The End of Too Human?

[Hannar]

The End of Too Human?

Kat Bailey over at 1Up.com posted a blog today. The purpose was to posit that the recent Canadian grant given to Silicon Knights signaled the deathblow to the Too Human franchise.

Too Human probably never had a chance to properly sell itself to the masses. Between the multiple delays, the Unreal Engine lawsuit and the now-infamous Denis Dyack vs. NeoGAF episode, the odds were simply stacked against it. But that's not to say that it wasn't at least interesting.

...

If Mass Effect 2 taught us anything though, it's that vast improvements can be made to an existing experience once the proper toolset is in place. Too Human was an ambitious project with some unique ideas, but a lot of those ideas are never properly realized. The combat, for instance, includes quite a lot of fancy aerials and other techniques, but they feel tacked on after the fact thanks in part to the control scheme. If any game could use some polishing and rethinking, it's Too Human.

The reason I bring it up is that Silicon Knights recently received some $4 million from the Canadian government, which is apparently being put toward a new, multi-platform game. Rumors emerged last year that the studio was working on something called "Siren in the Maelstrom," but there's been no hint that the planned trilogy is still in the works. At a guess, the studio is ready to move ono after the messy development and horrendous PR that came with Too Human. It'll be a shame if they decide to abandon RPGs all together though.

This is not an unreasonable position for one to take. The relationship between Silicon Knights and Too Human's publisher, Microsoft, has likely seen better days. Silence on both parts could be construed as a negative. Funding for an untitled multi-platform game at a relatively small independent developer (albeit one that could handle work on 3 games simultaneously in the best of times since we've been following them) would seem to suggest other games we expected them to be working on are now on the back burner. Too Human 2, "The Box," and "Siren in the Maelstrom" are all anticipated titles or code names that have been rumored for a long time. How many products can a developer handle?

There are a few counter points to this argument. One, since Silicon Knights has yet to publicly discuss any of the three rumored projects, it could be reasonably assumed to that the funding could go to further an existing project. Based on publish reports, Silicon Knights has employed as few as 100 employees, and as many as 125 during the ups and downs of Too Human's development and post-release. There is enough manpower to handle multiple projects either way. This, however, does not strike me as the most reasonable possibility.

A key point in the description of the grant program was that it would be used to immediately create new jobs; 65 to be exact. If Silicon Knights is expected to nearly double in size through the use of this funding and the project it creates, then what are the other 100 employees working on currently? At the peak of Too Human's development, we know there were two teams up and running with a third project on the way. Rumor of cancellations from Sega and an uncertain publishing relationship with Microsoft are certainly concerns, but with 100-165 team members potentially available for development, multiple projects are not out of the question. Some may think that would be too much for a developer that has released only a few games in the last 10 years, but Denis has never been one to follow others expectations.

For those of us who consider a Too Human sequel to be the most anticipated potential Silicon Knights title, the most pressing question is "who will publish it?" It seems clear that Microsoft has washed their hands clean of the franchise. Where silence from Silicon Knights was implied from Denis's previous statements, silence from Microsoft for this long is a rare thing. But before all hope is lost, let us remember these important points: Too Human is Denis's project. The likelihood that he gives it up before its rightful conclusion does exist (survival of his company would obviously come first), but shelving it might be tougher to swallow than some othe projects. Denis is also an excellent marketer of his business. Say what you will about his NeoGAF experience, Denis has found ways to partner with the biggest names in the gaming business, and has now successfully tapped funding from the Canadian government. I consider it highly likely that he finds another publisher if necessary.

So is Too Human dead? My sincere expectation is "no." I can certainly see why many in the press or on the periphery of the gaming world would expect as much. Only time will tell which os us is correct.

Discuss with us in the SiliconKnights.net forums.


-- Hannar

[JustinR]

I would say no.I don't see why it would be they are just remaining quiet for now I mean I think with this game they will remain quiet until it is ready to show and I mean you look the press and sites like neogaf I mean it got to the point where it became the thing to rip on the game regardless of what info came out.

Funny I followed everything about the game all the press and the gaf stuff and the thing is there were so many people bashing the game that clearly never touched it and it was so obvious just from their lame responses.

Also keep in mind making a game isn't easy and takes time I am sure their artists are plugging away at the game.

SK are most likely working on this the sequel and in a matter of time we will see it or at least they better be I want my giant epic fights.

[Hawk280]

Okay i feel like a complete idiot but I can't remember for the life of me what happened with the NeoGAF forums and Denis?

[Guirec730]

I feel like the best thing they can do from a marketing standpoint with TH2 is make is a console exclusive title for an upcoming console launch. When you are one of the 12 games that comes out on a new system, you are almost guaranteed a good level of exposure and interest.

I wouldn't care for that myself, because I never buy systems at launch, but I won't call Too Human dead until the next round of systems comes out and there still isn't anything.

