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Scalebound cancelled [Platinum Games and Kamiya have commented]

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W

WickedLaharl

Member
With every showing scalebound had it looked like another platinum dud so I won't be too upset if it's cancelled.

Still would give it a go if it does come out.
 
M

moltonasty

Member
Delaney said:
I'm so much happier now that I'm dead. Technically missing. Soon to be presumed dead. Gone.

And this lazy oblivious and incompetent "Microsoft" company will go to prison for my murder. They took my pride and my dignity and my hope and my money. They took and took from me until I no longer existed. That's murder. Let the punishment fit the crime. To fake a convincing release date for Scale-fucking-bound you have to have discipline. You befriend a local foold, Platinum Games. Harvest the details of his hundrum life and cram him with stories about how development will be "doing fine", how the the game will soon be playable from start to finish. Secretly create some money troubles: forced online co-op, micotransactions, western bullshit. With the help of the unwitting, you bump up your life insurance. Purchase the Xbox One. With the Elite Controller. Generic. Overpriced. Pay cash. You need to package yourself so that people will truly mourn your loss. And I don't know how much you know about Japan, but they truly believe in honor, it's an important part of their culture... You know what's hard? Faking your excitement for this game. First, you pretend to follow all the dishearting news about this trainwerk of a game. Watch every damn E3 showing. From the first CGi vaporware trailer. Wake up at fucking 3.a.m, June 2016 just to see how this game has been resorted to a How To Train a Flying Potato simulator. Then you steal a Recore copy. And you pretend to like it. Voila! The game is nothing like you wanted. You wasted 60 dollars. Happy 3th Anniversary of this game's announcement. But then you go on NeoGAF, and post "wow I loved the E3 demo, MS is doing a great job :)" while you dry off the tears running down your face. Wait for the clueless director to announce the release date. Off he goes... and the clock is ticking. 20 weeks away from the release day and they haven't even shown final console footage yet. You feel fisically ill. A lot. A lot. A lot. You start to post about how the game is likely being saved for Scorpio How the game still retains that Hideki Kamiya-sama magic, even though you know deep in yourself that's one hell of a lie. June. E3 starts and they fucking bring a broken demo on stage. "Well, Platinum has never made a bad game, so there's no reason not to trust them". I repeat to myself. But everyone else playing the demo booths agrees that it is just bad. And because you're you, you don't stop there. You go back. To the day this fucking game was announced. Start with the fairy-tale days. The biggest Xbox One exclusive. A system seller title. From the creator of Resident Evil 2 and Bayonetta. Those are true. After that, you invent. "Scalebound was supposed to relive the Xbox brand" "X1 would likely outsell PS4 when this game gets released... at least in the US" The spending, the abuse, the fear, the threat of violence... burn it, just the right amount. Make sure the fans will find it. Finally, honor tradition with a very special treasure hunt. And if I get everything right, the world will hate Microsoft for killing his beautiful, legacy franchise. And after all the outrage, when I'm ready, I'll go out on to GameStop and buy a Playstation 4 + NieR: Automata bundle. And when my mother finds me investing my precious time trying to bond with this hot anime girl, I'll look straight into her eyes and say "but have you looked at her butt? Have your really looked at her butt?" In that very moment, she knows. She fucking knows. As she handles me the nugget pieces she previously cooked for me, she leaves my room with these words: "NierR is the true savior of Platinum Games". And that's when the people will know, Microsoft dumped Scalebound like garbage, and it floated past all the other abused, unwanted, inconvenient titles like Phantom Dust and Fable: Legends. The Scalebound fans will be gone, but then... we never really existed. We loved a game we pretended to like.

"An Xbox One exclusive".

Gamers always use that, don't they? As their defining compliment: "Quantum Break is a true Xbox exclusive". A true Xbox One exclusive is hot. A true Xbox One exclusive is game. A true Xbox One exclusive is fun. A true Xbox One exclusive never makes its fans angry. It only smiles in a chagrined, loving manner. The Platinum Game fans like what they like, so evidently they're vinyl hipsters who loves fetish Manga. If they like girls gone wild, Claire Redfield was a good example of empowering woman design. Bayonetta is sexist trash.. When I met Phil Spencer I knew he wanted "true Xbox Exclusive experience". And for him, I'll admit: Scalebound truly was it. He created an empty development funded by vapor and nothingness. Microsoft rewrote the concept to fit those Sony esclusive games everyone loves. They put headphones into the game because we all love headphones. They showed the game, semi-regularly. I lived in the moment. The same dragon portion for three years. I was fuckinging game. I can't say I didn't enjoy some of it. Microsoft teased out in me things I didn't know existed. A lightness, a humor, an ease. But I made them smarter. Sharper. I inspired them to rise to my level. I forged the company of my dreams. We were happy pretending to be other people. We were the happiest couple we knew. And what's the point of being together if you're not the happiest? But Platinum got lazy and Microsoft stubborn. They delayed the game. Microsoft actually expected me to love support their Xbox console unconditionally. And before finishing with Platinum, they delayed the game another time. From Holiday 2016, to simply "2017". We knew it was coming. We knew that what the press sneaks were telling us, was true.

