One of the more interesting aspects about this developer diary for Too Human is that it ends with excerpts from a documentary which creator Denis Dyack claims to be the inspiration for his game. Titled The Goblin Man of Norway, it details the discovery of some kind of ancient machine discovered in the ice. Interested by the clips shown (at least from a mockumentary standpoint), I decided to do a little research to see if I could find out some more ...
... And it seems the documentary doesn't actually exist.
A few message boards around the 'net have been talking about this so-called Goblin Man of Norway video, but nobody had ever heard of it until now, and there is no cryptozoological record of any such "Goblin" being discovered in Norway. The film company that supposedly made the documentary, The Norwegian Film Committee, also looks like it's fake.
A Web site for the film company exists but, shockingly enough, the only film it talks about is of course The Goblin Man of Norway. There is plenty more Matlockery you can do, but it all seems pretty clear that cheeky Mr. Dyack is trying to pull the wool over our eyes and go viral with Too Human.
What do you make of the campaign and what do you believe Silicon Knights is hoping to accomplish with this ARG-style documentary? It's certainly a weird idea, in any case.
Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize.
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Just thought I should drop in and let you know that every other gaming blog reported the video as having a "mockumentry" that was made by Silicone Knights. No one thought it was real... Anyway, it's pretty well done, all considered. I just wish it was a bit more interesting; Maybe the next part will be. I hope!
P.S.
It's sorta nice they're going for more of a universe(even if a bit direct at wanting a trilogy, and maybe a novel or two...) from the get go, but they should really just let things unfold through the game instead of force it. I just hope people like it, because it sure looks interesting(and I am hoping the control scheme works, and it picked up by more games).
Seaman did a similar thing back in the day, they had a legit looking National Geographic-esque website devoted to the fossil discovery and scientific resurrection of Seaman. All obviously fake, but a fun thing to read.
From this site it looks like the site was created in February, that's lame on their part. This may hurt their game sales because nobody likes being tricked.
considering the norweigan film commitee website was made in February 2008 and their terms and conditions don't actually load anything, It's safe to say this is all viral
This will have no effect on their game sales, miller. Trust me.
Unfortunately the game will likely not sell well because of the contempt most gamers have for Dennis Dyack after the whole suing Epic thing.
I personally think the game will be amazing. I've been watching its progress for a long time now and can't wait to get my hands on it. I believe it will end up being a tent pole release for the 360 come this fall. Gears 2 and Too Human. Believe it.
If not, it'll come out this summer as THE major release for the platform.
Who wouldn't want a 4 player console Diablo game? But at the same time putting this off as 'real' is something media does all the time and it's not fair to the unknowing consumer.
It just seems to me that they watched a bit too much Lost and probably felt that it would be really cool to have something similar. At least some of the spell effects look pretty wicked, so I would rent it to check it out.
I don't care about this game at all. Doesn't look interesting in the least, but that's just me. I think they should stop doing interviews and not even bother with any viral marketing and just finish the game. If the game is any less than perfect Dyack is in trouble because of his mouth and the 10 year development for this game.
If a game comes out that isn't creative, or god forbid a different game did things better and then it gets popular, we swarm with pitchforks. Now a game comes out that a team has put a lot of work into, pouring everything they have into it to make sure we are getting the product they dreamed of delivering, and what do they get? Not much better. Steaming Grits summed it up pretty well.
Some of you guys just need to open your eyes, and some of you need to get your facts straight. There was an interview with Dyack talking about the mess of a development process, where he discusses how the game hasn't really been in production since the PS1 version, and even then it was pre-alpha. So technology has changed and the team's position in the world along with it....are they somehow at fault for this?
Whoah, this video is fake!? No wayz!!!!one! Of course it is. Another case of damned if you do and if you don't. You either have standard advertising that no one talks about or you try and do something a little different and people talk negatively; Sometimes I am embarrassed to be a part of the gaming community. Most of you just hate this game for no reason; no reason an adult should have anyways, thus I am forced to assume you are children, which would actually make sense considering the lack of respect for art and hard work.
I am extremely excited about this game. Does that mean I'm not skeptical? No, not at all. In fact, that old guy in that video summed it up pretty well "I want this to be true, but lets be skeptical. Lets wait for some evidence." There is nothing wrong with being skeptical, but there is everything wrong with being a Marquis of Douche Baggery just for the sake of it.
