Top Ten with Feargus

[Fionavar]

It is my hope that this thread will serve to allow the community to refine ideas/questions/inquiries and the like. One ideas you feel you're idea is ready to be added for consideration, please add it to the sticky here: The Top Ten. As I mentioned in the pinned thread, all of these discussions will be closely monitored to ensure that the they remain constructive and respectfully. Though I'm sure this need not be said - but rather than assume - failure to respect the hopes inherent for this new feature will result in censure. Okay not that the authoritarian stuff from the Roost is out of the way ... thanks and I am hopeful that this will become a rich addition to the fora here.

 

Respectfully,

 

Fionavar

[Bokishi]

Question: Why Feargus delete is account here?

[Fenghuang]

Answer: The emails from the PMs bugged him.

[kirottu]

Feargus hasn

[mkreku]

Game related:

 

Question: Which are Feargus' Top Ten games of all time?

Question: What does Feargus play in his sparetime right now?

Question: When will Feargus succumb to my will and make another post apocalyptic masterpiece?!

 

Question: What does Feargus think of the state of the RPG market right now?

[Nartwak]

So when do we post our questions in the stickied thread? How would Feargus describe his target market?

[Fenghuang]

I know this doesn't really have to do with games, but I'm kind of curious anyway.

 

Question: Feargus, how's the family doing?

[Baley]

Do you like poetry?

 

Do you like holding hands and reciting poetry?

 

Do you like holding hands, reciting poetry and listening to Lovage (all at the same time)?

[Hassat Hunter]

Something like?:

 

Does the extra power of the PS3 and X-Box 360 allow Obsidian to better create the immersive games, amazing stories and wicked worlds they wan't than the older PS2 and X-Box? If so; how about the continually upgrading power of the PC? And if yes on both, what added power/functionality helps the most in making a better game instead of just a graphical upgrade?

[Fionavar]

Game related:

 

Question: Which are Feargus' Top Ten games of all time?

Question: What does Feargus play in his sparetime right now?

Question: When will Feargus succumb to my will and make another post apocalyptic masterpiece?!

 

Question: What does Feargus think of the state of the RPG market right now?

 

When you feel that a question is refined and ready to be added for consideration for the prioritising stage in 4-7 days from now - then add it to the sticky above. My hope is this thread will serve to allow for discussion and perhaps as a filter not to repeat what may have already been added.

 

I know this doesn't really have to do with games, but I'm kind of curious anyway. 

 

Question:  Feargus, how's the family doing?

 

Fenghuang - this question would be fine to add in the pinned thread, imo.

[mkreku]

But.. I'm too shy to be the first to post in the sticky thread. :'(

..and who knows what you used to make it sticky like that!

[Fionavar]

But.. I'm too shy to be the first to post in the sticky thread.  :'(

..and who knows what you used to make it sticky like that!

 

It's okay - honest - be the first and you may also be the first person with the first question in the first Top Ten evah! Gon on you'll like it ...

[Pidesco]

What do you think of Obsidian's forum community?

[Fionavar]

Just a quick reminded. If you feel that your question is good to go - post it here: http://forums.obsidianent.com/index.php?showtopic=41308. If you only post it here, it may not end up being considered as it is the questions in the stuck thread that will be considered for each final Top Ten.

[Tigranes]

How representative do you believe is the online gaming community in general of the overall marketplace right now, and do you see its vocal and productive nature as a valuable part of the culture and of Obsidian's game design / production?

 

The Infinity Engine, notably, integrated the strategic nature of D&D into RPG combat, especially through full party control - while others strived to bring out the more 'personal' side of combat (TES). What parts of the former direction do you believe are appealing and are desirable in future CRPGs?

 

Dunno if the questsions are fully comprehensible as I've tried to keep it short.

Edited April 20, 2006 by Tigranes

[Fionavar]

How representative do you believe is the online gaming community in general of the overall marketplace right now, and do you see its vocal and productive nature as a valuable part of the culture and of Obsidian's game design / production?

 

The Infinity Engine, notably, integrated the strategic nature of D&D into RPG combat, especially through full party control - while others strived to bring out the more 'personal' side of combat (TES). What parts of the former direction do you believe are appealing and are desirable in future CRPGs?

 

Dunno if the questsions are fully comprehensible as I've tried to keep it short.

 

Both questions - with their respective depth - both seem like useful additions to the pinned thread Tigranes. Please do add them if you are comfortable with the final format.

 

Respectfully,

 

Fionavar

[Gorth]

Presuming that Feargus got his finger on the pulse of the gaming market, what is at the time of writing the most profitable (ROI ?) market gaming wise ?

 

Will you/Obsidian have a go at that market ?

 

Not so much platforms (yes, yes we know, unfortunatedly thats consoles), but game genres (MMO's, FPS etc.) and demographic groups.

 

If Obsidian had been a boy group, they would already be busy selling merchandise, from g-strings to life size posters with the developers for all the 14 olds out there (which seems to be where the record companies find the loose money).

[metadigital]

That's an interesting point. I wonder how well received Obsidian brand merchandizing would be by the the marketplace in general and community in particular ... and, if positively, what sort of merchandise would be most in demand, llike shirts, hoodies, action figures, etc.

 

I think that Developers had been scared into not creating high-profile developers, lest software development end up like the highest level of sport, with super-salaries for super-stars, and I'm thinking about Atari and Activision in particular ...

[Fionavar]

Gorth do indeed add those to the pinned thread - they are very challenging and provoking questions.

[Musopticon?]

I think that Developers had been scared into not creating high-profile developers, lest software development end up like the highest level of sport, with super-salaries for super-stars, and I'm thinking about Atari and Activision in particular ...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm thinking of a certain Romero in particular. <_<

 

Nevermind, carry on.

[Fionavar]

Just a quick reminder that the thread will likely be closed in the next week - so for those question posed in the thread and not added to the sticky, please do feel free to add them there. If you would rather not, but would like them included, PM me and I'll do some c&p

 

Fionavar

[Gorth]

Well, one from the "controversial" category (I thought I would put it here first) :D

 

How does Feargus feel about outsourcing of work to other places in the world, where the cost of labour is less than in Orange County. As I understand it, assets are a major cost in the development of a game. There must be hundreds of millions of starving artists out there, willing to work for a loaf of bread and a bottle of clean mineral water, easily capable of doing modelling, composing etc.

 

Edit: Perhaps I should rephrase it for the sake of clarity. If it was viable, would he outsource work to places like India, China, eastern Europe, whatever ?

Edited April 23, 2006 by Gorth

[Fionavar]

I think the rephrase works, but adding the intent of the paragraph "How does Feargus ..." is provocative and adds depth to the challenging nature of the question Gorth. Do indeed add it.

[Krookie]

Are we just going to answer for him? Or will Feargus actually answer these questions?

[Fionavar]

Are we just going to answer for him? Or will Feargus actually answer these questions?

 

In discussions with Feargus, the hope is that with each finalised set of Top Ten, he will be intentional to contribute directly.