I don't know if Mike has a deal with Destineer, but Christmas titles on the Nintendo consoles is nothing new and has been done before, especially in the mini-game category. I don't remember the last time I saw an article on holiday themed games on Kotaku but here's to Xmas. #wewishyouamerrychristmas
@Michael Dukakis: Of choir you both decide to trade puns without me. Santa I wish you guys could see what I could bring to the table, but I guess the best I can do is snow you guys what I'm capable of.
"Development at Atomic will continue with a smaller team that will be funded by our sister company, Destineer."
As always - funding is not a problem for Atomic. Earning legitimacy as a civilian developer, sponsored by civilian money, is.
but the thing to keep in mind (and have a realistic view about) is that it ALWAYS about the bottom line. You mention films but do you really think those films would get any kind of major backing if it wasn't that films can touch such subjects and still be successful. Now games frankly have never been tested, and no publisher seems to want to step up and try (which is, as you pointed out, due to ppl having an immature vision of what games could/should be). but my point is lets not confuse the issue and make it sound like game publishers are the only ones that only care about whether their bank accounts end up in black or red. So do all the major publishers of movies. Example, Michael Moore wouldn't get funding to do what he did if studios didn't think it would make money. Sacha Baron Cohen wouldn't have had a literal bidding war to fund Bruno, if it weren't that his crap (no i'm not a fan. its fine if you are, but personally, i'm not) made money. Meanwhile, Spike Lee creates films which are a million times better in terms of message, content, EVERYTHING, than Moore's or Cohen; yet he has to run around begging celebrity friends he's made over the years to fund his movies. Why? Because the major studios won't back a guy that doesn't make money.
Also once again, as have stated elsewhere in this comments section as negative as I may sound in regards to how the PR was handled, this title has always held my interests and do sincerely hope that they will land a publisher so the game can get released un-molested.
Best wishes to the folks at Atomic and who were just reciently let go.
For what its worth you guys have my support.
On a separate note.
As stupid as this may sound I really do think that "games" are turning out to be the young generations form of "books" which is interesting yet disturbing at the same time. So do think that they may be quite a bit of merit in games that try to tackle more difficult subjects.
One prime example that I like to use is MGS4 due to the heavy overtones in regards to illegal weapons trade and the growth of the private sector. Its quite interesting to see how many people actually went and looked up info in regards to both issues due to what they had experienced in the game itself.
@Witzbold: I agree with you on the Games to books switch. Its an easy way to spit information at the audience and the audience is engaged most of the time so they would receive it.
There are storytelling mechanisms in video games that just cannot be found in other media. I think those mechanics..if exploited correctly, could do a subject like 6 Days in Fallujah some really good justice. I mean sure, gameplay mechanics are much more difficult to revolutionize than storytelling mechanics (at this stage of the gaming industry's life) but its up to the audience to not nit-pick so much on the gameplay and focus on the more artistic qualities of games such as music composition, art direction, cinematography, and writing.
Like personally, I dont watch movies a lot, but the ones i do watch, i tend to watch multiple times over a period of time. Why? because i respect them as films and they have found a place in my interest.
Lots of multiplayer games hold my interest b/c I can play them and have satisfaction every time i play them...however if I just sat around and watched Bourne Ultimatum a million times every day...i'd get sick of it.
I see 6 Days in Fallujah in the same category as a movie. I would play it on occasion because it would remind me of how storytelling in games works... i dont expect it to be the next MW2 by any means...and i think some people would disregard it simply for not being MW3. Its time open up your minds gamers!!!!
@nipsen: Truthfully at this point in time their only option if no publisher steps up to bat is release it on the PC as a digital download type of deal. Since that way they can get around not needing a rating for said game. Though I bet the main reason for not doing that is the low chance of any return on their investments with the overall project.
@Witzbold:
Well, I doubt it's really an issue to them. Destineer has heavy investing support from, among others, the US Central Intelligence Agency. So Atomic will get paid - their problem, it seems to me, is pushing the game as a title sponsored by civilian money.
Tamte was on NPR recently and made a pretty good case for the game. I think it boils down to the concept that most people and companies still pigeon-hole games into a very specific wedge on the pie. "Art" games don't even exist for the most part, "Docu-games" don't exist for the most part, "Historical" games won't get touched with a ten-foot pole by most publishers (unless you add zombies.)
A game like this is more likely to come up from an indie dev that never makes any money on it, than something a big publisher lays down money for.