After finally getting to see some diverse gameplay, this title seems pretty similar to Mass Effect in terms of execution. I don't particularly see anything that makes it a spectacular and unique title, but being compared in gameplay to one of the best RPG's on the Xbox is not a bad thing.
I might actually pick this up now.
They already have a vote of confidence in me with Eternal Darkness.
But i didn't ignore you. I was patient, read and considered your argument, and then came to the conclusion that I hate you more than I could ever hate this game or it's development team.
I could kinda immediately tell that the documentary was fake when I saw the Norwegian name of the "Norwegian Film Committee". See, they made the grave mistake of thinking in English when translating: Instead of "Norsk Film Komite", it should read "Norsk Filmkomite". Take it from a Norwegian.
The game looks decent, but gyah... the pretension is far too pungent for my liking. I'm just going to stay away from all this bullshit until the game actually comes out.
Wow... when someone makes a post like yours, the entire comments section should just be locked, because I doubt that theres anyone with anything better or more constructive to say. I agree with you 1000% and as someone who studies Norse mythology and loves everything to do with the culture I actually found the Mockumentry cool. It adds character and lets you know how much these people care about the product that they've spilled the past 8years of there life into.
I'm still skeptical myself, but even with that skepticism I have hope that it can be something great. And knowing that the people making the game actually LOVE what they're making just makes me feel like the end result could be something great.
@ slapme7times
if i could do what your handle suggests, i would. way to respond to a thoughtful comment with kneejerk hostility. he's right, you're wrong, go suck eggs.
It's obviously fake, but it's really fun and well done. I enjoy the Too Humans developer diaries. I hope they push the documentary aspect to its fullest. I think it's awesome.
the last 8 years of their life! those guys are fncking pissing around with everyone, suing epic because they couldn't figure out the engine nobody else seems to have issues with,releasing a fake doc to try to build hype and interest,the game may do well but they've had 8 fncking years to get it right. it better be a masterpiece with all this time they've had on it.or they have forever tarnished their namesake company. i really hope this game is spectacular, it needs to be. either way i don't think they'll be able to recover their losses in time. #1_in_the_hood_G!!
Some things about it are pretty silly though, like the whole hockey rink bit. Aside from the ludicrous idea that they'd store it in a hockey rink, why would there be people with bio suits and shit on, yet a bunch of kitted up hockey players watching them? :p
at least they have an awesome title for the game; "too human" it invokes epicness* i do hope the games good. i thought the video had one to many close up seriously i was pulling away from my monitor i felt to close to a mans face eww
also, i think this game actually have an item generator bigger than that of D2, which so far no other game have even came close. let's just hope they can make the multiplayer as good as D2!
Thanks guys. It is unfortunate that my first comment on Destructoid had to be so intense, but it really just makes me sad to see how much these guys get verbally raped.
I don't think a lot of people understand what it is like to put everything you have into something. As someone who is a part of a team making a game and a member of a band (yeah, wooooo I'm cool, right? Mr. Bigshot over here) I can tell you that it means something when guys like this come along; even if this game turns out totally abysmal. Its one thing when a game like Jumper the Videogame sucks, its just a cash-in and does not even attempt at the word "art", but when a team like this really tries to make their dream come alive, I think it becomes art regardless of its quality.
Same with shitty bands and believe me, I've played with a ton of them. Some of them are just kids wanting to look cool or people doing it as more of a hobby, and that is fine, but then some of them--sometimes its the worst of the worst bands-- are out there really trying to do what they love even though they know they are not very good, and that is rather respectable.
It's xbox 360 so far, the game so far as been built up with the xbox SDK, unless they port it later but even if they do it'll come out much later than the PS3 version unfortunately.
I humbly posit that Mr. Dyack and SK would perhaps be better served by concentrating their efforts on completing their game, which has now been in the works for at least a decade.
As it stands, I'm not sure the game itself exists, let alone some spurious documentary.
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Contest:
7:19 AM on 03.29.2008
| 
P.S.
It's sorta nice they're going for more of a universe(even if a bit direct at wanting a trilogy, and maybe a novel or two...) from the get go, but they should really just let things unfold through the game instead of force it. I just hope people like it, because it sure looks interesting(and I am hoping the control scheme works, and it picked up by more games).
And this mockumentry`s production values were amazing. I was genuinely impressed.
