Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, Klatch’s Hawaiian Ka’u Typica, Time Warner Cable sucking for not allowing HBO Go, or the slow death of WiMax, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.
Most of you have been playing games for at least a decade. Some of you have been gamers for multiple decades. In the time that you’ve been playing games, several game developers and publishers have come and gone. Are there any game companies that you miss? If you jog your memory, I’m sure you can think of one you used to love and is no longer around today.
As for me, I’m going with Interplay. (Yes, I know there’s a new version of the company kicking around Beverly Hills, but it’s Interplay by name only.) My history with this developer/publisher goes back to the mid-’80s when I was dazzled by The Bard’s Tale on my Commodore 64. The company owned me from 1999 to 2002 with games like Earthworm Jim 3D, Baldur’s Gate, Baldur’s Gate II, Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance, Icewind Dale, Icewind Dale II, Giant’s: Citizen Kabuto, Planescape: Torment, and more. The company entertained me for hundreds of hours and I miss it a ton.
Before I get all weepy, please let me know any developers or publishers that you miss. Any MicroProse fans in the house? How about any Acclaim marks? How awesome was Looking Glass Studios back in the day? Okay, I’m going to stop before I get lost in nostalgia and use Wikipedia to read about game companies that longer exist today.
I remember a game for SNES by Interplay named Out of This World, and it was one of the hardest games to play.
I used to love that game. No dialog at all but you still got the story and the connection the scientist and alien dude had.
Also loved Master of Orion 2 and X-Com from Microprose, and almost all the stuff Ray mentioned from Interplay/Black Isle especially Fallout 1 and 2.
I was so young back then that I couldn't get part the "second" stage. I remember having to vine swing and snakes would bite you, could never beat that.
Acclaim! Rare. I'm still waiting for another killer instinct game!
The Rare from the Nintendo days is long, long gone. Most of the talent splintered off into two companies.
I know!!!! I miss them! Who is the developer behind the clay fighter games. I liked those too
Oh also did u see the rumor that HBO Go will be coming to consoles?? Do u think that you would be able to use it on console even If TWC doesnt allow it?
That's not a rumor. It's true. Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes said he's planning to bring it to consoles. If you're a Time Warner Cable (completely different company) subscriber then you won't have access to it.
I don't really ever pay attention to developer's names. Or at least I didn't really back in the day. If I saw the animation for their logo I might recall them though.
BUT that interplay logo reminded me of REDNECK RAMPAGE.
I gotta go with Data East.
Bad Dudes FTW!
Silicon Knights
Those guys are still around. I met with Denis Dyack at Comic Con to talk about the X-Men game SK is working on.
Oh nice. Shoot him an email asking if he'll put out another Too Human game that doesn't have mobs that scale with your gear. Only thing that held that game back in my opinion. What about another LoK? Eternal Darkness? Re-release of ED?
I'm a huge fan of Eternal Darkness. I want another one.
I've never played Too Human (although the game really did intrigue me). What kept me from playing it was all of the negative publicity and the scathing reviews. I'm pretty sure that Dyack & Co. are not doing the sequels because of that (and the subsequent poor sales). Besides, they'd be better off doing a current-gen prequel/sequel to Eternal Darkness and see if they can catch lightning in a bottle twice.
-M
You sure about a sequel not happening???
Origin Systems (Wing Commander). All of the Star Trek games from Interplay (like Starfleet Academy). And I think I'm most nostalgic for Sierra Entertainment.
-M
Sierra is another one I go way back with. I loved the early King's Quest games.
Jaleco!
So YOU'RE the Punky Skunk fan. Ha!
Virgin Interactive……I grew up loving The Lion King and Aladdin games
Ensemble Studios and Black Isles Studios top my list. At least Microsoft is supporting the two studios formed from Ensemble.