is, over a year from now. On the plus side, Nibris representatives will be attending the Leipzig Game Convention this year, so if nothing turns up at E3 we might find something there.%Gallery-12425%[Via GoNintendo]
Inconsequential Sadness news #287 -- website, more details 'coming'
There's nothing left to say. Sadness is the definition of sadness, and it always will be. We'll post about this "news", oh yes -- but until a physical copy of the game is actually in a Nintendo Wii console, right in front of us and running properly, we won't be certain of its existence. Forward motion is a myth.The latest on Sadness is thus: the official website will be launched next week, along with some new images. A chap from Fog Studios (because they're so damn hazy on the details) says it's all real, and Nibris is still working away without a publisher. The lack of a publisher means a lack of a release date. If the game exists.Rest assured, if any of the above actually happens, we will let you know. We know what a promise from anyone remotely associated with Sadness is worth, so don't hold your breath.%Gallery-12425%[Via GoNintendo]
Wii Warm Up: A little Sadness
Yes, it's back, in IGN-forum-rumor form: Sadness, the game that ain't, or may be eventually. Back in April, after an appearance by poster "nibris" in the IGN Wii Lobby when a screenshot surfaced, we were expecting more media and a trailer by the end of May. Well, Twiilight_Prince recently returned, with an all-new possible screenshot (seen above), and a statement that the website was supposed to go live by the end of May. A third of the way into June, it's nowhere to be seen ... but should we expect more from a company that apparently has some dude on the internet doing their PR?Sadness makes us, well, sad. We're sad because it's such a great idea and because it seems to be going nowhere ... or, if it's going somewhere, it's really, incredibly slow about it. On the one hand, we would be almost tempted to cut a new dev a little slack. Making games is hard (notice we're not doing it), and making a game that sounds cool is even harder. But damn, y'all. Stop making promises already, since you've yet to keep a single one. If they'd just do that, we would probably be more inclined to believe it when something does surface. Because we want to believe. As it is, however ... we just don't.But let's talk about this possible screenshot. Real? Fake? Awesome? Not? Tell us.See also: A look back through time: Sadness[Update: Corrected the spelling of the poster's name.]%Gallery-12425%
Nibris licenses Gamebryo for Sadness
Could it be -- possible forward motion on Sadness? According to a recent press release, Polish developer Nibris has licensed Emergent's Gamebryo platform for the long-discussed, never-seen title ... and word is that the recent screenshot was real. Gamebryo is the base of several recent and forthcoming titles, including Civilization IV, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, and Fallout 3. Of course, it's also being used for Chiquititas.But don't get excited just yet. Nibris has been promising screenshots and video from purported black-and-white thriller Sadness for two years now, but according to the press release, they've only recently chosen the Gamebryo engine and have been working on the title for "several months." They recently said we'll see something concrete next month, and while we're not holding our breath, we will be pleasantly surprised if the game actually seems to be under active development.%Gallery-12425%[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
Gamebryo floats on vapor, powers Sadness
We do declare Emergent Technologies, you must have caught the vapors. The middleware company's Gamebryo engine, which lurks beneath the hood of a number of games including Oblivion and the forthcoming Fallout 3, has been licensed by Nibris for its vaporous Wii title Sadness.The Polish company celebrated the news by offering up what it calls the first official screenshot from the oft-delayed black-and-white "crime noir thriller," which we've posted above for your perusal. Says Nibris project manager Tomasz Wisniowski, the team is using the tech to include "quite a few graphical effects...which some believe are impossible to attain on the Wii." We have to wonder, however, if one of those effects includes actually making it to retail? Gallery: Sadness
Nibris returning with more promises
clicky clicky Most companies choose to issue media via press releases or exclusive articles. But here we're talking about companies with actual games, not just a campaign of windbaggery and empty promises. Nibris, where they tend to focus on the latter, apparently feels releasing what is purportedly the first and only screenshot of Sadness to date (two years late, mind) to some random dude on the Internet is what makes for good PR.The IGN Wii boards have blown up over the past few days due to the unending campaign of one Nibris supporter, a single purported screenshot, and a few cryptic remarks from the Nibris president himself, who is long known to frequent message boards. The numerous threads are a mess, so we'll attempt to sum up: user Twiilight_Prince posted the above, stating it was an actual in-game screenshot from Sadness and that he had received it from Nibris. He then apparently received messages from the user posting as Nibris, asking him to remove it. He did. Someone else also posted it, and received similar messages. Eventually, the reported PMs were posted. In them, Nibris (who we assume is president Piotr Babieno) did in fact ask for the shot's removal ... and also promised that there would be screens from Sadness and a trailer next month.Now where have we heard that before? It's same to assume we're not holding our breath around here -- but here's the apparent screenshot for your perusal.[Thanks, Joe!]
