Vampirolol
Member
Using the Necronomicon in Scribblenauts is something I'll never forget.
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5TH Cell (Scribblenauts, Drawn to Life) laying off most staff, skeleton crew remain
- Thread starter BaronMonstro
- Start date
Heh, I guess hindsight is 20/20.
Stumpokapow
listen to the mad man
Very sorry to hear (to the team and to Jackson, who I know still reads GAF but doesn't post as much anymore).
I liked the team's work a lot. Drawn to Life was super fun and despite the simplicity of the platforming, a lot more than the sum of its parts. Very cool drawing inspiration from Actraiser but giving it a twist, and I actually liked the story. Lock's Quest is very playable, enjoyed it. Bought a spare copy for a friend and shipped it around the world. Postal service returned-to-sender twice. Lock's Quest indeed. Scribblenauts I think was a good proof of concept that got expanded a lot with Scribblenauts Unlimited and PC version.
Hybrid I didn't get into too much because I had bad lag problems, but it was pretty ambitious and I would have liked to see a bigger team with a little more marketing muscle try to use some of the ideas about persistence. Alternatively, it would have been great to get a port of the game to PC where it might have had a bit more of a following.
Run Roo Run, 5th Cell's first iOS game, was one of my favourite auto-platformers on the platform. Basically you are a kangaroo that automatically runs, levels take place on a single screen and involve having excellent reflexes. It's also got a cute story, controls are great, and there's tons of content.
I didn't pledge for Anchors in the Drift because it didn't seem like my kind of game (and honestly as someone who pays a good deal of attention to crowdfunding, Fig really seemed like a mess to me at that juncture. A little less now, but still a mess). I thought when the project didn't take off that they had external funding, I guess not.
Anyway, for a few years there 5th Cell were a really top tier, creative independent studio doing interesting work and coming up with great new IP. I think that's something to be proud of. Sorry to see them shut down!
I liked the team's work a lot. Drawn to Life was super fun and despite the simplicity of the platforming, a lot more than the sum of its parts. Very cool drawing inspiration from Actraiser but giving it a twist, and I actually liked the story. Lock's Quest is very playable, enjoyed it. Bought a spare copy for a friend and shipped it around the world. Postal service returned-to-sender twice. Lock's Quest indeed. Scribblenauts I think was a good proof of concept that got expanded a lot with Scribblenauts Unlimited and PC version.
Hybrid I didn't get into too much because I had bad lag problems, but it was pretty ambitious and I would have liked to see a bigger team with a little more marketing muscle try to use some of the ideas about persistence. Alternatively, it would have been great to get a port of the game to PC where it might have had a bit more of a following.
Run Roo Run, 5th Cell's first iOS game, was one of my favourite auto-platformers on the platform. Basically you are a kangaroo that automatically runs, levels take place on a single screen and involve having excellent reflexes. It's also got a cute story, controls are great, and there's tons of content.
I didn't pledge for Anchors in the Drift because it didn't seem like my kind of game (and honestly as someone who pays a good deal of attention to crowdfunding, Fig really seemed like a mess to me at that juncture. A little less now, but still a mess). I thought when the project didn't take off that they had external funding, I guess not.
Anyway, for a few years there 5th Cell were a really top tier, creative independent studio doing interesting work and coming up with great new IP. I think that's something to be proud of. Sorry to see them shut down!
Father_Brain
Banned
Not out of nowhere, but sad to hear. Seems like they weren't able to adapt well to the rise of mobile and the decline of Nintendo platforms, and I'm pretty sure that their XBLA shooter bombed.
= (
Seven Force
Banned
I happened to read that post for the first time on the day they had the launch party for the game at the Nintendo World Store, and I shot down there to get a copy not long after reading it. Even got it signed.
Hope they land on their feet, Super Scribblenauts in particular was fun to dick around in.
BluePikmin11
Member
After the adjectives in Super Scribblenauts, I didn't think there was much to expand on, R.I.P. 5th Cell.
I wish that Scribblenauts went in a... I don't know if there's a word, persistent world? direction. Like, imagine that you had a mission where you had to make a bunch of creatures to fight off an alien invasion, and then those creatures keep existing and maybe interacting with things you make hours later. If you could put multiplayer into that, it could be really wild experience.
Or maybe you could do that in Unlimited and I'm just uninformed.
Or maybe you could do that in Unlimited and I'm just uninformed.
Japanmanx3
Member
Thoughts go out to the staff.
Rebel Leader
THE POWER OF BUTTERSCOTCH BOTTOMS
I know we have someone here whobworked there.
Sucks
Sucks
OdysseusVA
Banned
Hybrid was a neat game 
Too bad it was plagued with launch issues, which I feel contributed to the community dying off.
Too bad it was plagued with launch issues, which I feel contributed to the community dying off.
That post is where I first heard of Feep, years before I even joined up here.
Smiles and Cries
Member
I own the Wii U version these were launch window dudes? or Launch day?
these were launch window dudes? or Launch day?BaronMonstro
Member
UPDATE
New Article from Polygon.
http://www.polygon.com/2016/3/21/11...ays-off-staff-as-scribblenauts-fighting-words
So yeah, those saying that it sounded like it was sudden were correct, as it seems WB cut funding of their next game and don't have enough in reserve to survive without it.
New Article from Polygon.
http://www.polygon.com/2016/3/21/11...ays-off-staff-as-scribblenauts-fighting-words
Polygon said:
So yeah, those saying that it sounded like it was sudden were correct, as it seems WB cut funding of their next game and don't have enough in reserve to survive without it.
SolidSnakesMyStepDad
Member
Wow wtf I thought scirbblenauts sold well
Lol... amazing.
I've only played Scribblenauts Unlimited, but it did warm my heart. Sad to see them go. Good luck to everyone and their families.
Good to know...well...in a way.
Though first time hearing of Scribblenauts Fighting Words.
Yeah that was pretty memorable and sold me on Scribblenauts when I eventually saw it in stores. Can't believe it's been 7 years. Creative studio, particularly enjoyed Lock's Quest. Thank you 5th Cell!
GabeTheGrouch76
Member
That's awful. I for one was really curious on trying out Scribblenauts and their Drawn to Life series. Such a shame to see them go, I hope those who were laid off land on their feet...
Neogaf we need to poor one out on one of greatest success stories we ever did.
From obscure game at E3 to million+ seller on the DS.
WE MADE 5TH CELL into what it was WE DID that.
RIP 5th cell best of luck to all involved
Pretty sure them making several good games made 5th Cell into what they were.
Father_Brain
Banned
There was a competitive multiplayer (or so I assume from the title) Scribblenauts game announced for mobile, and I never even heard of it until I read this article? Weird.
Crazyorloco
Member
Scribblenauts helps my daughter learn words. It's fun for her...i remember the first time i played i was so amazed by it. I hope this isnt the end for the franchise.
BluePikmin11
Member
I ran into the original Scribblenauts impression thread, and I saw Feeb's post, wow such a reaction.
And I love this post as well that proceeded after the post:
And I love this post as well that proceeded after the post:
Father_Brain
Banned
Wow wtf I thought scirbblenauts sold well
It did on DS, but the franchise's target demographic has largely transitioned to F2P mobile games, and it seems that they weren't able to monetize it to WB's satisfaction.
Jeremiah Slaczka released an official statement:
Taken from: http://www.cgmagonline.com/2016/03/21/5th-cell-may-shutting/
Taken from: http://www.cgmagonline.com/2016/03/21/5th-cell-may-shutting/