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Magus is magical fantasy in a godless world
It's pronounced "may-jus," apparently. Magus, the first game developed by mainly Japanese-RPG publisher Aksys, launched on PSN on February 25. It's co-developed by Japanese company Black Tower Studios, and President Richie Casper says it's fantasy with a focus on humans, not orcs or trolls. [Image: Aksys]
'Project V-13' kind of returning through Black Isle fund drive
"Project V-13" has returned from obscurity, tied to another name returning under mysterious circumstances: Black Isle Studios. Interplay's mystery studio, which former Black Isle founders are not involved with and don't really know about, has started a funding drive for a game called "Project V13," a "post-apocalyptic strategy RPG," introducing the longtime Interplay staff working on the game.The original plan for Project V-13 was to make an MMO in the Fallout universe, a plan that is no longer possible, because Interplay no longer owns the rights to make a Fallout MMO, following a protracted legal battle with Bethesda.There's no evidence that this new version is massively multiplayer. Its strategy RPG gameplay involves character creation, and rebuilding and management of facilities within an abandoned "colony." There are references to "meeting friends" and "fighting neighbors," suggesting some kind of multiplayer, but this game is very likely neither Fallout nor MMO. "PV13 has been in development for years," the funding site notes, "but we've had to make some major changes recently. We believe the changes are for the better and we're excited about working on this new iteration of PV13."The fund drive is Mayan Apocalypse-themed, of course. By paying into the fund drive, you move a countdown clock forward, postponing the apocalypse, as it were. You also get access to a backer-only forum.What you don't get is the game. The funds raised will go toward a "prototype," which will then be shopped around to raise additional development budget. There's no indication on the website that backers will get access to this prototype, either. So, while you may think of Kickstarters as extended pre-orders, this non-Kickstarter drive should be seen as more of a "donation."
Obsidian's Avellone on new Black Isle: 'I have no idea'
Interplay mysteriously resurrected Black Isle Studios, touting the previous iteration's goal "to make the world's best RPGs." Obsidian creative director Chris Avellone worked at Black Isle as a senior designer, but tweeted shortly after that neither he nor anyone else at Obsidian is involved.I asked Avellone today if he'd learned any more about the new Black Isle. "I have no idea," he said. "I do not know. I'm very curious." He then leaned in and added "I would like to know more." Avellone is pragmatic about the announcement, putting the proliferation of his favorite games above his own concerns about the use of the name. "If it means more RPGs, great. I love RPGs."I'll have more from my interview with Avellone soon.
Dungeons & Dragons games on sale through GOG
Look, playing actual Dungeons & Dragons takes a lot of time and effort. First you have to find a group of people you don't hate to play with, and then you have to spend days constructing a campaign for them to adventure through. And then, when you finally get down to playing, that one guy decides to be a maverick a pull some crazy stunt that breaks the encounter.Thankfully, there are alternatives for people who want the lore without actually having to play Dungeons & Dragons, and said alternatives just happen to be on sale at GOG for the next six days. Baldur's Gate: The Original Saga, Baldur's Gate 2 Complete, Neverwinter Nights Diamond Edition, Icewind Dale Complete, Icewind Dale 2 Complete, Dungeons & Dragons: Dragonshard, The Temple of Elemental Evil, Forgotten Realms: Demon Stone and Planescape: Torment are all available for less than five bucks, or in one big bundle for $30.01.
Original Fallout and Planescape: Torment dev Black Isle Studios re-opens [updated]
The studio that created classics like Fallout and Planescape: Torment may be rising from the ashes – at least in name. A website for Black Isle Studios popped up with the image you see above and a mailing list signup, as NeoGAF discovered. There's also a Twitter account and a Facebook page tied to the website, and if you sign up for the mailing list, Black Isle is said to be a "a division of Interplay."InXile's Brian Fargo doesn't seem to be involved, as he tweeted, "I just read that Interplay is bringing back Black Isle. Hmmm... Not enough info for me to comment." We've already reached out to Obsidian – where many ex-Black Islers went when the studio shut down in 2003 – and have yet to hear back.Update: Interplay CEO and entrepreneur Herve Caen is behind the resurrection of Black Isle, we're told. The studio's website is also registered to Interplay, per WHOIS search. It's unclear who – if anyone – from the original Black Isle staff is involved with the studio.Update 2: Obsidian tells Joystiq that the new Black Isle, "Doesn't involve Obsidian at all." We've yet to hear back from Interplay or Herve Caen.Update 3: Obsidian creative lead Chris Avellone says on Twitter, "I know nothing about the Black Isle Studio news announcement, doesn't involve me or Obsidian... or well, anyone that I know. ;)"
What's in a Name: Obsidian Entertainment
Feargus Urquhart co-founded Obsidian Entertainment (Knights of the Old Republic 2, Fallout: New Vegas) after Interplay's Black Isle Studios closed in 2003. After we left Black Isle, we were going to start a company and we needed a new name. We wanted it to be a good name, a strong name, and we wanted it to be something that people would remember. And so we threw all of these names around -- we had Scorched Earth, we had Three Clown Software, and lots of other stuff. And eventually Obsidian got on that list, because we were Black Isle, and what's something like that? And someone said there's that Obsidian thing, that glassy, magma stuff, and we put it on there. So we came down literally with a short list, and we showed it to our significant others. And they were like, "All these names are dumb, except that one." So really it was the significant others that actually said that's what they would name a company, because it sounds cool, it has some relevance ... and it's not Three Clown Software. Obsidian Entertainment is currently working on Dungeon Siege 3, available this May and published by Square Enix. Like this feature? Be sure to check out the What's In A Name Archives.