Nintendo states the obvious regarding Sadness
Thanks to a GoNintendo reader who called up Nintendo and asked about the status of Sadness, we have a new entry on our Sadness Timeline of, well, sadness. 2008: Nintendo says that Sadness "has yet to be announced for release on the Wii console," at least in any form to which Nintendo pays attention. The Nintendo rep then suggests that, since they're not publishing it, it's probably the responsibility of one of Nintendo's third-party licensees. And that indirectly brings up the reason Nintendo doesn't have any official word about the game. Sadness doesn't actually have a publisher -- only a licensing company, who isn't on the licensee list and therefore probably won't be publishing the game.As far as Nintendo (and all outward signs are concerned), Sadness is starting 2008 as an incorporeal game. We're a little surprised that the Nintendo rep made no indication of ever having heard of the game, but it's not surprising at all that no official announcements have been made.
Sadness: a chronology of disappointment
We had such a good time reading this, we thought we'd share for a laugh. If you're the kind of person who really splits a seam reading about Duke Nukem Forever's glacial progress, you're sure to get a laugh out of the comedy of errors that we know as Sadness. This vaporous piece of software has been teasing gamers for nearly two years and, despite that lengthy timeframe, we've yet to see even a single screenshot. Stop by Wii Fanboy's Sadness chronology and relive all those precious moments like it's your first time.
A look back through time: Sadness
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/nintendo/Sadness_a_chronology_of_disappointment'; There were several things in 2007 that made us sad. Super Smash Bros. Brawl was delayed, Project H.A.M.M.E.R. got canceled, then it didn't, then it did, and now we're just stuck with rumors that it might exist, somewhere, in some form. People told us that the Wii Zapper would make us kill our families. We got no hard drive love. Reggie didn't kick any ass, though he might have taken (down) some names (we're not sure). But the thing that's made us saddest of all is the ongoing saga of the aptly-named Sadness, the Nibris vaporware game. For all we know, we could be playing it right now; their idea of a game may be centered around stringing us along for a couple of years. It's fun for the whole family!Or, y'know, sad. So grab your tissues and journey with us through a timeline of Sadness.*Not actual Sadness concept art, because Nibris hasn't bought/commissioned it yet from artist Mark Ryden.%Gallery-12425%
Nibris has the cure for holiday Sadness
Nibris has released their long-awaited Sadness ... Christmas card. Proving that somebody does something relating to Sadness occasionally, Nibris sent this Sadness-themed Christmas card to GoNintendo. "Merry Christmas and Happy Sadness," it reads, as a grey thing leans on a giant ball ornament with the Sadness logo. At least we think that's what's happening -- there's either a 'noise' effect applied to the whole image or it's just a really easy Magic Eye picture.If this was the game, it would be out now. Maybe Nibris should change their plan and release Sadness as a small collection of holiday greeting cards, instead of their overambitious plan to release a video game.
Sadness suspension suspicions sadden some
This is getting ridiculous. Since initially announcing survival-horror project Sadness way back in April 2006 (when the Wii was still called the Revolution, for Pete's sake), Polish developer Nibris has leaked precious little concrete information about the troubled title. Now come word that the game, which was originally slated for Q4 2007 has been pushed back to sometime in 2009, according to an e-mail received by a NeoGAF poster.It's a shame the development progress has been so spotty, since the Wii could definitely use a new horror title that wasn't ported from the GameCube. Here's hoping Sadness ends up coming out before Duke Nukem Forever[Via WiiFanboy]
Sadness delayed again, vaporware suspicions refuse to go away
NIBRIS' Sadness tweaked our interest from the get-go, but we'd be lying if we said the ... uncertain path of its development so far didn't concern us. Since it was announced, one publisher has jumped ship, the game has been delayed on more than one occasion, and we've been dripfed information and media (none of which hints at there being any real content) at a painfully slow pace.As we see it, NIBRIS has either been monumentally unlucky, work on the game has ground to an ignominious halt for the time being, or Sadness -- gulp -- doesn't actually exist.Things aren't about to get any rosier, either. In an email received by a NeoGAF poster, NIBRIS revealed that Sadness wouldn't be on shop shelves before 2009 (let us not forget the game was once slated for a Q4 2007 release), and that its website would be updated soon with more news. Call us cynical curmudgeons all you like, but holding your breath for said update probably isn't a good idea in this case.It's a tremendous shame, really, as we want Sadness to be the real deal, and we want it to be fantastic. The premise, design and concepts we've heard so far all hint at a promising, unique project. Needless to say, if NIBRIS does manage to pack as much intrigue into Sadness as we've seen during its development, we'll be perched on the very edge of our seats come release day.