Xenosaga = fail
Unfortunately the game will likely not sell well because of the contempt most gamers have for Dennis Dyack after the whole suing Epic thing.
I personally think the game will be amazing. I've been watching its progress for a long time now and can't wait to get my hands on it. I believe it will end up being a tent pole release for the 360 come this fall. Gears 2 and Too Human. Believe it.
If not, it'll come out this summer as THE major release for the platform.
If a game comes out that isn't creative, or god forbid a different game did things better and then it gets popular, we swarm with pitchforks. Now a game comes out that a team has put a lot of work into, pouring everything they have into it to make sure we are getting the product they dreamed of delivering, and what do they get? Not much better. Steaming Grits summed it up pretty well.
Some of you guys just need to open your eyes, and some of you need to get your facts straight. There was an interview with Dyack talking about the mess of a development process, where he discusses how the game hasn't really been in production since the PS1 version, and even then it was pre-alpha. So technology has changed and the team's position in the world along with it....are they somehow at fault for this?
Whoah, this video is fake!? No wayz!!!!one! Of course it is. Another case of damned if you do and if you don't. You either have standard advertising that no one talks about or you try and do something a little different and people talk negatively; Sometimes I am embarrassed to be a part of the gaming community. Most of you just hate this game for no reason; no reason an adult should have anyways, thus I am forced to assume you are children, which would actually make sense considering the lack of respect for art and hard work.
I am extremely excited about this game. Does that mean I'm not skeptical? No, not at all. In fact, that old guy in that video summed it up pretty well "I want this to be true, but lets be skeptical. Lets wait for some evidence." There is nothing wrong with being skeptical, but there is everything wrong with being a Marquis of Douche Baggery just for the sake of it.
Rant over, please continue to ignore me.
I might actually pick this up now.
They already have a vote of confidence in me with Eternal Darkness.
But i didn't ignore you. I was patient, read and considered your argument, and then came to the conclusion that I hate you more than I could ever hate this game or it's development team.
THERE WAS SOMEBODY ELSE IN THERE
Yeah right you did... You just read the news article on Dagbladet.no that said it.
Wow... when someone makes a post like yours, the entire comments section should just be locked, because I doubt that theres anyone with anything better or more constructive to say. I agree with you 1000% and as someone who studies Norse mythology and loves everything to do with the culture I actually found the Mockumentry cool. It adds character and lets you know how much these people care about the product that they've spilled the past 8years of there life into.
I'm still skeptical myself, but even with that skepticism I have hope that it can be something great. And knowing that the people making the game actually LOVE what they're making just makes me feel like the end result could be something great.
if i could do what your handle suggests, i would. way to respond to a thoughtful comment with kneejerk hostility. he's right, you're wrong, go suck eggs.
Some things about it are pretty silly though, like the whole hockey rink bit. Aside from the ludicrous idea that they'd store it in a hockey rink, why would there be people with bio suits and shit on, yet a bunch of kitted up hockey players watching them? :p
Honestly, I wont say anything more because you already pwned it.
I can tell you EXACTLY what this game is going to end up like.
Advent Rising
Thank you my friend, the majority of the Destructoid community does act like a bunch of children.
Who the hell cares if they sued another company? It's called capitalism...
That said, I hope the game rocks..
I'm hoping they can do it though... the more good games the better.
Thanks guys. It is unfortunate that my first comment on Destructoid had to be so intense, but it really just makes me sad to see how much these guys get verbally raped.
I don't think a lot of people understand what it is like to put everything you have into something. As someone who is a part of a team making a game and a member of a band (yeah, wooooo I'm cool, right? Mr. Bigshot over here) I can tell you that it means something when guys like this come along; even if this game turns out totally abysmal. Its one thing when a game like Jumper the Videogame sucks, its just a cash-in and does not even attempt at the word "art", but when a team like this really tries to make their dream come alive, I think it becomes art regardless of its quality.
Same with shitty bands and believe me, I've played with a ton of them. Some of them are just kids wanting to look cool or people doing it as more of a hobby, and that is fine, but then some of them--sometimes its the worst of the worst bands-- are out there really trying to do what they love even though they know they are not very good, and that is rather respectable.
It's xbox 360 so far, the game so far as been built up with the xbox SDK, unless they port it later but even if they do it'll come out much later than the PS3 version unfortunately.
As it stands, I'm not sure the game itself exists, let alone some spurious documentary.