What's in a Name: Black Isle Studios
Feargus Urquhart is now known as the co-founder of Obsidian Entertainment, but before that he helped found Black Isle Studios, a division of Interplay that created some PC RPG classics like the original Fallout series, Icewind Dale, and Planescape: Torment. I took over the RPG division of Interplay in 1996, and we were trying to come up with a name, because "RPG Division" didn't work. Or people wanted to call it Dragon Play, and I'm a big nerd, but Dragon Play was too much, too nerdy. And we came up with all of these different things, we came up with 12 Gauge, but that didn't really fit us, and we came up with this and that. And I was always holding back a name, because it was me, it was from my history. So where Black Isle came from was that there is, more of a peninsula really, but there's an isle in Scotland, and it's called the Black Isle, and that's actually where the Urquharts came from. So I was always going to hold that back for when I got to start a studio, but Brian Fargo, who ran Interplay, was getting mad at me, and was like, "You just need a name!" And he walked in and was going to come in at me, and I was like alright, I got a name, and it's Black Isle. He was like, "That's perfect!" And that's how Black Isle Studios got named. Black Isle Studios was laid off from Interplay in 2003, when most of its team went on to create Obsidian Entertainment, currently working on Dungeon Siege 3 with Square Enix. Stay tuned for the story behind Obsidian's name from Urquhart himself. Like this feature? Be sure to check out the What's In A Name Archives.
GOG adds yet another RPG timesink: Icewind Dale 2 Complete
It seems that digital games retailer GOG isn't just content with abusing your trust -- now it's turning its sights on abusing every last second of your free time. The site recently added yet another gargantuan RPG to its catalog: Black Isle Studios' Dungeons & Dragons 3E-inspired RPG, Icewind Dale 2. The game comes in its "Complete" edition, which also includes the aptly named "Adventure Pack." As far as we can tell, it contains a metric ton of undiluted adventure. The game will run you $9.99, creating yet another terrifying playtime-to-cost ratio. Seriously, with $50 and 10GB of free space, GOG downloads could occupy your leisure time until the end of days.
Interview: Josh Sawyer on Fallout: New Vegas
Imagine going to work on "Van Buren," the original Fallout 3, as a designer for Black Isle Studios, only to see the title canceled due to parent company Interplay's financial problems. Then, imagine Bethesda buying the Fallout 3 license and developing an entirely different game, which goes on to win multiple awards and accolades. Now, imagine you're brought back into the franchise, as a designer for Obsidian Entertainment, to create a sequel to Bethesda's popular title. Preposterous, you say? Josh Sawyer is the lead designer on Fallout: New Vegas and, after having the rug yanked from under him on the original Fallout 3, he's happy to be working on the latest new Fallout project -- one that will be released later this year. Read on for our conversation with Sawyer. Joystiq: What's your history with the Fallout franchise? Josh Sawyer: I worked on what's called "Van Buren," which was the codename when Black Isle started to work on what would have been Fallout 3, and we had worked on it for maybe half a year, and then it was canceled because Interplay had a lot of financial problems.
Obsidian's Avellone on breaking into the industry
Over at Penny Arcade, Obsidian co-founder Chris Avellone has some advice for aspiring game designers. A creative force behind RPG classics Fallout 2, Planescape: Torment, Icewind Dale and the upcoming Neverwinter Nights 2, Avellone is always an entertaining read. He values persistence, practical experience, and attention to detail over academic background. And if you want to be a writer, a sense of humor doesn't hurt, either. Just make sure your email address isn't SuperMageCockLord@yourmomma.com. Chris will explain why.See also: NWN mod creator on Atari, Infinite Dungeons Obsidian's Urquhart: happy thoughts on KoTOR 3
