The Escapist: The Rise and Fall of Troika

[Sand]

Maybe they wanted to make sure they got all the Black Isle peeps they could get first or maybe the Troika peeps didn't apply.

[Morgoth]

Maybe Ferg still holds a grudge against the Troika from the old Interplay days...

[Llyranor]

They got Mitsoda (Mitsuda?), one of Bloodlines' writers.

[@\NightandtheShape/@]

Trokia, it's a funny russian word...

[Morgoth]

It's kind of a russian plough that is pulled by three strong horses.

 

Edit: Yeah Brian is the lead designer on PNJ. But I love the artworks from Leon. It reminds me of the dirty feeling of Fallout and Bloodlines....something NWN2 lacked, unfortunately...

Edited December 27, 2006 by Morgoth

[@\NightandtheShape/@]

My understanding was it meant "three of something that are simular"

 

edit: Basically it's something like "Three things"

Edited December 27, 2006 by @\NightandtheShape/@

[Morgoth]

My understanding was it meant "three of something that are simular"

 

edit: Basically it's something like "Three things"

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

No, read my previous post.

[Diamond]

Yes, it is a variation of the word "three".

[Diamond]

It's kind of a russian plough that is pulled by three strong horses.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Almost,

 

though it is not the only meaning.

[Morgoth]

I just figured that out.

[@\NightandtheShape/@]

Well I'm not russian so I think I did quite well LOL, my g/f is estonian so I cheated and asked her.

[Sammael]

In conclusion, Troika failed to hire enough people to complete their games on time and within the budget, and they blame the publishers for this. They apparently believed that publishers are a charity that will keep dropping more and more money into the bottomless pit that is game development, with no questions asked. If that's the way Fargo managed Interplay, it's little wonder the company was on a deathbed even before Herve drove it into the ground.

Edited December 27, 2006 by Sammael

[Walsingham]

In conclusion, Troika failed to hire enough people to complete their games on time and within the budget, and they blame the publishers for this. They apparently believed that publishers are a charity that will keep dropping more and more money into the bottomless pit that is game development, with no questions asked. If that's the way Fargo managed Interplay, it's little wonder the company was on a deathbed even before Herve drove it into the ground.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

That's one view, certainly. I refer you to my version. You can't break new ground and expect it to be an orderly process. Hence planning gets a might tricksy.

[Hell Kitty]

^ In what way did Troika "break new ground"? I enjoyed all their games immensely (though I never played ToEE without fan patches), but there was nothing in them that hadn't been done before, or significantly better than what came before.

[blue]

I enjoyed all their games immensely (though I never played ToEE without fan patches) . . .

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Which ToEE fan patches did you use? (I've never played but at $2 I might.)

 

And please define "immensely." Was it large enough for your "special place?"

[Hell Kitty]

Which ToEE fan patches did you use?

 

I just checked the ToEE folder in my "Patches & Mods" folder, and these are the files I have:

 

Circle_of_Eight_Mod_Pack_4.0.0.exe

TempleFrontend.exe

TOEE_PATCH1_ENU.EXE

TOEE_USA_ANY-PATCH2.EXE

ToEE_Fan_Fixes_V3-0-4.zip

 

And please define 'immensely."

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I loved the TB combat, and I never thought that would happen after JA2 ruined all TB combat games for me. Not a game to play for the story and characters, coz those are crap. Can't beat 2 bucks, though.

Edited December 27, 2006 by Hell Kitty

[blue]

Which ToEE fan patches did you use?

 

I just checked the ToEE folder in my "Patches & Mods" folder, and these are the files I have:

 

Circle_of_Eight_Mod_Pack_4.0.0.exe

TempleFrontend.exe

TOEE_PATCH1_ENU.EXE

TOEE_USA_ANY-PATCH2.EXE

ToEE_Fan_Fixes_V3-0-4.zip

 

And please define 'immensely."

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I loved the TB combat, and I never thought that would happen after JA2 ruined all TB combat games for me. Not a game to play for the story and characters, coz those are crap. Can't beat 2 bucks, though.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That's helpful, thx.

 

Recent crpgs sometimes leave me feeling more like spectator than participant, so I'm ready to micromanage 2d tb combat. It's not my usual cup o' joe, but a dozen hours of a decent crawl is all I expect for 2 bones.

[Diogo Ribeiro]

That's one view, certainly. I refer you to my version. You can't break new ground and expect it to be an orderly process. Hence planning gets a might tricksy.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Troika did a lot of things right in their CRPGs but breaking new ground wasn't one of them. They only thing they broke was their games by allowing ambitious design to get in the way of planning, playtesting and meeting deadlines. And I'm as close to a rational and fair Troika fanboy as you can get.

[Dark_Raven]

Troika ruled.

[metadigital]

Crunch time for short periods can be very productive... that's at least what I experience. I feel I often become most creative when I'm under time pressure... but don't overdo it, you you may turn into a zombie. Just look at EA.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Pressure is needed and healthy, in correct proportions, otherwise there isn't any requirement to actually complete anything.

 

Interestingly, I just read Philip K. Dιck's transcript interview; he used to write his novels in a self-imposed "crunch": he would barely eat, nor sleep as he sat and typed for a week or so, sipping scotch. That was how he wrote his last novel, The transmigration of Timothy Archer (which, incidentally, was not SF), and indubitably led to his fatal stroke. (He observed that he was bleeding internally as he finished the novel, because

[kirottu]

Troika ruled. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I don

[Pop]

My view on Troika was that they didn't "break ground", per se, but Troika's games from a RP standpoint, particularly Bloodlines, were pretty sterling in comparison to games that were being put out by other companies. Had they balanced the game better, I think Arcanum could have been as good as F2, and some of the plotlines (particularly the siamese twin quest) were just jaw-dropping. I blissfully ignore ToEE (couldn't get through an hour) I started out being revolted by Bloodlines' stunning lack of technical sheen, but as I kept playing it I realized how high-quality it was. I'd probably recommend it over any other RPG I've played post-BG2.

 

Troika didn't make perfect games, but their existence was a comforting one, what with their lofty ambitions and whatnot that they could occasionally deliver on.

Edited December 28, 2006 by Pop

[@\NightandtheShape/@]

Troika ruled. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

They had a unique style that I enjoied...

[Musopticon?]

Not going to bother with the article.

 

This is like the fourth fanboy post-mortem, right? There's bound to be a wealth of interesting and poignant article subjects amidst the crpg biz. No need to wage fanboyism in a media that at least tries to remain borderline neutral in their opinions.

 

For shame, Escapist. For shame.

[Volourn]

Article and Troika foudners: 'WAAAA! Publishers are evil, evil, evil! It's their fault we screwed up! WAAAAAA!!!!"

 

What's funny is that, overall, I like Troika. I enjoyed 2 out of their 3 games, afterall, to various degrees. Even TOEE though I hate it had some strong points to it.

 

Still, Troika's failure is 100% theirs. Period.

 

 

 

P.S. EA is awesome.