Nibris: it's art, but is it a concept?
So when is concept art not concept art? When it's part of an artist's established portfolio of fan art and book covers, and not in any way related to an actual game. That didn't stop Cubed3 from posting the "exclusive concept art" straight from Nibris, which turned out in fact to be older art that deviantArt member OmeN2501 turned in to the alleged developer as an example of what he might like to see in a DS horror game. That's rather more like conceptual examples of concept art for a possible concept than an actual confirmed game, but this not the first we've seen from the company's reported upcoming title, Children of the Night. It's just the first "art" we've seen, and if you happen to seek out Silent Hill fan art, you may have seen some of it before. Fortunately, a few intrepid armchair detectives over at NeoGAF were quick to point out that the art was not precisely new, but was in fact part of the aforementioned artist's profile on deviantArt. A little digging revealed that while Marek Okon, aka OmeN2501, is reportedly working as an artist for Nibris, these particular pieces of art were never meant for release in conjunction with Children of the Night, or any other game, real or imagined. It might also be worth nothing that the artwork was cropped to give it a fresh look, though we can't say who did the cropping.
Nibris: 'nothing happens twice'
Cubed3, continuing with their exclusive Nibris coverage, interviewed the enigmatic Polish developer about their possibly-upcoming projects. Apparently, Raid over the River and Double Bloob both have publishers and vague release dates, but "not for all territories." Optimistic DS fans (presumably those in Europe) should look forward to Double Bloob in "Q4 2007" and Raid over the River (now possibly called Ride over the River or simply ROTR) in "Q1 2008".Some gameplay details about both games are revealed in the interview, including touchscreen integration for ROTR that, if real, sounds like fun: the game contains a slow motion mode in which you draw on enemies to target them for a special attack. They're considering bringing a version of ROTR to the Wii Ware download channel as well. Let's hope they release something, somewhere. The title quote may be referring to Nibris's non-plans for a Sadness sequel, but we'd like to see something happen once.
DS Daily: For, or against?
There's no time for beating around the bush: we doubt these guys. In fact, we even wonder if they exist and aren't some cruel joke at all of our expenses. We can suspend our disbelief with the best of them, hoping for what can rather than realize what isn't, but even we have our breaking point.So, hate us if you must, but it's hard for us to be excited about these "games." What about you, fine reader? Think we're crazy? Think we're keeping it cool and cautious? Think we should take the puddle of mush that once was a dead horse and bury it out in the yard forever?
Nibris announces another new project
When the world has begun to doubt whether or not you even exist, and your "games" have become comedic fodder, what's a young developer to do? We would suggest something crazy, like finishing a game, or even just following through when promising official statements. But the folks at Nibris, they're rebels. Instead, they've announced yet another title, this time a horror game for the DS. The Children of the Night is said to feature third person gameplay and a deep story. Unlike the rumored Sadness, it will be in full color. At least, that's the plan: a commenter under the name of "Nibris" who sometimes speaks out at C3 reported that the game is still in a conceptual stage. Yeah, we know -- a Nibris game only in the planning stages? Say it ain't so!The commenter also reports that Sadness is almost complete, thus freeing up the creative team for work on Children of the Night, but we'll believe that one when we see lots of actual gameplay footage ... and maybe a copy on a shelf somewhere. Don't get us wrong. We want all these games to exist, and to be released, and for everyone to join hands and sing about making the world a better place. But when videos feature flash carts with other commercial games on them, deadlines come and go repeatedly, and gameplay footage continues to be presented in a slapdash manner, we start to doubt things a little.
