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Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: Gloriano on February 10, 2005, 02:54:39 pm

Title: Ion Storm closes its doors
Post by: Gloriano on February 10, 2005, 02:54:39 pm
link (http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/02/10/news_6118364.html)

Shame really they did make some really good games
Title: Ion Storm closes its doors
Post by: Petrarch of the VBB on February 10, 2005, 02:59:23 pm
Really good games, and then Deus Ex 2.
Title: Ion Storm closes its doors
Post by: diamondgeezer on February 10, 2005, 03:08:54 pm
Eww, Petrarch said the Bad Words™ :ick:

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Title: Ion Storm closes its doors
Post by: Lynx on February 10, 2005, 04:08:05 pm
Ionstorm deosn't exactly have a really good track record. Deus Ex maybe sneaked under the exec's radar or something, but then you have things like Daikatana  and DX2. Thief 3 was pretty good on it's own, but qualitywise it paled compared to it's predecessors made by looking glass, so Ionstorm was no better than most other dev studios.
Title: Ion Storm closes its doors
Post by: Fury on February 10, 2005, 11:29:00 pm
DX2 wasn't that bad. It wasn't anything really exceptional but it didn't completely suck either. At least I enjoyed playing it, which cannot be said for a whole lot of other games out there...
Title: Ion Storm closes its doors
Post by: Swamp_Thing on February 11, 2005, 02:52:59 am
Quote
Originally posted by Mr. Fury
DX2 wasn't that bad. It wasn't anything really exceptional but it didn't completely suck either. At least I enjoyed playing it, which cannot be said for a whole lot of other games out there...


Can´t say i agree with that. DX had huge levels, you had lots of exploring and secrets to find. DX2 had levels the size of 1 room, for pitty sake! On a scale of 1 to 10, DX2 was a -2.
Ion Storm had some great games indeed. Allthough the studio is gone, the people who worked there will find jobs elsewhere. I´m sure we will see quality stuff from them yet. Assuming they don´t get hired by some THQ subsidiary...
Title: Ion Storm closes its doors
Post by: Turnsky on February 11, 2005, 03:13:23 am
DX2 had some storyline at least..

at least it wasn't an "all glitz and now real story" kinda game..
Doom3, HL2 (great game, but very loose plot & story)
and a few others, including Far Cry

i'll admit that DX was a hallmark in gameplay.. but, the engine of choice used by Ion storm to make DX2 limited it in the size of the levels.
Title: Ion Storm closes its doors
Post by: Fury on February 11, 2005, 03:27:37 am
Quote
Originally posted by Turnsky
i'll admit that DX was a hallmark in gameplay.. but, the engine of choice used by Ion storm to make DX2 limited it in the size of the levels.

Not really, more like it was designed to run on consoles.
Title: Ion Storm closes its doors
Post by: Gloriano on February 11, 2005, 03:32:38 am
Quote
Originally posted by Mr. Fury

Not really, more like it was designed to run on consoles.


That would be stupid reason because they could have bigger levels and still it would work well in Xbox
Title: Ion Storm closes its doors
Post by: kode on February 11, 2005, 03:58:42 am
Quote
Originally posted by Holy Imperial Gloriano


That would be stupid reason because they could have bigger levels and still it would work well in Xbox


source?
Title: Ion Storm closes its doors
Post by: Setekh on February 11, 2005, 07:14:44 am
Gee, it seems like so many gaming houses are closing down these days.
Title: Ion Storm closes its doors
Post by: Turnsky on February 11, 2005, 07:47:29 am
Quote
Originally posted by Setekh
Gee, it seems like so many gaming houses are closing down these days.


soon, there will be only EA left, and gaming goodness as we know it will die off, replaced by innumerable sims sequels/extensions, and rehashes of already dull and boring sports titles... but with better graphics.. :blah:

at least i can look forward to the anti-trust lawsuits that'll try to rip it asunder.:p
Title: Ion Storm closes its doors
Post by: Taristin on February 11, 2005, 08:55:21 am
Vote for Max Gamings' Dark Horizon's: Lore! Help Independant Game Development!


:lol:
Title: Ion Storm closes its doors
Post by: Liberator on February 11, 2005, 09:54:54 am
That'll go out the door as soon as EA offers them a couple of mil for it.
Title: Ion Storm closes its doors
Post by: Roanoke on February 11, 2005, 01:01:44 pm
some of the staff have been picked up by (IIRC) Midway for their pending Area 51 themed shooter. Warren Spector's name has been mentioned, as regards to that game, too.
Title: Ion Storm closes its doors
Post by: .::Tin Can::. on February 11, 2005, 05:37:27 pm
Deus Ex: Invisible War was a poor excuse for a console port. All they did was move it from Xbox to PC and made it horrible, horrible, horrible. Remember the early Alpha stage screenshots? Weren't those beautiful? Ane the shadows, OH, the shadows...

What it could have been if it wasn't a Xbox-intended release.

Deus Ex was great. In fact, I just finished beating it for the third time and absolutely love everything about the game except the combat system. Oh well, it was fun.
Title: Ion Storm closes its doors
Post by: Gloriano on February 11, 2005, 06:05:40 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Roanoke
some of the staff have been picked up by (IIRC) Midway for their pending Area 51 themed shooter. Warren Spector's name has been mentioned, as regards to that game, too.


Warren is still working for Eidos as advicer and works as advicer for next tomp raider that Crystal dynamics is developing
Title: Ion Storm closes its doors
Post by: 01010 on February 12, 2005, 07:47:43 am
Had Deus Ex 2 not been called Deus Ex 2 I'm fairly convinced it would have done a lot better, it was a clear 75-85 percenter ratings wise, not the 90+ most people were giving it though. By no means a bad game, just too much to live up to in my opinion.
Title: Ion Storm closes its doors
Post by: Turnsky on February 12, 2005, 08:07:17 am
Quote
Originally posted by 01010
Had Deus Ex 2 not been called Deus Ex 2 I'm fairly convinced it would have done a lot better, it was a clear 75-85 percenter ratings wise, not the 90+ most people were giving it though. By no means a bad game, just too much to live up to in my opinion.


it's also bloody short, i counted roughly 10 hours worth of gameplay, give or take.

but, i feel that if Ion storm used a different engine, not one that was so...limited in its level size, as well as a bit more in scope in terms of the game structure, story,  etc.. DX2 would've easily made it up there with its predasessor.

that said, both Doom3 and HL2 have their flaws (game wise, like plot/story) .. but the technology from both could be used for many a great thing.

it's a real shame all the /good/ gaming houses are beginning to curl up and die in one fashon or another.

all that's said and done, what determines a good game isn't just the pretty graphics.. it's a few things like an engrossing story, and the ability to make the player suspend their disbelief, for even just a moment, and make them just marvel at the beautifully created world they're exploring.
a good example of this is "the nomad Soul" somewhat freaky.. also french, but, has a good storyline, a great "living" world, and can really make you feel part of it.. bit dated on the graphics these days, however.. but, that doesn't detract on it, you might be able to pick it up in a bargain bin somewheres these days, tho.