You think I'd let Microsoft destroy me and end up happier than ever?

No fucking way.

They don't get to win. I don't know how much the rest of you know about social culture (I'm an expert), but grown-ups work for things. Grown-ups pay.

Grown-ups suffer consequences.
Click to expand...

1-vince-mcmahon-wwe-funny-face.gif
 
I

illmatic22

Banned
shinobi602 said:
It's a big blow to the Xbox line up. Honestly there's a serious lack of single player story driven games. Well, exclusive ones at least. Everything is literally MP focused. Forza 7, State of Decay, Sea of Thieves, Crackdown...(and I've heard Crackdown isn't going too hot either, though nothing as bad as this).

Unless they have a bunch of first party studios secretly tucked away somewhere (which they don't that I know of), I genuinely struggle to think of what surprises they could have at E3 *as of right now*. Halo 6 is to be expected, and I don't see publishers playing ball much anymore with 3rd party exclusives unless Microsoft gives the Xbox division a huge budget to throw cash around, which I highly doubt. Their major first party IP are on a decline with Halo doing less than before and Gears 4 not selling that well at all relatively speaking (not good enough to sustain a huge studio with that many workers and budget).

What's happening now is the exact opposite of what Xbox fans seemed to want out of a Phil spencer leadership.

I remember when he became head of Xbox and everyone was saying how there'll be tons of new games, but they're still coasting on announcements from 2013-2014 and in that time, games have been cancelled, multiple studios closed including Lionhead...

As a big Xbox fan since day one, I'm not very hopeful for the future. Scorpio won't do anything without software to push it heavily.
Click to expand...
Yeah I wish they had a more diverse lineup. Japanese games in particular. Reason why I use my PS4 much more often. I'm not big on multiplayer either so there's not much that interests me. I really hope they aren't satisfied with just a Halo, Gears, and Forza rotation.
 
C

cyba89

Member
IgotElbows said:
Now is the time and place for Microsoft to start pandering to the fans.

E3 this year should have a teaser Trailer for Banjoo Three. People would flip their shit in joy.
Click to expand...

Better not get excited for any new non-Forza/Halo/Gears game announcement from MS until you hold the game in your hands. :p
 
B

Boke1879

Member
RoKKeR said:
Even though the Scalebound cancelation is relatively a drop in the bucket, the trend you're describing here is really disappointing. Not sure where they go from here aside from doubling down on their cash cow franchises. (which, as you mentioned, are waining)
Click to expand...

MS really missed and or dropped the ball when it came to fostering new IP.
 
Z

ZOONAMI

Junior Member
MS seems to have fewer and fewer 1st party titles. Basically Xbox and PC are just platforms for 3rd party games. They are essentially becoming a distribution service more than a platform holder.

I have a feeling Scorpio is going to be running some variation of full blown windows 10, will play all PC games and PC software (office etc).
 
E

Elios83

Member
bidguy said:
ms honestly doesnt seem to have any exclusives coming, they havent announced new shit in ages.

halo 6 better be good
Click to expand...

That's because they are clearly positioning the next round of games they're making as Scorpio killer apps. Hence they won't announce them until they can use them as promo material for the new console and that would be E3 2017.
But I'm sure they have some surprises in the pipeline, hopefully they're not just Halo, Gears, Forza sequels.
 
N

Neonep

Member
Capcom should hire this team and have them make something or have them help Itsuno make whatever it is he is making.
 
F

Femto.

Member
shinobi602 said:
It's a big blow to the Xbox line up. Honestly there's a serious lack of single player story driven games. Well, exclusive ones at least. Everything is literally MP focused. Forza 7, State of Decay, Sea of Thieves, Crackdown...(and I've heard Crackdown isn't going too hot either, though nothing as bad as this).

Unless they have a bunch of first party studios secretly tucked away somewhere (which they don't that I know of), I genuinely struggle to think of what surprises they could have at E3 *as of right now*. Halo 6 is to be expected, and I don't see publishers playing ball much anymore with 3rd party exclusives unless Microsoft gives the Xbox division a huge budget to throw cash around, which I highly doubt. Their major first party IP are on a decline with Halo doing less than before and Gears 4 not selling that well at all relatively speaking (not good enough to sustain a huge studio with that many workers and budget).

