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General FreeSpace => FreeSpace Discussion => Topic started by: Selectah on December 30, 2007, 12:38:49 pm

Title: Descent 4 ? w00tage!
Post by: Selectah on December 30, 2007, 12:38:49 pm
Yo,

Ever since Interplay managed to hock the FallOut IP to Bethesda Softworks (plus having managed to lower their debt to merely $3million from a staggering $60million), the publisher has been seriously planning to restart their in-house developer studio.

Said GameSpot: "Among the projects Interplay has said it wants to develop are sequels to Earthworm Jim, Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance, Descent, and MDK, provided it can find the financing."

Meaning, naturally, that Descent 4 (!) might finally become a reality. That, dear ladies and gentlemen, is surely cause for some very stern and serious wootage. Don't you think? I kinda miss the Pyro. At times.

Cordially,
~Selectah
Title: Re: Descent 4 ? w00tage!
Post by: Hippo on December 30, 2007, 02:20:29 pm
D4's been 'in production' since D3 came out and was canceled
Title: Re: Descent 4 ? w00tage!
Post by: Mobius on December 30, 2007, 02:29:43 pm
Wait a second...Earthworm Jim is made in Interplay? Wow...I'm a very old Interplay fan, then! :D
Title: Re: Descent 4 ? w00tage!
Post by: haloboy100 on December 30, 2007, 03:32:21 pm
Of course...if i dare mention....should a miracle happen it would make the possibility of Freespace 3 all more possible....:nervous:

but in the meantime...

DESCENT 4!?! WHAT?!?! WOOOOT!!!!!!!!!!! :wakka:
Title: Re: Descent 4 ? w00tage!
Post by: Dark Hunter on December 30, 2007, 04:27:05 pm
*yawns*

If it's anything like Descent 3 I'm skipping it.
Title: Re: Descent 4 ? w00tage!
Post by: BlueFlames on December 30, 2007, 04:51:21 pm
There is a difference between what Interplay wants to do and what Interplay is capable of doing.  They will need to open new lines of credit to finance a new game, and given how long it's been since they've published anything (let alone something profitable), anything they seek to finance would likely be considered a high-risk venture.  Moreover, the Descent IP, while not bearing quite as many complications as the FreeSpace IP, is still jointly held between Parallax (which exists today as a two-man company for the singular purpose of holding its part of the Descent IP) and Interplay.

In short, there's less chance of there being a Descent or FreeSpace sequel now than there was back when that silly Descent vs. FreeSpace poll showed up on the Interplay website that everyone seemed to think was a sign from on-high about a coming sequel.

BlueFlames wishes to have a button installed on the forums, to go right between "Post" and "Preview" titled "Smackanoob".  He's not sure what its effect would be, but he is certain that it is a necessary addition.
Title: Re: Descent 4 ? w00tage!
Post by: Hellbender on December 30, 2007, 05:20:22 pm
Maybe it's positive to see, maybe it's just smoke and mirrors. I still play and enjoy the Descent trio, and thyey were definitely worthy games for their time. Descent 3 was a big jump in graphics, as well as getting a lot of gameplay changes. Personally I rather liked them - was nice to be able to fly other ships, but the origional Pyro is still my favorite.

The weakness of the games however is and always was the repetiveness of the levels: shoot badguys, open switches, run like the devil after shooting the reactor... Mostly differences were in layout and number and toughness of the bots. Fun when you just gotta blow up everything that moves though.

Never got a worthwhile connection until after the game's internet heyday was long past though, so can't comment on it.

I'd like to see what a modern game studio could do with it though. Who knows, they might put something sweet out - might not, but seriously, the more game studios in operation, the better for us consumers. There is this too: like or hate Descent, there isn't a lot of flight shooters period to choose from. A revival of the title is not going to be a bad thing if it should actually come to pass.
Title: Re: Descent 4 ? w00tage!
Post by: haloboy100 on December 30, 2007, 05:22:54 pm
The weakness of the games however is and always was the repetiveness of the levels: shoot badguys, open switches, run like the devil after shooting the reactor... Mostly differences were in layout and number and toughness of the bots. Fun when you just gotta blow up everything that moves though.

Thats what i loved about Descent 3; it wasen't always about the reactor. one level has you dodging subway trains in south korea...
Title: Re: Descent 4 ? w00tage!
Post by: BlackDove on December 30, 2007, 05:50:37 pm
Man, talk about old news.
Title: Re: Descent 4 ? w00tage!
Post by: Nuke on December 30, 2007, 08:07:18 pm
****, just go play into cerberon (http://www.chmodoplusr.com/IntoCerberon/)
Title: Re: Descent 4 ? w00tage!
Post by: jr2 on December 30, 2007, 09:55:18 pm
Yeah, don't forget to try D2X-XL, and also look at Forsaken, that's a nice D3 - style 6DOF shooter.
Title: Re: Descent 4 ? w00tage!
Post by: Selectah on December 31, 2007, 07:26:27 am
The weakness of the games however is and always was the repetiveness of the levels:
Yea, well, it's not like FS would be any different. To be perfectly frank, the Descent gameplay was more varied. Items to pick up, doors to be opened, hostages to save, et cetera. I've wondered for years why the gameplay hasn't been incorporated into FS, what with having the source code to BOTH the games available. But that's just me.

Anyways, I really do sincerely hope D4 will see the light of day. As mentioned, the IP rights issue(s) are far more easy to resolve. Plus, with multiplayer being what it is today, a MMO D4 would just be sweet.

Cordially,
~Selectah