[ThEoRy]

Okay i feel like a complete idiot but I can't remember for the life of me what happened with the NeoGAF forums and Denis?

For!!!!!!

[RAziel1979]

I'm not giving up on Too Human Kat Bailey!! NEVER!

[Purple Gryphon]

Okay i feel like a complete idiot but I can't remember for the life of me what happened with the NeoGAF forums and Denis?

Denis challenged the poster to say if they were for or against TH before its release. If it was well received they would have their Ct's changed to owned by TH and if it did poorly then he would have owned by Neogaf.

Well I think everyone knows where I stand on TH2/3

[Hawk280]

Denis challenged the poster to say if they were for or against TH before its release. If it was well received they would have their Ct's changed to owned by TH and if it did poorly then he would have owned by Neogaf.

Well I think everyone knows where I stand on TH2/3

Ahh gotcha. Don't think I ever heard about that.

[Hannar]

And by that you mean you're ok w/ them removing the Bio class?

[Hannar]

Ahh gotcha. Don't think I ever heard about that.

The week that went down, there were several "oh ****" moments at the GAF, here, and at Microsoft PR cubicles everywhere.

[Purple Gryphon]

And by that you mean you're ok w/ them removing the Bio class?

Yeah Denis and I have been working on the Gryphon class. The ruiner is pretty awesome. LOL

The week that went down, there were several "oh ****" moments at the GAF, here, and at Microsoft PR cubicles everywhere.

Yeah that was some great stuff. I remember emailing you and Denis to confirm it was really him before making a front page post. Denis really had some good stuff on the GAF boards. only time I followed them.

[UnHoly One]

I honestly don't know if it is dead or not.

I certainly hope not.

The first is quite possibly my favorite game ever.

[kouper]

I don't think it's dead. After all, very few IP's that do decently truly die after one game. However, I am nervous for it, and that could be because of how little we've heard.... Personally I hope the game goes multi platform, however I don't want them to change it as much as ME changed between 1 and 2.....

[prodigy1998]

i hope it isnt' dead...b/c TH rocks so much...

[PLOWKILL]

Well I dont know what to say so ill just....

[batosai]

TH2 and 3 will come, no dought. Dennis isn't just going to give up on his dream project. I own all 3 current gen consoles so I don't care wich system it ends up on I'll be getting it day 1. I will always believe, it's the main reason I still play daily.

[Axeman87]

Ahhh... Batosai, your unwavering faith is reasurring.

I agree with you 100%. Even though TH didnt meet expectations, I think it has far to much pottential, on far to many levels to be adandonded.

[Zukan]

Who the hell is "Kat Bailey" and why the hell is Too Human DEAD simply because SK are working on other games?

[Subhuman]

Even if TH is dead, I have no doubt in my mind that SK will apply all lessons learned to their future projects, and if they decide to release another loot game, it will be 100x better. I would like to see TH2 obviously, but I'm not exactly sitting here smashing beer bottles over my head while screaming "TH YEAH TH". I'd be happy with elements (loot and fun combat) of TH applied to a different game.

[Darth]

I agree. I believe it will still come out, but if it doesn't, I would like to see them take all of the comments/suggestions from this forum, and all of the lessons learned, and make a new right stick combat/loot grind/actual make some choices action RPG and then just to mess with Microsoft name it "Not Robotic Enough" and set it in a futuristic Greek God world where you play as Apollo, favored son of Zeus.

[FoxbaT]

I think Too Human has something that almost every successful product has: a fan base.

So basically, I doubt that TH is dead at this point.

[QU4ND2RY]

I'm fairly certain that Too Human will pop up again but I think that maybe due to the bad press, SK went with another IP for now to kind of move away from it. Then once people calm down the developer will probably release TH2. Or it could be a case of whatever kind of contract they have right now for this new IP and the timeframe given to make the game. There's quite a few reasons why TH2 could be delayed but frankly you're asking the largest community of TH2 hopefuls if we think SK will ever make a sequel so I'm not surprised at the responses so far. I really want TH2 but I'm honestly just as happy to see any game from them at this point.

[Sevens]

What exactly are the terms of that funding? They would be a worthwhile addition to the OP.

[Hannar]

What exactly are the terms of that funding? They would be a worthwhile addition to the OP.

I will add the info I know about tonight.

[Shaynard]

I can't wait to play TH2.. When it comes out. The only reasons to think it may not seem unreasonable to me, but I don't know much about the "business". Viewing this as an artistic project, I just can't see Denis or SK giving up on this. If anything hearing they are receiving money to make more games tells me they are doing well, and I should expect to see TH2.

If it doesn't, I'll be disappointed.. But I agree with Subhuman and Darth above. If they don't make Too Human 2, their next games will be great regardless.

Wait ... No.. Thats NOT an option... We will get TH2...