What's happening now is the exact opposite of what Xbox fans seemed to want out of a Phil spencer leadership.

I remember when he became head of Xbox and everyone was saying how there'll be tons of new games, but they're still coasting on announcements from 2013-2014 and in that time, games have been cancelled, multiple studios closed including Lionhead...

As a big Xbox fan since day one, I'm not very hopeful for the future. Scorpio won't do anything without software to push it heavily.
Click to expand...

I share the same sentiments as you do.

This sucks.
 
Majukun

Majukun

Member
Crash55118 said:
It all depends what they have in the pipeline - who knows, they could have a number of projects lined up ready to go from pre-prod to full production. It just seems very inopportune to have what might constitute 2/3 of their workforce not being involved in any active projects.
Click to expand...

well,in terms of long term plans,the game was supposed to be out already, so there were probably already some other projects at least in pre-production, or some preliminary conversations with some publishers..either that or the cancelation of the game just sped-up an already existing decline.
 
GHG

GHG

Member
10k said:
Microsoft is in trouble. I don't mean this as hyperbole or shit posting. I want them to succeed. But it's not looking good for this year and next years lineup.

More stuff has been closed down or canceled under Spencer than Mattrick lol.
Click to expand...

I don't know why people expected miracles from Spencer. When it comes down to it he answers to the same people Mattrick did. He's just a puppet.
 
C

Cmerrill

You don't need to be empathetic towards me.
Microsoft is making sure no one wants an Xbox 1 other than for a 4k blu ray player at this point.
 
C

Cuburt

Member
prwxv3 said:
There is no way the budget of W101 is even close to what scale bound had.
Click to expand...
How do you know that? It's also an exclusive and Nintendo gave W101 all the time they needed to get it in order, which included delaying it.

Just because Scalebound has the realistic astetic, doesn't mean they have a massively bigger budget. They might be trying to squeeze out a "AAA" experience, with all those expectations, out of a more limited budget. Seems like any triple AAA exclusive these days has had to make noticable sacrifices compared to straight up multiplatform AAA games.
 
B

borges

Banned
There it goes my most expected game for 2017. Oh, well.
Seems that the cancellation is related to mental issues with Kamiya... is that confirmed?
 
B

benny_a

extra source of jiggaflops
Chris1 said:
SOD2, DR4, Sea of Thieves, Rare Replay, Tomb Raider(?), Crackdown 3 (big ?), Gears 4

Everything else IIRC was under mattrick, i'm probably missing some but I think that's he main ones, not sure on Crackdown
Click to expand...
2 Months before E3 2014, Phil Spencer took over as Head of Xbox.
To recount E3 new game announcements from MS first party or at least partial funding perspective:
Forza Horizon 2 - Out, great reception
Dance Central: Spotlight - Out
Fable Legends - Canceled
Ori and the Blind Forest - Out, great reception
Halo: The Master Chief Collection - Out, disaster of a launch, according to Wired
Rise of the Tomb Raider - Out, co-marketing, at this point in time not yet timed exclusivity
Phantom Dust - Canceled
Scalebound - Presumably Canceled
Crackdown - Not yet out
Out of the ID@Xbox games Cuphead seems to have gained the most MS support. - Not yet out

I don't know if paying some CG companies to do the trailers for Phantom Dust, Crackdown and Scalebound is realistic or if they were already planned more than 2 months before.
But in the end Phil was previous head of MS Studios, so he would've probably been involved either way.
 
M

MorshuTheTrader

Neo Member
It really feels like MS are phoning it in this gen. A lot of failed projects and debacles one after another. Along with rumors going around the last few years about Microsoft looking to sell off the Xbox brand, I wonder if the Scorpio is their last hail mary (at least in hardware).

I really hope not, the 360 was my favorite console last gen and I feel like Microsoft has a lot to offer, but I can't see the higher ups allowing it to continuing like this (especially since it seems they're already cutting the fat).
 
Z

Zyrox

Member
Man this is such a bummer to read. I don't even own an Xbox and a potato would probably be a better pc than mine is, but I was still looking forward to seeing more of this game. Platinum Games + Dragons seemed like such an awesome combo :(
Also hope Platinum games can get other projects on the board soon after this, they are one of my favorite devs. Nier: Automata plays like a dream.
 
F

FinaruDensetsu

Member
wanders said:
Y'all better blow up Twitter for this. Microsoft can't be getting sway with this all the time
Click to expand...