I wish all my ex-co workers the best of luck on their new projects and endeavors. We will all miss one another and maybe something will happen and we can all be called back. But until then just consider this a extend "hang out time". :-)
@LombardBaazigar: Do wish you good luck in finding new work.
At least for now you have yourself a good vacation and unwind a bit.
Also as negative as my comments may seem, Im just an asshole whos generally critical at everything but at the same time I do want the game to come out. Since have been interested to see what you folks created.
It is really sad that the video games industry can't make something like "Six Days in Fallujah" without a whirlwind of controversy shutting it down. The film industry can make films like "United 93" or "World Trade Center" and survive any controversy.
Situations like this reinforce the "games for kids" ideology that is so prevalent. The idea that video games are a toy and can not tackle something such as Fallujah, while films are a legitimate form of art and can tackle similar material damages the industry. As far as I know the public had yet to play the game or even see the game in action yet it was being attacked for being a video game and for its subject matter.
If Konami had pulled out as publisher for a reason such as lack of progress or low quality the story would be different. Instead Konami was afraid of potential backlash and pulled out. While this may be a good move for Konami's bottom line it hurts the industry. Regardless of whether the game is an emotional experience that strives to recreate the soldiers experience is Fallujah as accurately as possible or a generic "Modern Warfare" rip-off it was a creative risk. For the industry to advance risks must be taken and this was a risk with a potential reward of demonstrating video games' ability to chronicle and narrate real world events in a way that is more than just "playing" history. Quality of game aside the industry will be worse off if it never sees the light of day.
Listen, regardless of the type of game it is or your personal opinion on it, these are real people who lost their jobs, some of them just starting out in the industry. So before you pump your fists in the air in celebration, try and think about how you'd feel if you were pouring your heart and soul into a project and then lost your job after being committed to it for years.
@geekvixen: Oh but that doesn't matter because they were in cahoots with insurgents to get accurate information regarding the battle.
As far as the loved ones of the soldiers that lost their lives in Fallujah, that may as well make Atomic Games a terrorist organization. Disregarding the fact that the U.S. put Saddam in power. And helped bin Laden fight the Russians when they tried to invade Afghanistan in the 80s.
But you know, ignorance is bliss, amirite?
I really don't get why this game is considered "controversial". After all, Cod: World at War featured the horrible execution of German POW's, yet it sold millions. That game was far from tasteful, in fact I was personally ofended by tat game. It was a glorification of the horrors of war in every possible way. Now why the devs of this Fallujah game not allowed to show the COD: modern warfare generation what war is really like?
@Willby: Honestly. People who say they enjoyed the single player in WaW worry me a little bit. I know CoD games aren't really known for having amazing stories or anything (given most are just WW shooters) but a lot of the things in WaW were just offensive. I had trouble playing it through to the end, and even then the only reason I did so was because a friend wanted to try the coop all the way through. The end where the message "happy veterans day!" really just kind of ticked me off. Vets tend not to talk with a smile on their face about roasting desperate people fighting for their lives.
And the points where the devs tried to make the game emotional by saying so and so had a family, its so sad they died, yada yada... they were so out of the blue and terribly done that it just made me feel less for them.
@Willby: The issue is that in WaW those were not real people.
In 6DIF will have real people in it. Though the devs have said that they will be respecting the wishes of the deceased families by not using them in the game. I do believe was the statement Atomic had given in regards to the issue when it was brought up.
You do have a point, yet at the same time the situation is different.
Since this game in some ways is not exactly "fantasy" so its going to be a lot harder for some to be able to separate the two and call it "just a game".
@omgwtflolbbl: Umm...I believe WaW was TRYING to make you feel bad about playing the typical FPS protagonist (a near-psychopathic killer). They were showing, in a rather heavy-handed way, the monstrous things people can do when they have the motivation and ability, without regards to whose side they're on.
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10/17/09
10/15/09
but where would be the flame-bait in that am I right?! =P #wewishyouamerrychristmas
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#atrociouspun #wewishyouamerrychristmas
10/15/09
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10/15/09
#pun #wewishyouamerrychristmas
10/15/09
#pun
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#pun #wewishyouamerrychristmas
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#pun
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I've never heard it before. #wewishyouamerrychristmas
08/06/09
As always - funding is not a problem for Atomic. Earning legitimacy as a civilian developer, sponsored by civilian money, is.
