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[Gestault]

Respectfully, I genuinely don't understand what yours or his point is, then.

If it's about release product quality, how is drawing a parallel between a released and an unreleased game relevant?

They're two higher profile games from indie teams with a lot of built-up affection from fans. The article talks about the scope for Cuphead being expanded from their original plans, and how they're trying to be realistic about executing on it (and what's on the line for them). NMS is widely known for the backlash because its purported scope/execution fell short of expectations. What had been open and amiable communications between the studio and the public cut off abruptly as that backlash became more widespread. It's a cautionary tale the author was drawing a parallel with.

TL;DR: The connection is indie studios dealing with scope changing during development, and how that can potentially sour the reactions to the product if it's not kept realistic on both ends.

 

[mas8705]

After so many years in development, I hope it does well. I know I'm going to get it, but I hope that people don't get turned away from the difficulty of the game.

If anything else, I would love for this to turn into a positive story for them and be seen in the same light as Dust: An Elysian Tail. A game that performed well and was well known for the visuals that it had provided.

September can't come soon enough.

 

[peppers]

Seeing developers with such passion is really inspiring. Day fucking one for me, I hope others follow suite and they get to make more games like this.

 

[Marcel]

They really had people when that first trailer hit. Then we heard nothing for a while. Heard nothing for longer.

Now I don't know if they have much of anyone in 2017. I guess we'll see.

 

[Wollan]

I thought Microsoft was funding this?

 

[hollomat]

It's pretty funny they quote no mans sky as backfiring after going all in. The critical reception and backlash was awful, but hello games is laughing all the way to the bank. Sean Murray could retire to a tropical island and never work another day in his life.

I'm sure after remortgaging their houses and quiting their jobs, the developers would love to have fantastic sales with a negative critical response over a fantastic critical response and lackluster sales. Hopefully they get great sales and a great response.

 

[Magic Mushroom]

This game has let down written all over it sadly.

Having played it, I'd say that's nonsense. It's friggin' wonderful if you like run and gun games.

 

[Outrun]

No Man's Sky may have failed to meet player expectations, but it brought in 10s of millions of dollars.

Failing as well as Hello Games did wouldn't be such a bad thing.

I disagree.

They pissed away their Rep.

I hope for good things with Cuphead.

 

[tokkun]

What happens after a game like this releases - does most of the team get laid off?

 

[brawly]

they should have released Cuphead as the boss rush game they had ready two years ago, and then used the profits from that to develop Cuphead 2 :\

Yep. I don't think it'll be worth it at all.

 

[Ripenen]

I thought Microsoft was funding this?

MS likely gave them some up front money in exchange for exclusivity, but that's not enough to support a 20-person team for a multi-year project.

A team of skilled artists and engineers of that size, even if they are all willing to work well below market value for those positions, is still easily ~$3 million dollars a year or more.

 

[Ultimadrago]

I recall that Teeth brought this up before.

I hope that Cuphead turns out to be a good game first and foremost. On top of that, I hope that developers never look up to exhibits to see how much they can get away with via press or quality and "get away with" as much money as possible. A final product that can have pride in itself much more impressive to me than final sales digits, while I do enjoy when fiscal success accompanies a powerful product.

 

[Conkerkid11]

Reread what I just quoted...

Maybe you should reread what you just quoted?

Hello Games made a ton of money. Article referred to them as failing in some way that these devs don't want to financially, which doesn't make any sense.

 

[sono]

So they bet the farm

 

[Flying Toaster]

What happens after a game like this releases - does most of the team get laid off?

I imagine most of the team is contract anyways. Or they have something planned and are starting on it now. No reason to have a full time 100% on board staff that large unless there are more projects coming.

 

[Marcel]

I disagree.

They pissed away their Rep.

I hope for good things with Cuphead.

Reputations can be mended in time (yes, even Hello Games). Money lost will always be money lost.

 

[EekumBokum]

Is there any footage of the added levels from this E3? I remember seeing some from a forest level a while ago and it wasn't looking too hot. I hope they're successful in making the added bits fun otherwise I'd feel like adding them was all for naught.

 

[TechnicPuppet]

I never do it but I think I'll pre order this one.

Also are people honestly saying there are no issues with NMS.

 

[Equanimity]

I hope it works out for them. I'll put my pre-order down soon

 

[Kent]

I'm ready.

 

[chubigans]

Is there any footage of the added levels from this E3? I remember seeing some from a forest level a while ago and it wasn't looking too hot. I hope they're successful in making the added bits fun otherwise I'd feel like adding them was all for naught.

I can't find any impressions or new footage from E3 at all- I don't think they were there.

I hope they get mucho success from the launch, they're a fantastic team and they definitely have my money.

 

[MilkyJoe]

I'm ready.

Installed? It's ready?

 

[malfcn]

Hopefully it does well. That commitment is commendable.

 

[Mackenzie 92]

Hope it works out for them. I love the art style, but the gameplay looks bland as hell.

 

[Kamek Koopa]

I'll buy it, but I think this was much more interesting when it was a boss-battle based game. That was a very unique idea, while, being sincere, the sidescrolling levels that were shown last year weren't that impressive.