You need to think bigger picture. If they release too many big money losers the whole division is liable to get cut off because the parent company generally only wants big money makers. Let's be real, even if this game ended up good (which from the previews which were supposed to show the best parts, it didn't look it) it would not have sold due to MS never trying to appeal to that audience for the last 15 years.

Sometimes you need to apply a tourniquet and lose a limb to prevent the the person from dying.
 
E

enzo_gt

tagged by Blackace
shinobi602 said:
It's a big blow to the Xbox line up. Honestly there's a serious lack of single player story driven games. Well, exclusive ones at least. Everything is literally MP focused. Forza 7, State of Decay, Sea of Thieves, Crackdown...(and I've heard Crackdown isn't going too hot either, though nothing as bad as this).

Unless they have a bunch of first party studios secretly tucked away somewhere (which they don't that I know of), I genuinely struggle to think of what surprises they could have at E3 *as of right now*. Halo 6 is to be expected, and I don't see publishers playing ball much anymore with 3rd party exclusives unless Microsoft gives the Xbox division a huge budget to throw cash around, which I highly doubt. Their major first party IP are on a decline with Halo doing less than before and Gears 4 not selling that well at all relatively speaking (not good enough to sustain a huge studio with that many workers and budget).

What's happening now is the exact opposite of what Xbox fans seemed to want out of a Phil spencer leadership.

I remember when he became head of Xbox and everyone was saying how there'll be tons of new games, but they're still coasting on announcements from 2013-2014 and in that time, games have been cancelled, multiple studios closed including Lionhead...

As a big Xbox fan since day one, I'm not very hopeful for the future. Scorpio won't do anything without software to push it heavily.
Click to expand...
This is true.. but I'm not sure if funding Scalebound was a good decision in the first place if they need to be pushing units for exclusives. Maybe it started as something and turned into something else and they're refocusing money and energy elsewhere.

MS' gaming division is having a bit of an identity crisis in general, it feels.

#BringBackPGR
 
Z

ZOONAMI

Junior Member
Maybe Scorpio can be the next Nintendo home console.

Yeah at this point my xb1s is virtually just a 4k bluray player.

I don't think I'm going to even renew gold when it expires this month. Have had it for years.
 
B

bidguy

Banned
Elios83 said:
That's because they are clearly positioning the next round of games they're making as Scorpio killer apps. Hence they won't announce them until they can use them as promo material for the new console and that would be E3 2017.
But I'm sure they have some surprises in the pipeline, hopefully they're not just Halo, Gears, Forza sequels.
Click to expand...

makes sense

awkward position for them though, i dont think theyll wait till e3
 
G

Goose_Se7en

Banned
JP said:
Jesus, there's some horrible comments in here. :(
Click to expand...

It's unbelievable really. As a community of people who love and breathe games we need to find out where does all this malice come from? This feeling of joy when the other party stumbles or fails this shit is crazy. I like it for one reason only. I keep notes and know who is a fanboy and use that as reference for when I engage in future discussions on this forum.

Like who in the world who is a true PG can get happy at this news?
 
Hesemonni

Hesemonni

Banned
shinobi602 said:
Their major first party IP are on a decline with Halo doing less than before and Gears 4 not selling that well at all relatively speaking (not good enough to sustain a huge studio with that many workers and budget).
Click to expand...
I thought Halo 5 did decent sales and REQ packs on top of that?
 
C

ClayKavalier

Banned
It looked really rough every time they showed it. I was holding out hope the finished game would be great but their output waffles between great and mediocre these days. You'd think something so close to MS would be safe, shame they didn't try to salvage it instead of canning it. Must have been pretty far gone.

I'm not holding out hope for Crackdown being great, 2 sucked and the physics stuff doesn't seem like something that will hold my interest longer than a half hour. Hopefully that pirate game is tits.
 
C

CrackPebbles

Member
That's a shame. Scalebound was half the reason I was interested in purchasing an xbox one. Even if it looked pretty rough. I hope Kamiya is alright.
 
Audioboxer

Audioboxer

Member
Damn this came out of nowhere. Was away from the internet for 5~6 hours and bam, this and 40+ pages lol.

Kind of sucks. Game looked rough as fuck at E3, but I'd never have guessed it would get cancelled.
 
D

Devilgunman

Member
wanders said:
Y'all better blow up Twitter for this. Microsoft can't be getting sway with this all the time
Click to expand...

From what I read, it seems like this is on Platinum, or specifically, Kamiya. The bits of "pressuring staff to take vacation" was really bizarre, and that might cause the project to miss milestones and eventually MS had enough of it.
 
R

Raxus

Member
This has to be one of the most brutal cancellations in recent memory. I actually know someone from the development team through a co-worker which is wild.

Hope Kamiya turns out OK :(
 
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