Mass Effect, Too Human devs justify their trilogies
by Ross Miller 
{ Apr 7th 2008 at 2:30PM }
As for Mass Effect, BioWare co-founder Muzyka was more vague in his reasoning, citing how "great science fiction arcs often occur in trilogies" and that they allow for a different pacing. The feeling we get is that BioWare isn't as interested in the story aspect so much as it is in the building of a virtual world, akin to what Will Wright discussed at this year's GDC.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Curtis the Claw: Brawl Code 1075-0441-3284 @ Apr 7th 2008 2:47PM
The people behind Too Human need to make it a good game before they start talking trilogies. Everything I've heard about it has been pretty negative.
Mexicars @ Apr 7th 2008 2:54PM
Agreed. For the last 6 months seems like Dyack is spending 80% of his time 'hyping' the game while development takes a back seat. With all the hoopla he's been spewing forth this title better live up to the promise otherwise his trilogy is gonna be 1-n-done.
Mark @ Apr 7th 2008 3:07PM
That's strange, because a couple of the EGM editors who have visited Dennis Dyack and his studios have stated that game is pretty awesome.
Aj Collins @ Apr 7th 2008 5:39PM
1. Rockstar didn't make State of Emergency, they just published it.
2. Smuggler's Run was published by Rockstar, but not developed. Rockstar later bought the studio.
Van Faulk @ Apr 7th 2008 2:58PM
Both of you should take a look at the stuff they've put out now. It's looking much better. In fact, every time they've put out a video, it has shown noticeable improvements form the last.
And this is silicon knights. They've never made a bad game. Find me a modern console dev who can say the same.
Taco_Hell @ Apr 7th 2008 3:10PM
Bioware, 2K Boston, Rockstar, Team Ninja, Maxis, the list goes on.
Mexicars @ Apr 7th 2008 3:11PM
Off of the top of my head - Insomniac, Bioware, Rockstar, etc.
DangerMouse @ Apr 7th 2008 3:16PM
MGS for the Gamecube played terribly. That accounts for 50% of there games that they've released in the past 10 years. Seriously, get off their nuts.
Phillip @ Apr 7th 2008 3:17PM
We need another Eternal Darkness. But your right. But then again, how many games have they made in the last 10 years?
Phil
Curtis the Claw: Brawl Code 1075-0441-3284 @ Apr 7th 2008 3:46PM
In the last 10 years they have only put out 2 games. 1 of them being the Metal Gear Twin Snakes game and the other being Eternal Darkness. There are plenty of developers that have had a good game and then put out a bad game, it's not to rare.
Mr Khan @ Apr 7th 2008 4:04PM
Retro Studios, Valve, Level 5
there are a good number
baby sea tuna @ Apr 7th 2008 4:27PM
Wait...didn't Rockstar make State of Emergency?
Shmil (Brawl Code 2621-2310-1994) @ Apr 7th 2008 5:10PM
Didn't rockstar also make Smuggler's Run
Aj Collins @ Apr 7th 2008 5:41PM
1. Rockstar didn't make State of Emergency, they just published it.
2. Smuggler's Run was published by Rockstar, but not developed. Rockstar later bought the studio.
PS: Can someone delete my reply to the main comment above? I selected the wrong comment to reply to.
Kayel @ Apr 7th 2008 3:13PM
It seems kind of ridiculous that the Mass Effect team would have to justify making sequels after the huge success of the first game. It would be harder to justify not making any sequels in my opinion. Unless they want to get to work on KOTOR 3, instead, of course.
Too Human reminds me a little bit of Fable. I think the game will be fun, but I think they're probably getting ahead of themselves in terms of how good it's going to be. There was a time when Fable was going to be the greatest RPG ever and would redefine how we would think about videogames.
Mexicars @ Apr 7th 2008 3:18PM
yeah thats what worries me the most about the 2Human franchise. I'll give Dyack his props for designing solid titles in the past but lately he seems to be getting more and more full of himself (like lecturing game journaslists on how to do their jobs) and runs the risk of becoming stereotyped as a hot-air-hype man like Molyneaux.
Ghaleon @ Apr 7th 2008 3:20PM
Note to devs: One fucking game at a time. Not only is "we're making a quintology" shit pretentious, it also rarely comes to fruition.
Mexicars @ Apr 7th 2008 3:22PM
Amen to that, mi amigo
goboColossus @ Apr 7th 2008 3:24PM
I love the trilogy concept, well I did.
Upon finishing Advent Rising, the aspect of a preordained game trilogy isn't something I would be willing to embrace again. For Mass Effect's sake, it's great is has sold very well. It definitely has a chance to see through the next two chapters. Too Human on the other hand, is in the same boat as Advent. It's being hyped a good deal, yet no one really knows about it. Plus, it's 10+ development/nondevelopment history has had more shakeups than that one 3D Realms project. It's chances for success are hit or miss, 50-50 right now (I'm definitely on board).
What I wouldn't pay to have that extremely abrupt ending to Advent Rising concluded with a sequel... Such an underrated game.
theturtle363 @ Apr 7th 2008 4:31PM
That was one of the worst cliffhangers ever. If only Advent Rising had done it the way Mass Effect did. So that the ending leaves it open for a trilogy, but is still satisfying enough if it doesnt sell enough for a trilogy
Martez @ Apr 7th 2008 3:31PM
Denis Dyack should shut up and finish the game already. I am so sick of hearing him talk about the game, how unfair it is that it gets slammed before it's out (tip: show a shitty early version, and people are gonna talk about how shitty it looked- logic 101), how awesome it really is, how it's a part of a huge epic trilogy, blah blah blah. I don't want to HEAR about your fucking game anymore, I want to play it. Try making a deadline for once in your fucking life, guy. If you had any other job in the world you'd be homeless with your puncuality.
Also, news flash: Eternal Darkness was not awesome. It was good, it was creative, it was not bad. But it was not awesome. And Twin Snakes was worse than MGS2. Silicon Knights has never impressed me.
Bleu @ Apr 7th 2008 3:44PM
I agree with the first paragraph the second one I cant believe you would say anything negative about any game that the great Hideo Kojima put his hands on. SHAME ON YOU! (waggles index figer) LOL!
Martez @ Apr 7th 2008 3:46PM
Did Kojima really have anything to do with Twin Snakes? From what I could tell, Silicon Knights read the same interview I read where Kojima says he's a big fan of the Matrix, and they were all "OMG, let's add lots of slow-motion bullshit to the cutscenes!" and Kojima wasn't around to tell them to stop being stupid.
KirbyMeister @ Apr 7th 2008 3:39PM
"great science fiction arcs often occur in trilogies"
Yes, especially Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, a five-part trilogy.
Martez @ Apr 7th 2008 3:48PM
Other notable examples are Orson Scott Card's awesome sci-fi series: The Ender Saga (four main books) and Homecoming (five or six, I forget).
Deck @ Apr 7th 2008 4:06PM
I think he is trying to say Sci-Fi books many times have a trilogy yet obviously there are examples of great works of Sci Fi that have a lot more than just a trilogy.
Though specific works of Sci Fi trilogy that is great: Dune (Herbert) and Foundation (Asimov) series. Both were later expanded by kin, but originally just a trilogy.
jmf @ Apr 7th 2008 4:58PM
Why are they talking about a Too Human trilogy now?? At this rate, the third game won't be out until 2050...
DangerMouse @ Apr 7th 2008 5:17PM
Not really. They're probably just ctrl-c...ctrl-v 90% of the first game to the second game.