Although details on the triumphant return of Beyond Good & Evil are scarce, Ubisoft has at least confirmed one thing that may worry hardcore fans of the game -- the sequel is said to be "more accessible" than the original, likely to ensure it actually sells this time.
"We saw with Beyond Good & Evil that so many customers were extremely happy with the game," stated Ubisoft president Yves Guillemot following the Ubidays '08 reveal. "We had a different audience at that time. We had more core gamers than casual gamers than we have today."
"We think the game was probably a little too difficult for the general gamers at that time. We're going to make [Beyond Good & Evil 2] more accessible and make sure that it's really done for the new generation that's come into video games."
I can understand Ubisoft worrying after the financial flop that was the original, but did any of you really think it was a hard game? I didn't think it was that difficult (save for the end boss, rargh), and I worry every time a game series threatens to dumb itself down. That said, given how badly the first game did, we're lucky to get this sequel so I suppose one must find such compromises reasonable.
All said, it's a little strange that this is done for the supposed "new generation," when it's the "old generation" that wanted it so badly. Also, is appealing to a demographic that doesn't buy a lot of software a good idea?
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Contest:
8:15 AM on 05.30.2008
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I suppose all the different styles of play could be jarring, although I pray that they won't touch that. I mean hell, I could play their equivalent to air hockey if I wanted to! :)
"All said, it's a little strange that this is done for the supposed "new generation," when it's the "old generation" that wanted it so badly."
Exactly!
"...more accessible and make sure that it's really done for the new generation that's come into video games."
I hope they don't go the path of Rare and turn it into a cart racer. Whats up with developers? I know they want to make money, but look at Infinity Ward. They made a fucking fantastic shooter that sold millions and millions without being dumbed down to cater to the less coordinated gamers. Shit even my g/f tries to play it, because it looks fun. I hope the don't screw up this sequel.
sorry, makes more sense now :I
The first game maybe wasn't hard but it was at least a fun challenge to try and collect everything you possibly can. If memory serves correct the difficulty came in exploring, everything else was just fucking FUN. So if they keep it like that, easy and fun as opposed to difficult and frustrating, I'm all for it.
Anyone know off the top of their heads if it's backwards compatible on 360? Thanks.
Also, aside from word of mouth, a casual gamer wouldn't know how hard a game was until after they already bought it.
Only you can prevent pressing z or r twice.
There was none of the usual gaming nonsense like rampant insta-kills or "lives". You died, you started from the beginning of the scene. The devs didn't want to punish you for getting far into the game - they wanted you to enjoy playing it as much as they enjoyed making it.
Making it more accessible may seem horrific in this age of casual, but as long as its a as good as the original, I don't mind. Just as long as it doesn't turn out like one of Ubisofts other sequel: Prince of Emo.
Like Mxyzptlk said, it was the lack of any effort to market it. When you have a game with no recognizable character, and your box art does't have some cliche Duke Nukem looking space marine on the cover, you need to let people know what the game is about and why they should care.
I am one of the majority of people who never played the game because, while I saw it on the shelf a few times, I didn't know what it was or why I should care. I didn't hear anything about it until years too late.
Ever get the feeling we're sliding down a slipperly slope on all this casual games business?
It's moments like this I gotta wonder if game studio execs all live on an isolated island somewhere far removed from the people who play their games and thus any sense of reality. BG&E didn't sell well because it was MISMARKETED. Not to mention that Ubisoft was hard selling SC: Pandora Tomorrow at the same time. I mean c'mon, the only reason we are seeing a sequel is because the game's fan base has been petitioning a sequel for years! So if Yves Guillemot wants a clue ask the fans, we never said BG&E was too hard.
Don't do this Ubisoft. This is the equivalent of releasing a new Commander Keen game packed full of mini-games and porting it to 3D, for the kids and kids only.
Here's the topic:
http://z6.invisionfree.com/BGE2_Revolution/index.php?showtopic=1565
(if you click that and get a password screen, it's "jade")
anyway, here's a trailer:
http://www.jeuxvideo.com/videos_editeurs/0001/00016662/beyond_good_evil_2_f1q0.htm
And I remember trying to jump over all the barriers in the sea ... dying a lot. But still, I think it was 10 hours of pure joy.
I'm excited to re-enter the world again. Regardless of what they could or should do - I'm buying a ticket to ride.
And all of you who sold your old xboxes ... HA-HA. ;)
ZOMG CASUAL GAMES ARE POPULAR!? THAT MUST MEAN REGULAR GAMES AREN'T FUN ANYMORE! QUICKZ LET'S ALIENATE ALL OUR CUSTOMERS
My fucking wife beat BG&E before I did and she's terrified of "all the buttons." What does that fucking say to you?
I don't like to hear people talking about making a game "more accessible" because it implies easier. Just have different difficulty levels and it will be fine, and it'll satisfy those that want a more accessible experience and those that want a more challenging experience.
stopped reading there
Yeah, I'm not judging this until I play the game. You know, like a smart, rational person would.
Such a great game though. Not very difficult.
'Beyond Good and Evil' sounds like a crappy 1st gen PS1 RPG.
To be honest though, I don't really give a shit if they have a decent plot this time.