08/06/09
08/06/09
Best wishes to the folks at Atomic and who were just reciently let go.
For what its worth you guys have my support.
On a separate note.
As stupid as this may sound I really do think that "games" are turning out to be the young generations form of "books" which is interesting yet disturbing at the same time. So do think that they may be quite a bit of merit in games that try to tackle more difficult subjects.
One prime example that I like to use is MGS4 due to the heavy overtones in regards to illegal weapons trade and the growth of the private sector. Its quite interesting to see how many people actually went and looked up info in regards to both issues due to what they had experienced in the game itself.
08/06/09
There are storytelling mechanisms in video games that just cannot be found in other media. I think those mechanics..if exploited correctly, could do a subject like 6 Days in Fallujah some really good justice. I mean sure, gameplay mechanics are much more difficult to revolutionize than storytelling mechanics (at this stage of the gaming industry's life) but its up to the audience to not nit-pick so much on the gameplay and focus on the more artistic qualities of games such as music composition, art direction, cinematography, and writing.
Like personally, I dont watch movies a lot, but the ones i do watch, i tend to watch multiple times over a period of time. Why? because i respect them as films and they have found a place in my interest.
Lots of multiplayer games hold my interest b/c I can play them and have satisfaction every time i play them...however if I just sat around and watched Bourne Ultimatum a million times every day...i'd get sick of it.
I see 6 Days in Fallujah in the same category as a movie. I would play it on occasion because it would remind me of how storytelling in games works... i dont expect it to be the next MW2 by any means...and i think some people would disregard it simply for not being MW3. Its time open up your minds gamers!!!!
08/07/09
"As stupid as this may sound I really do think that "games" are turning out to be the young generations form of "books""
Which is why the military feels it's worth sponsoring the project, even when there's no civilian company who wants to sell it, yes.
08/07/09
08/07/09
Well, I doubt it's really an issue to them. Destineer has heavy investing support from, among others, the US Central Intelligence Agency. So Atomic will get paid - their problem, it seems to me, is pushing the game as a title sponsored by civilian money.
08/06/09
A game like this is more likely to come up from an indie dev that never makes any money on it, than something a big publisher lays down money for.
08/06/09
ex-Artist @ Atomic
08/06/09
At least for now you have yourself a good vacation and unwind a bit.
Also as negative as my comments may seem, Im just an asshole whos generally critical at everything but at the same time I do want the game to come out. Since have been interested to see what you folks created.
08/06/09
08/06/09
And to save your sanity ignore the mouthbreather talking at the start of the news piece in the video.
08/06/09
08/06/09
Situations like this reinforce the "games for kids" ideology that is so prevalent. The idea that video games are a toy and can not tackle something such as Fallujah, while films are a legitimate form of art and can tackle similar material damages the industry. As far as I know the public had yet to play the game or even see the game in action yet it was being attacked for being a video game and for its subject matter.
If Konami had pulled out as publisher for a reason such as lack of progress or low quality the story would be different. Instead Konami was afraid of potential backlash and pulled out. While this may be a good move for Konami's bottom line it hurts the industry. Regardless of whether the game is an emotional experience that strives to recreate the soldiers experience is Fallujah as accurately as possible or a generic "Modern Warfare" rip-off it was a creative risk. For the industry to advance risks must be taken and this was a risk with a potential reward of demonstrating video games' ability to chronicle and narrate real world events in a way that is more than just "playing" history. Quality of game aside the industry will be worse off if it never sees the light of day.
08/06/09
08/06/09
08/06/09
As far as the loved ones of the soldiers that lost their lives in Fallujah, that may as well make Atomic Games a terrorist organization. Disregarding the fact that the U.S. put Saddam in power. And helped bin Laden fight the Russians when they tried to invade Afghanistan in the 80s.
But you know, ignorance is bliss, amirite?
08/06/09
08/06/09
And the points where the devs tried to make the game emotional by saying so and so had a family, its so sad they died, yada yada... they were so out of the blue and terribly done that it just made me feel less for them.
08/06/09
In 6DIF will have real people in it. Though the devs have said that they will be respecting the wishes of the deceased families by not using them in the game. I do believe was the statement Atomic had given in regards to the issue when it was brought up.
You do have a point, yet at the same time the situation is different.
Since this game in some ways is not exactly "fantasy" so its going to be a lot harder for some to be able to separate the two and call it "just a game".
08/06/09