 

[PSOreo]

Hope the game turns out great for the developers and their fans. Fingers crossed it ends up in other platforms later in its life like Super Meat Boy did.

 

[Hispanic! At the Disco]

Pretty much all of my friends with an xbox are buying cuphead, half of which dont like these kinds of games, and a couple are considering buying an xbox for cuphead.

Im hoping it does really well

 

[DudeWithNoName]

I didn't realize it was up for preorder until this thread. Bought.

 

[Vegetable Lasagna]

Already preordered! Between this and Life is Strange it should be a good next few months.

 

[Gestault]

Installed? It's ready?

I have SOMETHING installed on both PC and Xbox, but there's no telling what patching is coming before release. It won't let you start it until launch.

 

[dreamlongdead]

Cuphead looks amazing, and these developers have invested so much in it.

I really hope this game is a hit!

 

[Dynasty8]

Gotta respect passionate developers. Game looks great btw.

 

[Ripenen]

It's interesting that people in this thread are bashing Hello Games and NMS while at the same time boasting that they pre-ordered this game.

 

[Flying Toaster]

Installed? It's ready?

Ready as in the main part is there but I imagine there will be a patch or update on day one. Hype is real. I love the art design.

 

[EnlightenedMint]

I'm there day one, can't wait to see how this game turns out.

 

[Spman2099]

I have essentially put a freeze on buying new games until I finish a couple of the ones I am playing through. However, I will absolutely buy this game day 1, no matter what.

That being said, this is a sorta weird situation... Why don't they have more money? Like, Microsoft had to pay them something for that exclusivity, right? If not, shouldn't they be targeting the much bigger consoles? I am confused...

 

[Kent]

Installed? It's ready?

It's a placeholder (1.20 MB); it's not playable until launch.

 

[Izuna]

Or the first Titanfall

What?

 

[Vegetable Lasagna]

Installed? It's ready?

Well, I'd assume just the file structure and mostly dummy data is "installed." It won't let you launch it.

 

[Clear]

To be perfectly honest, I don't think its healthy for devs to spend years on small projects.

Its way too much pressure to succeed, and creatively speaking I think more satisfaction and growth would be achievable if the same time/effort was spread across multiple works.

 

[Gestault]

To be perfectly honest, I don't think its healthy for devs to spend years on small projects.

Its way too much pressure to succeed, and creatively speaking I think more satisfaction and growth would be achievable if the same time/effort was spread across multiple works.

Chances are they're more familiar with their circumstances and project goals than you. They probably thought about it. The article goes into how and why they thought expanding the project made sense.

 

[Fisty]

That pointless dig at NMS... come on man COMPLETELY different levels of game here

Cuphead is looking sick tho, can't wait

 

[FZW]

Weird to bring up No Man's Sky. Despite its reception by fans and critics, I'm pretty sure Hello Games made a shitload of money from it.

Not at all, No Man's Sky is now a cautionary tale to independent devs. It's a great example of what NOT to do. Sure they might've made some money on NMS (due to all the hype and lies) but I doubt a lot of ppl would trust them to create a decent product the next time around. Their reputation is ruined on their first game.

 

[Vegetable Lasagna]

To be perfectly honest, I don't think its healthy for devs to spend years on small projects.

Its way too much pressure to succeed, and creatively speaking I think more satisfaction and growth would be achievable if the same time/effort was spread across multiple works.

Sometimes you gotta take that risk. Cup head already had a ton of positive interest and MS has shown it multiple times on stage at events. They already had a super solid vertical slice and own the ip. If they believed they could get the project completed and out the door I really think the risk was minimal. Clearly they did. Can't sit on a project with that much going for it that early. They didn't even have to lie to get their buzz.

 

[MilkyJoe]

It's a placeholder (1.20 MB); it's not playable until launch.

OK, I was going to say, just launch the fecker

 

[CloudStrife_ca]

I cannot wait for this game! I've been hooked on the idea of it since the first time I saw footage of it. As an artist I can really appreciate what these guys are doing. I only hope its not something that makes you wanna rage quit as I've heard its pretty difficult. Just happy that its got a solid release date now.

 

[AmuroChan]

Interesting, I thought MS was backing them financially? I wouldn't have thought they'd be in financial woes. I really hope the game works out for them, especially since it's not going to be on the PS4 with its 60+ million install base.

 

[Jeronimo Jones]

I appreciate the enthusiasm but those do not sound like wise decisions. I hope it works out for them.

The animation and artstyle are what intrigued me initially.

 

[Deadstar]

Will buy the game as soon as it's available. Hopefully gameplay is great but even if it isn't the art style is worth experiencing. I am very glad to hear that their original vision did include normal Contra style levels. It sounded real bad to me that they decided to bolt those on because of player backlash. That doesn't seem like the case though. I also like reading that Contra is an influence. I really hope this game is good.

 

[DudeWithNoName]

It's interesting that people in this thread are bashing Hello Games and NMS while at the same time boasting that they pre-ordered this game.

To be perfectly honest, a refund on the Xbox platform is likely easy to achieve. At least in comparison to that...other...ecosystem.