Ever since the corporate Activision blizzard left Double Fine's Brütal Legend without a sturdy home, we've been engaged in an agonizing guessing game -- which publisher is brave enough to tackle the God of GWAR epic? If not MTV, how about the new, debatably less evil EA?
"I have seen it," EA CEO John Riccitiello told Gamasutra. "I am well aware of what the game is. It's a very significant creative risk." Oh, what are you talking about, John? You know what's really popular right now? Guitar Hero. That, and outrageous ultra-violence, as seen in your company's very own Dead Space. Surely a combination of both would yield a powerful, nigh-undodgeable bullet point on the back of Brütal Legend's box?
Mind you, Riccitiello isn't completely averse to "significant creative risks." He added that games described as such could "end up being some of the world's best products." Examples? "Spore was also a significant creative risk. So was The Sims. Portal, BioShock." But before you start reading between the lines, consider his next example: "But so was Grim Fandango."
Ugh, we really dropped the ball on that one, world.
Reader Comments (59)
Posted: Oct 16th 2008 3:50PM cuteSAVAGE said
I'm surprised Activision passed this one over, they could have run it in the ground and published it as a Guitar Hero game replacing Eddie Riggs with Lars Ümlaüt.
"Brutal Legend: A Guitar Hero Tale"
"Brutal Legend: A Guitar Hero Tale"
Posted: Oct 16th 2008 4:20PM (Unverified) said
Long ago I decided that if I ever became independently wealthy I would pay for double fine to make a Psychonauts 2. I'd also make an attempt to buy all the old adventure game licenses from Lucasarts and Sierra and have them crank out some of those. Grim Fandandango 2 here I come.
Posted: Oct 16th 2008 5:26PM Keithustus said
As long as they meet their Amazon deadline: Brutal Legend is available for preorder and "will be released on December 2, 2008".
http://www.amazon.com/Brutal-Legend-Xbox-360/dp/B000XJNTPG/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1224192259&sr=8-2
http://www.amazon.com/Brutal-Legend-Xbox-360/dp/B000XJNTPG/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1224192259&sr=8-2
Posted: Oct 16th 2008 5:43PM (Unverified) said
A significant risk of AMAZING
Posted: Oct 16th 2008 10:25PM Mike Knew said
My copy of Grim Fandango is sitting about a meter away from me.
Posted: Oct 16th 2008 11:10PM (Unverified) said
The problem is that EA's business model doesn't allow for word-of-mouth titles.
I don't know anyone who hasn't played Grim Fandango or Psychonauts, but the vast majority of them played them several years after their release.. when their "legend" had had time to grow.
Unfortunately (unlike all other media) by that point it was almost impossible to buy a new copy..so most of them got them off ebay, or downloaded them.
So EA saw none of that money.
They could stick up Grim Fandango on digital download services right now (steam, GOG, etc..) and they'd be guaranteed a bucket load of cash for almost zero outlay.
That isn't significant risk. They just need to change their business model so that classics can become profitable...
I don't know anyone who hasn't played Grim Fandango or Psychonauts, but the vast majority of them played them several years after their release.. when their "legend" had had time to grow.
Unfortunately (unlike all other media) by that point it was almost impossible to buy a new copy..so most of them got them off ebay, or downloaded them.
So EA saw none of that money.
They could stick up Grim Fandango on digital download services right now (steam, GOG, etc..) and they'd be guaranteed a bucket load of cash for almost zero outlay.
That isn't significant risk. They just need to change their business model so that classics can become profitable...
Posted: Oct 17th 2008 11:24AM BlackIceJoe said
I really want to play Brutal Legend and I think it would be a smart move for EA to publish this game.
EA seems to be trying to move away from the bad guy of the video game world and AciBlizz took there spot.
Plus EA has been making some really cool games as of late.
If EA does help get this game out the door I think they need to say Jack Black is in the game. Why because then people who would never play BL will pick up this game because they think JB is cool so they will want to play the game.
Also if it sells well I could see Tim Schafer have a friend in EA.
EA seems to be trying to move away from the bad guy of the video game world and AciBlizz took there spot.
Plus EA has been making some really cool games as of late.
If EA does help get this game out the door I think they need to say Jack Black is in the game. Why because then people who would never play BL will pick up this game because they think JB is cool so they will want to play the game.
Also if it sells well I could see Tim Schafer have a friend in EA.
Posted: Oct 18th 2008 2:36PM flanked said
Come on, Riccitiello! You're a mere single-sentence contract clause away from slapping Will Wright's name on everything he remotely touches. Why not publish Jack Black's Brutal Legend. It's simple business:
1. Slap celebrity name on video game
2. ???
3. Profit!
1. Slap celebrity name on video game
2. ???
3. Profit!
Featured Stories
Super Joystiq Podcast 004: 38 Studios meltdown, Gravity Rush, Civilization 5: Gods & Kings, Dragon's Dogma
Posted on May 25th 2012 3:30PM



